' and Occultism As Taught by Madame Blavatsky 'Theosophy Annie Besan.t, D.Litt., P.'f.S. Questions and An~wers Rt. Rev. C.W. Leadbeater A Vision of the Future George S. Arundale, M.A., D.Litt. 'The .Cife Capt. Leo L. Partlow

july, 1932

'Theosophy Occultism r,~,,...-9<:"N,,...-9=,~,,~,,~,,~,~

~ Our Policy ~ W orld Theosophy is an unsectarian publica- - l tion dedicated to the art of livingt to world ~ ' ~ Brotherhoodt and to the dissemination of truth. f - Theosophy means Divine Wisdom. - j Contributions will be considered on the sub- ~ S' jects of Theosophyt philosophyt religiont educa- z i tiont sciencet psychologyt artt healtht citizen- ! ~ shipt social servicet and all other branches of ~ S' humanitarian endeavor. z '~~ . Contributors are earnestly requested to re- ~i: member that harmony t understandingt and eo- = operation are vital essentials of practical brother- ,_~ hoodt .and are impeded by coritroversial opinions i_~ S' of a criticalt personal nature. z 2 .The . pages of this magazine are open to all - i_· phases , of thought provided they are in conso- ~ S' nance with the ideals of Theosophy. But the ~ \.! z: Editor is not responsible for any declarations of I. ~ opinions expressed by contributors. · ~ S' uThe inquirg of trutht which is the lorJe-mak- , l ing or wooing of it; the knowledge of truth, the ä ts preference of it; and the belief of truth, the enjoy- ~ S' ing of it, is the sovereigp good of human nature.,, , {,. . ' ' j ~"'''~.j..~11~.j._~ll~.j._~ll~.j._~ll~.j._~ll~.j..~ll~J.~1~:ffl World 'Theosoph.Y A Journal Devoted to the Art of Living Marie R. Hotchener, Editor (Form erly Co -Editor of ) Henry Hotchener, Publisher

V ol. II. No. 7 J uly, 19 32

CONTENTS SERVICE TO MANKIND (Fronti spiece) ______49 0 LEST WE FORGET ______491 OVER THE WIDE WORLD ______The Editor 494 THEOSOPHY AND OCCUL TISM ______As taught by Madame Blavatsky 501 P RA YER ------C· J inaraj adasa 5 04 THEOSOPHY ______Annie Besant , D.Li tt ., P .T .S 5 0 5 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ______Rt. Rev. C . W. Leadbeater 511 GOD SMILES ______George Burt Lake 5 14 A VISION OF THE FUTURE ______George S. Arundal e, M.A. , D.Litt. 515 THE WISDOM OF FOLL y ______Ellcn Thorneycroft Fowler 5 18 VISION ------______Geoffrey Hodson 5 19 THE CANDID OCCUL TIST ___------John Elliott 5 2 3 EVOLUTION AND IMMORTALITY ______John Haynes Holmes 526 THE CAMPER ______Diana Gracey Winslow 5 2 8 OCCULTISM OF MEMORY , HERE AND HEREAFTER ______Marie R. Hotchener 529 RE VELA TION ------J . H. Knoche 5 3 2 THE OCCUL T LIFE ______----· ______Leo L. Partlow 5 3 3 BROTHERHOOD-THE UNIVERSAL LOVE ·---·------____Norman lngamells 5 3 8 GOD 'S PLAN FOR OUR AGE ------·The Rev. -Edmund Sheehan 541 THE UNITY OF HUMANITY ______l\.. Karoli Gallion 543 THE MASTER-MAGICIAN ___------·------______John Caldwell-J ohnston 5 44 TESTS AND ___------______Carl F . Propson 5 45 INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE ______R. F . Goudey 547 THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS ______William C. Dean 553 IF A BIRD CAN SING ___ ------Douglas Mollock 555 THINKING WITH THINKERS ______------··------5 5 6 THE LIBRARY MADAME BLAVATSKY AS OCCULTIST-Article Review by M.E.B.______560 CORRESPONDENCE ------5 62 OUT OF THE EVERYWHERE HOW WE HAVE BECOME WHAT WE ARE ______566 "HAND OF DEATH " ------5 6 7 NO WAR SPIRIT HERE ! ______------5 6 8 SMALLPOX ------··--·------568 SONG FOR A SUMMER DA y ______------5 6 8

Published monthly at 6137 Temple Hili Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U. S. A. Send all articles, communications, and subscriptions to this address. Subscription price, $3.50 in U, S, A.; $4.00 in other countries. See rear page i for further details. (Entered as Second Class Matter January 14, 1931, at the Post Office of Los Angeles, California, Under the Act of March 3rd, 1879.) Copyrighted 1931, Bronze Statue in the English High School, Boston} Mass.J donated by Hayden Stone Co. o(est We Forget Theosophical Teachings of the ·~asters

HE SUN of Tbeosopby must sbine for all, not for a part . Tbere is more of tbis movement tban you bave yet bad an inkling of, and tbe work of tbe Tbeosopbical Society is linked in witb similar work tbat is secretly going on in B all parts of tbe world.-M. • • • He wbo will not find our trutbs in bis soul and witbin bimself bas poor cbances of success in Occultism.-K.H . • • • The metbods of Occultism, tbougb in tbe main uncbangeable, bave yet to conform to altered times and circumstances. Tbe state of tbe general society of -quite different from tbat of India , wbere our existence is a matter of common . and, so to say, of inberent belief among tbe population , and in a number of cases of positive knowledge-requires quite a different policy in the pres­ entation of Occult Sciences. Tbe only object tobe striven for is tbe amelioration of tbe condition of Man öy tbe spread of trutb suited to tbe various stages of bis dev:elopment and tbat cif tbe country be inbabits and belongs to. Truth bas no ear-mark and does not suffer from tbe name under wbicb it is promulgated-if tbe said object is attained.-K.H . • • • Tbe world of force is tbe world of Occultism and tbe only one whitber tbe bigbest initiate goes to probe the secrets of being. Hence 492 WORLD THEOSOPHY

no one but such an initiate can · know anything of these secrets. Guided by bis Guru, the chela first discovers this world, then its laws, then their centrifugal evolutions into the world of matter. To make him a perfect adept takes him long years, but at last he becomes the master. The hidden things .have become patent , and mystery ,and miracle have fled from bis sight forever. He sees how to guide force in this direction or that-to produce desirable effects. The secret chemical, electric or odic properties of plants, herbs, roots , minerals , animal tissue, are as familiar to him as the feathers of your birds are to you. . . . . And to show you how exact a science is Occultism let me tel1 you that the means we avail ourselves of are all laid down for us in a code as old as humanity to the minutest detail, but everyone of us has to begin from the beginning , not from the end. . .. . W e build our philosophy upon experiment and de- duction . . .. . Learn first our laws and educate your perceptions . Control your involuntary powers and develop in the right direc­ tion your will , and you will become a teacher instead of a learner. -K.H . • • • Ah, how long shall the mysteries of chelaship overpower and lead astray from the path of truth the wise and perspicacious, as much as the foolish and the credulous! How few of the many pil ­ grims who have to start without chart or compass on that shoreless Ocean of Occultism reach the wished-for land! Believe me, faith­ ful friend , that nothing short of full confidence in us, in our good motives if not in our wisdom, in our foresight , if not omniscience -which is not to be found on this eartb-can belp one to cross over from one's land of dream and fiction to our Truth land , the region of stern reality and fact. However well fitted psychically and physiologically to answer such selection, unless possessed ©f spiritual, as well as of physical unselfishness, a chela, whether selected or not, must perish as a chela in the long run. The mass of human sin and frailty is distributed throughout the lifo of man who is content to remain an average mortal. lt is gathered in and centered, _so to say, within one period of the life of a chela-the period of probation.-K.H . • • • The path to Occult Sciences has to be trodden laboriously and crossed at the

would see beyond has to first destroy this living wall; he must be possessed of a heart and soul clad in steel, and of an iron, never­ failing determination, and yet be meek and gentle, humble, and have shut out from bis heart every human passion that leads to evil. -K.H. • • •

Does it seem to you a small thing that the past year has been spent only in your "family duties"? Nay, but what better cause for reward, what better discipline, than the daily and hourly per­ formance of duty? Believe me, the man or woman who is placed by Karma in the midst of small plain duties and sacrifices and lov­ ing-kindnesses, will through these faithfully fulfilled rise to the !arger measure of Duty, Sacrifice, and Charity to all Humanity. What better path towards the enlightment you are striving after, than the daily conquest of Self, the perseverance in spite of want of visible progress, the bearing of ill-fortune with that serene fortitude which turns it to spiritual advantage-since good and evil are not to be measured by events on the lower or physical .-K.H. • • •

(W ritten to a Hindu disciple) Greetings, My Chela, . At my request, Olcott has explained the theory of chelaship. lt is an educational as well as probationary stage, and the chela alone · can determine whether it shall end in adeptship or failure. Chelas, from a mistaken idea of our system, too often watch and wait for orders, wasting precious time which should be taken up with per­ sonal effort. These remarks are suggested by your questions. Y ou off er your services; well. Y ou are willing to devote time, incur ex­ pense, run risks for Our cause. W ell, it is the cause of humanity, of true religion, of education, of enlightenment and spiritual eleva­ tion, of course. lt needs missionaries, devotees, agents, even martyrs perhaps. But it cannot demand of any man to make himself either. If he chooses,-well;-well for the world and for himself. For, to work for mankind is grand, its recompense stretches beyond this brief dream of life into other births. So now, you my chela, choose and grasp your own destiny. You wish to heal the sick,--do so; but remember your success will be measured by your faith-in your­ self, more than in us. Lose it for a second, and failure will follow. I will give orders to Junior-Olcott-to teach you the mechanical art. Have faith in your soul power, and you will have success. . ... My blessing be with you, my son.-M. Over the Wide World Union and Coöperation Are lndispensable.-Master K. H.

When one understands that Ours but to see each wick is trirnrned new and better world conditions and fit; 0, keepers of the light, keep faith with are slowly being created every­ it! where, one's mind and heart are Ä .... not so distressed as the 'vision News from Adyar says that searches the far and near places. Dr. Besant's health is about the lt is this understanding that gives same: "Some days a little strong­ the individual the courage and er, with a short drive; other days power to direct bis life according­ too weak to walk or drive ." She ly, and ever inspires him to great­ carries on valiantly . er personal efforts to aid the .... Ä reconstruction. lt is with sincere regret we As Theodosia Garrison says: learn from of Bishop Leadbeater ' s illness there, re­ We are the keepers of that steadfast sulting from the trying voyage light from India . We hope that long That guides a people ' s course and des- ere this he is full y restored to tiny; Not ours the skill directing o' er the sea health . One marvels that at bis The rnighty bearns that blaze aright : advanced age he is able to travel, Ours but the hands that, serving , keep and to carry on the heavy work it bright , that he constantly assumes. He The bringers of the oil, the work ers we certainly is an inspiring example Who day lang , without pause and faithfully, of devotion to Theosophy. He Toil that its radiance rnay pierce the returned to Adyar the middle of night. June . Even though he was unable Above us are the wills that guide and to attend the Easter Convention turn; lt is not ours to watch nor question of the at these ; Sydney , a microphone was placed OVER THE WIDE WORLD 495 in bis room , to wbicb be was con­ street can see what underlies them all. fined for some days, and be was Then it is a bridge between tbe East and the West. . . .. It is a bridge able to broadcast to some of tbe between nation and nation. It calls meetings. upon each people instead of being in At tbe time of tbe Convention a surly, suspicious, hostile attitude to tbe opening of the great new try to understand the other man, how­ bridge at Sydney barbor was be­ ~ver different may be bis point of ing celebrated, so Bisbop Lead­ view. Theosophy emphasizes that all men beater' s address appositely de­ are brethren, and if they will all try to scribed tbe ''bridging powers'' of understand one another they will often Tbeosophy. Tbe following ex­ find that their differences are merely cerpt from bis address is from nominal, or in any case can be solved the Australian Theosophist: by a rational give-and-take metbod . If both resolve never to give in to the As you probably know , my special other on any point there is no common subject is Theosophy. I have spent ground between them. But if botb over fifty years studying it. And now will be unselfish, if they will be pat­ during the last few days, hearing peo­ riotic , if they will submit their differ­ ple speaking about the Bridge and all ences to arbitration, then they will find the wonder of it, I feel there is a very solutions . You may sa,y that the pres­ decided parallel between this great ent difficulties in which the world finds bridge and the opening of it on the itself are insoluble. I doubt it . The physical plane , and the Theosophical human intellect is a fine thing, and I bridge which we want to open mental­ am quite certain that it is within its ly in the higher life. Because, you power to solve all the difficulties that know , this Theosophy of ours is arise between nation and nation, be- · a system--of philosophy if you tween capital and labor-with due like, and one of its great special­ consideration and willingness on both ties is that it is a bridge-a sides-between one political method bridge , for example , between religion of looking at things and another , if and science, because it explains that re­ only the people will be unsel:fish, put ligion may be founded on an absolute­ aside the limitation of their little par­ ly scientific basis and that is something ish-pump ideas, and take the broad, which I do not think has been done national view of things. But they in the same way by any other system must be prepared to meet the other than this. . .. . Today science is in man on a similar footing. Each knows . line with religious thought , and the that bis own motives are :fine and reconciliation is in no small measure noble, but finds it difficult to believe due to the infiuence of Theosophy in tbe same of the other man; yet be bridging the gulf between them. ought to give credit to the other man Then, not only is it a bridge be­ for the same tbing, even if he belongs tween religion and science, but it is a to a different race and has a point of bridge between religion and religion. view entirely different. The only way There are a number of these paths in is to understand one another and re­ the world, and each announces itself solve at all costs to settle the differ­ as the one and only , or at any rate the ences. best · and shortest path . Theosophy is Theosophy is also a bridge in many . a system which explains them all and other ways , between the known and harmonizes them , and shows how, the unknown , the seen and the unseen, though all are different ways, yet they between men and angels. Y ou may all lead to the same goal. Theosopby think that is a very curious statement links them all together and explains to make, for I probably should not be them all in a rational and common­ very far wrang in making a guess that sense way , so that the man in the half of you do not believe in angels 496 WORLD THEOSOPHY and have not seen them. Well , I 0 very human Te acher, human sorrow have been studying these matten; for understanding ; fifty years, and the existence of the an­ Krishnaji. gelic kingdom is perfectly true and just as scientific as botany or zoölogy ...... There are links between these two A well-beloved friend of so worlds. Here, then, we have a bridge between religion and science, between many people in many countries, religion and religion , between Bast and especially of Theosophists, is re­ West . and between all the kingdoms of ceiving deserved appreciation . Nature . veritably a bridge far more An audience composed of rep­ wonderful than the mighty and resentatives of numerous groups beautiful bridge which spans this har­ bor of yours. met in the impressive galleries of the twenty -six-story Roerich ...... Museum in New York , on March The Ojai , California, Star · 31 st, to celebrate the publication Camp , of J. Krishnamurti was of the first collected edition of the held from June 2nd to 8th, and poetry of Dr. James H. Cousins, was greatly enjoyed by a large one of the co-founders of the concourse of registrants and by Irish Literary Revival of a the public in general. generation ago. The book is At eleven o' clock each day called A Wandering Harp . Krishnamurti gave a lecture, or Dr . Robert Norwood , famous answered questions, and read pastor and poet , presided , and some of bis poems at the evening emphasized the high function of Camp-Fire. The lecttires and poetry and the unfailing loyalty questions and answers will be of Dr . Cousins' poetry to the printed in future Star Bulletins . highest ideal. Some lines of Christopher ...... Prere, of Canada, may be used to There is great enthusiasm ex­ express the f eelings of those pressed for the Institute which is present at the Camp: being held at the Headquarters of A slim, dark figure, standing 'neath the T. S. at Wheaton , Illinois. the trees; It began the 18th of June and Quiet, unassuming, almost diffident ; will continue its classes until Straight like an arrow, vivid , poised, and beautiful ; · August 11 th. Mrs . Josephine Smiling . Ransom , Mr. Geoffrey Hodson , and others began at that time Like arrows tipped with humoi, bis holding classes. Dr. and Mrs. winged words flying Arundale will arrive the middle Straight to their goal in the seeking of this month , and will remain human heart- Words clear-cut as crystal ; drop by through . the Summer School drop distills he (August 6th to 11 th) and the Wisdom . Olcott Centenary Convention (August 13th to 16th). 0 Perfect Love and Reason in perfect Mr. Cook, President, says the balance held ; Emanation of Pure Being ; Beauty classes are devoted to the study of manif~t; life itself, feeling it , expressing it, OVER THE WIDE WORLD 497 and learning from it , with self­ armament . One hundred and :fifty realization as the great ideal. meetings were held, the audiences ranging from 260 to 1,600. Six What a splendid opportunity hundred addresses were given in towns to meet our national officers, and villages often traversed on foot by illustrious visitors and members, the Crusaders. The Crusade , launched and share in this f east of Theos­ by the International F. 0 . R. culmi ­ nated in Geneva, where 1,200 people ophy and Brotherhood at our T. gathered on Sunday , April 3, to hear S. Horne! The Editor and the the Y outh speakers from six different Publisher of this magazine do countries urge total disarmament . Next not intend to miss it . day 12 members of the Crusade pre­ .A Ä Ä sented their petition to Mr . Hender­ A correction: In our May son , chairman of the Disarmament Conference . Among these were Helen issue there was printed an article Kirkpatrick and Camille Solomon , called "Freedom Through Right both of the United States. Endeavor," from The Noble The petition to the Disarmament Eightfold Path. The typed Conference contained the following manuscript was sent us by an definite points: "We expect from the Disarmament eastern friend , and the author 's Conference now assembled in Geneva : name was given as C. Jinara­ "The unreserved recognition of the jadasa. total disarmament of all states as the We now learn that the article goal, since without disarmament there is an extract fro_m a book (The is no real security ; "The adoption , as a first effective Noble Eightfold Path) by the step, of a definite plan for the reduc­ Bhikku Silacara, of India. W e tion of the world 's armaments in the regret exceedingly that the mis­ next :five years by at least 50 per cent take was made. However, our and their actual reduction during regret is lessened somewhat , for 1932 - 1933 by at least 25 per cent; "The prohibition . in particular, of we now have a copy of the book speci:ficweapons of aggression, such as itself , and take the opportunity the monster battleship and the sub­ to say that students of the Lord marine, the bombing-plane, tank and Buddha' s philosophy will find the howitzer , together with the prep­ this book of true interest, con­ aration and use of poison gas and bacteria and the private manufacture taining very valuable suggestions of arms and munitions of all kinds ; for the path of attainment. lt is "The abolition of compulsory obtainable at the Theosophical military service-even if carried out by Publishing House , Adyar , or at stages only-and the prohibition of the Theosophical Press, Wheat­ military training of youth and of un­ official military organizations in any on , Illinois . state. Ä Ä Ä "The present conference is to decide Donald Grant , in Geneva, whether the young generation of today writing to The World Tomor­ is to live or to die; yet youth is shut row , gives a deeply impressive ac­ out from the deliberations. count of the Y outh Crusade for "W e shall support every sincere Disarmament that met at Ge­ measure which will lead to real dis­ armamen t. Should the conference neva : however fail to reach a satisfactory Fifty thousand people took part in result , we are determined to achieve the European Y outh Crusade for Dis- disarmament for ourselves. We refuse 498 WORLD THEOSOPHY to take up arms against one anotber both in Germany andin France, utter­ or to take part in a new war wbose ly condemn war, believe in and de­ victims will be youtb." mand total disarmament , and are February 2, tbe day on wbicb tbe ready for it now. Disarmament Conference began , saw ...... tbe Y outb Crusade begin its movement W e have received, too late for across France and Germany by several routes converging upon Geneva. Al­ review in this issue, a very finely tbougb tbere bad been little time for illustrated book, Towards the preparation, it was found easy enougb Light, by Joseph Bibby of Liv:. to organize meetings wbich were at­ erpool, England. tended by bundreds and of ten by Our readers may remember more tban a tbousand people. Speakers from otber countries accompanied tbe Bibby's Annual which for many Crusaders in France and Germany, and years was read and greatly en­ tbe platform was nearly always inter­ joyed , but ceased publication national. some time ago. The present book Most striking was tbe keen response is very much the same-beautiful evoked everywbere by tbe Crusade and its radical disarmament program. Tbe colored illustrations and fine experience of tbe Crusaders in tbese reading matter. lt is indeed a two montbs, crossing France and Ger­ werk of art, and we shall review many by different routes, carrying tbeir it in the near future. message to tbe more sequestered places, ...... bas sbown tbat tbe peoples, on tbe Another book just received, wbole, are set against war and arma­ ments. Local autborities eagerly co­ and that will be reviewed later, operated, provided bospitality, and is Man, The Triune God, by usually in tbe towns and villages tbe Geoff rey Hodson. The list of mayor presided at tbe meetings , wbile Contents presents tempting read­ teacbers and pastors also belped. Tbe ing. lt is now on sale at coöperation of botb Catbolics and Protestants was notable. Wheaton...... Tbe doors are open. Tbat is tbe most common report. lt means tbat Theosophists, understanding hearts and minds are open. The pop­ as they do the phenomena of ob­ ulations are ready, are longing , for real session, will be interested in the disarmament and tbe substitution of following report from Paris, generous, friendly relations in the place printed in the. Los Angeles of the continued mistrust , fear and militarism. Times: Here in Geneva, tbis world citadel Dr . Paul Gorgulov, the man who of disarmament, among the observers assassinated President Paul Doumer, and tbe supporters of the Conference , told an examining magistrate today one seems to notice a movement from tbat he was in a "kind of hypnotic the moderate to tbe more radical posi­ sleep" when he committed the crime. tion in disarmament. The progress of "A mystic force armed my band, " the Conference, the infl.uence of public he said. "I bad no reason whatever to opinion, the speeches and the stand of murder M. Doumer . I was in a kind few individuals-these quietly play of hypnotic sleep." their role. The cause of real disarma­ Gor'gulov informed M'.a.gis­ ment and a new beginning is surely trate Fougery that be drank a bottle of winning further support. The Y outh cognac before going to tbe war vet­ Crusade for Disarmament leads to tbe erans' charity exhibiton where he shot revelation that great masses of the pop­ the President. ulation in town, village and 'country, "When the President entered the OVER THE WIDE WORLD 499

room," he said, "I fired without hesi­ current in the opposite direction and to tation, not knowing what I was do­ enlist the help of everyone, rieb and ing." poor , high and low, in a campaign He said he could tel1 nothing about to fight this fear complex. the gun he used because he was too Individuals must overcome fear in drunk to remember anything about it. their own lives and in their own en­ The prisoner asserted that while on vironment. Those who are in a posi­ bis way from Monaco to Paris before tion to do so must speak and write the assassination he "tried to ward off publicly and in constructive terms of the evil spirit which constantly urged the beauty of fearlessness. Groups me on to murder." must be formed everywhere whose "On my arrival in Paris," he con­ work it will be to spread the cult of tinued, "I went to Notre Dame courage and thus will be built a wall Cathedral and prayed to God to rid of protection which will · hold back me of the spirit. I fought to the last the evils which men can bring upon against this obsession." themselves through their wrong think­ Ä Ä Ä ing and constant reversion to the in­ Those of us who are animal­ stinctual habits of the animal nature. lovers were greatly moved by the This is riot a matter of religious prop­ aganda but of sound common sense recent story of a

tion by its economic determinism Centenary Number, and will which, though it may be an adequate contain original articles of trib­ explanation of most social behavior, does not do justice to the modicum of ute, condensed history of bis ethical integrity possible for the human work, published and unpub­ spirit . lished incidents of bis life, and In conclusion, it might be said that the last photograph of him taken religion , whatever its resources for so­ a short time before bis death. cial action, will never live in perf ect peace with radicalism because the lat­ & A & ter' s sole concern is the social and his­ We wish to call the attention torical task, while religion is bound to interest it-self in those needs and aspi­ of our American correspondents rations of the human spirit which tran­ to the increase in postage to 3 scend the social struggle and the historic cents for letters, effective July situation. The human spirit does, Ist . after all, confront some problems which have nothing to do with the so­ Even at present rates of post­ ciety in which it lives. The miseries age the resources of this maga­ men suffer from· are increasingly those zine are considerably taxed by the which they bring upon each other through their social relationships; that large number of letters received is one reason why religion, which has from enquirers and subscribers . placed more emphasis upon man's cos­ These are a delight to us, so do mic than upon bis social problem, is not stop writing; but please en­ so badly adjusted to our own day. close postage and envelope if you Nevertheless, the social problem can desire a repl y. never be so all-absorbing , except for those who are in a desperate social situ­ Of course we know that ation or those· na'ive souls who think stamps from foreign countries that all human problems can be social­ ly solved, but that the human spirit, are useless here, but International abstracted from time and place and Postage Coupons are easy to every peculiar circumstance, will not obtafö. arise occasionally to view the total cosmic scene and meditate upon man's This notice is not intended for tragic eminence and impotence within personal letters to Mr. and Mrs. that order. · Hotchener, but for those who & & & send letters to World Theosophy, The August number of World asking personal questions or in­ Theosophy will be an Olcott formation about the magazine. ~heosophy and Occultism As Taught by Madame Blavatsky

