It will be seen, if reference is made to the "Contents" that the letters have
been arranged in 7 Sections and an Appendix. The former contain nothing but
Mahatma letters, while in the latter some letters have been added from three
pupils of The Mahatmas M. and
K. H. --: H. P. Blavatsky, T. Subba Row, and
Damodar K. Mavalankar, not only for their intrinsic merit, but because they help
to make clear questions arising in the main part of the book which would
otherwise be left obscure.
The seven Sections suggest themselves as more or less natural divisions, but it should be remembered that as letters in one section often contain matter which also relates to the other Sections, considerable overlapping is unavoidable. However, an attempt has been made and that is the best that can be said.
The contents of each Section are arranged where possible chronologically, in the order of their receipt. The reader must bear in mind that with only one or two exceptions none of the letters were dated by the writers thereof. On many of them, however, the dates and places of receipt have been noted in Mr. Sinnett's handwriting, and these appear in small type immediately under the Letter Numbers.
It should be understood clearly that unless otherwise stated:
1. Each letter has been transcribed direct from the original.
2. Every letter was written to A. P. Sinnett.
3. All footnotes are copies of notes which appear in and belong to the
letters themselves, unless signed (Ed.) in which case they have been added by
the compiler.
Throughout this volume there are a great many words used which belong to Buddhist, Hindu, and Theosophical terminology. Those who are unfamiliar with such terms are referred to the excellent glossary in H. P. Blavatsky's "Key to Theosophy" and also to "The Theosophical Glossary," a separate publication by the same author. The reader is asked to believe that the greatest care has been taken in the work of transcription; the whole MS. has been checked word for word with the originals, and everything possible done to prevent errors. It is however probably too much to expect that the printed book will contain no mistakes, they are almost inevitable. In case any doubt should arise in the reader's mind as to whether any particular passage has been correctly copied from the original, the compiler wishes to intimate, that he will be happy to deal with any correspondence on the subject addressed to him care of the Publishers.
In conclusion the compiler's thanks are due and most gratefully acknowledged to those who by their assistance have made his task possible of accomplishment. -- A. T. B.
It is well known, among students of Theosophy and Occultism, that the philosophical doctrines and ethics which were given to the world through the Theosophical Society during the 16 years immediately following its foundation in 1875, emanated from certain Eastern Teachers said to belong to an Occult Brotherhood living in the trans-Himalayan fastnesses of Tibet. H. P. Blavatsky who, together with Colonel Olcott founded the Theosophical Society, acknowledged these Eastern Brothers as her Teachers, stating not only that They existed, but that she herself had received training and instruction at their hands during her sojourn in Tibet, and was therefore able to speak from her own knowledge and personal experience. It was not until 1880 that further testimony became available. In that year the late A. P. Sinnett, then living in India, was enabled through the agency of Madame Blavatsky, to enter into correspondence with her own Teachers, whom she referred to variously under the terms, "The Brothers," "The Mahatmas," and later "The Masters of Wisdom." During the course of this correspondence which extended over the years 1880 to 1884 Mr. Sinnett received many letters from The Mahatmas M. and K. H., the Teachers in question, and it is these original communications which are published in the present volume under the title of "The Mahatma Letters." The circumstances attending their receipt were fully dealt with by Mr. Sinnett in his "Occult World" and they need not therefore be restated here.
They are now published with the permission of the Executrix of the late A. P. Sinnett, to whom they were bequeathed solely and unconditionally; she, in her turn at the suggestion of the writer of this Introduction, allowed him the great privilege of undertaking the whole responsibility for the transcription, arrangement and publication of the Letters in book form.
The writer undertook the task with the fullest sense of the grave responsibility attending his action, convinced that the moment had come when the highest interests of The Theosophical Society demanded the full publication of The Teachings of The Masters given to Mr. Sinnett. He feels the responsibility the more keenly since there is a passage in one of the letters in this volume in which The Master K. H. says that neither he nor his brother M., would ever permit the publication thereof. Though there can be no doubt that these letters were not intended for publication at the time they were written, it may also be fairly assumed that the present impasse in the affairs of the Society was not anticipated either. At a time when there is so much controversy in regard to what was, and what was not the original Teaching of The Masters, the publication of the words of its own Teachers can do nothing less than serve the highest interests of the great movement which claims for its motto that "There is no religion higher than Truth." The Masters are what they are; what they have written -- they have written, and neither they nor their doctrines need the acclamation or apology of lesser minds.
It is almost impossible to arrive at the facts, or even to form a trustworthy opinion upon a subject so far reaching, by studying an edited book of extracts. Therefore, that the members of the Theosophical Society and the world at large, should be enabled to study the truth for themselves concerning The Masters and their doctrines as set forth in these letters signed by their own hands, has been the aim of the compiler. To this end, the whole of the Mahatma Letters left by Mr. Sinnett have been transcribed verbatim from the originals and without omission.
Mr. Sinnett's books The Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism were based almost entirely on the material contained in Sections I. and II. of this volume. A careful study of the exposition of the teaching given in those early works, as in that of more modern Theosophical writers, yields some interesting results when compared with the original teaching as contained in these letters. Many theories which have become the accepted dogmas of modern Theosophical doctrines, are clearly shown to be inaccurate and misleading, and it may therefore be profitable if the principal points of difference are indicated to the reader.
It must be admitted that there has been an increasing tendency in the Society
during the last twelve years, to place an undue reliance on ceremonial, orders,
Churches, creeds and their equivalent, thereby sacrificing the virility of
individual effort and freedom of thought, which was so noticeable in the early
days of the movement. The Master K. H. writes in very clear terms on this
subject, and it may be well to quote his own words. "And now after making due
allowance for evils that are natural and cannot be avoided . . . I will point
out the greatest, the chief cause of nearly two-thirds of the evils that pursue
humanity ever since that cause became a power. It is religion under whatever
form and in whatsoever nation. It is the sacerdotal caste, the priesthood and
the Churches; it is in those illusions that man looks upon as sacred, that he
has to search out the source of that multitude of evils which is the great curse
of humanity, and that almost overwhelms mankind. Ignorance created Gods, and
cunning took advantage of the opportunity."
(Letter No. X.) And again "Far from
our thoughts may it ever be to erect a new hierarchy for the future oppression
of a priest ridden world." (Letter No. LXXXVII.) The inference and the message of
these words in our own times is sufficiently clear.
There has been a noticeable tendency also for sections of the Society to drift towards what Master K. H. calls "that most insane and fatal of superstitions -- Spiritualism." (Letter No. XLIX.) In another letter he says "a psychic Society is being founded . . . , it will grow and develop and expand and finally the Theos. Soc. of London will be swamped in it, and lose first its influence then -- its name -- until Theosophy in its very name becomes a thing of the Past." It is regrettable that these words are as true to-day, as when they were written. The, whole question is thrashed out from every point of view in these letters, so that no misunderstanding is possible to the mind of the impartial student. The mischief lies, then as now, in the misunderstanding of the real nature of spiritualistic phenomena. Those who adhere to the methods of Spiritualism claim that communication can be established with the souls and spirits of the departed by means of properly qualified mediums. That communication of a kind between the living and the dead can be made, is accepted as a demonstrable fact in these letters, and is not challenged in any way. But communication with what? Here lies the crux of the whole matter. Master K. H. states not once, but over and over again, that communication with the souls and spirits of the dead is an impossibility. At death, consciousness which pertains to the seventh, sixth, and fifth principles of man, (and in these are included the soul, and spirit and all that makes man human) withdraws into an unconscious gestation period which precedes re-birth in the Deva Chan or heaven-world. It leaves behind it, the physical corpse, the etheric counterpart or double, and lastly the emotional and mental shell which is the correspondence in subtler matter of the physical body, and which may be termed the vehicle of consciousness on its own plane, just as the physical body is the vehicle of consciousness in the physical world. It must be understood clearly however, that each of these empty shells has a certain illusory awareness or consciousness of its own, which is the collective consciousness of the aggregation of atoms and molecules of which they are composed, and quite distinct from the consciousness of the individual, or real entity, which informed them in life. The physical body has a similar consciousness which is purely animal and instinctive in nature. At death the consciousness of even the shell leaves it for a time, and does not return to it until the withdrawal of 5th, 6th, and 7th principles is complete. Not until after that is accomplished, does a certain awareness of existence return to the empty shells. It is these disintegrating corpses which can be temporarily galvanized into activity by the efforts of a medium; these can and do communicate, but only as it were from memory of what has been, and not from consciousness of present facts. This is the reason for the often stupid, meaningless, unspiritual messages from the other side of death which so disgust the seeker for real knowledge. The brief analysis given above, is the rule for all humanity, with the exception of the victims of accident and suicide on the one hand, and on the other those rare individuals (only the trained occultist knows how rare they are) who have won for themselves immortality.
Those students of "occultism" who believe themselves guided, by disincarnate entities ranging in degree from departed Theosophists to "Adepts who have relinquished the use of physical bodies on earth," (Esoteric Buddhism, p. 133. Eighth Edition) by means of the methods of mediums, ouija boards and their equivalent, will do well to consider their position in the light of these letters. Communication with departed Theosophists (i.e. the real entities) as already shown is an impossibility, for alas! they cannot be included among those who have achieved immortality, the exceptions to the general rule governing humanity being so very few; and with regard to the guidance of disembodied "Adept Spirits" it may be asked, how those who have not deserved individual instruction from Adepts in the flesh, can possibly expect to receive direct help from Their superiors -- the Planetary Spirits, the Dhyan Chohanic Host? It cannot be too strongly emphasized that in thus externalizing the source from which he seeks inspiration, the student sacrifices all possibility of the grand realities of spiritual attainment and direct knowledge. "The ever unknowable and incognizable Karana alone, the Causeless Cause of all causes, should have its shrine and altar on the holy and untrodden ground of our heart -- invisible, intangible, unmentioned, save through the 'still small voice' of our spiritual consciousness. Those who worship before it, ought to do so in the silence and the sanctified solitude of their Souls, making their Spirit the sole mediator between them and The Universal Spirit, their good actions their only priests, and their sinful intentions the only visible and objective sacrificial victims to the "Presence." (The Secret Doctrine, vol. I, p. 280)
The importance of the correct understanding of the doctrines relating to post mortem conditions, may be judged by the significant phrase of Master K. H. "that he who holds the keys to the Secrets of Death is possessed of the Keys of Life." The dual meaning and application of the theosophical doctrines relating to Death would seem to have been missed -- passed by. The entrance to the Mysteries has ever been through the Gate of Death; and as in the Egyptian "Book of The Dead" -- under the symbolism of the passage of the Soul from life through Death to Devachan, lies hid the precious teaching which rightly understood will bring to rebirth the aspirant who has passed through the agonies of Death in Life.
