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
Society Emblem
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
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