T lS easy to become a Tbe­ to tbe teacher, or in my community, osopbist. Any person of than my brother ," etc.,-and remain average intellectual capacities a disciple. His tbougbts must be pre­ and a leaning toward tbe dominantly fixed upon the beart, cbas­ metapbysical ; of pure, un­ ing therefrom every hostile thought to selfisb life, wbo finds more any living being. The heart must be joy in belping bis neigbbor tban in full of the feeling of its non-separate­ receiving help bimself; one 'wbo is ness from the rest of beings as from ever ready to sacrifice bis own pleasure all in Nature ; otherwise no success can for tbe sake of otber people; and wbo follow. loves Trutb , Goodness , and Wisdom No animal food of whatever kind , for tbeir own sake, not for the benefit notbing that has life in it should be they may confer-is a Theosophist . taken by the disciple. No wine, no But it is quite another matter to spirits , or opium should be used. . .. . put oneself upon the ( occult) patb , abstinence in all, the ob­ which leads to the knowledge of what servation of ,moral duties, gentle is good to do, as to the right discrim­ thoughts, good deeds and kind words , ination of good from evil; a path as good will to all and entire oblivion which also leads a man to that power of Self, are the most efficacious means through which be can do the good he of obtaining knowledge and preparing desires, often witbout even apparently for the reception of higher wisdom. lifting a finger. A A A A A A Let those who complain that they lt is impossible to employ spiritual ha ve learned little in the Tbeosophical forces if there is the slightest tinge of Society lay to heart the words: "The selfisbness remaining in the operator . key in each degree is the aspirant him­ For , unless tbe intention is entirely self." lt is not tbe "fear of God" unalloyed , tbe spiritual will transform which is "the beginning of Wisdom," itself into the psychic, act on the astral but the knowledge of Seif whicb is plane, and dire results may be pro­ Wisdom Itself. duced by it. . . . . Tbe powers and A A A forces of spirit !end tbemselves only The Master taking the pupil by the to tbe perfectly pure in beart-and band leads him into, and introduces this is Divine Magie. him to a world entirely unknown to Tbose who desire to acquire tbe the pupil. For this world is that of knowledge leading to the occult powers the invisible but ever potent Causality , have to renounce all the vanities of the subtle , yet never-breaking thread life and of the world . None can feel that is the action , agent , and power of the difference between himself and bis Karma, and Karma itself in the field fellow-students, such as "l am the of divine mind. Once acquainted with wisest," "l am more holy and pleasing this no adept can any langer plead 502 WORLD THEOSOPH\' ignorance in the event of even an time and space are no barriers between action , good and meritorious in its them and the aspirant ; where thought motive , producing evil as its result ; can pass they can come. . . . . For since acquaintance with this mysterious the extension of . the Theosophical realm gives the means to the Occultist movement , a useful channel for the of foreseeing the two paths opening be­ irrigation of the dry :fields of con­ fore every premeditated as unpremed­ temporary thought with the water of itated action, and thus puts him in a life, Lodges are needed everywhere; not position to know with certainty what mere groups of passive sympathizers, will be the results in one or the other but active, wide-awake , earnest, unself­ case. ish Lodges are needed, whose members ...... shall not be constantly unmasking There are four ( out of the many their sel:fishnessby asking , "What shall other) names of the various kinds of it profit us to join the Theosophical Esoteric Knowledge or Sciences given: Society, and how much will it harm (1) Yajna Vidya , knowledge of the us ?" but be putting to themselves the occult powers awakened in Nature by question, "Can we not do substantial the performance of certain religious good to mankind by working in this ceremonies and rites. (2) Mahavidya , good cause wi th all our hearts, our the "great knowledge ," the magic of minds , and our strength? " the Kabalists and of the Tantrika ...... worship, often Sorcery of the warst Occult truth cannot be absorbed by description. (3) Guhya-Vidya , a mind that is :filled with preconcep­ knowledge of the mystic powers resid­ tion, prejudice, or suspicion. lt is ing in Sound (Ether) , hence in the something to be perceived by the intui­ Mantras ( chanted prayers or incanta­ tion rather than by the reason ; being tions) , and depending on the rhythm by nature spiritual. not material. Same and melody used ; in other words , a are so constituted as to be incapable magical performance based on Knowl­ of acquiring knowledge by the exercise edge of the Forces of Nature and their of the spiritual faculty ; e.g., the great correlation; and (4) Atma-Vidya, a majority of physicists. Such are slow , term which is translated simply if not wholly incapable of grasping "Knowledge of the Soul. " true wis­ the ultimate truths behind the phe­ dom by the Orientalists , but which nomena of existence. means far more...... This last is the only kind of Oc­ Never were our (psychic) phenom­ cultism that any Theosophist who ad­ ena presented in any other character mires "Light on the Path," and who than that of instances of a power over would be wise and unselfish, ought to pedectly natural though unrecognized strive after. . ... All the others may forces, and incidentally over matter, be mastered and results obtained. possessed by certain individuals who whether good, bad, or indifferent ; but have attained to a !arger and higher Atma Vidya sets small value on them . knowledge of the Universe than has lt includes them all and may even use beeri reached by scientists and theolo­ them occasionally, but it does so after gians. Yet th is power is latent in all purifying them of their dross . for men, and could in time be wielded bene:ficent purposes , and taking care to by anyone who would cultivate the deprive them of every element of self­ knowledge and conform to the condi ­ ish motive. tions necessary for its development ...... An occultist can produce phe ­ "When the pupil is ready , the nomena, but he cannot supply the teacher will be found waiting ," says world with brains , nor with the in­ an Eastern maxim. The Masters do telligence and good faith necessary to not have to bunt up recruits in special understand and appreciate them . Lodges, . nor drill them through Therefore, it is hardly tobe wondered mystical non-commissioned officers; at, that word came to abandon phe- THEOSOPHY AND OCCUL TISM 503 nomena and let the ideas of Theos­ your thoughts and ideas to your plastic ophy stand on their own intrinsic potency, because otherwise you are merits. creating things by which you may be Who among the many thousands of making bad Karma. No one should members does lead the life? Shall any go into occultism or even touch it be­ one say because he is a strict vegetarian fore he is perfectly acquainted with bis --elephants and cows are that-or own powers. And this he can do only bappens to lead a celibate life, after a by deeply studying the philosophy of stormy youth in the opposite direc­ Occultism before entering upon the tion; or because be studies the Bhag­ pr~ctical training. avad-Gita or the "Yoga philosophy" Ä Ä Ä upside down, that he is a Theosophist according to the Masters' hearts? As As for him who is invincibly at­ it is not the cowl that mak.es the monk, tracted towards the "Occult," yet so no long hair with a poetical vacancy neither realizes the truth of what he on the brow are sufficient to make of aspires towards nor has become one a faithful follower of Divine passion-proof, far less truly unselfish. Wisdom. . ... From the first I knew . . . . let him aspire to no bigher than what I bad to expect, for I was told he feels able to accomplish. Let bim that which I have never ceased repeat­ not take a burden upon himself too ing to others: as soon as one steps on heavy for him to carry. Without ever the Path leading to the Ashram of the becoming a "Mahatma," a Buddha, or blessed Masters-the last and only a Great Saint, let him study the philos­ custodians of primitive Wisdom and ophy and the "Science of Soul." and Trutb-his Karma, instead of having he can become one of the modest bene­ to be distributed throughout bis long factors of bumanity, without any life, falls upon him in a block and "superhuman powers." Such powers crushes him with its whole weight. are only for those who are able to He who believes in what he professes "lead the life," to comply with them and in bis Master, will stand it and to the very fetter. Let them know at come out of the trial victorious; he once and remember always, that true who doubts, the coward who fears to Occultism or Theosophy is the "Great receive bis just dues and tries to avoid Renunciation of Self," unconditionally justice being done-fails. He will not and absolutely, in thought as in action . escape Karma just the same, but he lt is Altruism, and it throws him who will only lose that for whicb he bas practises it out of calculation of the risked its untimely visits. ranks of the living altogether. "Not Ä Ä Ä for himself, but for the world, he The first and most important step lives," as soon as he has pledged him­ in occultism is to learn how to adapt self to the work.

Destiny and Astrology Every student of Occultism knows that the heav­ enly bodies are closely related during each Manvan­ tara with the mankind of that special cycle; and there are some wbo believe that each great character born during that period bas-as every other mottal has, oply in a far stronger degree-his destiny outlined within bis proper constellation or star, traced as a self-prophecy, an anticipated autobiograpby, by the indwelling Spirit of that particular star . -H. P. Blavatsky Prayer

By C. Jinarajadasa

(From .The Master- in Verse*)

Guide Thou my feet away from heaven's gate, Father and Friend,

For now with eager heart each day I wait, To greet life's end;

And ~trength have none renouncement due to make Of all my dreams,

T o pour with pity' s might for men to take Love's healing streams.

Teach Thou my heart to know that when Love weeps Renouncing all,

That then the Lord of Love in splendor keeps High festival.

Let now Thy son of dreams in Thee abide, Awaiting day ,

To sail at Heart's own will, with Love 's own tide, Far, far away.

* ... . I publish these verses now because some say that even if Those whom Theosophists have termed the " Masters " do really exist, They should not be allowed to influence our daily actions-as if when the sun rises the flowers should refuse to open ! I desire to show my friends that to me at least my own Master is a füring reality.--C . J . Theosophy* By , D.Litt., P. T.S.

ERY great religion has two is followed by the recogmt1on that parts, an inner and an outer , tbis universal Being into which the a spirit and a body, "tbe Self opens transcends all the beings in knowledge of God" which which it is manifested, and is alike in is "Eternal Life," and its all. Out of this experience, repeated dogmas, rites and ceremo­ for every one who becomes a knower nies. The inner part, "the wisdom of of God, or Theosophist, are built the God in a mystery," spoken of by St. two fundamental truths of Theoso­ Paul as known to "the perfect," is phy: the Immanence and Transcend­ that which has, since the third century, ence of God, and the solidarity, or been known in the West as Theoso­ brotherhood, of all living beings. The phy; in the East it has been known for realization of the first truth, bis iden­ ages under its Samskrit equivalent, tity of nature with God, as a fact in Brahma-Vidya , God-Wisdom, or consciousness, and the subsequent God-Knowledge, or God-Science. realization of the second, bis identity No man is truly a Theosopbist who of nature with all around him, by a has not direct knowledge of God , but blending of bis Self with their Self, a he may win tbis through any religion conscious dwelling in their forms as or by bis own unaided efforts. in bis own, these sum up Theosophy Theosophy, in the modern as in in its fullest and deepest sense. The the ancient world, proclaims the pos­ man w ho has tbus reached Self­ sibility of such knowledge as the in­ realization in God and in all beings is evitable result of the Immanence of a Theosophist; those who deliberately God. Man is essentially a spiritual aim at such Self-realization are being , bis Self, or Spirit, being an generally called Theosophists. emanation from the universal Self, or The ward Theosophy has also, universal Spirit, God, as a ray is an historically, a second meaning: it emanation from the Sun . Hence, to denotes a body of truths, or facts, know himself, bis deepest Self, is to concerning God , man and the universe, know God ; he can sink in consciousness and these may conveniently be classified into th~ depths of bis being, beyond the under three beads : religion, philosophy body, the passions, the emotions, the and science. On tbese truths is based mind, the reason; tbese are all bis, its system of ethics, rational, inspiring but they are not be; he can pass be­ and compelling . In considering this yond them all, and realize bimself as body of trutbs, we are not studying a separate from them, the pure "I," pure system invented and published in being. This is the universal experience modern days ; we bave to do with of those wbo successfully seek tbe what has aptly been termed the Wis­ Kingdom of Heaven within, and it dom- Tradition , handed down in all * Notes from The Theosophist, November and December, 1931. 506 WORLD THEOSOPHY civilized countries, ancient and modern , and utilizes it; by thought, mastering by a long succession of prophets, the science of the emotions , he builds teachers and writers. virtues and destroys vices; by thought, All religions come from a single mastering the science of mind, he sub­ source, the divine Wisdom, and have dues its turbulent energies into orderly as Founders divinely insp'ired men, obedience ; by thought, directing will men who have climbed up the ladder and controlling activity, he brings all of evolution till they have reached per­ things, within and without, into sub­ fection in humanity and have entered jection to the Seif, "the inner Ruler on the superhuman evolution. Such Immortal.'' men we call Masters , and we regard The eternity of Spirit-more loosely Thern as the guides and directors of spoken of as the immortality of the the evolution of humanity. Soul-is an integral part of Theo­ The universal-i .e., Theosophical sophical philosophy. lt is an inevita­ --doctrines of religion are: The Unity ble deduction from the identity of of God; the Manifestation of God as nature of the human and the universal a Trinity for the building of a uni­ Self; "unborn, undying, perpetual, " verse; the existence of graded Orders it is eternal as God Himself. The of Intelligences, a vast hierarchy of continuity of consciousness is equally Beings. forming the inhabitants , visi­ inevitable, since the Seif is conscious ble and invisible, of a universe , of · a and continuous, and in the Seif must solar system . consequently abide all its experiences, of which a successive survey is memory . PHILOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS The method of the unfolding of Philosophically, Theosophy is ideal­ this continuous and conscious Seif in istic. Consciousness is primary, the the human kingdom is by reincarna­ one indubitable fact which can neither tion . Reincarna tion is, in fact , the be strengthened nor weakened by argu­ only doctrine of immortality that ment. "I am" is the testimony of philosophy can Iook at, as Hume said. consciousness to itself, and naught can lt means that the Seif, having unfolded disprove its witness , since every dis­ to the human stage, appropriates proof, every argument , must be matter from the three worlds and addressed to that same consciousness builds it into bodies , suitable for life and imply its existence. To the All­ in those worlds, beginning in the stage Self. matter is but the limitations im­ of barbarism, as a savage of a low type . posed by Himself on His thoughts; During eartb-life he gathers experi­ to us. evolving in a universe which ences, pleasant and painful; after death , is the manisfestation of our Logos . he meets the results of these experiences, matter is His thought , limitations the lower in the intermediate worlds , imposed on us by His thought and where he suffers in the appropriate activity , limitations which we cannot body of matter belonging to that transcend until we can realize ourselves world, and the higher in the heavenly in Hirn . Human thought , though world, where he enjoys in the appro­ feeble and undeveloped, is of the same priate body of matter belonging to that natute as divine thought , and in­ world , and converts all these experi­ creases its power over matter with its ences into mental and moral capacities. increasing growth; thought is the one When all are thus converted , he creative and moulding power . As returns to earth-life , bringing with evolving man realizes this, and so clari­ him these capacities, wrought out of :fies bis lower nature that this aspect experiences, into new bodies built to of the Seif can work through it, he express and utilize them. In these he becomes the master of that lower goes through a similar cycle, gather­ nature and of bis surroundings , the ing , suffering, transmuting , and so on creator and controller of bis destiny. and on; each birth brings the fruitage By thought, mastering the science of of the preceding lives to start the new physical nature, he bends it to bis will pilgrimage, and this is the inborn THEOSOPHY 507

character and temperament, mental, Within a solar system these sub­ moral, physical. Step by step, he divisions can be mostly stuqied by climbs the ladder, working under in­ less developed seers, and we are in a flexible and inviolable laws, until he :field of research open to the occult reaches the stature of the Perfect Man. student of our own day. We find in He is then a Man beyond birth and relation to our own earth: physical death, "fitted for immortality," ready matter, all formed by aggregations of for work in the !arger life. similar physical atoms, similar save that some are positive, some negative ; SCIENTIFIC TEACHINGS these aggregations are grouped into Theosophy diff ers from modern solids, liquids, gases and three kinds science in the fact that it includes under of ethers ; astral matter , formed by "science" investigations into super­ aggregations of astral atoms, differing physical worlds. lts methods are tbe from physical atoms in shape, and same: investigation by observation of grouped into states corresponding to objective phenomena, reasoning on Ob­ the physical ; mental matter , formed servations, framing of hypotheses, dis­ by aggregations of mental atoms, again covering of invariable sequences, i.e., distinguishable by their form and of natural laws, repeated experiments again grouped as before ; the spiritual to verify deductions, and formulation and super-spiritual worlds are formed of results. lt uses the senses for ob­ on the same plan, each having its own servation, but the senses intensified type of atom and its own correspond­ into super-senses, responding, in fact, ing state of aggregation. Of the divine t:o vibrations of matter fi.ner than that world we cannot directly speak. which affects the physical senses. As with modern science, so with THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN · Theosophical-Occult Science, it is This is analogous to that of the usually called-there is a body of ac­ solar system, and hence the possibil­ cepted facts, laid down by recognized ity of knowledge concerning it. As experts and largely re-verifi.ed by said, man is a fragment of the universal later experiments, and a fringe of Seif, and he is clotbed in the matter of modern discoveries, constantly added bis system. In the divine world to, revised and modifi.ed. The accept­ dwells bis true Self, the Monad, and ed facts have been establisbed by gen­ bis consciousness appropriates matter erations of occult experts and their from each of the six worlds below in existence is often referred to in the order that he may know and conquer scriptures of various religions; the them. As the continuing "I," he uses more accessible of these are being con­ matter from the super-spiritual, spirit­ stantly re-verifi.ed by occult students ual and the fi.ner regions of the mental today , but the larger cosmological world; this is the "spiritual body" of facts are beyond our reach. which St. Paul speaks. lt grows and evolves through the whole cycle of CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSE Reincarnation, and beyond, but is not A universe consists of seven kinds changed or lost in birth or death ; of matter, or planes, of which the dens­ probably St . Paul refers to this when est is called physical or solid; the next he speaks of our "hause not made with fi.ner, astral, or watery; the next hands, eternal in the heavens," which mental, or fi.ery; the next spiritual, or he says "we have." lt is this spirit in airy; the next super-spiritual or ethe­ the spiritual body which is the rein­ real; and the fi.nest, divine. What are carnating ego, or individual, though called solar systems are all on the the term is often used to indicate only physical plane of the universe, and a the consciousness working in the :finer solar system repeats within itself the mental matter, in what is termed "the seven kinds or states of matter, these causal body," a subdivision of tht subdivisions of the vast cosmic plane spiritual, taken separately. forming its planes, or worlds. When the reincarnating ego takes 508 WORLD THEOSOPHY a new birtb , he appropriates some of over by the Spirit bimself-the Spirit the coarser matter of the mental for garnering tbe results and unfolding bis " mental body," some of the matter thereby. He is an inhabitant of tbe of the astral world for bis '' astral tbr ee, during waking life; of two , body ," some of the matter of the during sleep and for a period after physical world for bis "physical death ; of one, during bis beavenly life. body ." His consciousness, in thinking, Tbe lowest, tbe physical body, is, at uses mental matter; in desiring or sen­ pr esent, tbe most perfectly organized , sating , uses astral matter; in acting in and therefore tbe most capable of re­ the physical world, uses physical ceiving impressions frorn witbout and matter. These are the three worlds in tra nsmitting thern to the conscious­ which bis evolution goes on , and in ness. Tbe astral body i,s rapidly be­ which he is affected by birth and death , coming organized, and its proper and i•s a personality , or person , i. e., senses are developing , so that it is re­ the individual as limited in expression ceiving and transm'itting many im­ by grosser matter . pressions from tbe astral world , The mental body is closely related though generally with a lack of sharp­ to the brain , though not dependent on ness and accuracy ; tbese include tbe it , save for activity in the physical pb enomena of second-sigbt, prernoni ­ world; the astral body is mainly cor­ tions , warnings, visions , perception of related with the cerebro-spinal and pbantasms of tbe living and tbe dead , sympathetic ganglia and nerves, and etc., tbe phenomena to wbich modern tbe glands; tbe tbree bodies inter­ psychology is paying so much atten­ penetrate eacb other , mutually acting tion . An increasing nurnber of people and reacting throughout waking life. are "sensitive," or "psycbic ," and are In sleep, consciousness withdraws from using the super -senses, i.e., tbe senses the physical body, clothed still in its of the astral body, more or less con­ astral and mental garments, living then sciously . in the astral world, and sometimes , on Tbe mental body is becoming well its return, impressing on the physical organized in educated people, but more brain some of its experiences in vivid in relation to its organ, tbe brain , than and coherent "dreams " ; it keeps in as an independent vehicle of conscious­ magnetic touch with its physical body. ness, active in its own world . Con­ In death , this magnetic tauch is broken sciousness, in the mental body , is in­ off, and the consciousness dwells for a turned ratber than outward-turned. wbile in the astral world , called often The Occultist , baving by the practice " tbe intermediate world ," in relation of special methods-meditation , con ­ to those who have passed away from centration , etc.-artificially forced the earth. After a while the astral body evolution of the astral and mental dies, and the man passes in the mental bodies beyond the normal, is, as re­ body into the mental world, or heaven , gards these, many centuries ahead of where he abides for a period often ex­ bis time; be uses tbe super-senses for tending to many centuries, the length life in the astral and mental worlds depending chie:flyon the richness of bis in bis waking consciousness, and thus intellectual. emotional and artistic past carries on bis investigations in them lifeon earth. Wben be bas assimilated as the physical scientist does in the all tbe experiences of this nature accu­ physical world. The dying of tbe mulated on earth, the mental body tbree bodies , and tbe building of new disintegrates, and tbe consciousness ones for eacb successive life-period , is ·withdraws to the spiritual body with tbe cause of the loss of tbe memory of all it has gatbered to enricb tbe ego. past lives; that memory is in tbe re­ Tben tbe ego builds a set of new bodi es incarnating ego, and is sbared by tbe for a new pilgrimage in tbe tbree consciousness wben animating the worlds, and returns to tbem by birtb. lower bodies only wben in tbose bodies Tbus the evolution of man is car­ the inan bas realized bimself as one ried on in tbe tbree worlds brooded witb tbe bigber. · THEOSOPHY 509

LAW OF ACTION AND REACTION violable law, each man reaping exactly This law is universal. and exists in as he has sown, man reaches bis tem­ the world of emotion, thought and porary goal-human perfection . At spirit, as much as in the physical the present stage of evolution, it is world. Hence a man can build bis possible for him to reach this goal in character as scientifically as he can advance of the evolutionary term, build up bis body, and disregard of which will last yet for many millions the mental and moral laws is as de­ of years. By strenuous exertions and structive of mental and moral health noble and unselfish living, he may at­ as disregard of physical laws is de­ tract the attention of the spiritual structive of physical health. The study Guardians of mankind, who will teach and utilizing of the laws , summed up him bow to quicken hi,s evolution, so as "karma," forms an important part · that he may enter on "The Path of of Theosophical work. Holiness," pass through its five lnitia­ tions-or . stages of widening con­ EVOLUTION sciousness-and become a "Master," The Monad gradually unfolds bis the last of the five Initiations opening powers by coming into touch with the gateway of superhuman evolution. matter, and appropriating portions of He may then pass into other worlds, it; he thus passes through the mineral. or enter the ranks of the Guardians of vegetable and animal kingdoms, until this world, as he wills. From the in a highly developed animal the in­ Hierarchy of these Guardians have telligence reaches the human stage; come the FoundersofWorld-Religions, thenceforward reincarnation under the lesser Prophets and Teachers being karma is bis means of unfolding. their disciples. Humanity, on our globe, takes on a THE ETHICS OF THEOSOPHY fresh type, more delicately organized as to the nervous system-that of a . These are not definitely formulated Root-Race - when a considerable mto any code, but consist of the high­ number of reincarnating egos are est and purest teachings of the world's ready to develop a higher quality of noblest Saints, Prophets and Founders consciousness. The Third, or Lemu­ of Religions; all that is sweetest and rian, Race, was the first to assume the most lofty in the world's Bibles, all really human type in the middle period that is most inspiring and ennobling of its evolution-the previous types in the writings of its philosophers and being ernbryonic; the surviving rem­ moralists, forms the Ethics of Theos­ nants of the Lemurian are the Negroes ophy. As a man lives by the highest and the many Negroid peoples scat­ ethic he can grasp, he becomes capabk tered over the world. The Fourth, or of appreciating ethic yet sublimer; the Atlantean, Race, with its seven sub­ Theosophist strives to live by the spirit races--of which the Toltec, Akkadian, of Christ rather than by any legal Turanian and Mongolian peoples are code, and, cultivating love, he hopes to typical-is still the most numerous. be enlightened by the Lords of Love. The Fifth, or Aryan, Race has already Broadly speaking, that which works five sub-races-the Aryans of India, with the divine Will in evolution is the Mediterranean Aryans (Arabs, the right; that which works against it is later higher-class Egyptians , etc.), the wr.ong; and the best examples of that lranians, the Kelts and the Teutons.-­ Will are found in such divine Men as and has yet to develop two more. the Buddha and the Christ. These he These varying types afford to the rein­ looks up to as examples, and strives carnating egos the necessary variety for to reproduce Their likeness in himself. their evolution, each ego taking birth in the races and sub-races as often as THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY is necessary for the unfolding of the This A,ssociation was founded on qualities characteristic of each. November 17th, 1875, in New York By repeated reincarnations under in- City, U.S.A., by Helena Petrovna 510 WORLD THEOSOPHY

Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Steel is a transgression of the General Con­ Olcott. The former was a Russian stitution. The Headquarters of the noblewoman, of extraordinary psychic Society were first in New York; in endowments, and these bad been 1878, the Founders left America for trained and cultivated to the highest lndia, and fixed the Headquarters in point by her Master, an Eastern Oc­ Bombay in 1879; in December, 1882, cultist. She gave up social rank, wealth they moved to Adyar, a suburb of and family to seek Hirn in Tibet, and Madras, and there the Headquarters spent some years with Hirn near have since remaineq. The Society owns Shigatze, after which, returning to the there an estate of 262 acres, with sev­ world, she gave the rest of her Iife to eral fine buildings, and a Library carrying out His directions. In Amer­ which is known all over the world of ica she met, at the famous Eddy farm­ scholarship as possessing the finest house, a man who bad won high dis­ existing collection of Upanishads, as tinction during the Civil War, Colonel well as some unique Samskrit ­ , and he became her scripts. pupil. She endeavored first to collab­ While the Society exists for the orate with the American Spiritualists, purpose of spreading the ideas formu­ but failing in this, she, with Colonel lated above, it does not impose belief Olcott, founded the Theosophical So­ in them on its members, who, provid­ ciety; she became its Corresponding ing they accept the principle of Uni­ Secretary, an office she held for versal Brotherhood, are absolutely free many years, and he its President. lts to think as they will. Admission to organization is due to him, and he re­ membership is obtained on the recom­ mained President until bis death in mendation of two Fellows of the So­ 1907, when the present writer was ciety, and the acceptance of the fol­ elected as bis successor. lowing objects: The unit of the organization is a Lodge, of not less than seven members; To form a nucleus of the Uni­ when a number of Lodges, not less versal Brotherhood of Humanity with­ than seven, exist in any territory, they out distinction of race, creed, sex, caste may group themselves into a Section, pr color. or National Society, which is self­ To encourage the study of com­ governing, within the wide limits of p~rative religion, philosophy and the General Constitution. The central sc1ence. ruling body consists of President, Vice­ President, Treasurer, Recording Secre­ To investigate the unexplained tary, and a General Council---con­ laws of nature and the powers latent sisting of the General Secretaries, each in man. elected by bis own National Society, H . P. Blavatsky remains as the re­ with not less -than five additional vered Teacher who brought the old Councillors, chosen by the General truth to the modern world, and Council. lt meets once a year and deals 'though she suff ered the martyrdom only with matters affecting the whole which is the privilege of the pioneer, Society; it may not meddle with the she is ever enshrined in the hearts of business of the Sections, unless there those to whom she brought the Light. Questionsand ~nswers By the Rt. Rev. C. W. Leadbeater*

UESTION : What are practical really not a benefit. lt makes no pro­ ways of sending helpful vision for the existence of man after bis thoughts if one has no op­ life .in the pbysical body , and bis portuni~ies . of special times growtb tbere is simply retarded by bis for medttatton? sordid selfish endeavors and narrow life I ANSWER : Every day you in the pbysical body . The man whose can find an opportunity to do good by only aim is to gain something worldly sending out good thoughts . In a street is to us like the child at play , all earnest car you see a man or woman weighted in bis efforts to win a game as thougb with sorrow, troubled , or worried; bis life depended on it, wben in fact form a good thought and send it out the result means nothing, and the work to that person , and very often , even and effort accomplishes nothing in the while looking at him, you can see the end. The possession of money does person's face light up under the in­ not bring the satisfaction and comfort fluence of your thought, but even if tbat is anticipated by the person when you can not see it , the good has been he is striving for it , and he begins to clone and will have its effect. W e little realize that there is something eise he realize the power of thought . lt is wants, but he does not know what it well demonstrated in the case of an is. He will Ieatn some day. We must irritable person, or an angry person. teacb him Theosopby , whicb explains If he is in a household, whether he says the proper use and value of money as a ward or not, bis irritability will soon an instrument of altruistic service. make itself feit on other persons .in his QUESTION: In some of our Theo­ presence, and they will grow irritable sophical books there are contradictions. and angry. That has probably been Is this unavoidable? experienced by everyone present . Y ou feel the irritability of the other person , ANSWER: Theosopbical students not by bis action , but through bis generally do not claim to write infal­ tboughts. Y ou can resist that by send­ lible, inspired scriptures . They admit ing back good and soothing thougbts , that their writings contain many con­ and you will not only benefit the per­ tradictions . This seems inevitable be­ son but benefit yourself. Tbe thougbt cause they are constantly learning more, in tbe irritable or angry person is stir ­ adding to their store of knowledge, and ring up the astral body, the body of they impart that knowledge wben they passion and emotion, and it is all gain it . They are not afraid to tel1 you shaken and tarn up, its effect being dis­ when their previous statements need astrous to that finer body . correction or elaboration in the light of later knowledge . QUESTION: Is not the feverish desire to accumulate money a great obstacle to QUESTION : Are Buddhist medita­ occult progress? tions in the nature of prayers, as we understand the latter? ANSWER: Money-getting is the least important of the things of this life. To ANSWER : The Buddhist says he us familiar with occultism and the never prays because the powers are al­ higher Iife the struggle for personal ready doing all they can for him in love worldly gain seems foolish and harm­ and compassion; he says they know ful. To gain greedily in that way is what is best for him, and it would be

