On April 26, May 8, according to the new style, 1891, at the age of 59, Elena Petrovna Blavatsky, a brilliant Russian woman who laid the foundations of the theosophical movement in the world, quietly died in her office at her desk. To this day, the skeptical minds of Russia and Western countries with great caution, one might say with distrust, perceive the existence in the inaccessible areas of the Himalayas of the Brotherhood of the Teachers of Wisdom, the great Mahatmas, who revealed the talent of a seer, mediator, great scientist and talented writer, such as Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.
The question "Who are you, Mrs. Blavatsky and who are you really with?" remains open to this day. She was a unique, harmonious personality, in which such talents were combined - an excellent musician, a brave traveler, a conscientious historian, a fiery publicist, an artist, a philosopher and a theologian. She is a model of devotion, conscientiousness, fidelity and kindness, a scientist of encyclopedic knowledge, who did not take into account age, health, and boldly overcame such obstacles that even a strong man could not do. But the greatest goal of her life, set before her by the Great Teachers and Fate, was the creation of the Theosophical Society, which sought to unite all the peoples of the world into one brotherly family. This noble woman, the theosophist and scientist, fulfilled her task successfully.
Elena Petrovna possessed enormous psychic powers. She subordinated them to one noble goal - to do good to people, to help them in misfortunes, not to lose courage, to adequately overcome worldly storms. Her phenomenal occult experiences relieved suffering, gave rise to hope for revealing the secrets of human life, and brought new unexplored knowledge to the people. Mysticism, occultism, esotericism, theosophy - this is an incomplete list of her favorite topics and activities. In them, she felt like a fish in water or an astronaut in space.
God endowed her with great wisdom, from which she herself became embarrassed. In disputes with scientists of her time, she amazed them with her deep knowledge of various sciences, natural and humanitarian. Probably, there was no such science and its problems in the world that E.P. would not find an answer. And let's say that her answers were accurate, correct and consistent with the data of both historical and natural sciences. She could not understand where such a miracle fell on her head. Therefore, in his letter to his sister Vera Zhelikhovskaya, he writes:
"Don't be afraid, I'm not crazy. All I can say is that someone definitely inspires me... moreover, someone enters me. I am not the one who speaks and writes - it is something inside me, my higher, radiant I thinks and writes for me. Do not ask me, my friend, what I experience in this, for I am unable to clearly explain. I don't understand myself! The only thing I know is that now, with age, I have become something of a storehouse of someone else's knowledge ...
Someone comes, envelops me in a misty cloud and suddenly pushes me out of myself, and then I am no longer "I" - Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, but someone else. Someone strong and powerful, born in a completely different place. As for myself, it’s as if I’m sleeping or lying next to me, almost unconscious - not in my body, but very close by, and only some kind of thin thread keeps me near him, connecting me with him. However, at times I see and hear everything quite clearly: I am perfectly aware of what my body, or at least its new owner, is saying or doing. I even understand and remember all this so well that I can later write down his words ... At such moments I notice fear and awe on the faces of Olcott and others and follow with interest how he looks at them with some pity through my eyes and teaches these people, using my material, physical language for this. But not with my mind, but with my own, which envelops my consciousness like a cloud ... Ah, in fact, I can’t explain everything ”(1). (Letter to Vera. New York, 1875).
Blavatsky also writes about her abilities to her aunt, Nadezhda Fadeeva, with whom she was brought up and studied:
“Tell me, my dear, are you interested in physiological and psychological secrets? Here you have one of them, quite worthy of staggering any physiologist: in our [Theosophical] Society there are several exceptionally educated members, for example, Professor Wilder, one of the first archaeologists and orientalists in the United States, and all these people come to me to learn from me, and I swear that I understand all kinds of Oriental languages and sciences, both exact and abstract, much better than these learned men themselves. It is a fact! And facts are stubborn things, you can't argue with them. So tell me, how could it happen that I, whose education up to the age of forty was so terribly lame, suddenly became a beacon of knowledge in the eyes of truly learned people? This fact is the incomprehensible mystery of Nature. I am some kind of mystery of psychology, a puzzle for future generations, a kind of Sphinx! Just imagine: I, having never studied anything in my life, having nothing but superficial information of the most general nature, never having the slightest idea about physics, chemistry, zoology, and nothing at all, now suddenly became able to write entire dissertations on these subjects. I enter into discussions with pundits, into disputes, from which I often emerge victorious ... This is not a joke, I am completely serious, I do not understand how it all works out.
It is true that for almost three years now I have been studying, reading, and thinking everything day and night. But no matter what I happen to read, it all seems familiar to me ... I find errors in the most learned articles, in the lectures of Tyndall, Herbert Spencer, Huxley and others. If any archaeologist happens to challenge me to a dispute, then at parting he will certainly assure me that I explained to him the meaning of various monuments and pointed out to him things that he would never have thought of. All the symbols of antiquity with their secret meanings come to my mind and stand before my mind's eye as soon as they are discussed in a conversation.
One student of Faraday, Professor X., who was unanimously dubbed "the father of experimental physics" in the scientific world, spent yesterday evening with me and now assures me that I am able to "put Faraday himself in the belt." Maybe they are all just stupid? But you can't imagine that friends and foes alike have united to make me the luminary of science, if everything I do turns out to be just my own wild theories.
And if only Olcott, who was devoted to me, and my other Theosophists, held such a high opinion of me, then one could say: "Dans le pays des aveugles les borgnes sont rois." But all sorts of professors, doctors of sciences and doctors of theology are constantly crowding in my house, from morning to evening ... For example, there are two Jewish rabbis here, Adler and Goldstein, both of whom are considered the greatest Talmudists. They know by heart the Kabbalah of Simon Ben Yochai and the Nazarene Codex by Bardesan. They were brought to me by Mr. A., a Protestant priest and Bible commentator, who hoped they would prove me wrong about a wording in the Chaldean Bible of Onkelos. And how did it all end? I defeated them. I quoted whole phrases in Hebrew to them and proved to the rabbis that Onkelos was one of the authorities of the Babylonian school.”(2). (Letter to N. Fadeeva. New York, 1875).
The phenomenal psychic talents of Blavatsky showed the world that the mysterious forces that so frighten a person can be known, unraveled and put to the service of people. Even enemies, scathing critics and scoffers, even they recognized the breadth and depth of her secret knowledge. Blavatsky was not afraid of anyone, because she knew the truth behind her. With her mind, loyalty and obedience, she entered into the confidence of the Mahatmas, the Great Teachers of Humanity, under their control she completed a seven-year course of study, and left to her descendants a large literary heritage in cosmology, theosophy, history, esotericism, religion and philosophy.
Anyone who has read at least one of Blavatsky's works will understand who Elena Petrovna was in life, how she adorned the world with her presence, how she saved a person from troubles and suffering. Her works, written with the help of the Mahatmas, are "Isis Unveiled" in 2 volumes, "The Secret Doctrine" in 3 volumes, "The Voice of Silence", "The Key to Theosophy", "Esoteric Christianity", "The Theosophical Dictionary" and many others testify that the level of knowledge of this scientist, for most of her contemporaries, was unattainable. Her books are devoted to the disclosure of errors, both in science and in the world, to the knowledge of the secret forces of nature and man, to emancipate him from dogmatic religion, from the abyss of ignorance so that a person becomes a strong spirit, lives longer, is not afraid of difficulties, violence and untruth. . The level of her knowledge, conveyed in books, is comprehensive and testifies to the immense heights achieved by a simple Russian woman, endowed with willpower, talent, and the ability to overcome any obstacles.
Companions noted in her notes, even on one page, four different handwriting and style of presentation. It was true. Because the hand of Blavatsky was led by three different Mahatmas. They helped her create immortal books and theories. It was they, the Mahatmas, who dictated to her whole pages of the books "Isis Unveiled" and "The Secret Doctrine", supplied her with the necessary literature in the astral form, determined the content of books, modern problems, including the Cosmos and our planet. Her books have become textbooks for many generations of scientists, researchers and simply lovers of human wisdom. On the knowledge of H.P.B. thousands of scientific papers, monographs, textbooks were written, contributing to the development of science and society. The legacy of Blavatsky revealed to the thoughtful reader the meaning and purpose of his own life, gave answers to numerous questions and mysteries of life. It's no secret that The Secret Doctrine was Albert Einstein's handbook, and Isis Unveiled was the Nobel laureate, doctor from Lambarene, Albert Schweitzer.
The works of Blavatsky are a real encyclopedia of theosophical and esoteric philosophy. By studying them, the reader will get an idea of what is the strength of genuine occult doctrines, what moral and philosophical guidelines they give people in order to overcome difficulties; what unites different religions and mystical schools, what benefits they bring to society. And also, what are the ethical and psychological requirements imposed on man by science, knowledge of the laws of life and cosmic laws. Elena Petrovna never personally ascribed to herself all the merit and glory from her works, knowing full well that a large share in their creation belongs to close friends and associates. With great respect she treats her Teachers, theosophists and philosophers, friends and assistants, who opened before her the fascinating world of knowledge, and showed the way leading to wisdom, knowledge, solving the complex problems of our time.
