Theos-Talk Archives (December 2001 Message tt00193)

Tuesday, December 11, 2001

Re: Me. Blavatsky -- teacher of THEOSOPHY.

Dear Friend:


As you see I am for the truth, and not for opinion in any way.
Not am I a friend of gossip.

That is why I do not meddle in the past opinions concerning
people, but rather, go to what they have written, so as t see
what they had to say. I would trust that rather than any
intermediary or interpreter.

If we agree to do that, then there is no contention.

WHERE HAS MME. BLAVATSKY ADVOCATED THE USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL?
Where has she actually been seen handling these drugs? Is there,
in her writings, and evidence of the ravings of a confused
inebriate? You say that she supplied the evidence. Where,
please ? Yes, if evidence and proof is available, I will be
satisfied. Where may I find it?

Everyone's "academic" freedom is at stake here, and not any one
in particular. In my opinion "ACADEMIES" count for nothing
However, if we universalize and impersonalize statements, then we
get are more likely to get at the truth. I stand for clear
speech and clear evidence, if available. And I am not afraid to
risk anything in that search. I also ask that a "level field" be
used -- and that any evidence to backup statements be made
available.

I happened to use S. Cranston's BIOGRAPHY as one of the best
researched (using, as far as I could find, the necessary
documentary sources that I have also found so far, and therefore,
I used it as a base. You, I, or anyone may use other bases, but
then they ought to be made public and clear so that they can be
checked out. I also mentioned Gomes THEOSOPHY IN THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

As to the use of "soma." Certainly H P B wrote about it as it
was in use for certain Vedic rituals of ceremonial magic and
their mind of Initiation. Also she made clear that several herbs
could be used. "Soma," in Sanskrit (and modern Indian languages
derived from Sanskrit) means, among other things, as a "root" :
"to sleep." And included in this "sleep" are the experiences
that one might secure from induced visions and trances. This is
made clear in ISIS UNVEILED, I xxxi, xxvii, xxxv, xl, 157,
357, II 43-4, 91, 117, 407-9, 513-4, 560, 590
The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY pp. 304, 255, S D II 498-9,
45fn, 378, S D I 523fn; H P B Articles I p. 444, II p.
176-7, III p. 196; MAHATMA LETTERS p. 219, [ see also
DIKTAMON in The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY p. 102; VERBENA in
THEOSOPHIST, vol. 5, p. 117-9 (February, 1884)

If one reads the phenomena associated with a perception of the
nature of the astral light, one will come across the statement
that there are visions to be had there under the control of an
ADEPT which have nothing to do with the use of physical
"Hashish," and its effects as a drug, on the physiological brain
and its ability to interpret experience. No where is it stated
to my knowledge that it is the only drug that opens the door to
such experience. However .... I would await an actual
reference.


As to Olcott providing the reference to the magazine, it carries
little weight with me. I do not find he corroborates H P B's
usage of drugs or intoxicating liquors.

I would be interested in securing a more accurate set of
references. Please see below where I have inserted some queries.

Best wishes,

Dallas

==========================


-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Stubbs [mailto:stevestubbs@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 7:44 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World Fumes, fumes, fumes! The
botanical lapidation of HS Olcott


DTB: "Let's be clear. If we are dealing with psychic
phenomena and the effects emanating from the astral
light, let us say so and provide the readership with
actual textual sources."

Daniel Caldwell says so and has provided numerous
"actual textual sources." I merely accepted his
challenge to critique the phenomenon he cited.

DTB: "Is this single report by "Rawson" in FRANK
LESLIE's POPULAR MONTHLY to stand against the whole
volume of her teachings?"


Nowhere did anyone suggest that Rawson's article
should "stand against the whole volume of her
teachings." That would be an utterly preposterous
statement.


DTB: "Further, it is an insinuation against H P B's
character that cannot and does not find any support.
I need more evidence before I accept or broadcast such
information

Somehow I suspect no amount of evidence would satisfy
you. The evidence, or most of it, is supplied by
Blavatsky.

DTB: "I PROTEST THIS."

So do I. How dare anyone infringe on my academic
freedom? Thanks for saying that, Dallas. I am glad
to have you in my corner.


DTB: "Have you found anything in the DOCUMENTARY
BIOGRAPHY OF H P B by Sylvia Cranston that supports
this? As far as I can determine she did not, repeat:
NOT."


It is ludicrous to say that Cranston has defined the
limits of what can and cannot be investigated and that
we need her imprimatur.

====================================


DALLAS	That is not what I said. As state I use
her book and references as a hand "catch all
As stated above, she has drawn together as far as I can
determine, all the references on H.P.Blavatsky and
commented on them.

======================================


DTB: "She was not interested in inducing visions,
using "soma" or fumes, or anything else."



It was Blavatsky who wrote about soma and at
considerable length. Why write about it if she was
not interested in it? She also never condemned the
Brahmins for quaffing the stuff.

I must say, though, that I am unaware of Blavatsky
ever using the phrase: "Rule, Botanica!" I wish
people would cease connecting her with that phrase.


DALLAS	I never heard that yet !



DTB: "In regard to seeing colors and hearing sounds,
apparently some of these phenomena are related to the
astral light and the effects that it can have on
sensitive natures."

So far as I have been able to determine, this
experience is uniquely associated with hashish use.

======================================

DALLAS	Does any one have a medical
reference to this ?

======================================


Nobody in the nineteenth century seems to have written
about it in any other context. The French Symbolist
poets wrote about it as did Baudelaire. Does anyone
know different? Please advise.

DTB: "In OLD DIARY LEAVES (ODL) Olcott give a great
deal of evidence concerning H P B's phenomena."


If you read that book you will discover it is Olcott
who recommended the article by Rawson in Frank
Leslie's Popular Monthly.

====================================

DALLAS	I tried to find the reference in ODL
and elsewhere. But could not locate it. Do you have
that so that I may look it up. Thanks.

====================================

That is how I and Johnson and others found it. We
found it because it was recommended by Olcott.
We merely followed Olcott's recommendation.
Follow Olcott's recommendation and
you will find it, too. It is a good article.

====================================

DALLAS	And where is that, please?

====================================

It was Olcott who wrote the story about the pencils
and in the very book you cite. He was unable to tell
how many pencils she was holding up. What does that
tell you? This story substantiates Rawson's claim.
That experience clearly did not have anything to do
with any "astral light." HE WAS STONED. The fumes
were so thick everybody who came into the room was
stoned. These were nineteenth century Bohemians who
probably never visited Bohemia but were citizens in
spirit.

Incidentally, Rawson was a lifelong friend of
Blavatsky who knew her before she became famous and
stuck around to the end, as most others did not.

Nowhere has anyone connected Blavatsky with alcohol.
However, had she been stewed as well as stoned, that
would not have made her any different from most other
people in that part of the world at that period in
time.

Bear in mind what they were doing was perfectly legal
at the time.

Olcott said of himself that he was a drinking man,
that he was partial to mistresses and clubs, etc. A
monk he was not.

Whew!

Steve


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