The Document Which
Warned that the
Adyar Society Had Abandoned
Real Theosophy
A Master of the
Wisdom
Photo of part of the 1900 Letter,
with decisive words hidden from view.
Reproduced from Geoffrey A. Barborka’s book “The Mahatmas and Their
Letters”, TPH,
India, 1973. The full text of the letter
was first published in 1987.
An Editorial Note:
The
document reproduced below is the complete text of the 1900 letter from a
Master, to Annie Besant. It was published for the first time in “The Eclectic
Theosophist”, number 101, September-October 1987, p. 1.
Up to 1987, only
the partial version of the letter was known, as it had been published by C.
Jinarajadasa in “Letters From the Masters of the Wisdom” (TPH, letter 46 of the
first series).
If we consider the
extremely relevant content of the letter, one question is unavoidable: “Why has
its text received such a scarce attention, even after its full text was
published in 1987?”
There seems to be
strong political reasons for that. On one hand, it does not seem politically
profitable for the leaders of the Adyar Society to admit that since 1900 their
Society has done exactly the opposite of what the Letter recommends.
The text shows in
a frank and direct language that the esoteric section of the Adyar Society was
already out of line and out of focus since earlier
than 1900. It is easy to see that it has remained so up to now.
On the other hand,
some students of William Q. Judge have their own reasons to question the
authenticity of the letter. They correctly point out that by 1900 Annie Besant
should not be a disciple of the Masters any longer. She had broken her solemn
vows by publishing for the wide public, as part of her illegitimate version of
“The Secret Doctrine”, the Esoteric School Papers which she had recently made a
sacred promise to keep private and never to divulge.
She had also
forced Mr. William Q. Judge (one of the three main founders of the movement in
1875) out from the Adyar Society. And, unfortunately, even that was not all.
Mrs. Besant belonged to the “inner group” of Mr. Alfred P. Sinnett, who made
mesmeric and mediumistic sessions with false Adepts, in London.
For these students
of William Judge, therefore, if Annie Besant was no disciple any longer by
1900, the Masters could not communicate with her in any form. As a conclusion,
they say that the letter must be a forgery made by someone in the Adyar Society
who was against Annie Besant.
So, for different
reasons, both Adyar students and some Judge students tend to completely ignore
the 1900 letter - or to give it scarce attention.
Yet the fact
remains that this letter anticipates, one by one, most of the many mistakes and
absurdities which would be done by the Adyar leaders in the following decades,
including the creation of an “esoteric popery” and the cessation of any
criticisms against conventional dogmatic religions. Such criticism was part of
the original programme of the theosophical movement created by H.P. Blavatsky.
Another factor to
be considered in the equation is that the ways and methods of the Masters are
often difficult to predict or ascertain, as H.P.B. herself warned. They are at
liberty to keep in contact with non-disciples and ex-disciples. On the other
hand, Masters often do not give
instructions to their true disciples, so that these students may develop their
own independent vision of things.
In the book
“Mahatma Letters”, one can see examples of the fact that Masters may keep some
contact with an ex-disciple after he or she completely “failed” - and this, for
several karmic reasons.
An extra hint as
to the authenticity of the 1900 letter is that it was sent in the exact year
and month when the Aquarius Age started, possibly being a “last farewell” to be
understood only from a historical perspective. For some reason this letter was
never destroyed, and came to be widely known only during the “general effort”
of the following end-of-century, in 1987. The letter gives precious guidance to
the theosophical work, and it is hoped that in due time it will receive proper
attention by students worldwide. The text of the letter speaks for itself as to
its value.
The complete
document is below. All the words and sentences which were omitted by C.
Jinarajadasa are here included in CAPITAL LETTERS.
(Carlos Cardoso
Aveline)
000
The 1900 Letter
From a Mahatma
A Master of the
Wisdom
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 MISTAKES 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 each [1] 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.
NOTE:
[1] In “The Eclectic Theosophist” transcription of this
letter, the word “each” is omitted but the original letter has this word. See
the photofacsimiles of the actual letter on pp. 358-360 of the book “The
Mahatmas and Their Letters”, by Geoffrey A. Barborka, TPH, Adyar, 1973, 422
pages.
000
The full text of the above
document was also published in the “Theosophical
History” magazine, London, October 1987, see pp. 115-117.
000
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.
000
