Theos-Talk Archives (September 2008 Message tt00046)

Compare T. Subba Row's and C. W. Leadbeater's explanation with Master 
Koot Hoomi's explanation 

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I invite interested readers to compare the
T. Subba Row/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 to 
Colonel Henry Olcott 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