Global Theosophy

I have in the below sought to create a portal page with the links to some of the major offshoots of the original Theosophical Society, whom H. S. Olcott (1832-1907) and H. P. Blavatsky (1831-1891) and W. Q. Judge (1851-1896) were co-founders off.

I have divided this portal page into various sections and sought to keep a chronology on the various offshoot groups and when they were created. Each section and link has been given a few words of information so to be able to distinguish each groups from the other. These words are based on my research about the group or groups.

I will however clearly encourage each Seeker after Wisdom for themselves to find the truth in the below links about each groups teachings. Assumptions and prejudiced views are hardly leading towards the truth about each group.

Before I present the Roadmap Portal I will write a few words about the Theosophical Society, its formation, aims and background.


The Theosophical Society:
This famous organisation was officially created under this name The Theosophical Society on November 17th, 1875. I say officially. More unofficially we find that the co-founders had more than one attempt from the year 1873 onwards until they succeeded. The first real attempt was according to H. P. Blavatsky's papers "ordered" by M. (Morya) in april-may 1874 (BCW, vol. I, p. 89-90 - April-May 1874). Yet, we find that another attempt was already brewing as early as around June 1873, when H. P. Blavatsky sailed from Paris in France to New York in USA. (H. P. Blavatsky's Letters to A. P. Sinnett, p. 150)

Here are the words on it from 1886 by H. P. Blavatsky, co-founder of the Theosophical Society and with the aims of the Original Programe included.:
"Sent to the U.S. of America in 1873 for the purpose of organizing a group of workers on a psychic plane, two years later the writer received orders from her Master and Teacher to form the nucleus of a regular Society whose objects were broadly stated as follows:

1. Universal Brotherhood;

2. No distinction to be made by the member between races, creeds, or social positions, but every member had to be judged and dealt by on his personal merits;

3. To study the philosophies of the East—those of India chiefly, presenting them gradually to the public in various works that would interpret exoteric religions in the light of esoteric teachings;

4. To oppose materialism and theological dogmatism in every possible way, by demonstrating the existence of occult forces unknown to science, in nature, and the presence of psychic and spiritual powers in man; trying, at the same time to enlarge the views of the Spiritualists by showing them that there are other, many other agencies at work in the production of phenomena besides the “Spirits” of the dead. Superstition had to be exposed and avoided; and occult forces, beneficent and maleficent––ever surrounding us and manifesting their presence in various ways—demonstrated to the best of our ability.

Such was the programme in its broad features. The two chief Founders were not told what they had to do, how they had to bring about and quicken the growth of the Society and results desired; nor had they any definite ideas given them concerning its outward organization—all this being left entirely with themselves."
.......
Rule XIV of the Constitution and Rules of the Theosophical Society:
"XIV. The Society having to deal only with scientific and philosophical subjects, and having Branches in different parts of the world under various forms of Government, does not permit its members, as such, to interfere with politics, and repudiates any attempt on the part of anyone to commit it in favor or against any political party or measure. Violation of this rule will meet with expulsion."
(BCW, vol. VII, p. 145, 160 - October 3rd, 1886).

The first actual date for the formation of the organisation, which a few days later would officially be named The Theososophical Society, was September 7th, 1875. Yet the official and recognized date occurred in the meeting held November 17th, 1875. (BCW, vol. I, p. 121-124, 1875 - the Compiler.)

The Theosophical Society is not something new, and yet at the same time it is. The Theosophical Society constitutes an attempt, which were sought to be carried out earlier on in the past of human history. Past early promoters and forerunners has been Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Shankararchya. Yet Pot-Amun of Alexandria (first full-scale attempt in modern times), Ammonius Saccas + the Neo-Platonists. Forerunners to the Theososophical Society was Cagliostro and Count Sct. Germain who through a secret organisation sought to prepare the soil for the future Theosophical Society. The Theosophical Society is aiming at an Universal Brotherhood, seeking to discover the meaning of life and if possible an Ageless Wisdom teaching, which might have existed since the dawn of mankind, sometimes hidden and sometimes quite visible to those who had eyes to see with.

