Theos-Talk Archives (June 2005 Message tt00420)

I invite interested readers to compare the 
T. Subba/Leadbeater explanation about Madame Blavatsky
with what Master Koot Hoomi wrote to Colonel Olcott
about Madame Blavatsky.

In a letter dated June 14th, 1885 from Adyar, Madras,
India, Charles Leadbeater wrote: 

"Subba Row related to us recently more concerning 
Madame's remarkable complex character than I, at 
least, had previously known; and it shows us plainly 
how foolish it would be to blame her for what in 
anyone else would be called a want of common moral 
qualities. We were right in believing that the 
original H. P. Blavatsky, who was by nature clairvoyant 
and who had some knowledge of occultism, disappeared 
from earth life some twenty years ago, and that a 
certain Adept, who in some way had failed to reach 
his goal, voluntarily took possession of her body, 
or was placed there --- partly as a punishment, in 
order to do all in his power to promulgate the truth 
through her. We likewise understood rightly that when 
engaged on other business he was frequently absent 
from this body. But now I come to a point about which 
I was completely in error. I thought that during the absence of the 
Adept, the body was in a state similar to that of Margrave in Bulwer 
Lytton's "Strange Story," only animated by its original lower 
constituents. But it seems this was not the case. At her death, all 
the usual constituents of the body left it as with that of others, 
and the present inhabitant had to supply the whole want from his own 
organisation. For this purpose two Chelas, but little versed in 
occultism, were selected to take the Adept's place when
necessary; and as no Adept or Chela can enter into a woman's body 
during times of illness, at such times it had to be taken possession 
of by a terrible ill-tempered, ignorant old Tibet woman, in place of 
the Adept or Chelas, as she was the only female available for this 
purpose. It seems that when either of the four replaced one of the 
others, he or she had no idea of what had been said or done by the 
predecessor, and thus endless confusion occurred. This explains the 
fact that Madame so often contradicts what she had said a few hours 
previously, which fact naturally greatly excited Hodgson's 
suspicions. It likewise accounts for the fact that sometimes she 
seems to know less about occultism than we ourselves do, while at 
others she speaks with the power and authority of a Rishi. For 
months together, in consequence of her various illnesses, the 
terrible old woman alone has inhabited her almost all the time, and 
all around her have suffered from her ill-temper. Still the Adept 
maintains his connection, in the hope, as we think, to be able to 
complete his promulgation of the "secret doctrine" through her. 
Whether this poor diseased body will hold together long enough for 
this purpose no one at present can predict. Of course this true 
explanation is useless for outsiders. But I think I can give even to 
them a satisfactory explanation of Madame's contradictions
without attributing intentional untruth to her, when I inform them 
that, as a Russian, she was prone to exaggeration, coupled with an 
unretentive memory and an excitable style of speaking; and 
especially when we consider that English is not her mother tongue 
... and therefore she often makes mistakes. Poor old lady! her life 
has truly been a wonderful one, and who can say what will still come 
of it!'
Quoted from:
http://blavatskyarchives.com/anoncomplex.htm

In a letter received August 22, 1888, Master Koot Hoomi wrote
as follows on H.P. Blavatsky:

"...we employ agents -- the best available. Of these for the past
thirty years the chief has been the personality known as H. P. B. to
the world (but otherwise to us). Imperfect and very troublesome, no
doubt, she proves to some, nevertheless, there is no likelihood of
our finding a better one for years to come -- and your theosophists
should be made to understand it....

...Her fidelity to our work being constant, and her sufferings
having come upon her thro' it, neither I nor either of my Brother
associates will desert or supplant her....

...this you must tell to all: -- With occult matters she has
everything to do. We have not abandoned her; she is not 'given over
to chelas.' She is our direct agent....

I have also noted, your thoughts about the 'Secret Doctrine.' Be
assured that what she has not annotated from scientific and other
works, we have given or suggested to her. Every mistake or erroneous
notion, corrected and explained by her from the works of other
theosophists was corrected by me, or under my instruction. . . .
K.H."

Quoted from: Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series,
Letter 19, 5th edition.

See also my essay titled:

"Bear Witness!": Who Was the Real H.P.B.?
http://blavatskyarchives.com/whitelotus2000.htm

Daniel
http://hpb.cc