Madame Blavatsky

1. Madame Blavatsky: Founding Mother of Modern Spirituality and Enduring Enigma

Of all the names associated with modern spirituality, that of Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky—or HPB, as she preferred to be called—is surely one of the most controversial.

A pivotal figure. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (HPB) is widely considered the starting point of the modern spiritual revival, influencing everything from meditation and reincarnation beliefs to interest in Eastern wisdom and ancient civilizations. Despite her significant impact on culture, she remains largely unknown to the general public, often remembered only through accusations of fraud.

Contradictory character. HPB was a bundle of contradictions: a chain-smoking, outspoken woman of aristocratic birth, a mystic, a traveler, and a writer whose life story is notoriously difficult to pin down due to her own conflicting accounts and the sensationalism of her detractors. Her life defies easy categorization, making her a fascinating, if elusive, subject.

Enduring legacy. Her Theosophical Society, founded in 1875, attracted prominent figures like Thomas Edison and Mohandas Gandhi, and influenced major developments in art, politics, and religion. Her ideas, though often filtered through later movements, laid the groundwork for much of what is now considered "New Age" thought, demonstrating her profound and often uncredited contribution to contemporary spirituality.

2. A Russian Aristocrat's Rejection of Convention and Early Exposure to the Occult

As with many children, HPB was a strange and new combination of two very different worlds.

Unconventional beginnings. Born Helena Petrovna von Hahn in 1831 in Ukraine (then Russia), HPB's early life was marked by constant travel due to her father's military career and her mother's ill health. Her mother, a celebrated novelist, provided an artistic and intellectual counterpoint to her father's pragmatic military world, a duality HPB seemed to inherit.

Early mystical experiences. From a young age, HPB exhibited unusual traits:

• Playing with "invisible companions" and talking to unseen friends.
• Displaying psychic abilities, like putting pigeons to sleep.
• Experiencing strange phenomena, including being saved from a fall by a "tall Indian."

Discovery of occult knowledge. A pivotal moment was discovering her great-grandfather Prince Pavel Dolgorukov's library, filled with books on alchemy, magic, and occult sciences. This exposed her to ideas of "unknown superiors" and secret societies, providing a framework for her mystical experiences and igniting her quest for hidden knowledge, particularly concerning the East.

3. Years of Global Wanderlust Fueled by a Quest for Hidden Knowledge

HPB’s “journey into the unknown” had begun, and at this point her life becomes a series of adventures, much like those her contemporary Jules Verne would pack into the pages of his novels.

Escape from marriage. At seventeen, HPB married Nikifor Blavatsky, a much older man, reportedly to escape family control and gain access to the East. The marriage was never consummated, and she fled within months, embarking on nearly a decade of extensive, undocumented travels across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Seeking esoteric contacts. Her travels were not aimless but driven by a search for occult knowledge and teachers.

• In Cairo, she sought out a Coptic "magician," Paulos Metamon, and possibly connected with figures like Max Théon and Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, linking her to a network of esoteric and radical political thinkers.
• She visited ancient sites, studied local customs, and reportedly encountered individuals with unusual abilities, like the Druze in Lebanon.

Disputed Tibetan journeys. HPB claimed to have spent several years in Tibet, a region virtually inaccessible to Westerners at the time, studying with her Masters. While critics doubt these journeys due to lack of corroboration, some accounts from British officers and her own descriptions offer tantalizing, though inconclusive, evidence of her attempts to reach the forbidden land.

4. Entering the American Spiritualist Scene to Champion and Critique Phenomena

Blavatsky had already explained to Olcott that the “spirits” he and the other visitors had seen at the Eddys’ farm were not those of the friends and relatives who had passed on, but “thought forms” emanating from the living combined with the decaying “shells” of the dead...

Arrival in New York. HPB arrived in New York in 1873, penniless but determined. She quickly adapted, taking odd jobs and using her psychic abilities, gaining a reputation among her neighbors. She followed the burgeoning Spiritualist movement, which was captivating America with its séances and claims of communication with the dead.

The Chittenden haunting. Drawn by newspaper reports of the Eddy brothers' materialization phenomena in Chittenden, Vermont, HPB traveled there in 1874. It was here she met Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, a respected lawyer and journalist investigating the phenomena, who would become her closest collaborator.

A nuanced view of Spiritualism. HPB's stance on Spiritualism was complex:

• She affirmed the reality of the phenomena (materializations, raps, etc.), often demonstrating similar abilities herself.
• Crucially, she rejected the prevailing theory that these were caused by the immortal souls of the dead. Instead, she attributed them to "elementals," "astral shells," or "thought forms," arguing that true spiritual progress involved mastering, not being controlled by, these forces. This critique set her against mainstream Spiritualists.

5. Founding the Theosophical Society: A Bold Move for Universal Brotherhood and Ancient Wisdom

On September 13, 1875, the Theosophical Society was born.

