Theos-Talk Archives (July 1999 Message tl00018)

July 13th 1999

From:  Dallas
dalval@nwc.net

H P B   and   the   MASTERS

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

Students have often speculated on the nature of H.P.Blavatsky..
Apart from that, what was her "mission ?"  Why did she reveal the
presence of the great Adepts whom she named Masters of Wisdom ?
Why does she speak of a "College" of Adepts ?  Can any human gain
admission to such a "college?"  And, when one has "graduated"
from the "school" of Earth, what remains to be done?   What
functions can be available ?

In describing her work and her writing she called herself a
"scribe," a writer, working under dictation.  Of herself and her
wide travels and many tests and trials, she claimed to have only
brought to the work that she so devotedly performed, a "string"
wherewith to bind the nosegay of great truths together.

One needs only survey the Table of Contents of ISIS UNVEILED and
THE SECRET DOCTRINE, or look through a list of the titles of her
many Articles to realise the panorama and the depth of her
knowledge, and of the what Great Nature for whom the "Masters"
work, had in the way of a curriculum and future for "graduates."
"We servilely copy Nature," they once wrote.

Writing in the SECRET DOCTRINE (I p. 67) she says: "...the Secret
Doctrine teaches history..."

If we were to consider that alone as a basis for viewing her
work, we would find that the work of the great Adepts and their
disciples down the ages (SD I 272-3)  has been of two kinds.
First to preserve a record of the events, facts, and laws that
are in Nature, and second, to provide this information to those
who qualify for its use.

In doing this the Adepts responsible for this teaching have used
the language of the time and people they came to.  In ISIS
UNVEILED and the SECRET DOCTRINE, the Adept authors have brought
before us two kinds of records.  First, the archaic, as
represented by the "Stanzas of Dzyan (wisdom)."  And second, such
fragments of ancient literature, religious and philosophical as
have evaded destruction, and have been lodged in our libraries,
archives and museums as artifacts.  And there may be more to be
found, hints HPB in several places.  She also states that the
Adept College has secret libraries in which can be found all
records in their original language of all that has been left in
the past relating to the Wisdom Religion.  The Secret Doctrine
embodies information under the headings of Cosmogenesis (the
rebirth of the Universe and of our World), and, Anthropogenesis
(the progression of humanity from its spiritual, original
prototype down into the gross physical matter of our present
bodies--from an IDEAL THOUGHT, down into animated flesh and
blood).

The translation into modern language of these ancient statements
is not always the original and complete meaning of myth, lore and
intent, because there is always a wide difference between the
literal meaning of words used (the EYE Doctrine), and the
spiritual meaning (the HEART Doctrine). Students of the literal
(of "head learning"), dispute over words.  Students of the "heart
doctrine" seek for the implications that lie behind the words
used to describe ancient allegories and illustrations that are
offered.

In HPB's writings we perceive the attempt to restore original
meaning and intent to us of the "Heart Doctrine" of the Perennial
Philosophy, the WISDOM RELIGION.  It is but natural that
antiquarians will dispute these statements, as they are trained
to rely on the decisions made by their predecessors (who now
teach them) and who have been deeply influenced by current
religious views and more recent "scientific" hypotheses.

The work of the Adepts has always been to preserve and illustrate
the existing Laws of Nature.  This is named Karma in general.

In this study we can look at evidence presented to us of the
existence of the Wise.  "The opened eye of the Dangma" (SD I 27,
#8) shows that even during a Great Pralaya there are Those who
are not involved in (subject to) that general "sleep" but are
conscious and "awake."   Next comes manifestation which at its
dawn demands the presence of  the "Builders," the
"cosmocratores."  Called the "luminous sons of the Manvantaric
Dawn" (SD I 28, #1) they precede the "Seven Sons" (# 5)  whose
duty it is to guide the re-creation of the Universe.  A further
differentiation is mentioned (SD I 19, #4) "seven inside, seven
outside."

Of these (SD I 29, # 7) states: "Oeaohoo, the Younger" ...shines
forth as the son...the blazing Divine Dragon of Wisdom; the One
is Four, and Four takes to itself Three, and the Union produces
the Sapta [seven], in whom are the seven which become the Tridasa
(or the hosts and the multitudes)...He shuts out the above and
leaves the below to be seen as the great illusion."

If we turn to SD I 207-8 we will find that HPB gives us more
detail concerning this "wondrous  Being, called the "Initiator,"
and after him a group of semi-divine and semi-human beings...they
are those in whom are said to have incarnated the highest Dhyanis
[wise], "Munis and Rishis from previous Manvantaras"--to form the
nursery for future human adepts, on this earth and during the
present cycle...it is he again who holds spiritual sway over
the initiated Adepts throughout the whole world...the "nameless
One" who has so many names, and yet whose names and whose very
nature are unknown.  He is the "Initiator," called THE GREAT
SACRIFICE."  For sitting at the threshold of LIGHT, he looks into
it from within the circle of Darkness, which he will not cross;
nor will he quit his post...because the lonely, sore-footed
pilgrims on their way back to their home are never sure to the
last moment of not losing their way in this limitless desert of
illusion and matter called Earth...in short, he has sacrificed
himself for the sake of mankind, though but few of the Elect may
profit by the GREAT SACRIFICE."

