* * * * *
The foregoing letters point clearly to one conclusion concerning
that great Theosophist, Madame Blavatsky, though she is unnamed and
perhaps unthought of there. Since she sacrificed--not so calling it
herself--all that mankind holds dear to bring the glad tidings of
Theosophy to the West, that West, and especially the Theosophical
Society, thereby stands to her as a chela to his Guru, in so far as it
accepts Theosophy. Her relation to these Theosophists has its being
in the highest Law, and cannot be expunged or ignored. So those who
regard her personality, and, finding it discordant from theirs, try to
reach The Masters by other means _while disregarding or underrating
scornfully her high services_, violate a rule which, because it is
not made of man, cannot be broken with impunity. Gratitude and the
common sentiment of man for man should have taught them this, without
occult teaching at all. Such persons have not reached that stage of
evolution where they can learn the higher truths. She who accepts the
pains of the rack in the torments of a body sapped of its life force
by superb torrents of energy lavished on her high Cause; she who has
braved the laughter and anger of two continents, and all the hosts of
darkness seen and unseen; she who now lives on, only that she may take
to herself the Karma of the Society and so ensure its well being, has
no need of any man's praise; but even she has need of justice, because,
without that impulse in our hearts and souls toward her, she knows
that we must fail for this incarnation. As the babe to the mother, as
harvest to the earth, so are all those bound to her who enjoy the fruit
of her life. May we try, then, to understand these occult connections
brought about by the workings of Karma, and bring them to bear upon our
diurnal, as well as our theosophical, life. Madame Blavatsky is for
us the next higher link in that great chain, of which no link can be
passed over or missed.
In further illustration of this letter, I might cite the case of a
friend of mine who was at once fired with Theosophy on first hearing
of it and ardently desired to become a chela. Certainly he had
known these truths in other lives, for all seemed familiar to him,
and, though he was what is called "a man of the world," he accepted
the philosophy, measured some of its possibilities intuitively, and
while careful to do his duty and cause no jars, he ranged his life,
especially his inner life, to suit these views. The question of
chelaship assumed great prominence in his mind. He knew of no chelas;
knew not where to knock or whom to ask. Reflection convinced him that
real chelaship consisted in the inner attitude of the postulant; he
remembered magnetic and energetic laws, and he said to himself that he
could at will constitute himself a chela to the Law, at least so far as
his own attitude went, and if this did not satisfy him, it was a proof
that he desired some personal reward, satisfaction, or powers in the
matter, and that his motive was not pure. He was slow to formulate his
desires, even to his own mind, for he would not lightly make demands
upon the Law; but he at last determined to put his own motives to the
test; to try himself and see if he could stand in the attitude of a
faithful chela, unrecognized and apparently unheard. He then recorded
in his own mind an obligation to serve Truth and the Law as a chela
should, always seeking for light and for further aid if possible,
recognizing meanwhile that the obligation was on his side only, and
that he had no claims on Masters, and only such as he himself could by
the strength of his own purpose institute upon the Law. Wherever he
could hear of chelas and their duties he listened or read; he tried to
imagine himself in the position of an accepted chela, and to fill, so
far as in him lay, the duties of that place, living up to all the light
he had. For he held that a disciple should always think and act towards
the highest possibilities, whether or not he had yet attained these,
and not merely confine himself to that course of action which might be
considered suited to his lower class or spiritual estate. He believed
that the heart is the creator of all real ties, and it alone. To raise
himself by himself was then his task. This attitude he resolved to
maintain life after life, if needs were, until at last his birthright
should be assured, his claim recognized by the Law.
He met with trials, with coldness from those who felt rather than saw
his changed attitude; he met with all the nameless shocks that others
meet when they turn against the whirlpool of existence and try to
find their way back into the true currents of life. Great sorrows and
loneliness were not slow to challenge his indomitable will. But he
found work to do; and in this he was most fortunate, for to work for
others is the disciple's joy, his share in the Divine life, his first
accolade by which he may know that his service is accepted. This man
had called upon the Law in faith supreme, and he was answered. Karma
sent him a friend, and soon he began to get new knowledge, and after a
time information reached him of a place or person where he might apply
to become a chela on probation. It was not given him as information
usually is; nothing of the sort was told him; but with his extending
knowledge and opening faculties a conviction dawned upon him that he
might pursue such and such a course. He did so, and his prayer was
heard. He said to me afterwards that he never knew whether he would not
have shown greater strength of mind by relying wholly upon the reality
of his unseen, unacknowledged claim, until the moment should come when
Masters should accept and call him. For of course he held the ideal of
Masters clearly before his mind all this while. Perhaps his application
showed him to be weaker than he supposed, in so far as it might
evidence a need on his part for tangible proof of a fact in which his
higher nature prompted him to believe without such proof. Perhaps it
was but natural and right, on the other hand, that after silent service
for some time he should put himself on record at the first opportunity
granted him by Karma.
