Masters of Wisdom: Difference between revisions

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*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Masters.pdf# Masters and Gurus] by Radha Burnier
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Masters.pdf# Masters and Gurus] by Radha Burnier
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/PerfectedOnes.pdf# The Perfected Ones] by Clara Codd
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/PerfectedOnes.pdf# The Perfected Ones] by Clara Codd
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway1.htm# The Mahatmas and Their Instruments - Part 1] and [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway2.htm# Part 2] by Laura Holloway
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Teacher.pdf# Who Is The Teacher?] by Joy Mills
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Teacher.pdf# Who Is The Teacher?] by Joy Mills
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2383# How the Masters Know Truth by Shirley J. Nicholson]
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2383# How the Masters Know Truth by Shirley J. Nicholson]

Revision as of 16:06, 12 November 2012

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

Notes

  1. Helena Ptrovna Blavatsky, The Key To Theosophy, Glossary (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1972), 348.
  2. Charles Johnston, Collected Writings vol VIII (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 400.
  3. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 400.

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