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Excerpt in The American Theosophist, May, 1953

Idyll of the White Lotus is one of the best-known occult works of Mabel Collins published in 1884.

Content

The book was advertised as "A story which has been told in all ages and among every people—the tragedy of the Soul. Attracted by Desire, it stoops to sin; brought to itself by Suffering, it turns for help to the redeeming Spirit within and in the final sacrifice achieves its apotheosis and sheds a blessing on mankind."

Regarding its content, Mme. Blavatsky wrote:

Production history

The author claimed to have created this book by automatic writing, dictated by the Master Hilarion. Previous to her Theosophical connections she had started writing the book The Idyll of the White Lotus. N. D. Khandalavala recounted the writing of this book as follows:

An obelisk from Egypt called "Cleopatra’s Needle" was brought to England and put up on the bank of the Thames, opposite which there lived a lady in a little house. Looking out of her window every day at the obelisk, she used now and then to see strange-looking men coming out of the monument, as it were, dressed in a peculiar garb. She used to make her living by writing small novels. One day, while she was at work at her writing table, she saw a row of priests dressed in white passing by her side and she went into a sort of trance, but her hand went on working and sheet after sheet was written in a different hand. This went on for several days, and half of the book named The Idyll of the White Lotus was written, and then the writing stopped. A Jewish relative of hers used to watch her while this curious phenomenon was taking place.

Mabel claimed that during the writing of the book, "she had been absolutely taken from her body in order that her hand and pen might be used by another intelligence."

Years later, upon joining the TS, she showed the unfinished manuscript to H. S. Olcott, then visiting Europe with H. P. Blavatsky. Mabel told him that the text was written either in trance or under dictation by an unseen character, but the inspiration had ceased. Col. Olcott recommended that, if she had ever thought of making money by publishing the book, she should give up such a thought and try again. She did so and the writing of the Idyll was completed in the same manner. The book was dedicated by her "To the True Author, the Inspirer of this work."

Regarding the inspirer of the book, H. P. Blavatsky stated that it was "one who became an adept only in 1886." She also said:

When I met her, she had just completed the Idyll of the White Lotus, which, as she stated to Colonel Olcott, had been dictated to her by some "mysterious person." Guided by her description, we both recognized an old friend of ours, a Greek, and no Mahatma, though an Adept; further developments proving we were right.

Publication history

The work was first published in The Banner of Light. Numerous editions:

It was followed later by a sequel "The Story of Sensa. An Interpretation of the Idyll of the White Lotus" (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1911).

The author claimed to have created this book by automatic writing, dictated by the Master Hilarion. The work was first published in The Banner of Light.

Along with the Light on the Path, Idyll of the White Lotus have been widely read by Theosophists worldwide and translated into numerous languages. (????????)

Adaptations

Idyll of the White Lotus was also adapted into a play by Maud Hoffman Sensa, a Mystery Play in Three Acts.

Additional resources

• Idyll of the White Lotus on Google Books.
• On the Idyll of the White Lotus by T. Subba Row.