The Testimony of a Hindu
Student, With a Letter
From the Founder of the
Theosophical Movement
Ananda
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Editorial Note:
The following
text mentions the 1891
expectations
that HPB’s monad would come
back soon in
another body. It is reproduced
from “The Theosophist” magazine, India,
August 1891
edition, pp. 671-672. Original
title: “Experiences of a Hindu About HPB”.
We add a few
explanatory notes.
(Carlos Cardoso
Aveline)
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As early as March 1882, the
existence of the Theosophical Society and its Founders came to my knowledge,
when I was employed at Udayagari, Nellore District, Madras Presidency.
As I had all along from my youth,
a desire for mystic study and had even spent many months in the in the company
of men supposed to be Yogis, this news especially about H.P.B. and her
wonderful experiences caught me like a jungle fire. Immediately I came back to
Nellore, where there was a prospect of a branch of the Theosophical Society
being opened. When this branch was inaugurated in May 1882, I became one of its
earnest members. It was peculiarly fortunate in having both the Founders
present at its opening. Somehow I was closely drawn to the Founders. Only at
that time at the request of Col. [ Henry] Olcott, P.T.S. [1], an
article entitled “Stone Shower” was contributed by me to the Theosophist.
Peculiar attraction for H.P.B. grew in me and I was all the time to be seen at
her side.
When the Founders left the
place for Guntur, I engaged myself in the study of Theosophical books. As a
consequence of such study I began to correspond with D.K. Mavalankar, who was
then the Recording Secretary of the Theosophical Society. He suggested to me
whether I could devote myself for the cause and work at the Head-quarters. This
news was quite welcome to me, and I began to prepare myself for the ordeal, so
much so that I made myself blind as to the future consequences that were in
store for me. In July 1883, when I was on my duty at Cuddapah, I had sent my
wife away for delivery. I applied for six months leave, but it was refused. My
determination to work for the cause was so very strong that I resigned the post
and joined the Head-quarters staff on the 7th August 1883. Then H.P.B. was at
Ooty. On hearing of my arrival, she wrote to me a very kind letter, embodying
necessary instructions, and since she knew that I came away without informing
my people, and bad a longing to become like Damodar and to prepare myself for
Chelaship and Yogi life, H.P.B. addressed me as follows:
“You have to learn thoroughly
not only your own Philosophy but the Philosophies of other nations also. Read
and study ..… you must devote two or three years to study and especially
Sanskrit ..… It is your inner life and your action that will draw to you such
or another Guru. You may consider in the meantime both our Gurus as watching
you. Do not close all and every door behind you at present. You may find
yourself too weak or incompetent for the heavy task. You may repent. Do
not renounce your worldly possessions or make yourself for the future in case
you should resume your Grihasta [2] life, your brother’s dependent and slave.
MASTER says to impress this strongly on your mind. Have, in case
anything happens, a means to return to your worldly life without much
difficulty. Meanwhile study as much as you can Esoteric Theosophy as
given out to the world and learn to understand it as Theosophists ought … It
is always good to keep to your own mesmeric or magnetic influences and
emanation. May all the Dhyan Chohans and Devas bless and protect you, my
son. You have chosen a heavy difficult path in life before you reach Moksha on
earth.”
The above extracts from her
letter will clearly show how cautions she was when she meant to admit one into
the right Path. From this time forward my relations with her grew more intimate
and I was in her company for several years. I watched fully enough all the
phenomena at Head-Quarters, knew what Colombs [3] did, and how Hodgson
was misled in arriving at his one-sided conclusion about Phenomena. I patiently
watched her at her bedside during her illness at the Head-quarters, the
recovery from which seems to be, to my mind, a phenomenon in itself.
As Mr. [ Alfred P.] Sinnett
rightly puts it, I think with him that she has been called away at this time,
to work for the cause in a better body. She has left behind her ready materials
enough for one or two generations to come, if her teaching is to be followed.
We all must feel grateful to her and thank her, because she put herself to
endless torture in her worn out garment in order to live and work for us. Now
she is free. She had been ever kind to me and always addressed me, Ananda.
It is only with grateful devotion to ONE whom the world has not yet begun to
sufficiently understand - the mysterious personality called H.P.B. - that I pen
these few lines.
Ananda.
NOTES:
[1] P.T.S. - President
of the Theosophical Society. The original Theosophical Society ceased to exist,
though, a few years after the death of H.P. Blavatsky. (CCA)
[2] Grihasta – A man
who lives with his family. (CCA)
[3] Colombs – This is
a misspelling. It should be “Coulombs”. The Coulombs received bribes from the
Christian Missionaries to invent lies about H. P. Blavatsky in India. (CCA)
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In September 2016, after
a careful analysis of the state of the esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students
decided to form the Independent Lodge of
Theosophists, whose priorities include the building of a better future in
the different dimensions of life.
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