Beyond Spiritualism. Recognizing the limitations and potential dangers of Spiritualism, HPB and Olcott sought a broader platform for their ideas. Inspired by a lecture on ancient Egyptian wisdom and prompted by what Olcott perceived as a telepathic suggestion, they gathered a group of like-minded individuals.

The Society's aims. The newly formed Theosophical Society (TS) set out ambitious goals:

• To form a nucleus of universal brotherhood without distinction.
• To study ancient and modern religions, philosophies, and sciences.
• To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and latent human powers.

Diverse membership. The initial members were a mix of scholars, lawyers, journalists, and occultists, reflecting the society's wide-ranging interests. Although HPB held no formal leadership role initially, she was the driving force and intellectual center, tasked with articulating the society's core philosophy. The name "Theosophy," meaning "divine wisdom," was chosen to reflect its connection to ancient traditions.

6. Isis Unveiled: A Monumental Challenge to Materialism and Dogma, Rooted in Western Esotericism

The central theme of Isis Unveiled, as the reviewer for the New York World remarked, is the revival of the ancient Hermetic philosophy...

A Herculean effort. HPB's first major work, Isis Unveiled (1877), was a massive, two-volume compendium of occult, scientific, and religious ideas. Written with astonishing speed and drawing on an apparently vast, sometimes "astrally" accessed, library of sources, it aimed to challenge the dominant paradigms of the late 19th century.

Critique of the age. The book launched a two-pronged attack:

• Against scientific materialism, arguing that it ignored the spiritual dimensions of reality and that ancient civilizations possessed a deeper understanding of the universe.
• Against dogmatic religion, particularly Christianity, which she saw as having distorted original spiritual truths found in older traditions.

Key concepts introduced. Isis Unveiled revived interest in Western esoteric traditions (Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Neoplatonism) and introduced concepts like:

• The Astral Light: A universal medium recording all events and thoughts.
• Elementals: Nature spirits distinct from the souls of the dead.
• The unity of all religions: Arguing they stemmed from a common ancient wisdom.

Despite accusations of plagiarism, the book's sheer scope and synthesis of disparate ideas made it a surprising success and established HPB as a formidable intellectual force.

7. Passage to India: Finding a New Base and Igniting a Cultural Awakening

For both Theosophy and the Indians, they couldn’t have come at a better time.

Strategic relocation. Following the success of Isis Unveiled but facing dwindling momentum in New York, HPB and Olcott decided to move the TS headquarters to India in 1878. This move, possibly influenced by HPB's Masters and Olcott's growing interest in Eastern religions, proved pivotal for the society's growth and influence.

Warm reception. Their arrival in Bombay in 1879 was met with enthusiasm by many Indians, particularly those involved in reform movements like the Arya Samaj. HPB and Olcott were seen as Westerners who validated India's ancient spiritual heritage at a time when it was often denigrated by British colonial rule and Christian missionaries.

Olcott's impact. While HPB focused on writing and teaching, Olcott became a tireless organizer and advocate:

• He helped establish numerous TS branches across India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
• He championed Buddhist revival in Ceylon, writing a widely used Buddhist Catechism and becoming a national hero.
• He developed remarkable healing abilities, reportedly curing thousands through magnetic passes.

The move solidified Theosophy's connection to Eastern spirituality and positioned the society as a force for cultural and religious revival in India.

8. The Mahatma Letters and Simla Phenomena: Paranormal Proof and Philosophical Instruction

My Dear Brother, This brooch No. 2, is placed in this very strange place, simply to show you how very easily a real phenomenon is produced.

Correspondence with Masters. In India, HPB facilitated a correspondence between her Masters (primarily Koot Hoomi and Morya) and prominent British figures like A. P. Sinnett and A. O. Hume. These "Mahatma Letters," often hundreds of pages long, provided detailed teachings on esoteric philosophy, cosmology, and human evolution.

Mysterious delivery. The letters were reportedly delivered through paranormal means, often "precipitated" out of thin air or found in unusual locations, rather than sent through conventional mail. This phenomenon, along with others, aimed to provide tangible proof of the Masters' existence and powers.

The Simla phenomena. During a visit to Sinnett in Simla in 1880, HPB produced several striking phenomena:

• Materializing a missing teacup and saucer embedded in the ground.
• Causing a brooch to appear inside a cushion.
• Making roses fall from the ceiling.

These events, documented by Sinnett in The Occult World, became famous but also drew intense scrutiny, ultimately contributing to later accusations of fraud. The Masters, however, emphasized that the phenomena were secondary to the philosophical teachings and the goal of universal brotherhood.

9. The Adyar Crisis: Betrayal, Scandal, and the Infamous Hodgson Report

The Hodgson Report is not, as has been widely believed for more than a century, a model of what impartial and painstaking research should be: it is the work of a man who has reached his conclusions early on in his investigation and thereafter, selecting and distorting evidence, did not hesitate to adopt flawed arguments to support his thesis.

