Theos-Talk Archives (March 1995 Message tl00194)

Dear Fellow THEOS-L subscribers,

I guess since this seems to be a good time to discuss
theosophical "heresies" (such as Paul Johnson's suggestion that
the Masters were but influential friends of HPB and not
semi-mystical divine presences abiding in a Himalayan fastness),
I'd like to point readers on this mailing list to an interesting
book.

It's called "Light of the Sanctuary", by Geoffrey Hodson.  GH, as
he was affectionately known to many in New Zealand, developed a
considerable reputation over the years for his very clear
writings on theosophical topics, especially on meditation, yoga
and devas, and some of the results of his scholarship and
claivoyance, including investigations into the symbolic meaning
found in music, mythology and the Bible.

What many people didn't know about GH was that he was in almost
daily contact with the Masters of HPB and Col.  Olcott, and he
kept detailed diaries, which he permitted to have published
(somewhat edited) after his death, in order to make a statement
about Their reality to the theosophical world.

The result has been a rather controversial book.  On one side,
there are traditionalists, including those who continue to revere
CWL and AB, who assert that this is a wonderful proof of Their
continued existence and help to the TS, even today.  On the other
side, this is viewed by some theosophists as just another set of
channeled writings and potential delusion from one whose
clairvoyance may have been influenced by unconscious kriyashakti.

What do you think? Well, you probably haven't seen the book,
because all of the theosophical publishing houses approached
refused to publish the book.  Instead, it was privately published
by the TS in the Philippines, and therefore hasn't reached the
audience it might have.

If there is interest in some of the statements by and
descriptions of the current activities of the Masters, I'd be
happy to transcribe extracts for this list.

Thanks,

Paul Gillingwater