K.H. Letters to C.W. Leadbeater
(Received 31 st October 1884)
To C. W. Leadbeater
Last spring —March the 3rd —you wrote a letter to me and entrusted it to
'Ernest'. Though the paper itself never reached me —nor was it ever likely to,
considering the nature of the messenger — its contents have. I did not answer it
at the time, but sent you a warning through Upasika.
In that message of yours it was said that since reading Esot. Bud. and Isis
your'one great wish had been to place yourself under me as a chela, that you
might learn more of the truth. 'I understand from Mr S.,'1 you went on 'that it
would be almost impossible to become a chela without going out to India.' You
hoped to be able to do that in a few years, tho' for the present ties of
gratitude bind you to remain in this country, etc.
I now answer the above and your other questions.
1. It is not necessary that one should be in India during the seven years of
probation. A chela can pass them anywhere.
2. To accept any man as a chela does not depend on my personal will. It can be
only the result of one's personal merit and exertions in that direction. Force
any one of the 'Masters' you may happen to choose; do good works in his name and
for the love of mankind; be pure and resolute in the path of
righteousness (as laid out in our rules); be honest and unselfish; forget your
Self but to remember the good of other people —and you will have forced that
'Master' to accept you.
So much for candidates during the periods of the undisturbed progress of your
Society. There is something more to be done, however, when theosophy, the Cause
of Truth, is, as at the present moment on its stand for life or death before the
tribunal of public opinion —that most flippantly cruel, prejudiced and unjust of
all tribunals. There is also the collective karma of the caste you belong to to
be considered. It is undeniable that the cause you have at heart is now
suffering owing to the dark intrigues, the base conspiracy of the Christian
clergy and missionaries against the Society. They will stop before nothing to
ruin the reputation of the Founders. Are you willing to atone for their sins?
Then go to Adyar for a few months. 'The ties of gratitude' will not be severed,
nor even become weakened for an absence of a few months if the step be explained
plausibly to your relative. He who would shorten the years of probation has to
make sacrifices for theosophy. Pushed by malevolent hands to the very edge of a
precipice, the Society needs every man and woman strong in the cause of truth.
It is by doing noble actions, and not by only determining that they shall be
done, that the fruits of the meritorious actions are reaped. Like the 'true man'
of Carlyle who is not to be seduced by ease, 'difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom,
death are the allurements that act' during the hours of trial on the heart of a
true chela.
You ask me, 'What rules must I observe during this time of probation, and how
soon might I venture to hope that it could begin?' I answer: You have the making
of your own future in your own hands, as shown above, and every day you may be
weaving its woof. If I were to demand that you should do one thing or the
other, instead of simply advising, I would be responsible for every effect that
might flow from the step and you acquire but a secondary merit. Think, and you
will see that this is true. So cast the lot yourself into the lap of Justice,
never fearing but that its response .will be absolutely true. Chelaship 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 personal effort. Our cause needs missionaries, devotees,
agents, even martyrs, perhaps. But it cannot demand of any man to make himself
either. So now choose and grasp your own destiny — and may our Lord the
Tathagata's memory aid you to decide for the best.
K.H.
K.H. Letters to C.W. Leadbeater (Letter No. 2)
To C. W. Leadbeater, received on the night of the same day
Since your intution led you in the right direction and made you understand that
it was my desire you should go to Adyar immediately, I may say more. The sooner
you go to Adyar the better. Do not lose one day more than you can help. Sail on
the 5th, if possible. Join Upasika at Alexandria. Let no one know that you are
going, and may the blessing of our Lord and my poor blessing shield you from
every evil in your new life.
Greeting to you, my new chela.
K.H.
Show my notes to no one.
1 A.P. Sinnett
K.H. Letters to C.W. Leadbeater (Letter No. 3)
(Received June 1886)
Take courage. I am pleased with you. Keep your own counsel, and believe in your
better intuitions. The little man has failed and will reap his reward.
Silence meanwhile.
K.H.
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