* These questions ~ere answ:ered by C.W.L. some years ago. They are unrevised. and bave never before been prmted . T ime does not decrease the value of hi, teacbings. 512 WORLD THEOSOPHY

wrong to ask for more. His religious may say you have not seen them , but exercise is meditation. To pray is to not that they did not bappen . Noth­ ask for something. ing supernatural happens . lt may be contrary to the laws of nature as you QUESTION: Sometimes the state­ know them, but there may be several ments of ·writers, especially Theo­ mill ion laws of nature with which you sophical writers, give out a certain are not yet familiar. teaching, and we accept and apply the teaching. Then later the writer changes QUESTION: A re sin and suff ering an his opinion. Would it not be better if actual necessity in the scheme of things , the student would accept all statements in the working out of the law of as hypotheses rather than in blind progress? Theo sophical teachings of faith? Science gives us proved facts. evolution seem to assert that they are. I Want sincerely to accept these teach­ ANSWER: In Theosophy we never ings, but doubts at times enter my ask people to accept or believe anything mind and some of my associates blame in blind faith. We say live the life and me for desiring proof , or more accurate you wi11 never regret it; seek and find knowledge from a scientific viewpoint. for yourself ; in the very act of living you will find the truth for yourself. ANSWER: T rue, we see a great deal The best way to find out the truth is of sin and suffering .about us, and it is to investigate and inquii:e; if it appeals strange how such tbings fit into the to you, live accordingly, and soon you great scheme, but why we do not will find the proof for yourself , and know, except that they are a part of con:firmation will be piling .in on you . tbe working out of the law. As well Y ou will know the facts as you go ask why the green grass is green as why along. In the meantime accept these God did not make people good and teachings as a working hypothesis, happy in the first place. The fact is remembering always that some day you that the very ordinary tbings in every­ will know for yourself. day life are mysteries to us. We don 't Y ou say you know certain things even know why we lift this band . We as scienti:fic facts, yet you don 't know; are told that certain muscles are con­ yon only believe. If you have your­ trolled by the will and the band is self made the investigations and the raised, but why and how the will acts tests in . chemistry and with the tele­ on the muscles, or how the will is scope, then you may say that you know transmitted somehow through the ac­ such and such to be true , but how tion of the brain into muscular reflexes, many have made such tests for them­ we don't know . Some day we will selves? Y ou accept the statements of attain that height of knowledge where some one eise every day in your life, in we wi11 know a11, but at present we everyday affairs. You have to do that , rnust accept what seem tobe reasonable and that is quite right , but when explanations by others more ex­ reference is made to these higper things perienced than ourselves. you take quite a different view and you Y ou believe the earth rotates on its say if you can be made to see it you axis, and you believe it without per­ will believe, forgetting that you are not sonal knowledge and in the face of ap­ trained or educated to see it. lt is fool­ parent proof to the contrary . ish to take the attitude that because you So with Theosophy. Same have have not seen a thing it does not exist seen and demonstrated certain truths and can not have happened. That is and you ought to be satisfied to take not scienti:fic! As your experience in­ their statements as a working hypoth­ creases you will learn that there are esis till you can know for yourself . some things, many things, in the world Science is steadily confirming occult of which you know notbing. After knowledge. In the old Theosophical learning something of occult science books we :find statements that recent you will be very chaiy in saying that science is corroborating . Science has certain things have not happened . Y ou just discovered that light radiates from QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 513 the human body, yet that was known don't know. There are such volumes to occult science 2,000 years ago. Pic­ to know. The more you learn, the tures of Buddha have always shown more you will realize the beauty and the radiation of that light-the aura. grandeur of the whole scheme. lt in­ Well known facts of science of today cludes everything there is. were a few years ago received by QUESTION: Many of our Theoso­ scientific men with great skepticism. phists belong to different reliqions, and Fifty years ago in London a leg was I have heard heated discussions among amputated while the patient was · under them over their beliefs, especially about mesmeric influence, and the doctor who the churches refusing to teach. the performed the wonderful operation of­ doctrine of reincarnation. As some of fered to read a paper Oll the subject them are present at this meeting, per­ before the medical society, but the wise haps you could tell them a way out of doctors and eminent scientists of the their diffi.culties. day refused to hear him. In the first place, they said, the thing represented ANSWER: All religions, though dif­ by him was most improbable and im­ ferent, are attempts to express the same possible on the face of it; either it great truths. Instead of looking for wasn't true or the patient was sham­ differences in religions, as you advance ming. In the second place, even if in Theosophy you will be looking for true, the act was impious because God the similarities, and wonder what all decreed that pain should be concomit­ your quarrels were about. Y ou are ant to such an operation. That action probably divided on some minute de­ of the "wise ones" is still upon the tails. minutes of that society. In the Alexandrian days the church We do not care to coerce anyone in­ was all torn asunder over the question to believing the truth of Theosophical of the dot on tbe "i," by the presence teaching. W e wish to permeate cur­ or absence of which, in the Greek, it rent thought and help others. We are would designate whether Christ was willing to present our facts if they are of God or like God. No human being wanted, but we will urge no man to could possibly determine that question, accept them. We prefer that people and it could make no diff erence one carefully consider the matter before be­ way or the other, as it would not coming one of us. We want men to change the fact or the result. help us spread the glorious truth, but What a powerful influence the we do not care so much for one who is church could yield if it bad united on looking for something for himself . fundamental truths and bad let in­ alone. significan t details go ! Do you know how the four gospels QUESTION: We are told that we all of the scriptures were selected? There possess wonderful latent powers; is it were so many gospels that the church wise for one to proceed to develop fathers could not decide which was them? right, so they piled them all up high in the church one day and prayed over ANSWER: There is a great deal of them. They then went out and locked latent power in every human being, the doors. When they returned the and the sooner he Iearns to know, to next morning the four gospels were on respect, and to use it, the better it will the altar, away from the others. lt is be for him; but the science of Theoso­ hard to accept the story unless we be­ phy must first be understood. When lieve that some monk bad a key to the man once realizes that he has within church! bimself tbe divine spark, be can do all Christ made a positive statement of things that he may desire to do. He His belief in reincarnation when, in will know that he is all-powerful, and speaking of John, He said, "This man responsible for that power. is Elias." But that does not fit ortho­ Tbe more you learn, the more you dox beliefs, and they say He did not will see there is to know, and that you mean what He said. We know from 514 WORLD THEOSOPHY history that the entire Jewish nation pressing emotions to overwhelm him, was expecting the return of Elijah, for this does no one good ; it only and Christ knew that He would be so makes matters worse. understood when He declared Elijah Before going to sleep you must make bad returned in the person of John. up your mind that you will not waste He meant what He said. your strength needlessly in uncon­ Christians will find great reverence trolled emotions . Go over clearly in for Christ among Theosophists , be­ your mind exactly what you would say cause we know more about Hirn than to anyone who might thus be appeal­ the average theologian seems to know. ing to your sympathies. Y ou will Christians ought to welcome Theoso­ probably note, after several trials , that phy and investigate it. your work is more satisfactory because you have been impressing the departed QUESTION: How can one preuent with right thoughts and not stirring dreams that haue a tendency to cause up bis emotions with your own . fatigue? I haue uiuid dreams euery night that I am helping people, but I QUESTION: H ow can one judge wake up greatly exhausted . between intuition and impulse? ANSWER: This probably arises from ANSWER: People very often make feeling great sympathy for people . in the mistake of interpreting impulses as trouble, or perhaps for some friend or intuitions. An impulse grows less im ­ relation who has died in great pain or portant as you think over it-it be­ through an accident and who lives over comes less reasonable; whereas an intui ­ and over again the experience by re­ tion grows more important and more peating it to you. This perhaps makes reasonable . True intuition is of two you unhappy , too, because the emo­ kinds : the ego sends down a certain tions are controlled with di:fficulty on piece of knowledge-he just knows, the astral plane. This would make and sends it down into the conscious­ your body feel tired through repercus­ ness with great certainty ; the second sion. Of course this does not mean kind is a touch of knowledge from the that one should be less sympathetic, but realms higher than the ego, but this is in being so he ought not to allow de- not usual. but rare.

(jod Smiles By George Burt Lake (Chicago) I cannot feel that God would thrust A soul in torment .Eons long Because it bad a broken wing And could not bring Hirn of its best.

I think He has a tender smile, Like ours, but more compassionate, And will, with sweetness infinite , Open His arms and save us whole. u1 Vision of the Future

By George S. Arundale , M.A., D.Litt.

HE GREATEST safeguard be anxious, have to a large extent clone against wars, quarrels and away with irritability. Anger and all other kinds of disruptive hatred have, of course, entirely dis­ forces is the Theosophical appeared. So have suspicion and dis­ Society. The Society, in trust . The sexual problem has also I certain respects at all events, been solved, partly by a clear under­ strongly influences public opinion, and standing of sex and its Divine purpose, becomes so well organized, so harmo­ partly by the recognition of marriage nious, that it inevitably exercises the and maternity as wonderful Sacra­ power which order ever has over dis­ ments . The Theosophists of this order . That against which the Society period are deeply reverent while at the unitedly stands, the world finds it same time delightfully light-hearted. increasingly difficult to do. I see the Lodges of today gradually How does this come about? By becoming communities . They are compelling example. The . Society, communities at the time of which I every individual member, is living write. Little by little, families con­ Theosophy, living it in the everyday genial to each other have either built or things of life. Members live without taken houses close together on the out­ fear. They live peacefully. They skirts of towns, and community living live far more happily . They live far begins, without the loss of individu­ more healthily. ality. More and more, that which can They seem to have in great measure advantageously be done in common is eradicated disease because they know clone in common, with the result that how to live. First, they do not live living becomes cheaper, and much at the expense of others . They do not more time becomes available for the live on the pain of others , whether !arger work. human or sub-human. They eat pure In some cases, a number of families things, and find deliciousness in grace, live together in a house specially built in purity and in simplicity, not in for the purpose , giving ample oppor­ complexity and coarseness. Second, tunity for individual development , as they live hygienically. Their clothes, well as, within reason. for the satisfac­ their homes, all their arrangements for tion of individual idiosyncra-sies. In the care of the body, are designed to other cases, there is a kind of village this end . And they have learned that community, a group of houses or cot­ hygienic living does not merely mean tages, self-contained , a kind of Garden pure air, the right values of food, and City on a small scale. I see that these so on; it means also artistic and rhyth­ communities specially concern them­ mic living, graceful living. This is selves with education and with amuse­ equally indispensable. ments. I could write at length on the I see, too , that the Theosophists of educational side, but it must suffice to this period-it is not, perhaps, so very say that the Theosophical education far off-have ceased to worry and to given in the times of which I write is 516 WORLD THEOSOPHY extraordinarily practical, is far more theories which produce such results , by doing than by learning, enables the and which for most of the Theoso­ young people to understand the Laws phists do not seem to be mere theories , of Life and how to use them , and cer­ but rather experienced facts. Theories tainly makes for a very great e:fficiency. which make better people need looking These Theosophical young people are iota . And the result is that by degrees much more markedly different from veg.etarianism , for example, becomes other young people than those of to­ widespread, and in all spheres of life day. Very practical, very thorough in begins a great renaissance of Reality . everything , never satisfied unless they I see such beaut iful libraries in these get to the root of things , always in­ communities, so up-to-date , not so sisting an finding out things for them­ much with Theosophical literature­ selves; deeply reverent of the Real, although each community has its full equally impatient of the unreal, of compl~ment of standard Theosophic al sham, of hypocrisy, of pretence; relia­ works- but with the latest works of ble, beautifully courteous to all, tender , outer -world thinkers in religion , pol i­ understanding. lt is obviously so tics, philosophy, sociology, science, art , beautiful to be young that those who literature , education , etc. These com­ are young no langer almost begin to munities are nothing if not thorough, be impatient for youth again. I can and being in advance of the world in hear some of them saying. "Ab! well , certain directions they take good care in a short time I shall have a young tobe abreast of the world 's most emi­ body once more." Death thus comes nent thinkers and workers in all de­ to mean but exchange, the giving up of partments. Wireless keeps them in con­ old clothes for new . Young people stant tauch with events all over the in these later times are so very delight­ world , just as the world , as well as all ful. They make life so sparkling . Theosophical communities in every Old people never feel "out of things, " part of the world , receives wireless partly because the young share with news from the principal Theosoph­ them their bright lives, and partly be­ ical communities everywher~. cause they have their own "things" I must especially stress the beautifu l to da , things appropriate to age, things color and sound music these communi­ only age can da , and which need to ties have developed in wonderful d·e­ be clone. gree, music far more subtle tban that I thus see every Lodge and every which the outer world has reached. Center a community or a number of I also notice the simplicity and dignity communities. These communities al­ of the furnishing of the rooms, and most become places of pilgrimage for the beautiful homage paid to greatness the people . People gradually in the inspiring pictures of the world 's become attracted to the Science whose great deeds and the world' s great doers votaries are so obviously happy and of them , as also pictures of places of equally obviously "all there." People great historic and spiritual interest. see that these Theosophists are no mere The keynote of every community talkers and dreamers, but are the best i,s service. All that is done is done to among the citizens, patriotic, loyal , and that end. Service is the dominan t always ready both to help good causes objectiv e of all community activity . and to fight bad ones. There . are no Every member of the community Jives weaklings, whether in body or in and grows in an atmosphere of joyous mind , among these Theosophists . and e:fficientservice . In all emergencies, Straight , clear, strenuous, e:fficient, national or local, Theosophists are healthy, they all of them are. Thus , active with trained capacity and tireless as people see the effect of belief in energy. They are the first people upon brotherhood , in karma, in reincarna­ whom reliance is placed in all di:ffi­ tion , and so an, they begin to turn culties, for they know how to apply to these beliefs, very rightly holding the healing balm of scientific brother­ that there must be something in hood to all wounds in the body politic . A VISION OF THE FUTURE 517

In the outer world, for the most part, went into the possibilities of combin­ are the world' s great scientists, poets , ing in certain activities to make living statesmen, philosophers , industrialists, cheaper, to make leisure more enjoy­ but within the Theosophical Society able and purposeful. to pool individ­ are the world's great seers and proph "'. ual resources in pursuit of common ets, and those who lead tbe way in tbe bappiness and greater effi.ciency! Why application of brotherhood to life in cannot Lodges and Centers go into all all its varied aspects. Tbus does tbe these questions to see wbat caii be Tbeosopbical Society become a golden done? At tbe least, why cannot certain chain · of brotberbood encircling and families and friends combine to live uniting the world. much more together, to work much Do you wonder, with so glorious a more together , to play much more to­ vision before my eyes, tbat I become gether? Is it not time for us to hustle, eager for the vision to descend into and to make our nuclei of the Uni­ the outer world? I know it is on the versal Brotherhood much more real tbresbold . I have written of the vision than they are? as it is wben partly realized, but I The result will be, because of the know that its beginnings are now. I more brotherly living , a much more know tbat every member of our So­ potent and effective brotberhood ciety-for tbougb I write of Australia, activity in the outer world. To set tbe vision is for all countries--sbould tbe nation-house in order, or the witbout delay begin to turn bis eyes world-bouse, or the town- or city­ toward the Real. bouse, we must set our Lodge or How well it would be if, even from Center -house in order, as well as our now, every member eagerly began to body-bouse , too, of course. We sball plan ways and means of entering more in tbis way become mucb more strenu­ quickly into our Theosophie inher­ ous and efficient tban before . We itance, if every member made up bis shall bave much more time to partici­ mind to live quite definitely more unto pate in all kinds of brotberbood activi­ brotberbood, less unto seif! How ty in tbe outer world. Tbough we well it would be if every member may live on tbe outskirts of tbe town, determined to make Tbeosopby a truly and grow very self-contained , we shall living force in bis life, far more in the not become in tbe least degree exclusive daily routine , in tbe daily toil, in tbe or aloof. On tbe contrary, the in­ daily cares and troubles , even than in creased sense of brotberhood will com­ bis utterances , so tbat bis utterances pel us to regard our community life as are fortified by tbeir harmonization a center frorn wbicb we radiate our witb bis daily life ! How wonderful vitality to tbe fartbest limits of our it would be if we could live Tbeoso~ respective circumferences. W e shall phy , as well as preacb it! Many are take part in all the life of our sur­ trying to do tbis already , I know; but roundings as we bave never taken part it needs to be done by us all, and far in it before. We shall bave our centers more fully. We must believe, really in our own town or city , veritable believe, in Tbeosopby, so tbat as time hives of brotberbood industry , places goes on it becomes impossible to live of meeting, centers for organization, otberwise than Tbeosopbically , so tbat for industrial, cornmercial, political, we become Theosophists, not merely educational, social and religious activi­ members of the Theosophical Society. ties of all kinds. These centers will How well it would be if all over, gradually be recognized as centel'S of members , groups of members , groups truly practical idealisrn. We sball of families , Centers, Lodges, seriously show the world how to live, bow began to discuss ways and means of really to live, bow to be full of life, making brotberhood more · practical of true life, in every spbere-in the among themselves, discussed schemes of bome, in business, in the duties of community living , concerted rneasures citizenship , in leisure. for doing as much together as possible, Let us begin , individually and in 518 WORLD THEOSOPHY groups , to think about all these things sistently . Of course, it means an up­ now. Let us begin to think about setting of conventional jog-trot living. them with definite intention to But that is exactly what we have to achieve them. Let us not think of do. Let every member impose this them as unattainable. They are attain­ penance upon himself-not to throw able. They are about to come. cold water on the discussion or on any If we have the will, we must earnest endeavo r to find the way. It assuredly find the way. Difficulties? is so easy to throw cold water , to find Of course. But as we encounter the difficulties. Anyone can do tbis . It difficuJties, let us discover ways and requires little intelligence, and is the means of overcoming them . Under no way of the world, and so the line of circumstances must we give up simply most easy going , of least resistance, because we encounter difficulties and of least effort . obstacles. These are things to be got over or under or röund. In some Let us find out the way how to cases, indeed, they may be imaginary , achieve. It may take time . Achieve­ so that with a little light-heartedness ment is not by any means possible all and self-confidence we may go through at once. But I ask for the thin end of them. the wedge. Will every Lodge , every I make it a personal request that Center, every member, find the thin members begin to discuss ways and edge of the wedge, never mind how means. I ask tbem to consider these thin it is, place it in position and begin things at members' meetings in a spirit to hammer it home , however lang the of constructive criticism, looking for hammering may take? Every hammer the way to tbem . The way is there. 'blow will bring us nearer to the Real. The way for every Lodge and Center and deliver us from the shackles of is there. It only has tobe sought per- the unreal.

'The Wisdom of Folly By Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler The cynics say that every rase Is guarded by a thorn which grows To spoil our posies; But I no pleasure therefore lack ; I keep my hands behind my back When smelling roses.

Though outwardly a gloomy shroud The inner half of every cloud Is bright and shining: I therefore turn my clouds about , And always wear them inside out To show the lining.

My modus operandi this- To take no heed of what's amiss ; And not a bad orie; Because, as Shakespeare used to say, A merry heart goes twice the way That tires a sad one. Vision* A Contribution to Contemporary Theosophical Thought By Geoffrey H odson Theosophy means divine wisdom . T_he true Theosophis~ i~ one whose who~e life is guided by divine knowledge , is foun~ed _upon dwme pow_er, and is irradiated by divine love. The life Theosoph1cal 1s the pedect ltfe: it demands above all things spiritual vision . These articles are offered as a posstbte guide, to the acquirement of this great gift.

VI. peded by our failure to give active THE LIFE THEOSOPHICAL expression in service to the power and knowledge which we hope to gain . This vitally important work of Group meditation could be most gaining expansion of consciousness usefully employed as a means of deep­ and self-realization may very well be ening the inner life of the members of carried out in groups. In every a Theosophical Lodge , of helping them spiritual movement , and therefore in to gain a realization of the Masters as every Theosophical Lodge , regular living Presences in our midst , rather meetings for members only should be than as unapproachable Beings, dwell ­ held for the purpose of meditation , ing in the remote fastnesses of a distant study and devotion. For thus the in­ mountain chain . For They are here, ner life is continually strengthened and in our own lands, in our cities, Lodges renewed ; by meditation alone may the and homes, as also in the heart of every true vision of life be achieved. man. Success in the spiritual life demands This is not a mere mystical doctrine, both interior illumination and outer but a veritable fact, for there is indeed activity; as individuals and as groups a spiritual flame within the etheric we need to drink at the fountain of chamber in the heart. That flame is eternal life and truth as well as to en­ the manifestation of the Christ gage in outer activity in service to the ccnsciousness in the physical body. lt world. If we con:fine ourselves to outer is present in the heart of every new­ activities and public meetings alone , born habe and constitutes the cer­ there will be a tendency for the work tainty of regeneration , of ultimate to become arid, tobe merely mental in ­ Christhood for every man ; it ensures stead of spiritual, personal and formal the safe passage of the pilgrim God instead of egoic and full of life. If on through the darkness of the dense ma­ the other band we withdraw entirely terial worlds; it is " the true light from outer activity and confine our which lighteth every man which spiritual life to study and meditation cometh into the world." lt is the alone , then the work will suffer and manifestation of the Christ-to-Be in our own inner growth will be im- the man of today , and through that • *Tbis is tbe concluding article of tbis series. 520 WORLD THEOSOPHY

presence of the Christ in the heart, Such groups would quickly begin to unity with all Christs-Who-Have -Be­ touch the fundamental facts and forces come is perpetually mainta'ined. So the behincl manifested life. The one funda ­ Christ-to-Be is there in the hearts of mental fact behind all other facts is all, and therefore the Masters, in primordial motion . This is mani­ whom the great at-one-ment has oc­ fested as eternal flux and refl.ux. All curred, are also in our hearts , and we forces fl.ow; nothing ever stands still . in Theirs. All living things remain alive by virtue The more mystically minded student of this everlasting, rhythmically puls­ will find no need to travel to the ing flow through them of the creating , Himalayas , to climb great heights or sustaining ancl transforming life of the to plumb great depths in order to Supreme. If that fl.ow is impecled in reach and become "one with the Be­ man , ill-health results. If it ceases, loved ." He will perceive that all death comes; and this is true in the things are ever present in the heart of spiritual and mental worlcls as well as man; for the heart of man is the heart in the physical. W e must establish a of God and these two are one. flow through all our work, otherwise Realization of this great truth can that work will die. There must be a be maintained, even midst the outer flow through every Lodge , stucly group activities of daily life ; it demands a and individual, otherwise their work quiet mind, controlled and purified will become lifeless. stagnant and emotions and a measure of detachment eventually will die. from, and dispassion towards , material Expression ; service; fl.ow-these are existence. Periods of physical silence, essentials to success in the spiritual life. of retreat, of aspiration , and of prayer Another basic fact is that amid all are required in order that this inward the wide diversity of form, there is one poise may be attained . A measure of life. Where members are formed into such equipoise is essential on both the groups for spiritual work. there must mystic and occult path, for the voice therefore be a deep and abiding sense of the Master can only be heard in the of unity between them. Otherwise the silence; He speaks from within the downpouring of spiritual power and heart of the neophyte . His voice is inspiration will intensify the divisions heard as the voice of the Higher Seif, and the differences and will increase the often as ,a soft whisper , a tender call­ friction. The Masters cannot send the ing, sometimes as a quiet reasoning , full measure of Their power through sometimes a clarion call or even a shout unless we are in a state of harmony . of victory ; it always arouses, refresbes For that wondrous outpouring , which and reorients the soul. Y et to bear is so potent to inspire and bless, can that sweetest of all voices, the lower also be a source of difficulty if th e vessel seif must be still. W e tend to become which receives it is not properly pre­ cleaf to the Master' s voice unless we pared . cultivate the habit of mental and So, in all occult group work-and physical stillness ; we shut out the all Theosophical work is occult work Master 's life, lose the inspiration of -a great essential to success is unity His thought and therefore serve far less amongst tbe workers. The Theo­ efficiently as channels for His blessing sophical Society is an occult society to the world. Therefore, both as indi­ and part of its mission is to serve as a viduals and as groups , we require channel for a mighty flow of force, periods of time in which to withdraw wisdom ancl knowledge to the world . ourselves from outer , temporal illusions lt is a funnel, as it were, between the and to focus our consciousness upon spiritual and the physical planes. The the inner, eternal verities. Much of this condition of the funnel greatly affects essential work must be clone alone, but the external man ifestation of the power much also can be clone in groups of whi ch passes through . harmoniously related stuclents, wisely If then we are to work effectively, led. we must first gain spiritual vision , sec- VISION 521 ond, become unified, and harmonious term limited to members of the Adyar channels, and third, express our or any other Theosophical Society-if knowledge and ideals in active and we are to fulfill our great task, must wisely ordered service to the world . be ready joyfully to sacrifice personal Inner research must be balanced by prejudices, time and money to the outer activity; we must take a keen and Great Work. vivid interest in the outer world, There is, however, one sacrifice especially in social, religious , ·Scientific which few of us are willing to make; and cultural movements. Our work and yet without it the life-Theosoph­ is to carry abroad the light of the An­ ical is impossible. lt is the sacrifice of cient Wisdom . We cannot do this un­ personality ; we must offer our personal less we have vision and are unified, un­ sei ves upon the altar erected by the less we can be relied upon to co­ Great Ones to the service of the wcirld; operate harmoniously with our Eider for there is no room for personality in Brethren and each other in the Great Their W ork, none whatever; we serve Work. Thern as egos. The ego lives on the The greatness of our work is plane of unity, and that egoic unity limited only by our vision of it; there­ must be manifested down here in the fore. our vision must be !arge. personality. Personal prejudice, predi­ We niust have the greatest and lections, criticisms, likes and dislikes , widest possible vision of our Theo­ self-seeking, jealousies, littlenesses, have sophical contribution to the world of no place in our work and must be set today. We must have an immense aside by each one who would be a true vision of what our work can mean to servant of the Master. the city and country in which our Which is to have first place-the Lodges are formed. W e must plan Masters ' work or our particular great Theosophical campaigns, in prejudice? Is Their work tobe marred which every single member will co­ by the continual indulgence of our operate, to Theosophize the town, the personalities? This great work to state, the nation and the world. which we have been called should be · How splendid if all claiming the enriched by our differing personalities, great title of Theosophist , even in one not injured by them. Whilst retaining city , such as London, New York, Chi­ our individual outlook, gifts and cago or Sydney , could unite in one big capacities, should we not also be ready Theosophical endeavor , all coöperating , to pool all these for the common all sacrificing, all working, all combin­ good? ing in a spirit of harmony , devotion In olden days , when we set forth and enthusiasm , to give the Divine upon the great racial immigrations, led Wisdom to the world ! by the Manu and His Lieutenants , the Is such a thing possible? Would hordes of savages who attacked us divergent groups be willing to com­ were broken up and dispersed by our bine? Wbo will take the first step? defenses because of the solidarity and Who will respond? unity which bound us together in the Already tentative advances are being service of the King . made, but human nature-and The Lord Manu and His mighty especially Theosophical human nature Brethren are in our midst today. They -apparently is such, that true co­ are calling again to Their co-workers operation necessitates certain sacrifices, through the centuries , to follow and of temperament and of point of view ; serve Thern as of old. Once more we this we are not always ready to make. must be one in our answer to that call, True sacrifice, however, is always pro­ as the Masters Themselves are One. ductive of joy . There may be a For though They are many and Each limitation on the form side, but there serves by the method of His own is an immense expansion on the life temperament , in action They are One . side and that always brings joy. We Founded on the principles of Theosophists-and in no sense is the Brotherhood and Truth, the Theo- 522 WORLD THEOSOPHY sophical Society may well be thought will produce a great spiritual enrich­ of as a reflection on earth of the Great ment, both of the individual and the White Brotherhood of Adepts. If as community. Fellows of that Society, whilst retain­ Ruskin said: "There is no wealth ing our own individualities, in action but life, life including all its powers of we could be one, not only would the love, of joy, of admiration." whole world soon become Theosoph­ This, surely, is the message of the ical. but we as individuals would Theosophical Society to America and rapidly qualify to pass from member­ also to the world. W e cannot give ship in the reflection to admission into that message if we are still seeking the reality. That great achievement is satisfaction for the smaller self, are un­ definitely before each one of us; is certain of our goal and are at variance within our reach, if we but learn to among ourselves. live in the spirit of the Great White In these closing sentences, the writer Brotherhood, working together as the desires to make an appeal to all fingers of a hand. Theosophists, both within and with­ Our world needs each one of us at out the Adyar Theosophical Society, this moment above all other moments, to all groups, Lodges and members. to because mankind is on the threshold combine in the task of giving Theos­ of a new life. Not only is the birth of ophy to the world, to unite on the es­ a new race taking place in our midst, sential things upon which all agree and but the emergence of a new vision of to set aside those non-essentials which individual. national . and international alone divide us today. life is imminent; that birth and the The spirit of America has been emergence of that vision is being re­ described as a giant striding up and sisted by the forces of reaction. All down the continent, swinging a censer possible help is needed if the victory and shouting: is to be quickly gained. "All One! All One!" America, for example, has the op­ This surely is oqr great message to portunity of teaching the world the the whole world, to which we must art of spiritualizing material things . cry "All One ! All One !" · Then the She has to discover and to show the vision splendid will be ours. Then nations of the world that the single­ we shall know that "there is but one ness of purpose, the self-control. self­ work and one service, one life and one denial and even asceticism, by which goal. one power and one purpose" ; by her business men have achieved ma­ that knowledge shall our actions be terial prosperity, when transmuted and ruled and our lives guided to eternal turned to spiritual attainment, can and peace. [onfidence..; What a revelation to hear a young man admit that, on reading a great masterpiece, he has said to himself, with a feeling of confidence strangely min­ gled with awe: "I, too, can do that!" The magic of the composition has for the time lifted him to the pure region where the piece was conceived; and by a marvelous accession of power from this transcendent plane, he has come to feel that even he can achieve the less splendid result he sees projected down upon the mist of words.-F. Milton Willis. By John Elliott (Califomia)