In october 1888 we witness, that H. P. Blavatsky formed a more secret and totally independent group named the Esoteric Section, which was aimed at teaching those who would like to be taught according to the doctrines she H. P. Blavatsky forwarded through her writings and lectures.

This group has later been sought copied by various authors who have claimed to follow a teaching in accordance with the one given by H. P. Blavatsky. Sometimes this has happened disregarding the importance of The Theosophical Society's original aims and rules. Instead a sectarian attachment have sometimes crept in, while for instance abandoning the aim of seeking to end the strifes of the Worlds religions through establishing an Universal Brotherhood - sometimes by avoiding emphasising the Eastern doctrines cultures and avoiding the Middle Eastern culture. Or at other times they have sought to promote a Messiah or World teacher in the flesh based on emotionalism, or for instance by deleting or twisting the rules and aims of the Theosophical Society against political involvement.





ROADMAP



THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL GROUPS, SECTIONS and OFFSHOOTS:

I will here only emphasise those major offshoots, which related or relates themselves directly to the Theosophical Society and original founders teachings.


1. *** The Theosophical Society***
(itself, Adyar HQ - with leanings on Annie Besant and politics):

The original The Theosophical Society (itself). Officially founded November 17th, 1875 by sixteen persons among them H. S. Olcott, H. P. Blavatsky, W. Q. Judge. And was from then on based on comparative studying with emphasis on the Eastern philosophies and the ageless Wisdom Teachings from Plotin, Ammonious Saccas, Pot-Amun of Alexandria, Shankaracarya, Buddha, Krishna etc. etc. Seeking the truth about life and seeking to end the strifes between the worlds religions, while aiming at a Universal Brotherhood or Universal Heartflow among all life. Rejecting involvement with politics. The Headquarter (HQ) was transferred from New York USA to Bombay in India in 1879 and later to Adyar in India 1882 where it has remained until today.

Organisationlly speaking. The Theosophical Society was later changed a bit by Annie Besant (1847-1933) by when she also, at the same time, was the Outer Head of the Esoteric Section, so-called. With the consequences this had for TS public relations. The Esoteric Section which originally was created as totally independant by H. P. Blavatsky in October 1888. And The Theosophical Society was changed by Annie Besant, who connected it somewhat with social political activities and the Indian National Congress. ("The future of Indian politics", p. 35, Annie Besant; (1922) - Published through the apparently NON-POLITICAL: The Theosophical Publishing House). In her time as President of the Theosophical Society, we witness Annie Besant several times forwarding the importance of the Koncept of Freedom of Thought, (Se Article XII in the TS Constitution of 1888 given by me in the above). There seems however to have been a deviation from this in the years 1925-1930, until TS organisationally speaking return to the original programe again.

The last doctrine can be said to be in opposition to the original aims of the Theosophical Society. And after some years, the alledged physical Messiah and World Teacher named J.Krishnamurti decided to offcially reject this doctrine himself, and refused it because he said: "nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path" (Dissolving speech 1929). And J.Krishnamurti dissolved as a consequence the Order of the Star. Some will perhaps oppose these views and have other views than mine. But I have merely stated the truth as I have learned it.

Today The Theosophical Society seek to follow the original three objects and very much the original intention with the Society as its original founders forwarded them. And it seems that no other of the branched off organisation do this these days, since they all have changed the original three objects or down-watered the vital ethical concept of Freedom of Thought. (Se the main international website of The Theosophical Society here.)


2. The Theosophical Society
(International Headquarters – Pasadena, California offshoot by W.Q. Judge, 1895):

This group split with the original Theosophical Society after disagreements with the President H. S. Olcott and various so-called leading theosophists. The split occurred when W. Q. Judge was accused of creating false Mahatma Letters. Something he denied, and he in return accused the leader of the Esoteric Section Annie Besant for being under false and bad influences.