For us, Blavatsky is the producer and herald of the lofty spiritual teaching called Theosophy. It united all religions of the world, philosophies and space science. Our duty is to rehabilitate her good name and protect her from unscrupulous critics, who do not benefit, but harm human society, its progress and shorten its life. These are the Solovyov brothers, the London Psychical Society, and other enemies who failed to understand the phenomenal abilities and genius of the author. It was they who ruffled her nerves, persecuted her and tried with all their might to discredit the great theosophist by declaring Blavatsky a charlatan. We are pained and ashamed of such people who, without understanding her life and work, issued a prosecutor's verdict.
We believe that Helena Blavatsky died prematurely. 59 years is, if not the heyday, then not the end - for sure. She should live and live and write her wise books.
In her Will, E. Blavatsky ordered that annually, on the anniversary of her death, her faithful friends, associates and listeners, gathering at the Headquarters of the Theosophical Society, read chapters from Edwin Arnold's book "The Light of Asia" and excerpts from the Bhagavad Gita, books who were close to her. Because in them she found pieces of her soul and heart.
On April 17, 1892, shortly before the first anniversary of her death (May 8, 1891), Colonel G.S. Olcott issued at the Headquarters of the Theosophical Society of Adyar, an Executive Order by which he officially established the "White Lotus Day", in memory of the death of H.P. Blavatsky. The named Order was a tribute to the blessed memory of a great public figure, a prominent scientist, a theosophist of world renown, whose works are admired by the whole reading world. Since that time, the Theosophical Societies of all countries and peoples annually hold their events to perpetuate the memory of the great theosophist.
Last Message to the World Congress of Theosophists
Feeling the approach of death, Blavatsky, in her Annual Message to the World Congress of Theosophists, held April 26-27, 1891 in Boston, wrote the following: “Here I have spoken in full; I do not have the strength to write a longer message, but this is the last thing I need, since my faithful friend and messenger, Annie Besant, who is here my right hand, is able to convey to you my wishes more fully and better than I am able put it on paper. In the end, all the wishes and thoughts that I could express come down to one single phrase, the ever-waking desire of my heart: "Be Theosophists, work for Theosophy!" Begin with Theosophy and end with Theosophy, for only its practical implementation can save the Western world from those selfish, by no means fraternal moods that divide races and peoples, only it can save the world from class hatred and class contradictions - this curse and shame of the so-called Christian peoples. Theosophy is the only one that can save the West from being completely immersed in a purely luxurious materialism, in which the Western world will rot and decay, as happened to older civilizations.
It is to you, Brethren, that the welfare of the coming century is entrusted; but as great is the trust, so great is the responsibility. Apparently, I myself have not long to live, and if at least one of you was able to learn something from my teaching or received a glimpse of the True Light with my help, then in return I will ask you to further strengthen the cause, with the victory of which this The True Light, becoming brighter and more majestic due to your individual and collective efforts, will illuminate the whole world, and before I part with this worn-out body, I will have time to see that the stability and stability of the Society is guaranteed. May the blessings of the great Teachers past and present be with you. From me personally, accept all together the assurances of my genuine, unshakable brotherly feelings and sincere, heartfelt gratitude for the work done by all the employees. From your faithful servant to the end, H. P. Blavatsky.
Colleagues and friends about Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Paying tribute to the day of memory of Helena Blavatsky - the Day of the White Lotus, Helena Roerich, a great admirer of her work, spoke on this occasion as follows: “I will say that HPB was the fiery messenger of the White Brotherhood. It was she who was the bearer of the knowledge entrusted to her. It was she who was the great spirit who took upon herself the heavy task - to give a shift to the consciousness of mankind, entangled in the dead snares of dogmas, and rushing to the dead end of atheism ... H. P. Blavatsky was a great martyr, in the full meaning of the word. Envy, slander and persecution of ignorance killed her, and her work remained unfinished. The last, final volume of The Secret Doctrine did not materialize. Thus people deprive themselves of the highest. I bow before the great spirit and fiery heart of our compatriot and I know that in the future Russia her name will be placed on the proper height of reverence. E.P. Blavatsky, truly, is our national pride. Great martyr for Light and Truth. Eternal glory to her!” (4). (H.I. Roerich "Letters to America". 09/08/1934).
Here are some excerpts from an article by a man who was with her for the last six or seven years of her life, whom she sent to "work" in India a few months before her death. He was one of the main figures and assistants to the president of the TO, giving him his whole life and all his fortune - this is Bertram Keatley. He is one of many ridiculed by V. Solovyov, which does not prevent him from being an intelligent, educated, sincere and honest person.
“From the moment I first met her eyes,” he writes among other things, “a feeling of complete trust in her arose in me, as if in an old, tried friend. This feeling never weakened and did not change - did it grow stronger and grow as I got to know her better ... Often months, even years later, as my moral growth allowed me to understand things more clearly and broadly, I, looking back at my past, I was amazed that I did not understand before all the correctness of her instructions ... Over the years, the debt of my gratitude to her - her guiding hand for good - increased, as a mountain avalanche grows from a handful of snow and I will never be able to repay her for all her good deeds ... ".
Here he tells how the doubts, unbelief and materialism of our time gnawed at him; how he entered into an active life only under the protection of conventional morality, a stereotyped consciousness of honor, with a certain dose of youthful sentimentality, ready to admire alien virtues, but at the same time strongly doubting not only their merit and necessity, but decisively “in everything that modern science could not prove.
“What has life prepared for me? What would become of me? he exclaims. “I would plunge into complete selfishness, into self-destruction of the spirit. E.P. saved me from such a fate. Blavatsky with her teaching... She saved me, as she saved many others. Before I knew it, life for me was devoid of an ideal worthy of struggle ... The recognition of the destruction indicated by materialism - this fatal and final act of being - dampened every generous movement with a bitter consciousness of its uselessness and my impotence ... I did not see reasons and goals to pursue the difficult, the lofty and distant, when the all-devouring death must, of course, cut the thread of life, long before the achievement of the intended good goals! life's struggle!
It was from this debilitating moral paralysis that choked my inner life with a heavy oppression and poisoned every hour of my existence, she, - E.P. Blavatsky - delivered me! Me — and others!.. Don't we owe her more than our lives?..
I continue. Every thinking and feeling person sees himself surrounded by fatal tasks. From all sides, the menacing sphinxes are ready to devour entire races if they do not solve their riddles ... We see that the best efforts of mankind bring evil, not good. A gloomy emptiness embraces us, and where should we look for light?.. E.P. Blavatsky showed us this light. She taught those who wished to listen to her to seek within themselves the rays of that “eternal star of light that shines on the path of time,” and by the desire for self-improvement indicated the possibility of kindling them ... She made us realize that a person who is strong in spirit, who knows how to forget about himself in the desire to help humanity, holds the key to salvation in his hands, because the mind and heart of that person are overflowing with wisdom, arising from pure, altruistic love, which gives knowledge of the true paths of life. That's what E.P. Blavatsky forced us, me and many others, to recognize it as the truth. Isn't she worthy of gratitude? (5). (B. Keatley on Blavatsky).
And here are the confessions of Marquis José Chiffre, delegate of the Spanish branch of the Theosophical Society to the convention of the European Section in London. After Blavatsky's death, he left his memoirs about her:
“... I would like to point out to the whole world the enormous influence that her high soul had on me! he says (Lucifer and other theosophical journals, July and August 1891). - To the change that took place in my feelings, thoughts and concepts about spiritual and material objects - in my whole life, in a word - when I met this amazing woman. Mr. Sinnett, in his excellent article on her in The Review of Reviews (June, 1891), quite rightly said: “H. P. Blavatsky has always and everywhere ruled. She had to be either infinitely loved or hated! She could never be an object of indifference to those who approached her...”. I think this is remarkably true...
When I first came to London for the sole purpose of seeing and getting to know her, H.R.W. (H.P.B.), whose gifts made a deep impression on me, I knew that I would see the most remarkable personality of our age intellect, as well as in her vast knowledge. The feeling that attracted me to her was not simple curiosity, but an omnipotent, irresistible attraction ... But reality surpassed all my expectations! .. Her first glance penetrated my soul and, as it were, humiliated, destroyed in me the personality that I was before. .. This process, incomprehensible and inexplicable for myself, but completely real and inevitable, manifested itself immediately and unceasingly took place in the deep recesses of my spiritual and moral being ... The transformation of my individuality, with its former inclinations and feelings, gradually took place complete .. I will not even try to explain this apparently amazing fact - the disappearance of my former personality, but it will never be erased from my memory ...
