Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett - 1923
By A. T. Barker
Letter No XVII
Received Simla, June, 1882.
(i) Some fifth round men have already begun to appear on earth. In what way are they distinguishable from fourth round men of the seventh earthly incarnation? I suppose they are in the first incarnation of the fifth round and that a tremendous advance will be achieved when the fifth round people get to their seventh incarnation.
(1) The natural-born Seers and clairvoyants of Mrs. A. Kingsford and Mr. Maitland's types; the great adepts of whatsoever country; the geniuses—whether in art, politics or religious reform. No great physical distinction yet : too early and will come later on. Quite so. If you turn to Appendix No. F you will find it explained.
(2) But if a first-fifth round man devoted himself to occultism and became an adept, would he escape further earthly incarnations ?
(2) No; if we except Buddha—a sixth round being, as he had run so successfully the race in his previous incarnations as to outrun even his predecessors. But then such a man is to be found in a billion of human creatures. He differed from other men as much in his physical appearance as in spirituality and knowledge. Yet even he escaped further reincarnations but on this earth; and, when the last of the sixth round men of the third ring is gone out of this earth, the Great Teacher will have to get reincarnated on the next planet. Only, and since He sacrificed Nirvanic bliss and Rest for the salvation of his fellow creatures He will be re-born in the highest—the seventh ring of the upper planet. Till then He will overshadow every decimillenium (let us rather say and add ** has overshadowed already " a chosen individual who generally overturned the destinies of nations. See Isis, Vol. I, pp. 34 and 35 last and first para, on the pages).
(3) Is there any essential spiritual difference between a man and a woman, or is sex a mere accident of each birth—the ultimate future of the individual furnishing the same opportunity?
(3) A mere accident—as you say. Generally a chance work yet guided by individual Karma,—moral aptitudes, characteristics and deeds of a previous birth.
(4) The majority of the superior classes of civilized countries onearth now, I understand to be seventh '* ring " people (i.e. of theseventh earthly incarnation) of the fourth round. The Australianaborigines I understand to be a low ring? which? and are thelower and inferior classes of civilized countries of various ringsor of the ring just below the seventh. And are all seventh ringpeople born in the superior classes or may not some be bornamong the poor?
(4) Not necessarily. Refinement, polishedness, and brillianteducation, in your sense of these w^ords have very little to dowith the course of higher Nature's Law. Take a seventh ringAfrican or a fifth ring Mongolian and you can educate him—if taken from the cradle—save his physical appearance, andtransform him into the most brilliant and accomplished Englishlord. Yet, he will still remain but an outwardly intellectualparrot. (See Appendix No. II).
(5) The Old Lady told me that the bulk of the inhabitants of thiscountry are in some respects less advanced than European thoughmore spiritual. Are they on a lower ring of the same roundi—ordoes the difference refer to some principle of national cycles whichhas nothing to do with individual progress?
(5) Most of the peoples of India belong to the oldest or theearliest branchlet of the fifth human Race. I have desired M.to end his letter to you with a short summary of the last scientifictheory of your learned Ethnographers and Naturalists, to savemyself work. Read what he writes and then turn to No. Ill of my Appendix.
What is the explanation of " Ernest '' and Eglinton's otherguide? Are they elementaries drawing their conscious vitalityfrom him or elementals masquerading? When " Ernest'* tookthat sheet of *' Pioneer " notepaper how did he contrive to get it without mediumship at this end?
I can assure you it is not worth your while now to study thetrue natures of the *' Ernests *' and '* Joeys " and '* otherguides '* as unless you become acquainted with the evolutionof the corruptions of elemental dross, and those of the sevenprinciples in man—^you would find yourself at a loss to understand—^what they really are; there are no written statutes forthem, and they can hardly be expected to pay their friends andadmirers the compliment of truth, silence or forbearing. Ifsome are related to them as some soulless physical mediumsare—^they shall meet. If not—better leave them alone. Theygravitate but to their like—the mediums; and their relation is not made but forced by foolish and sinful phenomena-mongers. They are both elementaries and elementals—at best a low mischievous degrading jangle. You want to embrace too much knowledge at once, my dear friend; you cannot attain at a bound all the mysteries. See however Appendix—which is in reality a letter.
I do not know Subba Row—who is a pupil of M. At least —he knows very little of me. Yet 1 know, he will never consent to come to Simla. But if ordered by Morya will teach from Madras, i.e., correct the MSS. as M. did, comment upon them, answer questions, and be very, very useful. He has a perfect reverence and adoration for H.P.B.
K. H.