3. The United Lodge of Theosophists:
(offshoot in 1909 by Robert Crosbie via W.Q. Judge )

Claiming that the seeker after wisdom Robert Crosbie kept the link to the theosophical Masters unbroken, and that it was lost temporarily when W. Q. Judge died, in year 1896. This group does not really support Katherine Tingley as a susccessor to W. Q. Judge as the above group named The Theosophical Society -International Headquarters – Pasadena, California does.


4. Anthroposophy by Rudolf Steiner:
(offshoot in 1911-1912 by Rudolf Steiner from the Theosophical Society led by Annie Besant)

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) claimed to be a clairvoyant and an able one who could read other persons Karmic patterns and past incarnations. He broke with the Theosophical Society because of the J. Krishnamurti World Teacher doctrine and organisation The Order of the Star promoted by Annie Besant and her friends within the TS in accordance with the Concept for Freedom of Thought. This he and his most close friends could not tolerante. They created The Anthropological Society and opposed within the TS that members of the TS at the same time could be members of the Order of the Star. This was a violation of the TS constitution and the Concept of Freedom of Thought. Annie Besant sought to avoide trouble and wrote more than one time in the central magazine "The Theosophist" on the importance of the Concept of Freedom of Thought. But in vain. After a year or so, Annie Besant had not choice, she and the central administration had to expel all those Dr. Steiner followers in opposition to the TS in Germany, in March 1913. Later on in life Rudolf Steiner wrote that he was aware of that this likely would occur, and his intention himself also was to break away from the Theosophical Society. Rudolf Steiner later created a terminology and teaching called Anthroposophy within his Anthroposophical Society, which deviated somewhat from the theosophical terminology and and had an emphasis on comparative studying with Christianized vocabulary teachings and a down-watering of Eastern ones. He took a large part of the German Section of The Theosophical Society with him, when he broke away from The Theosophical Society as such. His teachings are today most often taken quite literally and comparative studying and central aims of the Theosophical Society are no longer given emphasis in the organisation. There have been minor offshoots, which were unsatisfied with the development.


5. The Arcane School:
(Offshoot formed by Alice A. Bailey in 1923)

Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949) claimed that she was in inner contact with the Chela (now named Master) known as the Tibetan, D.K. or Djwhal Khul. She formed her group not for beginner seekers, but said that she aimed at those seekers after wisdom, which were a bit more advanced. Her school was aimed to be an Esoteric Section, and therefore not exoteric. (See her book "The Unfinished Autobiography".) She wrote more than 25 books, and she claimed that most of her books, about 19 of them, was dictated telepathically and similar by a theosophical master named Master D.K. or Djwhal Khul. She claimed further together with her friend D.K. that: "In the case of H. P. B. this is apparent. On the tide of the present endeavor, the Secret Doctrine will be vindicated and her work justified."
("A Treatise on Cosmic Fire", page 707-8, written 1925, by Alice A. Bailey, English edition.)

Alice A. Bailey's teachings regard Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater's teachings a problematic if not even dangerous to the esoteric cause. Alice A. Bailey's teachings emphasised a western and christianized vocabulary, nearly omitted saying anything about the Middle Eastern doctrines, emphasised the future arrival of real physical Messiah and therefore apparently not Annie Besant's contemporary promoted World Teacher J. Krishnamurti. Alice A. Bailey's teachings held the vice-President of the Theosophical Society named S. Sumbramania Iyer (1842-1924), political co-founder of the Indian National Congress, in high esteem and called his special esoteric group an advanced esoterical one. S. Sumbramania Iyer claimed that Masters of the White Brotherhood resided at Badrinath in Northern India. This view was also mentioned in the theosophical magazine The Theosophist in VOL. I., No. 4 - JANUARY, 1880. H. P. Blavatsky placed them at various locations. Northern Tibet, Shigatse and Kashmir was some of the locations. S. Sumbramania Iyer was vice-President at the time when Annie Besant was President of the Theosophical Society. Alice A. Bailey was married. She was married to a Freemason of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite named Foster Bailey. H. P. Blavatsky mentioned, that she considered the Scottish Rites degrees as being spurious and rejected 33 degree masonry, and masonry without an esoteric Eastern Doctrine. (See HPB Collected Writings Vol. 1, p. 308-310). Blavatsky also claimed that the Jesuits at Clermont on Paris invented the high degrees in the 33 degree systems of Freemasonry, and that the Jesuits in generel was in direct opposition to the Theosphical Society. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was mentioned in Dan Brown's major bestseller fiction book named "The Lost Symbol".


