I will not answer your query about your Pioneer connection165 just now: something may be said on both sides. But at least take no rash decision. We are at the end of the cycle, and you are connected with the T.S.
Under favour of my Karma — I mean to answer to-morrow Mr. Hume's long and kind personal letter. The abundance of MSS. from me of late shows that I have found a little leisure; their blotched, patchy and mended appearance also proves that my leisure has come by snatches, with constant interruptions, and that my writing has been done in odd places here and there, with such materials as I could pick up. But for the RULE that forbids our using one minim of power until every ordinary means has been tried and failed, I might, of course, have given you a lovely "precipitation" as regards chirography and composition. I console myself for the miserable appearance of my letters with the thought that, perhaps, you may not value them the less for these marks of my personal subjection to the wayside annoyances which you English so ingeniously reduce to a minimum with your appliances of sorts. As your lady once kindly remarked, they take away most effectually the flavour of miracle, and make us as human beings, more thinkable entities, — a wise reflection for which I thank her.
H.P.B. is in despair: the Chohan refused permission to M. to let her come this year further than the Black Rock, and M. very coolly made her unpack her trunks. Try to console her, if you can. Besides, she is really wanted more at Bombay than Penlor. Olcott is on his way to Lanka and Damodar packed up to Poona for a month, his foolish austerities and hard work having broken down his physical constitution. I will have to look after him, and perhaps to take him away, if it comes to the worst.
Just now I am able to give you a bit of information, which bears upon the so often discussed question of our allowing phenomena. The Egyptian operations of your blessed countrymen involve such local consequences to the body of Occultists still remaining there and to what they are guarding, that two of our adepts are already there, having joined some Druze brethren, and three more on their way. I was offered the agreeable privilege of becoming an eye-witness to the human butchery, but — declined with thanks. For such great emergency is our Force stored up, and hence — we dare not waste it on fashionable tamasha.
In about a week — new religious ceremonies, new glittering bubbles to amuse the babes with, and once more I will be busy night and day, morning, noon, and evening. At times I feel a passing regret that the Chohans should not evolute the happy idea of allowing us also a "sumptuary allowance" in the shape of a little spare time. Oh, for the final Rest! for that Nirvana where — "to be one with Life, yet — to live not." Alas, alas! having personally realized that: —
". . . the soul of Things is sweet,
The Heart of Being is celestial Rest,"
one does long for — eternal REST!
Yours,
K. H.
Letter No. 69 (ML-69) Undated
No date is noted. However, since the Mahatma is obviously answering some questions from Sinnett, inspired by the Devachan letter, it must have followed rather closely upon that.
I am sincerely pleased, my "pupil" that you should write to me as agreed — whether you have — or have not — any special question to put to me. It is impossible under your present health conditions that you should bring back to your physical brain the consciousness of higher planes of existence, yet remember, that the sense of magnetic refreshment is no true measure of spiritual benefit, and you may even attain greater spiritual progress whilst your psychic development appears to stand still.
Now to answer your questions.
(1) In esoteric teachings "Brahma," "Pitri," and "Deva" lokas, are states of consciousness belonging to the various ethereal hierarchies or classes of Dhyanis and Pitris (the "creators" and "ancestors" of Humanity) and of Devas — some far higher than man (spiritually), some — among the Deva classes — far behind on the descending arc of evolution, and only destined to reach the human stage in a future Manvantara. Exoterically these lokas represent Nirvana, Devachan and the Astral world. The meaning of the terms Devachan and Deva-loka, is identical; "chan" and "loka" equally signifying place or abode. "Deva" is a word too indiscriminately used in Eastern writings, and is at times merely a blind.
(2) You will be right in referring the "Real Knowledge" and "True Cause" of the verse quoted to the highest plane of spiritual enlightenment; the "greater darkness" into which the perfected "Siddha" is finally merged thereby, is that Absolute Darkness which is Absolute Light. The Real Knowledge here spoken of is not a mental but a spiritual state, implying full union between the Knower and the Known.
I hope that these brief replies may throw all the light you needed upon these points.
With sincere good-will,
Yours truly,
K. H.
Letter No. 70-A166 (ML-20A) Rec. August 1882
These three letters (No. 70A, B, and C) would be very confusing without some knowledge of their background.
In October 1881, The Theosophist published an article by Eliphas Levi entitled "Death." This article may now be found as Appendix I in LBS, beginning on p. 369. Eliphas Levi and this article are referred to several times in ML; the article became the subject of some discussion and differences of opinion.
Eliphas Levi was a pseudonym for Abbe Alphonse Louis Constant, a French abbe. The Mahatmas spoke highly of Eliphas Levi and of his occult knowledge. When his article on "Death" was published in The Theosophist, it was accompanied by an editor' s note which said: "The late Eliphas Levi was the most learned Kabalist and Occultist of our age, and everything from his pen is precious to us insofar as it helps to compare notes with the Eastern Occult doctrines, and by the light thrown upon both to prove to the world that the two systems . . . are one in their principal metaphysical tenets." There were also many marginal comments by the Mahatma K.H. These are shown in the Appendix to LBS.