Masters of Wisdom

The Masters of Wisdom, or simply "The Masters" are initiates in the occult science and esoteric philosophy, who take disciples or chelas. H. P. Blavatsky, in the glossary of her book The Key to Theosophy defined the Theosophical concept of "Master" as follows:

Master. A translation from the Sanskrit Guru, "Spiritual teacher," and adopted by the Theosophists to designate the Adepts, from whom they hold their teachings.

The Masters of Wisdom are sometimes referred indistinctly as "Brothers", "Adepts", or "Mahatmas." However, it seems the word "Master" refers more specifically to a high class of Adepts who work in line with the evolutionary movement. This idea is reported by Charles Johnston in his interview to Mme. Blavatsky:

Then she told me something about other Masters and adepts she had known--for she made a difference, as though the adepts were the captains of the occult world, and the Masters were the generals.

Adepts and Masters

The word "Adept" was used in a general way by Mme. Blavatsky. There were high and low adepts. Sometimes she called "Adept" people with occult knowledge, but not necessarily spiritually highly evolved. In fact, she mentions adepts who are black magicians. The word Master, however, seems to be reserved to high adepts, who work in line with the evolutionary movement. This idea is expressed to certain extent by Charles Johnston in an article published in H. P. Blavatsky's Collected Writings:

Then she told me something about other Masters and adepts she had known -- for she made a difference, as though the adepts were the captains of the occult world, and the Masters were the generals. She had known adepts of many races, from Northern and Southern India, Tibet, Persia, China, Egypt; of various European nations, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, English; of certain races in South America, where she said there was a Lodge of adepts.

Further reading

• Working as Colleagues of the Masters by Ed Abdill
• Masters and Gurus by Radha Burnier
• The Perfected Ones by Clara Codd
• The Mahatmas and Their Instruments - Part 1 and Part 2 by Laura Holloway
• Who Is The Teacher? by Joy Mills
• How the Masters Know Truth by Shirley J. Nicholson
• Mahatmas versus Ascended Masters by Pablo Sender
• Who Are the Masters? An Interview with Joy Mills by Richard Smoley

Additional resources

Audio

• Masters of the Wisdom by Dora Kunz
• Krishnamurti on the Masters by Aryel Sanat

Video

• The Masters and Their Wisdom - Part 1 by Pablo Sender
• The Masters and Their Wisdom Part 2 Part 3 and Part 4 by Tim Boyd