H.P. Blavatsky: "I have to form a school of my own."

Compiled by Daniel Caldwell

"HPB's Mission"

During the last 48 months of her life, HPB carried out the mandate of her Teacher given to her in January 1887 when she was still in Ostende, Belgium.

Here is the mission given to HPB by Master Morya:

"After a long conversation with Master....either I have to return to India to die this autumn 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....."

Well, HPB didn't return to India to die. So what did she do?

HPB decided to go to London in May 1887 and do what her Master told her to do.

Notice her exact words:

"...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...."

Well HPB certainly did what the Master wanted...in fact, she formed 3 schools.

Think of 3 concentric circles.

"The Outer Circle or School"

(1) The outer circle or school was the formation of the Blavatsky Lodge in London in May 1887. HPB gave valuable teachings to this lodge.

HPB gave teachings on Dreams at the meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge held at 17, Lansdowne Road, London on December 20 and 27, 1888.

"The Secret Doctrine" was published in the Fall of 1888. Questions about the book and its subject matter, particularly on Cosmogenesis, were the topic of discussion at the weekly meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge, held January through June 1889 in London. HPB wrote to her sister Vera about these meetings: "...we hold a reception...every Thursday...with all its scientific questions [for me to answer], with shorthand writers at my back."

The transcriptions of these meetings have been published in "The Secret Doctrine Dialogues".

These "Secret Doctrine" dialogues or commentaries are by HPB. This is what she said orally at the meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge as taken down by a stenographer.

In 1890-1891, some of these commentaries were published under the title: "Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge," Part 1 & Part 2.

These "Transactions" in 2 parts contain HPB's own revised, edited and expanded version of what she had said previously at those Blavatsky Lodge meetings in 1889.

See: Secret Doctrine Commentary: Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society

See also: Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge: How It Was Written - I and Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge: How It Was Written - II

Another valuable source are the actual Blavatsky Lodge Minutes 1887-1891.

"The Middle Circle or School"

(2) The middle circle or school was HPB's formation of the Esoteric Section or Esoteric School in October 1888. And her teachings to this group were embodied in her Esoteric Instructions.

See: The Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky.

This book provides photographic facsimiles of many of the original esoteric papers issued by Madame Blavatsky. Some of the documents reproduced in this volume have never been reprinted since first issued. In fact, this volume is the most comprehensive collection of H.P.B.'s esoteric papers now available.

See also Mahatma Koot Hoomi's Commentaries on H.P.B.'s Esoteric Instructions I and II.

"The Inner Circle or School"

(3) And the inner circle or school was HPB's formation of the Inner Group in August 1890. HPB gave valuable teachings to members of this group.

See: The Inner Group Teachings by H.P. Blavatsky.

This document gives an accurate and complete transcription of the original oral teachings given by H.P.B. to her Inner Group students in London from Aug. 1890 through April 1891. This material is NOT available in the "Collected Writings" Series of HPB's writings. Includes a new introduction telling how this rare document was found.

See also these related materials:

Madame Blavatsky's Original Notes for an Inner Group Meeting.

The Sidney Coryn Typescript and HPB's Inner Group.