Masonic, Occult and Esoteric Online Library
The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett - 1923
By A. T. Barker
Letter XXXV
Letter from K.H. Received Allahabad, March i8th, 1882.
You did not quite apprehend the meaning of my note, goodfriend, of March 1 Ith. I said it was easy to produce phenomena,when the necessary conditions were given, but not that eventhe presence of Olcott and Mallapura at your house broughtsuch an accession of force as would suffice for the tests youpropose.
These latter were reasonable enough from your point of view,I do not at all blame you for asking them. I,, myself, wouldperhaps wish you to have them—for your personal gratification,not that of the public for, as you know, conviction in thesecases must be reached by individual experience. Secondhandtestimony never really satisfied any but a credulous (or rathernon-sceptical) mind. No spiritualist who should read in yoursecond edition even a narrative of the very tests you havenamed to me, would for one moment ascribe the facts to aughtbut mediumship; and your lady and yourself would probablybe included by them in the sum of the mediumistic factors.Fancy that ! No—bide your time; you are slowly gatheringtogether the materials for what we here call, as you know, realdgin, make the best of it. It is not physical phenomena thatwill ever bring conviction to the hearts of the unbelievers in the** Brotherhood" but rather phenomena of intellectuality philosophy and logic, if I may so express it. See "Spirit teachings"by + as given out by Oxon—^the most intellectual as the besteducated of all mediums. Read and—pity! Do you not seethen where We are " driving at " as O. says? Do you notrealize that were it not for your exceptional intellect and thehelp to be derived therefrom the Chohan would long ago haveclosed every door of communication between us? Yes, readand study, my friend; for there is an object. You seemed an-noyed, disappointed, when reading the words, " impossible: no power here, will write through Bombay." Those eightwords have will cost me eight days' recuperative work—in thestate I am in at present. But you ^noto not what I mean; youare absolved.
You will not disguise from yourself the difficulties of workingout your scheme of " Degrees." I wanted you to developitat your leisure, " as the spirit moved you." For even thoughyou should not quite succeed in forming a scheme that wouldfit the needs of Asia and Europe, you might hit upon somethingthat would be good for either the one or the other, and anotherhand might supply the lacking portion. Asiatics are so poor,as a rule, and books are so inaccessible to them in these de- generate days, that you can see plainly how different a plan of intellectual culture—in preparation for practical experiments to unfold psychic power in themselves—must be thought. In the olden time, this want was supplied by the Guru who guided the chela through the difficulties of childhood and youth, and afforded him an oral teaching as much, or more than through books the food for mental and psychic growth. The want of such a ** guide, philosopher and friend," (and who so well deserves the tripartite title?) can never be supplied, try as you may. All you can do is to prepare the intellect : the impulse toward " soul culture " must be furnished by the individual. Thrice fortunate they who can break through the vicious circle of modern influence and come up above the vapours I
To recur to your Degrees : Are you not drawing the lines too vaguely between the first three or four groups? What test do you apply to decide their respective mental states. How guard against mere ".cramming? and copying? and substitute writ- ing?" Many clever Jesuits might pass all your Degrees, even up to the 6th and 7th : would you, then, admit him into the second section? Remember the lessons of the past and Carter Block. It is quite possible—as Moorad Ali Bey said and Olcott confirmed to you—for one who had passed the first five stages to acquire " occult faculties " in the 6th. Nay, it can be done without the help of either—by adopting either the method of the Arhats, the Dasturs, the yogis, or the Sufis; among each of which groups of mystics there have been many who did not even read or write. If the psychic idiosyncracy is lacking, no culture will supply it. And the highest theoretical as also practical school of this kind, is that one in which we associates —your interested correspondents—were taught.
All that precedes has been said not for your discouragement but as a stimulus. If you are a true Anglo-Saxon, no obstacle will daunt your zeal; and unless my Eye has been dimmed this is your character—au fond. We have one word for all aspirants : Try.
And now, to your laugh in September last as to the imaginary dangers to him who produces phenomena, dangers growing in size, in proportion to the magnitude of the phenomena—so produced, and the impossibility to refute them. Remember the proposed test of the Times to be brought here. My good friend, if the trifling phenomena (for they are trifling in comparison with what could and might be done) shown by Eglinton provoked such bitter hatred evoking before him scenes of imprisonment owing to false witnesses what would not be the fate of the poor " old lady " I You are yet barbarians with all your boasted civilization.
And now to Morya. (This strictly between us and you mustnot breathe it even to Mrs. Gordon). Eglington was preparingto depart leaving on poor Mrs. G. mind the fear that she hadbeen deceived; that there were no *' Brothers '* since EgUngtonhad denied their existence and that the ** Spirits " were silentas to that problem. Last week then M., stalking in, into themotley crowd took the spooks by the skin of their throats and,—the result was the unexpected admission of the Brothers, theactual existence and the honour claimed of a personal acquaint-ance with the " Illustrious." The lesson for you and others,derived from the above, may be useful in future—events havingto grow and to develop.
Yours faithfully,
K.H.
