Bailey and Theosophy by Niels BrØnzsted Introduction In esoteric circles it is a well known fact that throughout the world and arrest the attention the modern esoteric teaching originates from of the highest minds."4 two chohans in the spiritual hierarchy, Morya And later he introduces a message from (M) and Kuthumi (KH), who–with the consent the "chief himself” with the words: "An of their superior or "chief," as they prefer to abridged version of the view of the Chohan on call him, the Mahachohan or Lord of the T.S. from his own words as given last Civilization of that time–founded the night." This is the well-known Maha Chohan's theosophical movement in the end of the 19th Letter where we read the following excerpts: century. "The doctrine we promulgate being the only In the book called The Mahatma Letters we true one, must, supported by such evidence as find allusions to the hierarchical purpose of we are preparing to give, become ultimately this movement and the "division of labor" triumphant as every other truth. Yet it is between the masters and the exponents of the absolutely necessary to inculcate it gradually, movement. These letters are not really written enforcing its theories, unimpeachable facts for by the chohans. They are thought forms of the those who know, with direct inferences text precipitated on paper, and in most cases deduced from and corroborated by the evidence the chohan did not perform the actual furnished by modern exact science... precipitation himself but telepathically "For our doctrines to practically react on transferred the thought form to one of the the so-called moral code, or the ideas of senior disciples, as for instance H. P. truthfulness, purity, self-denial, charity, etc., Blavatsky, who then did the "magical" act. we have to preach and popularize a knowledge Master Morya writes: "On the 17th of of theosophy...” November next the Septenary term of trial "It is time that theosophy should enter the given the Society1 at its foundation in which to arena. The sons of Theosophists are more discreetly “preach us” will expire. One or two of likely to become in their turn Theosophists us hoped that the world had so far advanced than anything else. No messenger of truth, no intellectually, if not intuitionally, that the prophet has ever achieved during his life time Occult doctrine might gain an intellectual a complete triumph, not even Buddha. The acceptance, and the impulse given for a new Theosophical Society was chosen as the cycle of occult research. Others2–wiser as it cornerstone, the foundation of the future would now seem–held differently, but consent religion of humanity."5 was given for the trial. It was stipulated, however, that the experiment should be made The Two Amanuenses independently of our personal management; that there should be no abnormal interference It is also well-known among esotericists by ourselves."3 that the masters KH and M gave the Tibetan The master Kuthumi writes about the master, Djwhal Khul (DK), the task of purpose of The Theosophical Society: "The providing the necessary teaching, not only Chiefs want a ‘Brotherhood of Humanity,’ a because he has been a close friend and real Universal Fraternity started; an "messenger" for centuries and the focal point of institution which would make itself known one of the subsidiary ashrams within KH's 1 Bailey and Theosophy J ournal of Esoteric Psychology • Volum e XIII • N o.1 • 1999 major 2nd ray ashram, but also because he has I worked as a factory hand that I contacted specialized in occult philosophy and cosmic Theosophy. I do not like the word in spite of its law. He planned his work in three phases, and beautiful connotation and meaning. It stands as the first "amanuensis" the masters chose H. in the public mind for so much which it P. Blavatsky (HPB), a senior disciple in M's essentially is not. I hope to show, if I can, what ashram. She was, as they said, far from being it really is. This marked the opening of a new a perfect instrument but the best one spiritual era in my life."6 available. The results were HPB's pioneering Here we get the first fleeting glimpse of writings crowned by her monumental work AAB's attitude to theosophy–or perhaps we The Secret Doctrine–which is regarded as the should say theosophists. This attitude is only foundation stone of modern occultism–and the natural considering the treatment she later founding of The Theosophical Society (TS) as received, but it is also a key point in this an organizational base for establishing a article, and we will later attempt to show how brotherhood of humanity and the promulgation it has influenced many readers of her books. of the ageless wisdom. But let us return to the autobiography where HPB was succeeded by other theosophical she mentions two important books: "I had just workers who carried on the work. But as the made the acquaintance of her great book The original impulse seeped down into "lesser Secret Doctrine. I was intrigued by it but minds" it was somewhat distorted, and the TS completely bewildered. I couldn't make head or turned into a forum of psychism and an almost tail of it. It is a difficult book for beginners for hysterical emotional worship of the masters. At it is badly put together and lacks continuity. the same time DK started focusing on his next H.P.B. starts with one subject, wanders off to "amanuensis," Alice A. Bailey (AAB), in order another, takes up a third at length and–if you to proceed with the second phase of his search–you will find her returning to her planned work. original theme sixty or seventy pages further The question now arose: could the new on.7 phase of the teaching be integrated in the "I had joined the Theosophical Lodge in theosophical work or would the developments Pacific Grove and was beginning to teach and within the TS make it impossible? We will get hold classes. I remember the first book that I back to that point later as it is the pivot of this started to expound. It was the great book by article, but in my view this was a major test to Mrs. Besant, A Study in Consciousness. I knew the TS and probably one of the reasons why no nothing about consciousness and I could not "authoritative" statement from any of the possibly define it but I kept six pages ahead of theosophical leaders–who still had an open line the class and somehow managed to get away of communication with the masters–was made with it. They never discovered how little I concerning the work of AAB. The members knew. I know that no matter what the class should be free to choose or reject the new learned I learned a great deal."8 teaching on its own merit, and as we shall see We see that AAB right from the beginning they failed gloriously. realized the difficulty and complexity of The Secret Doctrine and also the clarity and Alice A. Bailey usefulness of Annie Besant's work. But in 1918 a significant event occurred in her life which Now, let us see how AAB entered the work. seems to have turned the plans for a Fortunately we are in possession of her continuous revelation of the esoteric teaching autobiography so we can base our description in a different direction than the one which may on her own words. She says: "It was whilst I have been intended originally. On the surface, was passing through the difficult time in which and considering later happenings as well, it 2 Bailey and Theosophy J ournal of Esoteric Psychology • Volum e XIII • N o.1 • 1999 may not appear that important, but in my view Bailey had risen from the ranks to prominent it was the beginning of the division still positions within the American section of the existing today between the two major sources TS, and later, in 1921, they started the "back of esoteric teaching: Theosophy and the "blue to Blavatsky movement." It was a reaction to books." AAB describes it in the following way: suggestions made by theosophical key figures "It was during this year, 1918, that I like Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater that discovered for the first time who it was that students should read a great many books by had come to see me in Scotland when I was a themselves and other theosophical writers girl of fifteen. I had been admitted into the before trying to tackle HPB's far more difficult Esoteric Section (E.S.) of the Theosophical work. Although the "back to Blavatsky Society and was attending their meetings. The movement" was appreciated in certain first time that I went into the Shrine Room I quarters it did not improve the relationship to saw the customary pictures of the Christ and the members of the esoteric section (ES) of the the Masters of the Wisdom, as the TS who were (and still are) in power and who Theosophists call Them. To my surprise there, supported the views of Annie Besant. But the looking straight at me, was a picture of my funny thing is that AAB in many ways had visitor. There was no mistake. This was the come to the same conclusion: that The Secret man who had walked into my aunt's drawing Doctrine was too difficult for beginners and room, and it was not the Master Jesus.