Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00300)

May 9, 2005

Dear Mark

Here are some more articles on OCCULTISM

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Part  

1
CONVERSATIONS ON OCCULTISM WITH H.P.B. 


W. Q. Judge


In 1875, '76, '77, and '78 my intimacy with H.P.B. gave me many
opportunities for conversing with her on what we then called "Magic." These
useful, and for me very wonderful, occasions came about late at night, and
sometimes during the day. I was then in the habit of calling on her in the
daytime whenever I could get away from my office.

Many times I stayed in her flat for the purpose of hearing as much and
seeing as much as I could. Later on, in 1884, I spent many weeks with her in
the Rue Notre Dame des Champs in Paris, sitting beside her day after day and
evening after evening; later still, in 1888, being with her in London, at
Holland Park, I had a few more opportunities. 

Some of what she said I publish here for the good of those who can benefit
by her words. Certainly no greater practical occultist is known to this
century: from that point of view what she said will have a certain useful
weight with some.
 
ON DEVACHAN 


This term was not in use at this time. The conversation was about steps on
the Path and returning here again. In answer to a question: 

"Yes, you have been here and at this before. You were born with this
tendency, and in other lives have met these persons [supposed Adept
influences], and they are here to see you for that reason." 

Later, when definite terms had come into use, the question raised was
whether or not all stayed 1500 years in Devachan. 

Well, Judge, you must know well that under the philosophy we don't all stay
there so long. It varies with the character of each. A thoroughly material
thinker will emerge sooner than one who is a spiritual philosopher and good.
Besides, recollect that all workers for the Lodge, no matter of what degree,
are helped out of Devachan if they themselves permit it. Your own idea which
you have stated, that 1500 years had not elapsed since you went into
Devachan, is correct, and that I tell is what Master himself tells me. So
there you are." 


PRECIPITATIONS BY MASTERS 


In reply to a question on this she said: 

"If you think Master is going to be always precipitating things, you
mistake. Yes, He can do it. But most of the precipitations are by chelas who
would seem to you almost Masters. I see His orders, and the thoughts and
words He wishes used, and I precipitate them in that form; so does ______
and one or two more." 

"Well, what of Their handwritings?" 

Anything you write is your handwriting, but it is not your personal
handwriting, generally used and first learned if you assume or adopt some
form. Now you know that Masters' handwritings, peculiar and personal to
Themselves, are foreign both as to sound and form - Indian sorts, in fact.
So They adopted a form in English, and in that form I precipitate Their
messages at Their direction. 

Why B____ almost caught me one day and nearly made a mess of it by shocking
me. The message has to be seen in the astral light in facsimile, and through
that astral matrix I precipitate the whole of it. It's different, though, if
Master sends me the paper and the message already done. That's why I call
these things 'psychological tricks.' 

The sign of an objective wonder seemed to be required, although a moment's
thought will show it is not proof of anything but occult ability. Many a
medium has had precipitations before my miserable self was heard of. But
blessed is the one who wants no sign. You have seen plenty of these things.
Why do you want to ask me? Can't you use your brain and intuition? I've
sampled almost the whole possible range of wonders for you. Let them use
their brains and intuition with the known facts and the theories given." 


IF WHITE MAGICIANS ACT, WHAT THEN? 


"Look here; here's a man who wants to know why the Masters don't interpose
at once and save his business. They don't seem to remember what it means for
a master to use occult force. If you explode gunpowder to split a rock you
may knock down a house. 

There is a law that if a White Magician uses his occult power an equal
amount of power may be used by the Black one. Chemists invent powders for
explosives and wicked men may use them. 

You force yourself into Master's presence and you take the consequences of
the immense forces around him playing on yourself. If you are weak in
character anywhere, the Black ones will use the disturbance by directing the
forces engendered to that spot and may compass your ruin. It is so always. 

Pass the boundary that hedges in the occult realm, and quick forces, new
ones, dreadful ones, must be met. Then if you are not strong you may become
a wreck for that life. This is the danger. This is one reason why Masters do
not appear and do not act directly very often, but nearly always by
intermediate degrees. What do you say, - 'the dual forces in nature'?
Precisely, that's just it; and Theosophists should remember it." 


DO MASTERS PUNISH? 


"Now I'm not going to tell you all about this. They are just; They embody
the Law and Compassion. 

