Theos-Talk Archives (October 2004 Message tt00239)

Part 1

THE MASTERS
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HOW DO THE MASTERS LOOK AT H.P.B.?



Regarding HPB, the Adepts wrote: 


"...They say that the Ego of that body she uses was and is a great and brave
servant of the Lodge, sent to the West with a mission with full knowledge of
the insult and obloquy to be surely heaped upon that devoted head; and they
add: 'Those who cannot understand her had best not try to explain her;
those who do not find themselves strong enough for the task she outlined
from the very first had best not attempt it.' "
WQJ ART II 18)  


"...imperfect as may be our visible agent...yet, she [HPB] is the best
available at present, and her phenomena have for about half a century
astounded and baffled some of the cleverest minds of the age."
MAHATMA LETTERS , p. 9-10


"After nearly a century of fruitless search, our chiefs had to avail
themselves of the only opportunity to send out a European body upon European
soil to serve as a connecting link between that country and our own...my
brother M. made to you through her a certain offer...you had but to accept
it, and at any time you liked, you would have had for an hour or more, the
real baitchooly to converse with, instead of the psychological cripple you
generally have to deal with now."	M L 203-4


"On the 17th of November next [1882] the septenary term of trial given the
Society at its foundation in which to discreetly "preach us" will expire.
One or two of us hoped that the world had so far advanced intellectually, if
not intuitionally, that the Occult doctrine might gain an intellectual
acceptance, and the impulse given for a new cycle of occult
research...consent was given for the trial. It was stipulated, however,
that the experiment should be made independently of our personal management;
that there should be no abnormal interference by ourselves.  

So casting about we found in America the man to stand as leader--a man of
great moral courage, unselfish, and having other good qualities. He was far
from being the best, but...he was the best available. With him we
associated a woman of most exceptional and wonderful endowments. Combined
with them she had strong personal defects, but just as she was, there was no
second to her living fit for this work. We sent her to America, brought
them together--and the trial began.  

>From the first both he and she were given to clearly understand that the
issue lay entirely with themselves. And both offered themselves for the
trial...For 6 1/2 years they have been struggling against such odds as would
have driven off any one who was not working with the desperation of one who
stakes life and all he prizes on some desperate supreme effort. Their
success has not equaled the hopes of their original backers, phenomenal as
it has been in certain directions. In a few more months the term of
probation will end. If by that time the status of the Society as regards
ourselves --the question of the "Brothers" be not definitely settled (either
dropped out of the Society's programme or accepted on our own terms) that
will be the last of the "Brothers" of all shapes and colors, sizes or
degrees. We will subside out of public view like a vapour into the ocean.
Only those who have proved faithful to themselves and to Truth through
everything, will be allowed further intercourse with us..."	M L 263-4


"You can never know her [HPB] as we do, therefore--none of you will ever be
able to judge her impartially or correctly. You see the surface of things;
and what you would term "virtue," holding but to appearances, we--judge but
after having fathomed the object to its profoundest depth, and generally
leave the appearances to take care of themselves. In your opinion H.P.B.
is...a quaint, strange woman, a psychological riddle...We on the other hand,
under the garb of eccentricity and folly--we find a profounder wisdom in her
inner Self than you will ever find yourselves able to perceive...we...light
daily upon traits of her inner nature the most delicate and refined, and
which would cost an uninitiated psychologist years of constant and keen
observation, and many an hour of close analysis and efforts to draw out of
the depth of that most subtle of mysteries--human mind--and one of the most
complicated machines,---H.P.B.'s mind--and thus learn to know her true inner
Self."	M L 314


"The Lhas or adept alone possesses the real, his mind being en rapport with
the Universal Mind. The Lhas has made a perfect junction of his soul with
the Universal Mind in its fullness, which makes him for the time a divine
being existing in the region of absolute intelligence, knowledge of natural
laws or Dgyu..."	HPB to APS 376



H.P.B. ON HERSELF


"I never gave myself out for a full-blown occultist, but only for a student
of Occultism for the last thirty or forty years. Yet I am enough of an
occultist to know that before we find the Master within our own hearts and
seventh principle--we need an outside Master...I got my drop from my Master
(the living one)...He is a Saviour, he who leads you to finding the Master
within yourself. It is ten years already that I preach the inner Master and
God and never represented our Masters as Saviours in the Christian sense."
[ HPB to Dr. Hartmann ] PATH, Vol. X, p. 367


"...as I venerate the Master, and worship MY MASTER--the sole creator of my
inner Self which but for His calling it out, awakening it from its slumber,
would never have come to conscious being--not in this life, at all
events..."	Letters of HPB to APS, p. 104



