In her first book “Isis Unveiled” (subtitled “A Master Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology”), H. P. Blavatsky repeatedly used a phrase which was both then and now considered to be an anachronism, namely “Pre-Vedic Buddhism.”

Everyone knows that the religion called Buddhism is only about 2,500 or 2,600 years old, beginning with Gautama Buddha who lived at that time, and also that in order for something to be “pre-Vedic” it must pre-date the earliest known period of the Hindu religion, which, in the standard, conventional view, has been in existence for around 5,000 years. Some scholars are willing to say Hinduism is perhaps about 8,000 years old but barely anyone will date any present or past religion any further back than that, due to the paucity of definite material evidence. That early period, whether 5,000 or 8,000 years ago, is generally referred to as the Vedic period of ancient India.

The esoteric view presented in Theosophy, however, maintains that the real Vedic period began much longer ago than that and also that before that true Vedic period even began, there existed its even more mystical and potent prototype, which HPB calls “Pre-Vedic Brahmanism.” But even before that, there was what she calls “Pre-Vedic Buddhism.”

As can be seen from the following compilation of all her specific usages of these phrases, she is not suggesting that the present religion of Buddhism began before Hinduism, as she knew perfectly well that that clearly could not be so. But she is suggesting that in the secret, esoteric side of his work and teachings, the historically known Buddha (i.e. Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Shakyamuni) was really only the latest in a long line of divine Teachers who began their sacred and still mostly veiled work far back, in the barely perceptible mists of time. We have also included some other quotes which may help to shed further light on the matter.

It is worth pointing out that although no mainstream scholars or academics speak of “pre-Vedic Brahmanism” or “pre-Vedic Hinduism,” it is nonetheless something which some people have tried to research into and which Hindus and researchers sometimes ask questions and share information about on online forums.

“Pre-Vedic Buddhism” still has far less traction as a mainstream concept, yet there are a few traditional Buddhists who use this term, despite seemingly having no acquaintance or connection with Theosophy. One Buddhist blog which speaks of “Pre-Vedic Buddhism,” whilst also expressing ideas and views which have little in common with Theosophy (as he or she is not a Theosophist), can be seen here. The blogger comments, “Brahmanism destroyed Pre-Vedic Buddhism of Indus civilization.” Even in conventional, exoteric Buddhism there is a basis for believing in a pre-Vedic Buddhism, seeing as the historical Buddha of 2,600 years ago spoke of there having been many Buddhas before him, going back long ages, and even gave some details about these predecessors of his, details which contemporary historians have so far not been able to trace and have thus presumptuously concluded to be a mere fantastical fiction.

That Pre-Vedic Buddhism exists today as the real Esoteric Buddhism (which is not the same as any publicly known system which calls itself Esoteric Buddhism) and the great Eastern Adepts and Initiates most closely and directly connected with H. P. Blavatsky and the establishing of the modern Theosophical Movement are members, as was she, of that mysterious School or Fraternity, which has the spiritual and ethical welfare of humanity as its fundamental priority.

~ * ~

“. . . the two main branches of that one mother-trunk, the once universal religion, which antedated the Vedaic ages – we speak of that prehistoric Buddhism which merged later into Brahmanism [i.e. Hinduism].

“The religion which the primitive teaching of the early few apostles most resembled – a religion preached by Jesus himself – is the elder of these two, Buddhism. The latter as taught in its primitive purity, and carried to perfection by the last of the Buddhas, Gautama, based its moral ethics on three fundamental principles. It alleged that 1, every thing existing, exists from natural causes; 2, that virtue brings its own reward, and vice and sin their own punishment; and, 3, that the state of man in this world is probationary. We might add that on these three principles rested the universal foundation of every religious creed.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “Isis Unveiled” Vol. 2, p. 123-124

“. . . our statement that the secret doctrines of the Magi, of the pre-Vedic Buddhists, of the hierophants of the Egyptian Thoth or Hermes, and of the adepts of whatever age and nationality, including the Chaldean kabalists and the Jewish nazars, were identical from the beginning. When we use the term Buddhists, we do not mean to imply by it either the exoteric Buddhism instituted by the followers of Gautama-Buddha, nor the modern Buddhistic religion, but the secret philosophy of Sakyamuni, which in its essence is certainly identical with the ancient wisdom-religion of the sanctuary, the pre-Vedic Brahmanism.”

