Examining an Aspect of
The Eastern Esoteric Doctrine
Steven H. Levy, M.D.
00000000000000000000000000000
Steven H. Levy is an
associate
of the United Lodge
of Theosophists,
U.L.T., in Philadelphia , USA
000000000000000000000000000000000000
The “Summing
Up” section of “The Secret Doctrine”
(SD) [1] begins with a demonstration
of the need for the proper use of secrecy. The true value of secrecy can be
best expressed in the meaning of the word “Upanishads” which is “the conquest
of ignorance by the revelation of secret, spiritual knowledge”.
Esoteric
knowledge is withheld when it will compound ignorance if given to the wrong
person at the wrong time and place. It is revealed when it is likely to reduce
ignorance. Ignorance is the greatest foe to human solidarity, happiness, and
progress.
Secrecy
may be abused if it is used to prolong ignorance when it is necessary and
appropriate to reveal knowledge. The selfish withholding of knowledge is
usually based on spiritual pride or the desire to control others through
ignorance. With knowledge comes power and responsibility. The esoteric
tradition on the history of the Upanishads - as explained in SD, Vol. I, pp.
269-272 -, is a lesson on use and abuse of secrecy.
The
Upanishads are attached to the Brahmana portion of the Vedas. They contain
esoteric keys to the understanding of the secret meaning of the Vedas. In
truth, they can no longer be considered esoteric since they are attached to
sacred Brahmanical writings that are available to all. In their present form
they no longer reveal the “beginning and end of all human knowledge”. Half of
their original contents have been eliminated while some of the portions have
been rewritten and abridged. In their complete original form they were attached
to the Brahmanas and used for the instruction of disciples preparing for
initiation. No one else outside the sacred caste of Temple Brahmans
The
sacred duty of silence and secrecy of the Brahmins and their disciples was to
preserve and protect the mysteries of the Upanishads from distortion and abuse
in the hands of those who were not prepared to receive them. Even so, a veil of
impenetrable secrecy, more secret than secrecy itself, was thrown around the
sacred esoteric texts. Even if they were to fall into the wrong hands, without
the understanding of the mysteries of sound, rhythm, and intonation which could
arouse the inner light of higher mind in the disciple, the inner meaning of the
Upanishads and the Vedas would not be unveiled to the trespasser.
The
key to the Brahmanical secret code and all their sacred knowledge and occult
wisdom was known by the Initiates of a great seat of occult learning even
before it had passed to the Brahmins. This refers to a vast geographic region
that included Mongolia , Tibet , parts of China ,
and parts of India
Whereas
the earlier Brahmins maintained secrecy out of their sacred duty, the later
seclusive and secretive Brahmins tried to create more confusion and deny their
knowledge to the “Mlechchhas”, who were the ancient Indian equivalent of
unfamiliar, foreign, uncouth, and incomprehensible barbarians. The Brahmins
abridged the texts of the Upanishads and were able to publicly deny the
correctness of the teachings of the Buddha. Secrecy held because of pride does
not only manifest through sins of commission of deceit, it can also manifest as
sins of omission.
Shankaracharya,
one of the greatest initiates of all time, wrote many commentaries on the
Upanishads. His original commentaries on the esoteric doctrines of the Brahmins
are kept secret from disdainful and materialistic persons, but they are too
jealously preserved in his monasteries. The Smartava Brahmins, a sect founded
by Shankaracharya, has students learned in the esoteric doctrine, yet they are
extremely exclusive, proud, and inclined by nature to be silent and restrained
in communication. Silence is golden, but an indifferent tongue needs to be aroused
to action and guided by truth so that its lead nature may be transmuted into
gold for the benefit of all.
These
excerpts from “The Secret Doctrine” illustrate the use and misuse of secrecy:
* “The name, ‘Upanishads’, is usually
translated ‘esoteric doctrine’. These treatises form part of the Sruti or
‘revealed knowledge’, Revelation, in short, and are generally attached
to the Brahmana portion of the Vedas, as their third division.
