God versus Svabhava and its Importance | Cosmological Notes in Theosophy

K.H. spoke of a Buddhist philosophical school in India, pointing to it as one of the most logical positions on this issue. You “will find them the most learned as the most scientifically logical wranglers in the world. Their plastic, invisible, eternal, omnipresent and unconscious Swabhavat is Force or Motion ever generating its electricity which is life.” This position is that of the Nepalese Svābhāvika School (Brian H. Hodgson’s published article can be read here), and they are said to be philosophers of the oldest school of Buddhism.

“The only sources on this available either then or now, are the essays of Brian H. Hodgson published in Asiatic Researches, etc., starting in 1828, and later collected into a book entitled Essays on the Languages, Literature and Religion of Nepál and Tibet, London, 1874. Hodgson had been British Resident in Kathmandu, living there from 1821 through 1843. Since Nepal was otherwise closed to foreigners, Hodgson’s writings were for nearly a century the only source of information on Nepalese Buddhism. All the early Buddhist scholars, including Eugène Burnouf, Samuel Beal, Joseph Edkins, Hendrik Kern, etc., most of whom were quoted by Blavatsky and K.H., relied on these writings.” (David Reigle, Technical Terms in Stanza II)

It is interesting to note, that K.H., frequently paraphrased outspoken French-German atheist Baron D’Holbach in the letter no. 10, commending his work, even paraphrasing from his writings.

Baron D’Holbach was a French-German during the French Enlightenment, whose philosophy was atheistic and materialist, and similar to the described Svābhāvikas and Samkhya.

K.H., the “frenchified” philosopher shares the flare of d’Holbach—when d’Holbach states:

“All religions are ancient monuments to superstition, ignorance, ferocity; and modern religions are only ancient follies rejuvenated.” “Religion has ever filled the mind of man with darkness, and kept him in ignorance of his real duties and true interests. It is only by dispelling the clouds and phantoms of Religion, that we shall discover Truth, Reason, and Morality” (Baron d’Holbach).

The aim of Occult Philosophy in this mission is towards the future esteem of PHILOSOPHY, and the elevation of man through the knowledge of their true nature and origins.