Writings of H P Blavatsky
Cardiff
Theosophical Society in Wales
206 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK. CF24 -1DL
Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky (1831 – 1891)
The Founder of
Modern Theosophy
Can The Mahatmas
Be Selfish?
By
H P Blavatsky
IN various writings on occult subjects, it has been stated that
unselfishness is a sine qua non for success in occultism. Or a more correct
form of putting it, would be that the development of an unselfish feeling is in
itself the primary training which brings with it "knowledge which is
power" as a necessary accessory. It is not, therefore,
"knowledge," as ordinarily understood, that the occultist works for,
but it comes to him as a matter of course, in consequence of his having removed
the veil, which screens true knowledge from his view. The basis of knowledge
exists everywhere, since the phenomenal world furnishes or rather abounds with
facts, the causes of which have to be discovered. We see only the effects in
the phenomenal world, for each cause in that world is itself the effect of some
other cause, and so on; and, therefore, true knowledge consists in getting at
the root of all phenomena, and thus arriving at a correct understanding of the
primal cause, the "rootless root," which is not an effect in its
turn.
To perceive anything correctly, one can use only those senses or
instruments which correspond to the nature of that object. Hence, to comprehend
the noumenal, a noumenal sense is a pre-requisite; while the transient phenomena
can be perceived by senses corresponding to the nature of those phenomena.
Occult Philosophy teaches us that the seventh principle is the only eternal
Reality, while the rest, belonging as they do to the "world of forms"
which are non-permanent, are illusive in the sense that they are transient. To
these is limited the phenomenal world which can be taken cognisance of by the
senses corresponding to the nature of those six principles. It will thus be
clear that it is only the seventh sense, which pertains to the noumenal world,
that can comprehend the Abstract Reality underlying all phenomena. As this
seventh principle is all-pervading, it exists potentially in all of us; and he,
who would arrive at true knowledge, has to develop that sense in him, or rather
he must remove those veils which obscure its manifestation. All sense of
personality is limited only to these lower six principles, for the former
relates only to the "world of forms." Consequently, true
"knowledge" can be obtained only by tearing away all the curtains of
Maya raised by a sense of personality before the impersonal Atma.
It is only in that personality that is centered selfishness, or rather
the latter creates the former and vice versa, since they mutually act and react
upon each other. For, selfishness is that feeling which seeks after the
aggrandisement of one's own egotistic personality to the exclusion of others.
If, therefore, selfishness limits one to narrow personalities, absolute
knowledge is impossible so long as selfishness is not got rid of. So long,
however, as we are in this world of phenomena, we cannot be entirely rid of a
sense of personality, however exalted that feeling may be in the sense that no
feeling of personal aggrandisement or ambition remains. We are, by our
constitution and state of evolution, placed in the "World of
Relativity," but as we find that impersonality and non-duality is the
ultimate end of cosmic evolution, we have to endeavor to work along with
Nature, and not place ourselves in opposition to its inherent impulse which
must ultimately assert itself. To oppose it, must necessitate suffering, since
a weaker force, in its egotism, tries to array itself against the universal
law.
All that the occultist does, is to hasten this process, by allowing his
Will to act in unison with the Cosmic Will or the Demiurgic Mind, which can be
done by successfully checking the vain attempt of personality to assert itself
in opposition to the former. And since the MAHATMA is but an advanced
occultist, who has so far controlled his lower "self" as to hold it
more or less in complete subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature
of things impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish manner. No
sooner does he allow the "personal self" to assert itself, than he
ceases to be a MAHATMA. Those, therefore, who being still entangled in the web
of the delusive sense of personality charge the MAHATMAS with
"selfishness" in withholding "knowledge"--do not consider
what they are talking about. The Law of Cosmic evolution is ever operating to
achieve its purpose of ultimate unity and to carry the phenomenal into the
noumenal plane, and the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it, are assisting that
purpose. They therefore know best what knowledge is best for mankind at a
particular stage of its evolution, and none else is competent to judge of that
matter, since they alone have got to the basic knowledge which can determine
the right course and exercise proper discrimination.
For us who are yet struggling in the mire of the illusive senses to
dictate what knowledge MAHATMAS shall impart to us and how they shall act, is
like a street-boy presuming to teach science to Prof. Huxley or politics to Mr.
Gladstone. For, it will be evident that, as soon as the least feeling of selfishness
tries to assert itself, the vision of the spiritual sense, which is the only
perception of the MAHATMA, becomes clouded and he loses the "power"
which abstract "knowledge" alone can confer. Hence, the vigilant
watch of the "Will" we have constantly to exercise to prevent our
lower nature from coming up to the surface, which it does in our present
undeveloped state; and thus extreme activity and not passivity is the essential
condition with which the student has to commence. First his activity is directed
to check the opposing influence of the "lower self"; and, when that
is conquered, his untrammelled Will centered in his higher (real)
"self," continues to work most efficaciously and actively in unison
with the cosmic ideation in the "Divine Mind."
