Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett - 1923
By A. T. Barker
Letter No XXI
Received back 22.8.82.
August 1 2th.
My dear Guardian, I am afraid the present letters on Theosophy are not worthmuch, for I have worked on too literal an acceptance of somepassages in your long letter about Deva-Chan. The bearing ofthat seemed to be that the '* accidents " as well as the suicides,were in danger from the attraction of the seance room. Youwrote :
" But there is another kind of spirit we have lost sight of, —the suicides and those killed by accidents. Both kinds can communicate and both have to pay dearly for such visits. . . ." Correct.
And later on after speaking of the case of the suicides in detail ^ou say : — *
As to the victims of accident these fare still worse . unhappy shades . . . cut off in the full flush of earthly passions . . . they are the pisachas etc. . . . They not only ruin their victims etc. . . ." Again correct. Bear in mind that the exceptions enforce the rule.
And if they are neither very good nor very bad the " victims of accident or violence," derive a new set of skandhas from the medium who attracts them. I have explained the situation on the margin of proofs. See note.
It was on this text that I have been working.
If this is not to be maintained or if in some way that as yet I cannot understand the words bear a different signification from that which seems to belong to them, it might be better to cancel these two letters altogether or hold them over for complete alteration. The warning is delivered in too solemn a tone and the danger is made too much of if it is merely to apply to suicide, and in the last slip of the proof the elimination of ** the accidents and " makes the rest rather ridiculous because then we are dividing suicides only into the very pure and elevated ! and the medium people etc.
It seems to me that it would hardly do to let even letter (i) stand alone,—though it does not include this mistake, for it would have no raison d'etre unless followed up by letter (2).
Both letters have gone home to Stainton Moses for trans- mission to Light—the first by the mail from here of July 21, the second by last mail—yesterday. Now if you decide that it is better to stop and cancel them I shall just be in time to telegraph home to explain to Moses to that effect, and will do this directly I receive a telegram from you or from the Old Lady to that efi^ect.
If nothing is done they will appear in Light as written—i.e. as the MS. sent with the present proof stood barring a few little mistakes which I see my wife has made in copying them out.
It is altogether a very awkward tangle. I was precipitate apparently in sending them home, but I thought I had followed the statement of your long devachan letter so faithfully.
Awaiting orders,
Ever your devoted A. P. S
On margin I said ** rarely ** but 1 have not pronounced theword ** never.** Accidents occur under the most variouscircumstances; and men are not only killed accidentally, or dieas suicides but are also murdered—something v^e have not eventouched upon. I can v/ell understand your perplexity but canhardly help you. Bear always in mind that there are exceptionsto every rule, and to these again and other side exceptions,and be always prepared to learn something new. 1 can easilyunderstand we are acciised of contradictions and inconsistencies—aye, even to writing one thing and denying it to-morrow.What you were taught is the rule. Good and pure " accidents '* sleep in the Akasa, ignorant of their change; very wicked andimpure suffer all the tortures of a horrible nightmare. Themajority—neither very good nor very bad, the victims ofaccident or violence (including murder)—some sleep, othersbecome Nature pisachas, and while a small minority mayfallvictims to mediums and derive a new set of skandhas from themedium who attracts them. Small as their number may be,their fate is to be the most deplored. What I said in my noteson your MSS. was in reply to Mr. Hume's statistical calculationswhich led him to infer that ** there were more Spirits thanshells in the seance room " in such a case.
You have much to learn—and we have much to teach nordo we refuse to go to the very end. But we must really begthat you should not jump at hasty conclusions. I do not blameyou, my dear faithful friend, I would j^ather blame myself, wereanyone here to be blamed except our respective modesofthought and habit so diametrically opposed to each other.Accustomed as we are to teach chelas who know enough tofind themselves beyond the necessity of *' if*s ** and *' hut's,**during the lessons, I am but too apt to forget that I am doingthe work with you generally entrusted to these chelas. Henceforth, I will take more time in answering your questions. Yourletters to London can do no harm, and are sure, on the contrary to do good. They are admirably written and the exceptions may be mentioned and the whole ground covered in oneof the future letters.
I have no objection to your making extracts for ColonelChesney—except one—he is not a Theosophist. Only be careful, and do not forget your details and exceptions wheneveryou explain your rules. Remember still even in the case ofsuicides there are many who will never allow themselves to bedrawn into the vortex of mediumship, and pray do not accuseme of ** inconsistency " or contradiction when we come to thatpoint. Could you but know how I write my letters and thetime I am enabled to give to them, perchance you would feel less critical if not exacting. Well and how do you like Djual Khool's idea and art? I have not caught a glimpse of Simla the last ten days.
Affectionately yours,K.H.
