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Exploring The Secret Doctrine of H. P. Blavatsky

The Philosophical Research Society・45 minutes read

David Orr established an arts program at PRS, discovering Theosophical texts that influenced artists like Mondrian and Kandinsky. Blavatsky's "The Secret Doctrine" integrates science, religion, and philosophy, providing insights into the spiritual evolution of humanity beyond scientific investigation.

Insights

  • Blavatsky's "The Secret Doctrine" presents a holistic view of the cosmos and human evolution, integrating ancient teachings with modern science, challenging prevailing beliefs of her time and emphasizing spiritual insights beyond scientific investigation.
  • The text explores the cyclical nature of the universe, the unity of all existence, and the spiritual evolution of humanity, highlighting the importance of transcending individuality to recognize unity with the cosmos, essential for ending the cycle of incarnation and achieving cooperation and resolution of conflicts.

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Recent questions

  • What is The Secret Doctrine?

    A book by Helena Blavatsky on spiritual evolution.

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Summary

00:00

"Theosophical Influence on Modern Art and Science"

  • David Orr was the inaugural artist in residence at PRS, establishing the arts program and the Hansel gallery.
  • While working with the special collection, he discovered Theosophical texts, including the private instructions of Helena Blavatsky.
  • Blavatsky had a significant influence on early 20th-century art, particularly on symbolist poets and abstract painters like Mondrian and Kandinsky.
  • Mondrian and Kandinsky were notably influenced by Blavatsky, with Mondrian even having her picture in his studio for years.
  • Orr attended a Lodge meeting at the Crotona Institute, where he met Pablo Sender, a microbiologist and Theosophical Society member.
  • Pablo Sender holds a PhD in biological sciences, has presented lectures worldwide, and authored "Evolution of the Higher Consciousness."
  • Orr highlighted the importance of supporting authors like Sender by purchasing their books directly rather than through online retailers.
  • Sender discussed the Secret Doctrine, Blavatsky's magnum opus, emphasizing the need to understand its source in her life and travels.
  • Blavatsky's early life in Russia, psychic abilities, and encounters with a mysterious teacher shaped her journey to spread Eastern philosophy in the West.
  • After training in Tibet, Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in the US in 1875 and published the Secret Doctrine in 1888, aiming to integrate science, religion, and philosophy.

21:20

"The Secret Doctrine: Cosmic and Human Evolution"

  • The Secret Doctrine comprises two volumes: "Cosmic Genesis" and "Anthropogenic," focusing on the cosmos' evolution and humanity's beginnings and evolution on Earth, respectively.
  • Each volume is divided into three parts: the first part in each volume delves into cosmic evolution and anthropogenic evolution, based on ancient stanzas translated and commented on by Blavatsky.
  • The second part of both volumes explores symbolism related to the cosmos and human beings, while the third part contrasts the science of Blavatsky's time with the teachings in The Secret Doctrine.
  • Blavatsky's work in 1888 laid the foundations of quantum physics, challenging the prevailing scientific beliefs of the time regarding the divisibility of atoms and the nature of forces.
  • The Secret Doctrine contains teachings from a mysterious ancient book called the Book of Dzyan, believed to be the only original copy in existence, written in a language predating Sanskrit known as Senzar.
  • Blavatsky claims that humanity's evolution is guided by divine beings or gods, who impart fundamental truths to more evolved individuals, shaping religious beliefs and guiding humanity's progress.
  • The stanzas in The Secret Doctrine are records of unknown seers, written in a language beyond conventional linguistic knowledge, translated by Blavatsky into European languages for the first time.
  • Blavatsky asserts that the knowledge in The Secret Doctrine is obtained through meditation, offering insights into the spiritual evolution of humanity and the universe beyond the scope of scientific investigation.
  • The teachings in The Secret Doctrine are based on the research of adept seers who have developed their physical, mental, psychic, and spiritual faculties over generations, verifying their insights through independent visions and experiences.
  • Blavatsky emphasizes the importance of developing spiritual perception to access truths beyond the physical realm, akin to discovering mathematical truths through intellectual powers, highlighting the significance of spiritual training in understanding the cosmos and human nature.

43:18

Unity, Cycles, and Evolution: Blavatsky's Principles

  • Blavatsky's first fundamental principle is the integration of good and evil beyond human distinctions, as mystics suggest a higher unity.
  • The second principle highlights the cyclic nature of the universe, where everything, including human moods and existence, goes through repetitive cycles of birth, death, and rebirth.
  • Blavatsky's third principle emphasizes that every soul, a spark of the universal soul, must undergo an obligatory pilgrimage to recognize its unity with the whole.
  • Mystics perceive unity when they transcend individual experiences, realizing they are part of the universal principle, leading to cooperation and conflict resolution.
  • The spiritual path involves evolving from a sense of individuality to recognizing oneself as part of the whole, essential for ending the cycle of incarnation.
  • The stanzas in the first volume of "The Secret Doctrine" describe the cyclic nature of the universe, with periods of rest and activity, and the eternal unity behind all existence.
  • Blavatsky's poetic verses in the stanzas depict the eternal parent space, the concept of duration as a timeless principle, and the latent intelligence in the cosmos awaiting manifestation.
  • The awakening of the cosmos in the stanzas symbolizes the emergence of the deity, representing the radiant child of the tool, unveiling reality and revealing the great illusion.
  • In the second volume, Blavatsky introduces three new propositions challenging modern science and religious dogmas, including the simultaneous evolution of seven human groups on different continents.
  • Blavatsky's propositions in the second volume also discuss the birth of the astral body before the physical body, the non-physical stages of humanity's evolution, and humanity's appearance before mammals on Earth.

01:04:03

"Soul Evolution: Good, Evil, and Myth"

  • Souls called the Wind incarnated into mature bodies, choosing to enter some, project a spark into others, or defer incarnation for later cycles based on wisdom. Those who entered became sages, those with a spark remained lacking higher knowledge, and those without a soul became mindless, leading to the creation of apes from this group of humanity.
  • Evolution is depicted as a varied journey where souls start at different points, explaining the existence of good and evil as a reflection of soul maturity. Evil acts are attributed to immature souls, emphasizing the cyclical nature of actions and the philosophical approach to understanding myths and allegorical language in the Secret Doctrine.
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