ON THE SECRET DOCTRINE


"The Secret Doctrine was the universally diffused religion of the ancient
and prehistoric world." [ SD I xxxiv ]  


"These truths are in no sense put forward as a revelation, nor does the
author claim the position of a revealer of mystic lore now made public for
the first time in the world's history." [ SD I vii ]


"We give facts and show land-marks: let the wayfarer follow them. What is
given here is amply sufficient for this century." [ SD II 742 ]  


"There are more secrets of Initiation given out in the Introductory Chapter
than in all Isis...Fancy Masters giving out the secret of the "Divine
Hermaphrodite" even ! and so on." [ HPB Letters to A.P.Sinnett, p.
172-3 ] 



HOW OTHERS LOOK ON H.P.B.?


"H.P.B. was the Messenger from the Great Lodge to the western world. W.Q.J.
was a co-founder and co-worker with H.P.B. from the beginning. It will be
well to remember that HPB and WQJ were not accorded the positions They held
through any authority, but through recognition of Their knowledge and power.
They were sui generis; all others are but students. Those who belittle
Judge will also be found belittling HPB." F P 5


"HPB was the Direct Agent of the Lodge--and this is explicitly stated to be
the fact by the Master K.H. ...then we must go to the records left by Her
and Her Colleague, W.Q.J., for direction in all matters pertaining to the
Theosophical Movement."	F P 34


"In the introduction to the SECRET DOCTRINE, H.P.Blavatsky boldly affirms
the existence of a great Fraternity of Men, Adepts, who preserve the true
philosophy through all changes, now revealing it, and again, at certain
eras, withdrawing it from a degraded age; and emphatically she says that
the doctrine is never a new one, but only a handing on again of what was
always the system... [Further she adds] in the twentieth century of our era
scholars will begin to recognize that the S.D. has neither been invented nor
exaggerated, but, on the contrary, simply outlined; and finally, that its
teachings antedate the Vedas."

"...the Messenger from the great Fraternity--she herself being the one for
this Century--she observes significantly: that "In Century the 20th some
disciple more informed, and far better fitted, may be sent by the Masters of
Wisdom to give final and irrefutable proof that there exists a science
called Gupta-Vidya; and that, [it] the source of all religions and
philosophies now known to the world...is at last found."	WQJ
ART II 81-2



"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


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Recently there have been some queries and controversy concerning H P B -- 


The questions is asked: Is she alive or is she dead?  


Perhaps some of these quotations about her and her work given from the
perspective of the MASTERS OF WISDOM -- the ELDER BROTHERS -- will be of
help.

Theosophy has been called a history of the development of the spiritual
nature of mankind. On this, Patanjali, an ancient sage wrote:  

"The Universe, including the visible and the invisible, the essential nature
of which is compounded of purity, action, and rest, and which consists of
the elements and the organs of action, exists for the sake of the soul's
experience and emancipation..

The soul is the Perceiver; is assuredly vision itself pure and simple;
unmodified; and looks directly upon ideas.  

For the sake of the soul alone, the Universe exists.

Although the Universe in its objective state has ceased to be, in respect to
that man who has attained to the perfection of spiritual cultivation, it has
not ceased in respect to all others, because it is common to others besides
him.

The conjuncture of the soul with the organ of thought, and thus with nature,
is the cause of its apprehension of the actual condition of the nature of
the universe and of the soul itself.

The cause of this conjuncture is what is what is to be quitted, and that
cause is ignorance."
PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS, pp. 25-27 rendition by W. Q. Judge


More importantly, the contention has been that Theosophy as a body of
information and historical facts is inaccurate, even deceptive. Detractors
have raised old calumnies and slanders that were put quashed, and put to
rest, decades back, but they, the modern detractors, depend on the ignorance
and apathy of the public in the matter of determining the truth by reference
to the documents that embody the history of events concerning Theosophy, and
its significant effect on Science, and world thought.

Each reader or investigator has to make their own decisions. They have to do
the investigation themselves, or, they place unverified trust on the dicta
of others.  

The Masters have offered the necessary criteria for us to consider in regard
to Theosophical methods of work and personal duty:

"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." 
LETTERS from the MASTERS OF WISDOM, (I) p. 16-7


Others believe that the SPIRIT which incarnated in that body, known to all
as Mme. H. P. Blavatsky, continues, alive and powerful -- depending on her
wisdom -- Deathless, they claim the immortal Spirit continues its majestic
progress, ever onward to higher and wider spheres of wisdom and assistance
to the Human Race. And as the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT was founded to provide
this, it is continually supported by H P B.