HPB continues:  "It is under the direct silent guidance of this
MAHA--(great)--GURU that all the other less divine Teachers and
instructors of mankind became, from the first awakening of human
consciousness, the guides of early Humanity. It is through these
"sons of God" that infant humanity got its notion of all the arts
and sciences...and it is they who have laid the first
foundation-stone of those ancient civilizations that puzzle so
sorely our modern generations of students and scholars."
(SD I 207-8)

A statement is made that the Masters are not Eastern nor Western,
but universal.  To this HPB has added:  "And whoever therefore
wants to see the real MAHATMA, must use his intellectual sight.
He must so elevate his Manas that its perception will be
clear...His vision will then be bright and he will see the
MAHATMAS wherever he may be, for, being merged into the sixth
[Buddhi] and seventh [Atma] principles, which are ubiquitous and
omnipresent, the MAHATMAS may be said to be everywhere."
HPB Articles, I, p.  294

For this reason we can understand Mr. Judge writing about HPB:
"I think that the way for all western theosophists is through
H.P.B.  I mean that as she is the T.S. incarnate--its mother and
guardian, its creator--the Karmic laws would naturally provide
that all who drew this life through her belonged to her, and if
they denied her, they need not hope to reach [Masters], for how
can they deny her who gave this doctrine to the western world?
They share her Karma to little purpose if they think they can get
round this identification and benefit, and [Masters] want no
better proof that a man does not comprehend their philosophy.
This would, of course, bar him from [Masters] by natural laws (of
growth)...[those] who undervalue her gift and her creation, have
not imbibed the teaching and cannot assimilate its benefits.  She
must be understood as being what she is to the T.S., or
Karma...is not understood, nor the first laws of occultism."
 WQJ -- Letters, p. 110

"[ About H. P. B.] Those who cannot understand her had best not
try to explain her...she knew...that high and wise servants of
the Lodge have remained with the West since many centuries for
the purpose of helping it on its mission and destiny.  That work
it would be well for members of the Theosophical  Movement to
continue without deviating, without excitement, without running
to extremes...the truth of the soul's life is in no special
quarter of the compass..." 	Letters, p. 76

Speaking of the Adepts and the great Teachers of Mankind, Judge
further wrote:  "...there are certain persons on this earth,
living and working as ordinary human beings and members of
society, whose informing divine part is so immeasurably high in
development that they as such high beings have a definite status
and function in the "supersensuous regions."...she herself was
such a case, and that "H P B" whether hourly in the day or at
night when all around was still, had a "status and function" in
other spheres where she consciously carried on the work of that
high station, whatever it was...[She wrote in one place]  " I am
conscious day and night, and have much to do and to endure in
both these existences from which you, being half-conscious, are
happily saved."	  WQJ, Articles I, p. 616

In conclusion we might observe that the Theosophical Movement has
grown most in consequence of the effort of those who are devoted
to an ideal, inspired by enthusiasm, and are filled with a
lasting gratitude to H.P.Blavatsky.  Their ideal is the service
of Humanity, the ultimate potential perfectibility of man as
exemplified by the Masters and Adepts of all ages, including the
present.

Implicit in a consideration of the advancement which each
human can achieve, are a few statements which illustrate the
nature of the effort and the "Path."

"The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make
porous the lower nature that the spiritual nature may shine
through it and become the guide and the ruler...it is the real
man, who is the HIGHER SELF--being the spark of the
Divine...--overshadows the visible being, which has the
possibility of becoming united to that spark.  Thus it is said
that the higher Spirit is not in the man, but above him...The
object of the student is to let the light of that spirit shine
through the lower covering...all selfishness must be eliminated
from the lower nature before its divine state can be
reached...When systematically trained in accordance with the
aforesaid system and law, men attain to clear insight into the
immaterial, spiritual world, and their interior faculties
apprehend truth as immediately and readily as physical faculties
grasp the things of sense, or mental faculties those of
reason..."They are able to look directly upon ideas."
Epitome, pp. 13-14

Since the MAHATMA is an advanced occultist, who has so far
controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less in
complete subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of
things impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish
manner.  No sooner does he allow his "personal self" to assert
itself, than he ceases to be a MAHATMA.

The law of Cosmic evolution is ever operating to achieve its
purpose of ultimate unity and to carry the phenomenal into the
noumenal plane, and the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it, are
assisting that purpose they alone have got to the basic knowledge
which can determine the right course and exercise proper
discrimination.

 And for us it will be evident that, as soon as the least feeling
of selfishness tries to assert itself, the vision of the
spiritual sense, which is the only perception of the MAHATMA,
becomes clouded and we loose the "power" which abstract
"knowledge" alone can confer.  Hence the vigilant watch of the
"will" we have constantly to exercise to prevent our lower nature
from coming up to the surface.

In a letter the Mahatma observed:  "A perfect man is not made to
order but is a product of evolution.  Wisdom is not a matter of
book-learning but of growth.  General rules for conduct can be
given, but to apply them properly, the power of discrimination is
necessary...A virtue, practiced without moderation, becomes a
crime.  To know
how to find the point of equilibrium is the great secret of the
Adept, that cannot be told but must be learned by experience,
when sagacity and goodness will be united in wisdom."

"The whole individuality is centred in the three middle
Principles or third (MANAS), and fifth (ASTRAL BODY) principles.
During earthly life it is all in the fourth (KAMA-MANAS), the
center of energy, volition--will...the individuality
survives...to run its seven-fold and upward course [it] has to
assimilate to itself the eternal-life power residing but in the
seventh (ATMA), and then blend the three (4th, 5th & 7th) into
one--the 6th (BUDDHI).  Those who succeed in doing so become
Buddhas, Dhyan Chohans, etc...  The chief object of our struggle
and initiations is to achieve this union while yet on this
earth."	  M L , p. 77-8