Madame Blavatsky's Work & the Teachings of Theosophy
Published by Blavatsky Study Center. Online Edition copyright 2007.
A forceful and gifted individual, H.P. Blavatsky wrote in a forthright and powerful style challenging the confusion and absurdities of religious orthodoxy, exposing some of the fallacies of materialistic science, and assailing some of the claims of 19th century Spiritualism. She presented ideas and teachings which seemed like pretentious nonsense to her orthodox contemporaries. Furthermore, H.P.B. demonstrated psychic powers of a startling character, and said she was in contact with certain highly evolved Masters.
It was inevitable that H.P.B. should make enemies on every hand who published slanderous untruths as to her dishonesty, the fraudulence of her psychic phenomena, the non-existence of her Masters, and the worthlessness of Theosophy. But how much of truth is there in these accusations? Careful, detailed research into the primary source documents clearly shows that the attacks on H.P.B. lack a solid basis.
Furthermore, Dr. James Santucci, a scholar of comparative religion and editor of Theosophical History, has written:
"All too often, this subject [Theosophy & Blavatsky], when it is discussed in scholarly circles, is presented in a most unscholarly fashion. Falsehoods are perpetuated and original research is not actively pursued." Italics added.
Below are listed sources (both pro and con) which deal with some of the controversies involving Madame Blavatsky.
• Is Theosophy Authentic?
by Franklin Merrell-Wolff• Notes on Madame Blavatsky's Baboon
by W. T. S. Thackara• The Truth About Madame Blavatsky
by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.
Published by the Blavatsky Foundation. Refutes various accusations by Gertrude Marvin Williams, an HPB biographer.• H. P. Blavatsky and The Society for Psychical Research
by Grace F. Knoche• The Coulomb Conspiracy Against Theosophy
by Charles J. Ryan• The Society for Psychical Research and the Theosophical Phenomena: The Report of the S.P.R. on Madame Blavatsky
by the editors of Theosophy Magazine• Obituary: The "Hodgson Report" on Madame Blavatsky
by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.
Published by The Blavatsky Foundation. New Preface by Leslie Price.• The "Hodgson Report" on Madame Blavatsky
by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.• H. P. Blavatsky and the SPR
by Vernon Harrison
An examination of Richard Hodgson's Report of 1885 against Madame Blavatsky with a special study of the handwriting of the Mahatma Letters.• The Hall of Magic Mirrors
by Victor Endersby
This book published in 1969 is a study of H.P. Blavatsky's life and work with a special look at the attacks against her including an analysis of the Hodgson Report• The Theosophical Society: Russian Intrigue or Religious Evolution?
by Richard Hodgson.
Hodgson considered H.P. Blavatsky a fraud, pure and simple.• Critical Historical Review of The Theosophical Society
by William Emmette Coleman
An extremely hostile expose of Madame Blavatsky• The Sources of Madame Blavatsky's Writings
by William Emmette Coleman• Blavatsky Unveiled!
by Elliott Coues
Another hostile expose of Madame Blavatsky• Blavatsky and Buddhism
by Richard P. Taylor.
Shows that many elements of Blavatsky's Theosophy can be found in Tibetan Buddhism - in both relatively esoteric and relatively exoteric sources - but not available to western students or scholarship in her time. This conclusion adds substantial validation to her claims concerning her trans-himalayan sources.• Theosophy Versus Neo-Theosophy compiled by Margaret Thomas
• Life After Death in Kamaloka (the Astral World): H.P. Blavatsky versus C.W. Leadbeater
compiled by Ray Morgan• H.P. Blavatsky and K. Paul Johnson
compiled by Katinka Hesselink• K. Paul Johnson's House of Cards?: Critical Examination of Johnson's Thesis on the Theosophical Masters Morya & Koot Hoomi
by Daniel H. Caldwell• The Theosophical Mahatmas: A Critique of Paul Johnson's New Myth
by David Pratt• The Blavatsky/Tibet and Stanzas of Dzyan Connection
by Grigor V. Ananikian• Some Reflections on the Note by Grigor V. Ananikian about "The Blavatsky/Tibet and Stanzas of Dzyan Connection."
by Jean-Louis SiémonsSee also: