Robert Bowen Notes (article) - Revision history

SysopJ at 20:13, 23 May 2025

2025-05-23T20:13:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:13, 23 May 2025
Line 95:		Line 95:
	Digital versions have been posted at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House], at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com], and at [https://www.theosophy.world/resource/secret-doctrine-and-its-study-notes-r-bowen Theosophy World].		Digital versions have been posted at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House], at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com], and at [https://www.theosophy.world/resource/secret-doctrine-and-its-study-notes-r-bowen Theosophy World].

	'''[~~http~~://~~www.austheos~~.org.au/~~cgi-bin~~/~~ui-csvsearch.pl~~?~~search~~=Robert+~~bowen~~&~~method~~=~~exact Articles~~ about Robert Bowen]''' ~~and his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]]~~.		The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Robert+Bowen&s=all 17 articles about Robert Bowen and his notes]'''.

	== Additional resources ==		== Additional resources ==
	=== ~~Article~~ ===
			=== Articles ===

	* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.		* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.
	* [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Robert+Bowen&s=author 13 articles by Robert Bowen]''' and '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact 3 articles about Robert Bowen]'''.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Janet Kerschner: /* Additional resources */

2025-05-22T19:37:10Z

Additional resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 22 May 2025
Line 101:		Line 101:

	* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.		* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.
	* [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Robert+Bowen&s=author 13 articles by Robert Bowen]''' and '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact 3 articles about Robert Bowen]'''		* [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Robert+Bowen&s=author 13 articles by Robert Bowen]''' and '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact 3 articles about Robert Bowen]'''.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Janet Kerschner: /* Online resources */

2025-05-22T19:36:52Z

Online resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 22 May 2025
Line 97:		Line 97:
	'''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].		'''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].

	==~~Online~~ resources==		== Additional resources ==
	===~~Articles~~===		=== Article ===

	* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.		* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.
	* '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact ~~Articles~~ about Robert Bowen]''' ~~and reprints of his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].~~		* [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Robert+Bowen&s=author 13 articles by Robert Bowen]''' and '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact 3 articles about Robert Bowen]'''

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Pablo Sender at 17:47, 29 April 2025

2025-04-29T17:47:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 29 April 2025
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	[[File:Robert_Bowen.jpg\|right\|210px\|thumb\|Robert Bowen]]		[[File:Robert_Bowen.jpg\|right\|210px\|thumb\|Robert Bowen]]
	[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>		[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
	'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society ~~or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes~~, although he may have attended public ~~lectures~~ on Thursdays~~, and may have visited HPB~~.'''		'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society, although he may have attended the public meetings on the Secret Doctrine on Thursdays.'''

	== The Secret Doctrine Class ==		== The Secret Doctrine Class ==

Pablo Sender at 17:45, 29 April 2025

2025-04-29T17:45:54Z

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Robert Bowen|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
   '''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''
 == Text of notes ==

SysopJ at 19:22, 4 January 2023

2023-01-04T19:22:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 4 January 2023
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			[[File:Robert_Bowen.jpg\|right\|210px\|thumb\|Robert Bowen]]
	[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>		[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
	'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''		'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''

SysopJ: Undo revision 48010 by SysopJ (talk)

2022-10-20T15:08:13Z

Undo revision 48010 by SysopJ (talk)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:08, 20 October 2022
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	[[Robert Bowen\|~~Commander~~ Robert Bowen]] ~~was~~ a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ~~[[Theosophy in Ireland (periodical)\|~~''Theosophy in Ireland'']] (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]]~~, a Dublin theosophist,~~ brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>		[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
			'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''

	== Text of notes ==		== Text of notes ==
Line 9:		Line 10:
	“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.		“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.

	[Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.]		(Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.)

	=== How to Study the SD ===		=== How to Study the SD ===
Line 74:		Line 75:
	*[[Recapitulation]]		*[[Recapitulation]]
	*[[Stanzas of Dzyan]]		*[[Stanzas of Dzyan]]

			== Publishing history ==

			Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in England studied the Bowens and observed that the earliest version of the notes is dated 19 April 1891, while a "later version, in which an unimportant sentence has been excluded, 23 April 1891."<ref>[https://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf Robert Bowen mystery - "The Secret Doctrine and its study" pamphlet by Robert Bowen], at the BlavatskyArchives.com website.</ref> The notes were first published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1). They were almost immediately reprinted in [[The Theosophical Forum (periodical)\|''The Theosophical Forum'']] of 15 August 1932. In 1960, the [[Theosophical Publishing House (Wheaton)\|Theosophical Publishing House]] published them as a booklet with an introduction by "H.S.," who was almost certainly [[Henry A. Smith\|Dr. Henry A. Smith]], then president of the [[Theosophical Society in America]]. Other print versions have been in ''Sunrise'', August/September 1985; also included in ''An Invitation to The Secret Doctrine'', Theosophical University Press, Pasadena, 1988.

			Digital versions have been posted at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House], at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com], and at [https://www.theosophy.world/resource/secret-doctrine-and-its-study-notes-r-bowen Theosophy World].

			'''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].