Do not for an instant imagine that Masters are going to come down on you for
your failures and wrongs, if any. Karma looks out for this. 

Masters' ethics are the highest. From the standpoint of your question, They
do not punish. Have I not told you that, much as detractors have cast mud at
Them, never will the Masters impose punishment. I cannot see why such a
question comes up. Karma will do all the punishing that is necessary." 


ABOUT ELEMENTALS 


"It's a long time ago now that I told you this part would not be explained.
But I can tell you some things. 

This one that you and Olcott used to call _____ can't see you unless I let
him. Now I will impress you upon it or him so that like a photograph he will
remember so far. But you can's make it obey you until you know how to get
the force directed. I'll send him to you and let him make a bell." 

[In a few days after this the proposed sign was given at a distance from
her, and a little bell was sounded in the air when I was talking with a
person not interested in Theosophy, and when I was three miles away from
H.P.B. On next seeing her she asked if _____ had been over and sounded the
bell, mentioning the exact day and time.] 

"This one has no form in particular, but is more like a revolving mass of
air. But it is, all the same, quite definite, as you know from what he has
done. There are some classes with forms of their own. The general division
into fiery, airy, earthy, and watery is pretty correct, but it will not
cover all the classes. 

There is not a single thing going on about us, no matter what, that
elementals are not concerned in, because they constitute a necessary part of
nature, just as important as the nerve currents in your body. 

Why in storms you should see them how they move about. Don't you remember
what you told me about that lady _____ who saw them change and move about at
that opera? It was due to her tendencies and the general idea underlying the
opera." [It was the opera of Tristan and Isolde, by Wagner. - J.] "In that
case, as Isolde is Irish, the whole idea under it aroused a class of
elementals peculiar to that island and its traditions. That's a queer place,
Judge, that Ireland. It is packed full of a singular class of elementals;
and, by Jove! I see they even have emigrated in quite large numbers. 

Sometimes one quite by accident rouses up some ancient system, say from
Egypt; that is the explanation of that singular astral noise which you said
reminded you of a sistrum being shaken; it was really objective. 

But, my dear fellow, do you think I will give you a patent elemental
extractor? - not yet. Bulwer Lytton wrote very wisely, for him, on this
subject." 

[Riding over in Central Park, New York.] 

"It is very interesting here. I see a great number of Indians, and also
their elementals, just as real as you seem to be. They do not see us; they
are all spooks. But look here, Judge, don't confound the magnetism escaping
through your skin with the gentle taps of supposed elementals who want a
cigarette." 

[In W. 34th Street, New York. The first time she spoke to me of elementals
particularly, I having asked her about Spiritualism. - J.] 

"It is nearly all done by elementals. Now I can make them tap anywhere you
like in this room. Select any place you wish." [I pointed to a hard plaster
wall-space free from objects.] "Now ask what you like that can be answered
by taps." 

Q. What is my age? Taps: the correct number. 
Q. How many in my house? Taps: right. 
Q. How many months have I been in the city? Taps: correct. 
Q. What number of minutes past the hour by my watch? Taps: right. 
Q. How many keys on my ring? Taps: correct. 

H.P.B. "Oh bosh! Let it stop. You won't get any more, for I have cut it off.
Try your best. They have no sense; they got it all out of your own head,
even the keys, for you know inside how many keys are on the ring, though you
don't remember; but anyhow I could see into your pocket and count the
number, and then that tapper would give the right reply. There's something
better than all that magic nonsense." 


SHE PRECIPITATES IN LONDON 


In 1888 I was in London and wanted a paper, with about four sentences
written on it in purple ink, which I had left in America. I came down to her
room where B. Keightley was, and, not saying anything, sat down opposite
H.P.B. I thought: 

"If only she would get me back some way a copy of that paper." She smiled at
me, rose, went into her room, came out at once, and in a moment handed me a
piece of paper, passing it right in front of Keightley. To my amazement it
was a duplicate of my paper, a facsimile. I then asked her how she got it,
and she replied: "I saw it in your head and the rest was easy. You thought
it very clearly. You know it can be done; and it was needed." This was all
done in about the time it takes to read these descriptive sentences. 