With each new date, feelings of trust, affection and devotion to her increased in me. After all, I owe her my rebirth! It was only when I recognized her that I knew moral balance and peace of mind. She gave me hope for the future. She instilled in me her generous, noble aspirations. It radically changed my everyday coexistence, raising the ideals of life, showing me a high goal in it: striving for the tasks of theosophy, for self-improvement in work, for the benefit of mankind ...
Death of E.P. Blavatsky is a bitter trial for me, as well as for all the workers of Theosophists who knew her personally and owe her an immortal debt of gratitude. I, personally, lost a friend and teacher in her, who cleansed me of life's filth, restored my faith in humanity! .. In the great example of her courage, self-denial, selflessness and generosity, I will find the strength to work all my life for a cause that we all owe protect.
May her memory be blessed!
Dear brothers and friends, these are the few words that I wanted to say that I will never forget what I owe her. Let enemies and materialists explain, if they can, the strength of H.P.'s influence and power. Blavatsky; if they cannot, let them be silent!.. The tree is known by its fruits, and our actions will be judged and judged by their results.” (6). ("What H.P.B. did for me." Lucifer. July. 1891. Extracts).
Giving information about her sister, Vera Zhelikhovskaya asks readers not to reproach her, following the example of Vsevolod Solovyov, that she exalts her sister and her teaching. She does not exalt her, but wants to prove that “in the West and in the East there are many people who have the data to look at her truly with reverence; and this means that there were real merit in her out of the ordinary, even apart from her scholarship and, of course, apart from all sorts of “phenomena” to which only superficial people completely unfamiliar with her teaching could attach any significance. By virtue of this legitimate desire to restore the personality of my sister in the opinion of the Russians, who learned about her only from Mr. Solovyov’s humiliating satire on her (and, unfortunately, there are many of them!), I wrote this last chapter, dedicated to her alone ”(7 ). (V. Zhelikhovskaya. About her sister).
People of all countries responded to the death of Helena Blavatsky, including such as Crookes, Flammarion, Stead, Hartmann, Hubbe-Schleiden, Beck, Fullerton, Ayton, Buchanan and many others. All of them honored her memory with their memoirs and speeches.
Zhelikhovskaya cites the words of Professor Hubbe-Schleiden, written by him in his journal Sphinx:
“Whatever friend or foe may think of the deceased, whether divine honors or contempt would be rendered to her, everyone must agree that she was one of the most wonderful human creatures that appeared in our century: she was one of a kind ... Not the time has yet come for the final judgment upon her; but we cannot refrain from saying that we, like many others who are aware of the same thing, are indebted to her and thank her for inspirations that are priceless!.. She is one of those of whom Schiller said correctly: love and hatred of pariahs, In the annals of world history, her personality is coming - immortal!
“How many women in the world were not distinguished by either a special origin, or wealth, or connections or patronage of the powerful of this world, but only solely by their personal merits, after whose death such an epitaph would be offered? .. And we must also take into account attention that it was proposed not by any of Blavatsky's personal friends, devoted to her for life and death, but by a person, a comparative stranger, who knew her very little, who estimated her more by the results of her activities and scientific works than by sympathy" (8) . (Zhelikhovskaya about her sister)..
At an emergency convention, writes Zhelikhovskaya, on the occasion of the death of the founder of the Theosophical Society, delegates from India, America, Australia and all countries of Western Europe, chaired by the founding president, devoted all the first meetings exclusively to her memory. There was not enough space in the large meeting hall in the London Theosophical Headquarters: external halls had to be hired to accommodate more than a thousand people.
Immediately it was decided to open a universal subscription to raise money for the Blavatsky Foundation, "H.P.B's Memorial Fund". This was done to fulfill her desire, for which she worked tirelessly. Namely: for the printing of works on questions of Theosophy, both original and translated from the Sanskrit and ancient Tamil languages; writings, acquaintance with which “will serve the union between East and West.
Then the question of repositories for her ashes was raised. The Theosophists of India demanded that the ashes of Blavatsky be returned to them. So that, according to her own desire, her ashes rest in Adyar. But Colonel Olcott, condescending to the desires of "the brethren of other parts of the world", decided, taking into account that the theosophical activity of H.P. Blavatsky “is divided into three periods: New York, her cradle; Adyar, her altar, and London, her grave, proposed to divide it into three parts, and his proposal was unanimously approved. E.P. Blavatsky bequeathed that her body was committed not to the earth, but to fire. It was burned at the London Crematorium on May 11, 1891.
The delegates from Sweden asked to be allowed to deliver, for the London Headquarters, a bronze urn, by the famous Stockholm craftsman Bengston. Colonel Olcott announced that a mausoleum would be built in the Adyar Garden to preserve the ashes of "their beloved teacher." In New York, at the Headquarters of the American Theosophists, for the same purpose, a magnificent mausoleum was built according to the plan of the best of architects, a member of the Theosophical Society, who offered his work free of charge.
The urn sent from Sweden, Zhelikhovskaya writes, was magnificent. She was placed in her sister's room, which it was decided to keep forever in the form in which she was with her. The room is usually locked, and is entered only on business, to take one of the books from its library, or to show its premises to the Theosophical visitors.
On May 8th of the new style, on the day of the anniversary of the death of H.P.B., the whole room, especially the “Dagoba” (the urn with the ashes of H.P. Blavatsky), and then the portrait of her “teacher - Morya”, standing on that the same place, as in her lifetime, were covered with white flowers, roses, jasmine and lilies - the prototypes of lotuses, which were not available in Europe.
“This day,” writes Zhelikhovskaya, “on May 8, by an official resolution, voted in Adyar on April 17, 1892, and approved unanimously by all theosophical centers, it was decided to call the “White Lotus Day” and dedicate it annually to the memory of the founder of the Theosophical Society, trying to mark it not only speeches about her and readings of her writings, but also, if possible, charitable deeds. So, in the garden of the Theosophical quarter in London, neighboring beggars were fed that day; in India, not only in Adyar, where all her former rooms were covered with lotuses, but also in Bombay and Calcutta, in addition to food, copies of their sacred book Bhagavad Gita were distributed to the poor. The same thing happened in New York, and in Philadelphia, and in several cities of the United States, where Theosophy flourishes - and nowhere does it flourish in every respect as in America ”(9). (Zhelikhovskaya).
The head quarters of the Theosophical Society in London consist of three houses overlooking two streets, with a front garden and a large garden inside.
“Nowhere has the sadness over the death of H. P. Blavatsky manifested itself so publicly as on the island of Ceylon. There, "except for the press, which overflowed with her name," the high priest Sumangala made a solemn commemoration of her, and all the Buddhist schools for girls were closed for three days. The next day in Colombo there was an emergency meeting of Theosophists, at which it was decided to install a bronze plaque in the wall of the meeting hall of the Society with the name of its founder, the numbers of her birth, arrival in India and death - for eternal memory of her. The Vice-President of the Eastern College, an ardent Theosophist, lectured on her activities and teachings; in particular about her merits before the tribes of India and before the Buddhist world - familiarizing the West with the beliefs, knowledge and literature of the Aryans.
The following Sunday, the Theosophical Society, in Colombo predominantly composed of Buddhists, invited, according to local custom, 27 members of the monastic brethren to take food and alms in memory of the deceased; and one of the monks received as a gift clothes and all the few items that monks are allowed to own: an alms mug and a metal water jug, a razor, a belt, etc. In addition, several hundred beggars were fed a funeral dinner in memory of the deceased, and All these rituals are decided to be performed annually. On the day of the anniversary of her death, the number of fed poor brethren increased to 3,000 people; and in the reports of The Theosophist, it appears that three orphans will be educated for eternity on the interest collected in Ceylon in memory of Blavatsky - these are scholarships named after "N.R.V." (10). (Ibid. St. Petersburg. January. 1893).
"Mistress Blavatsky"
Under this heading (Madame Blavatsky), on May 10, 1891, the New York Tribune published an editorial on the death of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. We present it in full:
“In our time, there is hardly a woman who would be so stubbornly misrepresented, so defamed and dishonored, as Madame Blavatsky; but she did not suffer in vain because of human malice and ignorance - there are many signs that her life's work will justify itself, that it will endure and serve good. She was the founder of the Theosophical Society, an organization now fully established, with its branches in many countries, East and West, and devoted to studies and studies, the pure and sublime character of which is universally and unfailingly recognized.
