Theos-Talk Archives (September 2006 Message tt00461)

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

Daniel
http://hpb.cc