Theos-Talk Archives (September 2008 Message tt00051)

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

This letter of Mr. Leadbeater is indeed most surprising. I am sure
most of the officers in TS don't know about this letter. Style of
writing seems to be that of Mr. Leadbeater and this letter does not
appear to be fake. 
Many serious students of spirituality found big problems in
personality and work of Madame Blavatsky. This letter of Mr. C.W.
Leadbeater seems to explain that incredible complexity. If this letter
is not accepted, there is required some other explanation of her
complex personality and work. I have not read any better explanation. 
This is most surprising information to students of Theosophy. Please
note the words "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. " These words of CWL reduce Blavatsky to "ill-tempered,
ignorant old Tibet woman" and " the terrible old woman"

There are some more aspects to this topic. Reputation of TS depended
on reputation of Blavatsky. And so, even when CWL knew problems with
Blavatsky, he tended to defend her in public and avoided speaking
about those problems. In this private letter CWL spoke plainly about
those issues related to Blavatsky's personality and work.
I would also like to see more research on this letter as it completely
changes the understanding of the personality called HPB.
Best
Anand Gholap