Madame Blavatsky's life has been unusual, but this is not the place or time to speak of the vicissitudes of that life. Let us only say that about twenty years have been devoted by her to the dissemination of doctrines, the fundamental principles of which are of the most sublime ethical character. Utopian as it may seem to some minds, the attempt in the nineteenth century to break down the barriers of race, nationality, caste, and class prejudice, and to inculcate the spirit of that brotherly love to which the greatest of Masters called in the first century, the nobility of such a goal can only be doubted by one who rejects Christianity. Madame Blavatsky believed that the basis for the rebirth of mankind should be the development of altruism. In this she did not disagree with the greatest thinkers not only of our day, but of all times and peoples: and this corresponded (which is becoming more and more clear) to the deep spiritual tendencies of the age. If only for this reason, her teaching has the right to an impartial and serious attitude on the part of those who welcome everything that leads to good.
And in another direction - although related to the idea of universal brotherhood - she also did very important work. It can be argued that no one of the current generation of people has done more than she did in order to return to the world the treasures of Eastern thought, wisdom and philosophy, which for so long remained a secret behind seven seals. And no one, certainly, has made so much effort to explain the religion of wisdom, revealed by the eternally contemplative thought of the East, and to shed light on the most ancient literary works, the scope and depth of which have so struck the Western world, brought up in that limited idea that in the field of speculative The East is only capable of crude and primitive constructions.
As for her knowledge of Eastern philosophy and esotericism, it was exhaustive. No honest mind can doubt that after reading her two major works. Indeed, along the path that she often laid, only a few who knew could follow her to the end; but the very tone and direction of all her writing was healing, invigorating and stimulating. She tirelessly tried to explain to the world how vital self-denial and work, for the benefit of others; that is, exactly what our world has always needed and needs most of all. For admirers of one's self, such an idea, of course, cannot cause anything other than rejection; and this teaching has so far little chance of public recognition, not to mention its universal application in life. However, there is no doubt that a man or woman who voluntarily gives up all personal goals and any pretensions in order to promote such ideas deserves respect, and even from those who are not yet able to respond to the call of the higher life.
The work of Madame Blavatsky has already begun to bear good fruit and is destined to have an even greater and more beneficial effect in the future. Far-sighted observers have already noticed the coloring of this influence on many currents of modern thought. Greater humanity, emancipation of thinking, a tendency to study ancient philosophies from more worthy positions - all this is not without the influence of her teachings. Thus Madame Blavatsky will go down in history forever; the same will be with her works.
She completed her journey; and after a life of hard work, she is given rest. Her personal influence is no longer required to continue the great work to which she has dedicated herself. It will continue, thanks to the momentum given by it. The day will come, though not soon, when the nobility and purity of her motives, the wisdom and depth of her teachings will be more fully realized. And her memory will be rewarded with well-deserved high veneration! (eleven). (Answer of Ms. Igrek (V.P. Zhelikhovskaya) to Mr. Vsevolod Solovyov. St. Petersburg, 1893).
One can talk a lot more about this greatest personality, Helena Blavatsky, considering her life and work from different angles, but the result will be the same: she was a woman of genius, a lamp of sleeping humanity. Let us just recall that since then March 8 has been revered in all countries of the world as the Day of Remembrance of the great scientist, theosophist, a man of great talents and great knowledge, who brought knowledge to humanity, joy from it, relief from mental anguish and other suffering. In our country, this mourning date, the Day of the White Lotus, is especially solemnly celebrated in the Museums and Houses of creativity of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.
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Literature.
1. Letter to Vera. New York, 1875. // In the book. Blavatsky H.P. Letters to friends and co-workers. M. Sphere, 2003.
2. Letter n. Fadeeva. New York, 1875. // In the book. HP Blavatsky. Letters to Friends and Colleagues. M. Sphere, 2003.
3. Message to the World Congress of Theosophists. //In the book. Letters to friends and co-workers. M. Sphere, 2003.
4. E.I. Roerich “Letters to America”. 09/08/1934. // Elena Roerich. Letters in 2 volumes. Moscow, Sfera, 2010.
5. B. Keatley on Blavatsky. //In the book. Answer of Ms. Igrek (V.P. Zhelikhovskaya) to Mr. Vsevolod Soloviev. SPb., 1893
6. What H.P.B. did for me. Lucifer. July. 1891. Extracts.
7. Zhelikhovskaya V.P. Ms. Ygrek's reply to Mr. Vsevolod Solovyov. St. Petersburg, 1893.
8. Zhelikhovskaya V.P. about your sister. // Zhelikhovskaya V. Rada-Bai. H. P. Blavatsky. M, Sphere, 1992.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. 11. Answer of Ms. Igrek (V.P. Zhelikhovskaya) to Mr. Vsevolod Soloviev. SPb., 1893
white lotus day
May 8 - "Day of the White Lotus", the day of the departure of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky from the earthly plane. She was a great Russian woman (August 12, 1831 - May 8, 1891), who gave the world the theosophical doctrine of truth. She said: “There is no religion higher than truth” or “If you love Christ so much, why don’t you keep his commandments?”. You can cite many of the wisest words that were spoken by her.
Once I watched one episode in a bookstore: a couple of young people entered the store, and somehow I didn’t like the girl internally, and outwardly she was, to put it mildly, “not very” - her face was covered in acne, red, and even something like a "toad". Stopping near the books of E.P. Blavatsky, she said, "I don't like Blavatsky." And then I realized why this girl is so ugly.
Many years ago, my acquaintances asked me to print the poems of a "poet" in a pamphlet. I came to her house by invitation. There was a depressing sight: a disabled woman was so disfigured by nature that her whole body was wrapped in a white sheet. It seems that there the arms and legs were all twisted into one knot. She was very sorry. We talked. And immediately, almost at the beginning of the conversation, she allowed herself to speak unflatteringly about Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. I have said many words in defense of my beloved Name. But in response, this disabled woman was not convinced by my words and continued to say something unpleasant about H.P. Blavatsky. I hastily ended the conversation and left, forever breaking all ties with this woman. It was a great lesson for me - I understood why this woman was born disabled, because out of her ignorance she blasphemes the Great Name.
So the books of H. P. Blavatsky are very serious knowledge. In general, everything that comes from the Mahatmas is an unshakable truth. E.P. Blavatsky was the most devoted student in the world. Through her, many Works were given. The main one is The Secret Doctrine. Maybe Elena Petrovna would have given the world even more, but she had so many evil enemies who destroyed her health with their slander and evil thoughts, and she passed away prematurely, without finishing her work. For example, the third volume of The Secret Doctrine was not completed to the end and was already being prepared for publication by her students.
E.I. Roerich continued the work of E.P. Blavatsky. It was Elena Ivanovna who translated two volumes of The Secret Doctrine from English into Russian.
Why "White Lotus Day"?
In Elena Petrovna's will dated January 31, 1885, she asks friends to gather annually on the day of her death and read excerpts from E. Arnold's Light of Asia, as well as from the Bhagavad Gita.
This day is now celebrated by Theosophists throughout the world as the Day of the White Lotus. The name was coined by Colonel H. S. Olcott: on the first anniversary of the death of H. P. Blavatsky, lotuses bloomed unusually luxuriantly in Adyar.
Our dear Elena Petrovna, we remember You, we honor, we love. Let Your Image shine on us! Let the truth that You brought into the world rumble with the tocsin. And so we will enter the New World with You!
Glory to you!!!
WHITE LOTUS DAY IN UKRAINE
Day of the White Lotus, which all theosophists of the world celebrate as the day of memory of Helena
Petrovna Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, writer, traveler, one of the most mysterious and mysterious figures of the 19th century, this year was celebrated by the Theosophical Society in Ukraine publicly in various cities. We offer
to the attention of our readers an overview of the events of this day.
May 8, 2014 in the Society "Knowledge" of Ukraine held a solemn meeting of the public of the city, dedicated to the memory of E.P.
Blavatsky. Members of the Theosophical Society in Ukraine and like-minded people gathered to honor the memory of our great compatriot, like-minded people, with respect, reverence, understanding and love, perceiving the ideas embodied in the writings of H.P. Blavatsky.
It was in his writings that E.P.
Blavatsky gave knowledge about the evolution of the cosmos and man, laid the foundations for a new cosmic thinking. She offered a holistic way of understanding the world around her and opened up new possibilities in understanding nature. Her scientific predictions throughout the 20th century and now find theoretical and practical confirmation.
According to the accepted ritual dedicated to the memory of E.P.
Blavatskaya, the solemn meeting began with the performance of musical works for piano and voice performed by Elena Shcherbina and Sergei Shapoval, followed by reading excerpts from Edwin Arnold's The Light of Asia, the Bhagavad Gita and The Voice of Silence.
With words in memory of Elena Gan, mother of E.P. Blavatskaya, the president of the Kyiv branch of the Theosophical Society N.I. Berezanskaya. Nikolay Shcherbina and Natalya Davydova read their poems. Elena Merlitz informed the audience about the results of the 2013 volunteer decade. for the restoration of the house-museum of E.P. Blavatsky.