6. Suddha Dharma Mandala:
(Offshoot - Esoteric Section - formed by S. Sumbramania Iyer in 1915)

This offshoot was formed as an Esoteric Section to The Theosophical Society. A section aimed at the more advanced Wisdom seekers. For those who sought guidance under a teacher or Chela who claimed contact with the Masters. S. Sumbramania Iyer (1842-1924) was vice-President of the Theosophical Society at Adyar in India when the group was formed by him. S. Sumbramania Iyer was a member of Chela T. Subba Row's (1856-1890) special inner group. Annie Besant who was The President of the Theosophical Society at the time recognized its existence. The group was created in opposition to the J. Krishnamurti organisations influence on the Theosophical Society. This Esoteric Section claimed to be in contact with the Himalayan Masters, and said that they were located in Northern India near Badrinath and that they had been present for the last 12.000 years or so. - After S. Sumbramania Iyer died in 1924 the group changed and began to claim that a World Teacher had been born and that this baby already was teaching Chelas as an infant. It is still disputed whether S. Sumbramania Iyer promoted a similar teaching before he died. This Esoteric Section gave emphasis to Adwaita Teachings and Raja Yoga teachings.


7. Nicholas & Helena Roerich: (Offshoot or direct group? named Agni Yoga Society formed in 1920 by Nicholas Roerich and later The Institute of Himalayan Studies "Urusvati" created by Nicholas & Helena Roerich in 1928)

"Urusvati" is sanskrit and means "Light of the Morning Star". Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a painter and author as well as a Seeker after Wisdom. He painted more than 7.000 paintings. His wife Helena Roerich (1879-1955) wrote a number of books some of them said to be inspired by the theosophical Master named Morya. She wrote on a teaching named Agni Yoga. She translated H. P. Blavatsky's major work The Secret Doctrine from English into Russian. In some of her letters written late in life, of which there are more than the below ones, Helena Roerich reveals that she to a certain degree was in opposition to Alice A. Bailey's writings.

One of Helena Roerich's letters:
"Don't have relations with Bailey's school, because they are hidden enemies. Don't sell them «Community». Tell them that it is not in trading now. «Illumination» can be sold without strong selection." (Letters to America, v.3, 16.09.51)
.......

Another of Helena Roerich's letters:
"My advise you, my dear one, not to read books by Alice Bailey. At the end of her life she manifested herself as a follower of Lucifer. At the beginning she didn't feel embarrassed to express herself as a student of one Sikkim resident, somebody named Laden-La, who was on service for local government. We knew him. She called referred him as her teacher and even tried to link him with great Figures of White Brotherhood."
(See P. Lindsay comments on this here: http://www.esotericastrologer.org/EAauthorEssays/AABHPBHR2.htm#HRAAB )

This Laden-La was most likely named S. W. Laden La (1876-1936) who played a prominent role between the British leaders in India and Tibet. He was a Police Chief and were in communication with the Dalai Lama and corresponded with the Panchen Lama, who at that time lived in exile in Guomindang, China. Helena Roerich lived her last years in Darjeeling, the area where Laden-La came from.

Some of Nicholas & Helena Roerich's teachings and online editions are here: Agni Yoga Society.


