Customer Reviews
A massive study tome, be prepared! - By: D. Lane, 21 Jan 2005 
I must confess now that I have only managed to read into the first chapter of this book, but felt it necessary to put comment down as regards Blavatskyin general (or any polymath for that matter). An analogy of this work is that it is like the trunk of the tree of knowledge whereby an acute understanding of the roots is required. Blavatsky had an astounding array of source materials at her fingertips, & drew these togetherin this opus. It is perhaps obvious, but I feel quite often overlooked that one should seek an understanding of a work by preparing yourselfin the manner that the author prepared themselves when writing their work. Wizards bookshelf have produced a list of books that are a reference series covering most of the volumesin the Blavatsky library & I would strongly recommend that people put off diving headlong into this dense volume before acquainting themselves with some of the ideas presentedin these other texts (a list of these can be found on the theosophical societies' website). This is very much akin to a textbook, thus just asin advanced physics you do not asume to read quantum mechanics first thing without a modicum of preparedness the same is echoed here. It is true that the greatest of thingsin this life have the greatest risk, just asin the farther they reach the further one can fall also. In this vein one readsin the hope to pierce through the myriad of our attempts at understanding to capture the kernel of knowledge at the heart of writings such as these, our only enemy being the restraint on our curiosity coming from the statement "I know" & our clinging to this comfort. Be prepared, gather experience, & alter your preconceptions regarding what we perceive, free your conditioned self.
I know some may see this as a bit conceited, but offerencein goodwill & the hope that there is some benefit is all I place on these words. Furthermore, I suppose the fact that I haven't read the book will put a few off, I have managed to read Isis Unveiled & formed opinion from that.
I see this book as the crowning achievement to read coming off a much longer & inclined journey, that requires an expanded imagination of just what we are capable of.
Saint-Germain did not write the Secret Doctrine - By: , 01 Jun 1999 Speaking as one who is interestedin reading comments about the Secret Doctrine, it seems that reviews should be of the book & not the life story of an unrelated person who has nothing to do with the book (swooten@icok.net). I know that Theosophy saysin part that we must become our own authority & not depend on "chosen ones" channeling/speaking-for "Ascended Masters". Why is this review here ???
Historic Note on 'The Secret Doctrine' - By: , 03 May 1998 Aside from being Sirhan Sirhan's inspiration for killing the younger Kennedy, this is a rather remarcable book. It was the first book that Mr. Sirhan requested when he was usured off to jail. This was because of Mrs. Blavatsky's teachingin the book that he was 'Becoming a God' & nothing could prevent him from achiving 'His Will'. Of course, this is not a new teaching. It is just tragic that he took her at her literal word.
The New Age movment is a direct deseandant of Mrs. Blavatsky's writings. First with her 'Isis Unveiled' (pub. 1877), a "1,300-page compilation of mysticism, tall stories & archaeology, which hints at a lost knowledge that had been familiar to the initiates of antiquity"..."The result was both vitriolic & garbled, but 'Isis Unveiled' was to provide endless scope for interpretation." (Encyclopedia of the Unexplained - Ed. Richard Cavendish, Consultant: Professor J.B. Rhine [of Parapsychology fame], writen by historian James Webb - pg 250).
The book was 'shown' to herin the air before her eyes as the Akashic Records. The Akashic Records are 'distinct vibrations' for every creaturein the Chosmos that can be read by anyone whos eyes are 'atuned' to the mystical. A kind of 'cosmic record-keeper' to be usedin determaning whether or not you come back as a bug or what-notin your next life. They were made famous by Levi Dowling (1844-1911), an old Cival War army chaplain, who wrote 'The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ'. It was published after his death by Eva S. Dowling, Ph.D. - the Scribe to the Messenger -in 1911. The 'Christ' (lit. anointed) was mearly a title, like President or Prime Minister, & is used by many peaple (Buddha, Krishna, Mohamed the Prophet, & so-on) - not just one single person.
In writing 'The Secret Doctrine' Mrs. Blavatsky used the same method to interpet the ancient 'Stanzas of Dzyan' [not the so-called Chinese text interpretedin H.P. Lovecraft's works]. Publishedin 1888 it was mearly an extention of 'Isis Unveiled' an! d a serious attempt at reconciling the differences between East & West occultic thought. 'Man is Godin the making' was her basic premiss. It is slightly easyer to make sence of than 'Isis Unveiled' & is the literal bible for the Theosophical Society. After Mrs. Blavatsky's deathin 1891 the Theosophical Society (started by Blavatskyin 1875) splintered into four seperate groups - helped by Annie Besant's telling the world that the New Messiah was commingin 1906. Jiddu Krishnamurti was hailed as this New Messiah, a hindu boy manipulated by Besant. On 28 Dec 1925 he was hailed as the New Messiah come to heal the world. Butin 1929 Krishnamurti renounced all claims to being a Messiah, & subsiquently suffered amnesia to any events that happened before then. Because of this farce Dr. Steiner (1861-1925) had broken away & started the Anthroposophical Society - Alice Bailey did the same & started the Acaine School - & Guy & Edna Ballard broke away to start the now infamous 'I Am' schoolin the 1930's. It was Mrs. Ballard that had made the prophecyin the late 1980's that the soviet's were about to launch a nuclear attack & all her disciples hade to barracade themselvesin a fallout shelterin the Teton Mt's. Needless to say, she is hard to getin touch with now.
Athough 'The Secret Doctrine' is a product of Mrs. Blavatsky's mysticism, it is still a book that has a far reach even today. This alone makes it an invalueable addition to any library. The Age of Aquarius (beleived by Mrs. Blavatsky to be upon us) is now here. What we make of it is another story entirly.
Sincerly, Shawn W. Ooten
