An Authentic Knowledge
Invites Us to Reinvent Life Every Day
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
The teachings of esoteric philosophy were transmitted in the last quarter of the 19th century by Helena P. Blavatsky and those who directly collaborated with her. Soon after HPB’s death, which occurred in 1891, the distortion of the original teachings began.
Plagiarism and forgery spread through false clairvoyance and imaginary talks with Masters. The “teachings” resulting from such illusions may have a pretentious language, but their superficiality is remarkable. Although the task of identifying and rejecting pseudo-theosophy is in itself relatively difficult, it is not enough. Other challenges must be confronted in the 21st century.
It is not just through good-willing frauds that delusion threatens, and weakens, the theosophical movement. A blind attachment to the words written by Helena P. Blavatsky offers no guarantee along the path, and produces a sort of mental paralysis. Parrots may repeat valuable sentences, but they lack understanding. One’s relation to the original teachings must be a living, questioning process. It is precisely because the students of classical theosophy work with the authentic teaching, that they are not attached to dead letter. The goal of real esoteric philosophy includes preserving the original writings; it does not consist in teaching people how to mechanically repeat what H. P. Blavatsky wrote.
Theosophists know that there are no boundaries in human thought or in the esoteric movement. Although they take as their reference the works of H. P. Blavatsky, this is not the only field of their attention. Her books are a key to the right understanding of universal literature and to the study of contemporary reality. Theosophy enables people to understand present facts and to build a better future.
Every well-informed theosophist follows the example given by Terence, the ancient thinker, and says:
“Nothing human is foreign to me.”
Although there are contrasts and differences, no separation exists. After adopting a correct and ethical point of view, the student of philosophy must look at all things and learn from them.
Spiritual discernment expresses itself in the ability to take lessons from one’s own mistakes, and from the mistakes of others. Original theosophy rejects the fruits of false clairvoyance and leaves aside attachment to ceremonies, rituals, “esoteric bureaucracies” and other forms of illusion. This is inevitable once the mistakes are duly identified and documented. [1]
If someone wants to learn esoteric philosophy, he must choose reliable sources. When a method of teaching is effective, it is also transparent. Students must be able to discuss the pedagogical process. The independence of the individual is then respected and stimulated.
Teachers who hide their methods easily get to the point of selling their supposed knowledge for money. This is a subtle form of stealing, for true knowledge is universal and belongs to all. Could someone sell the common air we all breathe? Experience shows that those who do not practice pedagogical transparence are not reliable.
Classical teachings deserve to be approached in their spirit and not merely in their outer garment. The right examination of the authentic wording leads one to the inner meaning. A deep knowledge invites us to reinvent life every day, under the light of eternal truth.
HPB said:
“..Once that a student abandons the old and trodden highway of routine, and enters upon the solitary path of independent thought – Godward – he is a Theosophist; an original thinker, a seeker after the eternal truth with ‘an inspiration of his own’ to solve the universal problems. With every man that is earnestly searching in his own way after a knowledge of the Divine Principle, of man’s relations to it, and nature’s manifestations of it, Theosophy is allied.” [2]
The student must use the classical wording as a key to “open” the true lessons. A Mahatma of the Himalayas wrote:
“The Occult Science is not one, in which secrets can be communicated of a sudden, by a written or even verbal communication. If so, all the ‘Brothers’ should have to do, would be to publish a Hand-book of the art which might be taught in schools as grammar is. It is the common mistake of people that we willingly wrap ourselves and our powers in mystery – that we wish to keep our knowledge to ourselves, and of our own will refuse – ‘wantonly and deliberately’ to communicate it. The truth is that till the neophyte attains to the condition necessary for that degree of Illumination to which, and for which, he is entitled and fitted, most if not all of the Secrets are incommunicable. The receptivity must be equal to the desire to instruct. The illumination must come from within. Till then no hocus pocus of incantations, or mummery of appliances, no metaphysical lectures or discussions, no self-imposed penance can give it. All these are but means to an end, and all we can do is to direct the use of such means as have been empirically found by the experience of ages to conduce to the required object. And this was and has been no secret for thousands of years.” [3]
Full attention is needed at all times, for the teachings transcend words. One of the Masters wrote to a disciple:
“Learn, child, to catch a hint through whatever agency it may be given. ‘Sermons may be preached even through stones’.” [4]
The best lessons are those which come from one’s heart. The center of peace in our conscience is impersonal, silent, and universal. Mutual help among independent students stimulates true learning.
NOTES:
[1] Read the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical Literature”, Carlos Cardoso Aveline, The Aquarian, 255 pp., 2013.
[2] “What Are the Theosophists?”, by H. P. Blavatsky, an article in “The Theosophist”, October 1879.
[3] “The Mahatma Letters”, TUP edition, Pasadena, Letter XLIX, pp. 282-283. In the Chronological Edition, see letter 20.
[4] “Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom”, Transcribed and Compiled by C. Jinarajadasa, 1973, The Theosophical Publishing House, India, First Series, Letter II to Laura C. Holloway, p. 150.
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On the Pedagogy of Esoteric Philosophy, see these articles in our associated websites: “The Power of Good Will”; “The Experimental Path”; “The Pedagogy of Confidence”; “How to Find the Master”; “The Pedagogy of Theosophical Wisdom”; “The Art of Studying Theosophy”; “What Is Theosophy?”; “Confidence in Masters”; and “On Contacts With Masters”.
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In September 2016, after a careful analysis of the state of the esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to form the Independent Lodge of Theosophists, whose priorities include the building of a better future in the different dimensions of life.
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