Published by The Blavatsky Archives. Online Edition copyright 1998-2008.
In January 1887, H.P. Blavatsky
wrote to Countess Constance Wachtmeister: "After a long conversation with Master...either I have to return to India to die...or I have to form... a nucleus of true Theosophists, a school of my own...with as many mystics as I can get to teach them...." Later in September 1888 in a letter to John Ransom Bridge, HPB wrote: "I am organizing...a special centre...of exclusively occult students, willing to accept... the teachings of which I am the channel and which I cannot impart except to pledged members...." |
Boris de Zirkoff, the compiler of H.P. Blavatsky's Collected Writings, gives an introduction and overview (pages 478-511, C.W., Vol. 12) to H.P. Blavatsky's Esoteric School or Section. And even more information about H.P.B.'s School will be found in the book titled The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.
Below the reader will find a listing of various esoteric papers and documents (both online and offline) that H.P. Blavatksy issued to the members of her Esoteric School. The documents are arranged (more or less) in chronological order.
E.S.T.S. Pledge Folder
This document was issued in 1888 by H.P. Blavatsky to all applicants seeking admission to the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society.
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII but is included in The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.Preliminary Memorandum (E.S.T.S.)
Strictly Private, Confidential, Personal, for Members only. Issued 1888.
A photographic facsimile of the original edition is given in the book titled The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.E.S.T.S. Instructions No. I
This is a photographic facsimile of the complete 1890 unabridged edition. A later edited and abridged version is given in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Extract from H.P.B.'s E.S.T.S. Instruction No. I
This extract is missing from the version found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Esoteric Instruction No. 1
This is a later edited and abridged version from Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII. Note about the editing of this version. See earlier unabridged edition.Esoteric Instruction No. 2
This is a later edited and abridged edition from Collected Writings, Vol. XII. The earlier unabridged edition is published in photographic facsimile in The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.Memorandum at End of HPB's Esoteric Instruction No. II
This memorandum from the 1890 edition of Instruction No. II. is missing from the Collected Writings, Vol. XII version.The Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.The Esoteric Section T.S.: Reorganization of the Section in America
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.To The Members of the E.S. of the T.S.
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Esoteric Instruction No. 3
This is a later edited version as found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII. See The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky for more details on the various editions of this instruction.NOTE: H.P.B.'s above Esoteric Instructions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were first issued to the public in 1897 in The Secret Doctrine, Volume III. These instructions were edited in this 1897 publication as can be discovered by comparison to H.P.B.'s originals. The 1897 version of these instructions are online at:
Paper I [Originally titled E.S.T.S. Instruction I] Paper I starts on page 435.
Paper II [Originally titled E.S.T.S. Instruction II] Paper II starts on page 455.
Paper III [Originally titled E.S.T.S. Instruction III] Scroll down. Paper III starts on page 486.Examination Paper No. 1, London, June 12, 1890, by order of H.P.B.
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky, 1890-1891
Here, for the first time online, is an accurate and complete transcription of the original oral teachings by H.P.B. to her Inner Group in London. This transcription is not available in the Collected Writings Series of HPB's writings. This transcription has also been published in two different books: Book 1 and Book 2.Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky.
In this online reprint of H.P.B.'s oral teachings as found in The Secret Doctrine, Volume III (1897), the text has been heavily edited.H.P. Blavatsky's E.S. Notice dated Jan. 1, 1891
This document is not included in the esoteric documents found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.
Reprint of Instructions I, II and III.
This original 8-page document is not found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Boris de Zirkoff's Note about Instructions IV and V, and the First Supplementary Paper to Instruction IV
But see also Daniel H. Caldwell's comments on some of Mr. de Zirkoff's statements at Jakes Quotes Boris DeZirkoff on Later Instructions.Esoteric Instruction No. 4
This reprint is found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.
A photographic facsimile of the original "Esoteric Instruction No. 4" is given in the book titled The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.
"Esoteric Instruction No. 4" is based on material from H.P. Blavatsky's "Inner Group Teachings". The original and complete transcription of the Inner Group Teachings has been published in two different books: Book 1 and Book 2 and also online.Esoteric Instruction No. 5
This reprint is found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.
A photographic facsimile of the original "Esoteric Instruction No. 5" is given in the book titled The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.
"Esoteric Instruction No. 5" is based on material from H.P. Blavatsky's "Inner Group Teachings". The original and complete transcription of the Inner Group Teachings has been published in two different books: Book 1 and Book 2 and also online.First Supplementary Paper to Instruction No. IV
This document is found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII. In this version the document is signed only by William Q. Judge.
In The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky, a photographic facsimile of the original edition is given. In this original version the document is signed by both Annie Besant and William Q. JudgeDoubles and Ex-Doubles
This document is found in Blavatsky's Collected Writings, Vol. XII.Some Commentaries on [H.P.B.'s Esoteric] Instructions I and II
by K.H.
The above papers plus other additional esoteric documents have been published in the book titled The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky. For more information on how to obtain this book, see Esoteric Papers.