	==Online resources==		==Online resources==
	===Articles===		===Articles===
	*[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf# Robert Bowen Mystery] ~~by Yvonne Burgess~~
			* Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]''' at Blavatsky Archives.
			* '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and reprints of his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ: Reverted edits by SysopJ (talk) to last revision by Janet Kerschner

2022-10-20T15:07:20Z

Reverted edits by SysopJ (talk) to last revision by Janet Kerschner

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:07, 20 October 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] ~~claimed to have been~~ a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>		[[Robert Bowen\|Commander Robert Bowen]] was a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of [[Theosophy in Ireland (periodical)\|''Theosophy in Ireland'']] (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]], a Dublin theosophist, brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
	'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''

	== Text of notes ==		== Text of notes ==
Line 10:		Line 9:
	“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.		“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.

	(Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.)		[Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.]

	=== How to Study the SD ===		=== How to Study the SD ===
Line 75:		Line 74:
	*[[Recapitulation]]		*[[Recapitulation]]
	*[[Stanzas of Dzyan]]		*[[Stanzas of Dzyan]]

	~~== Publishing history ==~~

	Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in England studied the Bowens and observed that the earliest version of the notes is dated 19 April 1891, while a "later version, in which an unimportant sentence has been excluded, 23 April 1891."<ref>[https://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf Robert Bowen mystery - "The Secret Doctrine and its study" pamphlet by Robert Bowen], at the BlavatskyArchives.com website.</ref> The notes were first published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1). They were almost immediately reprinted in [[The Theosophical Forum (periodical)\|''The Theosophical Forum'']] of 15 August 1932. In 1960, the [[Theosophical Publishing House (Wheaton)\|Theosophical Publishing House]] published them as a booklet with an introduction by "H.S.," who was almost certainly [[Henry A. Smith\|Dr. Henry A. Smith]], then president of the [[Theosophical Society in America]]. Other print versions have been in ''Sunrise'', August/September 1985; also included in ''An Invitation to The Secret Doctrine'', Theosophical University Press, Pasadena, 1988.

	Digital versions have been posted at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House], at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com], and at [https://www.theosophy.world/resource/secret-doctrine-and-its-study-notes-r-bowen Theosophy World].

	~~'''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].~~

	==Online resources==		==Online resources==
	===Articles===		===Articles===
			*[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf# Robert Bowen Mystery] by Yvonne Burgess
	* ~~Yvonne Burgess of the Theosophical Society in London has compiled biographical information about the Bowen family, which is available as '''~~[http://blavatskyarchives.com/burgessrobertbowenmmystery.pdf "Robert Bowen Mystery"]~~''' at Blavatsky Archives.~~
	* '''[http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Robert+bowen&method=exact Articles about Robert Bowen]''' and reprints of his notes are listed in the [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]].

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ: /* Introduction */

2022-10-20T15:05:06Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:05, 20 October 2022
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	“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.		“The World” means Man living in the Personal Nature. This “World” will find in the two volumes of the ''SD'' all its utmost comprehension can grasp, but no more. But this was not to say that the [[Chela\|Disciple]] who is not living in “The World” cannot find any more in the book than the “World” finds. Every form, no matter how crude, contains the image of its “creator” concealed within it. So likewise does an author’s work, no matter how obscure, contain the concealed image of the author’s knowledge. From this saying I take it that the ''SD'' must contain all that H.P.B. knows herself, and a great deal more than that, seeing that much of it comes from men whose knowledge is immensely wider than hers. Furthermore, she implies unmistakably that another may well find knowledge in it which she does not possess herself. It is a stimulating thought to consider that it is possible that I myself may find in H.P.B.’s words knowledge of which she herself is unconscious. She dwelt on this idea a good deal. X said afterwards: “H.P.B. must be losing her grip,” meaning, I suppose, confidence in her own knowledge. But Y and Z and myself also, see her meaning better, I think. She is telling us without a doubt not to anchor ourselves to her as the final authority, nor to anyone else, but to depend altogether upon our own widening perceptions.

	[Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.]		(Later note on above: I was right. I put it to her direct and she nodded and smiled. It is worth something to get her approving smile! - (Sgd.) Robert Bowen.)

	=== How to Study the SD ===		=== How to Study the SD ===

SysopJ at 15:03, 20 October 2022

2022-10-20T15:03:50Z

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	[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]]~~, a Dublin theosophist,~~ brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>		[[Robert Bowen\|Robert Bowen]] claimed to have been a personal student of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] who "questioned her persistently about what attitude a student ought to take towards [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|The Secret Doctrine]]. He made careful notes of the answers she gave him and subsequently read them over to her to make sure that he had not mistaken her meaning." These notes were published in the January-March, 1932, issue of ''Theosophy in Ireland'' (Volume II, issue 1) after Bowen's son, [[P. G. Bowen\|Captain P. G. B. Bowen]] brought them to light.<ref>Robert Bowen, "Madame Blavatsky on How to Study Theosophy." It is available online at [http://www.theosophical.org/component/content/article/23-online-books/1699 Theosophical Publishing House] and also at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/metaphys/th-bowen.htm Katinkahesselink.com].</ref>
	'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''		'''Note that no record has been found of Robert Bowen as a member of the Theosophical Society or participating in HPB's private Wednesday night classes, although he may have attended public lectures on Thursdays, and may have visited HPB.'''