Theos-Talk Archives (March 2004 Message tt00287)

Mar 15 2004

Re:	AFRICAN OCCULTISM

Dear Friends:

In response to the question of race raised (or implied) here, I would
direct attention to an important article on African Esotericism. Also
if the section of that science is administered by different Adepts,
there is no interference between the work that is conducted elsewhere.

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THE ANCIENT RELIGION IN AFRICA - P. Bowen




`	Theosophy in Ancient Africa

Outside of the records of the ancient Wisdom in Egypt, little is known
of its diffusion in the rest of Africa. Some evidence of the
continent-wide existence of the ancient doctrines and movement can be
had from the following narrative. 

The THEOSOPHIST, Madras, for August 1927 published an article entitled
"The Ancient Wisdom in Africa" written by Patrick Bowen who spent his
childhood and early life there. He is, perhaps, better known for the
SAYINGS OF THE ANCIENT ONE which he published.

Mr. Bowen, seems to have been recognized early in life for some special
qualities by members of those who were among Initiates of the Ancient
Brotherhood of Wisdom living among the Zulu and the descendants of the
old Bantu race of South and South East of Africa.

Concerning some of this experience, Mr. Bowen wrote: "Many years ago,
when I, a boy of ten or twelve years of age, I followed my father's
wagon through the wild Bushlands of the Northern Transvaal...I met and
gained the friendship of many natives--principally Zulus--of the class
known as Isanusi, a term popularly but improperly interpreted as
"Witch-Doctor." 

Why those men, who with Europeans and even with their own people are
always intensely reserved, should have favored me with their confidence
is something I do not, even now, clearly understand...I recall a
conversation with one of their number, by name, Mankanyezi (The Starry
One)...My father had declared his intention of placing me in care of a
Missionary, in order that I might receive some education, and learn
white man's ways. 

I repeated his words to Mankanyezi, who shook his head mournfully on
hearing them and said: "Your teachers are doubtless learned men. But
why do they strive to force their beliefs on us without first learning
what our beliefs are?...To show you how ignorant they are I shall tell
you what we teach the Common Man...We teach that he has a body; that
within that body is a soul; and within the soul is a spark or portion
of something we call Itongo, which the Common Man interprets as the
Universal Spirit of the Tribe...

After Death States

After death the soul (Idhlozi) after hovering for a space near the body
departs to a place called Esilweni (Place of the Beasts). This is a
very different thing...from entering the body of a beast. 

In Esilweni, the soul assumes a shape, part beast and part human. This
is its true shape, for man's nature is very like that of the beast, save
for that spark of something higher...For a period which is long or
short, according to the strength of the animal nature, the soul remains
in Esilweni, but at last it throws aside its beast-like shape and moves
onward to a place of rest. 

There it sleeps till a time comes when it dreams that something to do or
to learn awaits it on earth; then it awakes and returns, through the
Place of Beasts, to earth and is born again as a child. Again and again
does the soul travel...till at last the Man becomes a True man, and his
soul when he dies goes straight to its rest, and thence, after a space,
having ceased to dream of earth, moves on and becomes one with
"That-From-Which-it-Came"--the Itongo.

Universal Spirit--the Root of Universal Brotherhood

Then does the Man know that instead of being himself, apart, he is
truly all the tribe and the tribe is he...But the belief of us, wiser
Ones, is something far wider and greater, though similar...We know that
the Itongo is not the mere Spirit of the Tribe, but is the Spirit within
and above all men--even all things; and at the end, all men being one
in Spirit, all men are brothers in the flesh.


The Great Lodge in Africa

Mr. Bowen, describes a later visit to Mankanyezi when he was on the
point of traveling into central and East Africa. The outcome of his
trip was correctly prophesied, even to unplanned detours he would be
making that were not originally on their program. 

A meeting with one of Mankanyezi's "elder brothers" was foretold. When
he was asked for means of recognition of this "elder brother," he was
told:

"He is as you say, not my brother in the flesh...he is an Elder in the
Family (Society) to which I belong, whose members are the guardians of
the Wisdom-which-comes-from-of-old. 

There are many of us--one at least in every tribe and nation--throughout
this great land. We are of many ranks, from the learner to the Master,
and to those Higher Ones whose names may not be spoken...I am a common
Brother; he of whom I speak is my Elder...I know him because I have
often seen him, though not in the flesh. Often have we spoken together.
Do you think the mind of Man can travel only in the flesh?" 

A year later, the travelers had been forced to make the prophesied
detour and reached in the land of the Masai in East Africa a village
East of Lake Nyassa. There they were greeted by an old man as friends
of his "brother Mankanyezi." It was ascertained that these two had
never actually met physically. Their respective territories were
separated by over a thousand miles over which they had not traveled.