There are over 150 Upanishads enumerated by, and known to, Orientalists,
who credit the oldest with being written probably about 600 years B.C.;
but of genuine texts there does not exist a fifth of the number. The
Upanishads are to the Vedas what the Kabala is to the Jewish Bible. They treat
of and expound the secret and mystic meaning of the Vedic texts. They speak of
the origin of the Universe, the nature of Deity, and of Spirit and Soul, as
also of the metaphysical connection of mind and matter. In a few words: They
CONTAIN the beginning and the end of all human knowledge, but they
have now ceased to REVEAL it, since the day of Buddha.” [3]
*
This lasted so long as the Vedas and the Brahmanas remained in the sole and
exclusive keeping of the temple-Brahmins - while no one else had the right to
study or even read them outside of the sacred caste. Then came Gautama,
the Prince of Kapilavastu. After learning the whole of the Brahmanical
wisdom in the Rahasya or the Upanishads, and finding that the
teachings differed little, if at all, from those of the “Teachers of Life” inhabiting
the snowy ranges of the Himalaya, the Disciple of the Brahmins, feeling
indignant because the sacred wisdom was thus withheld from all but the
Brahmins, determined to save the whole world by popularizing it. Then it was
that the Brahmins, seeing that their sacred knowledge and Occult wisdom was
falling into the hands of the “Mlechchhas”, abridged the texts of the Upanishads, originally
containing thrice the matter of the Vedas and the Brahmanas together, without
altering, however, one word of the texts. They simply detached from the MSS. the most important portions
containing the last word of the Mystery of Being. The key to the Brahmanical
secret code remained henceforth with the initiates alone, and the Brahmins were
thus in a position to publicly deny the correctness of Buddha’s teaching by
appealing to their Upanishads, silenced for ever on the chief questions.
Such is the esoteric tradition beyond the Himalayas .”
[4]
Thus,
we have seen how the practice of secrecy is colored by the influence of the
three Gunas - Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
When
Sattva prevails, the soul is bound to secrecy by attachment to that which is
true, sacred, and beautiful. The individual is silent and secretive in order to
preserve and protect the true, beautiful, and sacred from degradation, misuse,
profanation, ridicule, and the harm that may result. However, the motive may be
tainted with spiritual pride and a feeling of superiority for possessing that
which is true, sacred and beautiful.
When
Rajas prevails, the soul is bound to secrecy by attachment to power, wealth,
fame, and pride. The individual is silent and secretive, but performs selfish
actions to preserve and protect one’s power, wealth, fame, and self- regard
irrespective of the conflict, misery and ignorance it may cause for others.
When
Tamas prevails, the soul is bound to silence and secrecy by attachment to the
tendencies of the personal nature that are passive and indifferent. Silence and
secrecy is the result of a natural inertia in the personality that leads to
inaction in a deed of mercy or duty when there should be deeds and words.
When
the soul has freed itself from attachment to these three great qualities of
nature, the individual uses them rather than being influenced by them. The
spiritually wise preserve and protect the truth because of their love of
humanity and devotion to sacred duty. They actively guard the truth by veiling
it when it is necessary and unveiling it in degrees when it is necessary and
proper. They preserve secrecy indifferent and unresponsive to the pleasure and
pain to themselves that may result.
NOTES:
[1] “The Secret
Doctrine”, Helena P. Blavatsky, Theosophy Company, Los
Angeles
[2] For further
explanation of this ancient seat of occult learning, read the APPENDIX to the
article, “Brahmanism On The Sevenfold Principle In Man”, by H.P. Blavatsky, notes
1, 2, and 3, which may be found in the volume “Five Years of Theosophy”,
Theosophy Co., Los Angeles
[3] “The Secret
Doctrine”, H. P. Blavatsky, volume I, pp. 269-270.
[4] “The Secret
Doctrine”, volume I.
00000000000
The above text was first published at the Yahoo e-group E-Theosophy, in January 2012.
Always
visit www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com
, www.TheosophyOnline.com and www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com
.
If you want to
have access to a daily study of the original teachings of Theosophy, write to
lutbr@terra.com.br and ask for information on the e-group E-THEOSOPHY.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