Such Beings as the Masters of Wisdom, and, that bright Spirit known to us as
H P B, once like we, determined that they would know all that this world and
Universe offered. They decided to investigate the hidden laws and powers of
interactive Nature. Theosophy is the record of their endeavour. The SECRET
DOCTRINE give an outline of its breadth and depth. [see SECRET DOCTRINE I
272-3]

The fundamental doctrines of Theosophy are:  

1.) the immortality of all Spiritual Souls; 

2.) the common bond of Karma which serves as a basis for interaction, as
it unites the causal motive for action with the exact results returning to
the individual that generated them;  

3.) a process of evolution that is continuous and extends from the smallest
part of the vast UNIVERSE to its utmost limits, the least has the same
potentials of the most advanced; and 

4.) a common goal: SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, which is open to all, and
embraces all that can be known of the Universe and its uncountable
components. That is Universal WISDOM.

It is hoped that some of the information given below will tend to make clear
an understanding of the respect given to H P B by some of her
contemporaries, and by Those whom she named her "Masters."

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H P B -- Her Mission and "Position"


As we look back at the life and work of H. P. Blavatsky, we her students,
recall with gratitude the debt that we owe to her. Except for her work and
devotion we would possibly never have had the opportunity that has been ours
to know about Theosophy, and to be able to study it. 

A number of her students have left on record their appreciation.  


"...the [Theosophical] movement has grown most in consequence of the effort
of those who are devoted to an ideal, inspired by enthusiasm, filled with a
lasting gratitude to H.P.Blavatsky. Their ideal is the service of Humanity,
the ultimate potential perfectibility of man as exemplified by the Masters
and Adepts of all ages, including the present...if it had not been for her
the T.S. with its literature would not have come into existence." (W Q
Judge, Articles (U L T) Vol. II 20-1)


One may ask if there is a possibility of our contacting the Masters and HPB,
and the answer is that we have their philosophy and teachings as they were
originally recorded. Anyone who studies those puts themselves into contact
with HPB and the Masters. A student once wrote:  	


"...for those who have studied in the right way plenty of proof has been
offered; for others that proof exists within themselves The former class
has had tangible evidence in the way of letters and appearances of the
Adepts before their eyes; the latter concluded long ago that the Masters
are necessities of evolution...in the West the idea of the existence of the
Adepts and of Their connection with our movement was first brought forward
in this century [the 19th] and in our Society by H.P.Blavatsky, who,
consistently throughout her career, has declared that the Adepts--whom she
was pleased to call her Masters--directed her to engage in this work and
have always helped and directed her throughout... 

They have adopted the TS as one of Their agents in this century for
disseminating the truth about man and nature...Their motive is to help the
moral--and hence external -- progress of humanity, and their methods to work
from behind the scenes by means of agents suited for the work...the agency
is not restricted to one person, but that all sincere lovers of truth are
used to that end, whether they know it or not...the personal effort put
forth by the members will not account for the spreading of the movement...As
the Masters exist, so They help us; and as we deserve, so will They repay."
(WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. II pp. 79-80)  


"...while the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT of today was distinctly under the care
of the Adepts, it was not the only one through which effect was sought to be
made on the race-thought and ethics, but that in many different ways efforts
were constantly put forward ...she insisted that the T S wears the
badge...of the Eastern and Ancient Schools...the old and united Lodge of
Adepts ...[It would be reasonable to say]...that Brotherhood has the
knowledge and power... to use every agency which is in touch with humanity."

WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. , Vol. I, pp. 244


Mr. W. Q. Judge, collaborated closely with HPB and Col. Olcott from the
beginning of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY and was one of the three Founders of
the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY [BLAVATSKY: Collected Works, Vol. I, p. 121-5]
who supported it until their death, wrote: 


"I think that the way for all western theosophists is through H.P.B. I mean
that as she is the T.S. incarnate--its mother and guardian, its creator--the
Karmic laws would naturally provide that all who drew this life through her
belonged to her, and if they denied her, they need not hope to reach
[Masters], for how can they deny her who gave this doctrine to the western
world? They share her Karma to little purpose if they think they can get
round this identification and benefit, and [Masters] want no better proof
that a man does not comprehend their philosophy. This would, of course, bar
him from [Masters] by natural laws (of growth)...[those] who undervalue her
gift and her creation, have not imbibed the teaching and cannot assimilate
its benefits. She must be understood as being what she is to the T.S., or
Karma...is not understood, nor the first laws of occultism." 
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME , p. 110


