The Doctrine of the Heart, the Russian
Soul and Helena P. Blavatsky’s Mission
 
 
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
 
 
 
Leo Tolstoy, Helena Blavatsky and Feodor Dostoevsky lived the universal aspect of Russian Culture
 
 
 
It was in the United States, India and the United Kingdom that H. P. Blavatsky lived and worked most since her public work for the good of mankind began in September 1875.
 
The fourth country to receive a large amount of magnetism from that great source of occult energies was her native Russia, which then included Ukraine.
 
Born in the Ukrainian city of Ekaterinoslav (later called Dnipropetrovsk), H.P.B. kept in touch with Russia all her life while working in various parts of the world. She exchanged letters with her Russian relatives. Members of her family visited her in London. Russian papers published a number of articles by her.
 
Russia plays the role of a spiritual, geographical and cultural bridge between Asia and Europe. As long as H. P. Blavatsky lived, she was the perfect expression of such a bridge. This is one of the reasons why Russia has a long-term importance for the theosophical movement.
 
However, in the geographical territory of Russian culture, the original theosophical movement as inspired by HPB’s writings did not exist until the early 2020s. It was only in March 2022 that the Independent Lodge of Theosophists started working in Russian language.   
 
One must sadly admit that among Russian theosophists the pseudo-esotericism of false clairvoyants like C. W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant is still influential.
 
In the country where H.P.B. was born, the writings of those who abandoned ethics and the original theosophy continue to attract attention and deceive good-willing souls. The authentic theosophical movement must be strengthened in Russia.[1]
 
Why should this be so difficult and take such a long time to begin?
 
The answer is provided by a paradox present in the Russian soul. Since the early 19th century, Russia has had two strong cultural trends: Slavophilism and the Westernizing trend, or the feeling of respect for Russian culture and the thoughtless adhesion to Western culture. The pseudo-theosophy of Annie Besant, which has been dominant in the movement, is “Westernizer” and has no true connection with Russian spiritual tradition or Eastern culture.
 
Slavophiles and Westernizers
 
Philosopher N. O. Lossky wrote:
 
“In the history of Russian philosophy and especially of Russian political thought it is usual sharply to contrast two mutually opposed tendencies represented by the Slavophiles and the Westernizers. The Slavophiles strove to work out a Christian world conception, basing it on the teaching of the Eastern Fathers of the Church and on Orthodoxy in the particular form given to it  by the Russian people. They immoderately idealized Russia’s political past and Russian national character. They highly valued the specific peculiarities of Russian culture and insisted that Russian political and social life had developed and must go on developing along its own paths, different from those of the Western nations. In their opinion Russia’s task in relation to Western Europe consisted in imparting health to it through the spirit of Orthodoxy and Russian social ideals, and in helping Europe to solve its political problems, both internal and international, in accordance with Christian principles.”
 
“The Westernizers, on the contrary”, Lossky proceeds, “believed that Russia had to learn from the West and go through the same process of development. They wanted Russia to assimilate European science and secular enlightenment. They took little interest in religion or, if they were religious, they did not see the value of Orthodoxy and were inclined to exaggerate the shortcomings of the Russian Church. With regard to social problems some of them greatly valued political freedom and others supported socialism in one form or another. Some historians of Russian culture believe that these two opposed tendencies have been preserved to this day under different names and in different forms. It should be noted that some Westernizers passed through several stages in their development and, either at the beginning or at the end of their life, considerably departed from the typical Westernizers’ standpoint.” [2]
 
Slavophiles were not xenophobic.
 
They preferred deep thinking and rejected the idea of blindly imitating the West, as Russian Westernizers tended to do. They were closer to the Asian aspects of Russian soul. They were also open to the influence of Western philosophers, which since 18th century was strong in Russia.
 
H.P.B. was a cosmopolitan. She questioned Western society and its materialistic inclinations. In more than one aspect she saw Russia with the eyes of a Slavophile, and Mikhail Katkov, the editor of the Russian language articles by H.P.B., was a Slavophile of note.
 
Being herself a bridge between East and West, H.P.B. lived long years in Western countries while teaching Eastern esoteric wisdom. In her articles she expressed deep admiration for Dostoevsky and Tolstoy – two Slavophiles.
 
