Theos-Talk Archives (January 2008 Message tt00183)

Hello to you too and a Happy and Peaceful 2008.
  I look at it this way, there is a different tone of voice when one reads the majority of the Mahatma Letters to the tone of voice when HPB speaks through her letters and articles. Also  HPB was up front about the Mahatmas, rather than taking credit for their teachings indicates to me that her only desire was to get the teachings across to the western world. Many psychiatrists would argue in this day and age that if she were pschitozphrenic and was dealing with multi personalities would she be able to access this knowledge through her varied personalities?  Which if true raises the question of who HPB really was and how one person could accumulate such a wealth of information.  So the problem is tricky.  Either way, for me, whoever did the talking, talked with common sense and real knowledge and many unbelievable claims made in 1888 have now been verified.  So whoever it was, they sure knew what they were talking about.
   
  My dilemma (if you could call it that) is to ask the question if Theosophy has been advanced or retarded by the Besant/Leadbeater Theosophy that followed HPB and which was contradictory in some teachings.  It seems to me that Christianity has benefited more from Theosophy as it explained to Christians an alternative view, but one that embraced their religion.  This made the 'switch' easier to accommodate psychologically.  The last thing a converted christian to theosophy needs to hear is that their conversion was a straw man.  This may result in many of those converted to feel isolated and alone without any religion to rely on, thinking that once again they have been duped. 
   
  I am a simple thinker, and came to Theosophy furious with catholocism.  Besant provided a bridge of thought that I could compare to my christian teachings.  She basically made sense of a lot of unanswerable and on faith issues that christianity could not provide for me.  However, when I was introduced to HPB I immediately saw the flaws and contradictions and at that time put it down to Besant simply getting it wrong.  Others, however, may see it as a betrayal which could lead to athiesm.
   
  I guess the old maxim that one cannot follow two masters needs to be taken on board by theosophists by biting the bullet and accepting the teachings of either Besant/Leadbeater or HPB.  Not to do so will result in psychological conflict.  IMO HPB's Theosophy requires a cutting of the umbilical cord to all religions, whereas Besant/Leadbeater Theosophy allows the imbilical cord to be loosely connected.  I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing as it effects each person differently, but logic suggests that if Besant and Leadbeater had been true to the original teachings, Theosophy may have had less converts, but those converts would have been without dilemma.
   
  Cheers
  Cass

plcoles1 <plcoles1@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
          Hi Cass,
It's a good question, the problem for me is primarily regarding the 
teachings the assertion that the information that Blavatsky presented 
is superior because it allegedly came from these Mahatmas and is 
therefore of a superior nature to other seers.

Once we do this we have set up an infallible source and everything 
that doesn't match up to that then gets labelled as "false ideas".
So here we get orthodoxy and a heresy and a set of writings that 
become sacrosanct.

In my opinion we need to read different teachings on their own and 
make my own judgement as to what rings truer rather than falling into 
the trap of seeing everything through the prism of one writer.

Do you see the dilemma?

Regards

Perry

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Perry,
> If Besant and Leadbeater were around at the same time as HPB, why 
was no contact made by KH or Morya with them at that time?
> Cass
> 
> plcoles1 <plcoles1@...> wrote:
> Hi Nigel, 
> Thanks for the testimonies it's certainly worth going over these 
> again.
> 
> The problem I have however is as follows.
> 
> Blavatsky and whoever may have written the letters set themselves 
up 
> as absolute authorities claiming themselves to have fathomed the 
> mysteries of the kosmos more accurately and deeply than anyone 
else, 
> assuring us that they have been tested and retested.
> 
> Now whether they have or they haven't we can never really know as 
it 
> is simply an assertion on their part until we see for ourselves 
> through direct experience.
> 
> Rather than promote an open comparative and eclectic approach that 
> see's information on its own merit and holds no one or any teaching 
> as an absolute authority, have we simply now got another revealed 
set 
> of works whose conclusions we must yield to as being the truth and 
> anything that conflicts with it is hailed as "false ideas" because 
> these teachings claim to come from "Mahatma's"?
> 
> Regards
> 
> Perry
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "nhcareyta" <nhcareyta@> wrote:
> >
> > and that your reason is not quitting you. Blavatsky will prove to 
> you 
> > tomorrow before everyone that my visit is real." Then he 
> disappeared. 
> > I saw by my watch that it was three o'clock. I put out the candle 
> and 
> > immediately went into a deep sleep. 
> > 
> > Next morning, on going with Miss [de Glinka] to Madame Blavatsky, 
> the 
> > first thing she said to us with an enigmatical smile was "Well! 
How 
> > have you passed the night?" "Very well," I replied and I 
> > added, "Haven't you anything to tell me?" "No," she replied, "I 
> only 
> > know that the Master was with you with one of his pupils." 
> > 
> > That same evening, Mr. Olcott found in his pocket a little note, 
> that 
> > all the Theosophists said was in the handwriting of M: "Certainly 
I 
> > was there, but who can open the eyes of him who will not see."
> > 
> > This was the reply to my doubts, because all the day I had been 
> > trying to persuade myself that it was only a hallucination, and 
> this 
> > made Madame Blavatsky angry. 
> > 
> > I should say that on my return to Paris, where I am now, my 
> > hallucinations and the strange happenings that surrounded me, 
have 
> > completely stopped. 