A Secret Community

In the course of his later work in South Africa, Mr. Bowen wrote of
his meeting from time to time in scattered places with others of the
Brotherhood, and even with some high up in its ranks. 

He writes of a secret community in a remote and inaccessible valley...of
an African group quite different physically from those tribes that
surrounded it and with whom they lived in harmony. He said that
physically they resembled the Berbers of North African and Mediterranean
regions, 5,000 miles to the north. They named themselves "Khabyles"
[Kabiri ?]. There was no way of accounting for their living so far from
that area, nor did they offer an explanation. 

This will remind students of Theosophy of the mysterious Todas of the
Nilghery Mountains of South India, of which Mme. Blavatsky wrote
extensively in her book "THE PEOPLE OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS." In a
recent issue of Lookout (THEOSOPHY, Vol. 81, p.24.) was published an
account of another mysterious tribe from the mountains of Columbia in
northern South America, called the Kogi. It seems as though it had a
unique mission in their area of the world.


Thought Telegraph

The chief of this little community, Mandhlalanga (Strength of the Sun),
was at first reserved, but time and familiarity broke this down. One
day, speaking of news of distant events that spread among the natives
suddenly, Mandhlalanga offered to explain to Bowen how this happened:
"Thought is speedier that the electric spark and needs no wires for its
conveyance," he said. "All it requires is a brain to dispatch it and
another to receive it. Would you believe if I told you that I and
others of the Brotherhood to which I belong can transmit our thoughts
one to the other, no matter how far apart our bodies may be?"

To Mr. Bowen's enquiry as to how that was to be explained, Mandhlalanga
stated that it might prove as difficult as explaining calculus to one
ignorant of simple addition. He then offered to teach Bowen, but made
no guarantees that he might learn. This education continued for about a
year until circumstances forced Bowen to work elsewhere. Thereafter his
contact with his teacher Mandhlalanga was occasionally continued through
the intermediary of others of the Brotherhood. Copious notes of the
teachings were kept by him and this could well form the subject of
another issue in this magazine.

Mr. Bowen offers extracts made from his notes. "Mandhlalanga," I may
explain, "is a Master, or Teacher in the Brotherhood mentioned by
Mankanyezi. He has traveled in Europe, Asia and America. He speaks
English and other European languages perfectly, but his talks with me
were conducted in the secret Bantu tongue...the continued existence of
which few Europeans are aware of." Mandhlalanga deals as follows with:



The Riddle of Existence

"The Itongo (Universal Spirit) is ALL that was, is, or ever shall be,
conceivable or inconceivable. The Itongo is ALL things, all things are
of IT; but the sum of all things is not the Itongo. [Similarly for all
power, all wisdom, all substance.] IT is in them and manifest through
them, but IT is also above them and beyond them, eternally unmanifest.

Man who is of the Itongo can never know the Itongo while he is Man.
All he can know of IT are certain manifestations which come within the
range of his perception.

Manifestation

The pupil is generally taught that the manifestations are three in
number. Namely:

1.	Universal Mind,
2.	Universal Force,
3.	Universal Substance or Matter.

But really there are but two manifestations, Mind and Matter. What we
call Force is not a separate manifestation. It is simply certain of the
lowest, or grossest grades of Mind. 

Force is simply that portion of Mind which endows Matter with Form. It
is that portion of Mind which transmits the idea of Form to the higher
grades where Consciousness dwells. Let the Pupil think and he must see
that this is so. 

Vibration

Color, size, shape, what are they? Simply light vibrations which when
passed on to the Consciousness give the idea of Form. And what is
vibration? It is Force. Heat, cold, hardness, softness, varieties of
taste and smell are all vibrations, and therefore also Force. If you
make Force a separate manifestation, then also must you make those
planes of Mind which transfer ideas of passion or emotion separate
manifestations.

In the Beginning...

In the beginning of a Cosmic Cycle, the Itongo first manifested in all
the many grades of mind, downward into all the grades of Matter. But at
first both Mind and Matter were unindividualized. When, how, or why,
only the Itongo can know. 

Individuality

Individuality began in the highest planes of Mind--those planes which
touch on pure Spirit. Understanding of what occurred is best gained by
the following conception. 

Think of the Cosmos, just before Individuality began, as a vast,
amorphous ocean of Mind and Matter, its surface ripples; and upper
reaches, those planes of Mind which touch on Spirit, growing denser and
denser, downwards till Matter in Etheric form, is reached; downward
till Ether becomes Gas, which may be likened to the mineral-charged
lower strata of the ocean; downward till gases become liquids (muddy
water); finally into solids (thick mud).