At the end of the evening of memory, a ritual of lighting candles was held with a symbolic unification of the hearts of those present, by transferring fire from hand to hand, with a sense of general gratitude and gratitude to our dear teacher.
1 N.E. Pakhomov
DNEPROPETROVSK
In Dnepropetrovsk, in the city where Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was born, the Day of the White Lotus is a special day not only for Theosophists, but also for many people who are interested in Theosophy and the teachings of our compatriot. The peculiarity of this day for many years has been determined by the House, in which one of the famous aristocratic families of Yekaterinoslav lived, the Fadeev Dolgoruky family, who brought up more than one galaxy of outstanding people of their time. Among the representatives of the glorious family, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky fulfilled a special mission - she opened to the world a new look at the ancient wisdom, which is the basis of theosophical teachings. In this regard, May 8 - White Lotus Day in Dnepropetrovsk for many years has been gathering Theosophists, scientists, public figures, representatives of spiritual organizations.The day began with the canonical part, which was attended by members of the Dnepropetrovsk branch of the Theosophical Society in Ukraine, as well as several people studying theosophy under the guidance of the Dnepropetrovsk theosophists. Following the recommendations of Elena Petrovna, excerpts from Edwin Arnold's book "The Light of Asia" and from the "Bhagavad Gita", as well as a fragment from conversations with Ramana Maharshi about the Bhagavad Gita were read that day. At the beginning and end of the canonical part, a universal prayer was sounded in Ukrainian and Russian.
At 10.00 the doors of the Museum Center E.P. Blavatsky and her family were open to all who honor the name of Helena Petrovna, understanding the enduring significance of the teachings revealed by our compatriot to the whole world. This year the Day of the White Lotus brought together representatives of Dnepropetrovsk, Nikopol, Krivoy Rog, Zaporozhye. The day of the White Lotus was opened by the head of the department "Museum Center of H. P. Blavatsky and her family"
Dnepropetrovsk Historical Museum. D.Yavornitsky Yulia Viktorovna Revenko, who took over the baton of many years of painstaking and selfless work to create a museum by the founder of the museum center Elena Valentinovna Alivantseva. She noted the importance of preserving the annual tradition of opening the White Lotus Day in the House where Elena Petrovna was born, and also honored the memory of one of the first theosophists in Ukraine, Alexander Sergeevich Prigunov, who left the earthly plane. Every year, on May 8, Alexander Sergeevich devoted his speech to the history of the White Lotus Day. This tradition was continued by his daughter, Yulia Shabanova, who spoke about the will of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and the Executive Order of Henry S. Olcott, establishing the "White Lotus Day". Tatyana Golovchenko read the 16th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita and comments on it by Annie Besant.
At the end of the first part of the Day of the White Lotus, a classical music concert was performed by the string quartet of the Dnepropetrovsk Glinka Conservatory. The magnificent performance of the works by J. Bach and W. Mozart, J. Pachelbel and A. Vivaldi, 2 D. Williams and G. Miller was accompanied by culturological comments by Yulia Shabanova, which made it possible to holistically recreate a single palette of the musical universe.
In the second part of the White Lotus Day, a traditional scientific conference was held, organized on the basis of the Department of Philosophy of the National Mining University. Materials for participation in the conference entitled "Modern Worldview: Spiritual Aspects of Culture", dedicated to the memory of H. P. Blavatsky, were submitted by scientists from Ukraine, Germany, Belgium, the USA, and Russia. They presented their research on the worldview, philosophical, cultural aspects of Theosophy, addressed the problems of spirituality, theurgy, esotericism, pessimism, magic in the teachings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. And although only scientists from Dnepropetrovsk, including 3 doctors and 2 candidates of sciences, were able to take direct part in the conference this year (due to the difficult political situation in Ukraine), reports from foreign colleagues were read during the conference. Questions that arose from the audience were sent to scientists from different countries for further dialogue, which will continue. The conference was held in the spirit of creative dialogue, in the context of the search for a methodology of interdisciplinary synthesis, as close as possible to the specifics of the study of the sacred texts of the theosophical heritage of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. The research work presented at the conference by scientists from different countries was carried out in accordance with the main directions of the Concept of the activity of the scientific group of the Theosophical Society in Ukraine. For the presentation of the main ideas presented at the conference, a collection of abstracts was published, which will be published on the website of the Theosophical Society in Ukraine www.theosophy.in.ua, in the "Scientific Group" section.
The harmonious conclusion of the official part of the White Lotus Day was a concert of vocal music performed by an opera and chamber singer, laureate of international competitions named after. A. Dvorzhak (Czech Republic) and S. Prokofiev (Ukraine), head of the Department of Solo Singing of the Dnepropetrovsk Conservatory. M. Glinka Oksana Gopka and pianist Lyudmila Rybak. The refined music of composers of the 20th century to the verses of poets of the beginning of the last century introduced listeners into the world of heightened subjectivism and refined chamber penetration, reflecting the complex state of the search for spiritual ideals that are relevant to modern society. An appeal to fragments from Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's book "From the caves and wilds of Hindustan", as well as Yulia Shabanova's musicological comments, made it possible to symbolically connect the musical end of the White Lotus Day with the universal foundations of theosophy.
Theosophists completed the Day of the White Lotus in a chamber atmosphere. In addition to reading canonical texts, excerpts from an article by E.P. Blavatsky on ethical group relations and an excerpt from The Voice of the Silence on Discipleship. In conclusion, the film “Women in Russian History - E.P. Blavatsky." The participants shared their thoughts, cited memorable quotes and recited poems, among which it is especially worth noting "Torch" - E. Bugrimenko, "Destiny", "Dedicated to the memory of the HPB" - V. Budko.
V. Mishina, N. Melnik, A. Palladin, Yu. Shabanova LVIV
– – –
KHARKIV
The Kharkov Training Center is the youngest and the smallest in the Theosophical Society of Ukraine, but we, thanks to the common efforts and especially the female half of the group represented by Elena Tverdokhleb, had a great White Lotus Day. All participants brought white flowers. The solemn meeting dedicated to the 123rd anniversary of the memory of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky opened with the music of the composer Scriabin A.N. (for whom, The Secret Doctrine, was a reference book), then Elena enthusiastically read out excerpts from the work, The Light of Asia, or the Great Renunciation, by Edwin Arnold, a favorite work of HPB. Selected passages from the Bhagavad Gita and the Light on the Path, Teacher Hilarion, were also read. During the breaks in reading literary works, the music of A.N. Scriabin sounded. The mood of those present was elevated. After reading the works, postcards with the image of a white lotus were played and read out, on which there were excerpts from the texts of the HPB. In general, the solemn meeting was held at a very good level.Eduard Kuskovsky
KIROVOGRAD
On this bright spring day, May 8, 2014, not only Theosophists, but also their like-minded people, people of Goodwill, regardless of which Path of spiritual growth they have chosen, gathered together to remember and express a feeling of sincere respect to our wonderful compatriot, to honor the day departure from the earthly plane of the Herald of Light, sent to us by the Great Masters.
At the beginning of the meeting, the leader of the theosophical group, Raisa Mikhailovna Kalashnikova, created an excellent psychological mood among those present for the heartfelt perception of the upcoming speeches. Then, after reciting the Universal Prayer, she introduced us to the contents of an obituary titled "Madame Blavatsky", published on May 10, 1891 in The Herald Tribune, New York, USA, which briefly but very succinctly reveals the significance of Helena's mission. Petrovna Blavatsky and her works on an international scale.
We listened with great attention to Alexander Livashnikov, who read out the Executive Order of the President of the Theosophical Society, Henry Olcott, issued shortly before the First Anniversary of the Day when the bright spirit of Elena Petrovna left the earthly shell and freed herself from matter, and in which all HER desires were set forth. We know that Helena Blavatsky was an example of charity and her first wish was to distribute some food to poor fishermen on such a Day. And then we learn that before the start of the Solemn Assembly, members of the TOS Initiative Group visited a shelter for lonely elderly people, left them some food on behalf of Elena Petrovna and some household items.
In order to fulfill her next wish, the active theosophist Lyudmila Perederiy read the 1st and 6th chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, and the psychologist Tatyana Orlova very soulfully filed an excerpt from Edwin Arnold's book "The Light of Asia", which talks about how "Buddha taught mercy.” I cannot say that this is the first time I hear certain chapters from these works. But this time they sounded in a new way, made us think about those qualities that are so necessary on the Path of Discipleship, caused a desire to become even more deeply acquainted with the ancient Teachings of the East.
