Mahatma Letter No. 83

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Written by:	Djual Khool
Received by:	A. P. Sinnett
Sent via:	unknown
Dates
Written on:	unknown
Received on:	August 1882
Other dates:	unknown
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Sent from:	unknown
Received at:	unknown
Via:	unknown

This is Letter No. 83 in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, 4th chronological edition. It corresponds to Letter No. 125 in Barker numbering. This is actually not a letter but "the footnote by Djual Khool" mentioned in ML52 (No. 81 in Barker numbering). See below for Context and background.

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Page 1 transcription, image, and notes

I am commanded by my beloved Master, known in India and the Western lands as Koot Hoomi Lal Singh, to make in his name the following declaration, in answer to a certain statement made by Mr. W. Oxley, and sent by him for publication in the Theosophist. It is claimed by the said gentleman that my Master Koot Hoomi (a) has thrice visited him "by the astral form"; and (b) that he had a conversation with Mr. Oxley when, as alleged he gave the latter certain explanations in reference to astral bodies in general, and the incompetency of his own Mayavy-rupa to preserve its consciousness simultaneously with the body "at both ends of the line" — therefore my Master declares that: — 1. Whomsoever Mr. Oxley may have seen and conversed with at the time described, it was not with Koot Hoomi, the writer of the letters published in the Occult World.

2. Notwithstanding that my Master knows

NOTES:

• a certain statement refers to an article published in the The Theosophist on September, 1882, pages 298-303, entitled "The Philosophy of Spirit - Hierosophy, Theosophy, and Psychosophy".

Page 2

the gentleman in question who once honoured him with an autograph letter, thereby giving him the means of making his (Mr. Oxley's) acquaintance and of sincerely admiring his intuitional powers and western learning — yet he has never approached him whether astrally or otherwise: Nor has he ever had any conversation with Mr. Oxley, least of all one of that nature in which both the subject and predicate, the premises and conclusions are all wrong.

3. In consequence of the said claims, the repetition of which is calculated to lead many of our theosophists into error, my Master has determined to issue the following resolution.

Henceforth any medium or seer who will feel disposed to claim either to have been visited by, or to have held conversation with, or to have seen my Master, — will have to substantiate the claim by prefixing his or her statement with THREE SECRET WORDS, which he, my Teacher, will divulge to and leave in the safe keeping of Mr. A. O. Hume, and Mr. A. P. Sinnett the respective President and Vice-President, of "The Eclectic Theosophical Society" of Simla. As long as they do not find

NOTES:

• The "Three secret words" were, Kin-t-an, Na-lan-da, Dhe-ra-bu

Page 3

these three words correctly repeated by a medium or heading a statement to that effect, whether verbal or printed, emanating from him or her, or on his or her behalf, the claim shall be regarded as a gratuitous assumption and no notice will be taken of it. To his regret my Master is forced to adopt this step, as unfortunately of late such self-deception have become quite frequent, and would demand a speedy check.

The above declaration and statement to be appended as a footnote to Mr. Oxley's published statement.

By order,

Gjual--Khool. M.xxx.

NOTES:

Physical description of letter

The original is in the British Library, Folio 3. According to George Linton and Virginia Hanson,

Written by DK on thin paper in brown ink. Two corrections have been made in it in blue ink. This is actually not a letter but "the footnote by Djual Khool" mentioned on p. 289, ML-52 (81). See Study Notes on that letter.

Commentary about this letter

This letter is the footnote by Djual Khul (here Gjual-Khool) to the article by W. Oxley.

Earlier H.P.B. had written a letter to Sinnett dated August 3, 1882, in which she says she received:

"an interminable article from that blind bat, W. Oxley — versus Subba Row, whom he calls a bigoted orthodox Brahmin! He, Oxley, had three visits from K.H. “by astral form” he tells the public!!! and the philosophic doctrine therein propounded . . . is hardly calculated to enlighten the poor mortals or strengthen their esteem for the powers of the Brothers. I was going to reject the MSS but K.H. ordered me not to, and D.K. just brought in a long footnote to be appended to the article as it is given to me in double copy I send to you as ordered. K.H. tells you to make alterations in it if you like it, and send them before the thing is printed."

Oxley was an Englishman who had written a book entitled Philosophy of the Spirit, which had been reviewed by D.K. in The Theosophist. Oxley took exception to some of the things said in the review and, apparently in retaliation, made the assertion about his visits from K.H.

The “three passwords” mentioned in the last paragraph of the Letter No. 83 are not in this letter, but appear in what is apparently a postscript to some other letter written a month or so later by the Mahatma (Letter No. 96 [ML-92]). Chronologically it does not belong here, but its subject matter does. It is as follows:

"It may so happen that for purposes of our own, mediums and their spooks will be left undisturbed and free not only to personate the “Brothers” but even to forge our handwriting. Bear this in mind and be prepared for it in London. Unless the message or communication or whatever it may be is preceded by the triple words:

“Kin-t-an, Na-lan-da, Dhe-ra-bu”

know it is not me nor from me."