Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00656)

K. Paul Johnson wrote:

>No one seems to
> give a moment's thought to how she might have disappointed him.
> She [HPB] certainly seduced him [Olcott] mentally and spiritually, >although not physically.

Annette wrote:

>Was it she who "seduced" him, or her ideas, her energy, her intellect,
>her connection with the Masters.  Did he perhaps think (and desire) >that
>if he was close to her it would come to him too?  And this ties in with
>Rand's philosophy....making oneself a servant, devotee, and/or
>manipulator to gain even a glimmer of the experience and perceived
>"benefits" of another's genius is futile.  The succulent fruits are
>gained as a result of one's own sweat.  Any other way leads to
>disappointment.
>As I said, IMHO, no-one can seduce another, although one *can* be
>offered a seductee on a plate and give in to the desire to enjoy the
>elation of the relationship.

Daniel Caldwell replies:

Annette, I think you have hit the nail on the head with
your remarks:

>Was it she who "seduced" him, or her ideas, her energy, her intellect,
>her connection with the Masters.

And I take this statement of yours in a very positive sense.

Olcott was a grown man in his forties when he met Madame
Blavatsky.  He had alot of experience out in the world and wasn't
a naive kid.  From his own testimony given during the years 1874
through 1891 (the years under discussion) Colonel Olcott had
seen HPB perform literally scores of remarkable psychic feats.
He had had many meetings with various Adepts and Masters
connected with HPB.  He knew from his own personal experience
that HPB was genuine and that her Teachers were real persons.
The Masters had had long face-to-face talks with him concerning
Theosophy, HPB (their agent), etc. etc.
He had his share of faults but see what the Masters write about
him in THE MAHATMA LETTERS.  And yes they reprimanded him from
time to time when necessary.  See Master K.H.'s letter precipitated
on board the SS Shannon on August 22, 1888.  Olcott was on this ship in
the Mediterranean.  He was headed for England where HPB was then
residing.  K.H.'s letter is as follows:

Misunderstandings have grown up between Fellows both in London and Paris
which imperil the interests of the movement.
You will be told that the chief originator of most if not of all these
disturbances is H.P.B. This is not so; though her presence in
England has, of course, a share in them. But the largest share rest with
others, whose serene unconsciousness of their own
defects is very marked and much to be blamed. One of the most valuable
effects of Upasika's mission is that it drives men to
self-study and destroys in them blind servility for persons. Observe
your own case, for example. But your revolt, good friend,
against her "infallibility" - as you once thought it - has gone too far,
and you have been unjust to her. . . .

. . . Try to remove such misconceptions as you will find, by kind
persuasion and an appeal to the feelings of loyalty to the
cause of truth, if not to us. Make all these men feel that we have no
favorites, nor affections for persons, but only for their
good acts and humanity as a whole. But we employ agents - the best
available. Of these, for the last thirty years, the chief has
been the personality known as H.P.B. to the world (but otherwise to us).
Imperfect and very "troublesome" no doubt she
proves to some; nevertheless there is no likelihood of our finding a
better one for years to come, and your Theosophists should
be made to understand it. . . .

. . . Since 1885 I have not written nor caused to be written save
through her agency direct or remote a letter or a line to
anybody in Europe or America, nor communicated orally with or through
any third party. Theosophists should learn it. You
will understand later the significance of this declaration, so keep it
in mind. . . . Her fidelity to our work being constant and her
sufferings having come upon her through it, neither I nor either of my
Brother Associates will desert or supplant her. As I once
before remarked, ingratitude is not among our vices. . . . To help you
in your present perplexity, H.P.B. has next to no
concern with administrative details and should be kept clear of them so
far as her strong nature can be controlled. But this you
must tell to all; with occult matters she has everything to do. . . . We
have not "abandoned her." She is not "given over to
chelas." She is our direct agent. I warn you against permitting your
suspicions and resentment against her "many follies" to
bias your intuitive loyalty to her. In the adjustment of this European
business you will have two things to consider, - the external
and administrative, and the internal and psychical. Keep the former
under your control and that of your most prudent
associates jointly; leave the latter to her. You are left to devise the
practical details.

I have also noted your thoughts about the Secret Doctrine. Be assured
that what she has not annotated from scientific and
other works we have given or suggested to her. Every mistake or
erroneous notion corrected and explained by her from the
works of other Theosophists was corrected by me or under my instruction.
It is a more valuable work than its predecessor,
- an epitome of occult truths that will make it a source of information
and instruction for the earnest student for long years to
come.

. . . (This letter) . . . is merely given you as a warning and a guide;
to others as a warning only; for you may use it discreetly if
needs be . . . Prepare, however, to have the authenticity of the present
denied in certain quarters.


(Signed) K.H.

     [Extract correctly copied - H.S. Olcott.]

     Path, October, 1893