Her theosophy has a significant common ground with the views of Alexei Khomiakov, the main Slavophile thinker. She taught for instance that only an altruistic mind can attain to true spiritual enlightenment, and Alexei Khomiakov (1804-1860) teaches the same, as one can see in the following paragraphs:  
 
* “The most profound truths of thought, the whole higher truth of the will’s striving are accessible only to a reason inwardly organized in full moral harmony with the all-existent reason, and the invisible mysteries of Divine and human things are revealed only to a reason thus organized.”
 
* “Of the universal laws of the willing reason or the reasoning will, the first, supreme, most perfect law is, for the undistorted soul, the law of love. Consequently, accord with this law can preeminently strengthen and expand our mental vision, and to this law we must subjugate and with it we must harmonize the stubborn discord of our intellectual powers. Only by performing this feat can we hope for the most complete development of reason.”
 
* “Communion in love is not only useful but wholly necessary for the attainment of truth, and the attainment of truth is based on this communion and is impossible without it.[3] Inaccessible to individual thought, truth is accessible only to the combination of thoughts linked by love. This feature sharply distinguishes Orthodox teaching from all other teachings: from Latinism, which depends on external authority; and from Protestantism, which emancipates the individual into the desert of rational abstraction.” [4]
 
Khomiakov had a mystical, community-centered and non-authoritarian view of religion.[5] And this is theosophical. While writing on the Christianity of Russia, on the other hand, H.P. Blavatsky referred to the nation as “the only country where the pure ideal of Christ is still preserved”. And according to Khomiakov, the Eastern Church – invisible, transcendent, made of universal love – is “sustained by an inner spirit, the living spirit of Christ”. [6]
 
Besides her texts in Russian language, Blavatsky wrote many articles in English, on Russia. She discussed its literature, its traditions and social reality. She personally translated several texts by Leo Tolstoy.  
 
Maha-Sahib, a Half-Slavonian Sage
 
The 18th century initiate Count Alessandro Cagliostro helped anticipate the HPB Mission which started the following century. HPB wrote about Cagliostro and defended his efforts from slander. Cagliostro personally visited masonic and mystic lodges in Russia, Poland and Latvia during the reign of Catherine the Great.  At the time Latvia was part of the Russian Empire.[7]
 
Cagliostro’s connection to Slav countries was no isolated fact: before H.P. Blavatsky, several Russians were disciples of the Himalayan Sages. A direct occult connection existed between Russia and Asia, and HPB wrote in “The Secret Doctrine”:
 
“…. There is a well-known fact, a very curious one, (…) – namely, that there are several documents in the St. Petersburg Imperial Libraries to show that, even so late as during the days when Freemasonry, and Secret Societies of Mystics flourished unimpeded in Russia, i.e., at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century, more than one Russian Mystic travelled to Tibet via the Ural mountains in search of knowledge and initiation in the unknown crypts of Central Asia. And more than one returned years later, with a rich store of such information as could never have been given him anywhere in Europe. Several cases could be cited, and well-known names brought forward, but for the fact that such publicity might annoy the surviving relatives of the said late Initiates. Let any one look over the Annals and History of Freemasonry in the archives of the Russian metropolis, and he will assure himself of the fact stated.” [8]
 
Turanian people include parts of Russia, and HPB mentions the existence in ancient times of “a common Turanian religion before the separation of the Chinese and the other tribes belonging to the Turanian class”. [9]
 
A 19th century fact illustrates the strength of the Slavonian connection within the inner side of the theosophical effort.  
 
The two Raja-Yogis who were in closer contact with Helena Blavatsky, Henry Olcott, Damodar Mavalankar and other theosophists during the first years of the theosophical movement had a colleague who was higher in wisdom than themselves and whose advice they were glad to follow. Such a “Master of Masters” is mentioned in theosophical literature as “Maha-Sahib” or “Master S.”. Several letters written by him are published in “Letters From the Masters of the Wisdom – Second Series” (TPH, India, 1925), and HPB once admitted he was “… half a Slavonian in his ‘present incarnation’ as he himself wrote to Colonel Olcott in New York”.[10]
 
While the seeds of a wiser civilization begin to sprout amid challenges that seem to be overwhelming, the dharma of the esoteric movement in Russia includes expanding its connection with the deeper roots of Eastern Slavic culture and the real sources of inspiration for the theosophical effort, and helping mankind as a whole adopt a more integrated and brotherly view of life.  
 
