Theos-Talk Archives (April 2003 Message tt00174)

Part II H P B and the MASTERS

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WHERE ARE THE MASTERS?


Q.:--	"What then are the Adepts doing?

A.:-- (a) Assisting all good movements by acting on men from
behind the scenes through mental influence.
(b) Preparing as many men and women who are fit for it
so that they may, in their next incarnation, appear in the world
as active devotees to the good of the Human Family.
(c) Spreading now, through impulses given in many
places which must not be mentioned, a philosophy of life which
will gradually affect the race mind, and in particular the
active, conquering Western peoples, thus preparing the whole
people to change and evolve yet further and further until evils
disappear and better days and people reappear."
WQJ ARTICLES II 53-4


"...if it were possible to alter the state of things and to make
a peaceful earth and a right humanity without following the law
of evolution, they would willingly do it, but mankind can only be
altered step by step. [The Masters] have also stated that they
do not make themselves objectively known to believers in them
except in those cases where those believers are ready in all
parts of their nature, are definitely pledged to them, with the
full understanding of the meaning of the pledge. But they have
also stated that they help all earnest seekers after truth, and
that it is not necessary for those seekers to know from where the
help comes so long as it is received...The Masters do help
powerfully, though unseen, all those who earnestly work and
sincerely trust in their higher nature, while they follow the
voice of conscience without doubt or cavil."	FORUM ANSWERS
75-76



"...the great Adepts live in the plane of our inner nature, it
must follow that they might be actively helping every one of us
after the date referred to, and we, as physical brain men, not be
conscious of it on this plane."	LETTERS , p. 115


"...between adept and chela--Master and Pupil--there gradually
forms a closer tie; for the psychic interchange is regulated
scientifically...as the water in a full tank runs into an empty
one which it is connected with; and as the common level will be
sooner or later reached according to the capacity of the
feed-pipe, so does the knowledge of the adept flow to the chela;
and the chela attains the adept-level according to his receptive
capacities. At the same time the chela, being an individual, a
separate evolution, unconsciously imparts to the Master the
quality of his accumulated mentality. [ we ] always ascertain
independently and for ourselves whether the ideas so reflected in
us are right or wrong."
LETTERS from the Masters of Wisdom, (I), p. 82-3


"...the Master-Soul is one"...[Thou art THAT.] VOICE , p. 54


"...the light of the ONE MASTER, the one unfading golden light of
Spirit, shoots its effulgent beams on the Disciple from the very
first. Its rays thread through the thick dark clouds of
matter..."	VOICE p. 19


" ...the best and most important teacher is one's seventh
principle [Atma] centred in the sixth [Buddhi]." LETTERS p. 96


"The Masters are not Eastern nor Western, but universal."
LETTERS p. 109


"And whoever therefore wants to see the real MAHATMA, must use
his intellectual sight. He must so elevate his Manas that its
perception will be clear...His vision will then be bright and he
will see the MAHATMAS wherever he may be, for, being merged into
the sixth and seventh principles, which are ubiquitous and
omnipresent, the MAHATMAS may be said to be everywhere." HPB
ART I 294


"Just now the best and biggest work by us poor children is on
this plane with the great aid of Master, Whose simple single will
keeps the whole organization [in being], and acts as its support
and shield." LETTERS p. 87


"...the image of the Master is the best protection against lower
influences; think of the Master as a living man within you."
LETTERS p. 164


"The whole sweep, meaning, and possibility of evolution are
contained in the word Mahatma...those great souls who have
triumphed before us...but just because they are of the human
race." WQJ ART II 39


"A Mahatma is not only an Adept, but much more...This does not
mean a noble-hearted man merely, but a perfected being, one who
has attained to the state...when time and space are no obstacles
to sight, to action, to knowledge or to consciousness...to
possess information of a decidedly practical character concerning
the laws of nature, including that mystery for science --the
meaning, operation and constitution of life itself..."	ECHOES p.
23


