Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00419)

In response to a request, I am re-posting the famous 1900 Letter from Master
K.H. It appears that as far as TS is concerned, it is more relevant today as
it was relevant in 1900.

Many here has seen this letter and those who have not seen it may find it
interesting.

=============================================

                         THE 1900 LETTER 

 A psychic and a pranayamist who has got confused by the
 vagaries of the members. The T.S. and its members are slowly
 manufacturing a creed. Says a Thibetan proverb "credulity
 breeds credulity and ends in hypocrisy." How few are they who
 can know anything about us. Are we to be propitiated and made
 idols of. IS THE WORSHIP OF A NEW TRINITY MADE UP OF THE
 BLESSED M., UPASIKA AND YOURSELF TO TAKE THE PLACE OF EXPLODED
 CREEDS. WE ASK NOT FOR THE WORSHIP OF OURSELVES. THE DISCIPLE
 SHOULD IN NO WAY BE FETTERED. BEWARE OF AN ESOTERIC POPERY. The
 intense desire to see Upasika reincarnate at once has raised a
 misleading Mayavic ideation. Upasika has useful work to do on
 higher planes and cannot come again so soon. The T.S. must
 safely be ushered into the new century. YOU HAVE FOR SOME TIME
 BEEN UNDER DELUDING INFLUENCES. SHUN PRIDE, VANITY AND LOVE OF
 POWER. BE NOT GUIDED BY EMOTION BUT LEARN TO STAND ALONE. BE
 ACCURATE AND CRITICAL RATHER THAN CREDULOUS. THE MISTAKE OF THE
 PAST IN THE OLD RELIGIONS MUST NOT BE GLOSSED OVER WITH
 IMAGINARY EXPLANATIONS. THE E.S.T. MUST BE REFORMED SO AS TO BE
 AS UNSECTARIAN AND CREEDLESS AS THE T.S. THE RULES MUST BE FEW
 AND SIMPLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. No one has the right to claim
 authority over a pupil or his conscience. Ask him not what he
 believes. ALL WHO ARE SINCERE AND PURE MINDED MUST HAVE
 ADMITTANCE. The crest wave of intellectual advancement must be
 taken hold of and guided into spirituality. It cannot be forced
 into beliefs and emotional worship. The essence of the higher
 thoughts of the members in their collectivity must guide all
 action in the T.S. and E.S. We never try to subject to
 ourselves the will of another. At favourable times we let loose
 elevating influences which strike various persons in various
 ways. It is the collective aspect of many such thoughts that
 can give the correct note of action. We show no favours. The
 best corrective of error is an honest and open-minded
 examination of all facts subjective and objective. MISLEADING
 SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS. The
 cant about "Masters" must be silently but firmly put down. Let
 the devotion and service be to that Supreme Spirit alone of
 which one is a part. Namelessly and silently we work and the
 continual references to ourselves and the repetition of our
 names raises up a confused aura that hinders our work. YOU WILL
 HAVE TO LEAVE A GOOD DEAL OF YOUR EMOTIONS AND CREDULITY BEFORE
 YOU BECOME A SAFE GUIDE AMONG THE INFLUENCES THAT WILL COMMENCE
 TO WORK IN THE NEW CYCLE. The T.S. was meant to be the corner-
 stone of the future religions of humanity. To accomplish this
 object those who lead must leave aside their weak predilections
 for the forms and ceremonies of any particular creed and show
 themselves to be true Theosophists both in inner thoughts and
 outward observance. The greatest of your trials is yet to come.
 We watch over you but you must put forth all your strength. 

                              K.H. 
 -------------------------------------------
 PS: 
     In 1900 a B. W. Mantri of India, wrote a letter to Annie
 Besant, then in England, dated August 22. When A.B. opened it
 she found on its back some lines in the well-known blue
 pencilling of the MASTER K. H. In the volume published in 1919
 by the Theosophical Publishing House of Adyar this letter and
 the blue penciled lines are reproduced and are included in all
 subsequent reprintings. (Letter 46, p.99. Letters from the
 Masters of Wisdom, first series, 4th, 5th, 6th edition.) In the
 1948 printing Mr. C. Jinarajadasa adds some historical comments
 and includes also some letters newly found and never before
 printed from K.H. to Laura Holloway. H.P.B., and Olcott. 

     The penciled lines from K.H. To Mrs. Besant in the 1900
 letter, however, were never published in completeness, as
 ellipses dots indicate, the editors omitting certain lines they
 considered too private for public reading. 

     The following now is the complete Letter, earlier omissions
 being indicated in bold letters. The earnest student will study
 these omissions which in context reveal the Master's fuller and
 clear advise. The time indeed may be propitious for their
 disclosure. The first sentence evidently has reference to Mr.
 B. K. Mantri. 
 --Ed. 
 [Excerpted from The Eclectic Theosophist, No. 101,
 September/October 1987]