I've been exploring the considerably close ties between Blavatsky and Buddhism, lately.

Christian,

You said,

"I've been exploring the considerably close ties between Blavatsky and Buddhism...."

--> Blavatsky said Buddhism was the religion that is closest to the Ancient Wisdom. She did point out, however, that the two are different.

"...I was curious about the many Buddhist positions and views I come across in the SD and other works, sometimes to the exclusion and dismissal of other philosphies of Ancient Wisdom."

--> Blavatsky teaches that all religions become corrupt as the centuries go by. Perhaps Blavatsky felt Buddhism has become the least corrupt religion over the centuries?

"The Mahatma ties to buddhism also underscores a preference to a select religion, as at least one Mahatma was a religious figure."

--> I do not think so. I think it is a matter of Buddhism being the closest religion to the Ancient Wisdom.

"I was becoming annoyed in reading the Letters and other works, and being confronted with the word "conversion" too frequently."

--> I have not come across this. Please feel to share some examples.

"My concern was, and is, is there an underlying intent to [actually] draw people to the Buddhist religion?"

--> Blavatsky was adamant in saying she does not want people to quit their religion. Rather, she wants them to find the original teachings each religion has lost.

By the way, I was a Buddhist for many years, but I finally renounced Buddhism, because some key Buddhist teachings go against my belief system.

Your line of thinking does beg the question: what would a religion modeled on Blavatsky's Ancient Wisdom look like?

"Theosphical teachings have borrowed some concepts and terms from Buddhism."

--> Blavatsky (and I) would say it is the other way around.

"Theosophical writers have also interpreted some Buddhist teachings in unorthodox ways."

--> Hallelujah! This is the very reason for Theosophy's existence.

" Some theosophists like Blavatsky, Helena Roerich and Henry Steel Olcott also became Buddhists."

--> Blavatsky and Olcott are said to be the first Caucasian Buddhists in the history of the world. Olcott has been called a Buddhist hero.

The White Buddhist: Henry Steel Olcott and the Sinhalese Buddhist Revival

"Tibetan Buddhism was popularised in the West at first mainly by theosophists like: Evans-Wentz, Alexandra David-Neel."

--> Theosophy takes credit for popularizing ideas like reincarnation and karma in the west. I feel Blavatsky started the entire New Age movement, way back in the 1800's.

"Blavatsky sometimes compared Theosophy to Mahayana Buddhism."

--> There are many commonalities.

"But the schools of the Northern Buddhist Church…teach all that is now called Theosophical doctrines, because they form part of the knowledge of the initiates..."

--> I agree, except for the part about "all".

"Undoubtedly Madame Blavatsky had in some way been initiated into the deeper side of Mahayana teaching and then gave out what she deemed wise to the Western world..."

--> And I am grateful for her having done this.

"Here is the real Mahayana Buddhism."

--> I agree.

Theosophy is the venerable source of all major spiritual paths and religions. Therefore, all the Hermetic/Xtian/Gnostic Western paths; the Vedic-based paths and the non-theistic Buddhism & Jainism have produced (and hopefully still are producing) Adepts.
The Occult Brotherhood has three main branches in Egypt, India & Tibet. The neophyte members are first trained in the exoteric teachings of whatever religion they happen to have an affinity with. Gradually the mystic & esoteric & psychic elements within are brought forth. The altruistic & selfless motive is held out as the highest ideal.

There is no need to drop one's religion as one becomes initiated more deeply. But there is a condition, at some point, where one must genuinely and fully vow to never think, speak or act with partiality or sectarianism.

KH or M says, in the ML, that they have nothing to do with much of the trappings of Buddhism. But since the Mahayana bodhisattva ideal is congruent with the altruistic intent of Theosophy and the Occult Brotherhood, there is no need to stand separate and apart from the Mahayana.

HPB actually gave as an exemplar for all theosophists, Father Damien, the priest who worked with lepers in Hawaii.

In one article HPB mentioned that most (two-thirds, I think) of the Adepts she knew came from either the Vedanta tradition of Shankara or Buddhism.

Christian,

I was not aware Kuthumi was a Buddhist priest. But if he was, I suppose it was because he wanted to be a Buddhist priest. The ideals of the Ancient Wisdom and Buddhism are very similar. If Kuthumi was a Buddhist priest, it would give him an excellent opportunity to teach the Ancient Wisdom. Even today, I think many Buddhist sermons and Theosophical lectures sound almost identical. The striking similaries between the two philosophies cannot be dismissed. (I am still anxious to hear what you do not like about Buddhism.)

Two of the most important Initiates in Buddhist history were Sankaracharya and Tsongkapa. They were great Buddhist leaders. In my humble opinion, I imagine they saw themselves as teachers of the Ancient Wisdom first, and Buddhists second. Do think it was possible?

I do not see where being an Initiate should stop someone from being a Buddhist priest. Do you?

Nick,

Shankara was a Vedantin, not a Buddhist.

Nicholas,

Oh my goodness, I guess I made a mistake. The Secret Doctrine says,

"...since the time of Buddha's grand successor, Sankaracharya." (SD vol 1 p. xliv)

which made me think he was.

That SD quote alludes to the Mystery of Buddha; see this article, which also can be found in the old SD (vol. 3) that you just acquired.

http://tonh.net/theosofie/hpb_cw_online/ar.../v14/mb_003.htm