The letters in the Section entitled Probation and Chelaship make a profound appeal to the heart of both mystic, and occultist. The wisdom, the instruction, the many intimate details, all combine to throw a new light not only on The Masters themselves, but on the whole question of discipleship. As one reads these pages written 40 years ago, the conviction is reached that the way to The Masters is open to-day as it was then. But the possibility of achievement for the individual lies not in following and pledging loyalty to any personal leader, but by uncompromising devotion to the Idea, -- to principles. Master K. H. writes on this subject: -- "There is a hero-worshipping tendency clearly showing itself, and you my friend are not quite free from it yourself. . . . If you would go on with your occult studies and literary work, then learn to be loyal to the Idea rather than to my poor self. When something is to be done never think whether I wish it, before acting; . . . I am far from being perfect, hence infallible in all I do. . . . You have seen that even an Adept when acting in his body, is not beyond mistakes due to human carelessness." (Letter No. LV)
In extenuation of the many anomalies created by the unfortunate discrepancy which exists between the principles of the Theosophical Society and their practice by individual members, it must be remembered that as emphasized in these letters, the Masters neither guide nor control the actions of their disciples. By the rules of the Brotherhood, pupils must be given "the fullest liberty and freedom of action, the liberty of creating causes, even if those causes become in time their 'scourge and public pillory.'" "Our chelas are helped but when they are innocent of the Causes which led them into trouble." (Letter No. LIV) The path of discipleship leads into the heart of Nature itself; the condition of entrance -- an obedience to her laws -- complete and absolute. Before those Immutable Laws even the highest Adept must bow in humility. To the candidate for discipleship all things are permitted which are natural to Man. No simple natural act can defile. But "Occult Science is a jealous mistress, which allows not even the shadow of self-indulgence," and if the higher levels of spiritual attainment are to be reached the disciple must be prepared to sacrifice and transcend the natural desires of the body, and lead a life which, in the Master K. H.'s own words "is fatal not only to the ordinary course of married life, but even to flesh and wine drinking." (Letter No. XVII.) Those who would hope to solve the problem of sex by means of formulae which controvert laws that are obvious and known, dig with their own hands the pit which must ultimately engulf all that is human in them. To dare to suggest that such doctrines could have the sanction of The Masters of Wisdom (who are one with Nature) is to utter not only a blasphemy, but a self-evident absurdity which only a fool or a madman could be guilty of. If this question admits of any doubt in the minds of students of occultism in general, the same cannot be said of those who know anything of the inner mysteries of Astrology. That ancient Science can and will prove that no such formulae exist in the book of Nature, and any theories that are based on them can only be regarded as Sorcery of the most vicious description. That such doctrines exist is one of the reasons for the lack of virility in the Society to-day. The consideration of the inner condition of The Theosophical Society, reminds one irresistibly of all that was written in the Secret Doctrine (vol. II, pp. 409-415) of the sublime allegory of Prometheus -- the crucified Titan, gazing in his suffering towards his own "heaven appointed deliverer -- Herakles," but so far alas! in vain. At this momentous epoch in the history of the Society, those pages of Madame Blavatsky's have a message full of the profoundest significance for all who are not too blind or too unwilling to see the truth contained in it.
It is remarkable, more than thirty years after her death, how Madame Blavatsky is justified at almost every point in these letters. Few people have been more unjustly reviled, and even some of those who knew her intimately preferred to believe that she had committed every kind of error rather than admit for an instant that they themselves could be in the wrong. How far she was ever the deceiver depicted by Mr. Sinnett in his posthumous publication "The Early Days of Theosophy in Europe," may be judged by the reader if he will study the letter from Master K. H. (Letter No. LIV.) in which he gives his own opinion on her delinquencies. Those who love the memory of H. P. Blavatsky for her work and the gifts she gave them, cannot but feel after reading that letter that after all she was worthy of their high regard; and those who have tried to blacken that memory and minimise the value of the work she did, will rise to heights indeed if the prayer be granted -- that they may never deserve worse condemnation.
In nothing is Madame Blavatsky more completely vindicated than in the explanation and refutation she gave in the Secret Doctrine, of the misconceived theory in regard to Mars and Mercury, which was originally published in Esoteric Buddhism. The details of that old controversy are well-known to Theosophists, and it is fortunate that the publication in this volume of the letter originally so misunderstood by Mr. Sinnett, refutes finally the imputations made against Madame Blavatsky in regard to it. It is indeed amazing that Theosophists have continued to permit the promulgation of the idea that Mars and Mercury belonged to the same planetary chain as The Earth, for the facts are evident that they do not. It is obvious to the eye of the Astrologer, if not to students of other branches of occult science, that such a theory must throw into confusion every system and scale of correspondence in the Solar System a fact which alone is enough to show that it must be false.
But the mere assertion of facts is not sufficient, and it is necessary to examine the whole controversy in detail from the beginning. Those who wish to go further into the matter are referred to the paper which has been included in the Appendix at the end of this volume. There, all the facts have been dealt with fully by the present writer, and he believes conclusively.
In the life of the Theosophical Society a cycle is closing, and ere the reader opens this volume it will have run to its inevitable conclusion. It leaves behind it a legacy of things done which had better have been left undone, and a record of mistaken zeal and wasted opportunity of which few can be proud. The vigorous new life of the dawning cycle which is beginning to course through the veins of the old body, has of necessity objectivised and made apparent, all that was contained in it of a nature subversive of true progress. If Master K. H. has said that, "the Society can never perish, though Branches and individuals in it may," the words of that other Teacher must also be remembered, "that new wine cannot be poured into old bottles and that he who would find his life must first lose it. Be on your guard against hypocrisy, for nothing is hidden that shall not be revealed, and nothing concealed that shall not be made known; and all that has been uttered in darkness shall be heard in the light, and what has been whispered in chambers shall be proclaimed from the house-tops. There are days that are coming when one stone shall not be left upon another without being torn down. Take care that you are not deceived, for many shall come in My Name saying, "I am He, and the time is near" -- but do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be scared; these have to come first, but the end is not yet. For these are the days of Divine vengeance. And there will be signs in the Sun and Moon and Stars, while on Earth there will be dismay and bewilderment at the roar of the sea and the waves, men's hearts failing them for fear and foreboding of what is to befall the universe. For the orbs of the heavens will be shaken, and then they will see the Son of Man coming with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, look up -- for your release is not far distant."
Out of the wreck that is inevitable a shape shall arise that may be worthy of immortality. Let those who have climbed the hill and seen the vision, and in that clean, sweet air have heard the key-note of the dawning cycle -- hold fast -- and remember in the days that are coming -- the sweetness, and the beauty, and the truth they have seen.
A. TREVOR BARKER,
Fellow of the Theosophical Society.
London, September, 1923.
LETTER No. I -- London newspaper Test ; . Solomons of Science -- experimental knowledge -- vril of the coming age -- skeletons of giants ; . Hooke -- Newton -- position of Science -- Human nature the same for a million years -- value of occult phenomena. Science and Copernicus -- Robert Recorde -- Wm. Gilbert -- Galileo -- Bacon -- charlatans the shield of the "Adept" -- the rewards of the Goddess Saraswati; the phenomenon of the Ascension.
LETTER No. II -- Methods of research in Occult Science -- the mysteries not for the public -- Conditions of communication with the Mahatmas -- the mode of life demanded. Motives -- the object of the Theos. Society -- significance, of selfishness -- the T.S. and Universal Brotherhood -- the study of occultism -- path of occultism -- Schools -- Teachers, etc. Beneficent powers of knowledge -- seal of the mysteries; the life of the aspirant -- Anglo-Indian Branch T.S. -- conditions for good test phenomena.
LETTER No. IIIA -- "Brooch" phenomenon-- IIIB -- Postal address in N. W. P. --IIIC -- Pillow incidents.
LETTER No. IV -- Crisis in Tibet -- danger of invasion by Russia. Menacing destiny of T.S. -- Avalanche in the Karakorum Mts. -- H.P.B. demands assistance telepathically -- her condition -- the state of K. H.'s countrymen. Accelerated modes of delivery -- Anglo-Indian world -- agitation caused by the Bombay publications. Col. Olcott -- the feelings of the English to the Mahatmas -- O.'s devotion and self-sacrifice unequalled -- independent A. I. Branch an impossibility -- mortal blow to T.S. -- non-interference with Branches by Parent Society -- Arbitrator when specially called upon -- trust in word of honour. Different habits of Tibetans and Hindus -- lack of understanding -- national prejudices -- learned in Yog-Vidya but unfit for drawing-rooms -- essentials and non-essentials. Difficulties of the Mahatmas -- prejudice -- unwashed Christian Saints -- responsibility for Sinnett and Hume -- interference only by the Mahatmas -- policy of A. I. Society to be submitted to Chief. Attitude of Mahatmas to the aspirant -- marriage and Raja Yoga -- different ways of acquiring occult knowledge -- encouragement given to Sinnett -- "Universal Brotherhood" -- not an idle phrase -- the paramount claim of Humanity; only secure foundation for universal morality -- aspiration of the true Adept.
LETTER No. V -- Inaccuracies of H.P.B. -- A. I. Branch -- Hume's letter -- haughtiness of English -- race prejudice -- personal habits. The test of the 27th -- Jhelum despatch -- impossibility of deception. The methods of Hume -- his letter a monument of pride -- further encouragement to Sinnett -- necessity of Universal Brotherhood in Europe. Position of Olcott in relation to the T.S. -- a professor of occultism -- letter to Lord Lindsay -- H.P.B. not to give practical instruction to A. I. Branch.
LETTER No. VI -- Methods of correspondence -- occultists copy nature -- suggestions for group study. Analysis of Hume's character -- truths and mysteries of occultism -- phenomena will prove destructive of bigotry -- but constructive for Brotherhood of Humanity. Planetary spirits -- phenomenal manifestations -- ideas rule the world -- revolutions -- creeds will be crushed -- Man's position in the Universe -- The Eternal Now -- the choice -- highest philosophy or phenomena -- the wish of the Chiefs.
LETTER No. VII -- Sinnett disappointed in expectations of training -- appreciation of his efforts for T.S. -- interest in him of one higher than K. H.
LETTER No. VIII -- Personal observations re Sinnett -- reasons for K. H.'s actions. Lord Crawford -- character and possibilities -- direct communication refused. Methods of establishing communication -- unscientific absurdity. Velocity of mechanical force -- Sinnett's inability to understand explanations of phenomena -- the only way -- Past, Present and Future -- grossness of western mind. The Colour rays beyond visible spectrum -- realities appear absurdities -- insurmountable difficulties. Grades of intelligence -- Superstition -- the world repudiates what it cannot grasp -- the novice in occult science must reach the goal or perish -- to doubt is to risk insanity. The Mahatmas attitude to humanity and the world -- not dried up mummies. K. H.'s personal attachments -- erroneous ideas about Mahatmas -- Yogis -- difference between Hatha and Raja Yoga. Advice regarding Occult World -- manner of dealing with letters. Problems of mystical phenomena -- the Forlorn Hope -- uses of spiritualism. Unity gives strength -- importance of co-operation -- Damodar's letter -- value of concentration. Home, the medium.
LETTER No. IX -- Observations on The Occult World. Criticism of members of T.S. and others. Stainton Moses. Planetary spirits and the Earth -- their mission -- S. M. and occultism -- abundant proof -- new phase of Truth -- explanations re experiences of S. M.; Imperator -- mediumship -- The "Dweller on the Threshold"; and conscious life in spirit -- reply to Fechner. Psychic Communication with spirits an impossibility -- universal laws -- cycle of intelligent existences -- cosmic matter -- Anima mundi. The progress of man -- The Great Cycle -- evolution of the Ego -- the circle of necessity. The world of Causes -- and of Effects -- Self Conscious Egos -- hell and purgatory. The lower world of effects -- a definition of Truth -- Brothers not permitted to control the will of the neophyte -- The Brethren of the Shadow. K. H.'s relations with Sinnett -- observations on the Occult World -- its effect on H.P.B. and others -- Wallace and Crookes. Willingness of Adepts to enlighten mankind -- their mission to reveal Truth.
LETTER No. X -- The philosophy of the Mahatmas with regard to "God" -- the God of the theologians. Dhyan Chohans -- definition of "nothing" -- logical conclusions -- the Universal Mind. The belief in Planetary Spirits -- matter is Eternal -- no-one has ever seen God -- cannot accept an extra-cosmic deity. Phlogiston -- belief in matter alone -- its unceasing motion which is life -- ideas on Evil. The cause of evil is in human intelligence and action -- natural laws and necessary evils -- the sacerdotal caste and churches -- the chief cause of evil. Buddhist priests -- God not worshipped in Buddhist Temples -- the four noble truths -- the 12 Nidanas -- the chain of causation. The words of the Buddha.
