theos-talk.com

[MASTER INDEX] [DATE INDEX] [THREAD INDEX] [SUBJECT INDEX] [AUTHOR INDEX]

[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]

Re: Theos-World T. Subba Row and H.P. Blavatsky: Part One

Jun 16, 2005 11:50 AM
by Bill Meredith


For those whose perspective will not allow for even the possibility that HPB and her Masters made any mistakes, the following quotes from Daniel should be read carefully. HPB is honest in her admission that she made mistakes "For the past 12 years ... imparting and transmitting esoteric teachings" to individuals "ill-grounded in the theosophical spirit."

One wonders if KH participated with HPB in selecting and imparting esoteric teachings to these future deserters? If no, one wonders why not? If yes, one wonders how much credence to give KH's statements concerning "every mistake or erroneous notion" being "corrected" in the SD.

bill
----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel H. Caldwell" <danielhcaldwell@yahoo.com>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 1:11 PM
Subject: Theos-World T. Subba Row and H.P. Blavatsky: Part One


In a letter dated Sept. 14, 1888, H.P. Blavatsky wrote
the following to the American Theosophist John
Ransom Bridge:

"For the past 12 years I have been imparting, &
transmitting esoteric teachings without enacting
any pledge or imposing conditions to several - more
or less known individuals among others - a few Hindus.
Since the explosion of the infamous Hodgson & Coulomb
conspiracy against me some of my ex-pupils ill-grounded
in the theosophical spirit, have, for various reasons
deserted me, after posing for chelas. The latter attitude
they would not abandon, however.

Hence since that time, they have been giving out
travestied versions of the esoteric philosophy, composed
of one part of truths, & three parts misconceptions &
conceit. Thus great confusion, & contradictory statements
have been made in print, all of which have been pitched
back upon my unfortunate head.

Not only that, but with the idea of making themselves
more important they have pretended that my occult
knowledge had faded away during my illness; that even
Masters have turned away from me to them, & that I was
now the prey of Elementals & half-fledged chelas!

Many, however, wish me to continue my instructions. But
I am not willing to do so, save under restrictions shown
by experience to be necessary. I am determined not to permit
any longer the Master's names to be desecrated & dragged
in the mire of idiotic criticism."

Quoted from: http://blavatskyarchives.com/hpbjrb.htm

Concerning Mme. Blavatsky's above statement that reads:

"...they have pretended that my occult knowledge had faded
away during my illness; that even Masters have turned away
from me to them, & that I was now the prey of Elementals &
half-fledged chelas! !"

compare what Mahatma Koot Hoomi had written to Colonel
Henry S. Olcott just three weeks before the above was
penned:

[August 22, 1888]

"...we employ agents -- the best available. Of these for the past
thirty years the chief has been the personality known as H. P. B. to
the world (but otherwise to us). Imperfect and very troublesome, no
doubt, she proves to some, nevertheless, there is no likelihood of
our finding a better one for years to come -- and your theosophists
should be made to understand it....

...Her fidelity to our work being constant, and her sufferings
having come upon her thro' it, neither I nor either of my Brother
associates will desert or supplant her....

...this you must tell to all: -- With occult matters she has
everything to do. We have not abandoned her; she is not 'given over
to chelas.' She is our direct agent....

I have also noted, your thoughts about the 'Secret Doctrine.' Be
assured that what she has not annotated from scientific and other
works, we have given or suggested to her. Every mistake or erroneous
notion, corrected and explained by her from the works of other
theosophists was corrected by me, or under my instruction. . . .
K.H."

Quoted from: Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series,
Letter 19, 5th edition.

Who were the persons claiming that the Masters had abandoned H.P.
Blavatsky and that she "was given over to chelas"?

One person was, no doubt, A.P. Sinnett. But it would appear that T.
Subba Row was also making this claim.

In a letter dated June 5, 1888 to W.Q. Judge, Madame Blavatsky wrote:

"My dear Judge

...Subba Row, Cooper-Oakley N. Cook have resigned from the T.S. &
left Adyar. . . .

You know that S.R. [Subba Row] claimed for the two past years to be
in communication with my Master....!!! ...[Subba Row] showed
Sanskrit letters from Him (no handwriting no indiscrete calligraphy
- in Sanskrit!) to himself, & translated them to C.O. [Alfred
Cooper-Oakley] The letters were to the effect that he S.R. had to
reform the Society, & hinted that I, HPB had been given up by the
Masters!! C.O. who has chosen S.R. for his guru, who worships him as
does N. Cook believes in him explicitly.

What are the 'Muslin & bladder Mahatmas' of the Coulombs compared to
such doings!! Bus, bus - I must say nothing, however much I may
be disgusted. But, as the ranks thin around us, & one after the
other our best intellectual Forces depart to turn bitter enemies
- I say - Blessed are the pure hearted who have only
intuition for intuition is better than intellect...."

Quoted from: http://blavatskyarchives.com/hpbwqj6588.htm

And in another letter dated July 12, 1888 to N.D.K. Khandalavala,
Madame Blavatsky gives more details:

"Mrs. C.O. [Isabel Cooper-Oakley, wife of Alfred Cooper-Oakley] said
to the Countess [Wachtmeister] several times that her 'Alf' [Alfred
Cooper-Oakley] is constantly receving through S.R. [Subba Row]
letters from the Master, my Master!! One of such letters (a copy)
she showed and read to the Countess, to prove to her that she and
S.R. and C.O. and Cook all believed in the Masters.

Now I know that my Master (whom they called Mahatma Morya) has never
since I left Adyar written on single line to anyone at Adyar, or
Madras, or India, except a few words once to H.S.O. [Henry S.
Olcott]. I have Master's assurance to this effect. . . . surely
something must be rotten 'in the state of Denmark.' This is private
and confidential, and meant for you alone. You can ask Countess if
you like...."

Even the Mahatma Koot Hoomi in his July 1888 communication to H.P.
Blavatsky concerning Henry S. Olcott refers to Alfred Cooper-Oakley
and T. Subba Row and mentions the claim being circulated at that
time that the "'Masters' are in direct correspondence and
communication with C.O. [Alfred Cooper-Oakley] - their true
delegate being now at Madras - S.R [Subba Row]...."
Quoted from: Letters from the Masters of Wisdom, First Series,
Letter 47.

In light of all the above, one can start to understand why Mahatma
Koot Hoomi wrote to Colonel Olcott the following:

[August 22, 1888]

"...we employ agents -- the best available. Of these for the past
thirty years the chief has been the personality known as H. P. B. to
the world (but otherwise to us). Imperfect and very troublesome, no
doubt, she proves to some, nevertheless, there is no likelihood of
our finding a better one for years to come -- and your theosophists
should be made to understand it....

...Her fidelity to our work being constant, and her sufferings
having come upon her thro' it, neither I nor either of my Brother
associates will desert or supplant her....

...this you must tell to all: -- With occult matters she has
everything to do. We have not abandoned her; she is not 'given over
to chelas.' She is our direct agent....

Continued in Part Two

Daniel H. Caldwell
http://hpb.cc








Yahoo! Groups Links











[Back to Top]


Theosophy World: Dedicated to the Theosophical Philosophy and its Practical Application