> > 
> > Source: Hastings, Beatrice. Solovyoff's Fraud. Edmonton, Alberta, 
> > Canada: Edmonton Lodge of the Theosophical Society in Canada, 
1988, 
> > 27?9.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 48
> > Damodar K. Mavalankar 
> > September 23, 1884.
> > Madras, India 
> > 
> > I had the moral certainty concerning the existence of the 
Himalayan 
> > Mahatmas long before I heard of the name of the Theosophical 
> Society, 
> > nay, even before it was formed in America. Being of a religious 
> turn 
> > of mind, it was the constant end and aim of my aspirations to 
come 
> in 
> > contact with personal relations with the Yogis. When some of the 
> > orthodox Brahmins told me that in this Kali Yuga no true Yogi 
could 
> > be found, I always argued that either no Yogi could have existed 
in 
> > any Yuga, or that if any existed before there must be similar 
> persons 
> > now, however small may be their number at the present time. Our 
> > sacred literature was too full of the events of the lives of such 
> > great men, and I could never believe that it was all the fiction 
of 
> a 
> > poetic brain. These men must have their successors living in some 
> > secluded part of the world, watching the destinies of the world, 
> and 
> > assisting every individual effort to rise in the scale of 
> progress. 
> > For such arguments and belief I was looked upon as a religious 
> > enthusiast, and being constantly engaged in the performance of 
> > religious rites and observances, not on a few occasions fear was 
> > entertained that I might run away into the jungles in search of 
the 
> > Mahatmas. In my childhood I had a very dangerous illness, and 
> > doctors gave me up for lost. While my relatives were every moment 
> > expecting my death, I had a vision which made such a deep 
> impression 
> > on my mind that I could never forget it. Then I saw a certain 
> > personage --- whom I then considered to be a Deva, i.e., God --- 
> who 
> > gave me a peculiar medicine; and curiously enough, I began to 
> recover 
> > from that time. Some years after that, while I was one day 
> engaged 
> > in meditation, I saw the identical Personage and recognised him 
as 
> my 
> > Saviour. Once more He saved me from the clutches of death. It was 
> > some years after this last occasion that the founders of the 
> > Theosophical Society came to India; and within a few months I 
> joined 
> > the Society. Since then I have witnessed several phenomena, both 
> in 
> > the presence and absence of Madame Blavatsky, in the company of 
> > others or while alone. These several accounts have from time to 
> time 
> > been published in the Theosophist over my own name. There are 
> > several other occurrences not so mentioned, which I wrote about 
in 
> > private correspondence to Theosophical friends in London and New 
> > York. Especially the account of my going to the Mahatmas and 
> staying 
> > with them last year, will be of interest to inquirers after 
truth. 
> > This account was published in the Theosophist for January, 1884. 
I 
> > may here add that some time after I joined the Society, I saw 
> several 
> > Mahatmas, both in their astral form and physical bodies, one of 
> whom 
> > was the Mahatma known as Mr. Sinnett's correspondent and the 
author 
> > of the letters published in "The Occult World." And when I saw 
> Him, 
> > I at once identified Him with the majestic Power I had seen in my 
> > youth thrice, He who had saved my life twice and appeared once 
> during 
> > my meditation. I have got several letters from Him and others; 
and 
> > all those, written by the same person, whether received by me 
> direct 
> > or through anybody else, bear the same handwriting. Latterly, 
> since 
> > They have chosen to give me verbal instructions, I have been 
> > receiving very few written communications. Before joining the 
> > Society, as well as after, during Madame Blavatsky's absence as 
> well 
> > as her presence, under a thousand and one different 
circumstances, 
> I 
> > have received several letters for myself or for others from 
> different 
> > Mahatmas, have seen them, talked to them, heard their voices, and 
> > seen several kinds of phenomena. 
> > 
> > Source: APPENDIX IX. 
> > 
> > Case 49
> > Laura C. Holloway
> > October 1884
> > England
> > 
> > I left H.P.B. in London [for my trip back to New York].
> > 
> > Going on board the steamer in the afternoon I retired at once to 
my 
> > stateroom and, later on, while reading quietly the room was 
filled 
> > with a blazing light that came like a flood upon me.
> > 
> > Two Masters stood in the midst of this light and conversed with 
> me. 
> > It was the most transcendent Vision I had ever seen, or shall 
hope 
> to 
> > see again, and while these enlightened Beings were with me they 
> > instructed me regarding my future
> > 
> > One of the glorious Beings I saw on that never-to-be-forgotten 
> > evening at sea, was H.P.B., and then and there my vision was 
> > strengthened, and I was carefully instructed regarding my one 
gift -
> --
> > the power to pass easily from the physical to the astral plane, 
> and 
> > the tasks I was to perform on that plane, while living in the 
body 
> > and doing my duty according to my ability. 
> > 
> > Source: Excerpt from letter written by Mrs. Holloway and dated 
> > September 11, 1923. This letter is preserved in the H.P.B. 
> Library, 
> > Toronto, Canada.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 50
> > Richard Hodgson 
> > December 1884?March 1885
> > Madras, India 
> > 
> > In November [1884] I proceeded to India for the purpose of 
> > investigating on the spot the evidence of the phenomena connected 
> > with the Theosophical Society. [Monsieur] and Madame Coulomb, who 
> had 
> > been attached to the Theosophical Society for several years in 
> > positions of trust, had charged Madame Blavatsky with fraud, and 
> had 
> > adduced in support of their charge various letters and other 
> > documents alleged by them to have been written by Madame 
Blavatsky. 