LETTER No. XI -- K. H. has misgivings in role of instructor -- the eternal Essence -- Force -- immutability non-existent in Solar System. Inappropriate terms used by Science -- this teaching opposed to all accepted theories -- observations on the fallacies and incompleteness of Science -- energy indestructible -- gravity -- chemical attraction -- electricity. Chelas are magnetised -- only one element in Nature, Akasa -- spirit and matter, one -- the tetracktis -- the sacred seven; the Greek Brother -- necessity of serenity of mind for occult study. Psychical powers of hearing -- our Zoophagous friend -- questions of diet -- transmission of letters. Schopenhauer and the "Arhat" doctrines.
LETTER No. XII -- Explanations re Mahayuga -- Pralaya -- cyclic evolution -- Manvantaras -- dead worlds. An eternity of action -- Ethnographical details -- Esquimaux -- Neolithic age -- the Basks of Spain -- the early traces of man -- Geike, Dawkins, Fiske -- five races -- evolution of speech.
LETTER No. XIII -- Cosmological notes and queries -- esoteric cosmogony. Nature works with positive and negative forces -- the worlds of effects. Man's principles return to their source at death -- the planet and man not created. The seven-headed serpent Ananda of Vishnu -- the musical scale and the planetary chain -- man has potentiality of all 7 principles as a germ. "Life" no responsibility except in man. 7th principle latent in all the principles -- cause of pollution not in the body -- the evolution of animal-man. Man's development follows that of planet -- Biblical analogies -- the anthropoids. Buddhas and Avatars. The object of initiations.
LETTER No. XIV -- 7 objective and 7 subjective globes. The 7 kingdoms -- the descent of the monad -- occult divisions of mineral kingdom -- rounds and rings -- divisions and classifications -- the whole truth not permitted to be given. Numbers the key to knowledge -- rounds, races, and the number of incarnations in each -- the problem of the 777 incarnations -- Plato and Confucius 5th Round men -- Buddha a 6th rounder. Explanatory notes of the diagram "Man on a Planet" -- ascending and descending arcs of evolution -- the Dhyan Chohans -- Devas -- increasing intelligence as the Rounds proceed -- what happens in each Round.
LETTER No. XV -- Germ of future entity -- history of the human foetus the key to the mysteries of nature -- the cosmic atom -- aggregations of atoms becoming man-bearing globes. Their indestructibility and growth -- Adi-Buddhi, Force, or Infinite Life in manifestation. One seven-fold element the permanent cause of all manifestation -- examples -- the five cognisable elements -- the sixth principle. Observations on the "fire" element -- primal igneous principle -- 7 manifestations of fire -- the Tree of Life. A mineral contains a spark of the One -- the Law of formation, birth, etc. of a globe the same as for a child -- the 3 kinds of Manvantaras and Pralayas. Life impulse and formation of Globe "A" -- passage of Essence from one globe to another -- and one kingdom to another. Further observations on the evolution of man -- increased spirituality of the 5th Race man -- kingdoms re-entering Globe "A". Law of equilibrium manifesting -- 6th and 7th senses -- the Lord Buddha a 6th Race man -- his appearance a mystery -- individuals can only outstrip humanity by one Round. Surya Manwantaras and Pralayas -- the Cosmic night. Elementals -- Flammarion a Theosophist -- his splendid intuition. Pernicious influence of the Moon -- the Sun is the first to disintegrate at the Solar Pralaya -- the 6th principle of the Universe and man, the greatest of all mysteries.
LETTER No. XVI -- The Devachan Letter -- Devachan allegorically described by Buddha -- who goes to Devachan. The Ego enjoys perfect bliss -- Karma stands aside -- he is the dreamer and the dream -- souls of the departed unable to descend to those on earth -- pure, loving sensitives can become raised in consciousness to contact those in Devachan -- some Subjective spiritual communications real -- "rapport," identity of molecular vibration. Great varieties in the Devachan state -- the Dhyan-Chohans do not commit mistakes. Degrees of spirituality -- "the planet of Death" -- when man dies his 2nd and 3rd principles die with him -- the gestation state. Elementaries and "angel-guides" -- Kama-Loka -- a torn out page in the Book of Lives -- the 6th and 7th principles, the unconscious and eternal Monad. The ethereal Ego -- the Monad remains untainted by evil for ever -- the karma of evil deeds accrues to the new personality -- varying periods between Death and Devachan depending on spiritual stamina and karma. Devachan not solely for Adepts. A classification of Devas, elementals, sorcerers, etc. The territory of doubt -- things acceptable and non-acceptable to Spiritualists. Post mortem conditions of Suicides and those killed by accident. Psychic vampires -- mediums create new and evil Karma and Skandhas for their victims -- study deeply the doctrines of Karma and Nirvana. The Recording Angel -- meaning of Skandhas -- identity of the Ego. Justice of Karma -- causes producing the new being -- suicide and violent death. How mediums and Spiritualists multiply the causes of human misery -- the reason why the Masters oppose Spiritualism -- indiscriminate mediumship and materialisations especially objectionable. Individual and personal immortality -- divisions of the 7 principles and 7 elements. Hume and Sinnett receive more information than ever given before to non-initiates -- the teaching to be regarded as a trust for the Society. The Chohan forbids H.P.B. to go further than the Black Rock -- Damodar's foolish austerities -- the body of Occultists in Egypt -- K. H. sighs for Nirvana.
LETTER No. XVII -- Natural seers and clairvoyance -- 5th round men -- the Buddha a 6th round man -- his future incarnations -- Buddha overshadowed some chosen individuals -- sex a mere accident of birth, guided by Karma. The superior classes -- course of higher Nature's law -- peoples of India belong to oldest branchlet of the 5th human race -- "Ernests" and "Joeys" and soulless mediums. Subba Row's reverence for H.P.B.
LETTER No. XVIII -- The evolutionary journey of the monad -- 7 ramifications of the 7 races -- man passes through all 7 times -- Manvantaric chains existing in and out of our Solar System. Man's earth cycle the counterpart of great cycle -- mistakes of Anthropologists -- Pritchard nearest the mark -- the test of true progress. The present 5th human race began in Central Asia over one million years ago. Occult Science a jealous mistress -- fatal to ordinary course of marriage.
LETTER No. XIX -- Post mortem conditions of suicides and victims of accidents.
LETTER No. XXA -- From A.O. Hume to K. H. Queries re spiritualistic phenomena -- shells -- suicides and accidents. Death by drink -- over-study -- diseases, etc -- suggestion that phenomena of spiritualism may be produced by spirits, not by shells -- some teach higher morality -- Allan Kardec's books.
LETTER No. XXB -- From A. P. S. to H.P.B. Eliphas Levi's statements re annihilation -- queries in regard to survival of spiritual monad -- obscuration of planets and annihilation.
LETTER No. XXC -- Meaning of the terms God and Christ -- candidates for Devachan --
death and re-birth in Kama-Loka -- love and hatred the only immortal
feelings -- only those we have loved exist for us in Devachan -- the memories
which only affect personality blotted out -- duration of Devachan -- no
perception of time -- Devachan and Avitchi created by
ourselves during life. Importance of predominant feeling at moment of death --
the events of whole life seen in vision at death -- only adepts and sorcerers
know they are dead -- they only are immortal -- co-workers with nature for good
or evil -- definition of Immortality -- self-consciousness -- memory regained by
even good men only in Devachan -- "soul" becomes unconscious at death in all
cases -- faculties of perception, cogitation and volition, become extinct for
ever at death. Apparitions -- no essential difference between doctrines of
Eliphas Levi and those of
K. H. -- what immortality signifies to initiates and
occultists -- several kinds of immortality -- the full adept in relation to
death. Chohans, Planetary spirits and immortality -- E. Levi speaks of personal
not spiritual Egos -- co-workers with nature -- annihilation and the eighth
sphere -- potentiality for evil in man greater than for good -- Sorcerers and
immortality. Suicides separated from higher principles by a gulf -- not so in
victims of accidental death -- Dhyan Chohans do not guide living human Egos but
protect victims of accidental death -- victims sleep but to awake at the hour of
last judgment -- the struggle between the 6th and 7th and 5th and 4th
principles. Reborn on earth immediately if insufficient material for Devachan --
only shells and suicides can be attracted to a Seance -- suicide a question of
motive and responsibility -- effect of suicide during temporary insanity --
Guiteau. Bulk of phenomena of spiritualists due to shells --
unconscious 5th principle (soul) cannot communicate with a living organism --
Allan Kardec not quite immaculate -- even Dugpas capable of teaching the
Highest morality -- preaching with an end in view proves little. The time
for the obscuration of a planet -- a man must love or hate well to be in either
Devachan or Avichi -- "Nature spues the luke warm out of her mouth."
LETTER No. XXI -- From A. P. S. to K. H. Queries in regard to post mortem conditions of accidents and suicides. K. H.'s replies to same -- the teaching given is the rule -- exceptions enforce the rule -- K. H. accused of contradictions and inconsistencies.
LETTER No. XXII -- To A. O. Hume. Dual attributes of Universal and human Mind -- conscious and mechanical functions -- the conscious attribute of Universal Mind a hypothesis only, but scientific fact in finite mind -- the human brain -- voluntary and involuntary nervous systems -- man potentially more powerful than "God" -- contrary to finite, infinite mind exhibits only mechanical functions of Cerebellum. The extent of the knowledge of an adept and of a planetary spirit -- laws of Nature mechanical -- Motion the eternal and uncreated deity. "God" cannot be both intelligent and wholly material -- a God with intelligence would be a fiend in view of the existence of evil. The Mosaic deity, "No Being" -- Vedantic Acosmism -- greatest adepts have not penetrated beyond the Solar System -- but they know with certainty of other Solar Systems -- Motion governs laws of Nature -- no room for a moral Governor of the Universe -- darkness does not comprehend light because it is annihilated by it -- whence the Immutable Laws and their supposed Creator. Nepaulese Swabbhavikas -- Swabbhavat is force -- a force of limitless potentiality, but yet not "God" because man can use it -- the multiform manifestations of life made perceptible by force. Man can become his own creator and ruler -- Immutable Laws eternal and uncreated -- only one law in the Universe -- Nature disproves the theory of an all-loving, omniscient, omnipotent God -- eternal progressions of cycles and evolution -- spirit and matter are one -- only distinct in manifestation -- the Absolute the only reality. Ice, water, and vapour as an illustration of the Trinity -- the Pyramids -- matter indestructible and coeval with Spirit -- matter, force, and motion the Trinity of physical Nature -- Evil -- mental attitude of the pupil -- must learn alphabet in order to read -- the world of occultism is the world of force -- only the initiate can know. The Chela becomes the Master -- mystery and miracle vanish -- occultism an exact science -- its methods laid down in a code as old as humanity.
LETTER No. XXIIIA -- Queries by A. P. S. in numbered paragraphs; (1) cause of rush of modern progress -- (2) civilisation as great as our own -- (3) what was the Fifth Race about for the 998,000 years preceding the last 2,000 -- (4) to what epoch did the Continent of Atlantis belong -- (5) the origin of evil; (6) the use of the whole cyclic process endured by the spirit -- (8) scientific questions -- cause of precipitation of rain -- magnetic conditions -- (9) the composition of the sun's corona -- (10) photometric value of light -- star magnitudes -- (11) atmospheric disturbances in atmosphere of Jupiter -- (12) the Siemen's theory of Solar combustion -- (13) cause of magnetic variation -- (14) the possibility of the discovery of more planets; (15) a moment of the highest bliss -- (16) Devachan and Avitchi -- (17) the effect of the last thought in the mind before death -- (18) full remembrance of all our lives -- (19 & 20) nature of the memory of the "shell" -- (21) the spiritual Ego -- evolution of its personalities -- the shell of A. P. Sinnett and the nature of its consciousness; (22) the Planet of Death -- (23) Mars and Mercury -- (24) is the sun the habitation of spiritualised beings -- (25 & 26) the case of the Ego who has not sufficient material for rebirth in Devachan -- (27) the case of the murderer Guiteau -- (28 & 29) planetary obscurations and the evolution of forms.
