Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00645)

Feb 21 205

Re: HPB's article entitled KARMIC VISIONS 

Dear Friends:

I note with deep regret that some have offered their opinions concerning the
usefulness and validity of HPB's writings, and to bolster this, the
Mahatmas' opinions are vaguely quoted. Let's have some precision and some
degree of scholarship and organization, shall we ? 

But let's also be fair!  

Here is what the Masters have actually said concerning Their work with her:

"But it is now time to give out a certificate given when the Secret Doctrine
was being written, a certificate signed by the Masters who have given out
all that is new in our theosophical books. It was sent to one who had then a
few doubts, and at the same time copies were given from the same source to
others for use in the future, which is now. The first certificate runs thus:

I wonder if this note of mine is worthy of occupying a select spot with the
documents reproduced, and which of the peculiarities of the "Blavatskian"
style of writing it will be found to most resemble? The present is simply to
satisfy the Doctor that "the more proof given the less believed." Let him
take my advice and not make these two documents public. It is for his own
satisfaction the undersigned is happy to assure him that the Secret
Doctrine, when ready, will be the triple production of [here are the names
of one of the Masters and of H.P.B.] and _______ most humble servant,
[signed by the other.]

On the back of this was the following, signed by the Master who is mentioned
in the above:

If this can be of any use or help to _____, though I doubt it, I, the humble
undersigned Faquir, certify that the Secret Doctrine is dictated to [name of
H.P.B.], partly by myself and partly by my brother ______.

A year after this, certain doubts having arisen in the minds of individuals,
another letter from one of the signers of the foregoing was sent and reads
as follows. As the prophecy in it has come true, it is now the time to
publish it for the benefit of those who know something of how to take and
understand such letters. For the outside it will all be so much nonsense.

The certificate given last year saying the Secret Doctrine would be when
finished the triple production of [H.P.B.'s name], ________, and myself was
and is correct, although some have doubted not only the facts given in it
but also the authenticity of the message in which it was contained. 

Copy this and also keep the copy of the aforesaid certificate. You will find
them both of use on the day when you shall, as will happen without your
asking, receive from the hands of the very person to whom the certificate
was given, the original for the purpose of allowing you to copy it; and then
you can verify the correctness of this presently forwarded copy. 

And it may then be well to indicate to those wishing to know what portions
in the Secret Doctrine have been copied by the pen of [H.P.B.'s name] into
its pages, though without quotation marks, from my own manuscript and
perhaps from ______, though the last is more difficult from the rarity of
his known writing and greater ignorance of his style. All this and more will
be found necessary as time goes on, but for which you are well qualified to
wait.

ONE OF THE STAFF	Path, April, 1893."

[These Certificates were given to Dr. Hubbe-Schleiden, and later by him to
Mr. W. Q. Judge. DTB]


Let's look at KARMIC VISIONS -- there HPB narrates the karmic legacy of a
single individual Ego. It is not related to "the political Germany" we are
familiar with, nor does it characterize a politicized group.  

The Karma of every individual is their own. The collective Karma of a Nation
is a composite whole drawn from every member of that mass of people.

We find in APHORISMS ON KARMA the following :

"5) Karma operates on all things and beings from the minutest conceivable
atom to Brahma. Proceeding in the three worlds: men, gods, and the
elemental beings, no spot in the manifested universe is exempt from its
sway.

(6) Karma is not subject to time, and therefore he who knows what is the
ultimate division of time in this Universe knows Karma.

(7) For all other men Karma is in its essential nature unknown and
unknowable.

(8) But its action may be known by calculation from cause to effect; and
this calculation is possible because the effect is wrapped up in and is not
succedent to the cause.

(9) The Karma of this earth is the combination of the acts and thoughts of
all beings of every grade which were concerned in the preceding Manvantara
or evolutionary stream from which ours flows.

(10) And as those beings include Lords of Power and Holy Men, as well as
weak and wicked ones, the period of the earth's duration is greater than
that of any entity or race upon it.

(11) Because the Karma of this earth and its races began in a past too far
back for human minds to reach, an inquiry into its beginning is useless and
profitless.

(12) Karmic causes already set in motion must be allowed to sweep on until
exhausted, but this permits no man to refuse to help his fellows and every
sentient being.

(13) The effects may be counteracted or mitigated by the thoughts and acts
of oneself or of another, and then the resulting effects represent the
combination and interaction of the whole number of causes involved in
producing the effects.

(14) In the life of worlds, races, nations, and individuals, Karma cannot
act unless there is an appropriate instrument provided for its action.

