Two
Delightful Theosophers Of The 18th Century
By Mary G. Langford
Much has been written in this century about theosophy, and more so today. Numerous are the contemporary interpretations stemming from the offshoots of HPB's nineteenth century The Secret Doctrine, published in 1888. In the confusion confounded by wordiness, we have been dogged in our search for meaning and frequently led to gross misunderstanding of the nature of things.
By chance discovery, I found a volume of theosophic correspondence carried
on during the years of 1792-1797 between Louis Claude de Saint-Martin and
Kirchberger, Baron de Liebistorf (1), dealing mainly with the profound works
of Jacob Boehme, the German mystic (1575-1624). As I read and pondered the
contents of these letters, I was moved by their honesty of expression and
simplicity of thoughtful statements on deep concerns of the human spirit
-- past, present, and future. They are permeated with the integrity of two
responsible learned statesmen who aspired to understand the spiritual aspect
of the scheme of things. I experienced the unfoldment of a profound friendship
as they consulted with and responded to one another on obscure passages
in Boehme's work under translation into French by Saint-Martin, and of the
latter's writings into German by the Baron. At the same time each perfected
his own knowledge of the native tongue of the other.
What amazes me is the fact that this correspondence went on during the troublous
times of the French Revolution without being permeated by its rage. In spite
of the challenges of their personal lives and the political upheavals that
powerfully affected each of them in their respective posts of responsibility,
these gentle noblemen spent their leisure hours in dedicated pursuit of
spiritual propositions. These qualities emanate through their written words
as they highlight the theosophic premise: that the universe is basically
one spiritual entity ("the active intelligent Cause") reflecting
its laws and patterns in the world of nature. Man, the epitome of nature,
contains within himself the seed of spiritual growth. Our task is to discover
this seed (the moral equation of right relationship) within ourselves and
to nurture it. How simple, but how difficult of application! Yet the lives
of these two men bore this out.
The Swiss Kirchberger, moved by Saint-Martin's work Des Erreurs et de la
Verite (Of Error and of Truth), initiated the correspondence in 1792. Saint-Martin
had written extensively on occult matters and disciplines prior to his translations
of Boehme into French. He wrote anonymously and was known in the European
community as "The Unknown Philosopher."
To be a translator requires imagination (not fancy) and poetical sensitivity
to the implied meaning of the original. Thus there exist numerous translations
of profound works, just as there are many interpretations of musical scores.
Each translator-interpreter sheds his own light on the subject. The greater
his light, the greater the light transmitted to the work. Edward Burton
Penny of Topsham, Devon, England, translated and edited this theosophic
correspondence between Saint-Martin and Kirchberger in 1863 -- well over
one hundred years ago. To him we are indebted for another link in the golden
chain of transmitters of the ancient wisdom.