Theos-Talk Archives (July 2007 Message tt00457)

In 1882, Colonel Henry S. Olcott testified:

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...I know the Brothers [Masters, Mahatmas] to be living men and not 
Spirits; and they have told me that there are schools, under 
appointed living adepts, where their Occult science is regularly 
taught....
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Quoted from:  http://blavatskyarchives.com/olcott11.html

In 1881, Damodar K. Mavalankar wrote about the "Chief Central
Place" of the Mahatmas as follows:

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...Brother K -- [Koot Hoomi] ordered me to follow him. After going a
short distance of about half a mile we came to a natural
subterranean passage which is under the Himalayas. The path is very
dangerous. There is a natural causeway on the River Indus which
flows underneath in all its fury. Only one person can walk on it at
a time and one false step seals the fate of the traveller. Besides
this causeway there are several valleys to be crossed. After walking
a considerable distance through this subterraneous passage we came
into an open plain in L-----k. There is a large massive building
thousands of years old. In front of it is a huge Egyptian Tau. The
building rests on 7 big pillars in the form of pyramids. The
entrance gate has a large triangular arch. Inside are various
apartments. The building is so large that I think it can easily
contain twenty thousand people. I was shown some of these
compartments. This is the Chief Central Place where all those of our
Section who are found deserving of Initiation into Mysteries have to
go for their final ceremony and stay there the requisite period. I
went up with my Guru to the Great Hall. The grandeur and serenity of
the place is enough to strike any one with awe. The beauty of the
Altar which is in the centre and at which every candidate has to
take his vows at the time of his Initiation is sure to dazzle the
most brilliant eyes. The splendour of the CHIEF'S Throne is
uncomparable. Every thing is on a geometrical principle & containing
various symbols which are explained only to the Initiate. But I
cannot say more now as I come now under an obligation of Secresy
which K---- took from me there. While standing there I do not know
what happened but suddenly I got up & found myself in my bed. It was
about 8 in the morning. What was that I saw? Was it a dream or a
reality? If a reality, how could I traverse the whole of the
Himalayas even in my astral body in so short a time? Perplexed with
these ideas I was sitting silent when down fell a note on my nose. I
opened it and found inside that it was not a dream but that I was
taken in some mysterious way in my astral body to the real place of
Initiation where I shall be in my body for the Ceremony if I show
myself deserving of the blessing. My joy at that moment can be
easily conjectured than described -- But enough....
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Quoted from:
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/damodar/dam5.htm#wqj

Daniel
Blavatsky Study Center
http://hpb.cc