> > 
> > From these Blavatsky-Coulomb documents it appears that Mahatma 
> > letters were prepared and sent by Madame Blavatsky; that Koot 
Hoomi 
> > is a fictitious personage; that supposed "astral forms" of the 
> > Mahatmas were confederates of Madame Blavatsky in disguise --- 
> > generally the Coulombs; that alleged [occult] phenomena --- some 
of 
> > them in connection with the so-called Shrine at Adyar --- were 
> > ingenious trickeries, carried out by Madame Blavatsky, with the 
> > assistance chiefly of the Coulombs. 
> > 
> > I was left without any doubt that the [astral] appearances [of 
the 
> > Mahatmas] might have been well produced by [Monsieur] Coulomb in 
> > disguise. I have seen [Monsieur] Coulomb disguised as a Mahatma, 
> and 
> > can understand that the figure may have been very impressive. A 
> > dummy head (with shoulders), like that of a Hindu, with beard, 
&c. 
> > and fehta [turban], is worn on the top of the head of the person 
> > disguised. A long flowing muslin garment falls down in front, and 
> > by holding the folds very slightly apart, the wearer is enabled 
to 
> > see, and to speak also, if necessary. I do not think it in the 
> least 
> > degree likely that any of the witnesses would have penetrated 
this 
> > disguise had the figure been even much nearer than it was, and 
the 
> > light much better. 
> > 
> > I cannot regard Colonel Olcott's testimony as of any scientific 
> > value. In particular, his testimony to the alleged "astral" 
> > appearance [of the Mahatma Morya] in New York proves, in my 
> opinion, 
> > no more than that he saw someone in his room, who may have been 
an 
> > ordinary Hindu, or some other person, disguised, as a Mahatma for 
> the 
> > purpose, and acting for Madame Blavatsky. And the same may be 
said 
> > of all his testimony to apparitions of Mahatmas. 
> > 
> > I need not here say much on the other alleged appearances of 
> > Mahatmas, in either their ordinary physical or their "astral" 
> > bodies. A confederate in disguise is generally an easy and 
> > sufficient explanation of them. There is no real difficulty in 
> > applying this explanation even to the case of Mr. Ramaswamier, 
> whose 
> > account of his experience has made so much impression on Mr. 
> Sinnett. 
> > 
> > The resources of Madame Blavatsky are great; and by the means of 
> > forged letters, fraudulent statements of Chelas, and other false 
> > evidence, she may yet do much in the future for the benefit of 
> human 
> > credulity. But acting in accordance with the principles upon 
which 
> > our Society [for Psychical Research] has proceeded, I must 
express 
> my 
> > unqualified opinion that no genuine psychical phenomena whatever 
> will 
> > be found among the pseudo-mysteries of the Russian lady alias 
Koot 
> > Hoomi Lal Sing alias Mahatma Morya alias Madame Blavatsky. 
> > 
> > Source: Hodgson 1885, 3: 207-9, 261-2, 249-50, 241, 239, 245-6, 
313?
> > 4, 317.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 51
> > Henry S. Olcott 
> > January 8, 1885
> > Adyar, Madras, India 
> > 
> > During the night, chela "D.K." visited and talked with me about 
> > persons and things. [C.W.] Leadbeater sleeping in another bed in 
> my 
> > room heard his voice and mine and saw a phosphorescent light by 
my 
> > bed but could not see his form. M[orya] and five chelas were at 
> the 
> > place together. H.P.B. saw them all.
> > 
> > [In his handwritten diary for Jan. 8, 1885, Colonel Olcott wrote:
> > 
> > "During the night. . . I was visited by Dj.K... who talked with 
me 
> > about sundry pesons and things. Mr. Leadbeater. . . sleeping on 
> > another charpai in the same room, heard the two voices and saw a 
> > column of light by my bedside, but could not distinguish the form 
> of 
> > my visitor."]
> > 
> > Source: Olcott, Henry S. Old Diary Leaves. Volume III, p. 208.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 52
> > Henry S. Olcott 
> > February 7?8, 1885
> > Adyar, Madras, India 
> > 
> > Again has our Master [Morya] snatched HPB from the jaws of death. 
A 
> > few days ago she was dying and I was recalled from Burma by 
> > telegraph, with little or no prospect of seeing her again. But, 
> when 
> > three physicians were expecting her to sink into coma and so pass 
> > senseless out of life, He came, laid his hand upon her, and the 
> whole 
> > aspect of the case changed.
> > 
> > The day before yesterday things looked so bad that Subba Row and 
> > Damodar lost heart and got quite panicky and said the T.S. would 
go 
> > to the dogs. Well, yesterday came here a certain Indian yogi, 
> dressed 
> > in the usual saffron robes, and accompanied by a female ascetic?
his 
> > supposed disciple. I was called, came and sat down, and we stared 
> at 
> > each other in silence. Then he closed his eyes, concentrated 
> himself, 
> > and gave me psychically his message. He had been sent by the 
> Mahatma 
> > [Narayana] at Tirivellum (the one who dictated to HPB 
the "Replies 
> to 
> > an English F.T.S.") to assure me that I should not be left alone. 