(15) And until such appropriate instrument is found, that Karma related to
it remains unexpended."

What should not be missed is that HPB caused the article to be published in
LUCIFER almost within a few of days that Frederick III died of cancer of the
throat.  

It illustrates to us the power and wisdom of the Great Lodge and its Masters
-- to know Karma, individually and collectively and to be able to use that
to illustrate an aspect of real THEOSOPHY. I mean the spiritual, and not
the psychic or the curious types. 

It also illustrates the teaching concerning the immortality of the
SPIRIT-SOUL and its perfectibility under the power of a self-made vow.

These are facts and powers we all have, states THEOSOPHY. 

Col. Olcott records:

"[Colonel Olcott in Old Diary Leaves, Third Series, pp. 36-7, describes the
incident of receiving this letter.

'Objective proof' refers to the visit of the Master M. to Colonel Olcott in
New York, described in Old Diary Leaves, First Series, pp. 379-80. The
'objective proof' is the fehta or turban, now at Adyar, which the Master M.
left with the Colonel as a proof that his visit was not a 'Maya' but was a
reality.]

"SINCE the commencement of your probationary term in America, you have had
much to do with me, tho' your imperfect development has often made you
mistake me ... You have not only seen and conversed with, but touched me, my
hand has pressed yours, and the K.H. of fancy becomes the K of fact. Your
skeptical action, often running into extreme conservatism- perhaps the very
last trait that the careless would suggest of you- has seriously and
constantly impeded your inner unfolding. It has made you
suspicious-sometimes cruelly so- of Upasika, of Borg, of Djual-K. even of
Damodar and D. Nath, whom you love as sons. This meeting of ours should
radically change the state of your mind. Should it not, so much the worse
for your future; truth never comes, burglar-like, thro' barred windows and
iron-sheathed doors.

I came to you not alone of my own accord and wish, but also by order of the
Maha Chohan, to whose insight the future lies like an open page. 

At New York you demanded of M. an objective proof that his visit to you was
not a maya-and he gave it; unasked, I give you the present one: tho' I pass
out of your sight this note will be to you the reminder of our conferences.
"
From: "Letters From the M of Wisdom," 1st Series, p. 47

Further: 

None of us are able to write a SECRET DOCTRINE or an ISIS UNVEILED; nor are
we able to write as the Mahatmas do -- the evidence being their writing in
English (not their language) and their range of ideas as is found in MAHATMA
LETTERS and elsewhere in the "original literature.".

I would say we owe Them such a debt, that study and correlation of what They
write is the least level of respect we can extend to Them. 

If we are not able to embrace Their Philosophy, then who are we to hazard
criticism or doubt? It does not speak well of us when we do that, is my way
of thinking.

If we desire to ask questions, that is one thing, but if we are obsessed
with our own virtues and pride of learning, then in humility we need to
rephrase our exchanges.

If we saturate the atmosphere around us with diverging opinions, and have
made little or no discernable effort to prove they are valid, then, why
expose ourselves to ridicule by expressing opinions concerning Them? 

If we are going to dignify THEOSOPHY by our study and respect, then I feel
strongly we need to focus on learning WHAT THEOSOPHY IS. 

One of the problems we all face is that it is uncompromising. And to oppose
this we seize upon opinions that are mushy and favorable to untenable
compromise, to the way in which we wish they were.  

Theosophy is not to be confused with the opinions held concerning the life
and activities of those who are connected with or associated with THEOSOPHY
the ancient philosophy, the "Sanatana Dharma.".

Theosophy is said to be as ancient as the Universe, and to be a record of
the history of the reincarnation of Universes, as well as of man-bearing
Worlds, such as ours.

It records therefore the birth and "creation" [or rather the re-formation"]
of all Universes, galaxies, Solar Systems, worlds, humans and every kind of
"being," etc.. and, with equal skill, considers the importance of atoms,
molecules and their smallest components.

It views our universe and world as examples of fields of evolution rules by
exact and sensitive laws that serve to impersonally serve, protect and
sustain all beings of whatever kind or degree, visible or invisible.

Best wishes, 

Dallas
 

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-----Original Message-----
From: M. S
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 1:01 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: HPB's article entitled KARMIC VISIONS 

Hallo all,

My views are:

I think one or two of the Masters are supposed to have said, that she - H.P.
Blavatsky was not quite reliable in certain respects.

There is also the issue, that the one of the Masters said that she HPB was
too outspoken.

....So I suggest, as Leon almost says, that we view it all
in the karmic historical perspective -
while not letting HPB be regarded as
entirely without faults.

CUT