Trouble at headquarters. The Theosophical Society established its permanent headquarters in Adyar, Madras, in 1882. Tensions arose within the household, particularly involving Emma and Alexis Coulomb, who had been taken in by HPB. Resentful after being dismissed, the Coulombs sought revenge.

The "Coulomb letters". In 1884, the Coulombs provided letters, allegedly from HPB, detailing how she faked phenomena using trapdoors and hidden panels. These were published by Christian missionaries in the Madras Christian College Magazine, causing a major scandal.

The SPR investigation. The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) sent Richard Hodgson to investigate. Hodgson, heavily influenced by the Coulombs' testimony and his own skepticism, concluded in his 1885 report that HPB was a fraud and the Mahatma Letters were forged.

• Hodgson's report was later discredited by the SPR itself in 1986, citing bias and flawed methodology.
• The original "Coulomb letters" disappeared and their authenticity remains unproven.

The scandal deeply wounded HPB, forcing her to leave India and casting a long shadow over her legacy, despite the later retraction of the SPR's findings.

10. The Secret Doctrine: A Cosmic History and the Culmination of Her Teaching

The Secret Doctrine purports to be a commentary on stanzas from the mysterious Book of Dzyan, an unknown text written in an unknown language, Senzar, which, we know, HPB learned, along with English, while studying with Koot Hoomi.

A second magnum opus. Despite ill health and the ongoing scandal, HPB dedicated her final years in Europe to completing The Secret Doctrine (1888), a two-volume work presenting a vast cosmic and human history based on the Stanzas of Dzyan.

Core propositions. The book outlines three fundamental ideas:

• An absolute, unknowable Reality underlying all existence.
• The cyclical nature of the universe (manvantaras and pralayas).
• The spiritual identity of all souls and their evolutionary journey through all forms of life.

Cosmic and human evolution. The Secret Doctrine details the evolution of the cosmos and humanity through vast cycles (Rounds) and successive stages of human development (Root Races), including controversial accounts of:

• Earlier, non-physical races (Polar, Hyperborean).
• The Atlantean civilization and its downfall.
• The current Aryan Root Race and future developments.

While the source text and some concepts are debated by scholars, the book remains a foundational text for Theosophy, offering a sweeping, evolutionary vision of reality that challenged both scientific materialism and conventional religious dogma.

11. Final Years and Lasting Influence: Battling Illness, Founding the ES, and Inspiring Seekers

Her last words were, “Isabel, Isabel, keep the link unbroken; do not let my last incarnation be a failure,” a tough admonition to take on.

Return to Europe. After the Adyar crisis, HPB moved to Germany, then Belgium, and finally settled in London in 1887, often battling severe illness. Despite her physical struggles, her intellectual and spiritual output remained prodigious.

Founding the Esoteric Section. In 1888, she established the Esoteric Section (ES) within the TS, a more private group for dedicated students seeking deeper occult knowledge and self-transformation. This group focused on practical occultism and the development of the "inner man," emphasizing discipline and ethical conduct over psychic powers.

Key later works. Besides The Secret Doctrine, her later years produced:

• The Key to Theosophy (1889): A clear Q&A format explaining core Theosophical concepts.
• The Voice of the Silence (1889): A devotional text on the Bodhisattva path, praised by some Buddhist scholars.

HPB's London home became a hub for seekers, including W. B. Yeats and Mohandas Gandhi, who were profoundly influenced by her ideas, particularly the concept of universal brotherhood and the value of Eastern wisdom. She died in London on May 8, 1891, leaving behind a complex legacy.

12. The Masters: Real People, Mythic Figures, or a "Serious Joke"?

My own feeling is that HPB’s Masters were in many ways what the seventeenth-century Rosicrucian author Johann Valentin Andreae called a ludibrium, a Latin word meaning “serious joke.”

The enduring question. The identity and nature of HPB's Masters remain one of the most debated aspects of her story. Were they real, flesh-and-blood adepts as she claimed? Were they fabrications used to lend authority to her teachings? Or something in between?

Possible interpretations.

• Real individuals: Some researchers suggest the Masters were real people HPB encountered, perhaps Indian reformers or members of esoteric groups, whose identities she fictionalized to protect them.
• Psychic projections: They could be personifications of aspects of her own consciousness or products of her remarkable psychic abilities (tulpa, doppelganger).
• A teaching device: Like the Rosicrucian manifestos, the Masters might have been a "ludibrium," a "serious joke" or narrative device used to convey profound truths and inspire action, rather than literal beings.

Legacy of the concept. Regardless of their origin, the concept of "hidden masters" or a "Great White Lodge" dedicated to guiding humanity has had a powerful and lasting impact on modern esotericism and spirituality, inspiring numerous later movements and teachers, though often diverging significantly from HPB's original presentation. The mystery surrounding them continues to fuel debate and fascination.

Last updated: May 16, 2025