8. J. Krishnamurti Online: (Offshoot of foundations officially formed in 1969 by J. Krishnamurti - A previous organisation named the Order of the Star in the East was dissolved by him in 1929)

This website is seeking to collect all the speeches and teachings given by J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986), who to many was more or less fanatically viewed as a World Teacher and a Messiah of the age. His teachings was not directly affiliated with the original teachings given by the founders of The Theosophical Society. But his importance to the Theosophical Society's historical evolution make it valid to put him on this page. He said he never read any of H. P. Blavatsky's teachings. - And whether he actually was a World Teacher and Avatar Messiah is hotly disputed even today. The truth is, that no one actually knows or only a very few. And mere belief about him and his teachings is not what concerns the theosophical Seekers after Truth. - A Tree is always known on its fruits. Because of this he is often considered not to have been a real World teacher of the Age, and instead a medicore Teacher who helped a certain group who was past the need of certain steppingstones he truely can be said to have omitted from the original founders teachings. Among these the synthesis teaching on theosophy given by H. P. Blavatsky and other early theosophists; a teaching seeking to end the strifes between the worlds religions. His teachings are today by many viewed as a kind of pseudo Adwaita Vedanta teaching. - We can ask ourselves about the actual difference between Jesus Christ, Krishna, Buddha on the one hand and Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi and J Krishnamurti on the other.

The Krishnamurti Foundation in India

One of the more wellknown theosophical clairvoyants Geoffrey Hodson (d. 1983) attended the famous Star Camps at Ommen in Holland 1924-1929, where people said J. Krishnamurti were overshadowed by Maitrya, ie. Christ. Geoffrey Hodson said that J. Krishnamurti: "changed the Objects of the Order of the Star in the East from, in effect, 'To prepare for the coming of the Lord' to 'To serve the World Teacher now that He is in our midst.' I, myself, more than once heard Krishnamurti affirm that the great Teacher was now here and that the 'Coming' had actually occurred. Even now when he is speaking, with others I discern a spiritual influence emanating from him, as if a great Being were still using him as a vehicle. This, however, does not constitute a complete fulfillment of the original prophecy." (AN APPRECIATION OF C. W. LEADBEATER By Geoffrey Hodson, about 1965)


9. "I AM" Activity: (Offshoot of foundations officially formed in 1930'ties by Guy Ballard)

A teaching given originally by Guy Ballard who claimed to have received a series of teachings given by the theosophical Master Count of Sct. Germain in 1930 at Mount Shasta in California, USA. This organisation has had many later offshoots, and among them the Bridge to Freedom (formed by Geraldine Innocente in 1941), Summit Light House (formed 1958 by Mark L. Prophet), Keepers of the Flame (1961 by Mark L. Prophet) and later the Church Universal and Triumphant (formed by Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet in 1974). "I AM" Activity is said to be the originator of what is called Ascended Masters teachings, where some of the theosophical Masters and other new Masters are said not to be physical any more. The organisation has emphasis on teachings on Angels. The original group is small today, but together with its various offshoots is has a rather large following. - Among its teachings are the books by Cyril Scott, which are in opposition to the Annie Besant and J. Krishnamurti followers claims about J. Krishnamurti being a World Teacher and a Messiah. - Elizabeth Clare Prophet emphasised teachings about devas and angels before she died october 2009. Her husband Mark L. Prophet died in 1973. Elizabeth Clare Prophet claimed in one of her books that the house of the theosophical Master named Khutumi was to be found in the northern parts of Srinagar lake in Kashmir India. And a photo is given of it in the book named: "The Masters and Their Retreats", p. 424-425 (info is also online at Google Books).


10. Blavatskyarchives:
(Private website by Daniel Caldwell - created year 2000 or earlier)

This website is a private one, where some of Daniel Caldwell's friends and himself from time to time are publishing their articles. The website is included here because it is a central source of information on the theosophical teachings since the formation to the Theosophical Society and until today. It is centered on H. P. Blavatsky's teachings and rejects most of the later major offshoots of the Theosophical Society by calling them neo-Theosophy, and to a certain degree also the present day Theosophical Society, which can be said to be accepting the teachings and organisational changes given by Annie Besant, the former President of the Theosophical Society.


