64. Document from Barr, Alsace III

For information; it cannot yet be said in this form.

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by H. P. Blavatsky and H. $. Olcott. This first foundation had a distinctly Western character. And also the writing “Isis Unveiled”, in which Blavatsky published a great deal of occult truths, has such a Western character. However, it must be said of this writing that it presents the great truths that are communicated in it in a distorted, often caricatured way. It is as though a harmonious countenance were seen entirely distorted in a convex mirror. The things said in Isis are true, but the way they are said is an irregular reflection of the truth. This is due to the fact that the truths themselves are inspired by the great initiates of the West, who are also the initiators of the Rose Cross wisdom. The distortion stems from the inappropriate way in which these truths were absorbed by the soul of H. P. Blavatsky. For the educated world, this fact should have been proof of the higher source of inspiration for these truths. After all, no one who expressed them in such a distorted way could have received them through themselves. Because the initiators of the West saw how little chance they had of continuing the flow of spiritual wisdom into humanity in this way, they decided to abandon the matter in this form for the time being. But once the gate was open, Blavatsky's soul was prepared so that spiritual wisdom could flow into it. Eastern initiators were able to take possession of it. These Eastern initiators initially had the very best of intentions. They saw how humanity was heading towards the terrible danger of a complete materialization of the way of thinking through Anglo-Americanism. They, the Eastern Initiators, wanted to instill their form of anciently preserved spiritual knowledge into the Western world. Under the influence of this current, the Theosophical Society took on an Eastern character, and under the same influence, Sinnett's “Esoteric Buddhism” and Blavatsky's “Secret Doctrine” were inspired. But both became distortions of the truth. Sinnett's work distorts the lofty pronouncements of the initiators through an inadequate philosophical intellectualism carried into it, and Blavatsky's “Secret Doctrine” through their own chaotic soul.

The result of this was that the initiators, including the Eastern ones, increasingly withdrew their influence from the official Theosophical Society, and that this became a playground for all kinds of occult powers that distorted the high cause. There was a brief episode in which Annie Besant, through her pure, lofty way of thinking and living, came into the initiators' current. But this little episode came to an end when Annie Besant surrendered to the influence of certain Indians who, under the influence of German philosophers, who they misinterpreted, developed a grotesque intellectualism. That was the situation when I myself was faced with the necessity of joining the Theosophical Society. It had been founded by true initiates, and thus it is, even if subsequent events have given it a certain imperfection, for the time being an instrument for the spiritual life of the present. Its beneficial further development in Western countries depends entirely on the extent to which it proves capable of incorporating the principle of Western initiation among its influences. For the Eastern initiations must necessarily leave untouched the Christ principle as the central cosmic factor of evolution. Without this principle, however, the theosophical movement would have to remain without a decisive influence on Western cultures, which have the Christ life at their starting point. The revelations of Oriental initiation would have to present themselves in the West as a sect alongside living culture. They could only hope to succeed in evolution if they eradicated the Christ principle from Western culture. But this would be identical with extinguishing the actual purpose of the earth, which lies in the realization and realization of the intentions of the living Christ. To reveal this in its full wisdom, beauty and form is the deepest goal of Rosicrucianism. Regarding the value of Eastern wisdom as a subject of study, there can only be the opinion that this study is of the highest value because Western peoples have lost their sense of esotericism, while the Eastern peoples have retained it. But only the opinion should exist about the introduction of the right esotericism in the West that this can only be the Rosicrucian-Christian one, because it also gave birth to Western life, and because by losing it, humanity would deny the meaning and purpose of the earth. Only in this esoteric can the harmony of science and religion flourish, while any fusion of Western knowledge with Eastern esotericism can only produce such barren bastards as Sinnett's “Esoteric Buddhism” is. One can schematically represent the correct:

[Transcription:] Primordial Revelation Evolution Indian esotericism Christ / Esoteric Rosicrucianism Modern Western materialistic science Synthesis: fruitful modern Theosophy

the incorrect, of which Sinnett's “Esoteric Buddhism” and Blavatsky's “Secret Doctrine” are examples:

[Transcription:] Primordial Revelation Evolution Indian esotericism / Development not shared by the Eastern world / Modern materialistic science / Synthesis: Sinnett, Blavatzki.