> He 
> > recalled to me my conversation of the 7th with [Damodar] and 
[Subba 
> > Row]. And he asked me (mentally) if I could for a moment have 
> > believed that he, who had always been so true to me, would leave 
me 
> > to go on without help. Then he and his Maya of a she-chela went 
up 
> to 
> > HPB's sick-chamber, and she?contrary to every Hindu usage for 
> females 
> > of the sort?went straight at the [Old Lady] and made passes over 
> her, 
> > and at the Guru's command began to recite mantrams. Then the Guru 
> > took from beneath his robe a ball, the size of an orange, of the 
> > nirukti or sacred ashes used in Hindu temples for external 
> > application after the bath, and told the disciple to put it in a 
> > small cupboard that hangs over the head of HPB's bed. He told the 
> > latter that when she needed him she should simply think of him in 
> his 
> > present visible form and mentally repeat his name thrice. Then 
> there 
> > was some conversation all around, and they went away.
> > 
> > Source: Olcott, H. S. "Letters of H. S. Olcott to Francesca 
> > Arundale." Theosophist (Adyar) 53 (September 1932), 732?4. 
> > 
> > 
> > Case 53
> > Henry S. Olcott
> > September 25, 1885
> > Gooty, India
> > 
> > ". . . In night [I] had visit from M[orya] and Majji. . . . "
> > 
> > [In a letter dated October 10, 1885 to Francesca Arundale, Henry 
> > Olcott mentions this visit from Morya:
> > 
> > ". . . that night [at Gooty] I was visited by my Guru [Morya] 
> > and 'Majji'. . . . "
> > 
> > Source: Olcott, Henry S. Diaries. Entry for Sept. 25, 1885; 
> > Olcott, Henry S. Letter from Henry S. Olcott to Francesca 
> > Arundale. The Theosophist (Adyar, Madras, India), December 1932, 
> p. 
> > 275.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 54
> > Countess Constance Wachtmeister
> > Oct.?Dec. 1885
> > Wurzburg, Germany
> > 
> > In the autumn of 1885, I was making preparations to leave my home 
> in 
> > Sweden to spend the winter with some friends in Italy, and 
> > incidentally, en route to pay Madame Gebhard a promised visit at 
> her 
> > residence in Elberfeld [Germany].
> > 
> > It was while I was engaged in putting my affairs in order, in 
view 
> of 
> > my long absence, that an incident occurred, not indeed singular 
in 
> my 
> > experience, but out of the normal. I was arranging and laying 
aside 
> > the articles I intended to take with me to Italy when I heard a 
> voice 
> > saying, "Take that book, it will be useful to you on your 
journey." 
> I 
> > may as well say at once that I have the faculties of clairvoyance 
> and 
> > clairaudience rather strongly developed. I turned my eyes on a 
> > manuscript volume I had placed among the heap of things to be 
> locked 
> > away until my return. Certainly it seemed a singular 
inappropriate 
> > vade mecum for a holiday, being a collection of notes on the 
Tarot 
> > and passages in the Kabbalah that had been compiled for me by a 
> > friend. However, I decided to take it with me, and laid the book 
in 
> > the bottom of one of my traveling trunks.
> > 
> > At last the day came for me to leave Sweden, in October 1885, and 
I 
> > arrived at Elberfeld, where I met with a cordial and affectionate 
> > greeting from Madame Gebhard. However, the time was drawing near 
> for 
> > me to pass on into Italy. My friends never ceased pressing me to 
> join 
> > them there, and at last the date of my departure was fixed.
> > 
> > When I told Madame Gebhard that I must leave her in a few days, 
she 
> > spoke to me of a letter she had received from HPB. She was ill in 
> > body and depressed in mind. Her sole companions were her servant 
> and 
> > an Indian gentleman. 
> > 
> > My luggage was soon ready, and a cab was actually waiting for me 
at 
> > the door when a telegram was put into my hands containing these 
> > words, "Come to Wurzburg at once, wanted immediately?Blavatsky."
> > 
> > It was evening when I reached Madame Blavatsky's lodgings, and as 
I 
> > mounted the stairs my pulse was a little hurried while I 
speculated 
> > upon the reception which awaited me.
> > 
> > Madame Blavatsky's welcome was a warm one.
> > 
> > I remember very well that it was then, on going into the dining 
> room 
> > together to take some tea, that she said to me abruptly, as of 
> > something that had been dwelling on her mind.
> > 
> > "Master says you have a book for me of which I am much in need."
> > 
> > "No, indeed," I replied, "I have no books with me."
> > 
> > "Think again," she said, "Master says you were told in Sweden to 
> > bring a book on the Tarot and the Kabbalah."
> > 
> > Then I recollected the circumstances that I have related before. 
> From 
> > the time I had placed the volume in the bottom of my box it had 
> been 
> > out of my sight and out of my mind. Now, when I hurried to the 
> > bedroom, unlocked the trunk, and dived to the bottom, I found it 
in 
> > the same corner I had left it when packing in Sweden, undisturbed 
> > from that moment to this. But this was not all. When I returned 
to 
> > the dining room with it in my hand, Madame Blavatsky made a 
gesture 
> > and cried, "Stay, do not open it yet. Now turn to page ten and on 
> the 
> > sixth line you will find the words . . . ." And she quoted a 
> passage.
> > 
> > I opened the book which, let it be remembered, was no printed 
> volume 
> > of which there might be a copy in HPB's possession, but a 
> manuscript 
> > album in which had been written notes and excerpts by a friend of 
> > mine for my own use; yet, on the page and at the line she had 
> > indicated, I found the very words she had uttered.
