Theos-Talk Archives (March 2007 Message tt00165)

Sinnett's and Leadbeater's 
Claims:   Part 1

In 1894, A.P. Sinnett writes in "Light" magazine [issue of March 3, 
1894, p. 107] about two chelas of the Masters --- C.W. Leadbeater and 
Maude Travers. He doesn't mention them by their actual names in this 
article written for the public but simply refers to them by letters 
[D and E] of the alphabet.

Sinnett tells his audience:

----------------------------------------------
...To begin with, fifteen years ago [1879] I first heard from Madame 
Blavatsky a statement concerning great initiates of occult science 
who had attained to wonderfully exalted knowledge, spiritual insight, 
and power over natural forces of which modern science knew nothing. 
Madame Blavatsky claimed to have lived for a time amongst them; and 
to have learned some of their teachings. She proved that she 
possessed some abnormal faculties and powers....

...I had been receiving a long series of letters reaching me, 
apparently from certain Mahatmas, under peculiar circumstances 
described in my books (mainly, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, through the 
intermediation of Madame Blavatsky), and conveying a mass of teaching 
which in due time I was enabled to publish, and in which great 
numbers of people have found a better clue to the comprehension of 
their own nature and of the world around them than any previously 
known religion or philosophy afforded. [CAPS ADDED.]

One all-important fact thus revealed was that the avenues of 
initiation were still open for people who were qualified to advance 
along them; that the "Masters," though in seclusion, were not 
inaccessible for persons in whom certain interior faculties were ripe 
for development.  Many persons, including some Europeans whom I know, 
were inspired by this revelation to make the necessary exertions, and 
beginning with the opportunities afforded by the Theosophical 
Society, have learned to transfer their consciousness to the astral 
plane, to get about freely on that level of Nature, to obtain access 
to the Mahatmas, and to recognise, as also astral pupils, friends 
whom they know in the flesh.  

One such person, a European [Charles W. Leadbeater] whose development 
has taken place since the formation of the Theosophical Society, 
first came into CONSCIOUS RELATION with the Mahatmas while working 
for Theosophy in India in connection with the [Theosophical 
Society's] headquarters at Adyar, sharing his progress, so to speak, 
with friends and pupils of Madame Blavatsky's.   Another [Maude 
Travers] gained the same privileges here in Europe, scarcely knowing 
Madame Blavatsky, and wholly unconnected with the T. S. organization 
in India.  [CAPS ADDED.]

Within the last year or two other Europeans and one person of Eastern 
parentage [C. Jinarajadasa?], among my own circle of intimate 
friends, have in varying degrees acquired the faculty of 
consciousness on the astral plane, and of clairvoyance while in the 
ordinary state, so as to be able to hold converse, when permitted, 
with some of the Mahatmas, or to see them when they or some of their 
disciples have come astrally among us. 

...Let me call them [these witnesses to the reality of the Mahatmas] 
by letters of the alphabet, to show more definitely how their 
testimony hangs together. 

D. [Charles W. Leadbeater] is advanced as a chela, and as much at 
home on the astral plane, and as fully reminiscent of all that 
happens to him there, as though the matters dealt with were 
yesterday's doings in the flesh.  On the astral plane he constantly 
sees E [Maude Travers]., F., and H., all of whom know him and know 
one another on this plane of life, discuss what takes place when WITH 
THE MASTERS, after returning to their normal condition, and are in 
all respects themselves completely in THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS on the 
higher plane. [CAPS ADDED.]

E. [Maude Travers] --- Everything just said of D. [Leadbeater] 
applies also to E.[Maude Travers], if possible in fuller measure.  
Occultly E. [Travers] is still further advanced.   D. and E. knew one 
another on the astral plane before they were acquainted in physical 
life.  E. knows others of the Masters besides those of whom 
Theosophic literature has treated, sees on the astral plane (as D.
[Leadbeater] does also) both in and out of the body....

Coupling all these facts with the fact that since Madame Blavatsky's 
death, and through purely European channels, I have exchanged 
letters, and am still in a position to do so, when necessary (though 
common sense will show that under the circumstances described it 
cannot be often necessary for me to do so) WITH THE SAME MASTER [Koot 
Hoomi] who wrote to me when I was at work on "Esoteric Buddhism," I 
should think that any of your readers who can trust the honesty of my 
assurances will recognise that I have tolerably sufficient grounds on 
which to reply in the affirmative to the well-worn old question, "Do 
the Mahatmas really exist?" [CAPS ADDED.]

-----------------------------------------
Sinnett's testimony is quoted from:
http://blavatskyarchives.com/sinnettmah.htm

Continued in Part 2....

Daniel
http://hpb.cc