Theos-Talk Archives (January 2005 Message tt00925)

Last spring – March the 3rd – you wrote a letter to me
and entrusted it to “Ernest”. Tho' the paper itself
never reached me – nor was it ever likely to,
considering the nature of the messenger – its contents
have. I did not answer it at the time, but sent you a
warning through Upasika.

In that message of yours it was said that, since
reading Esot. Bud: and Isis your “one great wish has
been to place yourself under me as a chela, that you
may learn more of the truth.” “I understand from Mr.
S.” you went on “that it would be almost impossible to
become a chela without going out to India”. You hoped
to be able to do that in a few years, tho' for the
present ties of gratitude bind you to remain in this
country. Etc.

I now answer the above and your other questions.

[1] It is not necessary that one should be in India
during the seven years of probation. A chela can pass
them anywhere.

[2] To accept any man as a chela does not depend on my
personal will. It can only be the result of one's
personal merit and exertions in that direction. 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.

So much for candidates during the periods of the
undisturbed progress of your Society. There is
something more to be done, however, when theosophy,
the Cause of Truth, is, as at the present moment on
its stand for life or death before the tribunal of
public opinion – that most flippantly cruel,
prejudiced and unjust of all tribunals. There is also
the collective karma of the caste you belong to – to
be considered. It is undeniable that the cause you
have at heart is now suffering owing to the dark
intrigues, the base conspiracy of the Christian clergy
and missionaries against the Society. They will stop
before nothing to ruin the reputation of the Founders.
Are you willing to atone for their sins? Then go to
Adyar for a few months. “The ties or gratitude” will
not be severed, nor even become weakened for an
absence of a few months if the step be explained
plausibly to your relative. He who would shorten the
years of probation has to make sacrifices for
theosophy. Pushed by malevolent hands to the very edge
of a precipice, the Society needs every man and woman
strong in the cause of truth. It is by doing noble
actions and not by only determining that they shall be
done that the fruits of the meritorious actions are
reaped. Like the “true man” of Carlyle who is not to
be seduced by ease – “difficulty, abnegation,
martyrdom, death are the allurements that act” during
the hours of trial on the heart of a true chela.

You ask me – “what rules I must observe during this
time of probation, and how soon I might venture to
hope that it could begin”. I answer: you have the
making of your own future, in your own hands as shown
above, and every day you may be weaving its woof. If I
were to demand that you should do one thing or the
other, instead of simply advising, I would be
responsible for every effect that might flow from the
step and you acquire but a secondary merit. Think, and
you will see that this is true. So cast the lot
yourself into the lap of Justice, never fearing but
that its response will be absolutely true. Chelaship
is an educational as well as probationary stage and
the chela alone can determine whether it shall end in
adeptship or failure. Chelas from a mistaken idea of
our system too often watch and wait for orders,
wasting precious time which should be taken up with
personal effort. Our cause needs missionaries,
devotees, agents, even martyrs perhaps. But it cannot
demand of any man to make himself either. So now
choose and grasp your own destiny, and may our Lord’s
the Tathgata’s memory aid you to decide for the best.
K.H.



(The above letter was received by C.W. Leadbeater in
London, on 31 October 1884. Source: LETTERS FROM THE
MASTERS OF THE WISDOM, First Series, edited by C.
Jinarajadasa.)






__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. 
http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250