Theosophical Articles and Notes
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THEOSOPHICAL ARTICLES AND NOTES Reprinted from Original Sources THE THEOSOPHY CO. Los Angeles 1985 ISBN 0-938998-29-3 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Scanned & edited by volunteers at the United Lodge of Theosophists, London, UK. Edited Oct 2020 & April 2021 FOREWORD The articles in this volume come from a variety of sources. They are presented here for their intrinsic worth to students of Theosophy. They are grouped according to the place of first appearance —in the Theosophist, Lucifer, the Path, and other sources. Within these groupings they are arranged chronologically. Internal evidence strongly suggests that some of them have an “adept” origin, and they are so presented. One or two articles unintentionally omitted from Theosophical Articles by H.P.B. and W.Q.J. are included. Other contributions, not identified as to author, are of a quality which makes it appropriate to reprint them here. Thus there are articles, replies and notes which appeared in the Theosophist and Lucifer, also material by Damodar K. Mavalankar, and two articles signed “Murdhna Joti” from the Path. Cicero’s “Vision of Scipio” is included by reason of H.P.B.’s briefly informative footnotes. Judge’s “Notes on the Bhagavad Gita” is a Path article which was not a part of the book of that name. Finally, there is material taken from A.P. Sinnett’s The Occult World, from the notes of Robert Bowen, a pupil of H.P.B., and also from notes found in the effects of Countess Wachtmeister, apparently taken down from dictation by H.P.B. The value of the writings here presented will be self-evident to Theosophical students and readers. The Editors CONTENTS ARTICLES FROM “THE THEOSOPHIST” Castes in India ............................................................................................ 1 A Reply to our Critics ................................................................................ 6 Mediums and Yogees ................................................................................ 11 Whence the Name “Lunatics?” ................................................................. 15 Devachan: Reply I—The Real and Unreal ................................................ 17 Reply II—Dream Life ............................................................. 23 Reply III—Various States of Devachan .................................. 29 Projection of the Double 35 Contemplation and Correspondence .......................................................... 39 The Metaphysical Basis of “Esoteric Buddhism” ..................................... 49 Astrology .................................................................................................. 57 Initiation ................................................................................................... 60 Le Phare de L’Inconnu (VII) .................................................................... 62 NOTES FROM “THE THEOSOPHIST” [The titles below are of untitled replies; words for the new titles are from the text at the beginning of that particular reply.] The Theosophists not having as yet studied all these Bhasyas .................. 73 The Theosophical Society requires no oaths ............................................ 76 “Conjuror, mesmerist, medium or spiritualist!” ........................................ 80 Questions by two correspondents .............................................................. 83 Funeral Rites Among Savage Races .......................................................... 93 The pale reflections of men and women .................................................... 98 Conditions of spiritual existence ............................................................... 99 The Five-Pointed Star .............................................................................. 101 To The Editor of The Theosophist .......................................................... 105 The physical phenomena of “stone showers” ......................................... 106 The mysteries of bird-flying .................................................................... 114 The phenomena of Hypnotism ................................................................ 115 The power of the Yogi ............................................................................. 116 Human hibernation .................................................................................. 119 Do female adepts exist at all? .................................................................. 122 Neither Tibetan nor Hindu Mahatmas meddle with politics .................... 125 The belief in a personal god .................................................................... 127 FROM “LUCIFER” Thoughts on Theosophy ......................................................................... 131 Some Words on Daily Life ..................................................................... 133 The Three Desires .................................................................................. 137 What Good Has Theosophy Done in India? ............................................ 143 A Master’s Letter..................................................................................... 148 Consciousness ......................................................................................... 150 The Function of Attention in Personal Development .............................. 153 The Genesis of Evil in Human Life ......................................................... 159 Thoughts of Karma and Reincarnation .................................................... 167 The Vision of Skipio ............................................................................... 175 India ......................................................................................................... 184 The Great Master’s Letter ....................................................................... 189 Notes from Lucifer .................................................................................. 194 FROM “THE PATH” Seership ................................................................................................... 213 Living the Higher Life ............................................................................. 224 The Worship of the Dead ........................................................................ 236 Kama Loka - Suicides - Accidental Deaths ............................................. 239 Notes of Devachan .................................................................................. 242 Devachan ................................................................................................. 248 Notes on The Bhagavad Gita .................................................................. 251 Some Views of an Asiatic ....................................................................... 257 A Friend of Old Time and of the Future .................................................. 261 OTHER SOURCES The Dwellers on High Mountains ........................................................... 265 The Secret Doctrine and Its Study ........................................................... 270 From The Occult World ........................................................................... 276 Notes “From Madame” ........................................................................... 298 Index ........................................................................................................ 301 ARTICLES FROM “THE THEOSOPHIST” CASTES IN INDIA O man of sincerity and moral courage can read Mr. G. C. Whitworth’s Profession of Faith, as reviewed in the April Theosophist, without feeling N himself challenged to be worthy of the respect of one who professes such honourable sentiments. I, too, am called upon to make my statement of personal belief. It is due to my family and caste-fellows that they should know why I have deliberately abandoned my caste and other worldly considerations. If, henceforth, there is to be a chasm between them and myself, I owe it to myself to declare that this alienation is of my own choosing, and I am not cut off for bad conduct. I would be glad to take with me, if possible, into my new career, the affectionate good wishes of my kinsmen. But, if this cannot be done, I must bear their displeasure, as I may, for I am obeying a paramount conviction of duty. I was born in the family of the Karháda Maháráshtra caste of Brahmins, as my surname will indicate. My father carefully educated me in the tenets of our religion, and, in addition, gave me every facility for acquiring an English education. From the age of ten until I was about fourteen, I was very much exercised in mind upon the subject of religion and devoted myself with great ardour to our orthodox religious practices. Then my ritualistic observances were crowded aside by my scholastic studies, but, until about nine months ago, my religious thoughts and aspirations were entirely unchanged. At this time, I had the inestimable good fortune to read “Isis Unveiled; a Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Religion and Science,” and to join the Theosophical Society. It is no exaggeration to say that I have been a really living man only these few months; for between life as it appears to me now and life as I comprehended it before, there is an unfathomable abyss. I feel that now for the first time I have a glimpse of what man and life are—the nature and powers of the one, the possibilities, duties, and joys of the other. Before, though ardently ritualistic I was not really enjoying happiness and peace of mind. I simply