A few further observations on what Bharati wrote
Jan 28, 2002 12:58 PM
by danielhcaldwell
Bharati wrote:
"The Master Letters signed 'K' are quite clearly Blavatsky's own
invention; no Indian or Tibetan recluse talks or writes like the
European feuilleton writer of the early 20th century."
Comments:
(1) I have no idea why Bharati writes of the "Master Letters" being
signed by "K". Most all of the letters in THE MAHATMA LETTERS, which
were first published as a collection in 1923, are actually
signed "K.H." Bharati could have simply paged thru that volume and
discovered that piece of information. He also could have actually
used the correct title: THE MAHATMA LETTERS.
(2) Why does Bharati insist on characterizing K.H. as an "Indian or
Tibetan recluse"? What is Bharati trying to imply with his use of
the term "recluse"?
When Koot Hoomi was FIRST MENTIONED TO THE PUBLIC in THE OCCULT WORLD
(first edition published June 1881), Sinnett wrote:
". . . . I found one evening on my writing-table the first letter
sent me by my new correspondent. I may here explain, what I learned
afterwards, that he was a native of the Punjab who was attracted to
occult studies from his earliest boyhood. HE WAS SENT TO EUROPE while
still a youth at the intervention of a relative - himself an
occultist - TO BE EDUCATED IN WESTERN KNOWLEDGE, and since then has
been fully initiated in the greater knowledge of the East." Caps
added.
This doesn't sound like a "recluse" to me. I've never been to Europe
so I guess I'm even more of a recluse!! :)
(3)Bharati continues:
"In a passage, 'K' (for Koot Hoomi) criticizes a writer for saying
that 'the sacred man wants the gods to be properly worshipped, a
healthy life lived, and women loved.' 'K' comments 'the sacred man
wants no such thing, unless he is a Frenchman.' The inane stupidity
that must have gone into the early converts actually believing that
an Indian or Tibetan guru would use these European stereogibes is
puzzling."
Comments:
(3) I wonder how many readers on this forum will recognize
this "passage" from "K".
Notice that Bharati doesn't give a reference or citation to where he
is quoting from. One might assume the quote is from THE MAHATMA
LETTERS or Vol I or Vol II of THE LETTERS FROM THE MASTERS OF WISDOM.
In fact, the average reader of Bharati's article might have a hard
time finding the source of the quote. The quote is actually found in
THE PARADOXES OF THE HIGHEST SCIENCE by Eliphas Levi. This volume
was first published in 1883 and a second edition was published in
1922.
Bharati doesn't quote accurately either the writer [Eliphas Levi]
or "K" [Koot Hoomi].
Eliphas Levi, the French occultist, actually wrote:
"Magic ought to *will* whatever the Mage *wants*."
"He wants the beauty of nature, which he enjoys in its fullness,
because he never abuses it. He wants the springs to come flower
laden, the roses to bloom in their beauty, the children to be happy
and the women beloved."
At this point in a footnote, one finds:
"I beg to demur to this latter. 'Le Mage' wants nothing of the kind -
unless, indeed, he be a Frenchman. - E.O."
E.O. stands for "eminent occultist" as described by A.O. Hume in the
Preface to this work. There is evidence that all footnotes
signed "E.O." in this book are by Koot Hoomi.
As can be seen above, Bharati, for reasons best known to him, has
misquoted [multilated?] the text of both Levi and E.O.
Each reader will have to judge whether Bharati's assessment
about "European stereogibes" can be appropriately applied to what
E.O. wrote.
Daniel H. Caldwell
BLAVATSKY ARCHIVES
http:hpb.cc
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