LETTER No. XXIIIB -- K. H.'s replies to queries in 23a. End of an important cycle -- cyclic law for race and sub-race -- Cortez -- sub-races of Peru and Mexico. Zodiacal records -- civilization an inheritance -- Europe rejects testimony of antiquity -- the Western Cendrillon -- Eocene Age -- the sinking of Poseidonis -- Lemuria -- our present Continents have been submerged and will be again. Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilisations less than those of the 3rd race -- history all at sea. Copernicus avails himself of a Pythagorean MSS. -- the children of the "Fire Mist" -- ancient civilizations; the Chinese -- Ireland strewn with gigantic bones of mammoths and monsters -- Malayans, Tibetans, Javanese, the Miocene times. Egyptian priests and Atlantis -- the inhabitants of Shamballah -- Baron d'Holbach. Atlantis connected with the origin of evil -- obscurations heralded by cataclysms; the premises of Science wrong -- the future Fate of British Isles, France, etc. Progress towards absolute evil arrested by cataclysmic changes -- Tree of Knowledge in safe keeping of the Mahatmas -- the Planetaries -- every race has its Adepts. The cyclic process -- Spirit an abstraction -- in union with matter it is life -- the mystery and problem of life. To solve the problem one must become an Occultist -- all forms mask but one all-pervading Force -- one life, one law, one element -- the conclusions of greatest scientific minds -- force can be infused into artificial man -- Spirit, life and matter do not exist independently of each other. No phenomenon in Nature disconnected from magnetism and electricity -- phenomena of earth currents due to Akasic magnetism -- rain can be induced artificially -- some calculations for physicists. Magnetic attraction -- atmospheric changes -- meteoric dust. Meteors -- sun little to do with heat and nothing with rain -- Reichenbach's crystals -- the sun's corona -- head of a man in ecstatic condition -- aureoles -- hydrogen. Sun spots -- sun not the central planet of our Universe -- the difficulties confronting Scientists in studying Solar phenomena -- atmospheric tremours -- no obstacle to the Adept -- sun full of iron vapours -- the demonstration by the spectroscope -- comets. "Store-house" of our system -- its blood corpuscles -- its electromagnetic aura -- misconceptions of Science. Forces of which the sun is composed -- it feeds the smallest atom as well as the greatest genius -- the distance of the stars from us -- no trustworthy basis for calculating magnitudes and distances -- observations with Pickering Photometre -- astronomical predictions of Chaldees and Rishis faultless. Light not an independent principle -- every phenomenon the effect of diversified Akasic motion -- velocity of light -- methods adopted by French experimenters. The condition of Jupiter -- the whole Solar System moving in space -- Jupiter hides a Raja-Sun -- disturbances in its atmosphere. Siemen's statements -- matter in all its 7 states -- radiant energy -- absorption of Solar forces -- chemical power lost in transit. Jenkins -- Sir James Ross -- the magnetic theory -- planets not yet discovered -- Edison's tasimeter -- discoverer an F.T.S. The moment of death -- influence of last thoughts and desires -- the whole life seen in memory -- no man dies insane or unconscious. Advice to those assisting at a death-bed -- retributive justice -- the eighth sphere -- Avitchi -- Nirvana -- the consciousness of the "shell." That which becomes for ever extinct at death -- Karma of the personality -- immediate incarnation of children. Nature of remembrance of shell -- animal's memory not perceptive faculty -- shell in aura of medium -- perception through borrowed organs -- challenge to Spiritualists. The "Spirit" of Zollner knows no more than in life -- the recollections of the "Shell" -- complete insanity. The shell of A. P. Sinnett and the nature of its consciousness. Sorcerers -- Mars and 4 other planets. Obscurations not Pralayas -- their duration -- the children 5th round men beget -- questions pertaining to the highest initiations -- men become Gods.
LETTER No. XXIVA -- The famous "Contradictions." Sinnett's questions in regard to supposed contradictions and inconsistencies in the teaching received.
LETTER No. XXIVB -- K. H. states what an Adept is -- his Occult powers. Pleads guilty to an "omission" but not a "contradiction" -- beware of trusting Isis Unveiled too implicitly -- H.P.B. herself not permitted to understand all that is treated of in Isis -- it conceals but does not distort -- reincarnation as treated in Isis -- Astral monad -- personal Ego. Sinnett's chilly mental condition -- G. K. produces a portrait of K. H. phenomenally -- M. prefers to go to sleep. Replies to the contradictions. Accusations of inconsistency unjust -- due to the conditions under which he writes his letters -- K. H. regarded by his colleagues and the Chohans as a lunatic. What happens to every being at death -- the shell -- no two states in Devachan alike. The Ego in Devachan -- Avitcha -- love and hatred the only immortal feelings. Wagner and musicians -- K. H. pleads guilty to one sin. The impossibility of dealing with Hume -- his remarks -- a sentimental Becky Sharp.
LETTER No. XXV -- Devachan -- additional explanations --Bacon -- the fruition of all aspirations. Attempting to describe the indescribable -- requires perceptions of a trained Chela. Time does not exist in Devachan -- disapprobation of a lay Chela. Time sense created by ourselves -- the bliss of Devachan -- woes of Avitchi -- space and time according to Kant. Further explanations of Devachanic existence -- pandering to prejudices of Western readers. Explanations of Devachanic states -- weary round of birth and death -- a colourless personality gets a colourless Devachan -- Avitchi the antithesis of Devachan. Hell and Heaven -- misconception of terms -- Spirit and Soul -- individuality -- personality -- all bliss in Devachan -- no failure or disappointment. The Great Reward, Nirvana -- Rupa-Loka -- Arupa-Loka -- Kama-Loka -- the summer-land of the Spiritualists. From Kama-Loka to Devachan or Avitchi -- infinite differentiation of those states -- reviving consciousness. How to understand the doctrine fully -- the reward of benevolent men -- social status the result of Karma. Lillie's "Buddha and early Buddhism" -- proposed scheme for personal intercourse impracticable. Selfishness of T.S. members -- sacrifices made by H.P.B. and Olcott -- money matters.
LETTER No. XXVI -- Observations regarding H.P.B. and her psychological condition -- reasons causing it -- one principle left behind. K. H. strongly disapproves of their cruelty to H.P.B.
LETTER No. XXVII
-- Necessity of frank speech -- danger threatening Theosophical Society -- Stainton Moses. The mediumship of
S. M. -- inspiration not required from
disembodied Spirits -- truth stands alone. Skeletons in family closets dangerous
to handle -- a cause once created cannot be unmade -- management of the Society
difficult. Translation of the Grand Inquisitor desirable -- Mahatma K. H.
disheartened at the prospect before him -- the brandy atmosphere in the house.
LETTER No. XXVIII -- Englishmen incapable of assimilating Hindu thought -- K. H. speaks frankly to Hume. Erroneous ideas regarding T.S. -- branches of T.S. as harbingers of Universal Brotherhood -- Occult instruction by the Brothers. Attempt to establish secret school of magic in London -- complete failure -- Lord Lytton -- British T.S., of the Universal Brotherhood in name only -- gravitates at best towards Quietism. Observations on the attitude of Sinnett and Hume towards K. H. -- His exposition of truth. Thorough criticisms of statements made in Hume's letter -- distortion of K. H.'s motives -- complete lack of understanding. Patience and courtesy of K. H. in dealing with subject -- a quiet reproof -- Hindus will always be the Masters of the West in Spiritual Sciences. That which they value most highly -- the kind of men the Masters want and do not want -- their characteristics. The keepers of the sacred Light -- their knowledge the gift of the Gods -- the Kantian note -- Hume the type of the Spiritual failure and unconscious egotism of this Age. Observations on mesmerism -- what conscience will and will not do. Imagination as well as will creates -- the monster of suspicion.
LETTER No. XXIX -- M. condones Hume's attitude -- gratitude a sacred debt. No quarrelling among the Adepts -- the value of primary facts -- thoughts before words. K. H. speaks to M. of his pupils before departure -- M.'s promise -- the love of M. for his Brother -- he watches over the work. Hume's feelings -- misunderstood words -- but not by M. Further observations on Hume's statements -- injustice of his treatment of H.P.B. The necessity of knowing oneself -- need of a clear understanding -- Hume the embodiment of pride. The standards of the Mahatmas -- Hume's words to M. and K. H. -- his constant attitude -- will not be contradicted. Hume considers himself slighted and wronged -- his defence of the weak -- M.'s generous estimate of his character -- Mahatmas untouched by personal pain or pleasure -- M.'s Rajput blood resents hurt to a woman's feelings. Hume makes further communication impossible by his attitude -- cannot realise the motives or the actions of the Mahatmas -- blinded by pride. No permission given for phenomena -- their appreciation of both Sinnett and Hume -- hopes for the T.S. -- law is law -- Mahatmas will do their duty. Phenomena will never shake the erroneous beliefs of Western mind -- so long as men doubt there will be curiosity and enquiry -- trying to read the things of the Spirit with the eyes of the flesh. The mark of the Adept.
LETTER No. XXX -- K. H. speaks out -- criticism of Hume's letter re Fern. Hume mistaken from first to last -- Hume's letter to K. H. quoted. Fern endeavours to "humbug" M. -- the ordeals of a Chela -- what probation means. The freedom of the Chela's choice -- his freedom of expression -- methods of training absolutely opposite to those of the Jesuits -- the latter false to truth and to humanity. The searching of a Chela's weak points -- how the Masters regard truth -- examples given -- M.'s method of expressing himself. K. H. makes some observations on Mahatma M. -- also on Hume's faults. A temperate reproof to Hume. What is expected of a Chela -- the true value of a man. The unworthiness of certain friends -- underhand methods -- the sincerity of those who protect Hume -- how a Chela is tested -- Damodar -- H.P.B. -- Olcott -- tests applied to Fern -- nobody humbugged -- H.P.B.'s opinion of Fern -- her advice to him. Words of appreciation to Hume -- his dissatisfaction -- his claims and demands; 2nd class minds -- friendly truths -- not to be resented -- gratitude of the Mahatmas for all H. has done.
LETTER No. XXXI-- From Terich-Mir. The key to the phenomena of Occult Sciences -- reason elevated to supersensuous wisdom -- perfect comprehension of the Adept -- his reward -- the culmination of knowledge and wisdom; K. H.'s years of labour -- the would-be disciple encouraged to pass on the truth to his fellow-creatures -- H.P.B. ill.
LETTER No. XXXII -- Hume puts his foot in a hornet's nest. Unsatisfactory relations between Europeans -- Hume's insulting expressions towards even K. H.'s great Master. Hume's accusations -- the Mahatmas' patience.
LETTER No. XXXIII -- Apparent contradiction between notes from M. and K. H. -- approve of plan to form nucleus of honest scientific enquirers -- no-one works in vain -- requests Sinnett to work in sympathy with A. Besant.
LETTER No. XXXIV -- Mahatmas complain of being constantly misunderstood -- impossibility of satisfying Hume -- the Society will never perish as an Institution.
LETTER No. XXXV -- Observations on phenomena -- Sinnett's disappointment -- methods for development of Occult faculties -- no culture will supply psychic idiosyncrasy if lacking; M. deals with some spooks.
LETTER No. XXXVI -- M. refuses to make puja to Hume.
LETTER No. XXXVII -- Written by the "Disinherited" at K. H.'s bidding -- words of approval and encouragement to Sinnett -- the power of projecting and feeling force. Observations on Hume's work and his unchanged state of selfishness -- his professed love of humanity.
LETTER No. XXXVIII-- Disappointment in store for K. H.-- the libel law -- reflections on female branch and females -- the secret cause of events. The Brothers -- Brotherhood -- the love of humanity -- essential qualifications of a Chela -- selfishness and exclusiveness of all peoples.
