Theos-Talk Archives (February 2011 Message tt00141)

Let us wait and see what happens.

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:28 AM, Govert Schuller <schuller@qSFf4UCnpFfO_Ez0ZvfZH94BdK9FnJXZqd9krBe8bho6NDY2grKEy7AcCwX7yk5W3FN_SLIdcL2hOSBSYso.yahoo.invalid>wrote:

>
>
> 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@qSFf4UCnpFfO_Ez0ZvfZH94BdK9FnJXZqd9krBe8bho6NDY2grKEy7AcCwX7yk5W3FN_SLIdcL2hOSBSYso.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@qSFf4UCnpFfO_Ez0ZvfZH94BdK9FnJXZqd9krBe8bho6NDY2grKEy7AcCwX7yk5W3FN_SLIdcL2hOSBSYso.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 (unpublished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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