A Textbook of Theosophy | Page 5

The conditions of civilization and the degree of evolution
obtained by various races have made it desirable to present this one
Truth in divers forms. But the inner Truth is always the same, and the
source from which it comes is the same, even though the external
phases may appear to be different and even contradictory. It is foolish
for men to wrangle over the question of the superiority of one teacher
or one form of teaching to another, for the teacher is always one sent by
the Great Brotherhood of Adepts, and in all its important points, in its
ethical and moral principles, the teaching has always been the same.
There is in the world a body or Truth which lies at the back of all these

religions, and represents the facts of nature as far as they are at present
known to man. In the outer world, because of their ignorance of this,
people are always disputing and arguing about whether there is a God;
whether man survives death; whether definite progress is possible for
him, and what is his relation to the universe. These questions are ever
present in the mind of man as soon as intelligence is awakened. They
are not unanswerable, as is frequently supposed; the answers to them
are within the reach of anyone who will make proper efforts to find
them. The truth is obtainable, and the conditions of its attainment are
possible of achievement by anyone who will make the effort.
In the earlier stages of the development of humanity the great Officials
of the Hierarchy are provided from outside, from other and more highly
evolved parts of the system, but as soon as men can be trained to the
necessary level of power and wisdom these offices are held by them. In
order to be fit to hold such an office a man must raise himself to a very
high level, and must become what is called an Adept--a being of
goodness, power and wisdom so great that He towers above the rest of
humanity, for He has already attained the summit of ordinary human
evolution; He has achieved that which the plan of the Deity marked out
for Him to achieve during this age or dispensation. But His evolution
later on continues beyond that level--continues to divinity.
A large number of men have attained the Adept level--men not of one
nation, but of all the leading nations of the world--rare souls who with
indomitable courage have stormed the fortresses of nature, and
captured her innermost secrets, and so have truly earned the right to be
called Adepts. Among Them there are many degrees and many lines of
activity; but always some of Them remain within touch of our earth as
members of this Hierarchy which has in charge the administration of
the affairs of our world and of the spiritual evolution of our humanity.
This august body is often called the Great White Brotherhood, but its
members are not a community all living together. Each of Them, to a
large extent, draws Himself apart from the world, and They are in
constant communication with one another and with Their Head; but
Their knowledge of higher forces is so great that this is achieved

without any necessity for meeting in the physical world. In many cases
They continue to live each in His own country, and Their power
remains unsuspected among those who live near Them. Any man who
will may attract Their attention, but he can do it only by showing
himself worthy of Their notice. None need fear that his efforts will pass
unnoticed; such oversight is impossible, for the man who is devoting
himself to service such as this, stands out from the rest of humanity like
a great flame in a dark night. A few of these great Adepts, who are thus
working for the good of the world, are willing to take as apprentices
those who have resolved to devote themselves utterly to the service of
mankind; such Adepts are called Masters.
One of these apprentices was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky--a great soul
who was sent out to offer knowledge to the world. With Colonel Henry
Steel Olcott she founded The Theosophical Society for the spread of
this knowledge which she had to give. Among those who came into
contact with her in those early days was Mr. A.P. Sinnett, the editor of
The Pioneer, and his keen intellect at once grasped the magnitude and
the importance of the teaching which she put before him. Although
Madame Blavatsky herself had previously written Isis Unveiled, it had
attracted but little attention, and it was Mr. Sinnett who first made the
teaching really available for western readers in his two books, The
Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism.
It was through these