"...more help could be given to the movement in America because
the fact of their existence was not concealed from motives of
either fear or doubt...Occult help from Masters requires a
channel just as much as any other help does...the persons to be
acted on must take part in making the channel or line for the
force to act, for if we will not have it they cannot give it.
Now as we are dealing with the mind and nature of man, we have to
throw out the words which will arouse the ideas connected with
the forces we desire to have employed. In this case the words
are those which bring up the doctrine of the existence of Adepts,
Mahatmas, Masters of wisdom. Hence the value of the declaration
of our beliefs."	WQJ ART II 41


"...remember what was long ago said--that the Master would manage
results. You must not manage, precipitate, nor force...As chelas
and students conceal rather than give out your inner psychic
life, for by telling of it your proper progress is hindered...By
gentleness, detachment, strict attention to duty, and retiring
now and then to the quiet place, bring up good currents and keep
back all evil ones...A steady mind and heart stands still and
quiet until the muddy stream rolls clear."	WQJ LETTERS p. 84


"The Occult Science is not one in which secrets can be
communicated of a sudden...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...Fasting, meditation, chastity of thought word and deed;
silence for certain periods 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..."
M L p. 282-3

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THE INNER MASTER -- SELF-DEVELOPMENT


"Every form on earth and every speck (atom) in Space strives in
its efforts towards self-formation to follow the model placed for
it in the "Heavenly Man"...Its [atom's] involution and evolution,
its external and internal growth and development, have all one
and the same object--man; man is the highest physical and
ultimate form on this earth; the MONAD in the absolute totality
and awakened condition--as the culmination of the divine
incarnations on Earth."
S D I 183


"This 'Conscious Entity' Occultism says, comes from, nay, in many
cases is, the very entire essence and esse of the high
Intelligences condemned, by the undeviating law of Karmic
evolution, to reincarnate in the manvantara." S D II 248


"Rudimentary man...becomes the perfect man...when, with the
development of "Spiritual fire,"...he acquires from his inner
Self, or Instructor, the Wisdom of Self-Consciousness, which he
does not possess in the beginning." S D II 113


"The pivotal doctrine of the Esoteric philosophy admits of no
privileges or special gifts in man, save those won by his own Ego
through personal effort and merit throughout a long series of
metempsychoses and reincarnations."	S D I 17


"...our own work, in and on ourselves, each one...has for its
object the enlightenment of oneself for the good of others...so
as to make of each a centre from which...may flow out the
potentialities for good that from the adept come in large and
affluent streams...As we use the moment, so we shift the future
up or down for good or ill; the future being only a word for the
present, not yet come, we have to see to the present more than
all...The race is in a transition state...the only way we can
alter it is by such action now as makes of each one a centre for
good, a force that makes "for righteousness," and that is guided
by wisdom...we each one have a greater fight to wage the moment
we force our inner nature up beyond the dead level of the
world..."	LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME, p. 71


"Self-Consciousness belongs alone to man and proceeds from the
SELF, the Higher MANAS...whereas the psychic element (or
Kama-Manas) is common to both animal and human being...no
physiologist...will ever be able to solve the mystery of the
human mind, in its highest spiritual manifestations, or in its
dual aspect of the psychic and the noetic (or the
manasic)...unless he knows something of, and is prepared to admit
this dual element...to admit a lower (animal), and a higher (or
divine) mind in man...the "personal" and the "impersonal" Egos."
HPB ARTICLES, II 9-10


"...conscious communication with one's Master can only be
accomplished after long training and study. What a student has
to do is to fit himself to receive this training."
LETTERS 111


"...he who enters the secret Path finds his peace and pleasure in
endless work for ages for Humanity...with his added sight and
knowledge, he must always be seeing the self-inflicted miseries
of men...the wider sweep and power of soul make what we call
sacrifice and woe seem something different."	LETTERS 116


"It is not high learning that is needed, but solely devotion to
humanity, faith in Masters, in the Higher Self."	LETTERS 97


"...the door is always opened to the right man who knocks. And
we invariably welcome the newcomer;--only instead of going over
to him he has to come to us. More than that: unless he has
reached that point in the path of occultism from which return is
impossible, by his having irrevocably pledged himself to our
association, we never--except in cases of utmost moment--visit
him or even cross the threshold of his door in visible
appearance."
M L 8-9


