Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tt00015)

At 07:20 PM 09/02/1999 -0700, W. Dallas TenBroeck wrote:
>
>I know this sounds awfully vague, but the aspirant to secret and
>occult wisdom using the hints that Theosophy offers, has to make
>himself into the "key" that will open the Gates of Gold.  He alone can
>do this for himself.  The "Guru" may point the way, the adoptions
>depends on the student's ability to study and understand what he has
>been shown.  He alone determines his own fate.  The presence or
>absence of the Master" is not relevant

Well presented Dallas. A few days ago, I ran into the following passage in
one of the letters from KH to APS which, I think clarifies the issue very
very clearly.

Also what caught my attention is the comment on hocus pocus etc. 

To be noted is that in the early days when the Founders were actively
communicating with the founders as well as other members of TS, there was
no mention of the things such as the masonic ceremonies and churches as
being necessary or conducive to spiritual enlightenment/ progress, which
later became a fundamental (unwritten/unofficial) doctrine during the days
of Besant and Leadbeater, and which has continued to this day.
 
===

The Occult Science is not one, in which secrets can be communicated of a
sudden, by a written or even verbal communication. If so, all the
"Brothers" should have to do, would be to publish a Hand-book of the art
which might be taught in schools as grammar is. 

It is the common mistake of people that we willingly wrap ourselves and our
powers in mystery -- that we wish to keep our knowledge to ourselves, and
of our own will refuse -- "wantonly and deliberately" to communicate it.
The truth is that till the neophyte attains to the condition necessary for
that degree of Illumination to which, and for which, he is entitled and
fitted, most if not all of the Secrets are incommunicable. The receptivity
must be equal to the desire to instruct. The illumination must come from
within. 

Till then no hocus pocus of incantations, or mummery of appliances, no
metaphysical lectures or discussions, no self-imposed penance can give it. 

All these are but means to an end, and all we can do is to direct the use
of such means as have been empirically found by the experience of ages to
conduce to the required object. And this was and has been no secret for
thousands of years..

Fasting, meditation, chastity of thought, word, and deed; silence for
certain periods of time to enable nature herself to speak to him who comes
to her for information; government of the animal passions and impulses;
utter unselfishness of intention, the use of certain incense and
fumigations for physiological purposes, have been published as the means
since the days of Plato and Iamblichus in the West, and since the far
earlier times of our Indian Rishis.

(ML to APS; Letter #49)

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