Theos-Talk Archives (February 2011 Message tt00134)

Thanks

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 8:52 AM, Govert Schuller <schuller@CXsYe1v-2MkAIXtpGFlXwFp3RvdDIohDIwH8MiOlbiGJLQV6f2uA4LZjXRjyDTDoLhsc86K5VYUOnahaQ-s.yahoo.invalid>wrote:

>
>
> Hodson's biography "Aquarian Occultist" was written in 1971 with the help
> of Hodson himself. It was never published.
>
> One of the TS sections has the full manuscript and might publish it. I'll
> ask about the status of the project.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: MKR
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:41 AM
> Subject: Re: theos-talk Hodson on Rishi Agastya
>
> Where can I get hold of Acquarian Occultist? Available online?
>
> On Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 8:09 PM, Govert Schuller <schuller@CXsYe1v-2MkAIXtpGFlXwFp3RvdDIohDIwH8MiOlbiGJLQV6f2uA4LZjXRjyDTDoLhsc86K5VYUOnahaQ-s.yahoo.invalid
> >wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > My own summary was as follows:
> >
> > In the 1960s he [Hodson] was Director at the School of the Wisdom at the
> > headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar. On one of the trips
> with
> > his students they visited one of the four monastic centers established by
> > the sage Sri Shankaracharya at the city of Conjeeveram. Here the group
> was
> > received by the reigning administrative head who, by tradition, also was
> > named Sri Shankaracharya. After the group audience Hodson had a private
> > meeting with him and was asked to submit any question he still had. One
> of
> > them was if the Rishi Agastya was still the "Spiritual Guardian of India"
> > and still reachable. Sri Shankaracharya answered that the Rishi was still
> in
> > his physical body and lived in the Himalayas. See: John K. Robertson
> > "Aquarian Occultist: The Life and Teachings of Geoffrey Hodson"
> (unpublished
> > MS, 1971), 292.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: MKR
> > To: theos-talk
> > Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 4:18 PM
> > Subject: theos-talk Hodson on Rishi Agastya
> >
> > There have been discussions among theosophical students about the Adept
> > known as Rishi Agastya. Very little is known about Him, which should not
> > surprise anyone. Here is an account of an inquiry by Hodson about Him.
> This
> > is extracted from - LIght of the Sanctuary - his personal diary.
> >
> > ***
> >
> > On another occasion, having heard that another holy man was visiting
> > Conjeeveram, [a city close to Chennai] I sent a request through a local
> > Theosophist, to know whether he would receive the students of the School
> of
> > the Wisdom.
> >
> > That was none other than the reigning Shri Shankaracharya, administrative
> > and spiritual head of the whole monastic centre, or mutt as it is called,
> > of
> > the ancient temple centre at Conjeeveram. The office has been held in an
> > unbroken line since the days of Shri Shankaracharya Himself, twentythree
> or
> > four hundred years ago, according to Subba Row, one of the early
> > Theosophists and occultists connected with our Society. The Lord Shri
> > Shankaracharya is regarded occultly as a voluntary incarnation of one of
> > the
> > Lords of the Flame following the Lord Buddha to correct certain
> > misconceptions, using some of the Lord Buddha's subtle vehicles.
> >
> > Amongst other things, He established four such temple centres and
> ordained,
> > as we would say in Christianity, the first of an unbroken series of
> > representatives of Him to bear His Name and preside over these centres
> > continuously down the ages. As far as I know, this has been kept up, and
> > the
> > finest human beings available are called to occupy these positions,
> > regarded
> > as amongst the highest in India.
> >
> > Our request for audience was granted. We arrived on a Sunday morning, and
> > in
> > due time were led into his presence. He had chosen a walled garden a mile
> > or
> > so outside the city of Conjeeveram. It was a sacred place, because for
> long
> > years a holy man had lived and died there. We went in through the garden
> > gate. Nobody seemed to be there at first, until, over on one side, right
> > across the garden, we saw a figure sitting on a mat under a tree. He was
> in
> > a yellow robe with a chaplet of leaves around his head. In front of him
> was
> > spread Japanese matting to which we were led. The Europeans saluted him
> in
> > the usual fashion, and the Indians prostrated themselves before him.
> >
> > We sat down and, as the leader, I expressed gratitude to him for granting
> > us
> > this audience, addressing him as "Your Holiness", which is his title
> among
> > his people, and told him who we were. He spoke very good English, but an
> > interpreter helped, and he began to ask all the students questions in
> tum.
> > Interestingly enough, these questions were about their Lodges and how
> many
> > members, what they did, and what they taught ...
> >
> > All of us bore testimony afterwards to being bathed in an atmosphere of
> > peace in the presence of this slight figure. Looking at him you would
> never
> > have thought that he held one of the highest positions in ecclesiastical
> > India, so humble was he, but he did.
> >
> > Towards the end I asked him if he would give us all a message to take
> back
> > to the world for ourselves. He had a peculiar habit of closing his eyes
> and
> > being silent for quite a time after every question, clearly allowing his
> > consciousness to slip back to where it seemed to be normally living. in a
> > higher realm. That was very marked with him, it appeared to me. The
> eyelids
> > were half-closed much of the time until his full attention was arrested.
> > Then the eyes were open and alive.
> >
> > He said, "Fix your mind upon God. Keep it there always, and whenever it
> > tends to move away from the thought of God, bring it back instantly,
> until
> > at last it becomes a habit always to keep one part of your mind
> > contemplating God." He also spoke of universal truths that other holy men
> > had stressed. For example, that you can do nothing in the spiritual life
> > until you have purity of heart. Shiva said the same several times.
> >
> > Purity of heart is of the utmost importance, meaning that there must be
> no
> > thought of personal gain or personal reward whatever from any attainment
> > spiritually that may be reached. Finally, this successor in office to the
> > great original Shri Shankaracharya held up his right hand and said, "This
> > is
> > the blessing."
> >
> > And certainly some of the members of the School, next morning, when we
> went
> > over it all, bore testimony to having felt a descent of blessing. As we
> > withdrew from this unforgettable experience, one of the men attendants
> came
> > to me before we left the garden, and said that His Holiness would see me
> > alone for a few minutes if I wished. I felt very highly honoured, of
> > course.
> > and went back, knowing that it was only because I was the Director of
> > Studies of the School of the Wisdom.
> >
> > He asked if there were any questions that I, personally, would like to
> ask.
> > He made me feel completely at home with him, never any embarrassment at
> > all.
> > I did ask a number of questions, but I wish I had been more prepared for
> > the
> > opportunity. One felt that one did not have any questions in his
> presence.
> > As a result of Theosophical studies, one's mind isn't really filled with
> > questions.
> >
> > I did ask him whether the Rishi Agastya was still in India, guarding it,
> > fulfilling His Office, still reachable by men, and could be seen. He went
> > off into silence, and then asked if I meant in the physical body. I
> > answered
> > that that was said to be the belief. He went off again for some time
> before
> > answering. Then he said that the Rishi Agastya was still in His physical
> > body, but not here; that He lived in the Himalayas. Then again he held up
> > his hand and said, "This is the blessing." I further thanked him on
> behalf
> > of us all and withdrew.
> >
> > I have been asked if I looked at his aura. I had not. I forbore to try to
> > look at him in any kind of a research method, because I felt it would be
> > unfitting and perhaps an impertinence. I was only aware that the slight
> > figure was surrounded by a great light and that he was a highly advanced
> > person . .. Such were the rich extra-curricular activities of our school.
> >
> > MKR
> >
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> >
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> >
> >
> >
>
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>  
>


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