"...whenever and whatever is possible will always be done for you
unurged; hence never to either ask for, or suggest it,
yourself-- (avoid my having to refuse a friend) ...to teach
(others in Britain)...through your kind agency...I have never
undertaken to convince them of the extent of our powers or even
of our personal existence."	M L 337


"Every human being contains within himself vast potentialities,
and it is the duty of adepts to surround the would-be chela with
circumstances which shall enable him to take the "right-hand
path," if he have the ability in him...until he has passed that
period [of probation] we leave him to fight out his battles as
best he may; and have to do so occasionally with higher and
initiated chelas such as H.P.B., once that they are allowed to
work in the world, that all of us more or less avoid...We were
all so tested; and while Moorad Ali--failed--I, succeeded. The
victor's crown is only for him who proves himself worthy to wear
it; for him who attacks Mara single handed and conquers the
demon of lust and earthly passions; and not we but he himself
puts it on his brow...there is no such other difficult struggle.
If it were not so, adeptship would be but a cheap acquirement."	M
L 318


"...let him rid himself of the Maya that any man living can set
up "claims" upon Adepts. He may create irresistible attractions
and compel their attention, but they will be spiritual, not
mental or intellectual...nothing draws us to any outsider save
his evolving spirituality... The supreme energy resides in the
Buddhi, latent--when wedded to Atman alone, active and
irresistible when galvanized by the essence of "Manas" and when
none of the dross of the latter commingles with that pure essence
to weigh it down by its finite nature...When the ancient founders
of your philosophical schools came East, to acquire the lore of
our predecessors, they filed no claims, except the single one of
a sincere and unselfish hunger for truth."	M L 341-2


"Masters never cease working, but they cease at times from such
public efforts as were made at the establishment of the T.S.
Before that they were working with individuals" [ WQJ quoted by
RC, FP 388 ] ...In this work, natures are intensified, good and
bad come to the surface. The "cleaning-up" process is gradual
and each must do his own work of elimination when such work is
seen to be needed. The barriers to help from Masters are in
ourselves and nowhere else."	F P 399


"At times they come to nations as great teachers and "saviours,"
who only repromulgate the old truths and systems of ethics. This
therefore holds that humanity is capable of infinite perfection
both in time and quality, the saviours and adepts being held up
as examples of that possibility."

"From this living and presently acting body of perfected men
H.P.Blavatsky declared she received the impulse to once more
bring forward the old ideas, and from them also received several
keys to ancient and modern doctrines. Added...to the testimony
through all time found in the records of all nations we have this
modern explicit assertion that the ancient learned and
humanitarian body of adepts still exists on this earth and takes
an interest in the development of the race." WQJ ARTICLES I pp.
1-2


"Under the protection and assistance and guidance of this Society
of Adepts are the disciples of each one of its members. These
disciples are divided into different degrees, corresponding to
the various stages of development; the least developed disciples
are assisted by those who are in advance of them, and the latter
in a similar manner by others, until the grade of disciple is
reached where direct intercourse with the Adepts is possible. At
the same time, each Adept keeps a supervisory eye upon all his
disciples. Through the agency of the disciples of Adepts many
effects are brought about in human thought and affairs, for from
the higher grades are often sent those who, without disclosing
their connection with mysticism, influence individuals who are
known to be main factors in events about to occur."	ECHOES 29


"...the disciple of the Adept knows that...he is supposed to
concentrate into a few lives the experience and practice which it
takes ordinary men countless incarnations to acquire....he leaves
behind the hope for reward so common in all undertakings.
Nothing is gained by favor, but all depends upon his actual
merit. As the end to be reached is self-dependence with perfect
calmness and clearness, he is from the beginning made to stand
alone...solely in his own company. But this produces no
selfishness, because, being accompanied by constant meditation
upon the unseen, the knowledge is acquired that the loneliness
felt is only in respect to the personality."	ECHOES 32-33


"But, hiding themselves under an exterior which does not attract
attention, there are many of the real disciples in the world.
They are studying themselves and other human hearts. They have
no diplomas, but there resides in them a consciousness of
constant help and a clear knowledge of the true Lodge which meets
in real secrecy and is never found mentioned in any directory.
Their whole life is a persistent pursuit of the fast-moving soul
which, although appearing to stand still, can distance the
lightning; and their death is only another step forward to
greater knowledge through better physical bodies in new lives."
ECHOES 33