LETTER No. XXXIX -- The Arhat vows -- defence of H.P.B. -- M. creates his dinner -- the "Disinherited."
LETTER No. XL -- Nothing can help T.S. while Founders are under a cloud. Incessant attacks -- a devotee of error -- forced psychic vision by Hathayog -- general law of vision determined by grade of man's spirit and soul. A Society whose Guru was no initiate -- idolators -- permission to join them to study -- remembering promise to K. H.
LETTER No. XLI -- H.P.B.'s condition -- only a shell at times -- encouragement to Sinnett.
LETTER No. XLII -- M. repeats that no regular instruction is possible -- much that can be done with K. H.'s help -- Hume disinclined to disabuse public mind. A solitary pearl is soon out-shone in a heap of false diamonds -- the trials of earth life -- their conquest -- "fuller introduction into the mysteries depends on yourself."
LETTER No. XLIII -- "My impatient friend" -- M.'s attitude -- an Adept's duty not controlled by social affections -- Sinnett forced himself on K. H. No right to influence one who is not a Chela -- Sinnett the victim of Maya -- Hume's selfishness -- the personality and the Ego. Bennett superior to many in spite of unpolished exterior -- K. H.'s attitude to Bennett -- Jesus and Magdalene -- the inner man alone counts with the Mahatmas -- friendly confidences. The dangers of phenomena -- wisdom gives all things in time -- food for the mind must be assimilated slowly.
LETTER No. XLIV -- The Septenary trial of the T.S. -- H.P.B. and Olcott begin their work -- their qualifications. Only those who have proved themselves faithful to truth allowed further intercourse with the Mahatmas.
LETTER No. XLV -- K. H. returns from a journey. The "three poisons" -- the five obscurities -- try to cherish less lust and desire -- "a psychic Society is being founded in our midst". One indiscretion ruins work of 7 years -- the danger of such action must be counteracted -- drawing closer to the Masters by purified heart and developing will -- advice and consolation -- Sinnett belongs to the Masters -- the imperishable record of the Master. "Your Karma is ours" -- the man of the world -- the soul searching for the Masters. The "Tathagata" light -- kind advice -- apprehensions must be set aside -- regarding his co-worker's enmity.
LETTER No. XLVI -- M. comments on Hume's behaviour -- neither reverence or common sense in his head -- abominable attitude towards Mahatmas and H.P.B. -- what they desire of him and wish him to know. Further comments on Hume -- M.'s ultimatum -- H.P.B.'s illness caused by Hume's behaviour -- M.'s displeasure.
LETTER No. XLVII -- Work of T.S. secretly linked on to other work throughout the world -- the Greek Brother. Crookes and "radiant matter" -- H.P.B. wrongfully accused of being untruthful -- frank opinions and some advice -- cycles. Martyrdom pleasant to look at, hard to bear.
LETTER No. XLVIII-- Knowledge and the path -- the Adamantine Rocks of Occult Laws -- the heights to be reached before the whole truth can be seen -- the keeping and the breaking of the Law -- the man who would obtain all must be cold -- Oxley has possibilities -- his mistakes. The limitations of the ordinary seers -- incredible statements of Maitland and Mrs. K. Vegetarians and flesh eaters -- the effects of wine on seers -- effect of emanations on Mahatmas -- seers and their revelations -- no two agree -- mediums and clairvoyance. We do not require a passive mind. The journal of the Society worth Sinnett's attention -- its hidden beauties and values -- our ways are the ways of madmen. Sinnett begins his studies at the wrong end -- key to the writing of the ancient Occultists.
LETTER No. XLIX -- Correspondence established for the good of the many -- Eliphas Levi's Haute Magie -- St. Germain. Pythagorean doctrines -- "the limit of the natural" -- the "Spiritualist" -- its fight against Theosophists -- on Adepts. K. H. not annoyed by newspaper ribald notices -- sacrilegious utterances of J. K. -- difficulty of accepting pledges -- Occult Science communicated by degrees. Conditions governing the communication of secrets -- illumination comes from within -- means to this end known publicly for ages -- self sacrifice of Guru. Dangers of giving more knowledge than man is ready for -- like an infernal machine in ignorant hands -- time approaching for Triumph of Truth -- Shammars active in Europe -- Spiritualism -- the Adepts delay progress to Eternal Rest. The price to be paid -- the willingness of K. H. to pay it -- pupils would be more thankful and patient if they knew the true facts -- Lamaism -- power of great Adepts -- Sinnett gropes in the dark. Occult World discussed at Galaring-Tcho Lamasery.
LETTER No. L -- An unreasonable man -- filled with pride -- Mahatma K. H. expresses his mind -- weariness and disheartened feelings.
LETTER No. LI -- Phenomenon for Colonel Chesney. Further remarks on production of this phenomenon -- probations hard all round -- deception a test for those of unclean heart.
LETTER No. LII-- Hume's jealousy and abusiveness. Remarks on his self-satisfaction -- constant accusations -- H.P.B. and C. C. M. -- explanation of teaching given in Isis -- Christians and Spiritualists only mention body and soul. Two "souls" in man -- H.P.B. obeyed orders -- further remarks concerning Hume. Hume's reasons for writing offensive article in Theosophist -- K. H.'s frank criticism of his real and alleged motives. Dishonest methods -- refuses to recognise powers or knowledge of Brotherhood -- the penalty of publicity. Facts to be transmitted to Hume -- in what light he is considered by the Chelas -- the protest of the Chelas -- S. stands far higher in estimation of Mahatmas -- M.'s opinion. Hume's punishment must be complete -- anti-European rules -- Dugpas wrote letters to Fern.
LETTER No. LIII -- An account of a doubtful story and incidents connected with Fern -- his deceptions believed implicitly by Hume. Ways of communication with outer worlds -- M.'s views do not agree with K. H.'s regarding Hume -- refuses to satisfy his whims -- M.'s arguments in detail. Manner in which letters have been transmitted -- Dugpa methods -- Fern's fall -- deceptions practised on Hume. Mahatma K. H.'s likeness -- its delivery. Sinnett is advised not to judge by appearances -- great crisis in November. K. H. never trusts women generally -- his reason.
LETTER No. LIV -- Hume's deposition and abdication -- subsequent events. "good old Swami" -- his tirade against the Mahatmas -- reasons for not wishing his severance from the Society -- Tibetan proverb applied to Hume -- Fern to be watched. Regarding C. C. Massey, his chief fault, weakness -- K. H. objects to his letters being circulated -- Hume disparages their sacred philosophy. The European standpoint -- Western people cannot grasp wisdom -- the wealth of the mind -- Massey -- readiness to learn -- K. H. willing to help him -- much information in S.'s hands, useful to all -- C. C. M. prejudiced against H.P.B. St. Germain -- Cagliostro -- Dr. and Mrs. Hollis-Billing -- traducers of innocent women. Exposure of dishonest enemies -- their unworthy conduct -- wish to ruin H.P.B. The Swami's attack on the Founders -- S. Moses and his suspicions -- H.P.B. and phenomena produced for C. C. M. H.P.B. believed to be arch-plotter -- deceiver, etc. -- Swami was an initiated Yogi -- H. C. a Chela -- preferred left path -- system of the Mahatmas. The experiences by which a Chela becomes efficient -- H.P.B. and her one fault -- C. C. M. shaken, suspicious and lacks self-confidence -- H.P.B.'s phenomena. C. C. M. victim of wicked plot -- how far H.P.B. is really guilty of deceit. H.P.B. over-zealous -- her desire to give credit to the Mahatmas for all phenomena -- her impulsive nature -- creating causes -- her real powers of a very high order. Self-abnegation cannot be called dishonesty -- her generosity -- terribly punished -- her exalted friends traitors and impostors -- true history of so-called deception -- enthusiasm for those she loves -- her description of M.'s beauty makes him swear and break his pipe -- description of meeting between Mahatmas and H.P.B. -- her passionate devotion -- their appreciation of all her splendid qualities. The subject of probation repulsive to Sinnett's mind -- reasons why certain men failed when tested. H.P.B. a helpless, broken-hearted woman -- the testing of Fern -- every postulant thus tested -- the conqueror crowns himself. Reform in which Sinnett's help is desired -- impartiality towards all creeds Eastern and Western. Remodelling of branches -- objects for lodge work -- religious, educational, philosophical -- paper for the Theosophist -- solidarity of thought and action. Independent action in everything which does not clash with the principles of the Society -- Hume condemns the faulty system of the Mahatmas. Theosophist should be made distinctive -- cyclic crisis -- a goat eats Sinnett's letter to K. H. -- amusing incident. The Chohan repairs the letter.
LETTER No. LV -- The ordeal of the aspirant to occult knowledge -- the opposition of the Church and Anglo-Indian officials to the T.S. -- Dugpas in Bhootan and the Vatican -- personal opposition and ridicule -- bogus letters of H.P.B.'s -- the death struggle between Truth and Error -- the light-bearers of preceding generations lost their lives -- necessity for courage -- ultimate success certain. Mediumistic sensitives -- elementaries -- unwholesome influences -- wood and incense burning for fumigation and protection -- clean living the best protection -- talismans -- H.P.B. takes a step -- heavy responsibility of Olcott and Sinnett -- Karma of the Occult World and Esot: Buddhism -- advised to stand by the T.S. -- original policy must be vindicated -- the Society cannot stand based upon phenomena and Thibetan Brothers alone -- the latter should be kept secret -- loyalty to the Idea and not to a personal leader. What a Mahatma is -- not beyond human mistakes -- phenomena of thought transference and precipitations -- Akasic libraries -- the Kiddle case. Christian-mission -- Coulomb conspiracy -- correspondence with the "Inner Circle" -- pledge themselves to K. H. -- the Maha-Chohan -- communication through Damodar -- and H.P.B. -- her phenomena must be disconnected from T.S.
LETTER No. LVI -- Condition of A. O. Hume -- maddened by evil powers -- a fakir. Evil effects of Pranayan -- produces mediumship -- Hume's selfish vanity and combativeness -- danger to the T.S. -- Dayanand S.; "Mr. Isaacs" -- K. H. and "Ram lal."
LETTER No. LVII -- Adepts and their methods not understood; C. C. M. on the list of failures -- not a medium -- the best of men but lacking in intuition; Europeans on probation -- 3 fail -- of societies -- Anna Kingsford's inspirers -- THE PERFECT WAY -- A. K. a fifth rounder -- her vanity -- latent sense of Messiahship -- Reincarnation a la Allan Kardec -- A. K.'s allegiance to Brothers not expected -- danger to the British T.S. -- C. M.'s delusions in regard to K. H. and H.P.B.; Hume and Fern -- probation brings out both virtues and vices -- Fern's characteristics -- western code of honour -- Hume's characteristics. Criterion of a "gentleman" -- vilification of M. and K. H. -- a dangerous "friend" -- the struggle for adeptship -- the delusions of self and vanity. Adepts do nothing without a purpose; Hume opposed to the system of "The Brothers" -- finds Them wicked selfish men -- their message tainted by deception and sorcery -- their chelas slaves and untrustworthy -- their Society a whited sepulchre, etc.; Hume's cunning and diplomacy -- accused of falsification. T. Subba Row -- Hume claims added powers -- practice of Pranayan makes of him a yogi -- serious charge and evidence against Hume; A. P. S. advised to go to England.
LETTER No. LVIII -- D. K.'s personal interest in A. P. S. Apathy of K. H.'s countrymen -- K. H. asks two favours -- is prepared to teach British T.S. through agency of A. P. S. -- but not to give proofs of the existence of the Masters -- ordered to sweep away every vestige of such proof.