WILLIAM Q. JUDGE 
Path, April, 1894 

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2
THE KALI YUGA - THE PRESENT AGE 

W. Q. Judge


STUDENT. - I am very much puzzled about the present age. Some theosophists
seem to abhor it as if wishing to be taken away from it altogether,
inveighing against modern inventions such as the telegraph, railways,
machinery, and the like, and bewailing the disappearance of former
civilizations. Others take a different view, insisting that this is a better
time than any other, and hailing modern methods as the best. Tell me,
please, which of these is right, or, if both are wrong, what ought we to
know about the age we live in. 

Sage. - The teachers of Truth know all about this age. But they do not
mistake the present century for the whole 
cycle. The older times of European history, for example, when might was
right and when darkness prevailed over Western nations, was as much a part
of this age, from the standpoint of the Masters, as is the present hour, for
the Yuga - to use a sanscrit word - in which we are now had begun many
thousands of years before. 

And during that period of European darkness, although this Yuga had already
begun, there was much light, learning, and civilization in India and China.
The meaning of the words "present age" must therefore be extended over a far
greater period than is at present assigned. 

In fact, modern science has reached no definite conclusion yet as to what
should properly be called "an age," and the truth of the Eastern doctrine is
denied. Hence we find writers speaking of the "Golden Age," the "Iron Age,"
and so on, whereas they are only parts of the real age that began so far
back that modern archaeologists deny it altogether. 


Student. - What is the sanscrit name for this age, and what is its meaning? 

Sage. - The sanscrit is "Kali," which added to Yuga gives us "Kali-Yuga."
The meaning of it is "Dark Age." Its approach was known to the ancients, its
characteristics are described in the Indian poem "The Mahabharata." As I
said that it takes in an immense period of the glorious part of Indian
history, there is no chance for anyone to be jealous and to say that we are
comparing the present hour with that wonderful division of Indian
development.

 
Student. - What are the characteristics to which you refer, by which
Kali-Yuga may be known? 

Sage. - As its name implies, darkness is the chief. This of course is not
deducible by comparing today with 800 A.D., for this would be no comparison
at all. The present century is certainly ahead of the middle ages, but as
compared with the preceding Yuga it is dark. 

To the Occultist, material advancement is not of the quality of light, and
he finds no proof of progress in merely mechanical contrivances that give
comfort to a few of the human family while the many are in misery. For the
darkness he would have to point but to one nation, even the great American
Republic. Here he sees a mere extension of the habits and life of the Europe
from which it sprang; here a great experiment with entirely new conditions
and material was tried; here for many years very little poverty was known;
but here today there is as much grinding poverty as anywhere, and as large a
criminal class with corresponding prisons as in Europe, and more than in
India. 

Again, the great thirst for riches and material betterment, while spiritual
life is to a great extent ignored, is regarded by us as darkness. The great
conflict already begun between the wealthy classes and the poorer is a sign
of darkness. Were spiritual light prevalent, the rich and the poor would
still be with us, for Karma cannot be blotted out, but the poor would know
how to accept their lot and the rich how to improve the poor; now, on the
contrary, the rich wonder why the poor do not go to the poorhouse, meanwhile
seeking in the laws for cures for strikes and socialism, and the poor
continually growl at fate and their supposed oppressors. All this is of the
quality of spiritual darkness. 


Student. - Is it wise to inquire as to the periods when the cycle changes,
and to speculate on the great astronomical or other changes that herald a
turn. 

Sage. - It is not. There is an old saying that the gods are jealous about
these things, not wishing mortals to know them. We may analyze the age, but
it is better not to attempt to fix the hour of a change of cycle. Besides
that, you will be unable to settle it, because a cycle does not begin on a
day or year clear of any other cycle; they interblend, so that, although the
wheel of one period is still turning, the initial point of another has
already arrived. 


Student. - Are these some of the reasons why Mr. Sinnett was not given
certain definite periods of years about which he asked? 

Sage. - Yes. 


Student. - Has the age in which one lives any effect on the student; and
what is it? 

Sage. - It has effect on every one, but the student after passing along in
his development feels the effect more than the ordinary man. Were it
otherwise, the sincere and aspiring students all over the world would
advance at once to those heights towards which they strive. 

It takes a very strong soul to hold back the age's heavy hand, and it is all
the more difficult because that influence, being a part of the student's
larger life, is not so well understood by him. It operates in the same way
as a structural defect in a vessel. 

All the inner as well as the outer fibre of the man is the result of the
long centuries of earthly lives lived here by his ancestors. 