It is from the point of view of the centuries-old Slav culture that a more effective esoteric movement in Slav countries can help mankind understand the ancient doctrine of the heart that transcends words.
 
The esoteric movement from every country has something to learn from the Russian Soul and Russian culture, so as to better live and express the law of universal compassion in daily life.
 
NOTES:
 
[1] The present article refers to the theosophical movement as such. It does not refer to “Agni Yoga”, the movement founded by Nicholas and Helena Roerich in 1920. In order to discuss Agni Yoga, another article would be necessary. However, we often avoid discussing movements other than the theosophical.
 
[2] “History of Russian Philosophy”, by N. O. Lossky, London, George Allen and Unwin Ltd., first published in 1952, 416 pp., see p. 47.
 
[3] A Master of the Wisdom wrote to a theosophist: “At favourable times we let loose elevating influences which strike various persons in various ways. It is the collective aspect of many such thoughts that can give the correct note of action. We show no favors. The best corrective of error is an honest and open-minded examination of all facts subjective and objective.” (“Letters From the Masters of the Wisdom – First Series”, compiled by C. Jinarajadasa TPH, India, fourth edition, 1948, Letter 46, pp. 111-112.) See also, in our websites, the article “One for All, and All for One”, by Carlos C. Aveline.  
 
[4] Khomiakov is here quoted by Nikolai Berdyaev. The fragments are reproduced from a text by Berdyaev included in the book “On Spiritual Unity: a Slavophile Reader”, compiled, translated and edited by Boris Jakim and Robert Bird, Lindisfarne Books, NY, 1998, 365 pp., see pp. 338-339. In spite of the common ground between HPB’s writings and Khomiakov’s, there seems to be no direct reference to him in her writings.
 
[5] Read the article “Alexei Khomiakov, on Brotherhood”, by C. C. Aveline.
 
[6] As to HPB’s words on the pure ideal of Christ, see “Neo-Buddhism”, by H.P. Blavatsky, in her “Collected Writings”, Volume XII, p. 348. The article “Neo-Buddhism” is published in the associated websites under the title of “Answer to a Russian Philosopher”. Regarding Khomiakov’s view of the inner spirit of Christ, examine “The Cambridge History of Russia”, volume II, edited by Dominic Lieven, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, first paperback edition, 2015, 765 pp., see p.127.
 
[7] “Cagliostro, Le Maître Inconnu” (Etude historique et critique sur la Haute Magie), by Marc Haven, 1912 edition, chapitre IV, pp. 49-93.  The 1995 edition was published by Editions Dervy, Paris, Quatrième Édition: chapitre IV pp. 49-86. See also on Masonry in this period the book “Nikolay Novikov, enlightener of Russia”, by W. Gareth Jones, Cambridge University Press, 1984, pp. 272-273;  and the books by N. O. Lossky and V.V. Zenkovsky on the History of Russian Philosophy. The book by N. O. Lossky is available in the associated websites.
 
[8] “The Secret Doctrine”, H. P. Blavatsky, volume I, pp.  xxxv-xxxvi.
 
[9] “The Secret Doctrine”, H. P. Blavatsky, vol. I, p. xxix.
 
[10] H.P.B. in “Pertinent Queries”; see “Collected Writings”, TPH, volume X, p. 153. More information on the Maha-Sahib or Master S. can be found in the article “The Observatory of Luxor”, by CCA.  
 
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An initial version of the above article was published in the February 2013 edition of “The Aquarian Theosophist”.  The text was updated and revised on 4 April 2022.
 
Carlos Cardoso Aveline was born during the Cold War in 1952. He has had since childhood a degree of familiarity with Russian culture and literature. The feeling expanded when during the early 1970s his father lived in Russia for one year, after being a political prisoner in Brazil. 
 
In March 2022, the Independent Lodge of Theosophists started publishing texts in Russian language: Тексты на Русском.
 
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On the role of the esoteric movement in the ethical awakening of mankind during the 21st century, see the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.  
 
 
Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can be obtained through Amazon Books.
 
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