LETTER No. LIX -- The altruist of Rothney. Change of "being" in A. P. S. -- difficulty in understanding the doctrines re Devachan -- the fickleness of "Society" -- the Theosophist's duty. Chelas who demand more power -- a necromantic Guru -- the downfall and despair of a Chela -- his condition -- an "animated poison bag." Chelas and lay Chelas in July Theosophist -- William Crookes joins the Society -- his discoveries -- three additional states of matter still to be found by Science -- the word "impossible" not in occultist's vocabulary -- no man living can make claims on Adepts -- their attractions are spiritual not intellectual -- Bacon and Aristotle. Spiritual development -- the Adepts' standard of greatness -- sincere hunger for the truth -- the work of the S. P. R. -- mesmeric cures -- the purity of the psychopathist -- his motives -- a lock of the hair of an Adept. The Buddhistic speculations of Rhys Davids -- unable to understand Esotericism -- his definition of "Avalokiteshvara" an absurdity -- K. H. explains the term fully -- Kwan-shai-yin. The origin of the Christian Trinity, transubstantiation, Immaculate Conception -- Buddhism and personal God -- the meaning of the interlaced triangles -- geometrical synthesis of whole occult doctrine -- contains the squaring of the circle -- problems of Life and Death -- mystery of Evil. The 6 pointed star is the perfect seven -- the number 6 -- the Macrocosm and Microcosm -- the contre of a circle and its circumference -- the three Gunas -- Jivatma the 7th Principle -- Avalokitesvara -- THE GREAT ACTIVE and THE GREAT PASSIVE -- Purusha and Prakriti -- THE PERFECT WAY -- Adonai. Pythagoras and the number 2 -- the dual monad in manifestation -- the perfect square -- the WORD -- The Great Deep -- Maya -- Mulaprakriti the one reality -- Mr. Roden Noel -- The Unmanifested Circle -- Absolute Life non-existent outside the triangle and perfect square -- a Gnostic treatise. No amateur can rival the proficient in occult research -- the pseudo-Saviours of the world are legion -- nothing was ever lost by trying.
LETTER No. LX -- "Our doubts are traitors" Chelas of contrary magnetisms during development -- partrait by Schmiechen -- artist helped by "M."
LETTER No. LXI -- Mohini -- a Chela not a free man -- he suffered from the cold -- his tour through European countries -- Arundales -- justice in the Kingsford row -- personal spite.
LETTER No. LXII -- Unfit for practical occultism -- immutable laws -- an effort to open the intuition -- duty, stronger than friendship or love to the Masters -- the indestructable cement of the Brotherhood -- the delusions of the intellect -- cold spiritually blind reason -- the path to the occult sciences surrounded with pitfalls. The furies to be conquered and destroyed by the aspirant -- the qualities demanded in the disciple --- his freedom for the work -- rigidity of the regulations never relaxed -- the real reason of the failure of the "Phoenix" newspaper venture -- the Ilbert Bill -- the working of Karmic Law -- contempt for the dark races -- no exhibition of psychic or occult powers permitted -- the London Lodge and Anna Kingsford -- A.P.S. finds H.S.O. unfit socially and intellectually for London -- treats him and H.P.B. cruelly -- M.'s natural brusqueness -- carelessness -- A.P.S. not unjustly treated -- his spite against A.K. Unjust suspicion of H.P.B. and H.S.O. -- Mohini and Mrs. Gebhard; H.S.O. accused by A.P.S. of falsehood, slander, etc. -- Olcott's work gives good results -- suspicion -- occult truth must be found in the soul -- Mrs. H. an excellent but untrained clairvoyant; A.P.S. attempts to defy occult laws and gets hurt -- intellect alone not all-powerful -- A.P.S. asked to be present and speak at meeting.
LETTER No. LXIII -- The publication of these letters -- the questions involved -- the real vital errors in Esoteric Buddhism and Man -- much made purposely obscure in the letters -- they were not written for publication or public comment -- neither K.H. or M. would ever consent to the letters being published. Would-be Chelas and dangers of probation.
LETTER No. LXIV -- The mysteries of Chelaship -- the uncharted ocean of occultism -- necessity of full confidence in the Adepts -- beware of a prejudiced mind -- occult laws often seem cruel amid unjust. Cataclysms are necessary -- unselfishness physical and spiritual -- vanity and conceit more serious when harboured in the higher principles -- the shield of the disciple -- the mass of human sin and frailty gathered into one period of the life of a Chela. Selfishness in inner aspirations -- the Lord Buddha. The Chela must not judge on mere appearances.
LETTER No. LXV -- A. Gebhard's accusation -- failure amid success -- distressing incidents -- the attempt to open the eyes of the world fails -- the conspiracy of the Missionaries against theosophy -- "Christ or the Founders" -- the S.P.R. and Mr. Hodgson. Mr. Lane Fox and the T.S. -- Chelas detest European Theosophists -- the end of projected occult instructions -- the refusal of Europeans to receive instruction through Damodar and Subba Row -- Damodar goes to Thibet -- Subba Row suspected -- Count St. Germain and Cagliostro -- current ideas of the Masters and laws of occultism inaccurate -- K.H.'s western education -- Sir C. Grandison -- western etiquette and Thibetan customs. Accused of plagiarism -- the dictionary of Pai-Wouen-Yen-Fu -- works of reference -- Kiddle incident -- "Lal Singh" a nom de plume -- not always infallible Mahatmas -- knowledge of occult forces the fruit of generations of research -- occultists risk their lives -- magic and superstition. The teaching of Devachan criticised -- the keys of Life and Death -- crisis in T.S. a question of perdition or salvation to thousands -- progress or retrogression of human race -- doubts and foul suspicions beset the neophyte -- the old Masonic Lodges -- tests of courage, etc. -- psychological and other tests -- Raj-yog tests -- develop every germ of good and bad. The rule inflexible, no-one escapes -- few Europeans have stood the test -- failure in Europe with few exceptions -- henceforth neutrality of T.S. in occult teaching to be enforced -- instruction will be given only to individuals from individuals -- teachings given must be under pledge of secrecy -- T.S. not to be held responsible or compromised by phenomena -- the ship is sinking -- its precious cargo desecrated by profane handling.
LETTER No. LXVI -- Common post used instead of H.P.B. -- Sinnett's relations with H.P.B. -- necessary to watch himself -- correspondence may have to be broken -- uncharitable spirit -- narrow sympathies -- the crisis fanned from Tchigadze -- A.P.S. laughs at probation -- the guardians of occult knowledge -- M. and K.H. the only Brothers in favour of disseminating their knowledge. H.P.B. sometimes dangerous -- the best agent available -- letters will cease at her death -- "our ways not your ways" -- H.P.B. complains of A.P.S. to her Master -- A.P.S. resents the personal wishes of the Masters. His pride must be protected at all costs -- dugpas and psychic shocks -- pride and egotism -- A.P.S. denies applying to be accepted as a Chela; H.P.B. and H.S.O. not perfect -- adversity discovers the real man -- karma of the group -- sinking the personality -- higher instruction only given to the true Theosophist.
LETTER No. LXVII-- K.H. to H.S. Olcott. Ordered home -- the state of India -- agitations -- Bishenlal's attempt to cross the Himalayas -- the Kingsford Maitland party. Dugpas provoke his vanity -- three cases of insanity among lay Chelas -- few men know themselves -- the ordeal of crude Chelaship.
LETTER No. LXVIII -- Discipline of family life -- conquest of self -- spiritual progress the most important.
LETTER No. LXIX -- The terms Brahma -- Pitri -- Devalokas defined -- Nirvana -- Devachan -- real knowledge a spiritual state -- absolute light and darkness.
LETTER No. LXX -- The probation of A.P.S.
LETTER No. LXXI -- M.'s "tobacco-machine" -- clouds on the horizon.
LETTER No. LXXII -- Chelas never guided. Taught by experience.
LETTER No. LXXIII -- Bad feeling against K.H.
LETTER No. LXXIV -- No-one cares for real objects of the Society -- personal devotion only -- "M." erases a part of one of his letters.
LETTER No. LXXV -- A.P.S. accuses H.P.B. unjustly.
LETTER No. LXXVI -- Subba Row and Chela training -- initiated Brahmin and Hume -- the Genius of Pride ; 376
LETTER No. LXXVII -- Colonel Gordon -- a Howrah Branch -- Eclectic -- K.H. not born for diplomacy and intrigue. Funds for the "Phoenix" -- K.H. loses some of his optimism -- women as angels or furies.
LETTER No. LXXVIII -- The Chohan's views on the "Phoenix" project -- the journal desirable -- effort must be made by outsiders -- Masters not separated from the world of action as long as T.S. exists. May effect the destiny of a nation -- questions of capital and finance -- personal remuneration -- control of the journal. Sir Ashley Eden -- a Sinking Fund -- the Nizam -- Holkar -- Benares -- Baroda. Questions of management -- Hume and dugpas.
LETTER No. LXXIX -- K.H. no business man -- Mr. Dare -- the Brotherhood will help the enterprise -- the attractions of India to the mystic -- A.P.S. wrong in acting for K.H.'s sake -- good actions bring own reward -- a new cycle begins.
LETTER No. LXXX-- Chance a squinting jade -- Hume delineates the true character of the Brothers -- A.P.S. advised to act on his own judgment.
LETTER No. LXXXI -- The condition of the people of India. Govindan Lal -- Olcott sees Baroda and Holkar -- little patriotism -- rekindling the beacon of Aryan occultism -- the task of the T.S. impeded by would-be Chelas -- the breath of the world's furnaces. The Masters first duty of gaining knowledge -- English prejudices -- Massey -- "Ski" -- and the Scotch Brother -- M. sends glove by occult means -- Dr. and Mrs. Billing -- a bogus spook -- a false "Ski." "Suppressio veri suggestis falsi" -- the Masters judge men by their motives -- no respect for the world's standards.
LETTER No. LXXXII -- Le quart d'heure de Rabelais -- the crisis in the affairs of the "Phoenix" -- Sinnett's choice -- asked to oppose the work of the Masters apparently -- the Bengal Rent Bill -- European notions of right and wrong receive a shock -- occult antidotes -- the Jesuitical "end justifies the means" -- the words of the Lord Buddha -- K.H. explains the situation -- "Phoenix" to oppose the Bengal Rent Bill. In the event of refusal a new editor to be found -- the Zemindars -- Lord Cornwallis. The issues at stake -- the future of the "Phoenix" and future relationship of A.P.S. with K.H. -- bringing the national boil to a head -- Lord Cornwallis's mistake -- Mussulman ruler and East India Company. The Ryots -- the Chohan in India -- perpetual agreement -- the real aim of Lord Ripon's reforms -- not meant for India. Protestant England aimed at -- the invisible coils of Rome -- the pledges of the Government -- Khirajee land -- Mussulman laws -- spirit of Khiraj and Ooshr. The brightest jewel in the crown of England -- the Chohan and K.H. -- the real Viceroy of India -- not at Simla but at Rome -- "Esoteric Buddhism" correct, if incomplete. Obscurations -- inner and outer rounds -- Massey concludes the Masters have no God -- each man's God within himself.
LETTER No. LXXXIII -- K.H. gives A.P.S. his freedom of choice -- success of "Phoenix" doubtful -- A.P.S. must take his own responsibility. Misunderstands law of Karma -- the strong feelings in the national soul. The good of humanity the only consideration of the Chela -- personal feelings and reputation not considered -- the financial prospects of the "Phoenix." Black clouds on the political sky -- further correspondence permitted to H.P.B. -- the eighth sphere mystery.
LETTER No. LXXXIV -- Paralytic calm of the L.L. -- C. C. Massey -- Anma Kingsford -- Olcott's visit; 397. Mohini a Chela.