These sow seeds of thought and physical tendencies in a way that you cannot
comprehend. All those tendencies affect him. Many powers once possessed are
hidden so deep as to be unseen, and he struggles against obstacles
constructed ages ago. 

Further yet are the peculiar alterations brought about in the astral world.
It, being at once a photographic plate, so to say, and also a reflector, has
become the keeper of the mistakes of ages past which it continually reflects
upon us from a plane to which most of us are strangers. In that sense
therefore, free as we suppose ourselves, we are walking about completely
hypnotized by the past, acting blindly under the suggestions thus cast upon
us. 


Student. - Was that why Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do"? 

Sage. - That was one meaning. In one aspect they acted blindly, impelled by
the age, thinking they were right. 

Regarding these astral alterations, you will remember how in the time of
Julian the seers reported that they could see the gods, but they were
decaying, some headless, others flaccid, others minus limbs, and all
appearing weak. The reverence for these ideals was departing, and their
astral pictures had already begun to fade. 


Student. - What mitigation is there about this age? Is there nothing at all
to relieve the picture? 

Sage. - There is one thing peculiar to the present Kali-Yuga that may be
used by the Student. 

All causes now bring about their effects much more rapidly than in any other
or better age. 

A sincere lover of the race can accomplish more in three incarnations under
Kali-Yuga's reign than he could in a much greater number in any other age.
Thus by bearing all the manifold troubles of this Age and steadily
triumphing, the object of his efforts will be more quickly realized, for,
while the obstacles seem great, the powers to be invoked can be reached more
quickly. 


Student. - Even if this is, spiritually considered, a Dark Age, is it not in
part redeemed by the increasing triumphs of mind over matter, and by the
effects of science in mitigating human ills, such as the causes of disease,
disease itself, cruelty, intolerance, bad laws, etc.? 

Sage. - Yes, these are mitigations of the darkness in just the same way that
a lamp gives some light at night but does not restore daylight. In this age
there are great triumphs of science, but they are nearly all directed to
effects and do not take away the causes of the evils. Great strides have
been made in the arts and in cure of diseases, but in the future, as the
flower of our civilization unfolds, new diseases will arise and more strange
disorders will be known, springing from causes that lie deep in the minds of
men and which can only be eradicated by spiritual living. 


Student. - Admitting all you say, are not we, as Theosophists, to welcome
every discovery of truth in any field, especially such truth as lessens
suffering or enlarges the moral sense? 

Sage. - This is our duty. All truths discovered must be parts of the one
Absolute Truth, and so much added to the sum of our outer knowledge. There
will always be a large number of men who seek for these parts of truth, and
others who try to alleviate present human misery. They each do a great and
appointed work that no true Theosophist should ignore. And it is also the
duty of the latter to make similar efforts when possible, for Theosophy is a
dead thing if it is not turned into the life. At the same time, no one of us
may be the judge of just how much or how little our brother is doing in that
direction. If he does all that he can and knows how to do, he does his whole
present duty. 


Student. - I fear that a hostile attitude by Occult teachers towards the
learning and philanthropy of the time may arouse prejudice against Theosophy
and Occultism, and needlessly impede the spread of Truth. May it not be so? 

Sage. - The real Occult Teachers have no hostile attitude toward these
things. If some persons, who like theosophy and try to spread it, take such
a position, they do not thereby alter the one assumed by the real Teachers
who work with all classes of men and use every possible instrument for good.

But at the same time we have found that an excess of the technical and
special knowledge of the day very often acts to prevent men from
apprehending the truth. 


Student. - Are there any causes, other than the spread of Theosophy, which
may operate to reverse the present drift towards materialism? 

Sage. - THE SPREAD OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAWS OF KARMA AND REINCARNATION
AND OF A BELIEF IN THE ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL UNITY OF ALL BEINGS WILL ALONE
PREVENT THIS DRIFT. 

The cycle must, however, run its course, and until that is ended all
beneficial causes will of necessity act slowly and not to the extent they
would in a brighter age. As each student lives a better life and by his
example imprints upon the astral light the picture of a higher aspiration
acted in the world, he thus aids souls of advanced development to descend
from other spheres where the cycles are so dark that they can no longer stay
there. 


Student. - Accept my thanks for your instruction. 

Sage. - May you reach the terrace of enlightenment. 
Path, April, 1888 


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Best wishes


Dallas


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