4 It is known that every 100 years the Great Teachers send a Messenger to humanity, through which it is possible to convey to the world a part of the true ancient Knowledge for the enlightenment of people. In the 19th century, the choice fell on Helen Petrovna Blavatsky. Why? This question was revealed by Valentina Belan, who based her deep reasoning on aspects of astrological science. It is impossible not to mention that in the 20th century such envoys were Nicholas Roerich and Helena Ivanovna Roerich. And we were happy to learn that in 1920, in London, they became members of the Theosophical Society. Their diplomas are signed by Annie Besant and kept in the Roerich Museum in New York. In addition, it turns out that Nikolai Konstantinovich was instructed from above to take care of maintaining the TO office in Adyar, as stated in his diary entries dated June 21, 1922.
The additions made by Yuliana Gubenko were interesting and informative, in particular, that 1991 was declared by UNESCO the year of Helena Blavatsky and she was recognized as a “man of the world”.
Lyudmila Fesenko and Tatyana Vasilyeva, respectively, wonderfully conveyed in their messages what mark the HPB left in the life of the London worker Herbert Burrow and Countess Constance Wachtmeister, who she was for them.
Everyone, with bated breath, listened to the poem by Leonid Volodarsky, dedicated to Blavatsky, which Larisa Pustovoitova read with inspiration.
In a small meditation held at the end of the meeting, we expressed our respect, veneration, gratitude to the Great Teachers and their Messenger, who brought Light to people, for their great work for the benefit of the whole World. The meeting left a wonderful impression. It was lively, interesting, beautiful, besides it was informative and showed that in this difficult time for everyone we can cooperate and must unite to work for the Common Cause.
In conclusion, I also want to express my gratitude to the organizers of this significant meeting, which encourages participants to Unity on the Path of spiritual growth, improvement, overcoming the Golden Steps of the Ladder, along which the student can climb to the Temple of Divine Wisdom.
Galina Sobakina 5
(based on reports by N.D. Spirina and E.P. Pisareva)
There are people who come into the world with a clearly defined mission. This mission of serving the Common Good makes their life a martyrdom and a feat, but thanks to them, the evolution of mankind is accelerated.
Such was the mission of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. More than a hundred years have passed since the heart of our great compatriot stopped beating one May day. And only now we begin to comprehend the feat of her life.
H. P. Blavatsky was born in 1831, on August 12, in Ukraine, in Yekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk), into an aristocratic family, combining the physical heredity of the three nations of Europe (on the maternal side - the hereditary princes Dolgoruky and the French emigrant Bandre- du Plessis; on her father's side, she came from a Russified branch of the princes of Mecklenburg).
Blavatsky's mother, Elena Andreevna Hahn, was a talented writer whom Belinsky called the "Russian Georges-Sand". She passed away early, before reaching the age of 25, leaving two young daughters.
The field life of Elena Petrovna's father, an artillery officer, deprived him of the opportunity to raise his daughters himself, and their maternal grandmother, Princess Elena Pavlovna Dolgorukaya, in the marriage of Fadeeva, took over their upbringing. She was a wonderfully kind, deeply educated woman, fluent in five foreign languages, studied the natural sciences in depth, and drew beautifully.
The bright childhood of Elena Petrovna passed in a circle of loving and intelligent people: in early childhood in contact with the nature of Ukraine, then in central Russia, and then in the Caucasus.
Elena Petrovna had a High Patron since childhood. He appeared to her in dreams, she knew and loved those eyes calling somewhere. In childhood, at the moment of danger to life, invisible help appeared. She felt the destiny and understood that she would be able to learn about its essence when meeting with the Teacher. To do this, she left her home, unexpectedly changed her place of residence, which makes it impossible to trace the inner meaning of the life of this period: her life in these years is known as a chain of travels.
Her first meeting with the Teacher took place in London in 1851. Throughout her life, Elena Petrovna carried devotion to her Teacher. The mystery that envelops this side of her life is understandable to those who are familiar with the philosophy of the East and Theosophy.
Skeptical Western minds with great difficulty perceive the existence in the inaccessible areas of the Himalayas of the Brotherhood of the Teachers of Wisdom (Mahatmas), helping humanity; in the East the attitude is different. In 1886, confirming the publications of H. P. Blavatsky, seventy pundits (scientists, experts in the ancient religious teachings of India) signed a statement in which they asserted the existence of the Mahatmas.
To become an accepted disciple of the Great Teachers, a lot of work of more than one life, trials and a heart-filling love for people are required. Only these conditions make it possible to receive a load of knowledge, the grains of which, “crumbs from the table”, are used by magicians and psychics who surprise us with their phenomena. With this knowledge, Jesus Christ worked his miracles and healings. But he who can revive, he can kill. Therefore, only all-encompassing cosmic love, which gave strength to Jesus Christ dying on the cross to ask for those who crucified him: “Lord, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing,” allows them to master them. That is why such barriers stand in the way of this cosmic knowledge.
Moving to America in 1873 began the third period of the life of H. P. Blavatsky - the period of creativity (1873-1878 - America, 1878-1884 - India and 1884-1891 - Europe).
On September 7, 1875, the opening of the Theosophical Society took place. This happened in the apartment of H. P. Blavatsky, where 17 people gathered, Colonel G. Olcott, a devoted employee of Elena Petrovna, became its chairman, and she herself took the modest position of "secretary for communication with correspondents." Subsequently, the Society was transferred to India, where it continues to function to the present, becoming the World Theosophical Society, with branches throughout the world.
In America, Elena Petrovna writes, or rather, writes down her first major work, Isis Unveiled, in 2 parts, about one and a half thousand pages. The book was started in 1876 and published in 1877. The level of knowledge presented in the works of Elena Petrovna was comprehensive, which she did not have, despite her high education. Eyewitnesses noted in her notes, sometimes on one page, four different handwriting and style of presentation. She received information from the Teachers; less often communication was of a physical nature, more often communications were written, clairvoyant-psychic, astral. Elena Petrovna's communication with the Great Teachers reached distinctness and continuity, it was something like a wireless telegraph.
The essence of the information given to humanity through H. P. Blavatsky in "Isis Unveiled", and then in the "Secret Doctrine" that continues it, is the revelation about the Great Creative Beginning of the Cosmos, the creation of the Cosmos and Man (microcosm), about the eternity and periodicity of Being, about the basic Cosmic Laws by which the Universe lives. Isis symbolizes Nature, Matter, the Mother of the World. Partial lifting of the veil (exposure of Isis), which separates us from its innermost secrets, was given from above through H. P. Blavatsky to accelerate the progress of mankind along the path of evolution.
"The Secret Doctrine" - a work in 3 volumes, about a thousand pages in each; Elena Petrovna wrote it from 1884 to 1891. The first volume reveals to us some of the mysteries about the creation of the Cosmos, the second about the evolution of man, the third about the history of religions; it was edited and published by her students.
Looking back at the past of mankind, one can trace the pattern of rejection of discoveries and revelations that are ahead of their time. The works of Elena Petrovna met with the same resistance both from the Churches, whose sacred books are full of revelations deciphered in the Secret Doctrine, and from orthodox science. The first and most powerful weapon of the forces of regression is slander directed at the author, which discredits his creations as well. The Teaching of Living Ethics says: “...Let the torches of slander illuminate the path of steady achievement. Calling our ambassadors charlatans, people give them evidence of unusualness.
"Torches of slander" very brightly illuminated the path of H. P. Blavatsky - slanderers and ignoramuses-biographers, falsified trials, forgery of personal letters, betrayal of people blessed by her - everything had to be endured by this "martyr woman", as she is called in the Teaching of Living Ethics .
After moving to India, Elena Petrovna did a lot of work, trying to arouse local residents' interest in the wisdom of ancient Hindu beliefs, to raise the spirit of the people with the memory of its former glory.
In 1879 the journal The Theosophist was founded, which published the outstanding works of Blavatsky, written with the help of the Masters.
The humid climate of Bombay, and then Adyar, where an estate was purchased for the Society, turned out to be harmful to the health of Elena Petrovna, and in 1884 she had to finally move to Europe. During several health crises, Elena Petrovna described cases of miraculous help, healings that came from the Teacher.
Upon arrival in Europe, Elena Petrovna chose quiet Würzburg as her place of residence, then Ostend, and from 1888 to 1891 she lived in London. Her life after leaving India was completely devoted to the work on the "Secret Doctrine", which she considered her life's work.
The five years of life that followed were a chain of physical suffering, martyrdom, but despite this she worked 12 hours a day, not giving herself rest in the middle of the day. And in the evenings it was surrounded by visitors, among whom were both writers and scientists.
May 8, 1891 E.P. Blavatsky left earthly life, sitting at her desk - like a true warrior of the Spirit, as she had been all her life.
According to E.I. Roerich, if not for the malice and envy of those around her, “she would have written two more volumes of The Secret Doctrine, which would include pages from the life of the Great Teachers of mankind. But people chose to kill her…”
Many scholars and artists showed interest in The Secret Doctrine. So, this book always lay on the desktop of A. Einstein. The outstanding composer A. Scriabin claimed that Blavatsky's ideas helped him in his work.
