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The Ashes of Madame Blavatsky

A fable by Ambrose Bierce

Satire for older readers

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The Ashes of Madame Blavatsky

The two brightest lights of Theosophy found themselves in the same place, accompanied by the ashes of Madame Blavatsky. An Inquiring Soul thought this an opportune moment to learn something worthwhile. He first sat at the feet of one of the luminaries, absorbing their wisdom, and then he moved to the other, eager for more enlightenment. Finally, his curiosity led him to apply his ear to the keyhole of the casket that held the ashes of Madame Blavatsky.

After completing his course of instruction, the Inquiring Soul declared himself the Ahkoond of Swat. He adopted the peculiar habit of standing on his head and proclaimed that the mother who bore him was a pragmatic paralogism. This unusual behavior earned him a place of high reverence among his peers. When the two other gentlemen were hanged for their dishonesty, the Theosophists chose him to lead their Disastral Body.

He enjoyed a quiet life, ultimately meeting an honorable end from the kick of a jackass. In a twist of fate, he was reincarnated as a yellow dog. In this new form, he consumed the ashes of Madame Blavatsky, leading to the demise of Theosophy itself.

The moral
The story illustrates the folly of blindly following charismatic figures without critical thinking, leading to misguided beliefs and ultimately, the demise of a movement.

Discussion questions

  1. What are some characteristics that make someone a charismatic leader? Can these be both positive and negative?
  2. How can critical thinking help in evaluating the beliefs or teachings of influential figures?
  3. What are the consequences of following a belief system without questioning its validity?

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Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane