Its content was first delivered to the Los Angeles branch of the Theosophical Society in 1905-1906 in the form of two lectures. Heindel received the Rosicrucian material in the first half of 1908. The resulting Cosmo has two references to Blavatsky, both eulogistic, approaching panegyric:

  1) He [the author, Heindel] simply sets forth in the next few paragraphs what he has received, which shows how the differing (and seemingly contradictory) teaching of two such valuable works as "The Secret Doctrine" by H. P. Blavatsky, and "Esoteric Buddhism," by A. P. Sinnett, may be reconciled. --pg. 270

 2)Twenty years ago Madame Blavatsky, a faithful pupil of Eastern Masters, said that the Earth had a third movement, in addition to the two producing day and night and the seasons. She pointed out that the inclination of the Earth's axis is caused by a movement which, in due time, brings the north pole to where the equator is now and still later, to the place now occupied by the sought pole. This, she said, was known to the ancient Egyptians, the famous planisphere at Dendera showing that they had records of three such revolutions. These statements, in common with the whole of her unexcelled work, "The Secret Doctrine," were hooted at. --p. 512

 In this early book, Blavatsky and the Secret Doctrine, Heindel describes the Russian-born clairvoyant as a worthy messenger of the Masters, whose Secret Doctrine is one of the most remarkable books in the world (pp. 33, 34). As for the use of the word "Masters,"  while we (informed westerners) now reserve this term for eastern gurus, Heindel also employed the word in the corrected first draft of the Cosmo and changed it only in the galleys version. A master is one who has mastered certain areas or levels of skill or knowledge. The Rosicrucian Fellowship student is advised not to disdain or ignore the wisdom and attainment of these masters, the Elder Brothers among them, but not to invite these masters (Brothers) to master their lives, as the eastern are typically pleased to do, and many pseudo western "masters" likewise. What distinguishes the Brothers is that they insist on this distinction; in fact, they instituted it--requiring that the student stand on his/her own. The aspirant can do so because of the ripening of Christ gift in world evolution gives the impetus and wherewithal for each Ego to determine its own destiny, which was not the case prior to the last several hundred years.

 Regarding Blavatsky's book, Heindel did not change his opinion: The Secret Doctrine, he said is an "unexcelled work." But this is regarding what it provides and purports to do. Heindel didn't say that it sufficed his needs, for it did not, as proven by his continued search for the missing core of the wisdom teachings--which is the Christ, as given in the symbolic name Christian Rose Cross. All the wisdom teachings have been transmuted, and some transformed through the Being of the Christ. There are other signal differences and additions: including the soul body and the development of VOLUNTARY clairvoyance. Consciousness is not dimmed down but clarified and intensified.

 It would be helpful to avoid the either/or approach to spiritual offering and their purveyors, usually spiritually advanced souls, including the chronological chain of sages and adepts and liberated (from the dense physical) ones: Krishna, Zarathrustra, Hermes, the Budda, the Compassionate Ones known as the Elder Brothers of the Rose Cross, Blavatsky, Steiner, Heindel, and others less stellar but having a part to play in the wisdom buffet, including Swedenborg, Boehme, Hall, Rumi, Alice Bailey, and others of your choosing. For, in the final analysis, it is a matter of individual choosing, however much each of us propounds our "favorite" or most enlightened, or most on the mark. Be that as it may, this is not an exclusive matter, and to maintain a competitive or exclusionary take on wisdom contributions can only impoverish the individual, less on a content level than on the subtler basis of rigidifying the consciousness and opposing the need Heindel found critical for the student's optimal progress--maintaining the open mind.

 

- Charles Weber, The Rosicrucian Fellowship

 

COVER CONTENTS ADDENDUM

 

  [COVER]  [CONTENTS] [INTRODUCTION] [BIOGRAPHY OF MAX HEINDEL] [CHAPTER I]  [CHAPTER II]  [CHAPTER III]  [CHAPTER IV]  [CHAPTER V] [APHORISMS BY MAX HEINDEL] [LINKS]

 

For those interested in a printed copy of Heindel's

 H.P. Blavatsky and the
Secret Doctrine,

 you may order from

DeVorss & Company
553 Constitution
Camarillo, CA93012

Toll Free Number: 800-843-5743

The book ISBN is 0911274065

It sells for $6.00
 

ROSE CROSS

 

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