11. H.P. Blavatsky COLLECTED WRITINGS ONLINE:
(Scroll the page. Private website by Katinka Hesselink - created year 2000 or earlier)

Katinka Hesselink is a member of Theosophical Society-Adyar, who has taken her interest in theosophy and like subjects online. She was born in 1974 in The Netherlands. - She has shown herself to be a dedicated theosophist and is hosting the major work "H.P. Blavatsky COLLECTED WRITINGS" in its online edition with a few pages missing. The H.P. Blavatsky COLLECTED WRITINGS are as they stand today not without errors. Various forums on the Internet might be recommended for further studying. "Theos-talk" forum is one of them. Another could be the forum named "The Theosophical Network". - I mention this website because it contains H. P. Blavatsky's online papers and collected writings, except a few which have been omitted or remain undiscovered at the present time.


12. Alice A. Bailey online:
(Alice A. Bailey's books online)

This website is as far a I know a private one. I have included this link to the Alice A. Bailey books online versions, because so many have found these books important. My own view is that they have a rather loose approach towards political involvement when compared to the original programme of the Theosophical Society and H. P. Blavatsky's teachings. And their respectively mentioned a) lack of information about the Middle East, and b) their heavy emphasis on the use of a Christianized vocabulary, c) their heavy emphasis on a physical external saviour, d) their lack of emphasis on the Gupta-Vidya teachings on the Divine within each human, and e) their loose emphasis on Masonry groups as being for the advanced students of esoteric teachings - create an impact which endresults put them in danger of down-watering the Eastern Doctrines of the Wisdom Teachings of all ages. - I mention this website because it contains Alice A. Bailey's books online and because Alice A. Bailey's teachings are so popular in many countries these days. And I do this even when I disagree with important aspects of their content.



The above was the 9-12 major groups of the Theosophical Society with the major offshoots included. There are great many groups and sub-sections in various countries today. There has been created other offshoots of lesser growth and spread.



THE DANISH GROUPS, SECTIONS and OFFSHOOTS etc. etc.:


1. Den Gyldne Cirkel:
(Alice A. Bailey approach and are forwarding prophecies)

This organisation is a member of the organisation called World Service Intetgroup (WSI), which has its focus in the Alice A. Bailey teachings. And the Golden Circle claims to be somewhat in contact with the theosophical Master named K.H. World Service Intetgroup (WSI) seems to be an organisation directly emerging from the Alice A. Bailey organisation named Lucis Trust.

See also: World Service Intetgroup (WSI).

2. Teosofisk Forening København:
(A mix of Bailey doctrines and theosophical ones)

3. Teosofisk Forening Aalborg:
(An independent Alice A. Bailey approach)

4. Visdomsbøgernes Forlag:
(Bookshop with books on visdom)

5. *** Global Theosophy ***:
(Private website. Seeking to uphold the Original Programme of The Theosophical Society while adapting it to our present time. - started april 2001)

It is this website you are reading on right now. It was created in early spring 2001 and changed its website domain to the present one in November 2009. A private attempt to keep the Original Programme alive as it was given in 1873 and printed by H. P. Blavatsky in 1886 in the magazine the Theosophist of the Theosophical Society. Keeping it alive while adapting it to the present time and circumstances. This private attempt is not an actual organisation in the physical alone. It is of a rather half-physical or non-physical nature. Its main teachings seek to follow the Original Programe. The Author of the website Morten Nymann seeks scientifically and experientially the Wisdom Teachings as the main teaching. The author of the website claims to have met H. P. Blavatsky when she materialized herself in his appartment. The author of this website welcomes any contribution seeking the truth and seeking wisdom.

(Edited, August 2016)