E.I. Roerich translated two volumes of The Secret Doctrine from English into Russian. She wrote: “... H. P. Blavatsky was a fiery messenger of the White Brotherhood. It was she who was the bearer of the knowledge entrusted to her. Indeed, of all the Theosophists, only H.P. Blavatsky had the good fortune to receive teachings directly from the Great Teachers in one of Their Ashrams in Tibet. It was she who was the great spirit who took upon herself the heavy task to give a shift to the consciousness of mankind, entangled in the dead snares of dogmas and rushing to the dead end of atheism. Namely, only through E.P. Blavatsky could have approached the White Brotherhood, for she was a link in the Hierarchical Chain.” “I affirm that E.P. Blavatsky was the only messenger of the White Brotherhood, and she alone KNEW." “I bow before the great spirit and fiery heart of our compatriot and I know that in the future Russia her name will be placed on the proper height of reverence. E.P. Blavatsky, truly, is our national pride. Great martyr for Light and Truth. Eternal glory to her!
In 1924 N.K. Roerich painted the picture "Messenger". Giving it as a gift to the Theosophical Society in Adyar (India), he said: “In this house of Light, let me present a picture dedicated to H.P. Blavatsky. Let her lay the foundation for the future Blavatsky Museum, the motto of which will be: "" Beauty is the robe of Truth" "". The painting depicts a woman in a Buddhist temple, opening the door to the Messenger.
Z.G. Fosdick, the closest collaborator of the Roerichs in America, explained that the woman in the picture symbolizes humanity, and in the Herald, which appeared on the threshold of the temple against the backdrop of sparkling lightning of the approaching New Fiery Age, the artist embodied the image of E.P. Blavatsky. The Teachers of Humanity in the Teaching of Living Ethics, addressing us, write: “One may ask, in what relation is Our Teaching to Our own, given through Blavatsky? Tell me - every century is given, after the appearance of a detailed presentation, the final culmination, which actually moves the world along the line of humanity. Thus Our Teaching concludes the "Secret Doctrine" of Blavatsky. It was the same when Christianity culminated in the world wisdom of the classical world, and the Commandments of Moses culminated in ancient Egypt and Babylon. Only it is necessary to understand the significance of the key Teachings (“The Fiery World,” part 1, § 79).
"There is no religion higher than truth."
H. P. Blavatsky.
On May 8, 1891, H. P. Blavatsky died quietly in her study in London at the age of 60.
This day is in memory of a wonderful Russian woman, her assistant G.S. Olcott suggested calling it the Day of the White Lotus, as a symbol of her striving for the Highest.
The white lotus in many religions is a reflection of the three worlds: its roots in the silt, the stem in the water and the flower in the air. Just like a reflection of the three worlds. We live in the Solid World (like roots), our soul rises to the Subtle World (like a stem), and, finally, a flower. It blooms in the air as a symbol of the spirit, the Higher Spiritual World - the World of Fire.
Here is how Elena Petrovna herself writes about this:
“... Lotus, or Padma, is a very ancient and favorite symbol of the Cosmos itself, as well as of man. The reason for the polarity lies, firstly, in the fact that the Lotus seed contains a complete miniature future plant, which is a symbol of the fact that the spiritual prototypes of all things exist in the non-material world before these things become material on earth; secondly, in the fact that the lotus plant grows in water, having its root in silt or mud, and spreads its flower over the water in the air. Thus, the Lotus symbolizes the life of man as well as the Cosmos. For the Secret Doctrine teaches that the elements of both are the same and that both develop in the same direction. The root of the Lotus, immersed in silt, represents material life, the stem stretching upward through the water symbolizes existence in the astral world, and the flower itself, rushing over the water and open to the sky, is emblematic of spiritual existence. (The Secret Doctrine, vol. 1, pp. 103-104, translated by H.I. Roerich)
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky is almost a legendary figure. She devoted her whole life, all her energy to the study of ancient sciences and religions.
She came to the earthly world when the infantile materialistic science reached a dead end, believing that everything had already been known, and there were no more secrets of nature.
But these new secrets (and the new is often well-forgotten old) were revealed by Elena Petrovna in order to give impetus to the evolutionary development of both science and all of humanity.
Elena Petrovna was the first to bring to the Western world the news about the Great Teachers, about the Great Souls (Mahatmas, as they are called in the East) - Representatives of the Cosmic Mind, who help humanity in its evolutionary, such a difficult path.
Every century, the Teachers of Shambhala make an attempt to find a messenger through whom it is possible to convey to the world a part of the true ancient Teaching for the enlightenment of people.
In the 19th century, the choice fell on Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. “For 100 years on Earth, we have found one such,” the Mahatmas wrote.
At the direction of the Masters, she created the Theosophical Society, whose motto was: "There is no religion but Truth." Its charter had three main points:
First.
The formation of the core of the worldwide brotherhood of people, without distinction of religion, origin and social status of people.
Second.
A thorough study of the ancient world religions in order to compare and extract from them universal ethics.
Third.
The study and development of the hidden divine forces in nature and man for their gradual development in people.
As is known, the Theosophical Society still exists, including in Russia.
Elena Petrovna has written more than 20 volumes of philosophical and scientific books. It predicted many achievements of modern science. There are even books "One Hundred Prophecies of Helena Blavatsky", the author - compiler Dudinsky. Most of these prophecies - predictions have now been confirmed by scientific developments, according to others - science is already approaching them.
But the main works of Elena Petrovna are "Isis Unveiled" and "The Secret Doctrine, two volumes of which have almost a thousand pages each. These volumes were published during the life of Elena Petrovna, and the third was collected by students from her notes after her departure from the earthly plane. These books became the foundation for students of the secret science
The "Secret Doctrine" reveals three main provisions, three "pillars" on which the world is based.
First assertion. No matter how great the expanse of the Cosmos, but behind the visible world stands the Absolute, invisible and unknowable reality, Absolute Being and Not Being at the same time. And it includes our manifested Cosmos, our dual world, but also the unmanifested.
Second statement. It says that there is a fundamental law in the world, the law of periodicity. We all see its action in our earthly world. These are night and day, Life and death, sleep and wakefulness, ebb and flow in the ocean, etc.
And the third proposition says that all life and all entities in the world originated, or, more precisely, came out of one Single Soul, and for each soul - a spark - a journey through the steps of evolution is obligatory. To return to Unity.
The ideas that Elena Petrovna defended could be considered heresy in her time. And she was bombarded with accusations from left and right. It even became at that time, as it were, a “good” tone in passing, without citing evidence, to call her an adventurer, a charlatan, a swindler. The Jesuits especially tried to succeed in this.
But there were also voices in her defense. This is how the great Indian figure Gandhi assessed her: "I would be more than satisfied if I could touch the edge of Madame Blavatsky's clothes." And Helena Ivanovna Roerich wrote: “H.P. Blavatsky was a great martyr, in the full meaning of the word. Envy, slander and persecution of ignorance killed her...
... I bow before the great spirit and fiery heart of our compatriot and I know that in the future Russia her name will be placed on the proper height of reverence. H. P. Blavatsky is truly our national pride. Eternal glory to her.”
Let us repeat after Elena Ivanovna: "Eternal glory to her."
APPLICATION.
book of golden rules
Published by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Note on the Light on the Path
This little book, an excerpt from the Hindu ethical "Book of Golden Rules" of deep antiquity, was dictated by the Teacher of the East [Adept, Guru] for the Disciples [Chela.]. Only those who have firmly decided to purify their heart, destroy their egoism and develop their higher intuitive abilities to serve the world, to alleviate its darkness and suffering can become a disciple. The psychology of the East and the religious mood of its ascetics is so alien to the European consciousness that this book requires some indications and explanations. Comments have been added to the original text. I will try to convey in short words the essence of these comments, which will help those who are unfamiliar with Eastern philosophy and psychology to understand the inner meaning of the high teaching, clothed in short provisions of “Light on the Path”. All the rules are based on the three fundamental principles of Eastern philosophy: on Reincarnation, on Karma (the law of causality) and on the goal of world life as the return of life that has come out of the One, having completed a full cycle of evolution, again to the One.
The physical world is given as an arena of experience, thanks to which the latent divine powers of a person develop so that through suffering, joys and all sorts of trials, he achieves the goal: to become a self-conscious spiritual center, acting in accordance with world law, otherwise “with the will of God”.
The speech of the Teacher points out the paths, following which a person, still here on earth, by a mighty effort of will, can bring himself closer to this lofty goal.
In the evolution of the whole person, as a living, thinking, feeling and striving being, we observe: the development of his physical properties, then his emotional nature, even further the development of the mind, then the pure mind (the ability to abstract), still further the development of the spirit , which manifests itself in higher worlds, as real as the physical world, but inaccessible to the observations of our senses.
