Tim Rudbøg

H. P. Blavatsky’s Later Reception of Hindu Philosophy

Journal of Comparative Studies December 1, 2022 Tim Rudbøg

H. P. Blavatsky's 'The Secret Doctrine' (1888) innovatively assimilated Hindu philosophy into a pre-established Esoteric framework, making Hindu thought central to modern occultism and theosophy. The work (re)constructed esotericism by framing its identity in direct relation to Hindu philosophy and by reinterpreting concepts like purusha and parabrahm. While all six traditional schools of Hindu philosophy appear, Sāmkhya and especially Advaita Vedanta played the most significant roles. This reception was shaped by contemporary scholarship on Hindu philosophy, demonstrating a selective, transformative integration rather than a straightforward borrowing.