Mahatmas

The view of the Maha Chohan on the T.S. Reported by K. H. to A. P. Sinnett, 1881

My research in the Tibetan Buddhist texts has allowed me to make some observations regarding the alleged Tibetan source of Alice Bailey’s writings which may be of interest to readers of a magazine described by its editor as, “dedicated to promoting a vigilant attitude among its readership through a love of Truth.”

Abbreviations: BCW H.P. Blavatsky: Collected Writings, TPH, 1950-91 CC Combined Chronology, M. Conger, TUP, 1973 Dia Dialogues of G. de Purucker, TUP, 1948 EST Esoteric Teachings, G. de Purucker, PLP, 1987 ET The Esoteric Tradition, G. de Purucker, TUP, 2nd ed., 1940 FEP Fundamentals of the…

When Does Man Become Responsible for his Actions? A look at references from the letters of the Mahatmas on Karma.

The following was written by H. P. B. in 1885 to an intimate friend (2): It has been said by Babajee that "only the chela, entranced, can reach to the normal objective (meaning physical and personal) state of the Mahatmas". How then about those who live with Them --- whether chelas or ignorance servants, those who see Them again objectively in Their material bodies? Unless one regarded the Masters as “Spirits” the query seems pretty unanswerable. If the above sentence, on the other hand, relates only to the Mahatmas at a distance, then the question changes.

Over half a century ago, at a very early stage in the development of the Theosophical Movement in India, a document of valuable instruction was passed on to some of the principal workers of that day.

"On the authority of an adept" (?) "they" (the Theosophists and Madame Blavatsky) "are all mediums under the influence of the lower spirits." Such is the sentence used by you in an editorial review of Mr. Sinnett's Occult World (Spiritualist, June 17th). Doubtful as its pertinency might appear, I personally found nothing very objectionable in it, the more so, as elsewhere you do me the honour to express your conviction that (whether controlled by good or bad spirits) I yet am a "strong physical medium" – that term precluding at least the suspicion of my being a regular impostor

These questions arise because many persons have entertained very absurd views for a time about Chelas, and when it was found that those views should be changed, the reaction has been in several cases quite violent.

As the word Chela has, among others, been introduced by Theosophy into the nomenclature of Western metaphysics, and the circulation of our magazine is constantly widening, it will be as well if some more definite explanation than heretofore is given with respect to the meaning of this term and the rules of Chelaship, for the benefit of our European if not Eastern members. A "Chela" then, is one who has offered himself or herself as a pupil to learn practically the "hidden mysteries of Nature and the psychical powers latent in man."

To begin with, the tone of the whole article is that of a true manifesto. Condensed and weeded of its exuberance of Biblical expressions it comes to this paraphrastical declaration: "We have knocked at their door, and they have not answered us; we have prayed for bread, they have denied us even a stone." The charge is quite serious; nevertheless, that it is neither just nor fair-is what I propose to show

A new school of thought is arising to challenge long-accepted views of life. Its keynote may be said to be “evolutionary creation.” It is an exposition of the phenomena that surrounds us in terms that are both scientific and idealistic. It offers an explanation of life, of the origin of our fragment of the universe, of hidden and mysterious natural laws, of the nature and destiny of man, that appeals with moving force to the logical mind