GROUP of young people bad alchemical arts as an occultist or The­ come harne late, after a thea­ osophist?" tre party, and found their "As a Theosophist I need not do so, Uncle Jack sitting by the for a Theosophist is such by virtue of fire, quietly reading. He was bis belief in Universal Brotherbood · I with them for only a short and bis acceptance of tbe general out­ v1s1t, having recently returned from a lines of the philosophy of Theosophy. trip to India, and being en raute to But if one decides to be an occultist, bis harne an the Pacific coast. then he does begin certain practices The candid generation bad evidently which to a certain extent may be said been discussing him, in fact it always to be alchemical, in that they require discussed him when he made these definite study, . knowledge, and prac­ rare visits, for he was ( of all things ! ) tice, and also in that they accomplish a Theosophist, and it was rumored definite results upon bis body, bis feel­ that he believed in "Occultism." The ings, and bis thoughts. They also play bad contained some references to bave a marked occult effect upon bis reincarnation and other mysterious relations to other people and upon bis ideas, and it was this which prompted attitude to tbe world in general." them to ask him some questions: "That sounds rather eerie ! Do you "Has occultism an ything to do with mean to say that right here, in the alchemy?" midst of your daily life and duties, "Perhaps to a certain extent. Occult­ you are doing these mysterious things ism deals with the (generally) un­ that we don't know anything about, known, and the alchemist of some cen­ and that they don't unfit you for the turies ago was a student of the un­ 'normal' things of life?" known. He was the scientist of bis "Yes, only to me they aren't mys­ generation, some of them experiment ­ terious, they seem eminently sensible, ing with purely physical substances and they make life so much more pleas­ in an effort to understand their forces ant, attractive, and meaningful. Shall and constituents. These were the I give you an illustration?" direct forerunners of the modern phys- "Please do." 1c1st. Other alchemists experimented "Take the simple matter of food. with emotions and ideas, their search Most people eat the kind of food for the 'philosopher's stone ' being not they were taught to eat by their for an objective mineral, but rather parents and friends ; they eat from for a subjective group of ideas that past instruction and habit, not from would solve the problem of man' s self-gained and deliberately acquired life and consciousness. Such alche­ knowledge. They eat for mere en­ mists, like Robert Fludd and Thomas joyment and satisfaction. Physicians Vaughan, were the precursors of the will tel1. you, if personal experience modern psychologist." . does not, that ill-health, diminished "Well, do you practise any of these efficiency, shortened life, are the result. 524 WORLD .THEOSOPHY

The occultist, on tbe otber band, eats reincarnation , many lives on earth, en­ with understanding of the inner qual­ larges the scope of love and friendship . ity of food. To him bis body is the How short a time is one life for the servant or tool of bis mind. He chooses expansion of love between two people ! bis food deliberately. lt is such as will But reincarnation completes it: the give him health, strength, the maxi­ love survives death , people meet be­ mum use of bis senses and faculties . As yond the grave, live together in the bis knowledge increases, he learns that ethereal realms in full consciousness, the vibrations of certain foods increase are born again on earth, meet ··and love bis powers of emotional and mental again, and thus grow in knowledge , expression. I presume this sounds a understanding , and spiritual unfold ­ little fantastic, but at least you will ment until they attain their destiny of all agree that the person who knows perfection. " what to eat and when to stop eating "Y ou mean that the occultist thinks will have better healtb than the person he has been on earth for thousands of who doesn't! " years and will be born again and again "That sounds sensible enough, until he becomes quite perfect? And though I don't think it is so easy to so he gradually makes friendly ties do; but what has occultism to do with with thousands of people ?" one' s feelings? Mine vary so much , I "Y ou see, he believes in the univer­ am happy one day arid miserable the sal brotherhood of humanity ; he re­ next, is there any way to strike a happy gards every person as part of the uni ­ medium?" versal life and as necessary for its ful ­ "Theosophy explains that , too, and fillment; he knows that with every one by practice one can accomplish it. The he meets there is an exchange of occult starting point is that life is happy in force; thus endeavors to make him­ essence. and that when anything occurs self a center for peace, for kindliness, to make us unhappy it is not life that for good-will, and an active agent fot is at fault but our misunderstanding it . spreading throughout the world those Whatever the event is. the purpose be­ beneficent agencies that will make it hind it is beneficent. lf we accept tbis a better and happier place to live in .'' as a hypothesis and experiment with it, 'Tm afraid that seems too advanced earnestly analyzing every incident that a conception for young people like us, causes us sorrow. we shall soon contact but what would you suggest as a first the outer edge of this beneficent stream, step for those who are, so to speak, gradually understand and visualize it just beginning to carve out their better, and finally realize and live in careers?" it so fully that joyousness will be our "First I wou ld suggest setting one' s normal. almost constant state of mind. mental house in order , that is, a careful Moreover, we shall acquire the power analysis of one's physical. emotional. to help others to such happiness." and mental condition. Then a sensible "I admit it sounds delightful. but regime that will eliminate what is un­ would I have to change all my ideas wanted and assimilate what is wanted. of life and give up all my pleasures and This is the foundation of all true and friends to accomplish it?" permanent happiness . The experience "No, not necessarily. but after of thousands of people has proven that studying these things you would have any fault can be removed, ariy virtue a different conception of both pleasure can be acquired by resolve, knowledge . and friendship , and you would direct and practice. The excuse the average your choice of both instead of having person makes for retaining bis faults it accidental. One then enjoys a ( with their resultant unhappiness to friendship more fully. and there are other people) is that they are a natural fewer misunderstandings. One would part of "human nature.'' The stimu­ have to change one' s ideas of lif e some­ lus that the occultist has in striving to what, but it is a change all for the overcome bis faults (and thus mak­ better. For instance, the concept of ing himself and others happier) is THE CANDID OCCUL TIST 525 that the divinity in human nature the home, or in the arts , or in busi­ makes it possible for him to improve ness), and attain success in it , and at bis character swiftly and in due time the same time utilize some of the prin­ to attain perfection. " ciples of occultism to our advantage?" "These suggestions that you make "Thousands of others have done it, seem to deal with very real and tan­ so why shouldn 't you? The main gible things; why is it, then , that peo­ idea is that you would consciously ple regard occultism as so vague, weird understand and guide your life instead and indefinite? ls it because it speaks of letting merely outer circumstances of this world as 'illusory ' ?" do it ; you would regard all experience as beneficent and so you would meet "Madame Blavatsky, who was the it good-naturedly ; you would have great teacher sent by the Masters of high ideals because you would know Wisdom to bring Theosophy to the that only those were worthwhile and West some fifty years ago, said that the permanent ; you would be genial and world is just as real as we are. She kind toward all because you would said that the world which we contact consider them a·s part of your spiritual with our physical senses is a world of unity; and you would think of death effects, and that the causes and forces and the future as benignant events as­ which produced it are not cognizable suring you of adequate time in which by our physical senses. As time goes to discover and express all the latent on and we develop superphysical potencies of a perfected nature ." 'senses,' we shall cognize superphysical "Weil, Uncle Jack , that sounds like causes. But the advice of our spiritual a rather !arge program, especially at teachers is to perform to the · utmost this hour of the night when we are every normal duty and obligation all ready to go to sleep after a jolly which we now have, to increase our day . Please, may we start our reforms knowledge, and to improve our char­ tomorrow morning?" acter here and now as best we can, "No, because sleep itself furnishes and to let supernormal knowledge and opportunities for these same reforms. faculty come naturally in their due Only the physical body sleeps, but the time." real you will be wide awake and "In other words , Uncle Jack , do probably having many interesting ex­ you mean to say that each of us young periences-but we'll talk about that people could live a normal life in the at the breakfast table tomorrow morn­ world, choosing a career ( whether in ing . Good night. "

Heights of Redemption Only the profound hypothesis of reincarnation has been able to show me the consoling point where all converges in the end of an equal height of redemption, after their divers life-careers, running severed but side by side in time, have met in the full intelligence beyond it. On that beautiful Buddhist hypothesis the spotless purity of Lohengrin becomes easy to ex­ plain, in that he is a continuation of Parsifal-who first' bad to wrest to himself bis purity; in the same sense would Eisa reach up to Lohengrin in her re­ birtb.-Richard Wagner. cvolution and Immortality

. By John Haynes Holmes (New York)

What is the basic fact of this uni­ no evidence of any other inhabited verse? Ever since the year 185 9, and planet but our own. But our range of the publication of Charles Darwin 's vision is small . W e know little about Origin of Species, it has been Evolu­ the nooks and corners of the cosmos. tion. The world was once thought of Every rule of rational probability as static-the same today , in all its would seem to indicate that on some form and substance, as on that :first other planet-conceivably on many of day when it came fresh from the band them !--other lines of evolution have of the Creator. Now we think of the developed to some such issue as we find world as dynamic-beginning very here in our own species upon this simply , in early protoplasmic forms , earth . On Mars , or Neptune, or some and then ever changing , slowly but unknown planet in the void , there may surely, into the complexity we see be beings as much above man as man about us. One line of this evolution­ himself is above animal. If so, we ary process we have uncovered upon have here a higher spiritual phenom­ our own planet. Through millions of enon than our own , but like ourselves, years this process of lif e has been a undoubtedly , a terminus in each case development from the lower to the to the particular line of evolution . higher, from the simple to the com­ Now here, in these vast spaces of plex, from the "homogeneous " to the the cosmos, we have these various proc­ "heterogeneous." At the start a little esses of evolution, all tending. as in unicellular organism. expanding and man , to some essentially spiritual phe­ bisecting itself indefinitely, until there nomenon . What is the purpose of all were myriads of such organisms ! Then this development? What has the uni­ combinations, from unicellular to verse been doing through all these multicellular organisms ; then classifica­ aeons of unfolding? Surely, it has been tions of forms and function, from the seeking to produce something-some­ vegetable to the animal. from the in­ thing which would endure , like the vertebrate to the vertebrate , from the work of an artist , and thus justify its fish and the bird to the mammal and the vast expenditure of labor. But what primate; until at last, after thousands can this "something " be in the face of of centuries, man came upon the scene. the sober fact that sooner or Iater this and with him the process apparently universe is coming to an end, and with came to an end. Evolution still con­ it all the forms that it has builded? tinued , of course, but it was no langer Just how this last day is coming, our physical, but mental and moral. and scientists cannot teil. Some say that thus within man and not yet beyond the universe is running down , like a him. "On earth, " said John Fiske, clock, and thus in the end must return "there will never be a higher creature to one dead level of inanition. Others than man." contend that the universe is winding But what about the other planets ? · itself up, and thus must finish in some Have there not been other lines of cosmic explosion which will scatter evolution in other portions of the sky? everything to primeval chaos. All lt seems highly improbable that , on agree that , long before this final day, this one inconspicuous planet alone , our own little planet mus~ be swal­ there has taken place this extraordinary lowed up by the sun. and the solar development known as life. We have system itself vanish "like a flaming EVOLUTION AND IMMORTALITY 527 scroll ." In any case, there comes an The sensible man is now not only end to all that evolution has ever clone interested in immortality , but excited with the material substance of this about it . Here is an idea, deep-rooted stupendous world . Does this mean a in our racial consciousness, confirmed complete end? by the best thinkers and noblest spirits, Will there be nothing to show for which matches everything we know all the "groaning and travailing " of about man and about the universe. the ages? Has the creative spirit only Why is this idea not true? Why do been playing like a child with blocks, we not know that it is true? If im­ ·'just for the pleasure of knocking mortality is so reasonable, why is it them down"? not proved? . . . . Now to many persons this lack of lt is this which seems so impossible evidence is a crushing blow . But not to the sensible man . Just because he is to the sensible man! · For the sensible sensible, he believes that the universe man is too sensible not to know that must be sensible, and he cannot find it absence of proof is by no means equiv­ sensible if it exists only in the end to alent to proof of absence. . ... For destroy itself. He agrees with Charles thousands of years there was not a Darwin , himself one of the most sen­ scrap of evidence in Europe that sible men who ever lived, that "it is an Cathay existed in Asia, but none the intolerable thought that man and all less it was there all the time. Until other sentient beings are doomed to a century or so ago, no ray of light complete annihilation after such a bad ever flashed its signal to us from long-continued slow progress of evo­ the planet Neptune , but all the while lution." the mighty star was swinging in its The sensible man cannot accept this orbit. thought . The universe, through all But if the question is wide open , these aeons of enormous and costly then it is open not merely to belief labor, must have been producing some­ but to investigation . In the absence thing that would survive itself . Evo ­ of final evidence, either one way or lution , in other words, must have a another , it is proper to believe what method , a plan , a purpose. lt must be seems to be reasonable; and in this a process directed to an end . And if case, as we have seen, it is not only we look for this end, do we not find it reasonable, but inevitable, if we would in that spiritual element in man which be sensible, to believe in the immortal­ is the crown and fulfillment of all the ity of the soul. But this is not enough! physical development which has gone The sensible man , in this scientific age, before? cannot be content with faith however The soul of man-the immortal rational. He must press on and seek soul of man-this is the goal of evo­ for proof. In this question as in every lution . The undying spirit, the spirit other open question, he must investi­ evolving from matter by some such gate and inquire-search unremitting ­ miracle of transformation as organic ly the dark mystery of the beyond, in forms developed from inorganic-this the hope that some day , some way , he is the answer to the cosmic riddle. The will catch a ray of light . Some people more thoroughly we comprehend the in our time are doing just this thing . evolutionary process, the more certain They are frequently ridiculed and de­ it becomes that here on this planet , nounced for gullibility , but as a matter and mayhap elsewhere in the skies, the of fact these "psychical researchers" as cosmos has been laboring for the pro­ they are called, are the people who are duction of a reality that would survive scientific in their approach to the prob­ itself . Hence the conclusion of the lern of immortality . sensible man that the immortal hope What is psychical research? lt is the is not only consistent with the universe application of the principles of scien­ but is essential to explain its meaning tific inquiry to the vast question of the and justify its end. survival of individual existence after 528 WORLD THEOSOPHY death, in the hope of finding evidence, and on to Oxford was one uninter­ either favorable or unfavorable, which rupted triumph. Only at the end came can be trusted.- a shadow over the splendor of bis days , In the face of failure and rebuke and and the shadow was deep and dark. ridicule, ·this little group of faithful For bis only son, whom he loved more seekers after truth, headed by such dis­ than bis own life, was taken into tbe tinguished leaders as Leslie Stephen, War and killed on Flanders fields. Arthur Balfour, James Hyslop, Wil­ When the news came of the boy ' s liam James, Henri Bergson, Sir Oliver deatb , sometbing snapped in Dr. Lodge , have pushed their inquiry with Osler' s heart. He was never the same utter patience and fidelity . These man again . Life bad lost its meaning persons are not superstitious-they are and its light. Sickening from bis sor­ simply sensible! row, he grew feeble, and in a short Of men of this type, no more sen­ time passed away . After bis burial. sible ever lived than the great physi­ wben all tbe bonors of tbe realm bad cian, Dr. William Osler. This man been heaped upon him, a little scrap of bad one of the best minds of bis paper was found lying on bis desk. lt time. This mind was trained to the contained a sentence or two , written in knowledge and mastery of science, and bis own band , as tbough in a moment touched to sympathy with human na­ of inward meditation. Tbe words were ture. Such a mind, so trained and so these: touched, made Dr. Osler the greatest "The Harbor almost reached after physician of bis age. In addition , he a splendid voyage, with such compan­ knew poetry and loved music, and bad ions all the way , and my boy await­ the gift of friendship. His career from ing me."-A Sensible Man's View of McGill University to Johns Hopkins lmmortality .

'The Camper By Diana Gracey W inslow ( Tennessee)

Dawn with pearl y fingers twisting through tree tops; Misty gray of camp -fire smoke . A light wind whipping dying embers Tben passing an to quiver my tent flaps , Ta touch my brow witb coolness. The odor of cedars tinging my dreams witb freshness, Putting new life into tbe veins of my sleeping body. Low twitter of birds, Tbe hark of a squirrel- Far above the bonk of geese. Consciousness slowly quivering througn my sleeping frame, Dragging my resisting soul back to its earthl y anchor . I awake! Ta sunr ise and another day . The Occultism of t.Memory,· Here and Hereafter By Marie R. Hotchener

0 you know, dear reader, that made a permanent part of ourselves there are occult changes in now: The physical consciousness has the memory centers of your its memory centers, and the essence of consciousness at the time what is known and experienced while you pass away from this life in a physical body is, at the death of 1 on earth? At the moment it, synthesized and stored in the of death, as the physical. emotional. permanent physical atom . The knowl­ and mental consciousness withdraws edge and characteristics stored in this from the body, the events of the · life essence will express themselves in the just lived pass before the mind as pic­ physical body of the next incarna­ tures: they are part of what is called tion on earth. So the opportunity the memory of nature. should be seized to make one's present But what I intend to refer to are knowledge and characteristics such as other kinds of memories, before and will be desired in the next life, and to after death, those pertaining to any make sure that they are so memorized, Theosophical teachings you may have strong, and vital. that they will im­ acquired about the meaning and press their power on the consciousness purpose of the life just ending, and of a new physical bodv. about any efforts you may have made Furthermore: W e should remember to remember and apply these teachings that in life the consciousnesses of our to your spiritual progress. astral and mental bodies interpenetrate There is a profoundly important oc­ that of the physical. and are unified to cult fact relating to the knowledge we a considerable extent with it, conse­ receive on the physical plane: unless quently they receive impressions from it is well understood, memorized, made what takes place in the physical living, sufficiently to respond when the consciousness. So it is not difficult to mind turns to recall it, while one is understand that unless the knowledge still on the physical plane, one will be received by it in life is understood and unable to recall it after death on the permanently impressed upon its own plane of the astral. memory centers, it will neither impress Most people imagine that after death deeply the memory centers of the astral all the mysteries of life will be made and mental consciousnesses, nor will its plain, that they will understand every­ memories have the power to persist thing "when this fleeiing life on earth after death and radiate sufficiently from is over." Alas! it is not so. Seme its permanent atom (now drawn into occult teaching from helpers may be the confines of the astral) to be re­ given one after death, but helpers are called by the person in the astral Iife. few and there are rnany millions to . be ...... taught on the astral plane. And why For many years, before and during expect such helpers to aid us to recall work as an astral-plane helper, the loss the knowledge we have already re­ of memory on the part of persons on ceived during life but have been too the astral plane was a great and indifferent to make it a living and troublesome mystery to me. I began conscious part of ourselves? to search for the explanation during Occultly speaking, there are vital a visit to London many years ago, at reasons why knowledge should be which time I met several members of 530 WORLD THEOSOPHY the Society for Psychical Research, of bis communications. Very many among them Professor Sir William of tbese were indisputably bis. Tbe Crookes , Mr . F . W . Myers , and Sir medium bad never even read any of bis . lt was at a tea­ books , yet, in what sbe wrote down, party given by Lady Crookes . A dis­ bis brilliance and style were unmis­ cussion arose among tbese scientists takable. Unfortunately tbere was a about some of the psychic "cases" they certain test question asked bim by a were investigating. There was one doubter , and be was unable to answer special experience tbat was troubling it: the name of a bouse and tbat of Sir William: An old friend of bis wbo tbe sfreet wbere be bad lived wben a bad recently died bad, be believed, tried boy. He bad completely forgotten to communicate witb bim tbrougb tbe tbem; yet he remembered places of mediumship of a young psychic. He more recent residence, and incidents of bad not seen bis friend for some years, bis life when in Reading Gaol. This as he (the friend) bad been living tbe loss of memory about bis childhood remaining years of bis life in America. bome caused some persons to doubt Tbis friend bad written and pub­ tbe genuineness of bis communications . lished a book before be went to Another case, one of personal ex­ America , and bad inscribed and given perience: a copy of it to Sir William . What bad I was in Europe at tbe time of my so troubled and caused some doubt in father' s death in California. He ap­ the mind of Sir William , at tbe time peared to me and my maid-companion, bis friend was supposed to be speaking about noon , a very sbort time after be througb the medium, was the strange bad passed : there was al wa ys a strong fact tbat he could not recall the title tie between us. of the hook be bad written , in answer He described bow bis death bad oc­ to the question of Sir WiIJiam, wbo curred , wbere the different members of bad asked for it as a test. Tbe friend my family were at the time, and very told bim , in a general way, what tbe rnany other details, afterwards con­ book was about ( some incidents of firrned by my motber. travel), but tbe title be could not He said be bad corne to tel1 me of remember . Anotber factor of doubt bis deatb , and tbe persons wbo bad was tbat bis friend bad forgotten some brougbt bim to rne wished bim to tel1 of tbe events tbat tbey two bad ex­ rne to get books on the pbilosophy of perienced together long years before. Tbeosophy and study it , as it would He could recount the recent events in rnean mucb to me, and would explain America prior to bis death , but Sir the rnystery of one's existence. I bad William bad no way of confirming never before beard of Tbeosophy . tbese. So be remained puzzled , In spite of being terribly frightened especially over tbe foss of memory of at rny father ' s corning to me in this bis friend, tbough, from some of the rnanner , aft er a few rninutes I con­ evidence, be feit sure that it was bis trolled myself sufliciently to ask hirn friend wbo bad spoken to him. some questions as a sort of test. With Some time later tbe wif e of the de­ one exception , he answered tbern all ceased told Sir William that she her­ fully and correctly . Among them was self bad chosen tbe title of her hus ­ the request that he give me bis full band' s book, only when the volume narne. He replied by giving tbe first was about completed , and perhaps that and last, but used the correct initial was the reason he could not remember only for tbe rniddle one: be could not it . remember ihe complete word. He ex­ Anotber strange case of after-death plained tbat bis inability to remember loss of memory occurred at the time it migbt be from always signing bis wben Oscar Wilde returned after first and last names but only the initial death and spoke and wrote tbrough of the middle name. mediums . There was much discus­ The next case is one witb elements sion in London about the genuineness of even greater interest, because I ex- MEMORY , HERE AND HEREAFTER 531

perienced it as a helper on the astral consciousness a condemnation of them plane: by gossip and hatred . lt was this at ­ Several days after the passing of a titude existing in her consciousness that friend of mine l decided that l would had created the "invisible something, " try to find her, and after repeated at­ the wall , that now isolated her through tempts succeeded. She was quite alone its reactions . Some of the friends who except for the passing by, now and now shunned her feit this wall of then, of people unknown to her. She separation , especially as they, when still seemed in great grief and despair, con­ living, bad also felt great resentinent fided to me the cause of it, and asked towards and condemnation of her be­ my help . cause of the cruel gossip, so their at­ lt seems that a short while before her titude added to the forces of separation death she was given an esoteric medi­ that now continued to keep them apart. tation and was told that its purpose Only the realization of this fact and was to help her eliminate a certain fault her own efforts, can help her to gain that bad been a great obstacle to her the ideal of love to others , from a new progress and would continue to be so meditation given her. if she did not practise it faithfully sev­ We can see from these four cases that eral times every day. She said she did the things which the discarnate persons so for two or three days , then neglected could not remember were those that it, therefore she bad not memorized it were not "living" in the memory at suffi.ciently to remember it now that the time of death , and the forgetfulness she bad passed out of the body . She proved most unfortunate. wanted so· much to practise it now , for Sir William 's friend could not it was one from H.P.B .'s esoteric teach­ remember simple unimportant incidents ings and of great power. She bad been of years long gone, nor the title of the told that if she could continue to book published many years before he practise it in her after-death life it left England, a title which he bad not might be so impressed on her memory created : some of the contents of the as to act as a "helping conscience" in book he could remember . her next life on earth . Oscar Wilde bad not lived at the She also complained bitterly of her house on a certain street since he was loneliness. She said that now and then a boy. Fifty years bad deadened the she would see some of her old friends memory of them : they were not "liv ­ from a certain Center at which she bad ing" memories at the time of his once lived, but they seemed to have no death. desire to speak to or to be with her . My father bad always used the She felt "something invisible" that initial for bis middle name and so it acted like a wall and kept her isolated from them . was not "living" in bis memory . The events immediately prior to bis death After a little more conversation, l were so, and easily recalled. got her to confess the fault . that the My dead friend bad forgotten the meditation was intended to correct. l meditation, had also forgotten the knew well myself what it was, for l Theosophical teachings she bad re­ recalled how much she bad been ceived about correct and kindly speech, criticized for it when living, but l and of the separative forces of hatred wanted to see if she would remember -the power of the law of cause and it. She said it was malicious gossip effect. In otber words, she bad not and bad. caused many of her friends memorized the great trutbs given her, great unhappiness . by living and practising them suf­ As she bad been taught for many ficiently when on earth to make them years the occultism of Theosophy , I "living" memories to guide and ex­ was finally able to recall some of its plain her astral-plane life. teachings to her hazy mind and make .A .A .A her understand how she bad isolated These and many other similar ex­ herself from others by creating in her periences finally impressed the truth 532 WORLD THEOSOPHY upon me that wha t we learn here must of Theosophy "living" and "con­ be firmly impressed upon the memory scious" in their memory before death? centers and kept " living, " with the They may have read all the books , power to revive it under any circum ­ beard lectures on tbe teacbings , and stances, in this life and in the life after stored up some vague general ideas death as weil. And it was a great about character-building and the encouragement to me, quite recently, truths and purpose of life, but vague, to :find a confirmation in the teachings general ideas do not deeply impress tbe of Madame Blavatsky of what I bad rnemory centers of consciousness, or so often thought to be true about lass persist sufficiently to remain permanent of memory after death : memories after death . Will tbeir She says : "Advance may be made in consciousness be "clear," "chaotic, " or Occultism even in Devachan (the "utterly drearnless" ? Heaven W orld) , if the mind and soul I do not know of any fact of occult be set thereon during life; otherwise it truth more important or more joy-giv­ is only as in a dream, and the ing than that while living one can knowledge will fade away as memory make one's Theosophy "clear." If of a dream fades, unless it be kept alive one stops to consider that one's physical by conscious study ." body possibly may drop away at any Again she says: "After the dissolu­ moment, he can lose no time , but tion of the body there commences for should set to work , take stock of wbat it either a period of full clear conscious­ stores of he ness, or a state of chaotic dreams, or possesses, and not only see if they hav'e an utterly dreamless sleep indistinguish­ been made living memories but add to able frorn annihilation . . . . . After them others that may be vital to bis death there begins (before the spiritual future. If so, they can be made an eyes of the soul) a performance ac­ ever-present, permanent light to guide cording to a programme learnt , and him an the lang road to perfectionment very often composed by ourselves, the in all bis future heres and hereafters. carrying out of correct beliefs by our­ selves. A Methodist will be a Meth­ A A A odist , a Mussulman a Mussulman , There are also physiological and . . . . according to what one has be­ psychological reasons to explain the lieved in and expected after death, such mysteries of memory processes, and in is the state one will have." another issue of this magazine there Is it not clear, dear reader, that I will be given some of tbe explanations have every reason to feel very deeply of scientists , together with helpful il­ about advising people to set their minds lustrations, as well as applications of and souls to making the eternal truths them according to Theosophy.

