But all this will be for you no better than vexation of spirit. "The poor old lady is crazy again —" will you remark. And let me prophesy that the day will come when you will accuse K.H. too of having deceived you; for only failing to tell you what he has no right to tell anyone. Yes; you will blaspheme even against him; because you always secretly hope that he may make an exception in your favour.
Why, such an extravagant, seemingly useless tirade as contained in this letter? Because, the hour is near; and that after having proved what I have to, I will bow myself out from the refined Western Society and — be no more. You may all whistle then for the Brothers. — GOSPEL.
Of course it was a joke. No; you do not hate me; you only feel a friendly, indulgent, a kind of benevolent contempt for H.P.B. You are right there, so far as you know her the one who is ready to fall into pieces. Perchance you may find out yet your mistake concerning the other — the well hidden party. I have now with me Deb; Deb "Shortridge" as we call him, who looks a boy of 12, though is past 30 and more. An ideal little face with small cut delicate features, pearly teeth, long hair, almond cut eyes and a Chinese-tartar purple cap on the top of his head. He is my "heir of Salvation" and I have work to do with him. I cannot leave him and have no right to, now. I have to make over my work to him. He is my right hand (and K.H.'s left one) — at imposture and false pretence.
And now — God bless you. Better not be angry at anything I may do or say; only as a friend, a real friend, I say to you, so long as you have not changed your mode of living, expect no exception.
Yours truly
H.P.B.
My sincere love to Mrs. Sinnett and a kiss to dear little Dennie.
Letter No. 54 (ML-35) Rec. March 18, 1882
This is the letter "through Bombay" promised by the Mahatma K.H. in his short note: "Impossible; no power. Will write thro' Bombay." (Letter No. 52 [ML-144]).
Letter from K.H. Received Allahabad, March 18th, 1882.
You did not quite apprehend the meaning of my note, good friend, of March 11th. I said it was easy to produce phenomena, when the necessary conditions were given, but not that even the presence of Olcott and Mallapura at your house brought such an accession of force as would suffice for the tests you propose.
These latter were reasonable enough from your point of view, I do not at all blame you for asking them. I, myself, would perhaps wish you to have them — for your personal gratifications, not that of the public for, as you know, conviction in these cases must be reached by individual experience. Secondhand testimony never really satisfied any but a credulous (or rather non-sceptical) mind. No Spiritualist who should read in your second edition even a narrative of the very tests you have named to me, would for one moment ascribe the facts to aught but mediumship; and your lady and yourself would probably be included by them in the sum of the mediumistic factors. Fancy that! No — bide your time; you are slowly gathering together the materials for what we here call, as you know, real dgiü,124 make the best of it. It is not physical phenomena that will 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 best educated of all mediums. Read and — pity! Do you not see then where we are "driving at" as O. says? Do you not realize that were it not for your exceptional intellect and the help to be derived therefrom the Chohan would have long ago closed every door of communication between us? Yes, read and study, my friend; for there is an object. You seemed annoyed, disappointed, when reading the words, "Impossible: no power here, will write through Bombay." Those eight words will have cost me eight days recuperative work — in the state I am in at present. But you know not what I mean; you are absolved.
You will not disguise from yourself the difficulties of working out your scheme of "Degrees." I wanted you to develop it at your leisure, "as the spirit moved you." For even though you should not quite succeed in forming a scheme that would fit the needs of Asia and Europe, you might hit upon something that would be good for either the one or the other, and another hand might then supply the lacking portion. Asiatics are so poor, as a rule, and books are so inaccessible to them in these degenerate 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 in oral teaching as much as, 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!
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 writing?" 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 Blake.125 It is quite possible — as Moorad Ali Beg 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"! You are yet barbarians with all your boasted civilization.
And now to Morya. (This strictly between us and you must not breathe it even to Mrs. Gordon). Eglinton was preparing to depart leaving on poor Mrs. G.'s mind the fear that she had been deceived; that there were no "Brothers" since Eglinton had denied their existence and that the "Spirits" were silent as to that problem. Last week then M., stalking in, into the motley crowd took the spooks by the skin of their throats and, — the result was the unexpected admission of the Brothers, the actual existence and the honour claimed of a personal acquaintance with the "Illustrious." The lesson for you and others, derived from the above, may be useful in future — events having to grow and to develop.