Modern theosophy, which draws its inspiration from India, has taken reincarnation as a cardinal tenet; it is, says a recent theosophical writer, "the master-key to modern problems," including heredity.

The Fountain Source
of Modern Theosophy

Our knowledge of modern Theosophy sprang from two sources: from the letters of the Masters Koot Hoomi, Morya and several other Adepts and from the writings of H.P. Blavatsky.

From the letters of the Masters, A.P. Sinnett wrote two books: The Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism. From the knowledge gained directly from these Mahatmas, Madame Blavatsky penned more than 10,000 pages of writing including her major works Isis Unveiled, The Secret Doctrine, The Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence.

The Mahatma Koot Hoomi wrote the following on the origin of modern Theosophy:

"Theosophy is no new candidate for the world's attention, but only the restatement of principles which have been recognised from the very infancy of mankind."

But the Master also emphasized:

". . . Our [esoteric and theosophical] doctrine . . . is now being partially taught to Europeans for the first time."

". . . We have broken the silence of centuries . . . . "

". . . Let it be known that your Society['s] . . . chief aim is to extirpate current superstitions and skepticism, and, from long sealed ancient fountains to draw the proof that man may shape his own future destiny, and know for a certainty that he can live hereafter, if he only wills; and that all 'phenomena' are but manifestations of natural law, to try to comprehend which is the duty of every intelligent being. "

H.P. Blavatsky wrote of her own role in the "restatement" of Theosophy to the modern world:

". . .We came into contact with certain men, endowed with such mysterious powers and such profound knowledge that we may truly designate them as the sages of the Orient. To their instructions we lent a ready ear."

"The work now submitted to public judgment is the fruit of a somewhat intimate acquaintance with Eastern adepts and study of their science."

" . . . I was the first in the United States to bring the existence of our Masters into publicity; and . . . exposed the holy names of two members of a Brotherhood hitherto unknown to Europe and America (save to a few mystics and Initiates of every age), yet sacred and revered throughout the East, and especially India . . . ."

And the Mahatmas provided these insights about Madame Blavatsky's mission:

"[H.P.Blavatsky is] . . . a woman of most exceptional and wonderful endowments. Combined with them she had strong personal defects, but just as she was, there was no second to her living fit for this work. We sent her to America...."

"This state of hers [H.P.B.'s] is intimately connected with her occult training in Tibet, and due to her being sent out alone into the world to gradually prepare the way for others. After nearly a century of fruitless search, our chiefs had to avail themselves of the only opportunity to send out a European body. . . ."

". . . We employ agents - the best available. Of these for the past thirty years the chief has been the personality known as H.P.B. to the world (but otherwise to us). Imperfect and very troublesome, no doubt, she proves to some, nevertheless, there is no likelihood of our finding a better one for years to come. . . . With occult matters she has everything to do. . . . She is our direct agent. . . . "