Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett - 1923
By A. T. Barker
Letter No LXXXV
To On-e of the Vice-Presidents or Councillors of " The Lcmdon Lodge,"Theosophical Society, from K.H.
To the Members of the '* London Lodge," Theosophical Society,—Friends and Opponents,
I have just ordered two telegrams to be sent to Mrs. A. Kingsford and Mr. A. P. Sinnett to notify both that the former shouldcontinue to be the President of the ' ' London Lodge ' ' Theos.Society.
This is not the desire alone of either of us two, known to Mr.Sinnett, or of both, but the express wish of the Chohan Himself.Mrs. Kingsford's election is not a matter of personal feelingbetween ourselves and that lady but rests entirely on the advisability of having at the head of the Society, in a place like London,a person well suited to the standard and aspirations of the(sofar) ignorant (of esoteric truths) and therefore, malicious pubhc.Nor is it a matter of the slightest consequence whether the giftedPresident of the ** London Lodge " Theos. Soc. entertains feel-ings of reverence or disrespect toward the humble and unknownindividuals at the head of the Tibetan Good Law,—or the writerof the present, or any of his Brothers—but rather a questionwhether the said lady is fitted for the purpose we have all at heart,namely the dissemination of Truth through Esoteric doctrines,conveyed by whatever religious channel, and the effacementofcrass materialism and blind prejudice and scepticism. Asthelady has rightly observed, the Western public should understandthe Theosophical Society to be "a Philosophical School consti-tuted on the ancient Hermetic basis "—that public having neverheard of the Tibetan, and entertaining very perverted notionsofthe Esoteric Buddhist System. Therefore, and so far, we agreewith the remarks embodied in the letter written by Mrs. K.toMadam B. and which the latter was asked to ** submit to K.H.";and, we would remind our members of the " L.L. " in this refer-ence, that Hermetic Philosophy is universal and unsectarian, while the Tibetan School, will ever be regarded by those who know little, if anything of it, as coloured more or less with sectarianism. The former knowing neither caste, nor colour, nor creed, no lover of Esoteric wisdom can have any objection to the name, which otherwise he might feel were the Society to which he belongs to be placarded with a specific denomination pertaining to a distinct religion. Hermetic Philosophy suits every creed and philosophy and clashes with none. It is the boundless ocean of Truth, the central point whither Hows and wherein meet every river, as every stream—whether its source be in the East, West, North, or South. As the course of the river depends upon the nature of its basin, so the channel for communication of Knowledge must conform it- self to surrounding circumstances. The Egyptian Hierophant, the Chaldean Mage, the Arhat, and the Rishi, were bound in days of yore on the same voyage of discovery and ultimately arrived at the same goal though by different tracks. There are even at the present moment three centres of the Occult Brotherhood in existence, widely separated geographically, and as widely exoterically—the true esoteric doctrine being identical in substance though differing in terms ; all aiming at the same grand object, but no two agreeing seemingly in the details of procedure. It is an every day occurrence to find students belonging to different schools of occult thought sitting side by side at the feet of the same Guru. Upasika (Madam B.) and Subba Row, though pupils of the same Master, have not followed the same Philosophy—the one is Buddhist and the other an Adwaitee. Many prefer to call themselves Buddhists not because the word attaches itself to the ecclesiastical system built upon the basic ideas of our Lord Gautama Buddha's philosophy but because of the Sanskrit word ** Buddhi "—wisdom, enlightenment; and as a silent protest to the vain rituals and empty ceremonials, which have in too many cases been productive of the greatest calamities. Such also is the origin of the Chaldean term Mage.
Thus it is plain that the methods of Occultism, though in the main unchangeable, has yet to conform to altered times and cir- cumstances. The state of the general Society of England—quite different from that of India, where our existence is a matter of common and, so to say, of inherent belief among the population, and in a number of cases of positive knowledge—requires quite a different policy in the presentation of Occult Sciences. The only object to be striven for is the amelioration of the condition of man by the spread of truth suited to the various stages of his development and that of the country he inhabits and belongs to. Truth has no ear-mark and does not suffer from the name under which it is promulgated—if the said object is attained. The constitution of the " L. Lodge, Theos. Society," affords ground of a hope for the right method being put in operation before long. It iswell known that a magnet would cease to be a magnet if it'spoles ceased to be antagonistic. Heat on one side should bemet by frost on the other, and the resulting temperature will behealthy to all people. Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Sinnett are bothuseful, both needed and appreciated by our revered Chohan andMaster,—just because they are the two poles calculated to keepthe whole body in magnetic harmony, as the judicious disposalof both will make an excellent middle ground to be attained byno other means ; one correcting and equilibrising the other. Thedirection and good services of both is necessary for the steadyprogress of the Theosophical Society in England. But both can-not be Presidents. Mrs. Kingsford 's views being at the bottom(minus the details) identical with those of Mr. Sinnett in mattersof Occult philosophy and, by reason of their association with thenames and symbols familiar to Christian ears and eyes, they fall-ing in better than those of Mr. Sinnett with the actual bentofEnglish national intelligence and spirit of Conservatism. Mrs.K.is thus more adapted to lead the movement successfully in England. Therefore, if our advice and desire are of any account withthe Members of the ** London Lodge "—she will have to occupythe Presidential Chair for the ensuing year, at any rate. Letthemembers under her leadership resolutely try to live down the unpopularity which all esoteric teaching and all reform are suretoattract at the outset and they will succeed. The Society will bea great help to, and a great power in, the world, as well asasecure channel for the flow of its President's philanthropy. Herconstant and not altogether unsuccessful strife in the causeofanti-vivisection and her staunch advocacy of vegetarianism arealone sufficient to entitle her to the consideration of our Chohansas of all true Buddhists and Adwaitees—hence our Maha-Chohan'spreference in this direction. But, as the services of Mr. Sinnettin the good cause are great indeed—far greater, so far, thanofany Western Theosophist—therefore, a new arrangement is foundadvisable.