LETTER No. LXXXV -- Addressed to members of the L.L. A.K. to remain President of L.L. -- the Chohan's wish -- A.K.'s personal predilections of no consequence -- dissemination of truth -- Hermetic Philosophy. The boundless ocean of Truth -- three centres of the occult Brotherhood -- H.P.B. and Subba Row pupils of the same Master -- the Chaldean Mage -- West requires different presentation of occult sciences to the East -- the amelioration of man's condition the object -- Truth has no ear-mark; A. Kingsford and Sinnett opposite poles -- both necessary for T.S. in England -- A.K.'s presentation better adapted to Christian ears -- her strife against anti-vivisection -- the teaching of Northern Buddhist Schools. More caution necessary in exposition of secret teachings -- wise toleration of differing opinions and beliefs in Indian T.S. -- harmonious discord -- the key note in Nature -- A.K. loyal to Truth -- "return good for good, for evil -- justice"; A.K. and A.P.S. expectcd to work on parallel lines -- agree to disagree in details.
LETTER No. LXXXVI -- A.K.'s apologetic letter to H.P.B. -- L.L. a tail for her to wag -- her anti-vivisection and vegetarianism win over the Chohan -- personal vanity -- letter contains an occult influence -- to be read at a General Meeting. Devachan -- Nirvana -- the Ego -- space is infinity itself -- the relation of the number of incarnations to the cleverness of an individual -- Darwin's law of heredity. The condition of C.C.M. -- Charles Bradlaugh not immoral -- Mrs. Besant -- the "Fruits of Philosophy" pernicious -- the fruits of Sodom and Gomorrah.
LETTER No. LXXXVII-- The postponement of L.L. election -- the question of personal loyalty and authority of names. Gravest evil neutralised by hastening a crisis -- oppression of a priest-ridden world -- psychic growth accompanies individual effort -- Massey -- Ward -- Kingsford -- A.K.'s mistrust of appeals to authority. Too much talk of the Masters -- disloyalty to principles of the Society would not be tolerated -- usefulness of a Lodge -- largely depends on President and Secretary.
LETTER No. LXXXVIII -- Magnetic conditions necessary for test phenomena.
LETTER No. LXXXIX -- Objections to spiritualistic phenomena and mediums. Occult science the extinguisher of superstitions -- K.H. arranges to appear to the medium Eglinton on the "Vega" -- his reasons.
LETTER No. XC -- From Stainton Moses to Sinnett. S.M. is puzzled -- says Brothers are mistaken in regard to him. His guide Imperator -- documentary evidence of communication, etc. -- Imperator knows nothing of the Lodge or Brotherhood. S.M.'s guide his own sixth principle -- finds spiritualism and occultism incompatible. Comment by K.H. What is a "Brother"? -- can be ignorant of many things -- not so with an omniscient Planetary Spirit -- Russian child medium -- Jesus and John the Baptist -- Jesus a spiritual abstraction -- Mrs. Kingsford converses with "God" -- receives a written communication from a dog. 415
LETTER No. XCIA, Letter No. 91b -- C. C. Massey -- Mrs. Billing.
LETTER No. XCII -- Actions of Founders and Chelas not controlled by the Masters -- Hurrychund -- Wimbridge -- Mrs. Billing a medium. Materialization phenomena -- truth rarely wanted -- a loyal Theosophist -- phenomena the playthings of the tyro -- the Masters offer their knowledge to be accepted or rejected on its merits -- "Ski" used as a mouthpiece by the Brothers. H.P.B. asks an exception for C.C.M. -- "Ski" a medium for 20 years -- her phenomena pass the most crucial tests -- several false "Skis." An occult forger.
LETTER No. XCIII -- Mediums and Spooks permitted to personate the Brothers -- and forge their hand-writing. K.H.'s explanation of the Kiddle incident -- "M. A. Oxon" -- K.H. accused of plagiarism -- the Banner of Light. Woman a calamity in the fifth race. K.H. dictates a letter mentally -- psychic chemistry -- precipitation by a young Chela-American Spiritualists -- experiments of S.P.R. in "mental telegraphy." The modus operandi of precipitation -- psychic printing machine. The medium and the Chela diametrically dissimilar -- discrepancy in "Occult World" -- H.P.B. denies that K.H.'s first letter was written by himself. K.H. born into a new and higher light -- Oniniscience and infallible prevision exist but for the highest Chohans -- the restored version of page 39 Occult World -- Spiritualists and Spiritualism -- the Rosetta Stone of the Kiddle incident. The Kiddlites and the Koothumites -- an Adept does not cease to be a man -- ignorant surmise and personal insult -- distrust and prejudice contagious -- A.K. invokes K.H. in trance. She takes a fruitless ramble through space -- K.H. unaware of search -- move in different astral circles -- too haughty and imperious -- Mrs. Gebhard a genuine sterling nature -- K.H. en route for Madras, Singapore and Burma -- H.P.B. not in disgrace. Subba Row's writings.
LETTER No. XCIV -- Kiddle incident -- poking fun at Occult Science.
LETTER No. XCV -- Preparation and training of Eglinton -- the "Vega experiment" -- bigotry and blindness of the Spiritualists -- professional mediums -- Hume has great possibilities in front of him -- reviewing The Perfect Way -- attracting the Chohan's attention and its significance.
LETTER No. XCVI -- M. smokes his pipe -- Piccadilly spooks -- phenomena -- Karma of the spiritualists -- M. prefers Eglinton's clairvoyance to Mrs. Kingsford's.
LETTER No. XCVII -- The defects of young disciples -- few true to original programme.
LETTER No. XCVIII -- K.H.'s comments on a letter of Hume's -- the people of Tibet untainted by vices of civilization -- A.O.H. a friend of perishing humanity -- General Schoolmaster for Tibet -- the Adept the freest of men.
LETTER No. XCIX -- From A. O. Hume to K.H. Says K.H. does not understand him -- Russia and Tibet. Advocates repeated phenomena -- H. S. Olcott -- Jesuit organisation -- blind obedience.
LETTER No. C -- Hume thinks of going to Tibet -- insane plan -- the Chohans against him -- dangers of every step.
LETTER No. CI -- "Blessed is he who knows and appreciates Koothoomi."
LETTER No. CII -- "Ou tout ou rien."
LETTER No. CIII -- Chelas neglect orders -- Maharajah of Kashmir.
LETTER No. CIV -- Hume annoys K.H. -- New Year Festivals in Tibet -- K.H. goes a journey -- M. takes his place -- "the Disinherited."
LETTER No. CV -- Hume accuses the Masters of being liars -- H.P.B. quarrels with D.K. -- "K.H. no gentleman"; Hume's infallibility.
LETTER No. CVI -- Measures for protecting Tibet -- the priestly King.
LETTER No. CVII -- H.P.B.'s ill-health -- mental anxiety.
LETTER No. CVIII -- A Ladakee Chela.
LETTER No. CIX -- K.H. and a seance.
LETTER No. CX -- Dharbagiri Nath -- the best punishment for an accepted Chela -- dodging the Masters' eye -- young Chelas -- Hume's articles; H.P.B. not safe in Sikkim -- a Chela's indiscretion.
LETTER No. CXI -- K.H.'s two Chelas to A.P.S.
LETTER No. CXII -- Colonel Chesney's letter to K.H. -- Fern a humbug -- endeavours to test the Masters -- lay Chelas -- Hume alienates the Chohan and M.; W. Oxley.
LETTER No. CXIII -- Funny notions about honour -- Fern hallucinated -- Fern's trap for M.
LETTER No. CXIV -- Zenana women of India.
LETTER No. CXV -- A.P.S. advised to act on his own judgment -- Occult influences.
LETTER No. CXVI -- K.H.'s disgust with Hume.
LETTER No. CXVII-- Mohini.
LETTER No. CXVIII -- Fraudulent intrusion. Children's diseases -- K.H. sends a lock of his hair.
LETTER No. CXIX -- Newspaper cutting and K.H.'s comment.
LETTER No. CXX-- Action of hatred.
LETTER No. CXXI -- The Occult World presented to the Chohan's notice.
LETTER No. CXXII -- Eglington at Calcutta.
LETTER No. CXXIII -- K.H.'s difficulties.
LETTER No. CXXIV -- A.P.S. asked to find three coloured pebbles in Venice.
LETTER No. CXXV -- K.H. issues a denial of the claims of W. Oxley medium. He never conversed with K.H. -- three secret words.
LETTER No. CXXVI -- A Post Office address in N.W. Provinces.
LETTER No. CXXVII -- Extracts from letters to A.P.S. and A.O.H. -- 6th and 7th principles never were within man -- Anaxagoras -- the "Nous" -- Pythagoras the permanent and impermanent -- words of Buddha -- lucidity -- too much sugar in diet -- method of developing lucidity.
LETTER No. CXXVIII -- Telegram announcing Damodar's departure.
LETTER No. CXXIX -- Telegram to Damodar.
LETTER No. CXXX--From T. Subba Row. States the conditions on which he will give A.P.S. instruction in Occult Science -- wavering state of mind fatal.
LETTER No. CXXXI-- From T. Subba Row. Sinnett gives qualified consent -- impossible to give him practical instruction -- rules inflexible -- the sacrifices demanded by Occult Science -- acquisition of psychic powers not the object of occult training -- they alone will never secure immortality. The true aim of Occult Science -- prepared to give theoretical instruction only.
LETTER No. CXXXII- T. Subba Row -- the Rishi M.'s system of training -- the first three initiations; K.H.'s comment.
LETTER No. CXXXIII-- From H.P.B. Warns A.P.S. of self-deception -- discusses his attitude to K.H.'s letter -- "Olcott behaved like an ass" -- why the Masters liked Olcott. The S.P.R. and its bugbear Theosophy.
LETTER No. CXXXIV-- A dictated letter from M. All Theosophists endeavour to correspond with him -- do not deserve such privilege. What is expected of them -- thousands of Fakirs, Sannyasis, etc., have never seen or heard of them -- they are on the path of error -- bad physical magnetic emanations not insurmountable -- faith in God and Gods attract the worst influences -- the Chohans of darkness preside at Pralayas. All is contrast in the Universe -- the Gods of the bigoted Hindus, Christians, and Mohammedans -- the work of the Red-caps -- Brothers can prolong life but cannot destroy death or evil -- details about H.P.B.'s identity.
LETTER No. CXXXV -- From H.P.B. Explains what she said about seven objective planets and septenary chains.
LETTER No. CXXXVI -- From H.P.B. Sinnett's invitation to her -- reasons for refusing -- what she endured -- K.H. and M. prepare to work -- H.P.B.'s hour of triumph approaches -- Sinnett does not know the real H.P.B. Her inner real self imprisoned -- prophecies that Sinnett will one day blaspheme against K.H. -- their benevolent contempt for H.P.B.
LETTER No. CXXXVII-- D.K. precipitates a letter phenomenally in H.P.B.'s cabin, 467
LETTER No. CXXXVIII -- From H.P.B. New battle to be fought -- K.H.'s observations on the T.S. -- H.P.B. now accused of fraud -- Mahatmas dragged before the public -- Hodgson's attitude -- hopeless situation -- happy Damodar -- the land of Bliss; Hume wants to save the Society -- meeting called -- his plans -- his suggestions rejected -- phenomena must be prohibited. Her physical condition -- transmission of letters -- Arthur Gebhard -- dying people do not tell lies -- H.P.B. never a deceiver -- explains the methods of occult transmission of letters; H.P.B. "a fraud with excellent qualities" -- explains what happened to Gebhard's letter -- no fraud; T.S. will live in India but seems doomed in Europe -- Hodgson's investigation -- the opposition of the Padris -- her trials -- cannot trust her friends. Propaganda against the Founders -- Oakleys advise H.P.B. to resign -- pledges herself not to mention the Masters' names -- try to deserve personal communication with the Master; Probably her last letter.
LETTER No. CXXXIX -- From H.P.B. She urges Sinnett to develop his intuition -- explains about a letter of K.H. which Sinnett suspected ; 475. S. asked not to be ungrateful and not to misunderstand -- what H.P.B. saw in K.H.'s aura -- Prince's Hall meeting a failure ; 476. Chelas take the left-hand path -- nearing the end -- Gladstone -- the Jesuits ; 477.
