Esoteric Section

The Esoteric Section, or Esoteric School, is a concept that has existed in several branches of the Theosophical Movement, wherein sincere students commit themselves to a regimen of study, service, meditation, and lifestyle disciplines. In the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India, members who have been in good standing for two years (and meet other requirements) may ask to join the ES, which is a separate, private organization:

The ES offers a spiritual path that requires a gentle daily discipline. A balanced life centered in harmlessness, good will, and altruism helps members come to establish Theosophy as a living power in their lives. Daily practice is grounded in meditation, self-purification, study, and service. Development of paranormal powers such as clairvoyance are not taught in the ES and their development is not encouraged.

History

The first attempt related to the formation of an Esoteric Section happened in early 1884, in London. A debate was going on in the London Lodge as to whom should be its President. On one hand was Mr. Sinnett, who wanted to promote the Esoteric Philosophy of the Masters. On the other hand was Anna Kingsford, interested in Esoteric Christianity, a subject with which the London Society of the nineteenth century was more familiar. The Masters thought that Mrs. Kingsford would be a more suitable President in London, and proposed that the Arhat Esoteric Doctrine be studied in an inner group of the London Lodge formed by those interested in the subject.

Letter 5 in the Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom First Series provides an interesting perspective on this 1884 attempt to form an inner group. People active at that time included: Francesca Arundale, Mary Anne Arundale [Francesca's mother], Alfred J. Cooper-Oakley, Isabelle Cooper-Oakley, Archibald Keightley, Bertram Keightley, Isabelle de Steiger, Laura E. Falkiner, Edmond W. Wade, John Varley, Isabella Varley, Toni Schmiechen, Hermann Schmiechen, Mary C. D. Hamilton, Gerard B. Finch, Louisa S. Cook, Mabel Collins (Mrs. Keningale Cook), Catherine Galindo, Patience Sinnett, R. Palmer Thomas, A. P. Sinnett, and Jane Wade.

Formation

The Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society was officially formed on October 9, 1888, when Col. Olcott, then on a visit in London, issued an order in Council declaring it formed with Mme. Blavatsky as its responsible head. The circular stated:

The Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society.

I. To promote the esoteric interests of the Theosophical Society by the deeper study of esoteric philosophy, there is hereby organised a body, to be known as the ‘Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society.’

II. The constitution and sole direction of the same is vested in Madame H. P. Blavatsky, as its head; she is solely responsible to the members for results; and the section has no official or corporate connection with the Exoteric Society, save in the person of the President-Founder.

Persons wishing to join the Section, and willing to abide by its rules, should communicate directly with Madame H. P. Blavatsky, 17 Lansdowne Road, Holland Park, London, W.

(Sd.) H. S. OLCOTT,
President in Council.

Attest:

H. P. BLAVATSKY,

Corresponding Secretary.

According to one account, it was Dr. Jirah Dewey Buck who first suggested the idea of an Esoteric Section to William Quan Judge, "which was formulated by the latter, and approved by the former, and then the whole was taken to H. P. B., in London, to complete the real organization."

Inner Group

In July, 1890, HPB and her staff moved from Lansdowne Road into Annie Besant’s house in 19 Avenue Road. In August she formed the Inner Group of the Esoteric Section, which consisted of twelve members, six men and six women. They were Countess Constance Wachtmeister, Mrs. Isabelle Cooper-Oakley, Miss Emily Kislingbury, Miss Laura M. Cooper, Mrs. Annie Besant, Mrs. Alice L. Cleather, Dr. Archibald Keightley, Mr. Herbert Coryn, Mr. Claude Falls Wright, Mr. G. R. S. Mead, Mr. E. T. Sturdy, and Mr. Walter Old. There were also two "outsiders" that had been specially invited, namely, Rai B. K. Laheri and Dr. William W. Westcott, who were later joined by W. Q. Judge.

The group held its meetings weekly, in a room which had been specially built for it, leading out of HPB’s bedroom. Into it no one but herself and the members of the group ever entered. Each member had their our own place and chair; and during the instructions HPB sat with her six men pupils on her right and the six women on her left-hand side, in semi-circular formation.

The term Inner Group was also used by the London Lodge under A. P. Sinnett. C. Jinarājadāsa wrote:

In 1894 I was admitted into the Inner group of the London Lodge as a chela of the Master, and was present at the intimate and informal gatherings of the Group which were held on most Sunday mornings in Mr. Sinnett's library for discussion."

American Dr. Jirah Dewey Buck mentions having received all the written instructions from the Esoteric Section and Inner Group:

Not only from her voluminous writings, but from the Secret Instructions given in the Esoteric Section" and from that of the Inner Group" of the E. S. up to the time of her death, all of which I received, her method of teaching students is easily discerned.

Esoteric groups across the Theosophical Movement

Most major organizations in the Theosophical Movement have had their own versions of esoteric schools using various names including the Esoteric School of Theosophy, Esoteric School, and Esoteric Section. References to E.S. or E.S.T. all refer to the same general form of organization.

Theosophical Society Adyar

International headquarters for the Esoteric Section is at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society. While the E.S. is governed and operated separately from the Society, it is usual for TS staff and officers of national sections to be E.S. members. Radha Burnier, for example was president of the TS from 1980-2013 while concurrently serving as Outer Head of the E.S., in a tradition established by Annie Besant. When Tim Boyd was elected president in 2014, however, a move was made to separate the roles, and Linda Oliveira of Australia took over the headship of the E.S.

After Annie Besant asked A. P. Warrington to became head of the E.S. for the United States in 1911, he developed the idea of an esoteric center at Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Hollywood, California. In 1924, the organized was moved to Ojai, California, establishing the current Krotona Institute of Theosophy. It has become a very active center of activity, drawing workers, students, and teachers from all over the world.

A prominent E.S. center in Sydney, Australia is The Manor, where Charles Webster Leadbeater worked for many years.

Point Loma

The 1898 charter describes Katherine A. Tingley as Outer Head of the Esoteric School. Gottfried de Purucker succeeded her in that role.

In 1990, Point Loma Publications published a new edition of a 1932 compilation of esoteric teachings:

During the years 1924-1927 certain meetings of members of the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society were held in the Temple of Peace, Point Loma, California, the then Outer Head, Katherine Tingley, presiding. The lectures were given by G. dePurucker, and some years later published under the title Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy by Rider and Co., London, and David McKay, Phiadelphia...

...meetings were held in the Temple and attended by all residents of the Esoteric Section at Point Loma.

A 1975 article about Point Loma history uses Esoteric Section and Esoteric School interchangeably. The same two terms are common in the Adyar Theosophical Society as well.

United Lodge of Theosophists

ULT periodicals such as Theosophy consistently refer to an Esoteric Section, the terminology used by H. P. Blavatsky, or as the Dzyan Esoteric School.

Temple of the People

The Temple of the People has an Esoteric Section called the Order of the 36, composed of members called Templars. Templars are defined as "members who have served the specified time (not less than four years) as members-at-large, and have been admitted into the Order of the 36, or Eosteric Section of the Society, upon approval of the Guardian-in-Chief. These members are known as full participating members."

Additional resources

• HPB note to Judge in Blavatsky Archives website. From the digital files of Jon Knebel related to publication of the Blavatsky Collected Letters.
• Reprints of esoteric instructions in Blavatsky Archives website.
• Instruction No. 3 in Blavatsky Archives website.