"The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make
porous the lower nature that the spiritual nature may shine
through it and become the guide and the ruler...it is the real
man, who is the HIGHER SELF--being the spark of the
Divine--overshadows the visible being, which has the possibility
of becoming united to that spark. Thus it is said that the
higher Spirit is not in the man, but above him...The object of
the student is to let the light of that spirit shine through the
lower covering...all selfishness must be eliminated from the
lower nature before its divine state can be reached...When
systematically trained in accordance with the aforesaid system
and law, men attain to clear insight into the immaterial,
spiritual world, and their interior faculties apprehend truth as
immediately and readily as physical faculties grasp the things of
sense, or mental faculties those of reason..."They are able to
look directly upon ideas."
EPITOME 13-14


"...the members of our Great Lodge have full information unknown
to those outside the Lodge, of the "conscious efforts to obtain
knowledge of principles and laws" on the part of good men and
women, and in this search that help is frequently extended but is
not seen or recognized, although it is felt and has its results."
FORUM ANSWERS 50


"...since the MAHATMA is but an advanced occultist, who has so
far controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less in
complete subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of
things impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish
manner. No sooner does he allow his "personal self" to assert
itself, than he ceases to be a MAHATMA...The law of Cosmic
evolution is ever operating to achieve its purpose of ultimate
unity and to carry the phenomenal into the noumenal plane, and
the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it, are assisting that
purpose...they alone have got to the basic knowledge which can
determine the right course and exercise proper discrimination.
And for us...it will be evident that, as soon as the least
feeling of selfishness tries to assert itself, the vision of the
spiritual sense, which is the only perception of the MAHATMA,
becomes clouded and he looses the "power" which abstract
"knowledge" alone can confer. Hence the vigilant watch of the
"will" we have constantly to exercise to prevent our lower nature
from coming up to the surface..."
THEOS. MVT. Vol. X, p. 138-9


"A perfect man is not made to order but is a product of
evolution. Wisdom is not a matter of book-learning but of
growth. General rules for conduct can be given, but to apply
them
properly, the power of discrimination is necessary...A virtue,
practiced without moderation, becomes a crime. To know how to
find the point of equilibrium is the great secret of the Adept,
that cannot be told but must be learned by experience, when
sagacity and goodness will be united in wisdom."	HPB --
THEOSOPHIST 1885, THEOSOPHY, Vol. 47, pp. 441-2


"The whole individuality is centred in the three middle
Principles or third (MANAS), and fifth (ASTRAL BODY) principles.
During earthly life it is all in the fourth (KAMA-MANAS), the
center of energy, volition--will...the individuality
survives...to run its seven-fold and upward course [ it ] has to
assimilate to itself the eternal-life power residing but in the
seventh (ATMA), and then blend the three (4th, 5th & 7th) into
one--the 6th (BUDDHI). Those who succeed in doing so become
Buddhas, Dhyan Chohans, etc... The chief object of our struggle
and
initiations is to achieve this union while yet on this earth."	M
L 77-8


"Happy the man physically pure, for his external soul (astral
body, the image of the body) is pure, it will strengthen the
second (the lower Manas), or the soul which is termed by him the
higher mortal soul, which, though liable to err from its own
motives, will always side with the reason against the animal
proclivities of the body. In other words, the ray of our Higher
Ego, the lower Manas, has its higher light, the reason or
rational powers of the Nous, to help it in the struggle with
Kamic desires."	HPB ART I 27-8


"Force any one of the "Masters" you may happen to choose; do
good works in his name and for the love of mankind; be pure and
resolute in the path of righteousness (as laid out in our rules);
be honest and unselfish; forget your self but to remember the
good of other people--and you will have forced that "Master" to
accept you."	L M W (I) p. 33



THEOSOPHICAL OBJECTIVES


"...the chief object of the T S is not so much to gratify
individual aspirations as to serve our fellow men...in our view
the highest aspirations for the welfare of humanity become
tainted with selfishness if, in the mind of the philanthropist
there lurks the shadow of desire for self benefit or a tendency
to do injustice, even when these exist unconsciously to himself."
M L 7-8

