Letter from an Eastern Sage Shows
the Severity Needed in True Discipleship
A Mahatma of the Himalayas
An image of the Himalayas, in a painting by Nicholas Roerich
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We reproduce below letter 24 of “Letters
from the Masters of the Wisdom”, First
Series (TPH, India, 1973). The text has a
great importance for various reasons, three of
which should be mentioned here. In the first
place, the letter shows the frankness and direct
language used by authentic sages. The contrast
is evident with the artificial sweetness of the
fake masters fabricated by Charles Leadbeater,
Annie Besant, Geoffrey Hodson and other ill-
informed persons. Second, the letter indicates
the grave danger of any lack of sincerity along
the path to knowledge. The axiom included by
H.P. Blavatsky in her article “Chelas and
Lay Chelas”: Deserve, Then Desire.Thirdly,
the letter shows the situation of a direct disciple
who is but one step from losing the privilege of
having his efforts watched and helped by Masters.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
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Letter 24
To a Chela
So then, you really imagined when you were allowed to call yourself my chela - that the black memories of your past offences were either hidden from my notice or that I knew and still forgave? Did you fancy that I connived at them? Foolish ...! thrice foolish! It was to help save you from your viler Self, to arouse in you better aspirations; to cause the voice of your offended “soul” to be heard; to give you the stimulus to make some reparation ... for these only your prayer to become my chela was granted. We are the agents of Justice, not the unfeeling lictors [1] of a cruel god. Base as you have been, vilely as you have misused your talents … blind as you have been to the claims of gratitude, virtue and equity, you have still in you the qualities of a good man - (dormant indeed, so far!) and a useful chela. But how long your relations with us will continue - depends alone upon yourself. You may struggle up out of the mire, or glide back into depths of vice and misery now inconceivable to your imagination … remember, … that you stand before your Atma, which is your judge, and which no smiles, nor falsehoods, nor sophistries can deceive. Hitherto you had but bits of chits from me and - knew me not; now you know me better, for it is I who accuse you before your awakened conscience. You need make no lip-promises to Itor me, no half-way confessions. Though … you shed oceans of tears and grovel in the dust, this will not move a hair’s breadth the balance of Justice. If you would recover the lost ground do two things: make the amplest, most complete reparation … and to the good of mankind devote your energies … Try to fill each day’s measure with pure thoughts, wise words, kindly deeds. I shall neither order, nor mesmerize, nor sway you. But unseen and when you perhaps come - like so many others - to disbelieve in my existence, I shall watch your career and sympathise in your struggles. If you come out victorious at the end of your probation I shall be the readiest to welcome you. And now - there run two paths before you, choose! When you have chosen you may consult your visible official superior - H.S. Olcott, and I will instruct him thro’ his Guru to guide and send you on…
You aspire to be a missionary of theosophy; be one - if you can be one in fact. But rather than go about preaching with a heart and a life that belie your professions - conjure the lightning to strike you dead, for every word will become your future accuser. Go and consult with Col. Olcott - confess your faults before that good man - and seek his advice.
K.H.
NOTE:
[1]Lictors: Ancient Rome officials who carried the fasces and assisted magistrates in making arrests and carrying out sentences.
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On the difference between truth and falsehood in the esoteric movement, see the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline. Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can be obtained through Amazon Books.
On Facebook, see the pages The Aquarian Theosophist and E-Theosophy.
If you want to have access to a daily study of the original teachings of Theosophy, write to lutbr@terra.com.br and ask for information on the e-group E-Theosophy.