Theos-Talk Archives (February 1998 Message tt00116)

John Laidlaw message forwarded by Govert Schuller :

>>As to the central character - JMH - elsewhere in the autobiography, much is
>>made of Scott's interest in Tantrik Yoga and his association with a
>>remarkable teacher of physiological Yoga - Dr. P.A.Bernard. Scott describes
>>this man as a 'great Yogi', one who was able to 'hold his breath for 10
>>minutes at a time and go off into samadhi'.


The real identity of the mysterious personage 'J.M.H.' always intrigues
readers of Scott's books.

After he had finished his first book of the 'Initiate Series' during
the first world war, Scott made contact with the Master K.H. for the
first time in 1921 through Nelsa Chaplin, a most accomplish clairvoyant
who also possessed astonishing psychometrical powers and had been in touch
with K.H. since her childhood. The master told him that for a numbers of
years he had been telepathically impressing ideas upon him, both regarding
his music and his books. "It was he who in the first place had actually
prompted me to relate the story of the man I called 'J.M.H.' The Masters
had wished to put the books through as an experiment in the hopes that
they might bring some enlightenment to many who were groping in darkness."

The setting of the first book was in London and the book was written before
Scott met Dr. P.A. Bernard in Nyack during his American tour, J.M.H in this
book was unlikely to be him. Even so, it must be an account by one of his
pupils, not Scott.

J.M.H. in the second book was a combination of at least both K.H. and
Dr. Bernard. It was K.H. who had advised Scott to marry Rose Allatini
(Viola) against his preconceived notions, this and other teachings were
incorporated into J.M.H.'s . The setting of evening talks given by J.M.H.
in Boston during 1920-1921 correlated well with activities of Dr. Bernard
at that time in Nyack. Although Scott joined the tantrik order and attained
the talks he did not take Dr. Bernard as his master. Scott never met Dr.
Bernard again after he left America in 1921, J.M.H. in the third book was
definitely not him.

More accounts of Dr. P.A. Bernard may be found in the book 'The Unending
Quest' by Sir Paul Dukes.

By the way, there is a portrait of Cyril Scott by George Neale on the
web at:

http://www.uib.no/herrmann/cover/sp_cs12.gif

Visanu