LETTER No. CXL-- From H.P.B. The Countess a great clairvoyant -- H.P.B. describes a vision -- K.H. teaches her English -- M. sends her back to Europe -- parting words of K.H. -- she writes Isis Unveiled at K.H.'s dictation -- her English ; 479. The writing of K.H.'s letters -- did he write them himself? -- precipitation -- either H.P.B. invented the Mahatmas or she did not ; 480. The Secret Doctrine -- truth will triumph -- Hume's lies ; 481.
LETTER No. CXLI -- H.P.B. in Sinnett's hands -- Mrs. Leadbeater -- Gladstone a
Roman Catholic ; 482. The condition of the T.S. in Europe -- India -- America -- the
indestructibility of the Society -- the efforts of the dugpas -- the T.S. in
need of quality and not quantity of members -- the two courses before the London
Lodge -- by their fruits shall ye know them ; 483. Worldly society in the L.L. --
A.P.S. incapable of perceiving the truth -- no inner group consecrated to the
truth -- the last trial of a Chela ; 484. The necessity of spiritual discernment --
nothing can kill the London Lodge except passivity -- human dirt never
sticks ; 485. Sinnett urged to develop his
intuition ; 486
LETTER No. CXLIIA -- Memorandum by Damodar. The Theosophical Society considered a religious sect -- if based upon universal Brotherhood the occult study should be secret -- sacred knowledge should not be vulgarised -- unconsciously misleading the public as to management of the Society -- the Adepts do not control the Society -- admission of members -- fees -- phenomena hunters. 486-487.
The MAHATMA LETTERS
SECTION I
" THE OCCULT WORLD SERIES "
1880-1881
Received Simla about October 15th, 1880.
Esteemed Brother and Friend,
Precisely because the test of the London newspaper would close the mouths of the skeptics -- it is unthinkable. See it in what light you will -- the world is yet in its first stage of disenthralment if not development, hence -- unprepared. Very true, we work by natural not supernatural means and laws. But, as on the one hand Science would find itself unable (in its present state) to account for the wonders given in its name, and on the other the ignorant masses would still be left to view the phenomenon in the light of a miracle; everyone who would thus be made a witness to the occurrence would be thrown off his balance and the results would be deplorable. Believe me, it would be so -- especially for yourself who originated the idea, and the devoted woman who so foolishly rushes into the wide open door leading to notoriety. This door, though opened by so friendly a hand as yours, would prove very soon a trap -- and a fatal one indeed for her. And such is not surely your object?
Madmen are they, who, speculating but upon the present, wilfully shut their
eyes to the past when made already to remain naturally blind to the future! Far
be it from me, to number you with the latter -- therefore will I endeavour to
explain. Were we to accede to your desires know you really what consequences
would follow in the trail of success? The inexorable shadow which follows all
human innovations moves on, yet few are they, who are ever conscious of its
approach and dangers. What are then to expect they, who would offer the world an
innovation which, owing to human ignorance, if believed in, will surely be
attributed to
p.2
those dark agencies the two-thirds of humanity believe in and
dread as yet? You say -- half London would be converted if you could deliver
them a Pioneer on its day of publication. I beg to say that if the
people believed the thing true they would kill you before you could make the
round of Hyde Park; if it were not believed true, -- the least that could happen
would be the loss of your reputation and good name, -- for propagating such
ideas.
The success of an attempt of such a kind as the one you propose, must be
calculated and based upon a thorough knowledge of the people around you. It
depends entirely upon the social and moral conditions of the people in their
bearing on these deepest and most mysterious questions which can stir the human
mind -- the deific powers in man and the possibilities contained in
nature. How many, even of your best friends, of those who surround you, who are
more than superficially interested in these abstruse problems? You could count
them upon the fingers of your right hand. Your race boasts of having liberated
in their century, the genius so long imprisoned in the narrow vase of dogmatism
and intolerance -- the genius of knowledge, wisdom and free thought. It says that
in their turn ignorant prejudice and religious bigotry, bottled up like the
wicked Jin of old, and sealed up by the Solomons of science rests at
the bottom of the sea and can never, escaping to the surface again, reign over
the world as it did in days of old; that the public mind is quite free, in
short, and ready to accept any demonstrated truth. Aye; but is it verily so, my
respected friend? Experimental knowledge does not quite date from 1662, when
Bacon, Robert Boyle and the Bishop of Chester transformed under the royal
charter their "Invisible College" into a Society for the promotion of
experimental science. Ages before the Royal Society found itself becoming a
reality upon the plan of the "Prophetic Scheme" an innate longing for the
hidden, a passionate love for and the study of nature had led men in every
generation to try and fathom her secrets deeper than their neighbours did.
Roma ante Romulum fuit -- is an axiom taught to us in your English schools.
Abstract enquiries into the most puzzling problems did not arise in the brain of
Archimedes as a spontaneous and hitherto untouched subject, but rather as a
reflection of prior enquiries in the same direction and by men separated from
his days by as long a period -- and far longer -- than the one which separates
you from the great Syracusian. The vril of the "Coming Race" was the
common property of races now extinct. And, as the very existence of those
gigantic ancestors of ours is now questioned -- though in the Himavats,
on the very territory belonging to you we have a cave full of the skeletons of
these giants -- and their huge frames when found are invariably regarded as
isolated freaks of nature, so the vril or Akas -- as we call
it --
p.3
is looked upon as an impossibility, a myth. And, without a thorough
knowledge of Akas, its combinations and properties, how can Science
hope to account for such phenomena? We doubt not but the men of your science are
open to conviction; yet facts must be first demonstrated to them, they must
first have become their own property, have proved amenable to their own modes of
investigation, before you find them ready to admit them as facts. If
you but look into the Preface to the "Micrographia" you will find
in Hooke's suggestions that the intimate relations of objects were of less
account in his eyes than their external operation on the senses -- and Newton's
fine discoveries found in him their greatest opponent. The modern Hookeses are
many. Like this learned but ignorant man of old your modern men of science are
less anxious to suggest a physical connexion of facts which might unlock for
them many an occult force in nature, as to provide a convenient "classification
of scientific experiments"; so that the most essential quality of an hypothesis
is not that it should be true but only plausible -- in their
opinion.
So far for Science -- as much as we know of it. As for human nature in
general, it is the same now as it was a million of years ago: Prejudice based
upon selfishness; a general unwillingness to give up an established order of
things for new modes of life and thought -- and occult study requires all that
and much more --; pride and stubborn resistance to Truth if it but upsets their
previous notions of things, -- such are the characteristics of your age, and
especially of the middle and lower classes. What then would be the results of
the most astounding phenomena, supposing we consented to have them produced?
However successful, danger would be growing proportionately with success. No
choice would soon remain but to go on, ever crescendo, or to fall in
this endless struggle with prejudice and ignorance killed by your own weapons.
Test after test would be required and would have to be furnished; every
subsequent phenomenon expected to be more marvellous than the preceding one.
Your daily remark is, that one cannot be expected to believe unless he becomes
an eye-witness. Would the lifetime of a man suffice to satisfy the whole world
of skeptics? It may be an easy matter to increase the original number of
believers at Simla to hundreds and thousands. But what of the hundreds of
millions of those who could not be made eye-witnesses? The ignorant -- unable to
grapple with the invisible operators -- might some day vent their rage on the
visible agents at work; the higher and educated classes would go on disbelieving
as ever, tearing you to shreds as before. In common with many, you blame us for
our great secrecy. Yet we know something of human nature for the experience of
long centuries -- aye, ages -- has taught us. And, we know, that so long as
science has anything
p.4
to learn, and a shadow of religious dogmatism lingers in
the hearts of the multitudes, the world's prejudices have to be conquered step
by step, not at a rush. As hoary antiquity had more than one Socrates so the dim
Future will give birth to more than one martyr. Enfranchised science
contemptuously turned away her face from the Copernican opinion renewing the
theories of Aristarchus Samius -- who "affirmeth that the earth moveth
circularly about her own centre" years before the Church sought to sacrifice
Galileo as a holocaust to the Bible. The ablest mathematician at the Court of
Edward VI -- Robert Recorde -- was left to starve in jail by his colleagues, who
laughed at his Castle of Knowledge, declaring his discoveries "vain
phantasies." Wm. Gilbert of Colchester -- Queen Elisabeth's physician -- died
poisoned, only because -- this real founder of experimental science in England
-- has had the audacity of anticipating Galileo; of pointing out Copernican's
fallacy as to the "third movement," which was gravely alleged to account for the
parallelism of the earth's axis of rotation! The enormous learning of the
Paracelsi, of the Agrippas and the Deys was ever doubted. It was science which
laid her sacrilegious hand upon the great work "De Magnete" -- "The Heavenly
White Virgin" (Akas) and others. And it was the illustrious "Chancellor
of England and of Nature" -- Lord Verulam-Bacon -- who having won the name of
the Father of Inductive Philosophy, permitted himself to speak of such men as
the above-named as the "Alchemicians of the Fantastic philosophy."
All this is old history, you will think. Verily so; but the chronicles of our modern days do not differ very essentially from their predecessors. And we have but to bear in mind the recent persecutions of mediums in England, the burning of supposed witches, and sorcerers in South America, Russia and the frontiers of Spain -- to assure ourselves that the only salvation of the genuine proficients in occult sciences lies in the skepticism of the public: the charlatans and the jugglers are the natural shields of the "adepts." The public safety is only ensured by our keeping secret the terrible weapons which might otherwise be used against it, and which, as you have been told became deadly in the hands of the wicked and selfish.
I conclude by reminding you that such phenomena as you crave, have ever been
reserved as a reward for those who have devoted their lives to serve the goddess
Saraswati -- our Aryan Isis. Were they given to the profanes what would
remain for our faithful ones? Many of your suggestions are highly reasonable and
will be attended to. I listened attentively to the conversation which took place
at Mr. Hume's. His arguments are perfect from the standpoint of exoteric wisdom.
But, when the time comes and he is allowed to have a full glimpse into the world
of esoterism,
p.5
with its laws based upon mathematically correct
calculations of the future -- the necessary results of the causes which we are
always at liberty to create and shape at our will but are as unable to control
their consequences which thus become our masters -- then only will, both you and
he understand why to the uninitiated our acts must seem often unwise, if not
actually foolish.
Your forthcoming letter I will not be able to fully answer without taking the advice of those who generally deal with the European mystics. Moreover the present letter must satisfy you on many points you have better defined in your last; but it will no doubt disappoint you as well. In regard to the production of newly devised and still more startling phenomena demanded of her with our help, as a man well acquainted with the strategy, you must remain satisfied with the reflection that there is little use in acquiring new positions until those that you have already reached are secured, and your Enemies full aware of your right to their possession. In other words, you had a greater variety of phenomena produced for yourself and friends than many a regular neophyte has seen in several years. First, notify the public of the production of the note, the cup and the sundry experiments with the cigarette papers, and let them digest these. Get them to work for an explanation. And as except upon the direct and absurd accusation of deceit they will never be able to account for some of these, while the skeptics are quite satisfied with their present hypothesis for the production of the brooch -- you will then have done real good to the cause of truth and justice to the woman who is made to suffer for it. Isolated as it is, the case under notice in the Pioneer becomes less than worthless -- it is positively injurious for all of you -- for yourself as the Editor of that paper as much as for anyone else, if you pardon me for offering you that which looks like advice. It is neither fair to yourself nor to her, that, because the number of eye-witnesses does not seem sufficient to warrant the public attention, your and your lady's testimony should go for nothing. Several cases combining to fortify your position as truthful and intelligent witness to the various occurrences, each of these gives you an additional right to assert what you know. It imposes upon you the sacred duty to instruct the public and prepare them for future possibilities by gradually opening their eyes to the truth. The opportunity should not be lost through a la