Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00118)

This is a very interesting commentary by HPB concerning the Cup and Saucer 
controversy... But, I fail to see how it explains the phenomena -- either (1) as 
a clairvoyant finding of a lost item, (2) a disassembly, transference through 
matter, and subsequent reassembly, or (3) as an original creative 
manifestation out of the objects constituent elements, starting from scratch. (Not to 
mention the possibility of a hypnotic or psychologically induced illusion.)  

Since all the above mentioned possibilities can be considered as legitimate 
psychic phenomena requiring adept mental control of the higher fields of 
energy-matter, or alternatively, a clear inner vision of the holographic information 
contained in the vibrations of the Astral Light -- HPB's entire discourse, 
while essentially beating about the bush as to the actual nature of the 
particular phenomena referred to, appears to be apparently honest and truthful...  

Incidentally, this monolog is a clear example of how the occult instructions 
to disciples to "tell the truth so as to imply a lie" might be used... That 
lie being the idea in the mind of some observers, or second hand readers of 
their observations and presumptions, that the phenomena in question may be of a 
different type than it actually was, and reporting it as such -- without 
affirmation or denial by HPB (who is the only one to know how it actually was done). 
 

Thus, this and all the other quotes by HPB, the Masters, or the observers, 
does not help retract my "doubts" that this particular phenomena was an actual 
teleportation requiring disassembly of the objects physical structure and 
transporting it through solid Earth and living organic roots to be reassembled 
where and as found -- as originally suggested. This, of course, doesn't deny the 
possibility of such phenomena with respect to simple monatomic matter -- asmy 
doubts are strictly limited to the present case of a functional object 
composed of glazed porcelain with a possible pigmented surface design, and the 
ground it supposedly passed through composed of more or less complex molecular 
matter of both an organic and inorganic nature... All of which are subject to 
different laws of occult nature, that may make such a process impossible (without 
negating the possibility of the other alternative methods).  

I hope this lays to rest this constant bombardment of quotes that appears to 
be, besides a confirmation of the compiler's beliefs or opinions based on a 
literal acceptance, a more or less futile attempt to denigrate my own 
theosophical or occult knowledge and judgment -- which may or may not be correct. But, 
that's for each of us to find out for ourselves -- without reliance on the 
statements or opinions of others (no matter who they are or claim to be). 

LHM  


In a message dated 07/01/04 11:27:37 AM, danielhcaldwell@yahoo.com writes:

In the following extract, H.P. Blavatsky writes about 

the cup & saucer phenomenon, her other experiments in 

occult phenomena & their relationship to Theosophy:


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


. . . when I have once allowed my name to appear in 

the light of a benevolent genius, for the production 

of "cups," "saucers" and "brooches," I must bear the 

penalty; especially when the people are so foolish 

as to take the word "Magic" either in its popular 

superstitious sense — that of the work of the devil 

— or in that of jugglery. . . . 


Being neither a professional medium nor a professional 

anything, and MAKING MY EXPERIMENTS in "Occult 

phenomena" only in the presence of a few friends — 

rarely before anyone who is not a member of our 

Society — I have a right to claim from the public 

a little more fairness and politeness than are 

usually accorded to paid jugglers and even alleged 

Thaumaturgists. . . . 


...Theosophy believes in no miracle, whether divine 

or devilish; recognizes nothing as supernatural; 

believes only in facts and Science; studies the 

laws of Nature, both Occult and patent; and gives 

attention particularly to the former, just because 

exact Science will have nothing to do with them.


Such laws are those of Magnetism in all its branches, Mesmerism, 

Psychology, etc. More than once in the history of its past has 

Science been made the victim of its own delusions as to its professed 

infallibility; and the time must come when the perfection of Asiatic 

Psychology and its knowledge of the forces of the invisible world 

will be recognized, as were the circulation of the blood, 

electricity, and so forth, after the first sneers and lampoons died 

away. The "silly attempts to hoodwink individuals" will then be 

viewed as honest attempts at proving to this generation of 

Spiritualists and believers in past " miracle-mongers," that there is 

naught miraculous in this world of Matter and Spirit, of visible 

results and invisible causes. . . . 


I beg leave to further remark that personally I never bragged of 

anything I might have done, nor do I offer any explanation of the 

phenomena, except to utterly disclaim the possession of any 

miraculous or supernatural powers, or the performing of anything by 

jugglery — i.e., with the usual help of confederates and

machinery. That's all. And surely, if there is anything like a

sense of justice left in society, I am amenable to neither statutory 

nor social laws for gratifying the interest of members of our 

Society, and the wishes of my personal friends, by exhibiting to them 

in privacy various phenomena, in which I believe far more firmly than 

any of them, SINCE I KNOW THE LAWS BY WHICH THEY ARE PRODUCED. . . . 


...Of the five eye-witnesses to the "cup" production, three (two 

of these of the "official circle") utterly disbelieve the genuineness 

of the phenomenon, though I would be pleased to know how, with all 

their scepticism, they would be able to account for it. ... The only 

benefit I have ever derived from my experiments, when made public, is 

newspaper abuse and more or less unfavourable comments upon my 

unfortunate self all over the country. This, unless my convictions 

were strong indeed, would amount to obtaining Billingsgate and 

martyrdom under false pretences, and begging a reputation for 

insanity. The game would hardly be worth the candle, I think.


H. P. BLAVATSKY.


Amritzur, Oct. 25th, 1880. 


Excerpted from:

http://blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/OccultPhenomena.htm

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