Theos-Talk Archives (February 2011 Message tt00139)

The Philipine TS would publish the manuscript, but haven't decided yet. 

I have seen the download possibilities. 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 11:29 AM
  Subject: Re: theos-talk Hodson on Rishi Agastya


    
  Thanks

  On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 8:52 AM, Govert Schuller <schuller@mMFSpxd45umDIX0RNGatL-0u89xIar1RqBhfoMaqNegrikoWrF0fYxUjEzOwJMuZuY2ApcpXsrxyfZ7j.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@mMFSpxd45umDIX0RNGatL-0u89xIar1RqBhfoMaqNegrikoWrF0fYxUjEzOwJMuZuY2ApcpXsrxyfZ7j.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 (unpublished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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  >
  > 
  >

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