Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00320)

Both letters from Master K.H. to C.W. Leadbeater are below. "blessing 
of our Lord and my poor blessing shield you from every evil in your 
new life." is in second letter.
Anand Gholap


To C. W. Leadbeater

Last spring —March the 3rd —you wrote a letter to me and entrusted it 
to 'Ernest'. Though 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 had been to place yourself under me as a 
chela, that you might learn more of the truth. 'I understand from Mr 
S.,'1 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 be only 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 of 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 must I observe during this time of probation, 
and how soon might I 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 the Tathagata's memory aid you to decide for the best.

K.H.

-----------------------------------

To C. W. Leadbeater, received on the night of the same day

Since your intution led you in the right direction and made you 
understand that it was my desire you should go to Adyar immediately, 
I may say more. The sooner you go to Adyar the better. Do not lose 
one day more than you can help. Sail on the 5th, if possible. Join 
Upasika at Alexandria. Let no one know that you are going, and may 
the blessing of our Lord and my poor blessing shield you from every 
evil in your new life.

Greeting to you, my new chela.

K.H.

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