"Old Diary Leaves: The True History of The Theosophical Society"
is a series of six books written by the first president of the Theosophical
Society: Henry Steel Olcott, and based on his Diary (which is kept in the
Archives of Adyar and is composed of 30 volumes) and where the Colonel Olcott tells
the story of the Theosophical Society since he met Blavatsky on the farm of the
Eddy brothers in 1874, until 1898 when the former Anglican priest Leadbeater
already had a great predominance in Adyar.
The first volume was published in
1895 by the publisher G. Putnam's Sons, and subsequently, the following volumes
were published by The Theosophical Society in Adyar between 1900 and 1923.
These volumes relate the
following periods of time:
·
Volume 1: 1874 - 1878
·
Volume 2: 1878 - 1883
·
Volume 3: 1883 - 1887
·
Volume 4: 1887 - 1892
·
Volume 5: 1893 - 1896
·
Volume 6: 1896 - 1898
And now, I share the opinion
given by several researchers about this work:
Upasika Library’ Opinion
The Upasika Library is one of the
most important libraries of esoteric, philosophical and spiritual works online.
« “Old Diary Leaves” is a detailed account of the origins of the
Theosophical Movement, which originally appeared in articles published in the
official Adyar magazine of “The Theosophist”
from March 1892 to December 1906, and subsequently these articles were
regrouped and gradually reprinted in six books.
And the colonel's closeness Olcott
with Blavatsky makes of these books an interesting document for all those
interested in deepening the historical development of esotericism in the West. »
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Boris de Zircoff’s opinion
Boris de Zircoff is an important theosophist
that compiled all the articles that wrote Blavatsky in 14 volumes called “Collected
Writings”.
« Shortly after the death of
Blavatsky, Colonel Olcott decided to publish in the official Adyar magazine “The Theosophist” a historical sketch of
the Theosophical Society.
The first installment appeared in
Vol. XIII of March 1892, ending the First Series in Vol. XV of September 1894.
And for good or bad, Colonel
Olcott felt that within the Theosophical Society there was a strong tendency towards
the establishment of idolatry to Blavatsky, and one of the main objectives of
his historical outline was to undermine the image of Blavatsky to counteract
that trend.
And to achieve this, Colonel
Olcott allowed himself to treat petulantly certain phases and aspects of
Blavatsky's life and character, being exposed by this act to severe criticism
for having "dwarfed" his old colleague, friend and teacher.
In addition, certain passages of
the First Series were considered by some of their collaborators as irreverent
and what caused them to be offended by them, to such a degree that when Colonel
Olcott, he asked at the Countess Wachtmeister to publish the First Series as a
book, through her publisher (the HPB Press in London), she refused to do so
unless some unpleasant passages were expunged from her. Which the colonel did
not accept to do, publishing his book with another publisher.
But in spite of the many
limitations and errors that its history contains, “Old Diary Leaves” must be considered the Magnum Opus of Olcott, and
without this work, little would be known about the History of the Theosophical
Society. »
(Collected Writings, Vol.1,
p.503-518, excerpts)
Countess
Constance Wachtmeister
B.P. Wadia’s opinion
B.P. Wadia was also an important
theosophist who collaborated closely with Annie Besant, but face the madness
that she committed, he renounced to Adyar and joined the United Lodge of
Theosophists (ULT).
« “Old Diary Leaves” is not exactly the history of the Theosophical
Society as its title claims, but rather the personal history of Colonel Olcott,
and although it often fails in accuracy, his work has at least the merit to
describe faithfully (although unconsciously to himself) “the true story” as he
lived it.
And if we know how to interpret
his vision, we will see the difficult stages and trials through which the
aspirant to initiation has to go through the “hard and thorny path” of
approval.
And if you read it in this way
(like the diary of a disciple of the Trans-Himâlayan Masters in a probationary
state), nowhere else can you find very important lessons for the study and
instruction of the student on the esoteric side of the Theosophical Movement.
And also, in no other work, will
they better understand the causes that led to the failure of the Theosophical
Society than in “Old Diary Leaves”.
_ _ _
And for those who have a
distorted view of the events that happened after having read the painful
accounts of Colonel Olcott in the pages of his Fourth Series, must remember
that at that time the colonel was an old and exhausted man, who was narrating
something that had happened more than ten years ago (after the fatal blunders
of the years 1894-1896) and that he felt under the overwhelming need to put
himself before posterity in the best possible way. »
(The Theosophical Movement,
1875-1925, pp. 141 and 267-274)
Henry Olcott ca 1906
Opinion of Jose Ramon Sordo
Jose Ramon Sordo is one of the
most erudite theosophists, I have known.