As for manifestation in the physical world, a person has an instrument that we call his body, for manifestation in the sphere of feelings and emotions - another instrument, which in the East is called “Kama - Rupa”, for manifestation in the sphere of thinking - an instrument of thought, so for expression in the higher worlds man possesses an instrument to which we give the name spirit, and in the East the name Buddhi.
For the complete awakening of this instrument of the spirit, the rules are given in the book “Light on the Path”.
For unprepared readers, we should mention the misunderstanding rooted in the West regarding the possible consequences for a person who has chosen the path of spiritual rebirth (occultism). Undoubtedly, with the development of spiritual forces, a person acquires power both over his own nature and over the dark element surrounding him, which ceases to be dark for him due to expanded knowledge and spiritual knowledge. A person who has entered the light, where his limitations end, remains free: he can use the expanded limit of his abilities and forces for himself, to serve his egoism: this is the path to the left, to separation and evil. But if he directs these same forces to selfless service to the world, this is the way to the right, to unity, to harmony, with world law, to goodness.
"Light on the Path" refers to the disciples who have chosen the right path, and only to them alone.
The very first lines of the book remain incomprehensible if they are not illuminated by that high spiritual worldview that pervades the entire speech of the Teacher:
"Before the ear can hear, it must lose its sensitivity."
"Before a voice can speak in the presence of the Masters, it must lose its ability to hurt."
“Before the soul can stand before the Teacher, its feet must be washed with the blood of the heart.”
Let's take the first position:
"Before eyes can see, they must be inaccessible to tears."
What does it mean? Tears, this “moisture of life”, are caused by the seeming dissonances of life: pain, suffering, injustice, loneliness, disappointment, sudden joyful emotions, all these upheavals of our nervous system and our consciousness cause tears.
The eyes are truly those windows through which the unenlightened consciousness looks at the dark elements of world life and our own nature.
Darkness is the most correct definition of the reflection that the life of the world leaves on the eyes of our soul. Hence the tears. But there come times when consciousness expands, light will dawn in the dark elements; it grows, the darkness disappears and. when the light dawns, consciousness begins to discern the true meaning of phenomena emerging from the darkness: that mighty stream of life that strives all living things towards Unity, towards the Good, towards the great Goal. This flow is life itself, i.e. movement, striving, countless vibrations of life, mutual contact of heterogeneous forces and an infinite variety of forms, which causes both joy and suffering, all signs and degrees of developing consciousness. But the physical objective life is nothing more than an arena of experience, the outer cover of that stream that crushes, blurs, differentiates “life-consciousness”, until it brings it to the final goal: to Self-Consciousness and Unity.
This is how the sage looks at life. And looking like this, he learns to separate his true Self from the rushing stream of life; he begins to look at his personal existence as an instrument of deeply important experiences and learns to separate his Self from this instrument, accustoms himself to look from the outside at all the suffering, joys and trials of both his own and the surrounding life. Shocks, resentment and suffering cease to torment him. The windows of his soul are bright and clean. Eyes, unclouded by tears, see clearly for the manifestations of higher, otherworldly worlds.
But this state is not the mood of indifference and dryness, which is combined in our imagination with the image of a sage.
Let us remember that the highest ascetics of Christianity, who truly knew how to contain the sufferings of the world in their hearts, were unshakable, looked with bright hope at the “way of God”, and in their souls, despite all its sensitive sympathy for sorrows, silence was preserved.
Second proposition: "Before the ear can hear, it must lose its sensitivity."
What does it mean?
Just as the eyes can be compared to the windows of the human soul, it is just as true to compare the ear with the door through which the rebellious noise of temporary life bursts into the inner fortress of the human soul, reaching to its true Self.
His true Self - according to the worldview of Eastern philosophy - is that eternal essence, for the sake of the development of which the whole objective world was created to the fullness of self-consciousness. The incessant noise of the life stream, its apparent discord, the groans of suffering and cries of joy, bursting into the open doors of the soul, confuse the human spirit, break the silence that is necessary for higher understanding. To be able to close the doors of the soul so that the spirit is not embarrassed by the noise of life, to be able to distinguish in all these disparate and painful sounds a general good harmony - this is the inner meaning of the second rule. Not only insults, harsh words and injustices addressed personally to the student should become insensitive to his hearing, but all the apparent discord of earthly life should not upset his balance. He must understand the noise of the stream and be able to make out in it not individual cries and groans, but the general meaning of the great word of Life.
And then in the silence that the disciple must acquire by learning the first rule, a small voice will begin to be heard: at first very quiet, very elusive, so elusive that at first it seems like a breath of a dream. If the student can make out this voice and begin to understand his speech, then he has entered the path, his higher Self is awakened.
These two steps of the path are rather negative, i.e. they force the student to step out of the existing level of human life; the next two steps are active steps into other, otherworldly conditions of existence.
When the student has mastered the first two rules, when he is conscious of his life emanating from the One and moving away from Him temporarily only to, having achieved self-consciousness, return to the One again, when he acquires peace and balance, then he can “speak in the presence of the Masters ”, i.e., he will receive the strength to join the higher life and claim his spiritual rights. But in the higher worlds, different laws operate than in our earthly life: to give, not to take, to serve, not to dominate, this is the main sign of this life. If the disciple acts according to this law, he will be heard. But if egoism is still alive in the secrets of his heart, if he dreams of glory, of personal power, of becoming a teacher and a prophet, his voice will not be heard, for it does not sound in harmony with the harmony of the higher life, and, like dissonance , will not merge with it Arbitrariness does not exist in nature: even at the highest levels of the universe, everything is subject to the law of order, consonance and unity.
When a student is able to speak, he enters into an active role: all the forces of his awakened spirit must rush to help the world, because the law of the spirit is movement, striving, self-sacrifice, and not stagnation. Therefore, the disciple is required to tireless activity, strong tension, an unceasing thirst to give, and this is all the more difficult because the disciple does not renounce the world, but remains in the world in order to live with it and help its darkness.
"Only that voice will be heard that has lost the ability to inflict pain." Where does the ability to inflict pain come from? Everything that we value so dearly: our rights, our dignity, self-love, the strength to stand up for ourselves, even the virtues that elevate us above the crowd, all this must be discarded, as “causing” pain to another, as an elevation above him, as a sign of separation. . This sign belongs to the objective worlds, it does not exist at the source of Light and Truth, where only Love reigns.
The student must kill this sign in himself; his thought, heart and will must be imbued with the truth that he himself and all the others are parts of one whole; that everyone, both above and below, rich and poor, strong and weak, righteous and sinners, kings and slaves, all equally pass the lesson of life. Realizing this, the student will cease to achieve anything for himself. He will give up all his rights, lay down every weapon of self-defense. Never again will he look at another person with criticism and arrogance, never will his voice be heard in defense of himself. He will emerge from this first initiation into the higher life of the Spirit naked and defenseless, like a newborn baby.
And as the disciple lays down his personal rights one by one, the consciousness of his duties will grow stronger in him. They arise at every step, approaching the student from all sides, because the law of the upper world is to give and serve.
Is such a state of the human soul still possible in the flesh, in the flesh that overcomes us every minute with its weakness and limitations? It is possible, but only under one condition, and under this condition - a great help is given to a brave and strong heart, of which hearts chained by passions to the earth have no idea. This condition is in the constant striving of the inner gaze at the Ideal, in the stay of thought and heart in the atmosphere of the Eternal.
For a clearer understanding of how such a state is achieved, I will quote a few lines from one Eastern book: “Reverent contemplation, abstinence in everything, diligent fulfillment of moral duties, good thoughts, good deeds and friendly words, good will regarding everything and complete forgetfulness of oneself - these are the most effective means for acquiring intuitive knowledge and for preparing the soul for higher wisdom.
"Before the soul can stand before the Master, its feet must be washed with the blood of the heart."
The soul can stand in the higher worlds only when it has been established, that is, when human feelings of weakness have ceased to shake it, when all its vacillating human nature has been replaced by the peace and silence of Divine life. Then she will be able to endure the purity, strength and light of that world without shame and torment for her own impurity, weakness and darkness. All the secrets of her heart will be revealed, and if this heart is freed from personal desires, it will endure.
But this must be preceded by self-sacrifice. Just as “tears” - in the spiritual sense - mean the very soul of emotions, so “blood” expresses that vital principle in human nature that draws him to the test of human life, to experiencing its pleasures and sufferings, its joys and sorrows. When this blood, drop by drop, is torn out of the heart, when it is all shed as a sacrifice to the One, then the disciple will appear in the highest realm of the Spirit without fear and trembling, he
He will enter his native element and live in harmony not with the temporal, but with the eternal, obeying the single Law of Divine Love.