The beginning of Individuality in this Cosmic Ocean may be likened to
the starting of myriads of tiny "whirlpools" among the ripples of the
surface (the Spiritualized Mind). These "whirlpools" under the force of
a growing flood-tide, extended deeper and deeper, till at last all
strata were involved in the swirl.

Thus we have Individuality set up, extending from Spiritual Mind to the
Physical Plane. The "whirlpool" on the surface represents the birth of
the Soul. Its extension to the muddy depths represents the Soul's
descent into matter. 

In matter the Soul has reached the aphelion of its cycle, and now it
begins its long, slow return journey. By the process of evolution it
climbs slowly upward, from mineral to plant, from plant to animal, from
animal to man; through all grades and states of human development,
shaking off, slowly and painfully as it climbs, the gross accretions
gathered during its descent; up through the lower mind to the higher,
it climbs, till at last, its cycle complete, it merges with its source,
the Itongo, and ceases to be Individual, being one with the ALL.

Man and his Destiny

Man is an individual having in him, as has everything on the physical
plane, all the attributes of the Cosmic Ocean of which he is an
individualized portion. He has reached on his upward journey the stage
of personal consciousness. I speak of Man in general. There are
undeveloped men, whose personal consciousness is but rudimentary as
there are others who have transcended personality and know their real
Selves--that immortal portion first individualized from the lofty planes
of the Spiritual Mind.

Man is on a journey, the goal of which is union with the source of his
being--the Itongo. 

To reach that goal he must first pass through all experience the Cosmos
affords, and must shake off all accretions accumulated on his descent
from individualizes Spiritual Mind into grossest Matter. To do this, he
is born again, for his physical body dies, as do his power mental
principles; only his higher mental principles which are akin with the
Itongo survive from age to age, retaining throughout the Cosmic Cycle
the individuality bestowed upon them at its opening. 

These are the Principles of Man

1.	The Physical Body (Umzimba).

2.	The Etheric [Astral] Body (Isitunzi)...etheric
counterpart of the physical body, and not really a separate principle,
normally. But in certain abnormal states it is partially
separable from the physical body. It is the medium through which the
Lower Mind (or Force) functions. 

3.	Lower Mind (Amandhla)...That portion of the Mind which
shows little Life-force and other forms of what we call Energy.

4.	The Animal Mind (Utiwesilo)...The planes of Mind which
manifest as passion, emotions and instincts.

5.	Human Mind (Utiwomuntu)...The planes of Mind which
manifest as human consciousness, intellect, higher emotions, etc... 

6.	Spiritual Mind (Utiwetongo)...The higher planes
manifesting Spiritual Consciousness.

7.	ITONGO...The Ray, or spark of Universal Spirit which
informs all lower manifestations.


The Brotherhood

We call our Brotherhood...using the ancient Bantu speech which is the
mother-tongue of the most wide- spread group of languages in the
Continent [of Africa]. It may be rendered in English as The Brotherhood
of the Higher Ones of Egypt.

The Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in the reign of the Pharaoh
Cheops; its founder being a Priest of Isis. It has as its objects the
spreading of the Wisdom-which-comes-from-of-Old among all races and
tribes in Africa, and the study and practice by its members of what we
call...that Science which depends on the power of Thought. it is the
only true Science there is.

These are the grades of the brotherhood and some of the powers and
functions they exercise.

1.	The Pupil...is one under probation which lasts from one
to three years. During this time he is under instruction by a
Master and subjects himself to certain disciplines. If found worthy he
enters the brotherhood as a Disciple, at the end of his period of
probation. if unworthy he is dismissed back to the world.

2.	The Disciple...is an avowed member of the Brotherhood
and subject to its disciplines. Under instruction he develops certain
powers..."Mesmerism," is usually one of the earliest to 
develop.

3.	The Brother...A full member of the Order with many
developed powers, of which I may mention, only, power of communication
by thought with those of equal or higher development...what 
European Occultists term Astral Consciousness.

4.	The Elder... an advanced Brother.

5.	The Master...The Teacher of all lower grades...has many
developed powers...

6.	Those who Know (Isangoma)...Of these it is not permitted
to speak save to say that they have attained Consciousness on the plane
of the Real Self.

Besides the above, we have lay Disciples and lay Brothers. They are
men who are prevented by circumstances from becoming vowed to the
Brotherhood. They are subject only to self-imposed disciplines and
receive but such teaching as can be given from afar. We have many lay
Disciples, not merely in Africa but in Asia, Europe and America. 

Lay Brothers, however, are but few, for without direct instruction from
a Master few can reach this grade without incurring grave dangers. We
constantly warn all unavowed Disciples against the danger of attempting
to attain a brother's powers, unaided by the direct instruction of a
Master.

