Theos-Talk Archives (September 2003 Message tt00142)

H.P. Blavatsky and Koot Hoomi on Distinguishing
between the True and the False

EXTRACT A

Madame Blavatsky wrote in THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY:

"Look around you and observe. While two-thirds of
civilized society ridicule the mere notion that there
is anything in Theosophy, Occultism, Spiritualism, or
in the Kabala, the other third is composed of the
most heterogeneous and opposite elements. Some 
believe in the mystical, and even in the supernatural
(!), but each believes in his own way. Others will
rush single-handed into the study of the Kabala,
Psychism, Mesmerism, Spiritualism, or some form 
or another of Mysticism. Result: no two men think
alike, no two are agreed upon any fundamental occult
principles, though many are those who claim for
themselves the ultima thule of knowledge, and would 
make outsiders believe that they are full-blown
adepts. . . . Some limit ancient wisdom to the Kabala
and the Jewish Zohar. . . . Others regard Swedenborg
or Boehme as the ultimate expression of the highest 
wisdom; while others again see in mesmerism the great
secret of ancient magic. One and all of those who put
their theory into practice are rapidly drifting,
through ignorance, into black magic. Happy are those
who escape from it, as they have neither test nor 
criterion by which they can distinguish between the
true and the false. . . . A portion of the true
[Esoteric] sciences is better than a mass of
undigested and misunderstood learning. An ounce of
gold is worth a ton of dust. . . . "

Quoted from:
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-2.htm

EXTRACT B

Mahatma Koot Hoomi in a letter to A.P. Sinnett wrote:

". . . You have heard of and read about a good many
Seers, in the past and present centuries, such as
Swedenborg, Boehme, and others. Not one among the
number but thoroughly honest, sincere, and as 
intelligent, as well educated; aye, even learned. Each
of them in addition to these qualities, has or had . .
. a 'Guardian' and a Revelator -- under whatever
'mystery' and 'mystic name' -- whose 
mission it is -- or has been to spin out to his
spiritual ward -- a new system embracing all the
details of the world of Spirit. Tell me, my friend, do
you know of two that agree? And why, since truth is 
one, and that putting entirely the question of
discrepancies in details aside -- we do not find them
agreeing even upon the most vital problems -- those
that have either 'to be, or not to be' -- and of which
there can be no two solutions? . . . "

". . . Vainly do your modern seers and their
prophetesses, creep into every cleft and crevice
without outlet or continuity they chance to see; and
still more vainly, when once within do they lift up
their voices and loudly cry: 'Eureka! We have gotten a
revelation from the Lord!' --- for verily have they
nothing of the kind. They have disturbed but bats,
less blind their intruders; who, feeling them 
flying about, mistake them as often for angels — as
they too have wings!..." 

Quoted from:
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-48.htm

EXTRACT C

Stainton Moses, a "seer" and medium of the 1880s wrote
to A.P. Sinnett:

". . . my inner spirit-sense is opened. Only yesterday
. . . Imper[ator] . . . was clearly visible and
audible to me. . . . "

To this comment by Stainton Moses [S.M.], Koot Hoomi
wrote:

". . . So is Jesus and John the Baptist [clearly
visible and audible] to Edward Maitland; [who is] as
true and as honest and sincere as S.M. . . . And does
not E. Maitland see Hermes the first and second 
and Elijah, etc. Finally does not Mrs. [Anna]
Kingsford feel as sure as S.M. with regard to +
[Imperator] that she saw and conversed with God!! . .
. And who purer or more truthful than that woman or
Maitland! Mystery, mystery will you exclaim. IGNORANCE
we answer; the creation of that we believe in and want
to see. . . . "

Quoted from:
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-90.htm

Daniel H. Caldwell
BLAVATSKY STUDY CENTER
http://hpb.cc