Mahatma Letter of Sinnett to/from KH - 1882 or 1883
| Quick Facts | |
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| People involved | |
| Written by: | Koot Hoomi, A. P. Sinnett |
| Received by: | A. P. Sinnett, Koot Hoomi |
| Sent via: | unknown |
| Dates | |
| Written on: | 1882, or 1883 before March |
| Received on: | unknown |
| Other dates: | unknown |
| Places | |
| Sent from: | unknown - probably Simla or Allahabad |
| Received at: | unknown |
| Via: | unknown |
This letter has not been published previously. A. P. Sinnett wrote to Mahatma Koot Hoomi, who added notes and gave the original to H. P. Blavatsky. She kept the letter. It reflects on the relationship between A. O. Hume and the Mahatmas.
Notes from K.H.
KH added several notations to this letter in a green or blue-green pencil. The notes were meant for the eyes of Madame Blavatsky rather than Sinnett.
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In the middle of page 4, KH added a notation: and Mr Sinnett less that Hume yet
his not ours
Why talk of it? We have done our best and that is a fact among many untruths
Now is your turn to come out and show the world how we can write K.H. |
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Page 1 of Sinnett letter transcription, image, and notes
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My dear Serene Highness, This is a private note as regards my side of the border. I write, – as there has been a pause in the Eclectic Society’s proceedings, – thinking you may like to hear precisely what I think of the situation. If you may be too busy to write to me specially, you may not be too busy to read. Hume’s first burst of enthusiasm has been curiously checked, but I hope soon to see him moving on again though at a more deliberate pace than at first. His late apathetic attitude has been due to the fact that his interest in this work is quite |
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Page 2
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unselfish. He looks on the whole work as yours, – in which he has undertaken to help, on a prima facie belief that it is a good and practical work, tending to supply persons who have lost faith in their spiritual nature with new grounds for trusting in their (at least potential) immortality. He wants nothing for himself having, rightly or wrongly – a sufficient trust in his own convictions regarding the future life. If the whole fabric of the Society should collapse tomorrow, he would not feel personally a loser. But he argues, if I am to do any good in teaching others to build their faith on the rock of Occult |
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Page 3
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[2 - written at the top of the page] Knowledge, it is first necessary that I should know more about it than can be gathered though Madam Blavatsky. It is for you to decide, – not merely because the strength of the position is yours, but because he has no interests at stake in the matter,- whether you care to employ him on those conditions. He argues:- “I do not know even that the Brothers exist. I believe it, because the intellectual difficulty of believing the contrary in face of all that has occurred is greater than that of believing the fact to be so. But this is not a position strong enough to justify me before my conscience in taking the responsibility of a great propaganda.” I do not mean that he thinks the idea to be |
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Page 4
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In the middle of page 4, KH added a notation: and Mr Sinnett less that Hume yet propagated is faith in the existence of the Brothers, but that their philosophy which we have to learn and propagate must be capable of ultimate substantiation by reference to the fact that there are people who know it to be true, by reason of their superior vision. Otherwise it is merely one more system of metaphysical speculation added to the hundred and one already offered to the world. The revival of ancient Ayran [sic] learning and philosophy and the development of intellectual self respect among the nations of India is a good work, but not one to which he feels called on to devote his life [inserted – in green pencil: and Mr Sinnett less than Hume yet] He may be glad that indirectly his avowed respect for and interest in Occult philosophy may promote that work, but chacun a son metier [French – “each to his profession”] |
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Page 5
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that is not his specialty. [green pencil: Oh no!] What is to happen next? Hume would say “that is really no business of mine. On the constructive proofs we have already had that the Brothers are – what they are described to be – we found our Society; in a spirit of enquiry. The prima facie case is such that we cannot be wrong is doing that. Are we to become enthusiastic hard working disciples? That depends upon how far our prima facie beliefs may be enabled to develop as we advance into certitude.” You know the old rhyme: –
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Page 6