After the physical death of Mme. Blavatsky on May 8th 1891, in answer to a
friend, he wrote:  


"...we believe that H.P.B. will be for some time occupied in training a new
instrument, and one not so young as to be useless at the present cyclic
crisis...she left everything in order. All things were planned out, and
evidence was abundantly had to the effect that she knew her departure was
near... looking upon her as an Adept, whose chief work was done outside of
the objective body, it was reasonable to suppose that she is now enabled to
use, upon higher (or inner) planes of being, the power previously expended
in the maintenance of that body." 
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME, p. 155 [U L T Edition]


HPB had written in this regard:  


"That for several years I will not be able to help it [the T S] on, and
steer its course, because I will have to act in a body which will have to be
assimilated to the Nirmanakaya, because even in occultism there are such
things as a failure and a retardment and a misfit..." HPB - 
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME , p. 281  


In another article, Mr. Judge wrote: 


"...but H.P.Blavatsky, who then as afterwards was really the central
figure, has for the present left this life. The first great change, then,
between seventeen years ago and now is the removal from the scene of the
personage who, for so long was the pivot of the whole movement...[in 1879]
upon the advent of the two pioneers in Asia [ HPB and Col. Olcott, who went
to India as a Committee for the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY based in New York ]
...in order that the influence of the mysterious and distant East might
react upon the West and enable us to bring to light again important
religious and philosophical truths. This reaction came, and manifesting in
America with full force, a host of Branches began to arise...all with one
accord must draw their chief inspiration from the life, the labors, and the
words of that wonderful and still faintly understood woman, Helena, P.
Blavatsky." 
WQJ Art. II 148 "SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO," Path, Nov. 1892


Regarding HPB, the Adepts wrote: 


"...They say that the Ego of that body she uses was and is a great and brave
servant of the Lodge, sent to the West with a mission with full knowledge of
the insult and obloquy to be surely heaped upon that devoted head; and they
add: 'Those who cannot understand her had best not try to explain her;
those who do not find themselves strong enough for the task she outlined
from the very first had best not attempt it.' "
WQJ ART II 18)  


And Mr. Judge added:  


"[As to H. P. B.]. those who cannot understand her had best not try to
explain her...she knew...that high and wise servants of the Lodge have
remained with the West since many centuries for the purpose of helping it on
its mission and destiny. That work it would be well for members of the T.
Mvt. to continue without deviating, without excitement, without running to
extremes...the truth of the soul's life is in no special quarter of the
compass..." (LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME , p. 76)   


According to HPB: 


"...there are certain persons on this earth, living and working as ordinary
human beings and members of society, whose informing divine part is so
immeasurably high in development that they as such high beings have a
definite status and function in the "supersensuous regions."

To this Mr Judge added:  


"...she herself was such a case, and that "H P B" whether hourly in the day
or at night when all around was still, had a "status and function" in other
spheres where she consciously carried on the work of that high station,
whatever it was...[She wrote in one place] " I am conscious day and night,
and have much to do and to endure in both these existences from which you,
being half-conscious, are happily saved."	
WQJ ART I 616


What then was the nature of HPB's Mission? The following is one person's
view: 


"...when the great leader is H.P.Blavatsky, a whole host of principles and
postulates as to certain laws of nature cluster around her name. For not
only was she one who brought to us from the wiser brothers of the human
family a consistent philosophy of the solar system, but in herself she
illustrated practically the existence of the supersensuous world and of the
powers of the inner and astral man...and theory or assertion touching on her
relations with the unseen and with the Masters she spoke for inevitably
opens up the discussion of some law or principle. Many things were said
about H.P.B. in her lifetime by those who tried to understand her, some of
them being silly and some positively pernicious. The most pernicious was
that made by [A.P.S.] in London in the lifetime of H.P.B. and before the
writing of the Secret Doctrine, that she was deserted by the Masters and was
the prey of elementals and elemental forces...if true, then anything she
might say as from the Masters which did not agree with the opinion of the
one addressed could be disposed of as being only the vaporing of some
elementals."
WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. II 13


"H.P.Blavatsky was the head, front, bottom, top, outskirts, past and future
of the theosophical society...Not only was H.P.B. predominant with us in
1875, but she is yet."  
WQJ Art II 161 "A Reminiscence," PATH, Feb. 1893 / Mar. 1895



	

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End of Part I

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I hope this proves to be of use in securing a view of H P B and her work for
the Masters of Wisdom.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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