An Interview with Edward Abdill

Q Why did you choose The Secret Gateway as the title of your book?

A It comes from a short statement by Madame Blavatsky titled, "There is a Road." In that statement she refers to a secret gateway that "opens inward and closes fast behind the neophyte forevermore." I believe that in order to discover the ground of our own being we must find that gateway and pass through it. In my book I suggest how we might discover the gateway. Obviously, the gateway is a metaphor. The gateway is not some method of spiritual development, nor is it a creed that we must accept in order to save ourselves. Rather, it is an inner passageway that opens up to a totally new state of consciousness within. As T. S. Elliot wrote, we "arrive where we started and recognize the place for the first time."

Q The subtitle of your book is Modern Theosophy and the Ancient Wisdom Tradition. What is the difference between "Modern Theosophy" and "the Ancient Wisdom Tradition?"

A Modern Theosophy is not a new doctrine. Rather, it is a restatement of what has been called "the ancient wisdom tradition." That tradition can be found in every great culture from earliest times to the present. The images used to express it vary according to the culture and the time. What was relevant to people hundreds of years ago is not necessarily relevant to people today, so a restatement in contemporary language is frequently needed. In the late 1800s, Blavatsky renamed the heart of the ancient wisdom tradition and called it "Theosophy."

Q Is The Secret Gateway yet another restatement of the ancient wisdom tradition?

A It is certainly not a restatement of the whole tradition, but it is a restatement of some of the most fundamental principles of that tradition. Much has changed in the world since the late 1800s, and that includes the language that we use to express ourselves. Some of the early books on Theosophy are phrased in Victorian language, and while those books are of great value, the language and even the images used do not relate so much to the contemporary reader.

Q Other than contemporary language, what distinguishes The Secret Gateway from other books on Theosophy?

A I think it is the strong emphasis on the need to have an open mind and an eager intellect. Moreover, it is an emphasis on the importance of discovering Theosophical principles within ourselves and from the world around us. The book stresses the need to experience truth rather than to merely believe or disbelieve what the author says. To simply believe a doctrine of any kind is not enough. Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is within. Yet for over two thousand years most people have believed that the kingdom is a place to which they go after they die. Perhaps Jesus wanted us to discover the spark of divinity within our own consciousness. If we can do that, our whole life will change because we will realize our unity with the Eternal by whatever name we call it.

Q In your book you identify quite a few Theosophical principles. Do you provide any evidence to support the validity of those principles?

A Wherever possible I cite evidence from modern science and from common experience. Where hard evidence is not available, I provide exercises that if done may produce an "ah-ha" experience that will convince the reader that the principle is operative within themselves.

Q Have you verified all of these principles for yourself?

A Certainly not. However, I have some evidence for every principle that I identify in the book. In some cases I have verified a principle within myself, as everyone can do if they make the effort. For example, through daily meditation I have discovered an inner state of consciousness that is beyond time and daily cares. It inheres in the Eternal, and once experienced is never forgotten. Through continued meditation that state of consciousness becomes more dominant and it affects the way we live. Believing that such a state exists is not enough. We must find it within ourselves. Then we no longer believe that it exists; we know that it exists.

Q What prompted you to write The Secret Gateway?

A Many people who are interested in Theosophy ask me, "What book should I read?" There are many excellent books on Theosophy, but since Shirley Nicholson wrote Ancient Wisdom Modern Insight in 1985 there has not been any other contemporary statement of basic Theosophy. There was a gaping hole in the literature, and I decided to try to fill that gap. While on lecture tours throughout the United States and other countries, people would often ask if I had written a book. I finally realized that one was needed and that I could write one if I put my mind to it.

Q Did you write this book for members of the Theosophical Society or for the general public?

A Primarily it was written for the public. Obviously, not everyone would want to read The Secret Gateway, but many who search for meaning in their lives will find the book helpful in their search. In one sense the book is an introduction to Theosophy, but in another sense it is a book that may provide insights to people who have been members of the Theosophical Society for many years.

Q What, if anything, did you get out of writing this book?

A If the book helps only one reader in a search for the Inner Self, then I have my reward.

Q What attracted you to Theosophy?

A Around 1955 I was given a pamphlet on Theosophy. I had never heard of Theosophy, and the ideas in the pamphlet were new to me, yet intriguing. The very last sentence in the pamphlet read, "If you doubt these things, there is a vast literature on the subject. Read and decide for yourself." That hooked me because I realized that I was not expected to believe some new doctrine, but to examine it and decide for myself whether or not it might be true. The leaps I've taken to understand that have changed my life for the better. I can only hope that it will do the same for others.

Quest Books



Quest Books publishes nonfiction works to facilitate spiritual growth and healing; to encourage the study of religion, philosophy, and science; and to promote fellowship among all peoples of the world. In addition to a comprehensive selection of Theosophy titles by noteworthy authors like H.P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant, C.W. Leadbeater, and others, Quest offers books on a variety of topics including alternative healing, development of creativity, transpersonal psychology, deep ecology, mythology, comparative religion, consciousness, spiritual evolution, ancient wisdom, mysticism, esoteric studies, and perennial philosophy. This website is made possible by generous grants from the Kern Foundation This page and its contents are copyright ©2011 by the Theosophical Society in America. Quest Books ® The Theosophical Publishing House The Theosophical Society in America International Headquarters, Adyar, India