It seems necessary for a proper study and correct understanding of our Philosophy and the benefit of those whose inclinationleads them to seek esoteric knowledge from the NorthernBuddhist Source ; and in order that such teaching should notbeeven virtually imposed or offered to those Theosophists whomaydiffer from our views, that an exclusive group composed of thosemembers who desire to follow absolutely the teachings of theschool to which we, of the Tibetan Brotherhood, belong, shouldbe formed under Mr. Sinnett's direction and within the " LondonLodge T.S." Such is, in fact, the desire of the Maha Chohan.Our last year's experience amply shows the danger of so reck lessly submittingf our sacred doctrines to the unprepared world. We expect, therefore, and are resolved to urge, if necessary more caution than ever from our followers in the exposition of our secret teachings. Consequently many of the latter which Mr. Sinnett and his fellow-students may from time to time receive from us, will have to be kept entirely secret from the world—if they would have us give them our help in that direction.
I need hardly point out how the proposed arrangement is cal- culated to lead to a harmonious progress of the ** L.L. T.S." It is a universally admitted fact that the marvellous success of the Theosophical Society in India is due entirely to its principle of wise and respectful toleration of each other's opinions and beliefs. Not even the President-Founder has the right directly or in- directly to interfere with the freedom of thought of the humblest member, least of all to seek to influence his personal opinion. It is only in the absence of this generous consideration, that even the faintest shadow of difference arms seekers after the same truth, otherwise earnest and sincere, with the scorpion-whip of hatred against their Brothers, —equally sincere and earnest. Deluded victims of distorted truth, they forget, or never knew, that discord is the harmony of the Universe. Thus in the Theos. Society, each part, as in the glorious fugues of the immortal Mozart, ceaselessly chases the other in harmonious discord on the paths^ of eternal Progress to meet and finally blend at the threshold of the pursued goal in one harmonious whole, the keynote in nature. Absolute Justice makes no difference be- tween the many and the few. Therefore, while thanking the majority of the ** L.L." Theosophists for their ** loyalty " to us their invisible teachers, we must at the same time, remind them that their President, Mrs. Kingsford, is loyal and true also—^to that which she believes to be the Truth. And, as she is thus loyal and true to her convictions, however small the minority that may side with her at present, the majority led by Mr. Sinnett, our representative in London, cannot with justice charge her with the guilt, which—since she has emphatically disclaimed all intention of breaking the letter or the Spirit of Article VI of the Rules of the Parent Theos. Society (which please see and read)—is one only in the eyes of those who would be rather too severe. Every Western Theosophist should learn and remember, especially those of them who would be our followers—that in our Brotherhood, all personalities sink into one idea—abstract right and absolute practical justice for all. And that, though we may not say with the Christians, ** return good for evil "—we repeat with Confucius—'* return good for good, for evil—justice/* Thus, the Theosophists of Mrs. K.'s way of thinking,—were they even to oppose some of us personally to the bitter end, —are entitled to as much respect and consideration (so long as they are sincere) fromusand their fellow-members of opposite views, as those whoareready with Mr. Sinnett to follow absolutely but our special teaching. A dutiful regard for these rules in life will always promotethe best interests of all concerned. It is necessary for theparallel progress of the groups under Mrs. K. and Mr. S. thatneither should interfere with the beliefs and rights of the other.And it is seriously expected that both of them will be actuatedbyan earnest and sleepless desire to respect the philosophical inde-pendence of each other, while preserving at the same time theirunity as a whole—namely the objects of the Parent Theos. Societyin their integrity—and those of the London Lodge, in their slightmodification. We wish the London Society should preserveitsharmony in division like the Indian Branches where the repre-sentatives of all the different schools of Hinduism seek to studyEsoteric Sciences and the Wisdom of old, without, necessarilygiving up for it their respective beliefs. Each Branch, oftenmembers of the same branch—Christian converts included in somecases—study esoteric philosophy each in his own way, yet alwaysknitting together brotherly hands for the furtherance of thecommon objects of the Society. To carry out this programme,itis desirable that the *' London Lodge " should be administeredby,at least, fourteen Councillors—one half openly inclining towardsthe Christian Esotericism as represented by Mrs. K., andtheother half following Buddhist Esotericism as represented byMr.S. ; all important business to be transacted by majority of votes.We are well aware of and quite alive to the difficulties of suchan arrangement. Yet, it seems absolutely necessary in ordertore-establish the lost harmony. The constitution of the " LondonLodge ** has to be amended and can be so amended if the members would but try ; and so bring about more strength in suchfriendly division than enforced unity.
Unless, therefore, both Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Sinnett agreeto disagree in details and work in strict unison for the chiefobjects as laid down in the Rules of the Parent Society, wecanhave no hand in the future development and progress oftheLondon Lodge.
K. H.
December 7th, 1883,
Mysore.