> > 
> > When I handed her the book I ventured to ask her why she wanted 
it.
> > 
> > "Oh," she replied, "for The Secret Doctrine. That is my new work 
> that 
> > I am so busily engaged in writing. Master is collecting material 
> for 
> > me. He knew you had the book and told you to bring it that it 
might 
> > be at hand for reference."
> > 
> > Source: Wachtmeister, Countess Constance, and others. 
> Reminiscences 
> > of H. P. Blavatsky and the Secret Doctrine. London, Theosophical 
> > Publishing Society, 1893, 16?21, 22?3, 25?6, 32.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 55
> > Sriman Swamy
> > March 1887
> > Lhasa, Tibet
> > 
> > In reply to your enquiries I may say that I certify on my word as 
a 
> > Sanyassi that I have twice visited Tibet since the year 1879; 
that 
> I 
> > have personally become acquainted with several Mahatmas, among 
whom 
> > were the two known to the outside word as Mahatma "M" and 
> Mahatma "K. 
> > H."; that I spent some time in their company; that they told me 
> that 
> > they and other Mahatmas were interested in the work of the 
> > Theosophical Society; that Mahatma "M" told me he had been the 
> > (occult) guardian of Madame Blavatsky from her infancy. 
> > 
> > And I further certify that in March 1887 I saw Mr. Damodar K. 
> > Mavalankar at L'hassa, in a convalescent state. He told me, in 
the 
> > presence of Mahatma "K. H." that he had been at the point of 
death 
> in 
> > the previous year. 
> > 
> > Source: "News of Damodar." Lucifer (London), Volume 5, September 
> > 1889, p. 68.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 56
> > Charles Johnston
> > Spring 1887
> > London
> > 
> > I first met dear old "HPB," as she made all her friends call her, 
> in 
> > the spring of 1887. Some of her disciples had taken a pretty 
house 
> in 
> > Norwood, where the huge glass nave and twin towers of the Crystal 
> > Palace glint about a labyrinth of streets and terraces. London 
was 
> at 
> > its grimy best. 
> > 
> > HPB was just finishing her day's work, so I passed a half hour 
> > upstairs with her volunteer secretary, a disciple who served her 
> with 
> > boundless devotion. 
> > 
> > So the half hour passed, and I went downstairs to see the Old 
Lady. 
> > She was in her writing room, just rising from her desk, and clad 
in 
> > one of those dark blue dressing gowns she loved. My first 
> impression 
> > was of her rippled hair as she turned, then her marvelously 
potent 
> > eyes, as she welcomed me: "My dear fellow! I am so glad to see 
you! 
> > Come in and talk! You are just in time to have some tea!" And a 
> > hearty handshake.
> > 
> > HPB with a quizzically humorous smile [asked]: "Of course you 
have 
> > read the SPR Report??The Spookical Research Society?and know that 
I 
> > am a Russian spy, and the champion impostor of the age?"
> > 
> > "Yes, I read the Report. But I knew its contents already. I was 
at 
> > the meeting when it was first read, two years ago."
> > 
> > "Well," said HPB, again smiling with infinite humor, "and what 
> > impression did the frisky lambkin from Australia [Richard 
Hodgson] 
> > make upon your susceptible heart?"
> > 
> > "A very deep one. I decided that he must be a very good young 
man, 
> > who always came home to tea; and that the Lord had given him a 
very 
> > good conceit of himself. If he got an opinion into his head, he 
> would 
> > plow away blandly, and contrary facts would be quite invisible. 
And 
> > all that Mr. Sinnett says in the Occult World seems to me 
> absolutely 
> > unshaken by the whole Report."
> > 
> > "There is one thing about the SPR Report I want you to explain. 
> What 
> > about the writing in the occult letters [of the Masters]?"
> > 
> > "Well, what about it?" asked HPB, immediately interested.
> > 
> > "They say that you wrote them yourself, and that they bear 
evident 
> > marks of your handwriting and style. What do you say to that?"
> > 
> > "Let me explain it this way," she answered, after a long gaze at 
> the 
> > end of her cigarette. "Have you ever made experiments in thought-
> > transference? If you have, you must have noticed that the person 
> who 
> > received the mental picture very often colors it, or often 
changes 
> it 
> > slightly, with his own thought, and this where perfectly genuine 
> > transference of thought takes place. Well, it is something like 
> that 
> > with the precipitated letters. One of our Masters, who perhaps 
does 
> > not know English, and of course has no English handwriting, 
wishes 
> to 
> > precipitate a letter in answer to a question sent mentally to 
him. 
> > Let us say he is in Tibet, while I am in Madras or London. He has 
> the 
> > answering thought in his mind, but not in English words. He has 
> first 
> > to impress that thought on my brain, or on the brain of someone 
> else 
> > who knows English, and then to take the word forms that rise up 
in 
> > that other brain to answer the thought. Then he must form a clear 
> > mind picture of the words in writing, also drawing on my brain, 
or 
> > the brain of whoever it is, for the shapes. Then either through 
me 
> or 
> > some chela with whom he is magnetically connected, he has to 
> > precipitate these word shapes on paper, first sending the shapes 
> into 
> > the chela's mind, and then driving them into the paper, using the 
> > magnetic force of the chela to do the printing, and collecting 
the 
> > material, black or blue or red, as the case may be, from the 
astral 
> > light. As all things dissolve into the astral light, the will of 
> the 
> > magician can draw them forth again. So he can draw forth colors 
of 
> > pigments to mark the figures in the letter, using the magnetic 
> force 
> > of the chela to stamp them in, and guiding the whole by his own 
> much 
> > greater magnetic force, a current of powerful will.
