Mahatma Letter to London Lodge - LMW 1 No. 5
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| People involved | |
| Written by: | Koot Hoomi,HPB, Morya |
| Received by: | London Lodge |
| Sent via: | unknown |
| Dates | |
| Written on: | late July or early August 1884 |
| Received on: | late July or early August 1884 |
| Other dates: | unknown |
| Places | |
| Sent from: | unknown |
| Received at: | unknown |
| Via: | unknown |
This letter is Letter No. 5 in Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series. Mahatma Koot Hoomi advises an unknown member against trying for chelaship, and encourages formation of an Inner Group. Portions of the letter are written by Master M. and by Madame Blavatsky.[1]
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Page 1 transcription, image, and notes
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Capital letters indicate notes added by Master K.H. in blue pencil. In view of the recent resignation of Mr Massey and the reason for which it was given, namely, suspicion of the Mahatmas, and the inclination which has been shown by certain other members of the London Lodge to discredit the Eastern teachings and distrust its Teachers, we the undersigned members of the London Lodge, being convinced that no spiritual education is possible without absolute and sympathetic union between fellow students, desire to form an inner group. Taking the word religion in its broadest sense and while leaving every member of the said group to follow his or her own theological system or creed – AS HERETOFORE DONE IN ALL THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES – we desire nevertheless to establish a bond of true brotherly union of such a nature as to realize those conditions, which we are convinced are unattainable in the London Lodge as it is constituted. For this Inner Group, the – Adytum of the London Lodge, – we humbly crave the unchartered recognition of the Mahatmas, our Beloved Teachers requesting them further to grant us special permission to form our own by-laws and choose our own council; and while remaining individually subject to the rules and by-laws of the London Lodge the group as such to be independent of the London Lodge in its special work. The fundamental principle of the New Group to be implicit confidence in the |
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Page 2
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Capital letters indicate notes added by Master K.H. in blue pencil, overwritten with the approval of Mahatma M. The reddish-purple notations ("N.B.") were added by H. P. Blavatsky. Mahatmas and their teaching and unswerving obedience to their wishes in all matters connected with spiritual progress. N.B. Should however there be a sincere conviction on the part of any member that he, or she, cannot conscientiously render this unswerving obedience in all matters of spiritual progress, such member may withdraw from the inner circle, with the assurance and knowledge that the imputation of dishonourable conduct will not be charged against him or her.
—PROVIDED HE OR SHE DOES NOT MAKE ANY PART OF THE TEACHINGS PUBLIC BY WORD OR LETTER WITHOUT SPECIAL PERMISSION FROM THE UNDERSIGNED.
Finally in submitting this prayer to our revered Masters we earnestly request them, if it meets with their approval, to confirm it with their signatures and to consent to continue their teachings as heretofore so long as there shall remain one faithful member in this group. APPROVED. THE COVENANT IS MUTUAL. IT WILL HOLD GOOD SO LONG AS THE ACTIONS OF THE UNDERSIGNED ARE ACCORDANT WITH THE PLEDGES IMPLIED IN ‘THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE GROUP’ – AND BY THEM ACCEPTED.
Mary Anne Arundale |
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Context and background
Mr. Jinarajadasa provided these notes about this letter:
This is one of the most striking documents now at Adyar. It consists of a pledge to the Masters, written out by Miss Arundale, and signed by all those who composed the ‘Inner Group’ of the London Lodge. But both the Masters M. and K.H., and also H.P.B., have written on the document. The part in the handwriting of Miss Arundale is printed in small letters; that in the handwriting of H.P.B. in larger letters; and that in the handwriting of the Masters in capitals. It will be noted that in the second paragraph the Master K.H. has added in blue a phrase in parenthesis, as also after the addition by H.P.B. At the end of the pledge in the handwriting of Miss Arundale, and before the signatures of the members of the group begin, there are in the document four vacant lines; in these vacant lines the acceptance of the pledge by the two Masters is written; hence the words ‘the undersigned’ refer to the signatories of the group composed of aspirants pledged to serve the Masters, whose names come below the acceptance of the Masters. Written across the statement of the Master K.H. there appears in red the one word ‘Approved’ in the handwriting of the Master M., followed by his initial. This inner group, which collapsed within one year, is the first attempt made to create what later became the Esoteric School of Theosophy.[2]
Physical description of letter
According to Mr. Jinarajadasa, the original letter is at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society See Context and background above for details of its appearance.
Publication history
This letter was published in 1919 as Letter 5 in the first edition of Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, 1881-1888, later known as the First Series.[3] It has kept this designation as Letter 5 throughout all editions.
Commentary about this letter
Additional resources
Notes
- ↑ C. Jinarajadasa, Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 2011), 24-26, 140-141.
- ↑ C. Jinarajadasa, 140-141.
- ↑ Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, 1881-1888. Adyar, Madras, India; London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1919. Foreword by Annie Besant; transcribed and compiled by C. Jinarajadasa.