Revelation By J. H. Knoche (lllinois)

I sorrow for a dying rose- Tbe briefest time ago it lived abundantly , Now cold senescence comes, Brings desiccation ! ln:finity of sadness ! But that-below the withering red? A new-born ßower! Death shakes my soul That I may vividly behold Eternity . .. . By Leo L. Partlow (Hawaii)

N joining the Theosophical sandfold, perhaps more. At this ac­ Society you have taken what celerated velocity your environment is probably the most im­ will take on a new appearance. lt will portant step you have yet present new and strange characteristics . made in any incarnation Also your bodies may give unusual since the time you indi- and unexpected reactions when faced vidualized into the human kingdom, with old and familiar situations. A because this marks the beginning of a small stone in the road may not make new epoch in the age-long life of the much difference to a car traveling soul. lt means that the higher Self, slowly, but at racing speeds it is a recognizing the strength and courage violent shock. of the personality, and the willingness lt is well to know the nature of the of the personality to submit to the peculiar problems that lie before us, guidance of the higher Self, has now in order that we may understand them decided to undertake the last arduous better when we come upon them. labors that humanity must undergo­ W e shall find that a change of pace the herculean labors that lead to self­ on the inner planes is very much like perfection. lt means that you are now a change of speed on the physical. For Seniors in the School of Human Ex­ example, at very leisurely speeds the perience, and that only the final ex­ air offers no perceptible resistance. lt aminations are between you and your parts before us so gently and so un­ graduation into a life of wider activity obtrusively that we are not even and significance, for which this school conscious of being surrounded by it. is only a preparation. But let us ride in a speeding express l hope you are aware of the great train or a racing car and the situation distinction which the higher Self is becomes vastly different. The air, conferring upon you in thus deeming which at slower speeds' was no obstacle, you worthy to undertake these final now becomes almost a solid barrier. labors. Not every one is called. At The faster we go, the more it opposes this stage of humanity's evolution, us. lt has become apparently an only a few. But you have been called, enemy, offering an implacable resistance and to the divine invitation you have to our progress. · T o meet this resist­ responded. ance we make our engines more and For you, now, the processes of evo­ more powerful , we streamline our lution are about to be tremendously bodies more and more efficieni:ly, but speeded up--a hundredfold, a thou- in spite of all that, the resistance of *An Address to New Members, F.T .S. 534 WORLD THEOSOPHY the air eventually establishes a practical sometimes it is subtle , but we always limit to our speed. find it in some form or other--gener­ Now let us change the design of our all y in the form that seems bardest to vehicle a little . Let us add a pair of bear. To overcome tbis opposition we wings and a propeller , let us eliminate must constantly do two tbings: we every superfluous ounce of unnecessary must refine our bodies , and we must weight . Now we have an airplane and increase our internal power . Even are no longer earthbound. W e can tben our efforts will not be apparently leave the ground at will , and soar in a successful beyond certain limits . The new realm where new and greater ve­ resistance of our environment will cor­ locities are possible. Here we find that respondingly increase until we find our­ our old enemy, air resistance, is really selves hemmed in, cramped and frus­ our friend, because it is he that sustains trated on every band. All our efforts our flight . If it were not for the re­ will seem utterly futile , everything to sistance of the air we could not leave conspire against us. Not only sball we the ground, nor could we, having left meet opposition from our enemies­ the ground, remain aloft for one second which is to be expected-but tbere may witbout bis support . He still limits come a time when even our friends , to our speed, it is true , but be also bears whom .we bave looked for guidance us up. We cannot travel wbere be is and comfort, may fail to understand not . Wben he fails we fail too. us, and neglect to speak that word of This principle serves to illustrate our cbeer and good courage tbat our very occult progress as well. Wben we first souls are fainting to hear. awake to the possibilities of the inner This feeling of aloneness is invari­ life, when tbe call of tbe bigber Self ably tbe experience of all who take tbe is heard as an irresistible command by first steps in any new line of activity , the lower , we open our eyes and look from birth to death, and tbe occult wonderingly about us. We find our­ path is no exception. If we, tberefore, selves in an environment we have never seem to be battling alone against a hos­ really and truly seen before. · As long tile environment , let us remember tbat as we were moving about in it casually its bostility is only apparent, not real. -in a sense aimlessly-it offered no In itself the environrnent is neutral , resistance. lt was pleasant , friendly , inert, not personal, and its opposition harmonious. But now we begin to is merely the product of our velocity feel its obstructive pressure from the against its inertia. very moment we quicken our pace un­ So, when we seem to be most hope­ der the motive force of an awakened lessly entangled in the net of our en­ will. vironment, and are apparently making Whenever any one is moving at a little or no progress, let us not be dis­ speed with reference to bis environment couraged. lt is one of tbe bardest he is sure to meet with resistance. The things in the world for a moving body criminal is one who is moving more to be conscious of its own motion. lt slowly than his environment. The always seems to itself to be standing occultist is one who is moving faster. still while the rest of the world is rush­ Botb are certain to find conflict. But ing in the opposite direction. When whereas the career of a criminal is op­ this experience comes to us in the occult posed to the general law of progress, life, as it undoubtedly will , there is and hence ends in a blind alley wbence only one thing to do-drive straight be must retrace bis steps, the life of tbe abead, not blindly , not recklessly, not occultist on tbe other band is in line necessarily witb wide-open tbrottle all with bis natural evolution and hence along tbe road, but sanely, intelli­ its possibilities are unlimited. gently, adjusting our course and our From tbe outset, then, we may ex­ powe r to tbe inequalities of the way , pect opposition on tbe occult patb. with due regard for tbe rigbts of others, Sometimes this opposition is crude, following the light as best we can, THE OCCUL T LIFE 535 seNnely confident that nothing can pre­ but rather as a quiet background of vent us from reaching our goal if we life, a pattern of growth, to which we keep on traveling . shall conform as nearly as circum­ We must take care of our bodies and stances may permit when the rights of keep them clean and strong, for they others and our own duties are taken are the vehicles which will take us to into consideration ; in short, a will that our goal. If we abuse them , or over­ is tempered by love, guided by wisdom, strain them , or drive them carelessly, and productive of activity. When we they are sub ject to breakdowns, just as succeed in doing this completely, when our motor cars are, and when they the lower seif becomes a perfect re:flec­ break down, our progress is delayed tion of the Higher , then it is no longer until they are repaired or replaced. a re:flection, but the thing itself , and Eventually, of course, these bodies that we realize that we indeed are That Seif, we now have, will wear out. They as we have always been, though un­ will become obsolete. worn-out junk . consciously. Then we shall discard them entirely­ To some of you , doubtless , Theoso­ shortly to reappear in a new and better phy will be a quiet, gentle experience, model, with all the latest improve­ developing slowly over a period of ments , built to our individual specifica­ years. Y our growth will be like that tions by the Master Builder . of the :flower, instinctive and uncon­ The time will come-perhaps in scious. If so, you are fortunate, for these present bodies, certainly at some you will probably be spared much of time if our will falters not-when our the inner storm and outer con:flict that vehicles will undergo a subtle modifica­ would otherwise be your lot. Like the tion and we shall find ourselves able to mystic lotus of the East , whose beauti­ function consciously on higher planes ful chalice appears only after the -an event which was foreshadowed greater part of the plant' s growth is on the physical plane millions of years completed in th e silent and invisible ago when the creatures that :fly in the places, your soul will come tö :flower air were evolved from those that crept sweetly and naturally. on the ground . When that happens to us in the inner sense, we shall find our­ But we are not all alike, and we do selves in a new evolutionary field, not all respond alike to the vitalizing where a new and glorious freedom rays of Theosophy. Some of you, no awaits us, together with a vastly en• doubt, in your eai:ly contact with hanced power to help others as well as Theosophy, will want to do nothing to further our own development. At but drink in its glorious truths. Y ou that time we shall also discover to our thirst so deeply for its water of life astonishment that the difficulties that that you feel you can never be :filled. we experienced earlier were the very You will read eagerly, and seek occa­ means by which we were able to rise sion to talk with any who may be able, abovethem. as you think, to give you more of the Let us, then , face the future with a Wisdom of the Ages. full measure of courage, . enthusiasm If that is the direction of your and optimism that nothing can quench . growth , well and good . Accomplish Let us place the guidance of these lower it. lt is your path, and no other can vehicles into . the capable hands of the make you happy ·. But know that you Divine Driver within us, Hirn whom are damming up a mighty river, which we variously call the Spirit. or the Ego, must eventually overflow . You are or the Higher Self, or the Father in building up a great reservoir of power , heaven . Let us reflect in our person­ and, sooner or later , you will have to alities His divine characteristics of will, face about ancl give again to the world love and activity-of will that mani­ that which you have received, plus a fests not as stubbornness or the ruth­ part of yourself-no! all of yourself . less pursuit of a predetermined course, That is the only way to es~ape stagna- 536 WORLD THEOSOPHY tion. lt is only the flowing water that activity is directed along seven lines­ is sweet. When the time comes for peace, arts and crafts, health, social you to face about, you will know it by service, healing , animal welfare, and many signs, and then you will impart the like, so that it is possible for every instruction as naturally and as joyously one to find a natural means of expres­ as you now receive it. sion somewhere within it. For us all henceforth the law of Some Theosophists are interested in growth is to give. And this, being in­ the work of healing. Some are deeply terpreted in terms of lif e, means service in sympathy with the cause of peace. to others. In bygone ages our law was Same would like to help print books to take, and we took whatever we in Braille for the blind. And an un­ liked, wherever we could. But that usually !arge number of members are period is finished. lf now ·we receive, actively engaged in the :fine arts­ it should be in order that we may give music, painting, architecture . Among again. We may ignore this law, in other professions represented in our practice we may deny it, for old habits membership are journalism and school­ are hard to break; but in so doing, we teaching. Surely we have here a should realize we are not advancing . golden opportunity to direct our The­ However, service has many forms, osophy to work in practical ways. and it is not for one person to say what There is one form of service that I another' s life of service shall be. A want to lay upon every heart, and that life of the most consecrated devotion is attendance upon our Lodge meetings. can be lived in the small affairs of our That is a greater act of service than is ordinary duty, just as truly as in the sometimes realized. The Lodge needc council halls of the mighty. lt is the you. The other members need the in­ attitude that counts, the willingness to spiration of your presence. The com­ help. Wherever there is need for help munity needs in its mental atmosphere and we are able to meet that need, that the thought-forms that you help cre­ constitutes an occult claim upon us. ate when you assist at a Theosophical But here, as everywhere, discrimination meeting. The nation needs the in­ is necessary. We must mix intelli­ creased capacity for good citizenship gence with our service. A mother is that Theosophy can develop in you. devoted in her service to her child, but The Masters need you to help build that does not mean she must run to it !arger the channel through which Their and pick it up every time it cries. In­ forces may flow to bless the world. lt deed, by so doing she might be doing is not desirable that you should ever the child an injustice. But she is al­ feel it a burden to come to the meet­ wiays listening for its cry, and when ings, but I hope you will not lightly she does withhold her band, it is set aside the opportunity for service through love and not indiff erence. that this simple act affords. In our Theosophical scheme of May I recommend to you the virtue things there is an organization known of promptness? All Lodges lay great as the Order of Service, of which Mr. stress on promptness-promptness in Max Wardall is the head. This or­ opening the Lodge, promptness in at­ ganization makes our group body com­ tending to business, and promptness in plete. The Theosophical Society closing. This may seem a small thing. proper corresponds to the head, the and perhaps it is, but so is the point of Esoteric Section to the heart, and the a wedge a small thing. Promptness is Order of Service to the hands-the the beginning of accuracy and depend­ head to ·think with, the heart to love ability, and the Masters want, above with 1 and the hands to work with, all, people who are accurate and upon · making the trinity complete. whom They can depend all the time. The Order of Service requires no ob­ Cheerfulness and willingness I take ligations, no dues. lt is simply the for granted. The tasks you are given service department of Theosophy. lts at first may seem trivial and inconse- THE OCCUL T LIFE 537 quential. but they will assuredly lead right to pry into the private affairs of to greater service, if you are willing, another person than to open and read for it is always true that "the harvest bis private letters. By coming into is great and the laborers few." Theosophy you are taking the first I feel that I should say a word in re­ steps on the occult path, and on that gard to gossip-not because I think path curiosity about other people' s you neeq it particularly, but merely to business is occultly wrong. An ad­ emphasize the occult point of view, vanced occultist might be able to see for the benefit of us all. Many people many hidden weaknesses of character look upon gossip with a certain degree delineated in the auras of those about of indulgence, but if they could see its him, but he would avoid noticing them terrible effects on the inner planes they unless asked to help by the person him­ would not be so complacent about it. self-help to eliminate his faults. Gossip is one of the gravest of occult In welcoming you into our frater­ crimes. lt is almost as bad as murder nity, my brothers, I pray that the An­ -in fact, is frequently worse than cient Wisdom which we profess may murder, for its malignant effects may indeed be a light upon your pathway. be felt throughout more than one in­ May the enthusiasm which has led you carnation. to join us never grow less, but may it Regardless of whether a juicy bit of ever burn brighter and more radiant, gossip is true or false, don ' t repeat it; with the divine power of kindling a don't even dwell on it in your mind. like flame in the hearts of others who When you think of a person, think of are ready for the life of discipleship. his good qualities, for by the power of And to my humble prayer may the thought-that great creative force­ Great Guardians of humanity, our you strengthen in him whatever quali­ Eider Brothers, who have gone this ties you think about. same way before us, grant us Their Try not to encourage gossiping in blessing, Their power, and Their your presence, for you have no more peace!

Emerson's Confessionof Faith

A man contains all that is needful to bis government within himself. He is made a law unto himself. Any real good and evil that can befall him must be from himself. He only can do himself any good or any harm. Nothing can be given to him or taken away from him, but always there is a compensation. There is correspondence between the human soul and everything that exists in the world; more properly everything that is known to man. lnstead of studying things without principles of them, all may be pene- trated into within him. Every act puts the agent into a new condition. The purpose of life seems to be to acquaint man with himself. He is not to live to the future as described to him, but to the real future by living to the real present. "Brotherhood-'The Universal o(ove By Norman lngamells (Australia)

OY, Love, Peace, Immensity , We read of isolated cases where men do Beauty , Power ; a sense of without sleep or with an infinitesimal the boundlessness of the life amount of it , but these are the very that lies hidden behind and rare exceptions and might be regarded within these word-symbols as abnormalities. Therefore we no te flashes upon the conscious- how , at th e peace of eventide, the Cos ­ ness as one broods upon the fact that mic Mother sheds her loving blessing their roots lie in Brotherhood. Th is upon all her tired children and en­ word, Brotherhood , like the word folds them in her streng protecting Unity , will convey most to those who arms, and all whose lives are imbued know most . with the spirit of Brotherhood feel the deep content and peace that follows a "There is naught exists bereft of day of labor and service in th e outer me" expresses the scope of its pene­ worlds as they pass to the realms of tration. Peace and Power that passes sleep. Not to sleep is an incalculable the understanding of most of us lies loss to the Soul- at least from th e hidden within these wörds , taken from above poin t of view it would seem so. what I regard as earth ' s greatest scrip­ · In the High est the spirit or law of ture, the Indian Bhagavad-G it~ or Brothe rhood has its origin and-shall Celestial Song.* The Lord Knshna we say?-saturation ; this Highest tha t (speaking for the One Life and from is nearest of all to us, therefrom we the plane of Unity) enunciates the find Tennyson declaring, Law of Brotherhood in this statement . " Closer is He than breathing, When this Law is recognized and ap­ Nearer than hands and feet," plied there will be Peace on earth and for we and all embodied life are the every otherwheres , and not till then , " Broken Bod y" of the Lord of Lords , for it is the heart principle at the center the universal Spirit. of ·the universe. Of its fathomless Lao-Tze proclaimed it somewhat in depths we may not speak, indeed we this wise: " Tao ( th e Eternal, the cannot; it is both too sacred ~nd too One) is the source of Heaven and sacred to be capable of anythmg ap­ Barth , On e begat Two , Two begat proaching full explanation . (?nly in Three , Three begat Million s, and the innermost world of consc1ousness Millions return again into One ." may we know and feel its fullness ; and If we wish for corroborative evi­ that is a state not of this world alone. dence of the divine Immanence and a Its roots lie in Tao , that is, in the be­ recognition of Brotherhood, beyond ginningless and endless Eternal. La?­ our own deep thinking and experience, Tze says, "The Tao that can be sa1d the following from the great bibles of is not the real Tao ." the world provides it. In deep sleep, Eastern philosophy In the Old Testament we read : and religion teaches, man enter~ an "Shall there be evil in a city and the internal world and state of consc1ous­ Lord hath not done it. " -Amos , ness where Brotherhood reigns "in Ch.3 , V.6. excelsis," and it would appear to be The Bhagavad-Gita states: " I am Nature' s plan ( therefore the plan of the gambling of the cheat, and the Nature's God) that mankind spend splendor of splendid things I . .. . " part of each day's life in the far vaster Mohammedanism declares: "There and more permanent spiritual worlds . is naught but Allah."

* Translated by Dr. Ann ie Besant, Sir Edwin Arnold, and others. BROTHERHOOD 539

In our day we have the Indian it seems like a nightmare of some dis­ Teacher, Krishnamurti (the Teacher is ordered and limited intelligence. not Indian, even though bis body be) , The League of Nations is probably voicing the One Life, in bis poem "I one of the greatest assets and oppor­ Am All ," declaring, tunities the world has ever bad as an "I am the barbarian and the sage, instrument for the realization of 1 am the pious and the impious, Brotherhood-its spirit is right, and 1 am the godly and the ungodly, that is the main thing. All attempts 1 am tbe harlot and the virgin ... . " at external pressure, in the way of And so on through all the great laws, can be but a kind of barbed­ Teachers. wire fencing-in of man, a temporary God maketh His sun ( the spiritual expedient. Discipline, to be of lasting Sun also) to shine on the just and on value, must be self-imposed , and gladly the , unjust . All-bird , beast , plant, self-imposed-but of course there sea, air, jewel, etc.-are equally His must be this self-imposed discipline. children , life of His life, "flesh" of His How may we contact and commence "flesh"; all learning life's great lessons. to establish this supreme state of con­ The drunkard and man of dark sciousness in ourselves? We may be words and deeds, whose soul is plunged much helped by coming . into contact in darkness and ignorance; the servant with the greatest and most spiritual and the master, the politician , the mer­ people, the fine arts, and the great chant , the priest-all are the One Life ceremonials, the verdure-clad moun­ procuring experience. Most evil is the tains, the flower-decked valleys, the result of external pressure which the restless, ever changing ocean, and the wrongdoer is not yet strong enough to starry depths; pondering upon their resist, and he is largely the result of a beauty and meaning . lack of Brotherhood in the social con­ B y high "da y-dreaming " ? Y es ! ditions, or rather want of social con­ For as a man thinketh so is he, and the ditions, in which he lives. Oh that dream precedes the realization. He we would, for we can, climb to a who has the spirit of Brotherhood vision of the sacredness, the divinity , sufficiently manifest may ( of what­ the beauty , the glory, and immensity ever age bis body be) when he slips of life! lt wil~ probably be through the moorings of bis body during its much sorrow as well as much joy that sleep, wander in the great heavenly we will attain this Vision Spendid , for places. The shadowy groves are bis it is a Vision Splendid. (the inner mystic ones) , the vast ver­ On this plane of true vision any feel­ dant hills and vales, the cloud-decked ing of superiority or separateness from sky, and aught eise of Mother Earth's anyone or anything becomes a pain. birthing . All forms of beauty here a kind of loss of bliss, and even a sin. on earth are the concrete forms of her Separateness is the only ,sin one love-thoughts . lt is the fact that the acknowledges on this spiritual moun­ externalized forms can lead to a contact tain . The sinn er one feels is oneself. with the love that gave them birth although one realizes more than ever that makes :flowers, sky, mountains , that each must himself do bis own etc., so attractive to the sensitive artist purifying and strengthening. The one soul, and in this fact lies the priceless consuming desire here is to point the value of all the :fine arts. way to the army of beings on their In Brotherhood is Love, Joy , a pathway to the Elysian fields-the hallowed Presence, lmmensity too , Eternal. Here war seems like the but also much more, for it is all de­ quarreling of selfish children, over­ scribable and indescribable things. lt whelmed with dark discord and irre­ is the love-cement that holds all the sponsibility, and so limited in vision solar systems together, from their that they cannot see the futility of try ­ birth to their dissolution . ing to reach their goal by such means. In seeking contact witb spiritual War is sub-human rather than human, consciousness, one must, whilst living 540 WORLD THEOSOPHY in and working in the outer worlds , of flesh. Earthly things are the pass­ prevent attachment to, and the dom­ ing things , hence Eastern philosophy ination of. the outer things of th e always speaks of them as illusive senses. This may cause a feeling of things, as shadow shows--even as painful isolation from one' s fellow­ shadows of shadows--e ::dsting but men , for , being often immersed in for the sake of giving experience of material undertakings , they will feel physical life to psyche ( soul) ; they that the aspirant is withdrawing him­ are necessary but impermanent. self . from interest in their affairs and When through many lives on earth life, whilst , in reality , he may mor e we will have been through all necessary than ever have their larger and more experience and learned to obey the permanent interests at heart . laws of Brotherhood, then will we Having , through hundreds of lives finally bireak the ridge-pole of our (and all the greatest minds have earthly tabernacle and be bound no accepted the doctrine of reincarnation) , more to our prisons of flesh. been centering bis consciousness in one Then we will join the great or more of the sense centers of bis be­ Cosmic Orchestra , and , having be­ ing, the transfer of th e consciousness come gods, play upon the seven­ to the spiritual nature may be a long stringed harp of our being ( the bodies and difficult process. Furthermore , we use on the seven planes of con­ the harmonizing or balancing up of sciousness) and fully wake it from its the forces playing through the diff er­ age-long silence. Then a shout of ent centers ( technically called chak­ joy will go up , which , careering rams in Theosophie terminology) may through the boundless spaces, will require much and patient endeavor. declare again, to all who have ears to A center, by unbalanced use, becomes hear, the wonder of man 's Resurrec­ Iike a weak spot in a cycle tire , and tion Morning . man , when he commences the spiritual vitalization of himself. may find he Beethoven, to wonderful music, ex­ will have to face a kind of "blow-out " presses the · truth in the eh oral section of the overdeveloped or weakened of bis great symphony. He ends, center in bis nature . using Schiller's Paean to Joy . The Brotherhood implies unselfishness following is a translation of some of and universal love, and it is the key the words : and the only key that can solve the Draughts of Joy from cup o'erflowing problem of the dis-ease and discord of Beauteous nature freely gives, mankind. Those who are in posi­ Grace to just and unjust showing , tions of power should be the first to Blessing everything that lives. set the example of brotherliness , Praise to Joy , the God descended though all must have good-will , and Daughter of Elysium, be active in deeds for the commonweal Ray of mirth and rapture blended , before the goal for man can be reached. Goddess, to thy shrine we come. Here, in and on earth , we are ex­ By thy magic is united iles, far, far , from our Native Land , What stern custom parted wide, most exiled when we are most · im ­ All mankind are brothers plighted , mersed and bound to our prisonhouses Where thy gentle wing abide. 'Bigotry For modes of faith let graceless bigots fight , He can't be wrong whose life is lived aright.-Pope

E WHO are students of the form within the Church , but the Ancient Wisdom know that Church leaders rejected the reforms . God has a Plan; that the Then Luther became the instrument of Plan is ultimately benef­ reform, and bis defiance at Witten­ icent; and that when men berg started a religious revolution I through lack of wisdom re­ which lighted the destructive :fiame of fuse to coöperate with the Agents of hatreds and persecutions--and blood God in forwarding His Plan , trouble ran . Such was the price the Western follows. The ignorance of man cannot civilization paid for religious freedom. interfere with ·the complete unfold­ In the last half of the eighteenth ment of the Plan, but the race may go century a potent figure moved among forward joyfully or painfully . Our · the French nobility . He was known as Western civilization seems determined the Comte de St. Germain. With a to go the painful way-if we are clear insight into the political forces to judge by th e Protestant Ref­ at work in Europe he urged the nobles ormation and the French Revolution. to initiate drastic reforms to free the A brief review of these two great re­ French people from the excessive tax­ forms may throw light on the present ation and the despotic government unhappy situation . which kept them living in degradation lt is obvious that the Plan in the and misery. "The friend and coun­ sixteenth century called for a reform of cillor of kings and princes, an the Roman Catholic Church, and enemy to ministers who were skilled in efforts were directed to reform it from deception, he brought bis great knowl­ within . Read the story of the Oxford edge to help the West , to stave off in Reformers by Frederic Seebohm. some small measure the storm clouds Erasmus , Sir Thomas More, and John that were gathering so thickly around Colet , Dean of St. Paul's , were all some nations . Alas ! bis words of faithful sons of the Church and they warning f ell on deafened ears, and bis worked and suffered to awaken the advice went all unheeded." (The Roman Catholic Church to its need of Comte de St. Germain, by Mrs. Cooper drastic reform , and to its peril in fail­ Oakley .) ing to institute the much needed So all the pent -up hatred of years of changes. The objective of the Plan in hunger and suff ering came to a terrible the sixteenth century , as we perceive climax; the guillotine reared its ugly it , was not the splitting of Christianity head, and the great principles of lib­ into two opposing groups , bitterly erty, equality and fraternity were es­ hating each other , but the establish­ tablished in streams of human blood . ment of a liberal Roman Catholic Such was the price the Western civili­ Church freed from superstition , nar ­ zation paid for political freedom. rowness and dogmatism. The Oxford Thus on two occasions wise men Reformers preached constructive re- came to the West and with eloquence. 542 WORLD THEOSOPHY logic and satire sought to arouse the be through wise guidance and con­ nobility and the clergy to the need of structive reform , or shall hate-obsessed reform; to cease exploitation of the mobs kill and destroy? There are, masses; to rule with justice, wisdom fortunately, men in power throughout and mercy; and to establish upon the the world who realize that drastic re­ earth a new social order with brother­ form of our economic system is hood and freedom for its foundation inevitable, and they are seeking a solu­ stones, and wisdom and good-will for tion of the problem in a constructive its guiding principles. way. An encouraging sign in America The sixteenth century established is that business men are realizing their the principle of religious liberty­ obligation to provide continuous em­ through revolution and bloodshed. ployment, and so are not discharging The eighteenth ceiltury established the men when there is no work for them, principle of political freedom-through but are adjusting the work load so revolution and bloodshed. And the that all equally bear the burden of · twentieth century must establish the Jack of work . principle of economic freedom. In What can we accomplish in this two-hundred-year cycles the Plan has present world crisis, we students of the presented three aspects of liberty to the Ancient Wisdom who are so few in race for acceptance-a trinity in unity. numbers? We can do much: We can Man cannot exercise religious freedom use our powers of thought and in­ while he is politically and econom­ tuition to learn the immediate ob­ ically bound . Nor can he unfold bis jectives of God's Plan-and if we per­ spiritual and cultural faculties or in­ sist we will find the answer. And telligently exercise bis political pre­ when we have learned the Plan's ob­ rogatives while he is an economic slave. jectives we can impart our knowledge The demand for immediate reform to others according to our technique of of our defective social order, which expression . W e can, furthermore, clear- permits people to starve in the midst 1y visualize the objectives of the Plan , of plenty, is rising from the throats of and in that way influence the minds of millions of hungry. destitute people, people in our community. We can and once again the tears of the multi­ preach the doctrine of good-will and tude are washing away the founda­ non-exploitation of any living thing tions of a civilization which seemed -and above all live it. We can also established for all time. The poignant become potent channels for the radia­ voice of human woe challenging the tion of love and peace into the astral established order , echoes and re-echoes and · mental worlds to neutralize the in the council chambers of statesmen forces of hate, despair, and unrest. and in the conference rooms of in­ Hate won twice, and bloodshed and dustrial leaders, and they rush about horrible excesses followed. Perhaps unwisely seeking to patch up the de­ this time the race, profiting by two fective economic machine, when what terrible lessons, will go forward under is needed is a thorough overhauling. the guidance of Hirn who was the Our "dog eat dog" competitive Comte de St. Germain to a golden age economic system should be ba.nished of brotherhood , peace and freedom to forever from the affairs of men, as which He, as the administor of God's were the "sale of indulgences," symbol Plan for the West, would lead us. W e of religious superstition, and the can do no less than follow Hirn in Bastille prison, hated emblem of auto­ courage, wisdom and love, even as the cratic power. Today the direction the wise men of old followed the star of reform will take is undecided-shall it hope . fl6e Unity of Humanity By A. Karoli Gallion (Mtxico)