Theosophist, August, 1884
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Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Quick Explanations with Links to More Detailed Info
What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis Anthropogenesis Root Races
Ascended Masters After Death States
The Seven Principles of Man Karma
Reincarnation Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical
Society
History of the Theosophical
Society
Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical
Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the
Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical
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The Theosophical Order of
Service (TOS)
Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
Index of Searchable
Full Text Versions of
Definitive
Theosophical Works
H P Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine
Isis Unveiled by H P Blavatsky
H P Blavatsky’s Esoteric Glossary
Mahatma Letters to A P Sinnett 1 - 25
A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom
(Selection of Articles by H P Blavatsky)
The Secret Doctrine – Volume 3
A compilation of H P Blavatsky’s
writings published after her death
Esoteric Christianity or the Lesser Mysteries
The Early Teachings of The Masters
A Collection of Fugitive Fragments
Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy
Mystical,
Philosophical, Theosophical, Historical
and Scientific
Essays Selected from "The Theosophist"
Edited by George Robert Stow Mead
From Talks on the Path of Occultism - Vol. II
In the Twilight”
Series of Articles
The In the
Twilight” series appeared during
1898 in The
Theosophical Review and
from 1909-1913 in The Theosophist.
compiled from
information supplied by
her relatives and friends and edited by A P Sinnett
Letters and
Talks on Theosophy and the Theosophical Life
Obras Teosoficas En Espanol
Theosophische Schriften Auf Deutsch
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
Guide to the
Theosophy Wales King Arthur Pages
Arthur draws the Sword from the Stone
The Knights of The Round Table
The Roman Amphitheatre at Caerleon,
Eamont Bridge, Nr Penrith, Cumbria, England.
(History of the Kings of Britain)
The reliabilty of this work has long been a subject of
debate but it is the first definitive account of Arthur’s
Reign
and one which puts Arthur in a historcal context.
and his version’s political agenda
According to Geoffrey of Monmouth
The first written mention of Arthur as a heroic figure
The British leader who fought twelve battles
King Arthur’s ninth victory at
The Battle of the City of the Legion
King Arthur ambushes an advancing Saxon
army then defeats them at Liddington Castle,
Badbury, Near Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
King Arthur’s twelfth and last victory against the Saxons
Traditionally Arthur’s last battle in which he was
mortally wounded although his side went on to win
No contemporary writings or accounts of his life
but he is placed 50 to 100 years after the accepted
King Arthur period. He refers to Arthur in his inspiring
poems but the earliest written record of these dates
from over three hundred years after Taliesin’s death.
Mallerstang Valley, Nr Kirkby Stephen,
A 12th Century Norman ruin on the site of what is
reputed to have been a stronghold of Uther Pendragon
From
wise child with no earthly father to
Megastar
of Arthurian Legend
History of the Kings of Britain
Drawn from the Stone or received from the Lady of the Lake.
Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur has both versions
with both swords called Excalibur. Other versions
5th & 6th Century Timeline of Britain
From the departure of the Romans from
Britain to the establishment of sizeable
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Glossary of
Arthur’s uncle:- The puppet ruler of the Britons
controlled and eventually killed by Vortigern
Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. Circa 450CE
An alleged massacre of Celtic Nobility by the Saxons
History of the Kings of Britain
Athrwys / Arthrwys
King of Ergyng
Circa 618 - 655 CE
Latin: Artorius; English: Arthur
A warrior King born in Gwent and associated with
Caerleon, a possible Camelot. Although over 100 years
later that the accepted Arthur period, the exploits of
Athrwys may have contributed to the King Arthur Legend.
He became King of Ergyng, a kingdom between
Gwent and Brycheiniog (Brecon)
Angles under Ida seized the Celtic Kingdom of
Bernaccia in North East England in 547 CE forcing
Although much later than the accepted King Arthur
period, the events of Morgan Bulc’s 50 year campaign
to regain his kingdom may have contributed to
Old Welsh: Guorthigirn;
Anglo-Saxon: Wyrtgeorn;
Breton: Gurthiern; Modern Welsh; Gwrtheyrn;
*********************************
An earlier ruler than King Arthur and not a heroic figure.
He is credited with policies that weakened Celtic Britain
to a point from which it never recovered.
Although there are no contemporary accounts of
his rule, there is more written evidence for his
existence than of King Arthur.
How Sir Lancelot slew two giants,
From Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur
How Sir Lancelot rode disguised
in Sir Kay's harness, and how he
From Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur
How Sir Lancelot jousted against
four knights of the Round Table,
From Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur
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