The question “What is Theosophy?” demands an answer from those who assume to be its exponents. No doubt it may be said that “Theosophy is untrammeled truth,” but that leaves the door open to untrammeled lie, and some better reply than glittering generalities and assumptions is surely needed in a world that sorely needs direction.
There are a number of societies throughout the world who have adopted the name “Theosophical”; if this means anything it points to some common source or basis from which the inspiration for their existence was drawn, and that the name Theosophy stands for that basis.
There is, then, something in the way of definite promulgation which is recognized by all theosophical societies as Theosophy, and replies to the question should supply that common basis without which there could be no theosophical societies. In justice and fairness to the enquirer no other course should be taken.
Let us enquire first, “Who presented what is known as Theosophy to the Western world?” There is only one possible answer: it was H. P. Blavatsky; she founded the parent Society and taught those who were its co-founders, as the records of the Movement show. Her lifetime was devoted to teaching, and writing Theosophy—as she named it. Those who have read and studied her works cannot have failed to perceive the painstaking marshalling of evidences of the existence of a body of knowledge, in regard to which she was definite and explicit, and which she named Theosophy. It is this information that enquirers need; not speculations, claims, or assumptions on the part of alleged followers.
Some animadversion has been cast on those who hold to the above attitude, by terming them “orthodox” theosophists, and presenting in connection with the term the fact that H. P. B. “wrote strongly against the orthodoxies of the world built up around the literal following of somebody’s written word.” It is not well to be disturbed by what may seem to be a disparaging epithet, so we may enquire into the real meaning of the word “Orthodox.” We know that there are orthodox Methodism, Presbyterianism, Catholicism, etc., and if we consider what the word really means, we may be led to discover that orthodoxy in regard to any particular thing is simply the right or true understanding of the fundamental basis upon which that thing rests; for the word “Orthodox” is from the Greek “orthos”—upright, right, true; and “doxa”—opinion, understanding; in other words, holding the right or true understanding. In this sense, orthodox Theosophists would be those who had a right and true understanding of Theosophy; may their number increase.