> > 
> > "That sounds quite reasonable," I answered. "Won't you show me 
how 
> it 
> > is done?"
> > 
> > "You would have to be clairvoyant," she answered, in a perfectly 
> > direct and matter-of-fact way, "in order to see and guide the 
> > currents. But this is the point: Suppose the letter [is] 
> precipitated 
> > through me; it would naturally show some traces of my 
expressions, 
> > and even of my writing; but all the same, it would be a perfectly 
> > genuine occult phenomenon, and a real message from that Mahatma. 
> > Besides, when all is said and done, they exaggerate the likeness 
of 
> > the writings. And the experts are not infallible. We have had 
> experts 
> > who were just as positive that I could not possibly have written 
> > those letters, and just as good experts, too. But the Report says 
> > nothing about them. And then there are letters, in just the same 
> > handwriting, precipitated when I was thousands of miles away. Dr. 
> > Hartmann received more than one at Adyar, Madras, when I was in 
> > London; I could hardly have written them. But you have seen some 
of 
> > the occult letters? What do you say?"
> > 
> > "Yes," I replied; "Mr. Sinnett showed me about a ream of them: 
the 
> > whole series that the Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism are 
based 
> > on. Some of them are in red, either ink or pencil, but far more 
are 
> > in blue. I thought it was pencil at first, and I tried to smudge 
it 
> > with my thumb; but it would not smudge."
> > 
> > "Of course not!" she smiled; `the color is driven into the 
surface 
> of 
> > the paper. But what about the writings?"
> > 
> > "I am coming to that. There were two: the blue writing, and the 
> red; 
> > they were totally different from each other, and both were quite 
> > unlike yours. I have spent a good deal of time studying the 
> relation 
> > of handwriting to character, and the two characters were quite 
> > clearly marked. The blue was evidently a man of very gentle and 
> even 
> > character, but of tremendously strong will; logical, easygoing, 
and 
> > taking endless pains to make his meaning clear. It was altogether 
> the 
> > handwriting of a cultivated and very sympathetic man."
> > 
> > "Which I am not," said HPB, with a smile; "that is Mahatma Koot 
> > Hoomi; he is a Kashmiri Brahman by birth, you know, and has 
> traveled 
> > a good deal in Europe. He is the author of the Occult World 
> letters, 
> > and gave Mr. Sinnett most of the material of Esoteric Buddhism. 
But 
> > you have read all about it."
> > 
> > "Yes, I remember he says you shriek across space with a voice 
like 
> > Sarasvati's peacock. Hardly the sort of thing you would say of 
> > yourself."
> > 
> > "Of course not," she said; "I know I am a nightingale. But what 
> about 
> > the other writing?"
> > 
> > "The red? Oh that is wholly different. It is fierce, impetuous, 
> > dominant, strong; it comes in volcanic outbursts, while the other 
> is 
> > like Niagara Falls. One is fire, and the other is the ocean. They 
> are 
> > wholly different, and both quite unlike yours. But the second has 
> > more resemblance to yours than the first."
> > 
> > "This is my Master," she said, "whom we call Mahatma Morya. I 
have 
> > his picture here."
> > 
> > And she showed me a small panel in oils. If ever I saw genuine 
awe 
> > and reverence in a human face, it was in hers, when she spoke of 
> her 
> > Master. He was a Rajput by birth, she said, one of the old 
warrior 
> > race of the Indian desert, the finest and handsomest nation in 
the 
> > world. Her Master was a giant, six feet eight, and splendidly 
> built, 
> > a superb type of manly beauty. Even in the picture, there is a 
> > marvelous power and fascination; the force, the fierceness even, 
of 
> > the face; the dark, glowing eyes, which stare you out of 
> countenance; 
> > the clear-cut features of bronze, the raven hair and beard?all 
> spoke 
> > of manhood strength. I asked her something about his age. She 
> > answered:
> > 
> > "My dear, I cannot tell you exactly, for I do not know. But this 
I 
> > will tell you. I met him first when I was twenty?in 1851. He was 
in 
> > the very prime of manhood then. I am an old woman now, but he has 
> not 
> > aged a day. He is still in the prime of manhood. That is all I 
can 
> > say. You may draw you own conclusions."
> > 
> > Then she told me something about other Masters and adepts she had 
> > known. She had known adepts of many races, from Northern and 
> Southern 
> > India, Tibet, Persia, China, Egypt; of various European nations, 
> > Greek, Hungarian, Italian, English; of certain races in South 
> > America, where she said there was a Lodge of adepts.
> > 
> > Source: Johnson, Charles. 1900. "Helena Petrovna Blavatsky." 
> > Theosophical Forum (New York) 5?6 (Apr.?Jul.). Reprint in 
> Blavatsky, 
> > Collected Writings, 8:392?409. 
> > 
> > 
> > Case 57
> > Violet Tweedale
> > 1888?1889
> > London
> > 
> > On another occasion when I was alone with Madame Blavatsky, she 
> > suddenly broke off our conversation by lapsing into another 
> language, 
> > which I supposed to be Hindustani. She appeared to be addressing 
> some 
> > one else, and on looking over my shoulder I saw we were no longer 
> > alone. A man stood in the middle of the room. I was sure he had 
not 
> > entered by the door, window, or chimney, and as I looked at him 
in 
> > some astonishment, he salaamed to Madame Blavatsky and replied to 
> her 
> > in the same language in which she had addressed him.
