Mahatma Letter No. 77

Quick Facts
People involved
Written by:	Koot Hoomi
Received by:	A. P. Sinnett
Sent via:	unknown
Dates
Written on:	unknown
Received on:	August 1882
Other dates:	unknown
Places
Sent from:	unknown
Received at:	Simla, India
Via:	unknown

This is Letter No. 77 in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, 4th chronological edition. It corresponds to Letter No. 50 in Barker numbering. See below for Context and background.

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Page 1 transcription, image, and notes

My dear friend,

I feel terribly pulled down (mentally) with this unceasing attitude of unavoidable opposition, and so continual attacks on our strongholds! During the whole of my quiet, contemplative life, I have never met with a man more tenacious and unreasonable! I cannot go on like that, passing my life in useless protest; and if you cannot bring to bear upon him your friendly influence, we will have all of us to part company, at some not distant day. I was with the Chohan when I received the letter I now enclose, and — the Chohan

NOTES:

• a man more tenacious and unreasonable refers to A. O. Hume.

Page 2

was perfectly disgusted, and called the whole thing the Tibetan name for "comedy." It is not that he is anxious to "do good" or "help the progress of the T.S." — it is simply — believe me or not — insatiable pride in him; a ferocious, intense desire to feel and show to others that he is the "one elect," that he knows that which all others are barely allowed to suspect. Do not protest for it is useless. We know, and you do not. The Chohan heard the other day the idiotic but painfully sincere lamen

NOTES:

Page 3

tations of the "wife" and — took note of them. Such is not a man who aims at becoming a "perfect soul" and he, who would write of a brother Theosophist what he has written to me of Fern — is no theosophist. Let this be strictly private, and do not let him know but what he will read himself in my letter. I want you to read the two letters before you take them to him, and I beg of you to be present when he reads them.

I will see what can be done for

NOTES:

• wife presumably refers to Mrs. Hume.

Page 4

Colonel Chesney and I believe Djual Khool is after him. For the first time during my life I think I feel really disheartened. Yet for the sake of the Society, I would not lose him. Well I will do all I can, but I am seriously afraid, that he will spoil the broth himself some day.

Yours with sincere affection,

K. H.

NOTES:

• Djual Khool is [looking] after him. This refers to the portrait which D.K. was given permission to do for the colonel.

Context and background

This short letter seems to be concerned with A. O. Hume's increasing complaints about Fern and his continued efforts to prove the Mahatmas in the wrong in everything they are doing. Apparently he had written another letter about Fern and the Mahatma is sending it to Sinnett. Along with it is apparently the Mahatma’s reply, since he tells Sinnett to read the "two letters" before taking them to Hume; and he asks Sinnett to be present when Hume reads them.

However, it seems that no matter how difficult Hume might be personally, and how much he might try the Mahatma’s patience, they feel he can help the Society — which, in many ways, he did for a time. He was at that time still president of the Simla Eclectic Theosophical Society. He shortly afterward resigned from that position, however, and in 1884 resigned from the Theosophical Society.

Colonel Chesney has been appearing in several of the most recent letters and the Mahatma indicates that Djual Khool has recently been doing something for him. This undoubtedly refers to the portrait which D.K. was given permission to do for the colonel. All the letters in this period of time came so closely together that it is impossible to be absolutely positive of their exact order.

Physical description of letter

The original is in the British Library, Folio 2. According to George Linton and Virginia Hanson, the letter was written:

On both sides of a folded sheet, about 5" X 8" [12.7 X 20.3 cm], in blue pencil, with grained effect.