HA T is the aim of life, why to modern conditions) is able to bring all this struggle to live, why about. birth and inevitable death Many will proudly say, "We in spite of the desire to ( thinking as a nationality) are all live?" are questions which right as we are." But let me say: l have I confront the earnest observ­ travelled over various continents and er of lif e from time to time. countries, even among nations that Studying into the past of human claim to be highly civilized, l found history. the thinker at last can deduct a great percentage of citizens drunk certain facts that help him to con­ with national egoism, exploding in struct a definite opinion as to the disrespectful epithets of each other, ex­ "why." lt becomes clear to him that emplifying national hatred. lt shows the manifold struggles, wars, blood­ the evil root is there. Unless children shed of all kinds, are not an aim in in the first stage of development themselves, cannot be an end in them­ through educational channels are selves, but are incidents on the way to taught to think right, there comes up a certain goal, that behind the material a national harvest that spells blood struggle, ugly as it is, there moves a and disaster; and worse than that, this great unseen ideal toward a glorious wrang thinking is an obstacle to the goal; and the material obstacles that great ideal that has to crush all obstruct at times the march of that obstacles. ideal are the cause of so much strife, Many will say: "An international but that in every case the self-seeking colony of rigbtly thinking people wbo material obstacles must perish in order want to demonstrate to the world the that the high ideal may march victori­ correctness and redeeming power of ously ahead. their principles !"-and doubtfully The great lesson that humanity de­ shake their heads. They think of some ducts from the sum total of wars and colonies existing on sectarian lines. l strife is: Equality of rights to all hu­ know of some of them, like the Men­ man beings. In other words, the mani­ nonites and other sects in the United fold manifestations of egoism that States, that have formed strong colo­ have hampered the free development nies and have gained material success, of the human race are traced to its for unity always makes for strength. dangerous and pernicious root, egoism. There are others in Brazil who formed And if humanity as a whole sees that colonies along national lines-strong truth-that egoism is the root of all German colonies with schools, evil-the final step in human emanci­ churches, all conducted m their pation that opens an era of unthought­ national tongue. of happiness will be introduced . All these colonies ·are a success from But to make possible this forward the view-point of the "ego" of the step in the evolution of the human individuals forming them. But for the race, we need the coöperation of the world's ideal they are non-existing, foremost thinkers of mankind, with­ because they exclude, they draw back out regard to race, nation, sex, or sect. from all who do not share their par­ to put up a model colony of world­ ticular sectarian views, or who do not citizens who might demonstrate to the happen to be born in the same country. governments of the old-school thought as the case may be. But tbis new col­ what the new-school thought (which ony l am speaking of is not excluding, is only the old eternal truth adapted it is including, does not grow from 544 WORLD THEOSOPHY egoism but from its opposite, altruism. In my opinion these higher mani­ The essence of the thought I want festations of the human being are to present is this: The new humanity much more important than the daily of the new and better era to come shall routine of · the material mechanism , not be divided along national lines, eating , drinking, talking , doing the which is only the manifestation of a job , the way of dressing to appear de­ backward condition of passing ages. cent, to entertain the tired nerves witb Many will say: "How is this pos­ pleasure-all these activities are the sible?" As answer I remember the same in the whole world, only their words of the great Master: forms of expression differ in the vari­ "There shall be one shepherd and ous countries. And now then , must one fold." we believe that because the material The great ideal-you may think it part of humanity is divided along na­ personified as God as you can see and tional lines, and is inflicting upon it­ believe Hirn , or in any form your self millions of sufferings on account philosophy or sectarian conscience is of these barriers, it sball be so in all able to grasp-shall be the One eternity? Intelligent study and logical Ruler of all the departments of the observation of the world' s history United States of the World . Today , leads one to the conclusion that the in art and science the world knows no human evolution will also sweep away distinction between race, nation , sect, this barrier. lt will probably be the or sex. All are welcome in the uni­ last chain the human slave is going to versal temple of wisdom and beauty. shake off, but it will be done. 'The LA!asterLA!agician By John Caldwell-Johnston (England)

Little Brother , if you desire to become a Master -Magician, as I know you do , remember that the Master -Magician works always with Nature , that he is best pleased when bis magical operations are as silent, as omnipresent , as irresistible as the rising tide. To create a bouquet of roses from the ether of space is easy; to turn the hearts of men to Justice and Peace and Truth , which is my work and your work ,-behold no easy task ! Who marks the springing of a flower? Who notes the seeding of a good thought in the human heart? Yet the season of flowers comes and, lo! the fields are multicolored to the dawn . So is the coming of God's Kingdom on the earth . These things are weil known to you. Yet, perhaps , you do not know them as weil as they should be known. The true things are ever old . The old things are ever true . What can be older than the twin saying, "Respect thy neigbbor . Respect thy­ self ' ? Nevertheless within this saying you find your whole duty; and wheresoever you may go, high or low , within the manifesta­ tion of God, which is His universe, you will never see, you will never bear teil of any Being who has been able to exceed this saying. All men are Magicians but not all are Master-Magicians. He who becomes a Master -Magician must hold himself bound by his very power to do service to all. There are those who have won great mastery of magic for their own ends and who use their powers to enslave others to their will. Such are not my servants. 'Testsand Initiation By Carl F. Propson (Illinoi&) OVICES in the study of In modern times, a too-dull compre­ what may be termed "Clas­ hension of the basic laws of reincarna­ sical Occultism" conceive tion and of compensation (karma) the Path of Attainment to has somewhat changed the picture of be barred at intervals by test and initiation. This modern I periods of testing followed viewpoint, while it does not impede the by ceremonies of initiation, shrouded progress of the aspirant in the same in mystery, beset with peril, imminent way that he who sits and waits for with strange ordeals which prove the formal tests is delayed, nevertheless aspirant's ability to master the ele­ falls short of true knowledge of tbe ments of earth, air, fire and water. undeviating justice which rules and Beatific rewards a wait the victors; governs the universe. Tests today are nameless perdition yawns for the van­ supposed to take place in ordinary life, quished. the stage being set with commonplace · This is the picture which is set forth events, the action of the aspirant under in the tradition of attainment, and each combination of circumstances which has formed the basis of so many demonstrating bis fitness to make fur­ occult systems; therefore to the aspir­ ther progress in bis upward journey. ant this task of freedom from the vices As far as it goes, this viewpoint is and superfl.uities of lif e seems some­ true; it is the general understan:ding of thing set apart from normal existence; the mechanics of such tests that will an undertaking which has little in bear further explanation. To the common with the everyday facts of mind grounded in the laws of justice, physical life. it is hardly to be thought that the Whatever the Ancient Mysteries may Great Initiators themselves bring about have been in their system of tests and a set of circumstances involving the ac­ initiations; however they may have tion and freedom of will of a large proved, purified and consecrated the number of persons for the simple pur­ candidate by formal ordeal, it should pose of trying the ability of a single be remembered that even in their high­ aspirant, or indeed that They would est sense they could only typify ex­ interfere in any way with that aspir­ ternally the changes which the aspir­ ant' s freedom of choice and action. ant must make internally, being the This notwithstanding the obligation "outward and visible signs of an in­ of initiates of a very high degree "to ward and spiritual grace"-a grace to interpret every phenomenon as a par­ be attained by right living and high ticular dealing of God with my soul," thinking-not to be conferred by the which is true only when rightly un­ laying on of hands, the whispering of derstood. mystic sentences, or by any other means Interpreted from the standpoint of except those of personal endeavor and the scientific occultist, who sees the attainment. universe built up of a myriad interact- 546 WORLD THEOSOPHY ing v1brations, what really happens is under the domination of circumstances probably to be explained as follows: which will help him to learn control Every person vibrates with a cer­ of that quality; if bis individual vi­ tain individual and characteristic bration is already balanced with bu­ "wave" or "frequency" which is the mility there can be no further test; component or result of all of bis ex­ that gateway is already passed. So periences, all .bis efforts, victories, and with avarice. gluttony. envy, idleness. defeats in tbis life and in past lives. Inst, wrath-to mention some of the Tbis vibration is strong and weak­ so-called "moral qualities" with which strong when surrounded by circum­ each one of us bas to contend; there stances over whicb the person bas are many other requirements which earned the right of mastery; weak must be met along the path, for initi­ wben governed by circumstances over ation is not wholly a question of which he still must realiu bis divine ethics or morals. In exactly the pro­ rigbt of control. This vibration is portion that each individual lacks this constantly radiated from eacb person, or that requirement for complete free­ as from a sun in miniature . lt affects dom from limitation, will he afford and qualifies the vibrations of other himself opportunities to acquire them, persons with whicb it comes in con­ until the scales are balanced and the vi­ tact, depending upon their receptivity bration wave is flattened to straight­ to it as a whole, or to certain of its ness. qualities; it is affected and modified by Thus no test is ever a matter of vibrations coming from external formality for which the aspirant has sources to wbich it is still responsive. sedulously prepared himself in ad­ In the ascent of the Path there are vance. The tests are concerned with certain definite requirements, which the actual business of living-and this may be said to represent "degrees of holds true even with initiates of the initiation" although it must not be highest degrees, whose operations are tbougbt that they are exactly tbe same conducted on planes of consciousness in externals for each person, represent ­ other than physical. To be tested ing rather the "minus" qualities in the means simply to live apart from the individual vibration of each aspirant. universal consciousness; to "pass" lt is tbe interaction of the "individ­ means to come closer to the heart of uality vibration" and the "initiatory the "rose," that central immovable vibration" tbat produces, in exact ac­ atom about which revolves all that is cordance witb the law of sympathetic lesser than ltself. Time is not in­ attraction, tbe opportunity for the volved and the aspirant cannot be aspirant to demonstrate his ability to marked "failed" and definitely set meet and surmount the combination of aside except by bis own choice. For circumstances. thus proving his pro ­ the Path is eternal. and even though ficiency in the preceding grade and bis many lives be consumed in acquiring right to demand further light. the ability to pass each obstacle, the For example. if the minus quality patience and love of the Great Initiator. to be surmounted is that of pride, the the Shining Augoeides, is also eternal aspirant must inevitably bring himself and He is always with us.

The Thrift of Time

The thrift of time will repay in after life with usury of profit beyond your most sanguine dreams. and waste of it will make you dwindle alike in intellec­ tual and moral statur e beyond your darkest reckoning-Gladstone. Intelligencein N_ature By R. F. Goudey (California)

W!"!'~•,-.NTELLIGENCE is by no The vastness of the unliverse in means a quality con:fined which the laws of our earth hold to the human kingdom. true is literally inconceivable. Seventy­ Exploration of the unex­ :fivethousand suns which are estimated plained laws of Nature, to be 25 trillion miles apart show up which is a division of on a single photographic plate. A Theosophical study. together with an nebula in Andromeda, 100 million overwhelming mass of scienti:fic data, times !arger than the sun, is travel­ reveals intelligence of great magnitude ing toward the earth at a speed of 200 not only in the animal, vegetable, and miles per second, yet so far distant is mineral kingdoms, but also in the en­ it that even after a billion years it will vironment in which all kingdoms live, be relatively as far distant as at present, move, and have their being. In the physical and chemical worlds lt is generally conceded that before there is no such thing as chance. All evolution commenced there must have laws which further efficiency and been a complete involutionary process justness are inexorable. unchangeable, for both matter and life. The :first and unbreakable. How otherwise stage, that of the involution of matter, could there be an intelligent universe? together with its various forces, can One sees superimposed in the environ­ be described as the preparation of the ment many cycles as if deliberately :field, the conditioning of force and schemed to suit the flow of life. Even matter, the setting of a stage for the such commonplace cycles as day and drama of life, and the imprinting of night, the seasons of the year, use and the archetypes in the Mind of the re-use, birth and death, are endowed Creator upon the lowest of matter. with characteristics which have a This process is said to create and vivify direct influence on life. every atom, to be the source of law While it is true that life adapts itself and order, and to provide an environ­ to environment it must be realized that ment supremely :fit not only to evolve this occurs in an environment which itself but also to provide the entire was previously made perfect, so that structure for the evolution of life. This life can express its changes when environment, exterior to ourselves and desired. Required variations always all forms of ensouled life, exhibits appear at the right time for natural intelligence in its organization, its ex­ selection to act upon, and it is the en­ treme :fitness, its inherent individuality vironment which controls the organi­ and its destiny. zation, preservation, and regulation of ls it not signi:ficant that the same this process. pattern, plan and functional processes This :fitness for life is due to the extend uniformly from the microscopic characteristics of the four primary structure to the most distant of elements-earth, water, air, and :fire heavenly bodies? Whether one studies -into which all things can be re­ the orbits of electrons or those of solved. This classi:fication is as old as planets each moving around their the hills, yet its mysteries still remain respective centers, the same mathemat­ to be fathomed. The individual and ical laws governing the spacing, speed general relationships of these elements and massing of those bodies seem to interweave and intercoördinate with apply. The plan of the macrocosm qualities which in themselves are is reflected in the microcosm : "As maximal, with no available substitutes, above, so below." and have definite biological significance 548 WORLD THEOSOPHY in controlling and regulating the or ease with which Nature does it. exact structural and functional forms One wonders what the fullness of the and processes. glory would have been bad some other element been endowed with similar BARTH liberation as has carbon in producing Earth, "Mother Earth ," is the start ­ still greater freedom and variety . ing point of nature, the matrix in Practically all building materials which is locked up the potential flower such as cement, lumber , steel, plaster , of evolution . The traveler, after trips lime, etc., contain carbon either in afar by plane , boat, or rail , invariably the raw material or as part of the experiences the joy as well as the manufacturing process. All that man actual need of getting back to earth. wants or needs is found in the earth . lt is the only place in the world where All kingdoms would be at a serious one feels absolutely "at harne. " disadvantage should the element carbon The earth , as well as the entire be removed, since there is no available universe, is built up from 9 2 chemical substitute . Without it there would elements all composed of different be none of the higher minerals , plants numbers of basic electrons. By re­ or animals. ls there not , therefore , solving these chemical elements back a legitimate basis for the interest and to the ionized atomic level or "critical almest reverence which the ancients state," other elements may be formed . bad for the element earth? by the mere addition or subtraction of WATER electrons. The same chemical identity of all physical matter which is the Scientists are high in their praise very basis of the inorganic and organic for water as by far the one most out­ worlds, from the bacterial forms of standing agent in our environment , the most primitive life to the largest of being the most indispensable to all heavenly bodies, is highly significant . kingdoms. lt is a mechanical mixture One of the chemical elements, name­ of hydrogen , oxygen and other sub­ ly carbon , was apparently selected from stances which, unlike any other liquid , all the rest and endowed with special possesses individua l chemical identity . qualities giving it a role which no Water is the life-giving fluid, is used other element could even in a small in the mineral kingdom as water of way duplicate. lt stands out as oddly crystallization , is indispensable to different from the remainder . lt has a vegetable metabolism , and is required valency of four, which is shared by a by animal and man in digestion , elimi­ few other elements, but its ability to nation , and control of body tempera­ form countless chains with itself and ture. The function of food digestion particularly with hydrogen and oxy­ is based on the ability of water to gen is unique. Out of it arose the entire dissolve, hydrolyze and ionize food organic world. The number of com­ for the purpose of releasing energy. pounds which can be producd from lt is a wet process and there is no logic any other three elements is less than whatever in the popular belief that two-score, whereas · the carbon , hydro­ food is burned in the stomach like gen and oxygen compounds number combustible mater ial placed under a countless millions. The following boiler. The enti re false system of compounds upon which we depend calorific food values is based on this and which contain nothing but various untenable hypothesis. combinations of these three elements Water is the only universal and are alcohol, acetone, camphor , carbolic unique solvent alike for acids, bases, acid, cotton , ether , formaldehyde , and salts. lts dielectric constant is the glycerine, lactic acid, starch , sugar, highest known and thus gives water tannin , vanilla, vinegar and winter ~ its superior ionizing power of revert­ green. Man is unable to synthesize ing matter back to its "critical state." these. compounds with the intelligence If this process were as spectacular as INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE 549

ionizing gases by X-rays, which takes rneteorological cycle on land ; it auto­ greater power and care to accomplish matically regulates climate and pre­ the same result, we niight pay more vents extremes in temperature which attention to it. · would otherwise be intolerable . Body elimination is dependent upon Ammonia is the nearest competitor to the body fluids which owe their re­ water , but there is no place in the markable solubility to water. Should universe where it could be produced in any other solvent be substituted for sufficient quantities to replace water , these functions, end products would and it would be hard to conceive of accumulate to the point of death with­ any greater sensitivity or efficiency in in twenty-four hours . The regulation any organism which would have to be of body heat is even more an out­ adapted to wider extremes than would standing function of water. The heat be produced by arnmonia. lt is sig­ generated by a normal person in nificant that sea water and blood, digesting a single meal is sufficient to which are the only two ideal mediums raise his temperature 54 degrees Fah­ for life, have practically the same renheit. Water maintains nearly a con­ chemical composition. Life is said to stant body temperature and if water have cornmenced and emerged from the had the same value of specific heat as ocean while blood is in reality aged other substances a person' s fever would sea water . lt is interesting to note be deathly within a few hours . that the ancient Greek Thales stated, Animate and inanimate things must "God is that mind which shaped and have water and are usually provided created all things from water." · with duplicate means of securing it. ' AIR In plants water is taken in both Since man has recently become air­ through the roots and the leaves. In minded, it is logical to reconsider some animals and man water is taken in of the properties which air possesses through food, which i-s 75-95 per cent in reference to environment. Curi­ water, by drinking and breathing. ously, air is the only rnixture of gases, The nose of the average healthy person as water is the only liquid, which main­ beneficially derives over a pint of water tains individual chernical identity. daily from the atmosphere. In no The mineral kingdom relies upon the other respect is such ample provision air for its widespread occurrence of placed around any other environmental oxides and carbonates, the vegetable factor. kingdom for raw materials to synthe­ In meteorology water is by far the size food , and the animal for breathing most outstanding agent. Its resultant and elirnination . geological changes transform topog­ Air is composed of 78 per cent raphy and provide an environment nitrogen, 21 per cent oxygen, with which makes the earth livable . All traces of carbon dioxide, helium , neon, of the thermal characteristics of water crypton, argon , and xenon. Just why are far higher than for any other the greatest portion of air is nitrogen liquid. Water has no rival in the is not clear. Air is the reservoir in amount of heat it can absorb , in its which nitrogen is stored and from ability not to freeze entirely until the which certain types of bacteria, living whole body is saturated for freezing, on a relatively few species of plants, in the value of vapor tension , surface are able to extract a very small per­ tension, and in the latent heats of centage of nitrogen. lt is only through evaporation and rnelting. Instead of this tedious process that nitrogen is contracting upon freezing, it alone of rnade available to other plants and to all substances .expands . Because of the anirnal kingdom which for the these maximal properties common to most part remain starved for nitrogen. water alone the ocean is a great reser­ After continued use of the fixed nitro­ voir of life as well as of heat; it cannot gen it finally gets back to the air.Other freeze solid; it controls the entire lesser constituents of air have far- 550 WORLD THEOSOPHY reaching effects upon life, and it fol­ including electrical vibrations in all its lows that at some time in the future ranges as heat, light, X-rays and radio­ more can be expected of the part which activity. Less than 1 out of 60 octaves nitrogen will play. is visible. . Over three million horse­ Oxygen is a le.ss mysterious ele­ power per square mile is the intensity ment. lts part in the organic world of this force which becomes stored in has already been touched upon.Oxygen food, evaporated water and the vege­ is the one outstanding oxidizing agent table kingdom. lt is the immediate and supporter of combustion. The source of the forces of Nature such as most important gaseous compound wind and rain. lt corresponds to containing oxygen is carbon dioxide, vitality in man. Of the simple ele­ which, in turn. is second only to ments only hydrogen burns. Curi­ water as a geological force and a fur­ ously. it is this element which is found ther regulator of environment. The wherever matter is being created and absorptive coeflicient of carbon dioxide where "fire" resolves things back to is such that one half will always re­ earth and water. main in the air and one half in the In the revolutionary process the ocean. Unlike any other substance it fundamental elements were naturally cannot be washed eventually into the created in the following order: fire, ocean. The mobility and universality air, water, and earth. Note the corres­ of carbon dioxide, both on earth and pondences such as hydrogen, represent­ in the heaven, is unquestioned, yet ing fire, unites with oxygen, portray­ tbere is only a trace of it in the compo­ ing air, to form water, and all three sition of the air. unite with carbon to form eartb. Fire Plants require carbon dioxide in typifies the man or the conscious their stem and leaf laboratory for the mental state; air stands for the anirnal support of every green thing in Nature. or unconscious level of mentality; In fact, the most complex organic water represents the vegetable or matter is traced back to its carbon emotional sta te; and earth corresponds dioxide origin. In man the complex to the mineral or physical. as well as the simple foods are broken If tbe properties of these elements down to carbon dioxide amounting were changed one iota, life, as we in weight to two pounds per person know it, could not exist. lt is not in per day. Were it not a gas its elimina­ a few details that environment has tion would be a most diflicult problem. been made extremely fit, but in all Carbon dioxide is essential in control­ respects. The very extraordinary set ling acidity and alkalinity alike in of favorable and livable conditions Nature and in man. The almost ex­ give tbe cbaracteristics of life, such as clusive end products of digestion are ubiquity, abundance, variety, stability , acids which if not removed after a mobility, constancy, complexity, single meal would result in death. adaptability, activity, and richness. In the laboratory it is next to im­ There is a far greater Intelligence be­ possible, even after hours of tedious hind all life than is usually conceded. labor, to neutralize exactly a chemical solution, yet Nature does it automati­ lNDIVIDUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT cally with ease and dispatch through The inherent life back of the en­ the properties of carbon. vironrnent is likewise in an involu­ tionary stage and is called by sorne FIRE students "elemental essence." This Fire as an element should not be is another phase of Intelligence, once interpreted symbolically but rather _ as removed, emanating from what has an expression of solar energy originat­ been termed the First Outpouring. ing in the sun and reaching the earth We recognize it as beauty in Nature' s on the atomic level. lt is then stepped rnoods and weather . Men have striven down and manifests itself as radiation, in vain to duplicate scenic effects, cloud INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE 551

formations, sunsets and other ex­ way that matter as a whole becomes amples of sheer beauty. In fact, the denser in certain geological periods and only beauty we worship, whether it at other times rarer . be the exquisiteness of the diamond or Energy is a continuous stream pour­ transient flashes of color, is to be ing through living cells and vital proc­ found in Nature . esses. Both matter and energy ex­ The moods of Nature are open to terior to ourselves are at our service and our direct contact-at least, so it await further development along seems to those who have experienced societal lines. Environment and the Her "feel." The winds which have pervading force behind the atoms duties of clearing the atmosphere, maintaining individual identity, law , ' dropping leaves, scattering pollen and order and rhythm, together with its seeds are gentle in their frolicsome reservoir of power and force, is driv­ autumnal gusts or severe when called ing to a destiny all its own. The upon as karmic agencies to produce Intelligence displayed by the Creator in mile-a-minute gales for disasters and making a fit environment supreme in catastrophies. Rain , too little of all respects for the specialized evolution which causes drought, and an excess of life and matter can be traced in all of which results in devastation, has the kingdoms of Iife. lt is a steady a gentleness and sweetness in its light and continuous process which vir­ showers and a tremendous power . tually is a great sacrifice of the perpet­ even frenzy, in its rushing torrential ually guiding Power and is no less storms . Snow storms on the one band wonderful than the higher types of are contented-like or on the other a other aspects of intelligence found in driving blizzard of great fury. Nature . Weather is another expression of INVOLUTION OF LIFE the intelligent life. John Ruskin Running parallel with the involu­ wrote: "Sunshine is delicious ; rain tion of matter is the activity of the refreshing ; wind braces up; snow is second creative impulse of the divine exhilarating. There is really no such Creator called · by some students the thing as bad weather, only different second life wave which prepares life kinds of good weather ." These phases for manifestation through form. All of intelligence exhibit, apart from the philosophies regard life as super­ power of man, that behind Nature is physical. weightless , plastic, ethereal. an inherent personality, far more in­ etc., and consider that units of the one trinsic than just a mere mood of life appear as sparks or monads whose . Nature, something which is the hidden purpose seems to be the evolving into Iife itself and has its origin in the the fullness and glory of the Divinity supreme lntelligence . from which they sprang. lt is a devel­ opment from the unconscious to the EVOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENT · conscious, from the static to the Creation did not stop with the dynamic and from the simple to the single act but still surges on continu ­ complex. · ously in producing new forms of Intelligence in this process is first matter and energy which is transform­ displayed by clothing these monads ing environment before our very eyes. with matter of the plane upon which Chemical elements, once thought of they first exist, linking them to all as permanent, are themselves evolving the planes of nature with a series of in endless cycles from those of light permanent atoms . and finally attach­ atomic weights to those of heavy ing this plastic life to the densest and weights, from simplicity to complexity most stable matter of the mineral and from stability to instability. kingdom. The life as well as the Radio-activity reverses this process and matter is thereby endowed with all the each new upward cycle develops new latent possibilities for future enfold­ orbits . of inner quanta . lt is in this ment . 552 WORLD THEOSOPHY

lNTELLIGENCE IN THE MINERAL solid, whereas if the rate is rapid, be­ KINGDOM cause of the sluggishness of the water molecules at cold temperatures, the pat­ The mineral kingdom provides for a tern will be branching like frost etch­ graded series of classes from the lowest ings. These designs have been con­ organized forms to the highest types of sidered so gorgeous and practical that precious stones constructed out of ele­ they have been used for commercial mentary matter in order that group­ purposes. Nature' s feats of artistry are souls may evolve. The first type of indeed a constant source of inspiration. intelligence to be observed in the min­ A third independent type of intelli­ eral kingdom is that of the First Out­ gence found in the mineral kingdom pouring already described as the in­ has its origin in the group soul behind volutionary process of matter, In the form. Evidence indicates that this .short, it is the vivification of all the lif e f eels, reacts to electric shock, fa­ atoms endowing them with the forces tigue, opiates, poisons and stimulants. · of adhesion, cohesion, aflinity, repul­ Forms alone could do none of these .sion, surface tension, flawless order and things. lt is the life from this source the power to react with each other. which brings out the variety in form The second type of intelligence is and the development of new type's. that provided by the form side of these · Does not the fact that every snow minerals individually which enables crystal is different indicate a voluntary the dormant life within to express faint selection independent of just physical impulses through its toned-down mat­ reaction? Since new mineral types are ter. These forms display intelligence produced with each new succeeding in many ways. In the graded progres­ geological formation, does it not indi­ sion of these structures can be · seen the cate that experiences resulting in greater plan of God materialized, geometrized change and growth can benefit only and precipitated as it exists in the mind the ruling entity which is seeking of the Creator. One cannot help but greater coördination in more complex marvel at the perfect geometry and forms? What other could be the use .symmetry exhibited in both the in­ of the rigidity, density and inertness ternal and external structure of min - of the mineral form if it did not have eral forms. The lines of force, angles, an inner urge manifesting its inherent faces, lines of cleavage, etc., are different life? for every type of mineraL but so char­ Often it is said that certain minerals acteristic and fixed are they for each and jewels stand for certain qualities. mineral that these qualities are actually They do not "stand for" these, they used scientifically as a basis for their are these in Nature. The mineral king­