> > 
> > I rose at once to leave her, and as I bade her good-by she 
> whispered 
> > to me, "Do not mention this." The man did not seem aware of my 
> > presence; he took no notice of me as I left the room. He was dark 
> in 
> > color and very sad looking, and his dress was a long, black cloak 
> and 
> > a soft black hat, which he did not remove, pulled well over his 
> eyes. 
> > I found out that evening that none of the general staff were 
aware 
> of 
> > his arrival, and I saw him no more.
> > 
> > Source: Tweedale, Violet. Ghosts I Have Seen and Other Psychic 
> > Experiences. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1919, 51, 56?61.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 58
> > Henry S. Olcott
> > October 25, 1888
> > Approaching Rome, Italy by train
> > 
> > [I had] the most unexpected and splendid visit from M[orya] in 
the 
> > train. I felt so rejoiced. . . . He was so kind, so loving and 
> > compassionate; despite all my faults and shortcomings, he bears 
> with 
> > me and holds to me because of the useful work I have now and then 
> > done, and of my fervent desire to do my duty. If he has not told 
> you 
> > already, he will; so I shall not flog my tired brain to describe 
> how 
> > he came, talked, looked and went. Goodnight, Chum -- to you and 
to 
> > all . . . . 
> > 
> > [In his handwritten diary for Oct. 25, 1888, Henry Olcott penned 
> the 
> > following: 
> > 
> > "At 9:30 [I] took train for Rome via Pistoia and Pisa. In train 
> all 
> > night. . . . [I] had a most encouraging visit from M[orya] in the 
> > train." ]
> > 
> > Sources: Letter dated Oct. 26, 1888 from Henry Olcott to H.P. 
> > Blavatsky (quoted in Hammer on the Mountain, Howard Murphet, 
> Wheaton, 
> > Illinois, Theosophical Publishing House, 1972, p. 236); Olcott, 
> Henry 
> > S. Diaries. Entry for Oct. 25, 1888.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 59
> > Archibald Keightley
> > April 1889
> > London
> > 
> > The meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge were out of the ordinary. The 
> > discussions were out of the ordinary. The discussions were 
informal 
> > and all sat round and asked questions of Mme. Blavatsky. All 
sorts 
> > and conditions of men and women were present and one part of our 
> > delight was for Mme. Blavatsky to reply by the Socratic method ? 
> ask 
> > another question and seek information on her own account. 
> > 
> > Sometimes there would be unseen visitors, seen by some but not by 
> > others of us. Results were curious. Mme. Blavatsky felt the cold 
> very 
> > much and her room was therefore kept very warm, so much so that 
at 
> > the meetings it was unpleasantly hot very often. One night before 
> the 
> > meeting time, I came downstairs to find the room like an ice-
house, 
> > though fire and lights were fully on. I called H.P.B.'s attention 
> to 
> > this, but was greeted with a laugh and "Oh, I have had a friend 
of 
> > mine here to see me and he forgot to remove his atmosphere." 
> Another 
> > time I remember that the rooms gradually filled until there was 
no 
> > vacant seat. On the sofa sat a distinguished Hindu, in full 
panoply 
> > of turban and dress. The discussion proceeded and apparently our 
> > distinguished guest was much interested, for he seemed to follow 
> > intelligently the remarks of each speaker. The President of the 
> Lodge 
> > arrived that night very late, and coming in looked around for a 
> seat. 
> > He walked up to the sofa and sat down ? right in the middle of 
the 
> > distinguished Hindu, who promptly, and with some surprise, 
fizzled 
> > and vanished! 
> > 
> > Source: Keightley, Archibald. "Reminiscences of H.P. Blavatsky," 
> > The Theosophical Quarterly (New York), October 1910, pp. 109-122.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 60a
> > Annie Besant
> > July 1889
> > Fontainebleau, France
> > 
> > My first-hand experience of the Masters had been clear, definite, 
> and 
> > absolutely convincing to me. The experience began in 1889. In the 
> > beginning of the year, before I joined the T.S., I was making 
> > desperate efforts to pierce the darkness, and was seeking with 
> > passionate earnestness to obtain some direct evidence of the 
> > existence of Soul and of the superphysical worlds; one evening as 
I 
> > sat alone, concentrating my mind on this longing, I heard the 
> > Master's voice --- but knew not whose its was ---and after some 
> > questions asked by Him and answered by me, came the promise that 
I 
> > should soon find the light --- a promise quickly verified. As I 
> did 
> > not till later know Who had spoken to me, I ought not to put this 
> as 
> > evidence at that time, and it was in the summer of of 1889 that I 
> > gained my first direct evidence. I as in Fontainebleau [staying 
> with 
> > Madame Blavatsky], and was sleeping in a small room by myself; I 
> was 
> > waked suddenly and sat up in bed startled, to find the air of the 
> > room thrown into pulsing electrical waves, and then appeared the 
> > radiant astral Figure of the Master [Morya], visible to my 
physical 
> > eyes.
> > 
> > Source: Besant, Annie. The Case Against W.Q. Judge, p. 10. 
> > 
> > Case 60b
> > Annie Besant
> > July 1889
> > Fontainebleau, France
> > 
> > I will tell you about the first occasion on which I saw my 
Master. 
