Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00387)

 From Paul Brunton's Notebooks
Volume Ten  The Orient.
Chapter  Four:  Ceylon , Angkor Wat, Burma, Java.
Subdivision: Angkor Wat.

An explanatory note to the following extraction is necessary.  It has been taken from a short essay in the above chapter titled "The Secret Doctrine of the Khmers." In this essay, Brunton is in the company of an elderly Bonze monk who relates to him some of their Secret Doctrine.  Just prior to where we take up the story, the monk has told his enquirer, amongst other things,the secret of the "First".  Brunton has emphasised prior to  recounting this tale that the words are those of the monk, and not his. He also explains that in retelling the story he breaks one of his 'rules' in that there is not adequate evidence to support the thing and therefore it has no right to be publically heard. Part of what follows (T/S mission over) relates to some mail I lodged recently that contained other Paul Brunton quotes about brotherhood, the service of humanity, the place of theosophy etc. I know Alexis likes PB's work - how about some other folks??? I thought this Brunton tale (not quote) might be of interest. Kind Regards ...Darrin

"The line of sages which had penetrated into the secret of the First and gave these symbolic religions to the masses has shifted its headquarters from epoch to epoch.  From the sixth to the thirteenth centuries it flourished in Angkor, but for seven hundred years before that it flourished in South India.  Reminders of this earlier centre exist in plenty in the architectural forms and sculptural details.  Even the Sanskrit used by the Brahmin priests in Cambodia is of Pallava (South Indian) origin.  But the wheel of karma turned, the Cambodian empire declined and disappeared with a rapidity which outran the fall of the Romans.  The rulers were dazzled by wealth and conquest and failed to heed the advice of the sages.  The latter withdrew and migrated to Tibet.
"You ask me if they are the same adepts as those spoken of by H.P.Blavatsky. When she was a girl and fled from her husband, she accidentally met a group of Russian Buddhist Kalmucks who were proceeding by a roundabout route on pilgrimage to the Dalai Lama of Tibet.  She joined the caravan as a means of escape from her husband.  One of them was an adept.  He took care of her and protected her and brought her to Lhasa.  She was initiated in due course into the secret tradition.  She visited other parts of Tibet and also India.  Before the existance of the Angkor ruins was known in the West, she was sent there to continue her studies and to receive a certain contact by meditation in the temples.  H.P.B. went but experienced great difficulty in travelling through the uncleared jungle; however, she bravely suffered all discomforts.  Later, she was introduced to a codisciple, who eventually became a High Lama and a personal advisor to the Dalai Lama.  He was the son of a Mongolian prince, but for public purposes took the name of "The Thunderbolt" - that is, "Dorje'.  On account of his personal knowledge of and interest in Russia, he gradually altered it to "Dorjeff." Before their guru died, he instructed Blavatsky to give a most elementary part of the secret tradition to the Western people, while he instructed Dorjeff to follow her further career with watchful interest.  Dorjeff gave her certain advice; she went to America and founded the Theosophical Society.  Her guru had forbidden her to give out his name.  Moreover, she knew much more of the teachings than she revealed.  But she was always fearful of saying too much, so she constantly created what she called 'blinds' and wrapped her truthful secrets in imaginary clothes.  I may say no more.  However, the poor woman was unjustly maligned by her enemies.  Her sole desire was to help humanity.  They could never understand her peculiar character nor her Oriental methods.  Her society did an enormous service to white people by opening their eyes to Eastern truths.  But its real mission is over; hence its present weak condition.  A new instrument will take up the work in 1939 and give a higher revelation to the world, which is now better prepared.But the beginning of this work will be as quiet and unnoticed as the planting of a seed.  It is 108 years since H.P.B.'s birth.  There are 108 steps on the path to Nirvana.  Amongst all the Yogis of the Himalaya, 108 is regarded as the most sacred number.  It is also kabbalistically connected with the year 1939 in a most important way.  Therefore, this year will witness the departure of the adepts from Tibet. Their location was always a secret; even most of the High Lamas never knew it.  Tibet has lost its value for them; its isolation had begun to disappear rapidly and its rulers no longer respond faithfully to them.  They leave Tibet seven hundred years after their arrival."