“. . . Buddhism, at once the simplest and most satisfying of philosophies, and which resulted in one of the purest religions of the world. . . . By Buddhism, therefore, we mean that religion signifying literally the doctrine of wisdom, and which by many ages antedates the metaphysical philosophy of Siddhartha Sakyamuni.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “Isis Unveiled” Vol. 2, p. 142, 143

“The earliest system of the Buddhistic philosophy – which preceded by far Gautama-Buddha – is based upon the uncreated substance of the “Unknown,” the A’di Buddha.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “Isis Unveiled” Vol. 2, p. 156

“We repeat again, Buddhism is but the primitive source of Brahmanism. It is not against the primitive Vedas that Gautama protests. It is against the sacerdotal and official state religion of his country; and the Brahmans, who in order to make room for and give authority to the castes, at a later period crammed the ancient manuscripts with interpolated slokas, . . . Gautama-Buddha’s philosophy was that taught from the beginning of time in the impenetrable secresy of the inner sanctuaries of the pagodas. We need not be surprised, therefore, to find again, in all the fundamental dogmas of the Gnostics, the metaphysical tenets of both Brahmanism and Buddhism.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “Isis Unveiled” Vol. 2, p. 169

“What has been contemptuously termed Paganism, was ancient wisdom replete with Deity; and Judaism and its offspring, Christianity and Islamism, derived whatever of inspiration they contained from this ethnic parent. Pre-Vedic Brahmanism and Buddhism are the double source from which all religions sprung; Nirvana is the ocean to which all tend.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “Isis Unveiled” Vol. 2, p. 639

“We know also that Master K.H. informed Mr. Sinnett and others that he was an esoteric Budhist; H.P.B. declared herself a Buddhist; on my asking her in 1875 what could the Masters’ belief be called she told me they might be designated “pre-Vedic Budhists,” but that no one would now admit there was any Buddhism before the Vedas, so I had best think of them as Esoteric Buddhists.”

– William Q. Judge, “A Mahatma’s Message to Some Brahmans”

“The MS. [i.e. manuscript] from which these additional explanations are taken belongs to the group called “Tongshaktchi Sangye Songa,” or the Records of the “Thirty-five Buddhas of Confession,” as they are exoterically called. These personages, however, though called in the Northern Buddhist religion “Buddhas,” may just as well be called Rishis, or Avatars, etc., . . . These great Mahatmas, or Buddhas, are a universal and common property: they are historical sages – at any rate, for all the Occultists who believe in such a hierarchy of Sages, the existence of which has been proved to them by the learned ones of the Fraternity. . . . Gautama Buddha, named Shakya Thüb-pa, is the twenty-seventh of the last group, as most of these Buddhas belong to the divine dynasties which instructed mankind. . . . Of these “Buddhas,” or the “Enlightened,” the far distant predecessors of Gautama the Buddha, and who represent, we are taught, once living men, great adepts and Saints, in whom the “Sons of Wisdom” had incarnated, and who were, therefore, so to speak, minor Avatars of the Celestial Beings – eleven only belong to the Atlantean race, and 24 to the Fifth race, from its beginnings. They are identical with the Tirtankaras of the Jainas.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “The Secret Doctrine” Vol. 2, p. 423

“. . . the “Dus-kyi Khorlo,” [i.e. The Tibetan name for the Sanskrit “Kalachakra”] or Tibetan Mysticism. A system as old as man, known in India and practised before Europe had become a continent, “was first known,” we are told [i.e. by the Orientalists and academics], only nine or ten centuries ago. The text of its books in its present form may have “originated” even later, for there are numerous such texts that have been tampered with by sects to suit the fancies of each. But who has read the original book on Dus-Kyi Khorlo [i.e. Kalachakra], re-written by Tsong-Kha-pa, with his Commentaries? . . . this grand Reformer burnt every book on Sorcery on which he could lay his hands in 1387 . . . he has left a whole library of his own works – not a tenth part of which has ever been made known.”

– H. P. Blavatsky, “A Few More Misconceptions Corrected”

~ * ~

AN IMPORTANT POINT OF CLARIFICATION

(from the article The REAL Esoteric Buddhism)

As said by HPB, there is a real Esoteric Buddhism. Theosophy repeatedly maintains that Gautama Buddha did have an esoteric teaching and that his esoteric system is today preserved in its original purity, in secrecy – for now at least – by a particular Trans-Himalayan esoteric School or Brotherhood. Those spoken of as “The Masters” most directly involved with HPB and the founding of the modern Theosophical Movement are described as being initiated Adepts of that School.

They refer to Themselves as Buddhists and HPB too described herself as a Buddhist.

But despite the Buddhism of HPB and her Teachers, They were careful to maintain that the teachings they were presenting to the world under the name of “Theosophy” belong not to any particular religion or philosophy, Buddhism included, but are a partial presentation of the one Esoteric Teaching or “Secret Doctrine” which underlies all the world’s religions and which also transcends and pre-dates them all. The motto of the Movement is “There is no Religion higher than Truth.”

The real Esoteric Buddhism is not any of the various publicly known systems which call themselves or are regarded as “Esoteric Buddhism” and that includes Tibetan Buddhism’s Vajrayana system.

In the view of the Trans-Himalayan Occultists, the real Esoteric Buddhism is the most perfect expression of that one Esoteric Teaching but it is made clear that it was not Their intention to turn Theosophists or the world at large into followers or adherents of the religion of Buddhism.

~ * ~

This article may have raised more questions about various things. Please make use of the site search function (the magnifying glass symbol at the top of the page) and visit the Articles page to see the complete list of over 300 articles covering all aspects of Theosophy and the Theosophical Movement. If you found this article interesting, you may be particularly interested in those listed under the heading “BUDDHISM AND TAOISM” on the Articles page.

~ BlavatskyTheosophy.com ~