> > Soon after I had joined the Society, it happened that I was in 
> > England at a time when H. P. B. was in Fontainebleau, France, 
where 
> > The Voice of the Silence was written. She wrote me to go over and 
> > join her, which I did with joy. She was living in a delightful 
old 
> > house out in the country, and I was put in a bed-room near hers, 
a 
> > door connecting the two. One night I awoke suddenly owing to an 
> > extraordinary feeling that there was in the room. The air was all 
> > throbbing, and it seemed as if an electric machine was playing 
> there; 
> > the whole room was electric. I was so astonished (for it was my 
> first 
> > experience of the kind) that I sat up in bed, wondering what on 
> earth 
> > could be happening. It was quite dark, and in those days I was 
not 
> a 
> > bit clairvoyant. At the foot of the bed a luminous figure 
appeared, 
> > and stood there from half a minute to a minute. It was the figure 
> of 
> > a very tall man, and I thought, from pictures I had seen, it was 
H. 
> > P. B.'s Master. Near him was another figure, more faintly 
luminous, 
> > which I could not clearly distinguish. The brilliant figure stood 
> > quite still, looking at me, and I was so utterly astounded that I 
> sat 
> > perfectly still, simply looking at Him; I did not even think of 
> > saluting Him. So I remained motionless and then gradually the 
> figure 
> > vanished. Next day I told H. P. B. what had happened, and she 
> > replied: `Yes, Master came to see me in the night, and went into 
> your 
> > room to have a look at you.' This was my first experience of 
seeing 
> a 
> > Master; it must have been clearly a case of materialisation, for 
as 
> I 
> > have said, I was not in the least clairvoyant at the time.
> > 
> > Source: Besant, Annie. "In the Twilight." The Theosophist 
> (Adyar, 
> > Madras, India), May 1910, pp. 1098-1100.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 61
> > James Morgan Pryse
> > August 1889
> > Los Angeles, California
> > 
> > My mind kept dwelling on Paracelsus, with a distinct impression 
> that 
> > he was again incarnated; so I resolved to find him, if possible, 
> and 
> > in my daily meditation concentrated my mind on him. One evening 
> [in 
> > 1889] while I was thus meditating the face of H. P. B. flashed 
> before 
> > me. I recognized it from her portrait in Isis, though it appeared 
> > much older. Thinking that the astral picture, as I took it to be, 
> > was due to some vagary of fancy, I tried to exclude it; but at 
that 
> > the face showed a look of impatience, and instantly I was drawn 
out 
> > of my body and immediately was standing "in the astral" beside H. 
> P. 
> > B. in London. It was along toward morning there, but she was 
still 
> > seated at her writing desk. While she was speaking to me, very 
> > kindly, I could not help thinking how odd it was that an 
apparently 
> > fleshy old lady should be an Adept. I tried to put that impolite 
> > thought out of my mind, but she read it, and as if in answer to 
it 
> > her physical body became translucent, revealing a marvellous 
inner 
> > body that looked as if it were formed of molten gold. Then 
> suddenly 
> > the Master M. appeared before us in his mayavi-rupa. To him I 
made 
> > profound obeisance, for he seemed to me more like a God than a 
> man. 
> > Somehow I knew who he was, though this was the first time I had 
> seen 
> > him. He spoke to me graciously and said, "I shall have work for 
> you 
> > in six months." He walked to the further side of the room, waved 
> his 
> > hand in farewell and departed. Then H. P. B. dismissed me with 
the 
> > parting words, "God bless you," and directly I saw the waves of 
the 
> > Atlantic beneath me; I floated down and dipped my feet in their 
> > crests. Then with a rush I crossed the continent till I saw the 
> > lights of Los Angles and returned to my body, seated in the chair 
> > where I had left it. Thus by looking for Paracelsus, while 
> resolved 
> > not to intrude on H. P. B. and the Master M., I found them all. 
> For 
> > H. P. B. simply was Paracelsus, and in my ignorance of that fact 
I 
> > had blundered, happily stumbling upon a triumphant outcome vastly 
> > beyond anything I had expected.
> > 
> > Source: Pryse, James Morgan. "Memorabilia of H.P.B." The 
> Canadian 
> > Theosophist, March 15, 1935, pp. 1-5.
> > 
> > 
> > Case 62
> > Julia Keightley
> > May 1891
> > Pennsylvania
> > 
> > A few days after Madame Blavatsky died, HPB awoke me at night. I 
> > raised myself, feeling no surprise, but only the sweet accustomed 
> > pleasure. She held my eyes with her leonine gaze. Then she grew 
> > thinner, taller, her shape became masculine; slowly then her 
> features 
> > changed, until a man of height and rugged powers stood before me, 
> the 
> > last vestige of her features melting into his, until the leonine 
> > gaze, the progressed radiance of her glance alone remained. The 
man 
> > lifted his head and said, "Bear witness!" He then walked from the 
> > room, laying his hand on the portrait of HPB as he passed. Since 
> > then, he has come to me several times, with instructions, in 
broad 
> > daylight while I was busily working, and once he stepped out from 
a 
> > large portrait of HPB.
> > 
> > Source: Wachtmeister, Constance and others. Reminiscences of H. 
P. 
> > Blavatsky and the Secret Doctrine. London, Theosophical 
Publishing 
> > Society, 1893."
> > 
> > Compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell
> > 
> > 
> > http://mahatmaletters.net/
> > http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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