Adepts, according to the Theosophical Society and certain occultists, are those who have prepared themselves to help in the evolution of the world via rigorous self-denial and consistent self-development.
The path to this is considered to be lengthy and laborious,
but in the end, the victorious adept achieves the goal for which he was created
and surpasses other human beings.
A adept's actions are many, but they always revolve upon
directing and guiding the activity of other people.
Theosophists say that their knowledge, like their abilities,
greatly transcends that of ordinary humans; they claim to be able to control
energies in both the spiritual and physical realms, and to live for centuries.
The Great White Brotherhood, rishis, rahats, and mahatmas
are all terms used to describe adepts.
Ordinary individuals who really want to improve the world
may become "che las," or apprentices to adepts, in which case the
latter are known as masters, but the apprentice must first have undergone
self-denial and self-development in order to become enough ly worthy.
The master offers knowledge and insight that would otherwise
be unavailable (and hence resembles the Hindu guru) and assists the apprentice
via connection and inspiration.
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky claimed to be the disciple of such
teachers, who lived in the Tibetan Mountains, according to Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky.
A master of their sciences was also referred to as adept by
medieval magicians and alchemists.