Perfected Men

Let it not be though that our Isangoma, elevated though they be,
represent the supreme development possible to Man on the Physical Plane.
It is not so. There are others, not of any Brotherhood, save the
brotherhood of All. We call them...(that is Supreme Ones, or Perfect
Men). These are men for whom the necessity for rebirth has ceased.
They dwell on earth in physical form by their own will, and can retain
or relinquish that form as they choose. I speak of them but to assure
the Pupil of their existence. Few below the grade of Master, have ever
seen one in the flesh, though all, from Disciple upward may meet them in
the Spirit.

The Source of Power

"Of the source of power we wield," continues Mandhlalanga, "the Pupil
can learn but little until he attains Discipleship. But let him ponder
this much. 

I have likened Individuality to whirlpools in the Cosmic Ocean. But all
that Ocean has not been cast into individuality. Between the
"whirlpools," myriad though they be, stretch wide, smooth spaces,
identical with them in comparison. Now it can well be conceived that a
"whirlpool" by setting up minor vibrations within itself may send out
ripples through the smooth spaces which will strike upon and affect in
some degree other "whirlpools." 

All the "whirlpools" are constantly doing this. 

Now suppose a "whirlpool" to have gained power to control its internal
vibrations and to send them pulsating through the Ocean towards whatever
objective it desires, can you not see that it may produce upon that
objective whatever effect it desires ? 

Now think of the "whirlpool" as being a Man. Is it not clear that by
getting full control of the vibrations of his higher planes, he may
dispatch though the Cosmic Ocean of which he is a part, ripples of
various kinds and intensities, which, according to their nature and
strength, will produce effects on all strata, from the highest, which is
of course the most sensitive, even down to the "slime" and "mud" of the
depths. I give you this as food for thought, and bid you digest it
well. 

-- Patrick Bowen.


SOURCE:	THEOSOPHIST, Madras, India, August 1927
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-----------------------------------

Best wishes

Dallas

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Morten Nymann Olesen [mailto:global-theosophy@adslhome.dk] 
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 2:27 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re [racism and blanket prejudices]. ....

Hallo all,

My views are:

Would you draw the similar conclusion - based on the fact that she
didn't
also take an african native into the inner circle ???
I think your below answer isn't quite valid.

But I agree, that the footnote (*) remark by HPB in The Secret Doctrine
vol
2., page 471 --- still continues to baffle me !

As I said in a earlier email, --- at the time of writing The Secret
Doctrine
1886-8 (and other books and articles for that matter) it was common
practise
in the english parliment to consider the native africans and other
non-Europeans as non-intelligent and ignorant and of a lower nature. 

And when you make a book to a certain audience in such a society, which 
should have a clean impact, you would have had to take that into
consideration, wouldn't you ?

The writings and statements made by HPB belong to another time in the
human
evolution than the one we presentlyu are dealing with.
Do you not agree ?

from
M. Sufilight with peace and love...

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "stevestubbs" <stevestubbs@yahoo.com>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 8:38 PM
Subject: Theos-World RE: Re: "Well, hell most Jews are now atheists and
homosexuals. ....


> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Morten Nymann Olesen" <global-
> theosophy@a...> wrote:
> > If HPB would had taken a Zionist Jew in to her inner circle, she
> would have
> > commited the militant racist fault, by supporting such a dangerous
> scheme.
> > She has stated, that there is no room in TS to the un-teachable
> fanatic
> > bigots, or something like that.
>
> That statement only makes sense if one assumes that all Jews are "un-
> teachable fanatic bigots, or something like that." My point was that
> if she had allowed Jews into her inner circle that would have
> completely annulled any evidence that she was antiSemitic which one
> could find in her writings and which certain other individuals have
> repeatedly posted to this list. She did not do so. Given that her
> whole system starts with a kabbalistic framework (her seven
> principles are clearly the sepiroth of construction as she admits
> herself) that seems odd to this observer. It is also suggestive that
> the only living kabbalistic commentators she quoted were gentiles
> such as MacGregor Mathers.
>
> One also wonders, with Blavatsky as with Bailey, why a specifically
> European prejudice would have been represented as so important to
> monks sequestered in the mountains of Tibet? This is much less
> important in Blavatsky's work than with Bailey, since Blavatsky did
> not claim everything she wrote was channeled from Tibet. Ir is
> treasonable to assert that just because she said something one cannot
> automatically assume a mahatma ordered it said.
>
> > Also: The racist often points their fingers at others claiming them
> to be
> > racists.
> > (Not that you are one Steve.)
>
> I am currently pointing all ten fingers, but will not say at whom.