Psychic Development in Theosophy

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky as painted by Manly P. Hall

Theosophy [From Chapter Three of Psi Development Systems]
The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 by Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, who declared herself to be a chela or disciple of a brotherhood of spiritual adepts in Tibet whose members had acquired psychic powers beyond the reach of ordinary men. The early history of the society was based largely on miracles allegedly produced by Blavatsky with the aid of her Tibetan mahatmas. Blavatsky's wonderworking, teaching and charisma attracted such notable students as Thomas Edison, Sir William Crookes, Alfred Russell Wallace (co-developer, with Darwin, of the theory of evolution), Alfred Tennyson, and later the U.S. vice president Henry Wallace.

Leaders of the Society for Psychical Research in England considered the movement important enough to send a young investigator, Richard Hodgson, to India in 1884 to personally investigate the claims of the Theosophists. He concluded that Madame Blavatsky was a charlatan. His 200-page report attempted to reconstruct in detail all of the mechanisms by which she effected every sort of phenomena (Hodgson 1885). More recently, another investigator, Victor Endersby, has written a book challenging the Hodgeson report point for point (Endersby 1969). Today, all of the many claims for and against the Theosophists still remain controversial. Nevertheless, Hodgson's report has been discredited within the Society for Psychical Research.

What is not doubted is the influence of the movement, wh can be detected in a very large proportion of subsequent occult movements throughout the world. Theosophical teachings involve a complicated conglomeration of notions derived from many ancient mythologies. Particularly prominent are teachings regarding such concepts as the astral body, the etheric body, thought forms, the aura and the chakras (Leadbeater 1902/1971, Powell 1925/1969, Leadbeater 1927/1969).

The Inner Life (1910/1978), a book by the major early Theosophical writer C. W. Leadbeater, touches directly on the issue of psi training. Leadbeater states that there are two general ways in which psychic faculties may be developed-which he calls the temporary and the permanent: "The temporary method is to deaden the physical senses in some way - actively by drugs, by self-hypnotization, or by inducing giddiness, for example, or passively by being mesmerized - so that the astral may come to the surface. The permanent way is to work at the development of the ego, so that he may be able to control the lower vehicles and use them as he wishes." Other temporary methods he lists include the repetition of invocations, the use of charms and certain ceremonies.

The Theosophists clearly distinguish themselves from the spiritualist movement in that they stand against the use of unconscious trance conditions for psychic work. Mediumship is described not as a power, but as an unhealthy condition. By "permanent," Leadbeater is referring to the sort of development that will continue beyond death and rebirth into another physical body.

The permanent type of psychic abilities are developed, first of all, by careful attention to one's character and then by careful observation of spontaneous psi events. Leadbeater states, "...let him patiently endeavor to disentangle the core of truth in them from the various accretions and exaggerations which are sure at first to be almost inextricably confused with them; let him in every way possible test and check them and endeavor to ascertain which of them are reliable, and in what way these reliable ones differ from others which have proved less trustworthy." Leadbeater maintains that if such a patient and watchful attitude is maintained, the aspirant will eventually come to the attention of "those who are ever watching for instruments Which can be employed in the great work of evolution, and that when the right time comes he will receive the training which he so earnestly desires."

Leadbeater also urges that children with psychic talent be given special training. This, he states, cannot be accomplished within the normal educational or family structures, which tend to Suppress all psychic faculties. Therefore, he argues that the best way to prevent the loss to the world of a young psychic talent is to enlist the child in a monastery. One such child prodigy, discovered by Leadbeater, was the philosopher J. Krishnatmurti.

More advanced teachings involve opening the psychic centers , or chakras, reading auras, reading past lives, and communicating with nature spirits.

Endersby, V. The hall of magic mirrors. New York: Carlton Press, 1969.

Hodgson, R. Report to the committee appointed to investigate phenomena connected with the Theosophical Society. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, Part IX, December 1885.

Leadbeater, C.W. The chakras. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House, 1969. (Originally published, 1927.)

Leadbeater, C.W. Clairvoyance. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1971. (Originally published, 1899.)

Leadbeater, C.W. The inner life. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House, 1978. (Originally published, 1910.)

Leadbeater, C.W. Man visible and invisible. Wheaton, Ill.: Illeosophical Publishing House, 1978. (Originally published, 1910.)

Powell, A.E. The etheric double. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. 1969. (Originally published, 1925.)