HA T significance bas tbe proved methods of production , we present unemployment crisis bave overstocked our markets , and find to tbe student of spiritual ourselves in a "vicious circle." Be­ values, bolding ideals of cause tbere is so large a stock of goods universal brotberbood? on band, tbere is a slump in tbe market \I Very little-to tbe one for labor; and because tbereby so many wbo looks at it superficially as a re­ people are out of employment , tbere current "depression" tbat will soon be is a slump in tbe market for these followed by a period of prosperity , goods. lt is, nevertbeless, encouraging and tbus, as most of our industrial and tbat leaders of public affairs are striv­ political leaders are doing , tries to lull ing earnestly and with some degree of bimself and bis fellows into a false intelligence to remedy this desperate sense of tranquility in tbe belief tbat situation . tbese slumps and peaks of prosperity The remedies proposed, bowever, are normal and inevitable. are mostly mere palliatives and do not To one wbo digs below tbe surface, touch tbe basic cause of our social dis­ bowever, it is very significant tbat tbe order. Tbey can but tide us over tbe present depression is not only world­ present "slump," until anotber spasm wide, but is probably tbe most serious of buying leads us into anotber "peak" on record. lt appears also tbat tbe of productivity, wbicb must inevitably conditions wbicb bave created it are be followed by another and still more basic, we migbt almost say cosmic, and serious "slump. " cannot be remedied by any of tbe time­ To those who will analyze tbe bonored antidotes. situation , it bas become evident that Furtbermore , wben we get tbe rigbt our old metbods of production and perspective, tbe present condition , distribution bave broken down, and especially in America, is strangely tbat unless industry is put on a safer anomalous. W ere it not so tragic, it and saner basis, tbe recurring depres­ migbt even be ridiculous . If tbe gods sions will lead inevitably to irremedial ever smile at man's ineptitude, we are disaster. certainly giving tbem good cause for By our industry , our ingenuity and amusement. productivity, we are forcing society For bere in America , tbe cream of tbe into a new code of relations and values. proud Nordic civilization, self-admit ­ Tbe old competitive system is being tedly cbief exponent of the art of "go­ shattered by its own wastefulness, and ing places and doing tbings ," we are we are being driven , willy-nilly, into on tbe brink of financial disaster be­ an era of coöperation. cause of great productivity and our Take heart , fellow Theosopbists , vast possessions. Our granaries and and likewise permit yourselves the en­ warebouses are bulging witb tbe prod­ joyment of a thrill ; for we are now in ucts of our industry and genius, tbe the midst of the birtb pangs of a new possessors of wbicb are facing ruin be­ and better civilization, and tbe sun of cause tbey cannot dispose of tbese God's tomorrow will sbine from a bluer stored-up goods, wbile millions of and more benignant sky. For I be­ otber intelligent and able-bodied believe that even now American intel­ citizens are milling about belplessly , ligence is in tbe way of solving tbe suffering for lack of tbese very goods. problem , of cbarting a course tbat will By our improved macbin ery and im- steer our "ship of state" away from 554 WORLD THEOSOPHY

the rocks of national bankruptcy and to live meanly on the bare necessities, likewise avoid tbe seething maelstrom they purchased freely of these goods, of communism . demonstrating their capacity to enjoy Communism cannot be the remedy , the luxuries as well as a plenitude of for it can bring naught but the re­ the comforts of life. Shorter work­ duction of humanity to a dead level, ing days meant also more employees the destruction of initiative and the loss sharing in and helping to maintain of national self-respect. 1 have confi­ this prosperity . Thus we developed dence that we will , before it is too late, a beneficent circle, the workers help ­ find the better way . No doubt there ing to provide a market for their own will be much stumbling and blunder­ labor. ing . Humanity always progresses as The trouble is that we have been too awkwardly as a crab scrambling back­ slow in seeing the point . lt is hard to wards. break old traditions , to get out of the Let us see if we cannot help discern old ruts. Mankind must ever be the cause and outline the remedy. driven onward , like the maiden Io, Our present civilization is the out­ who was so unfortunate as to win the growth of the old feudal system love of the god Zeus-by the gad­ which consisted principally of land­ fly of need and suffering. God 's new owning aristocrats , each surrounded by eras cannot wait on man ' s laggardness. bis retainers and dependents. Own­ When , therefore, we see our proud ing the land and the products thereof , industrial structure toppling, we are it was to the interest of these aristo- · forced to seek and remedy the weak­ crats to keep the masses in subjection ness in its foundations. No longer and poverty, to produce as much as can we go on increasing mass produc ­ possible at as little expense as possible. tion without giving due heed to mass The later industrial aristocracy consumption , and it is to the masses developed on the same principle. Pro­ we must look for the markets for our ducing as much as possible at as little produce . Give the workers adequate expense as possible worked advanta­ income and they will consume our geousl y as long as there were unlimited surplus stocks and cry for more_. markets to be supplied . Thus , im­ Deprive them of that income and our proved machinery and improved stocks of merchandise are transformed methods meant reduction in the cost from assets into liabilities . of production, the hiring of fewer Old Mother Earth is ready to yield workers and, therefore, greater profits . unlimitedstores to nourish the millions However, it was inevitable that, with of her progeny. Especially is America such a scheme, improved methods and a storehouse of unestimated wealth . machinery would some time force pro­ There is not the slightest excuse for duction beyond the limits of the poverty or destitution , except in man's markets ' capacity to absorb . lack of initiative . 1 mean , of course, lt is one of the ironies of fate that natural initiative, through government the organization of labor , which em­ or coöperative social nieasures. Those ployers fought so strenuously, with its who are caught in the undertow cannot resultant increase in wages and decrease release themselves, but the people, act­ in working hours , delayed for decades ing together , can abolish poverty. tbe industrial catastrophe, and now We must cast aside our worn-out clearly points the way to a permanent and broken-down system of produc ­ remedy through a balanced system of tion and distribution, and recognize production and consumption , bene­ the lesson that the cosmic forces are ficial alike to employers and employees. impressing upon us-the solidarity of For these increased wages opened up the race, the economic as well as the a vast new market for the goods that moral need for brotherliness-morals were already . being overproduced. and economics can no longer be kept When laborers were no longer com­ apart, but must go band in band . pelled , by the scantiness of their wages, No longer can our industrial aris- IF A BIRD CAN SING 555 tocrats thrive on the suppression and Thus , through man 's economic need poverty of the masses. As improved are the ideals of brotherhood realized. methods or machinery increase pro­ Therefore, we who believe · in duction , there must follow, not a re­ brotherhood as a matter of principle, duction in the number of employees, may help hasten this happy consum­ but a corresponding reduction in their mation by using our heads, our wits hours of labor , and-let us emphasize and our tongues, our pens or our type­ it-no reduction in their income, their writers, at every opportunity; also, purchasing power. Labor must have by invoking divine aid and guidarice, its share in the benefits of increased by giving willing and intelligent productivity in order that the markets coöperation to the Masters who are for these products may be maintained. working behind the scenes.

If a '13ird [an Sing By Douglas M ollock

If a bird in a cage can sing, my dear, As tho' the days of the spring were here, If a bird, forgetting the time of the year, Can sing in a room that is dark and dim As tho' he sat on a greening limb, Yea, sing for those who . imprison him.

If a bird, when all that he knew are gone To the lovely South, or the crimson dawn , · Can sit alone, and can still sing on ; Surely then you and I can sing, Whatever shadows around us cling, Or what the moment may chance to bring.

Surely then you and I can be, Tho' bound in body, in spirit free; Can sing a little as well as he. For few shall find what they most desire; W e are all shut in with our strands of wire, Till hearts grow weary and ·bodies tire.

We may not labor at what we dream , But the whistling boy has a willing team, And a little song makes a shorter seam, W e lose some loves as we pass along, There are some go far , there are some go wrong, But still there is joy enough for song !

No night so dark but the dawri is near­ . Oh, we can find some thought to cheer, If a bird in cage can sing, my dear ! Thinking With Thinkers

Birth Control trol clinics, to give advice to warnen, From THE THEOSOPH!ST should be recognized by the Govern­ rnent as allowable or not. That the A new work by Mrs . Margaret sub ject · is one of the most vital to Sanger, the forernost worker in the every nation everyone knows. In some field of Birth Control in U.S.A., ways, the kernet of the whole matter called Motherhood in Bondage has has been more tersely put by Bernard reached us at Adyar. The book will Shaw than by all the writers on Birth be reviewed in due course. The sub­ Control. In a little skit of bis called ject, which has almest passed the stage "Press Cuttings," an uproarious farce of controversy in some countries at dealing with the opponents of least, was brought before the British Women 's Suffrage, there occurs the public somewhat violently when following instructive dialogue between Charles Bradlaugh and Annie Besant "Mitchener," a typical "die-hard," re-published the farnous "Knowlton and bis charwoman , the very Irish parnphlet" in 18 77. These two lead­ Roman Catholic "Mrs. Farrell." ers of the Secularist movernent took their stand then not on the truth of MRS. FARRELL. If they could only see the seamy side of General Sandstone's uniform. Dr. Knowlton's statements but on the where bis 1lask rubs agen the buckle of bis right of the law-abiding citizen to braces, tbeyd teil bim be ought to get a new discuss any ideas whatsoever which do one. Let alone the way he swears at me. MITCHENER. When a man has risked bis not incite to rebellion and violence. lt life on eight battlefields , Mrs . Farrell, he bas was for freedorn of thought which given sufficient proof of his self-control to be they fought when they came forward excused a little strong language. to be prosecuted. Then it was that MRS. FARRELL. Would you put up witb Annie Besant, after she knew for her­ bad language from me because Ive risked me life eight times in child-bed? self the tragedy of the poverty-stricken MITCHENER. My dear Mrs . Farrell , you mothers of the East End of London, surely would not compare a risk of that barm­ advocated Birth Control in the book less domestic kind to the fearful risks of the battlefield. The Law of Population . When she MRS. FARRELL. I wouldnt compare risks joined the Society, she withdrew the run to bear livin people into the world to risks book frorn publication , at H.P.B.'s re­ run to blow dhem out of it. A mother's risk quest. The boo~ how.ever still con­ is jooty: a soldier's is nothin but divilment. MITCHENER [ nettled J . Let me teil you, tinues to be pubhshed m rnany lands Mrs . Farrell , that if the men did not fight , the in cheap unauthorized editions. women would have to fight themselves. We Since those early days, rnuch in­ spare you that at all events . MRS. FARRELL. You cant help yourselves . formation has been gathered and pub­ If three-quarters of you was killed we could lished and violent controversy rages replace you with the belp of the other quarter. in so~e countries whether Birth Con- If three-quarters of us was killed how many THINKING WITH THINKERS 557 people would there be in England in another that of the soldiers on the battlefield. generation? lf it wasnt for that, the rnen' d put the fightin on us just as they put all the Now and then one Comes across the other dhrudgery. What would you do if we idea that Theosophists proclaim teach­ was all kilt? Would you go to bed and have ings whose logical result is celibacy and twins? asceticism. What "Theosophy teaches" MITCHENER. Really , Mrs. Farrell , you rnust is somewhat hard to say, for just as it discuss these questions with a rnedical man . You rnake rne blush, positively. has been said that Equity in English MRS. FARRELL [grumbling to her.seif] . A law has been apt to vary almost as the good job too . lf I could have rnade Farrell variations in the size of feet of suc­ blush I wouldnt bave had tö risk me life so cessive Lord Chancellors, so "Theoso­ often. Y ou n your risks n your bravery n phy teaches" very much varies accord­ your self-control indeed! "Why dont you con­ tbrol yourself?" I sez to Farrell . " It's agen ing to the individual Theosophist who me religion," be sez. clajms to be the spokesman of the MITCHENER, [ plaintively) ] . Mrs . Farre!!: Divine Wisdom. There are however youre a woman of very powerful mind. I'rn two occasions when two Masters have not qualified to argue these delicate rnatters spoken on matrimony and mother­ with you. I ask you to spare rne, and to be good enough to take these clothes to Mr. hood. The first occurred in 18 7 5 • Balsquith when the ladies leave. when the Adept signing Him­ self "Serapis" wrote to Colonel Bernard Shaw stresses a point more Olcott. poignant than the one often empha­ Know, 0 Brotber mine, tbat wbere a sized by writers on the subject. One truly spiritual love seeks to consolidate argument is the suffering entailed on itself doubly by a pure, permanent union of the children in !arge families. since they tbe two, in its eartbly sense, it com:mits no cannot be adequately provided for. sin, no crime in tbe eyes of tbe great Ain­ Soph, for it is but tbe divine repetition of But the other argument is that of the Male and Female Principles-tbe mi­ Mrs. Farrell above. crocosmal reflection of the first condition of Not infrequently in past years Dr. Creation. On such a union angels may well smile! But tbey are rare, Brother mine, and Besant has touched upon the disaster can only be created under the wise and awaiting mankind when the wrong loving supervision of tbe Lodge, in order persons practise Birth Control. For as tbat tbe sons and daugbters of clay migbt all are well aware. it is among the not be utterly degenerated, and tbe Divine Love of the lnhabitants of Higher Spberes masses, where poverty, unthrift and a (Angels) towards the daughters of Adam weak social conscience seem as if be repeated. But even such must suffer, endemic, that there exist the large before they are rewarded. Man's Atma may families. If those least able to pro­ remain pure and as highly spiritual while it is united with its material body; why duce the higher types in a nation should not two souls in two bodies remain multiply, and those most able to do as pure and uncontaminated notwitbstand­ so insist on reducing the number of ing the earthly passing union of tbe latter their children , the outlook is dark for two.-SERAPIS. a rapid advance in human evolution. The second occasion when an Adept Hence the supreme need to stress an­ touched on these intimate human prob­ other phase of Birth Control specula­ lems was when the Master K.H., when tions-that Fatherhood and Mother­ adding footnotes to articles in The hood is one of the noblest offerings of Theosophist under the initials 0. E.­ service to God and man by those whose "Eminent Occultist," referring to some means enable them to provide ad­ allusion by Mr. Sinnett or Mr. Hume equately for their children's rearing. -wrote as follows in a footnote to lt is the educated and the cultured . Eliphas Levi's work The Paradoxes of when their means permit them, who the Highest Science: should volunteer to be the parents of Woman's mission is to become the mother the large families in the nation, so that of future occultists-of those who will be the more advanced types of Egos born without sin. On the elevation of may be drawn in !arger. numbers W'oman the world's redemption and salva­ tion hinge. And not till woman bursts the to birth in the nation. Such par­ bonds of her sexual slavery, to which she ents will offer a higher Patriotism than has ever been subjected, will tbe world ob- 558 WORLD THEOSOPHY tain an inkling of what sbe really is and of see in sexual love not only a passion which her proper place in the economy of nature. man has in common with tbe brute, and Old lndia, the lndia of the Rishis, made whicb forms, at the present stage of evo­ the first sounding with her plummet line lution, a necessary part of human nature, in the ocean of Truth, but the post Maba­ but an animal passion that may be trained baratan India, witb all her profundity of and purified into a human emotion, which learning, has neglected and forgotten it. may be used as one of the levers i'n human The light that will come to it and to progress, one of the factors in human the world at large, wben tbe latter shall dis­ growth. But, instead of this, man in the cover and really appreciate the truths tbat past has made bis intellect the servant of underlie this vast problem of sex, . will be bis passions; the abnormal development of like "the light that never shone on sea or the sexual instinct in man-in whom it is land," and has to come to men through the far greater and more continuous than in Theosophical · Society. That light will lead any brute-is due to the mingling with it of on and up to the true spiritual intuition. the intellectual element, all sexual thoughts, Then the world will bave a race of Buddhas desires, and imaginations having created and Christs, for 'the world will have dis­ thought-forms, which have been wrought covered that individuals halJe it in their into the human race, giving rise to a con­ own powers to procreate Buddha-like chil­ tinual demand, far beyond nature, and in dren or-demons. When that knowledge marked contrast with the temperance of comes, all dogmatic religions, and with these normal animal life. Hence it has become the demons, will die out. one of tbe most fruitful sources of human misery and human degradation, and the ... "' ... satisfaction of its imperious cravings in In the above reprint from The The- civilized countries lies at the root of our osophist for April. mention is made worst social evils. This excessive develop­ that Dr. Besant ceased to teach the ment has to be fought against, and the in­ stinct reduced witbin natural limits, and Neo-Malthusian theory (birth con­ this will certainly never be done by easy­ trol) at the request of Madame Bla­ going self-indulgence within the marital re­ vatsky. lt will no doubt be interesting lation any more than by self-indulgence to our readers to know just what ex­ outside it, By none other road than that of self-control and self-denial can planation she gave to Mrs. Besant, and men and women now set going the we reprint it from the -latter's Auto­ causes which will build for them brains biography: and bodies of a higher type for their future return to earth-life. They have to • • • • What is man in the light of The­ hold this instinct in complete control, to osophy? He is a spiritual intelligence, transmute it from passion into tender and etemal and uncreate, treading a vast cycle of self-denying affection, to develop the in­ human experience, born and reborn on earth tellectual at the expense of the animal, and millennium after millennium, evolving thus to raise the whole man to the human slowly into the ideal man. He is not the stage, in which every intellectual and phys­ product of matter but is encased in matter, ical capacity sball subserve the purposes of and the forms of matter with which he the soul. From all this it follows that The­ clothes himself are of bis own making. For osophists should sound the note of self­ the intelligence and will of man are cre­ restraint within marriage, and the gradual ativ'e forces--not creative ex nihilo, but -for with the mass it cannot be sudden­ creative as is the brain of the painter-and restriction of the sexual relation to the these forces are exercised by man in every perpetuation of the race. act of thougbt. Thus he is ever creating Such was the bearing of Theosophical round him thought-forms, moulding sub­ teacbing on Neo-Malthusianism, as laid be­ tlest matter into shape by these energies, fore me by H. P. Blavatsky, and when I forms which persist as tangible realities urged, out of my bitter knowledge of the when the body of the thinker has long miseries endured by the poor, that it surely gone back to earth and air and water. When might, for a time at least, be recommended the time fbr rebirth into this earth-life as a palliatilJe, as a defence in the hands comes for tbe soul these thought-forms, its of a woman against intolerable oppression own progeny, help to form the tenuous and enforced suffering, she bade me look model into which the molecules of physical beyond the moment, and see how the suf­ matter are builded for the making of the fering must come back and back with e1Jery body, and matter is thus moulded for _the generation, unless we sought to remolJe the new body in which the soul is to dwell, on roots of wrong. "l do not judge a woman,'' the lines laid down by the intelligent and she said, "who has resort to such means of volitional life of the previous, or of many defence in the midst of circumstances so previous, incarnations. So does each man evil, and whose ignorance of the real causes create . for himself in verity the form wbere­ of all this misery is her excuse for snatching in he functions, and what he is in bis at any relief. But it is not for you, an present is the inevitable outcome of bis Occultist, to continue to teach a method own creative energies in bis past. Apply­ which you now know must tend to the ing this to the Neo-Malthusian theory, we perpetuation of the sorrow!' THINK(NG WITH THINKERS 559

Thinking in efl.iciencyand organization, to tbese ANONYMOUS two great Hierarchies of Nature , which Y ou are not a failure in this life, are sometimes known as the forces of unless you have failed to think! To light and shadow. think for yourself ! Most people do not lgnorance is the greatest tool of th e think for themselves ; they go, by es­ dark forces of Nature . Man errs, be­ tablished standards , en masse. They cause of bis lack of knowledge , which follow the leader; he thinks for them. cannot be given to him, with bis If he thinks wrong, they think wrong . college degree, but is acquired by seri­ Just because a thing has been taught ous effort and thought. for a long time, does not necessarily The school of life is the greatest make it true. The Earth used to be teacher. If it is teaching you to think thought of as fl.at, but is now known seriously about things , you are pro ­ to be otherwise. Most great inventors gressing. Otherwise you are not , In have been thought mad , but only by the latter case you are just luke-warm , the ignorant. Jgnorance is a great mediocre. Nature eliminates all such ; crime, for which the penalty is suffer­ she tolerates no drones. As soon as a ing. Fear is the result of ignorance , man begins to think seriously , he be­ and so causes suffering. The absence comes an active worker in a great plan , of ignorance is true knowledge, and the consciously or unconsciously , as the result of this state is Happiness. This ca-semay be. He is no longer upon the is what everyone is so desperately seek­ btidge , he is either upon the island or ing, and but a few know where to look the mainland. for it. Truth becomes known , after the To attain knowledge , it is necessary serious contemplation of a subj ect. to sincerely desire to know the mystery viewed with an open , unbiased mind . of your own being. An ancient Oracle lt is self-evident when once seen. In said: "Man, know thyself!" In this time it becomes apparent to all, and to search, accept only those things that the sincere seeker it rings with a tru e appear reasonable to you , and be ready sound at once. to fearlessly change your mind at any The study of reincarnation , to the time. Y ou cannot approach knowl­ serious-minded person, is fascinating . edge with a set opinion about any­ because it accounts rationally for all of thing. Consult no one about it , but life's unsolved problems . To the real listen attentively to all. Do not fear seeker after truth. it opens up vast fields to champion today that which you re­ of thought heretofore unsuspected . T o jected yesterday. Continual change is such a one, it shows the sublime activ­ progression . Set opinions are disas­ ity of an intelligence so vast and trous to growth . might y, as to impress the searchers, Observe Nature closely ; you will indelibl y and forevermore, with the note at once, that she employs two awful mystery of its plan! lt lends forces, a builder and a destroyer. Both a purpose to life, by showing man his are highly organized, and are so vastly place in the plan of things. At once intelligent that man is by comparison he becomes aware that rigid just ice a snail-like thing, crawling about in a rules the universe. The wise will in­ slime of bis own making . This is lit­ vestigate, but will not underestima te erally a fact . The greatest business either of these two great forces. Th e organizations, of this Iron Age of lukewarm are content with their lot. monopoly , are but pitiful approaches , Which are you?-Fiat Lux The Cibrary

~adame '13/avatsky as Occultist By J osephine Ransom Article Review by M.E.B. "She took possession of the age." own words describe the latter and With this quotation and tribute warn against the former: !-Jrs. R_ansom opens her recent !leeply "Real divine theurgy requires an mterestmg book, Madam Blavatsky almost superhuman purity and holi­ As Occultist. * This quotation is con- ness in life, otherwise it degenerates tinued, giving a word-picture of the into mediumship or black magic"; and great occultist from an autobiography that any one attempting to cultivate of Prin..c:essvon Racowitza: one of the branches of Occult Science "Regarding her personal appearance, "without the knowledge of the philo­ the head, which rase from the dark sophic rationale of those powers is like ßowing garments, was immensely a rudderless boat launched in a stormy characteristic, although far more ugly ocean." than beautiful. A Russian type , with To Madame Blavatsky white magic a wide forehead, a short thick nose. was the great science, the use of which prominent cheek-bones , a small clever was for pure ly unselfish motives-for mobile mouth with little . fine teeth , doing good. Black magic was sorcery, brown and very curly hair , at that the abuse of powers for the gratifica­ time unstreaked with grey, and almost tion of selfish motives-for evil pur­ like that of a negro's; a sallow com- poses. plexion, but a pair of eyes the like of In H.P.B.'s search for the truths which I have never seen; pale blue, of white magic, no land was too dis­ grey as water, but with a glance, deep tant, no hardship too great to bear. and penetrating, and as compelling as She journeyed to the West lndies. if it beheld the inner heart of things. North and South America, Ceylon, Sometimes they held an expression as Egypt, and to many countries of though fixed on something afar. high Europe, and was finally victorious in and immeasurably above all earthly her search when she. received the An­ things. Large, lang. beautiful eyes, cient Wisdom from the Supermen of which illumined the curious face. She the Himalayas--the Lords of that always wore lang dark flowing gar- Sacred Science which later she brought ments, and bad ideally beautiful to the Western world as Theosophy. hands." The essence of it is to be found in her Mrs. Ransom passes rapidly in re- works, especially in The Secret Doc­ view from the "ardent child ," born · trine. in Russia, to the "ardent woman" of Mrs. Ransom says: supernormal powers , her investigation Cons idering all these things we shall real- of "Occult Arts" so often selfishly ize why Dr. Annie Besant said that H.P.B. used by the ignorant, and the final had a "marvelous sweep of occult knowledge." attainment of true "Occultism ," the Because H .P.B . understood so weil "tbe way," she could warn others of tbe dangers to be Ancient Wisdom. Madam Blavatsky' s encountered upon it, and could offer guidance *Theo sophic;1.lPublishing House, Londo n, England . . THE LIBRARY 561 to those who , like herself, were prepared for We see that these "rules " are the the sake of Occultism , in her high sense of the guide to perfect performance of daily word, to Will, to Dare, to Do and to be Silent. On the Path there could be no concessions, no duties to oneself and to others-tbe prejudices or traditions , no harboring of secret "Direct Path " to spiritual attainment. vices, no timid yielding to weaknesses or con­ As years passed, H.P.B. became the venti.ons. The aspirant must be ready to face powerful channel for the Masters of the startling naked truth . There must be no pretence, no hypocrisy, no pandering to vanity. the Wisdom to give Their true Oc;cult­ Humble and unaffected tbe pupil must come ism to the world . With that gift she asking of life its last word , and with will of was sometimes brought to produce steel train bis bodies ready to receive that last some psychic phenomena : word . No light task . H.P.B . understood that. Because she respected tbe occult (natural) laws, To produce the phenomena tbat startled the she warned everyone that they would inevitably world must bave been quite a trial to H.P.B. operate when challenged. All things accumu­ Sbe weil understood its signi.ficance. Sbe lated during the ages of growth must be at bad been taugbt to appraise it correctly . last sorted out, and transmuted ; all faults, all She knew it to be cbild's play compared witb babits , all tendencies wbetber " good, bad or other and bett er things , just the ABC of occult ­ indifferent. " ism-a thing that every pupil learns in th e beginning in order to k,now how to do it. After having thus followed H.P.B. That , and no more. Then, such are tbe curious to the Feet of the Master, the author interwe avings of karma , she employed these feels the reader would be interested in elementar y gifts to help her in bringing to ­ that Leader's attitude to Thern , em­ getber the very people who were necessary to the layin g of the foundations of the Theo­ bodied in some rules which she sophical Society. An organization that bad probably obeyed, to which we are for its ideal neither psychism in itself, bowever referred: valuable, nor the display of psycbic phenom­ ena, bowever fascinating , but the propagation "I will not humiliate my co-disciples, of knowledg e concerning the "Direct Path " will speak no evil of them. to Liberation , to that consummation where I will not hurt animals. God and Man are one and identical. I will not insult decent peopl e. I will not desert tbe teachers of tbe secret H.P.B . described one's "powers " as metbods . follows: "Spiritual and divine powers Herewitb I renounce all religious rites. I will be faithful to my vows. lie dormant in every human being ; I will use for the best my body, speecb and and the wider the sweep of bis spirit ­ mind. ual vision the mightier will be the God I will never abandon tbe Doctrine of tbe within him." Buddha , nor my duty to my spiritual master. I will neitber deceive nor betray anyone in Mrs . Ransom gives some very in­ tbe world . teresting explanations of the Buddhist From this day till I become a Boddbisattva, mantra which H .P .B. selected to "sum­ I will not undertake anytbing unreasonable . marize the instruction she wished to I will attend to the teachings of my spirit­ ual guide . give: Om! Mani Padme, Hum! lt was I will not give pain to any being. a basis of her most direct occult teach­ I will demand notbing on tbe patb of ings," and described in Volume III of beatitude. I will never conform to wordly desires, even . if it costs me my life . . . . In closing her book of homage to I reject all worldly works . H.P .B. Mrs . Ransom recognizes and I will never discard the works of the 'otber side.' i.e., whicb lead to Liberation . . .. . " expresses profound gratitude to her as (See Initiations Lamaiques, by Mme . Alex­ the special one of this age to guide andra David -Neel, pp. 83-84 .) people to the Ancient Wisdom. [orrespondence..;

[This Department is devoted to letters and reports from different Sections, and to constructive suggestions from Lodges for propagating Theosophy. Correspondents are requested not to send in matter of a destructively critical or personal nature.-The Editor.]

