Theos-Talk Archives (September 2006 Message tt00177)

Reprinted from THE ECLECTIC THEOSOPHIST, No. 101, September-October 
1987, p. 1

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"SERVICE TO THAT SUPREME SPIRIT ALONE..."

In 1900 a B. W. Mantri of India, wrote a letter to Annie Besant, then
in England, dated August 22. When A.B. opened it she found on its 
back some lines in the well-known blue pencilling of the MASTER K. 
H. In the volume published in 1919 by the Theosophical Publishing 
House of Adyar this letter and the blue penciled lines are 
reproduced and are included in all subsequent reprintings. (Letter 
46, p.99. Letters from the Masters of Wisdom, first series, 4th, 
5th, 6th edition.) In the 1948 printing Mr. C. Jinarajadasa adds 
some historical comments and includes also some letters newly found 
and never before printed from K.H. to Laura Holloway, H.P.B., and 
Olcott.

The penciled lines from K.H. to Mrs. Besant in the 1900 letter,
however, were never published in completeness, as ellipses dots 
indicate, the editors omitting certain lines they considered too 
private for public reading.

The following now is the complete Letter, earlier omissions being
indicated in bold [ALL CAPS in this online edition at Theos-Talk]
letters. The earnest student will study these omissions which in 
context reveal the Master's fuller and clear advise. The time indeed 
may be propitious for their disclosure. The first sentence evidently 
has reference to Mr. B. K. Mantri. - Ed. [W. Emmett Small, Editor of 
THE ECLECTIC THEOSOPHIST]
                        
                       [------------------------]

A psychic and a pranayamist who has got confused by the vagaries of 
the members. The T.S. and its members are slowly manufacturing a 
creed. Says a Thibetan proverb "credulity breeds credulity and ends 
in hypocrisy." How few are they who can know anything about us. Are 
we to be propitiated and made idols of. IS THE WORSHIP OF A NEW 
TRINITY MADE UP OF THE BLESSED M., UPASIKA AND YOURSELF TO TAKE THE 
PLACE OF EXPLODED CREEDS. WE ASK NOT FOR THE WORSHIP OF OURSELVES. 
THE DISCIPLE SHOULD IN NO WAY BE FETTERED. BEWARE OF AN ESOTERIC 
POPERY. The intense desire to see Upasika reincarnate at once has 
raised a misleading Mayavic ideation. Upasika has useful work to
do on higher planes and cannot come again so soon. The T.S. must 
safely be ushered into the new century. YOU HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN 
UNDER DELUDING INFLUENCES. SHUN PRIDE, VANITY AND LOVE OF POWER. BE 
NOT GUIDED BY EMOTION BUT LEARN TO STAND ALONE. BE ACCURATE AND 
CRITICAL RATHER THAN CREDULOUS. THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST IN THE OLD 
RELIGIONS MUST NOT BE GLOSSED OVER WITH IMAGINARY EXPLANATIONS. THE 
E.S.T. MUST BE REFORMED SO AS TO BE AS UNSECTARIAN AND CREEDLESS AS 
THE T.S. THE RULES MUST BE FEW AND SIMPLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. No 
one has the right to claim authority over a pupil or his conscience. 
Ask him not what he believes. ALL WHO ARE SINCERE AND PURE
MINDED MUST HAVE ADMITTANCE. The crest wave of intellectual 
advancement must be taken hold of and guided into spirituality. It 
cannot be forced into beliefs and emotional worship. The essence of 
the higher thoughts of the members in their collectivity must guide 
all action in the T.S. and E.S. We never try to subject to ourselves 
the will of another. At favourable times we let loose elevating 
influences which strike various persons in various ways. It is the 
collective aspect of many such thoughts that can give the correct 
note of action. We show no favours. The best corrective of error is 
an honest and open-minded examination of all facts subjective and 
objective. MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS 
ORGANIZATIONS. The cant about "Masters" must be silently but
firmly put down. Let the devotion and service be to that Supreme 
Spirit alone of which each [1] one is a part. Namelessly and 
silently we work and the continual references to ourselves and the 
repetition of our names raises up a confused aura that hinders our 
work. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE A GOOD DEAL OF YOUR EMOTIONS AND 
CREDULITY BEFORE YOU BECOME A SAFE GUIDE AMONG THE INFLUENCES THAT 
WILL COMMENCE TO WORK IN THE NEW CYCLE. The T.S. was meant to be the 
corner-stone of the future religions of humanity. To accomplish this 
object those who lead must leave aside their weak predilections for 
the forms and ceremonies of any particular creed and show themselves 
to be true Theosophists both in inner thoughts and outward 
observance. The greatest of your trials is yet to come. We watch 
over you but you must put forth all your strength.

                                                      K.H.

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[1] In THE ECLECTIC THEOSOPHIST transcription of this letter, the 
word "each" is omitted but the original letter has this word.  See 
the photofacsimile of the actual letter below.

"Facsimile of 1900 KH Letter to Mrs. Annie Besant" can be viewed at:

http://blavatskyarchives.com/kh1900p1.htm