A Study in Theosophy,
And a Memoir of a Great
Soul
William Kingsland
Helena
P. Blavatsky (1831-1891)
A 2012 Editorial Note:
The 1928 edition of “The Real H. P. Blavatsky”, by William
Kingsland, is here reproduced in PDF format. The book has 322 pages, and constitutes
one of the best testimonies available on the founder of the modern esoteric
movement.
Life is not always easy. Learning Theosophy is more than an
intellectual process, and William Kingsland (1855-1936) wrote thus while referring
to Ms. Blavatsky:
“She taught us Theosophy - not as a mere form of
doctrine, not as a religion, or a philosophy, or a creed, or a working
hypothesis, but as a living power in our lives.” [1]
In 1909, Kingsland had to make a choice. Deeply disappointed by what he saw in the
theosophical movement, he denounced in an open letter to Annie Besant that she
had abandoned both ethics and theosophy. His manifesto was later published by another
loyal and direct student of H.P.B.’s, Mrs. Alice Leighton Cleather. [2]
The path to wisdom is uphill, steep and narrow. No one
is above mistakes.
Pitfalls are numerous and surround each important step
ahead. Vigilance is of the essence, as
the work “Dhammapada” clarifies in
its Chapter Two. An imperfection in Kingsland’s book serves to illustrate the
fact that even the best students must examine their sources at each step and every
moment, taking nothing for granted, so as to continuously develop their
discernment of what is right and what is wrong.
At. p. 173 of “The Real H. P. Blavatsky”, Kingsland refers en passant to “The Tibetan Book of the
Dead” as if it were a legitimate
Buddhist book and useful to students of theosophy. He most likely never read the book. If he had
done so, he would have another opinion.
The so-called “Tibetan Book of
the Dead” is a Ningma text and its
contents are Dugpasic. It is a pseudo-Buddhist handbook purporting to tell
people how to avoid the Law of Karma. Its statements are in direct
contradiction to Theosophical teachings regarding post-mortem states, karma and
ethics. [3]
Although subject to error - as every human being -, William
Kingsland was one of the best direct students of H.P. Blavatsky’s and one who
remained loyal to truth to the end. He showed more discernment than many, and
had a deep understanding of the esoteric philosophy.
His books brought significant contributions to
theosophical literature, as Boris de Zirkoff acknowledges in his text on Kingsland’s
life and work, included in “The Collected Writings of H. P. Blavatsky”.
Kingsland made a valiant defence of truth, and “The Real H.P. Blavatsky” includes as an
Appendix his critical analysis of the false accusations fabricated by the
Society for Psychical Research.
“The Real H.P. Blavatsky” offers
the reader a insightful approach to the emotional difficulties H.P.B. had to face in her
personality. See for instance pp. 36, 87-93, and 236. It also makes a revealing comparison between
H.P.B. and Jacob Boehme (whose books influenced many during the
beginnings of philosophy in Russia
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
See the
links:
NOTES:
[1] “What H.P. Blavatsky Taught Us”, an article by
William Kingsland published at www.TheosophyOnline.com , www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com and www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com .
[2]
“An Open Letter
to Annie Besant”, Alice Leighton
Cleather. The text can be found at the List of Texts in Alphabetical Order
in www.TheosophyOnline.com , www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com and www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com .
[3]
“Tibetan Book
of the Dead Is Ningma”, an article by
John Garrigues. See the List of Texts in Alphabetical Order in www.TheosophyOnline.com , www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com and www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com . Read
also, in the same websites, the article “Theosophy
and the Bardo Thodol”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline. “Bardo Thodol” is the Tibetan name of the so-called “Tibetan
Book of the Dead”.
0000000000000000000000000
Like Esoteric-Philosophy on Facebook and
Follow us on Twitter.
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.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