He applied, then. I am permitted to give a portion of the answer he
received, and which made clear to him the fact that he was already
accepted in some measure before his application, as his intuition had
told him. The answer may be of untold value to others, both as clearly
setting forth the dangers of forcing one's way ahead of one's race, and
also by its advice, admonitions, and evidence that the Great Beings
of the Orient deal most frankly and gently with applicants. Also it
may mark out a course for those who take the wise plan of testing
themselves in silence before pushing their demands upon the Law. For
this at once heightens their magnetic vibrations, their evolutionary
ratio; their flame burns more brilliantly and attracts all kinds of
shapes and influences within its radius, so that the fire is hot
about him. And not for him alone: other lives coming in contact with
his feel this fierce energy; they develop more rapidly, and, if they
have a false or weak place in their nature, it is soon discovered and
overthrows them for a time. This is the danger of coming into "the
circle of ascetics"; a man must be strong indeed who thus thrusts
himself in; it is better as a rule to place oneself in the attitude of
a disciple and impose the tests oneself: less opposition is provoked.
For forces that are foiled by the Adept may hurl themselves on the
neophyte who cannot be protected unless his Karma permits it, and there
are always those opposing forces of darkness waiting to thin the ranks
of the servitors of the Good Law.
Up to this point, then, we may follow this student, and then we lose
sight of him; not knowing whether he progressed or failed, or still
serves and waits, because such things are not made known. To tell so
much as this is rare, and, since it is permitted, it must be because
there are many earnest students in this country who need some such
support and information. To these I can say that, if they constitute
themselves faithful, unselfish disciples, they are such in the
knowledge of the Great Law, so long as they are true, in inmost thought
and smallest deed, to the pledges of their heart.
ANSWER TO Y. Says Master:
"_Is Y. fully prepared for the uphill work? The way to the goal
he strives to reach is full of thorns and leads through miry
quagmires. Many are the sufferings the chela has to encounter;
still more numerous the dangers to face and conquer._
"_May he think over it and choose only after due reflection. No
Master appealed to by a sincere soul who thirsts for light and
knowledge, has ever turned his face away from the supplicant. But
it is the duty of those who call for laborers and need them in
their fields, to point out to those who offer themselves in truth
and trust for the arduous work, the pitfalls in the soil as the
hardship of the task._
"_If undaunted by this warning Y. persists in his determination,
he may regard himself as accepted as----. Let him place himself
in such case under the guidance of an older chela. By helping him
sincerely and devotedly to carry on his heavy burden, he shall
prepare the way for being helped in his turn._"
(Here follow private instructions.)
"_Verily if the candidate relies upon the Law, if he has patience,
trust, and intuition, he will not have to wait too long. Through
the great shadow of bitterness and sorrow that the opposing powers
delight in throwing over the pilgrim on his way to the Gates of
Light, the candidate perceives that shining Light very soon in his
own soul, and he has but to follow it. Let him beware, however,
lest he mistake the occasional will-o'-the-wisp of the psychic
senses for the reflex of the great spiritual Light; that Light
which dieth not, yet never lives, nor can it shine elsewhere than
on the pure mirror of Spirit...._
"_But Y. has to use his own intuitions. One has to dissipate
and conquer the inner darkness before attempting to see into
the darkness without; to know one's self before knowing things
extraneous to one's senses._"
And now, may the Powers to which my friend Y. has appealed _be
permitted by still greater and much higher Powers_ to help him. This is
the sincere and earnest wish of his truly and fraternally,
[Symbol: Triangle]
* * * * *
This letter also shows incidentally how one Adept may serve another
still higher by reporting or conveying His reply.