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That seems to me to be the present situation as regards Hume and your dear Serene Highnesses. Shall I be able to clear the block on the line? I don’t know but of course I shall try. I have felt that some of the patience you have often told me to employ in other matters would be appropriate here so I have let things slide for a few days. But I will keep up a gentle pressure onwards and in a few days more I hope we shall get our rules published. Meanwhile if the question should ever be asked by the higher authorities “What do they want?” the answer is that “they,” – the Eclectic Society want nothing, but conceive that if they are wanted to do anything more than found themselves they must be armed in some way with certitude that |
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Page 7
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In the middle of page 7, KH underlined Sinnett's words "his point of view" and added: his not ours [4 - written at top of page] the philosophy of Occultism which it is their aspiration to be enabled to teach for the consolation of a multitude of people destitute of faith,- rests on the knowledge possessed by philosophers of a grander caste than those who merely speculate. Now as regards the Eclectic Society Hume and I are one. It would be cowardly on my part to disguise my feeling that his views as I have endeavoured to set them forth here are entirely reasonable from his point of view, [green underscore] [green writing inserted above underlined words: his not ours] for the “constructive proofs” were of which I have spoken are mostly second hand for him. But as regards your humble friend A.P.S. individually you will understand that I do not take up such an unselfish attitude |
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Page 8
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Near the bottom of page 8, KH underlined censure and added: of course not To hurt his vanity would be the worse of crimes as that I have described as Hume’s. I want for myself to improve my acquaintance with the Occult World and yourself as far as that may be possible. But I realize the necessity of biding your time, and of endeavouring to earn privileges. I have written this explanation in the hope that I may do good to the society: I hope it may not do harm to me. In your own estimation I am sure it will not, but with the possibility that in the present crisis my writing may attract attention from minds whose workings I cannot attempt to fathom, I feel almost afraid to put pen to paper. My main drift is that even if you find Hume’s attitude impracticable it is not open to any censure [green underline]. [green ink inserted between lines: of course not To hurt his vanity would be the worse of crimes] If that be acknowledged there may be some way out of our difficulties. |
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Page 9
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Above the signature, KH added: Why talk it it? We have done our best and that is a fact among many untruths [5 - at top of page] If you have time to send me a few lines in reply to one question I lately asked I should greatly value them en attendant mieux [French: waiting for better]. I want to understand the magnitude of my obligation to you in the matter of my wife’s recovery. I can’t bear to underrate it in my own mind. Would she probably have died if your great chief had not protected her? [green writing: Why talk of it? We have done our best and that is a fact among many untruths] Ever your faithful A.P.S PS. Disliking secrecy that can [paper torn] ... I decided on show ... |
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Page 10
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At the end of page 10, KH addressed remarks to H. P. Blavatsky: Now is your turn to come out and show the world how we can write K.H. [continued from P.S.] on approval. Having read him this; he read me a letter he has written to Chaterjee. I have asked him to let me forward it to you for your perusal. It seems to me to show that his late inactivity is in no way due to fickleness of sentiment but to the inherent difficulties of the situation as I have described them [green writing:] Now is your [Blavatsky's] term to come out and show the world how we can write K.H. Be careful not to hurt Hume’s feelings [bottom of page torn] |
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Context and background
The Simla Eclectic Theosophical Society was formed on August 21, 1881 with A. O. Hume as President. From October 87, 1882 until his departure for England in March, 1883, Mr. Sinnett served as President.
This letter seems to have been written in Allahabad or Simla, based on (1) Sinnett's comment "my side of the border" that implies that K.H. is in Tibet and Sinnett in India, at his home in Simla or Allahabad; and (2) his commment "there has been a pause in the Eclectic Society proceedings," indicating current awareness of the state of the Eclectic.
Physical description of letter
Five sheets of paper were written on both sides. The bottom of the final sheet is torn, so pages 9 and 10 are truncated. Sinnett wrote in blue ink, and notations added by K.H. are in blue-green pencil. This letter is in a private collection.
Publication history
This letter has never been published before.
Commentary about this letter
This letter is significant in that it is a rare example of Sinnett's side of his correspondence with the Mahatmas. Sinnett tries to defend or explain A. O. Hume.