« His first volume was the best
of the series, although in it, he incurs in certain personal speculations about
Blavatsky's supposed ignorance about the Reincarnation, which exposes the fact
that his stories are based on a mere external observation, lacking of
intuition.
In the six volumes there is a
style of "ghost hunting" and wonders seeker predominates. And from
the third volume, Colonel Olcott mixes the historical account of past events,
with what happened in the Theosophical Society at the time of writing his
memories, showing in certain passages a clear animosity toward William Judge. »
(Olcott’s biography)
William Quan Judge
Opinion of Jose Rubio Sanchez and Jose Miguel Cuesta Puertes
They are two great researchers
who have written several books about the Theosophical Movement.
« “Old Diary Leaves” tells the story of the Theosophical Society, written
as a diary by Colonel Olcott, but focused on his coexistence with Blavatsky,
since they met for the first time in the brothers Eddy’s farm until the end of
his life.
This work was very criticized for
considering that it tarnished the character of Blavatsky, telling curiosities
that made her look “more human”. »
(Blavatsky’s Initiation Journeys,
Prologue, p.14)
Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky
MY OPINION
I have not read the whole work of
Olcott because it is huge. To give you an idea, the first volume in its
original edition has 491 pages, and the second volume has 476 and in total it
is mentioned that the six volumes have more than 2000 pages...!!!
(Henry Olcott really loved writing a lot!)
But the parts that I have read, I
have indeed noticed that Colonel Olcott tends to downgrade his former
colleague, as he describes her as a very immature woman and at times even
infantile.
And I do not say that Blavatsky
did not have flaws, that he did have, but the Colonel Olcott's description of
her does not correspond to the description made by other people who also knew Blavatsky
very well (and for a long time) such as: Alfred Sinnett, William Judge ,
Bertram Keightley, etc.
So I agree with the other
investigators when they say that Colonel Olcott intentionally devalued his
former teacher. And himself declared it, since at the beginning of his first
volume, Henry Olcott wrote the following:
« The series of chapters
which now compose this book was begun nearly three years ago in the Theosophist
magazine, and a second series, devoted to the history of the Society after the
transfer to India, is now in progress.
The controlling impulse to
prepare these papers was a desire to combat a growing tendency within the Theosophical
Society to deify Mme. Blavatsky, and to give her commonest literary productions
a quasi-inspirational character.
Her transparent faults were being
blindly ignored, and the pinchbeck screen of pretended authority drawn between
her actions and legitimate criticism. Those who had the least of her actual
confidence, and hence knew least of her private character, were the greatest
offenders in this direction.
It was but too evident that
unless I spoke out what I alone knew, the true history of our movement could
never be written.
I have pursued my present task to
its completion, despite the fact that some of my most influential colleagues
have, from what I consider mistaken loyalty to Blavatsky, secretly tried to
destroy my influence, ruin my reputation, reduce the circulation of my
magazine, and prevent the publication of my book. »
(Old Diary Leaves, Vol.1, Foreword,
v-vi)
But Colonel Olcott did not discern and curiously in his work we can
perceive the defects that he had, such as: the fact that he was
very good at criticizing, but when people criticized him, he was extremely
offended.
Or the fact that all the time he flatters himself.
Or the fact that he was overly
suspicious, so extremely that Master Kuthumi wrote him in a letter:
« Your impressibility is so changeful
that I must not wholly depend upon it at this critical time. Put all needed restraint
upon your feelings, so that you may do the right thing in this Western
imbroglio. Watch your first impressions. The mistakes you make spring from
failure to do this. Let neither your personal predilections, affections, suspicions
nor antipathies affect your action. »
(Letters from the Masters of the
Wisdom, I, C19, p.44)
Unfortunately Olcott ignored
these advices that the Master Kuthumi gave him, and this was the main factor
that caused the failure of the Theosophical Society. And it is only at the end
of his life that Colonel Olcott reconsidered and showed repentance for the
unjust and cruel way he treated his former work colleagues (Blavatsky and
William Judge).
* * * * *
I do not recommend reading this
work, because it is exaggeratedly voluminous, unless you are someone who wants
to delve into the history of the Theosophical Society, and for that, keep in
mind that it is not exactly the real story, but the history as Henry Olcott
perceived it.
For those who are only interested
in theosophical teaching, this work contributes very little. And for those who want
to know the history of the Theosophical Society, but without going so deep, I
recommend better reading other books.
But if you want to read it:
- You can read online the six volumes (here).
- And you can download in pdf the six volumes (here).
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