The Common~Sense of Theosophy 1921. convey to some minds even better than prose the attitude I speak of: DEAR EDITOR: You ask some of us to say just how The­ osophy has helped us in recent years, presum ­ The Secret ably from 1914 upwards. In my case it has helped precisely in those years as it has helped Why, friends, how calm. serene. your air! from earliest childbood. I was born a The­ How can your hearts hold even beat osophist, though into a good Presbyterian The while earth 's temples everywhere . family, that "g ood" being in no wise sar­ Her senate halls, her places fair, castic, and brought up in a freedom which not Lie dasht about the nations' feet? the modemest of mothers could have outdone. I found my Theosophy, outside of myself, in How, how , when all to which we clung fairy tales, folklore, myths, religions, and very As tried, and tested, proven, sure specially in poetry. ancient and modern, Eng­ Has perisht and in alien tongue lish and other. At the age of twenty-one I Life's sbarp , new, fateful words are fiilng fell in with the modern presentment of The­ All fruitless. can ye walk secure? osophy for the first time, and felt that it gave the detail I required to complete my gener­ al sense of the rightness of things ; I reached out We walk secure because we see immediately to Adyar and London. found Life, not as piled walls and spires friends, studied Theosophical literature-the To dust still mouldering piteously, modern output-as it became available, and But as the sure growth of a tree finally joined the Theosophical Society four­ That but to be itself desires; teen years later, because, I understood, there was an occult school attached thereto . I have Because where wreckage meets your eye been an active number for close upon forty­ We see but withered leaves, whose day five years, and during the whole of that period Is done, thrust forth by buds that lie have never bad the sligbtest doubt upon any­ Soft, safe, till spring comes laughing by, thing that mattered; things came, things passed, And whirled by God's good winds away . in the Society, in my personal life, but nothing altered my outlook in the very least. The great scheme satisfied me uttedy; events took their B!ame not our pulses' steady beat; places perfectly naturally witbin its frame­ Still but your own heart 's tumult, clear work; the great movements were but the sun­ As music riseth, low and sweet, shine and shadow, the calms and storms, the When dies the jangle of the street . rains and droughts of the great "day," no Spring's murmur you shall hear. more to be exalted or depressed about than their kindred of an ordinary dawn to dark All doubt and fear shall fall from you, fourteen or sixteen hours. The exhilarating And soft the Soul of you sball sing , common-sense of the Theosophical view of life Foreseeing sap at run anew, cannot but carry one who perceives it-and Glory of leaf against the blue-­ it is as common-sense it has ever appealed to Spring, and the Master of tbe spring. me--through any happening in the Three Worlds. The following verses, written in July, ANTIPODEAN CORRESPONDENCE 563

The W ay of TbeQsophy The V alue of Theosophy DEAR EDITOR: ÜEAR EDITOR: Tbe questions "Have you found Theosopby "Have you found Tbeosopby of assistance of assistance in tbis period of world turmoil?" in tbis period of world turmoil?" and "How bas Tbeosopby helped you?" open Y es, of supreme assistance. It has given me up a realm so vast and so subtle that tbere light on all tbe problems of life. It bas helped can bardly be, so it would seem, a single 'in­ me to understand the why of things and condi­ dividual wbo, baving come into Theosopby tions. lt has assured me that all is weil. even and endeavored to live it, bas not in some in the greatest of suffering and depression. measure, great or small, found it at one and Under the Law of Cause and Effect, wbich the same time a solace and a crucüixion. teaches us through experience , Theosopby has Rigbtly has it been stated that tbe path of oc­ sbown us the purpose of life and the glorious cultism is a path of woe, of trials, of bard­ destiny of human souls. It bas scientifically ships , of sorrow, of agony. solved the problems of human evolution by No matter wbat others may say to tbe revealing to us the law of Reincarnation, or contrary , the law of karma, not to mention rebirtb into pbysical bodies, until the individ­ reincarnation, which after all is said forms ua'l has learnt the lesson wbich must be learnt the fabric of our pbilosophy, once it bas bitten on the pbysical plane of life . into one's life, bas unmercifully ground one Theosopby bas also given us a scientific ex­ to dregs, has scorched one' s soul. and unfolded planation of creation, of involution of spirit into therefrom some of those divine attributes whicb matter in order to gain individuality tbrougb lie dormant but potential within each of us, experience, and that this experience leads to leaves one, in spite of the agony experienced evolution out of matter back to pure spirit as and after the storm has raged its havoc, calmer self-conscious individuals. "Back to God from and stronger, witb a clearer knowledge of one's wbich we came." Back as sons of tbe Fatber divinity and the nece~sity of avoiding, as one full-grown, of age, in whicb we can take care would a poisonous serpent, a repetition of of ourselves as the Father takes care of Hirn­ seeking the unrealities of life, of happiness seif and all His younger children . from without, of solace and comfort, from any Theosopby, thcrefore, bas taugbt me tbe and every source but the Seif within. meaning of existence and tbe present world In answering the questions quoted above one conditions, and how the depression and turmoil may only speak of one's own personal experi­ are but a beneficent experience leading to a ences relative thereto, and such experiences being glorious end; leading to a brighter day, polit­ of' too sacred a nature to be put into print, ically and economically, a day when tbe forces one may only generalize on the effects. of rigbteousness and ·good-will can take cbarge of our governments. Wben selfisb ambitions The possibility of the lesson being so in social life, which have caused the trouble . drastic , so sudde·n, so agonizing, that it may are defeated . leave one hardened and petrified and unable The inventions of machines to do the work to sense tbe finer influences of the soul. bitter whicb men used to do, bave hastened tbe time and disappointed, is a danger to be bitterly when definite changes in our economic system fougbt during tbe raging of the storm. Pro­ becomes a neccssity. The "harvest time" has vided, however, tbe lesson is well learned, tbe come, and tbe harvest will reveal to men what result leaves one mellowed , softened , humble . kind of seed they have been sowing. learnirig and childlike. Herein lies a danger and there­ to choose a heiter seed for the next harvest . fore Theosopby is not to be lightly treated, nor Selfish interests of greed have been so busy is it meat for the weakling . It opens the flood­ milking the cow tbat they forgot to properly gates of one's karma, and the onrusbing storm feed her. She has gone dry. Tue financiers of is at times so powerful tbat one's feet must the world are traveling from country to be very firm]y planted in · the pbilosophy or country to see if by some methods they can otherwise one may find oneself engulfed and continue to milk the cow. But they will find carried into a plane of thought , emotion and tbat it is too late. Tbe supreme Law of action which it were better not to contemplate. Cause and Effect bas arrested tbem , and con­ Provided , bowever, the student is sincere, viction is sure to come. The whole world will strong-willed , and courageous, it carries one soon know them as they are, as their selfish over the reefs. on the crest of the storm-lashed ambitions are now to be revealed. waters, and into the great and peaceful still­ As a student of Theosophy, tbe greatest ness of understanding . bcnefit to me is freedom from worry. freedom If we always bear in mind , through all from all the emotional and mental ills so trials, that we get no more than we deserve. common in the world. Blessed privilege. of and no less, that tbe La w is just, tbat if we being permitted to drink of the · clear and insist on running into debt .' we must pay those health-giving water from the fountain of debts , we find ourselves, after the storm. more Theosophy l Theosophy, the High-School of self-reliant, calmer, stronger, and more con­ earth, I bless thy name . lt emphasizes vinced of the fact that the sooner we learn to Brotherhood of all living things, and makes rely on the God within for the realities of life clear the teachings of Hirn who said: "Love so soon will we find that calm and peace which thy neigbbor as thyself ." passeth understanding . To a "Speculative brother Mason " I would R. GORDON-FORBES say: The "L ost Word" has been found in Los Angeles, Calif . Theosophy, · and true "Operative Masons" are 564 WORLD THEOSOPHY now communicating it from "moutb to ear" talking to the priests, because tbere were no all over the world , to all wbo are wortby and other people about, and suddenly the head qualified to receive it. pries t gave an order to one of the younger Physical science in its searcb for facts, re­ ones. I saw the boy scramble up to tbe very ligion in its searcb for trutb , and philosophy top of tbe high altar, and from the peak he in striving to arrive at true conclusions, will took a tiny Buddha delicately carved and find in Theosophy the answer to all their covered witb gold leaf. The head priest gave problems. it to me, after it bad listened to prayers there LARS ERICSON , in the temple for several centuries . He told Los Angeles , Calif. me to take it to my home in America, and I think it was because he feit my high spiritual Fairies and Weii-d Happenings accord .' The gold Buddha now looks toward DEAR EDITOR: Lake Michigan from Mrs . Durand's Lake No doubt your readers, many of whom Bluff living-room. have heard Mr . Hodson lecture on fairies , " From Pnompenb tbe Durand party mo- · will be interested to learn of the following tored to Angkor , the city wh ich has been incidents about another clairvoyant who sees buried in the jungle for ten centuries or more . and enjoys them , and who has bad some other lt was there that Mrs . Durand experiencec strange psychic . experiences . These notes are the second bonor. Before dinner she ba, taken from the Chicago News. wandered about in the Wat, the huge anc "If Peter Pan and Tinker Bell are looking ancient temple, and bad again feit that she wai for a place to spend the spring they would in accord with the great spirits wbo still livec find exactly the right environment out at in the ruins of the temple . While she was Crab Tree Farm in Lake Bluff . dining with her friends at the little inn, Mrs "For a decade the farm has been peopled Durand suddenly heard another diner acros, with fairies. Mrs. Scott Durand , the owner, the room cry aloud , and then a shower of believes in fairies, sees them and talks to them. water feil on Mrs . Durand's head and rar. down the back of her · gown. No one in the. 'One reason is that on Crab Tree Farm there dining-room was able to account for the are dozens of tasks just big enough for elves to do,' says Mrs. Durand. 'There are the water . · Since tbere were neither opening nor apple trees in the orchard, for instance , where water stains on the ceiling, the party agreed they can sit in the branches and help the buds that it must bave come from the air. unfold into spicy white blooms. There are "The ·mystery was not explained for Mrs . tulips for them to open along the garden Durand nntil she reached Bangkok, tbe capital walk, gourd vines to swing in the breeze of Siam . There she and her friends were against the cottage walls, and there is th e walking througb a temple . 'We stopped to forty-acre wood southeast of the cattle barns , talk to one of tbe priests,' sbe says, 'and for where the land nymphs have covered the some unknown reason he insisted on telling ground with a . carpet of white trillium and us tbe story of the baptism of a very ancient blue English violets .' and holy priest. In tbat temple, be told us, tbe priest bad received a shower of water on bis " 'There are no malicious spirits on Crab bead as be was praying . As it was described Tree Farm, because the good fairies , who live to me, it was exactly the same kind of bap ­ there because of good . happy thoughts , drive tism tbat I received, and wben I told the out the bad ones. Besides the little fairies, priest about that be said it was a favor which there are numerous otber spirits with wbom was given to spiritual people at rare inter­ Mrs. Durand bolds long conversations while vals.' " she walks about her farm or sits in her home . which has become 'highly sensitized.' C. C„ Chicago, lll . " 'I can talk to those from "the other side" Re Cosmic Force as easily as I can to any one in tbe flesh, because I have studied so deeply in , spiritism DEAR EDITOR: and in occult and esoteric philosophy ,' is the Permit me to comment on Mr. Hnkill's explanation . article, "Cosmic Force as a Source of Power," "It was only because of tbe protection of in the March number of World Theosophy. spirits that Mrs. Durand and her fellow tra v­ Mr . Hukill 's electric motor baving both a elers aboard the Stella Polaris, on their circle revolving armature and a revolving field, of the globe, were able to continue through wbe reby he expects to double tbe power out­ storms on the soutbem Pacific, Mrs. Durand put , only serves to disprove bis hypothesis. believes. They arrived home about two weeks The motor used in bis explanation is of the ago . 'We were given marvelous protection repulsion type and is correct as to electrical during one cyclone which came across the and mecbanical principles; but in order to ocean from Australia ,' she says. transform electrical energy into mecbanical "Later on the tour , in the city of Pnompenh energy by means of a motor, it is necessary tbat in Cambodia, she received the first of two great tbe field and the armature resist each otber . The spiritual bonors. The owner of Crab Tree greater the resistance, tbe greater tbe power . Farm relates how she walked up a high hill Then , if the field is allowed to rotate away to a Buddhist temple just at sundown. 'I went from tbe armature, the speed of the armature into tbe temple sensing the sacred atmospbere will be retarded in direct ratio witb tbe ac­ wbich bad grown tbere from tbe prayers of ceieration of the field: speed gained by tbe tbousands of worsbipers . I spent a long time field will be lost by tbe armature. CORRESPONDENCE 565

A law in physics states that the momentum At the end of the meeting we also need medi­ of a moving body is equal to the product of tation that the spiritual power may be gathered the mass times the velocity : that is, tbe power together for distribution in the outer world . varies directly with the velocity. Now , !et If the members also link up in thought with us say that we have a motor , with a stationary the other Lodges in their Group, with the field and a revolving armature, running at Groups in their Federation, with our own 1500 revolutions per minute with any given Headquarters, our General Secretary , and power output. If the velocity of the armature finally with Adyar, our President and her co­ is r~duced to, say, 750 r.p.m. and the two worker, Bishop Leadbeater , it becomes a very .rnoving parts belted together, we will have a valuable piece of work . combined velocity of 15 00 r.p.m ., or the same Fou;thly , there should be study classes, not velocity and power output as before. Mr . of the old didactic type , but rather of a eo­ Hukill speaks of the field being heavier, which operative nature, to which each member brings fact would probably produce even more power . bis contribution , as is done in the Secret But here he overlooks the Jaw of inertia where Doctrine Groups working in connection with the power required to move a mass, in any the Theosophical World University. lt is given time, is equal to the power required amazing how full of life such classes are when to stop that movement. In other words the rightly conducted, and what a power of co­ inherent momentum of a moving mass is its operation the members develop. One sees in own absorbed inertia. them the beginnings of Group consciousness. The law of the conservation of .energy pre­ This type of consciousness will be evolved by cludes the creation or destruction of energy ; the Sixth , and we in the Theosopb­ hence the doubling of the power output. as ical Society should practise it also. For tbe proposed by Mr . Hukill, becomes an absolute Lodge as a whole must endeavor to reacb a impossibility-as is perpetual motion. higber level of consciousness tban the outside FRANK L. KEELER, M.D„ world . Otberwise it has nothing specific to Miama, Fla. give. The President and Secretary of a Lodge have The Lodge as a Center of Life a very important part to play-far more so than many seem to realize. Mucb of the well ­ Generally speaking, Lodges may be grouped being and life of a Lodge depends on its under four types : (1) Moribund; (2) oflicers. The Secretary is responsible for the Asleep; (3) Awake; ( 4) Radiant and full smooth running of the form side, and should of life. For what reason did the Masters keep members notified of all meetings . How found the Theosophical Society? Chiefly, far they omit to do this is shown by the fre­ surely , that it might become a channel of quent need to print upon notices: "Will spiritual life for tbe helping of the world Secretaries please inform all their members of during the critical stage through whicb it is these meetings ." passing. The Lodge, tberefore , should be a living center for that life, and it is part of The President in some respects resembles the Logos of a Universe , in that the Lodge should the work of the members to build up that center . How may tbis be done? always be in bis consciousness. He is respon­ sible for its being a center of life and for Firstly, by holding regular Lodge meetings seeing that every member has bis due. He for members only, where the right channel can should know bis members and give them be provided for spiritual life to flow through. opportunities for expressing themselves in the The thought of the members, if the Lodge Lodge life, along the lines for which they are is to be a living one, must be a little in ad­ best fitted. He should also try to know those vance of the ordinary thought of the day, who attend the public meetings, making a and if non-members attend Lodge meetings, point of talking with them if possible. they tend to keep the standard of thought at the ordinary level. The members should attend the Lodge meet­ ings as regularly as they can, helping to build Secondly, there must be the realization of it up as a center , and tak ing their full share Brotherhood as a cfaily practice among the in tbe work. Then, when they go away, they members. This leads to that unifying element take with them into the home, the office, the which is very necessary for making a Lodge shop. the school-wherever their work may a center of life . lt means, amongst other be-some of the spiritual life that has been things, the ability to look at life from another poured down. person's point of view, a quality which grows by practice and brings about unity. We must realize our Lodges and our Lodge work as part of our everyday life. If we Thirdly, by the use of meditation at tbe would think of our Lodge each day it would beginning and end of a Lodge meeting . Med­ surprise us to see how the life of the Lodge itation is one of the ways of using thought in grows . a practical fashion. Beginning a meeting in tbis way has the effect of harmonizing the Briefly, we must each live the Theosophie thoughts and feelings of the members wbo come life , for as Dr. Besant said at the Adyar to the Lodge meeting vibrating at different Convention , " only as you live Theosophy rates, owing to the diverse thoughts witb can you spread Theosophy." So shall both we which they are occupied . The meditation and our Lodges become radiant centers of life. produces a steady, peaceful rhythm, so that the M . B . HAWLICZEK, flow of spiritual power can begin at once. News and Notes, England Out Of The

How We Have Become What We Are is perhaps not simple for tbe unskilled to de­ tect the wonderful barmony , altbougb no onE We Individual Psycbologists do not regard doubts it existence . . ... a human being as an isolated organism. We watcb bow, from tbe first day onwards, man A person can recognize tbe flaw m the develops a power of self-adaptation wbicb is structure of bis work only wben be can see to help bim overcome the difliculties of life tbe fault in its wbole setting. This cannot and produce a masterpiece of bis own creating, be if be limits bimself to one particular part witbout teaching, yet witb psycbic aids. To us and lays siege to tbat . He will bave to try it is almost indubitable that tbat wbicb we to understand tbe connection between tbis one call tbe psycbic life is a part of life itself , part , tbis symptom , and bis wbole life-style, to striving for perfection like every physical admit it to bimself and to set it rigbt . In organism. psychological researcb, we must always try to comprebend tbe wbole composition-to ex­ This striving for tbe attainment of the ideal form can be carried out only wben some aim is plore tbe person as an entity and realize bis constantly beld in view, when there is a plan to attitude towards Iife for bimself. wbicb, in striving to reach bis goal, the being People demand: How sbould a four-year· must conform. Tbis ideal becomes tbe life­ old bave a rigbt opinion about bimself, bis style. lt appears tbat in actual fact a plan capabilities and bis future attitude towards exists and tbat every cbild , from tbe very bis fellow men? Yet tbis very opinion clings outset , grows up witbin tbe range of this to bim later and determines bis perspective . life-plan. lt is true that bere consciousness The life-style of a cbild is to be interpreted plays only a small part, as it does in tbe case and judged by tbe degree of activity wbicb he of a cbild first groping its way to tbe motber's has so far brought to bear upon bis surround­ breast. By continual repetition a certain move­ ings and by tbe degree of courage witb wbicb ment proves to be important to tbe cbild . be confronts tbe outside world . But tbe most Tbis be clings to , approaching as it does to vital of all is tbe degree of readiness be bas an effort to master the difficulties and demands sbown for coöperation, for tbis is tbe prom­ of life. inent link connecting tbe individual witb life . Tbe goal of superiorit y wbicb we set up We can easi.ly see bow diflicult is tbe task as an abstract ideal, by no means suffices for wbicb a cbild has before bim, but our great finding our way in tbe world of reality. Tbis and only bope is tbat our system of educa­ aim must assume some kind of concrete char ­ tion will facilitate bis finding tbe rigbt patb. acter . We may , of course, maintain tbat just Given tbat tbere are influences of environ­ on account of tbis uniformity of tbe individ­ ment, we must broacb tbe question: Have we ual. to wbicb be is impelled by nature and tbe rigbt to assume tbat a cbild will experi ­ urged by bis own experiences, we must find ence influences in tbe rigbt way and answer tbis same unity in bis psycbic processes. lt to tbem rigbtly? Can be not receive im­ is impossible for a person to be working for pressions in a form over wbicb we bave .no some aim and yet to bave feelings wbicb pre­ control? May be not possibly respond to tbese vent tbis striving , unless tbis very prevention is impressions in a way over wbicb we have no part of bis real aim, and corroborated in all coütrol? Would education be necessary if we bis actions . We always find tbis element of could count upon the cbild and bis psycbic striving in tbe movement whicb enables tbe processes working Iike an exact macbine ? Is individual to continue along bis way. Indi­ not tbe cbild in a situation of arbitrarily , vidual Psycbology altogetber is a very diflicult erroneously receiving and transferring? This is matter; every step bas to be duly considered. actually tbe case and education is faced witb tbe We must bear in mind and understand, in tbe great task of not only trying to affect and in ­ concepts and expressions wbicb we use for fluence, but also of observing wben tbe rigbt psycbic movements and everytbing concern­ experiences come to tbe fore and wben it is ing tbem, tbat tbinking does not mean tbink­ necessary to exert a corrective influence . ing in tbe ordinary sense alone, but tbat, in At tbis point otber views interpose. Some every tbougbt, feelings and movements are aver tbat tbe psycbic structure of later life is present wbicb again result in otber currents in­ inborn; tbis we deny . Otbers , tbe milieu fluencing tbe actions , bearing and attitude of tbeorists , maintain tbat psycbic development a person . We generally do not see all tbis depends on tbe influences of environment. We because our gaze is fixed on one particular in no wise negate tbese influences. Individual point of tbis entire and connected wbole. lt Psycbology , growing out of patbology , also OUT OF THE EVERYWHERE 567 began by pointing out tbat a cbild coming into regard anything we bave guessed at as being tbe world witb inferior organs, experiences tbis the last word upon the matter , were we not inferiority and bebaves accordingl y. We see able to prove it right in otber ways too. no possibility wbatever of proving or assum ­ Tbe supposition of the uniformity of indi­ ing tbe presence of innate psycbic qualities. In viduality is, bowever , a great aid. From this tbe very first days of life we can see tbai a we work wben, having guessed rightly in one cbild establishes social relationships and expe­ place, and found the life-style, we bave to riences which find outward expressions , so that find the same life-style in another place. In it is impossible to speak of inherent , psychic order to be able to begin at all we bave to try qualities . to detect in every oldest cbildhood remembrance From tbe description of the makings of a the line leading from below to above. As we Iife'~style, from the sureness with which we are eager students of child life , we bave ac- · trace it, it ·follows that we can use every single quired much material in the way of cbildbood detail in our task of reconstructing the life­ remembrances and are more or less familiar plan. In the course of experiments we bave with tbe possibilities and boundaries of tbe found that tbere are certain viewpoints and child's psycbic life. We feel at bome here and facts of psychic life which to some degree find it easier to draw conclusions. We are ex­ facilitate tbe task. We have certainly not yet ceedingly well equipped for understanding the found any sure means of guidance, and it is spoilt cbild's faulty development . I tbink we no t unlikely tbat we sball get other and better bave corne so far as to be able to recognize the viewpoints than these. spoilt cbild from a single trait. We realize, What can we learn when an adult tells us bowever, tbat tbere are a million variations , about bis earliest cbildbood remembrances7 and we must be prepared to find changes and We can safely say tbat tbese bappenings, differences. · cbosen from a hundred others , particularly I am conscious tbat in making tbese re• interest bim . Whether this interest was called marks I bave fallen irito tbe error of picking into remembrance at the moment of being out a part as if it were of the greatest sig­ asked, or wbetber it was so strong as to be nificance. I bave bad space to deal only with continually in ·tbe forefront of bis mind, must part of tbe wbole. If I bave succeeded in be decided in every ind ividual case. There sbowing tbat tbe work is not easy, and tbat is no doubt that in response to the question: we must and can practise tbe ability of seeing Wbat is your oldest cbildhood memory7 tbe tbings in tbeir sum total. and really under • interests of this person, of bis life-style , are at standing and recognizing connections , I bave once revealed. The objection tbat memory done wbat I set out to · do .-DR ALFRED may prove treacberous bas been raised against ADLER, 'I'he New Era. this method , and witb some justification . For sometimes not tbe actual remembrances are "Hand of Deatb" told , but such as were gathered from tbe statements of otbers . Yet in cases like this we Shortly after the close of the Civil War a do know that a part of the life-style bas come cyclone occurred at Augusta , Georgia , and , into our hands . Objections of tbis kind are along with other property , destroyed the city 's therefore futile. I can even imagine somebody, once busy slave market . The only thing left wishing to please, think1ng out a childhood standing in tbe market was a heavy stone remembrance . This would likewise prove a pillar whicb, for years, bad borne tbe print of part of the whole , and would bave to be a bloody band, supposedly left by some black treated with the caution whicb sbould distin­ man sold into bondage. guisb every Individual Psychologist in bis This stone was something of a landmark .reconstruction of the life-style . If I were and it was decided to move it to another part asked the basic principle of Indi vidual Psy­ of the city where it sbould stand as a sort of chology, I think I sbould say that it is the memorial to tbo ·se who lost their lives in the movement of all psycbic processes from a cyclone. A wandering preacher by the name of station of inferiority to a station of super­ Miller Wills heard of the decision to move the iority. To this basic principle all the otber pillar and , in the course of one of bis spirited principles of . other scbools of psycbology also and prophetic sermons , wamed the city fatbers conform. not to cbange the location of tbe relic of a Let us return to childhood rnernories. This day wben men were enslaved and bart .ered in idea of tbe oldest cbildbood memory is in­ open market. tended merely to supply us witb a bint. We "Wboever touches tbe Pillar of tbe Hand are, above all, interested in wbat tbe individ ­ of Deatb, " be warned "sball be stricken dead." ual picks out for narration and in just wby be The good people of Augusta-witb tbe thougbt of this particular remembrance . I exception of some superstitious negroes-­ shall certainly startle you when I maintain scoffed at tbese words . But tbe ·scoffers were tbat psycbology really begins not with not so numerous wben two busky negroes who counselling but witb guessing. Thus we are were given tbe job of moving tbe relic were scarcely to be surprised when the reproach is found dead after tbeir first day's work on tbe rnade that if our surmises about an oldest job. They bad moved the stone exactly one cbildhood remembrance are rigbt , it is only block before the dire prediction of the preacber because we bappen to bave guessed correctly . came true . Therc is no other possibility . Bnt we start Some years later, in 1901 to be exact, from certain points of view , and wou ld never plans were made for beautifying the city and

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