"...we are not working for some definite organization of the new
years to come, but for a change in the Manas and Buddhi of the
Race...Masters could give now all the light and knowledge needed,
but there is too much darkness that would swallow up the light,
except for a few bright souls, and then a greater darkness would
come on."	LETTERS p. 72


"At present the main fundamental object of the Society is to sow
germs in the hearts of men, which may in time sprout, and under
more propitious circumstances lead to a healthy reform,
conductive of more happiness to the masses than they have
hitherto enjoyed." -- HPB	KEY 257

"It is the rich who have to be regenerated, if we would do good
to the poor...Work, therefore, to bring about the moral
regeneration of the cultured classes before you attempt to do the
same for ignorant younger brethren..."	HPB ART I 103-5


"[ The T S has as its mission ] to furnish to the West that which
it can never get from the East; to push forward and raise high
on the circular path of evolution now rolling West, the light
that lighteth every man who cometh into the world--the light of
the true Self, who is the one true Master for every human being;
all other Masters are but servants of that true One; in it all
real Lodges have their union." LETTERS p. 75


"As a change in thought of a people who have been tending to
gross atheism is one always desired by the Sages of the Wisdom
Religion, it may be supposed that the wave of spiritualistic
phenomena resulting now quite clearly in a tendency back to a
universal acknowledgment of the soul, has been aided by the
Nirmanakayas. They are in it and of it; they push on the
progress of a psychic deluge over great masses of people. The
result is seen in the literature, the religion and the drama of
today. Slowly but surely the tide creeps up and covers the once
dry shore of Materialism..."	ECHOES 28


"Essentials are the only things on which true occultism and
Theosophy require an agreement..."
LETTERS 70


"There must be an adherence to the program of the Masters. That
can only be ascertained by consulting her [HPB] and the letters
given out by her as from Those to whom she refers. There is not
much doubt about that program."..."This is the moment to guide
the recurrent impulse which must soon come and which will push
the age toward extreme atheism or drag it back to extreme
sacerdotalism, if it is not led to the primitive, soul-satisfying
philosophy of the Aryans."..."We must follow this program and
supply the world with a system of philosophy which gives a sure
and logical basis for ethics, and that can only be gotten from
those to which I adverted." ..."By our unity the smallest effort
made by us will have ten-fold the power of any obstacle before us
or any opposition offered by the world."..."Our destiny is to
continue the wide work of the past in affecting literature and
thought throughout the world, while our ranks see many changing
quantities but always holding those who remain true to the
program, and refuse to become dogmatic or give up common sense in
Theosophy. Thus we will wait for the new messenger, striving to
keep the organization alive that he may use it." WQJ - THE FUTURE
AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY - quoted by RC, FP p. 153 --
[WQJ ART II p. 145-6]


"The theory is widely known among the members of the Society that
at the close of each century a spiritual movement is made in the
world by the Mahatmas, which begins with the last 25 years of the
century and does not in that form begin after the close of 25
years until the last quarter of the following period...The
Masters are governed by the law of action and reaction and are
wise enough always not to do that which might result in undoing
all their prior work. The law of reaction applies as much to the
mind of man as to physical things and forces. ... In the West,
following the historical cycles, a great and definite effort is
made among the people--for instance, as the Theosophical
Society--so as to aid the psychical and spiritual development in
man..."


"At the end of the 25 years the Masters will not send out in such
wide and sweeping volume the force they send during the 25 years.
But that does not mean they will withdraw. They will leave the
ideas to germinate in the minds of people at large, but never
will they take away from those who deserve it the help that is
due and given to all... During all the centuries there have been
many persons who have had direct and valuable help from Masters,
and to suppose that at the end of our first 25 years all of that
will be finished is an absurdity in itself."
WQJ ART II 76-7


"A band of students of the Esoteric Doctrines, who would reap any
profit spiritually must be in perfect harmony and unity of
thought. Each one individually and collectively has to be
utterly unselfish, kind and full of good-will towards each other
at least--leaving humanity out of the question; there must be no
party spirit among the band, no backbiting, no ill-will, or envy
or jealousy, contempt or anger."
L M W (I) p. 16-7

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