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In [[Theosophy]] the term is frequently used to denominate a disciple accepted by one [[Master of Wisdom]] as a candidate for [[initiation]] into the occult sciences. In her [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)|''The Theosophical Glossary'']] [[H. P. Blavatsky]] defines it as "A disciple, the pupil of a Guru or Sage, the follower of some adept of a school of philosophy (lit., child).<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 74.</ref> Some synonyms frequently found in the Theosophical literature are "Disciple" and "Lanoo".
In [[Theosophy]] the term is frequently used to denominate a disciple accepted by one [[Master of Wisdom]] as a candidate for [[initiation]] into the occult sciences. In her [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)|''The Theosophical Glossary'']] [[H. P. Blavatsky]] defines it as "A disciple, the pupil of a Guru or Sage, the follower of some adept of a school of philosophy (lit., child).<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 74.</ref> Some synonyms frequently found in the Theosophical literature are "Disciple" and "Lanoo".


== Rules for Chelaship ==
To become an [[Adept]] is not an easy task. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] stated: "Were adeptship easy of attainment many would achieve it, but it is the hardest task in nature".<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. IX (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 165.</ref> In 1883, she published some of the rules for chelaship:
<blockquote>From Book IV of Kiu-ti, chapter on “the Laws of Upasana,” we learn that the qualifications expected in a Chela were:<p></p>
1. Perfect physical health;<br>
2. Absolute mental and physical purity;<br>
3. Unselfishness of purpose; universal charity; pity for all animate beings;<br>
4. Truthfulness and unswerving faith in the law of Karma, independent of any power in nature that could interfere: a law whose course is not to be obstructed by any agency, not to be caused to deviate by prayer or propitiatory exoteric ceremonies;<br>
5. A courage undaunted in every emergency, even by peril to life;<br>
6. An intuitional perception of one’s being the vehicle of the manifested Avalokiteshvara or Divine Atman (Spirit);<br>
7. Calm indifference for, but a just appreciation of everything that constitutes the objective and transitory world, in its relation with, and to, the invisible regions.
Such, at the least, must have been the recommendations of one aspiring to perfect Chelaship. With the sole exception of the first, which in rare and exceptional cases might have been modified, each one of these points has been invariably insisted upon, and all must have been more or less developed in the inner nature by the Chela’s UNHELPED EXERTIONS, before he could be actually put to the test.<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Collected Writings'' vol. IV (Wheaton, Ill: Theosophical Publishing House, 1954), fn. 607-608.</ref></blockquote>
In the Theosophical Journal ''Lucifer'', April, 1888, [[H. P. Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] writes the article "Practical Occultism" where she gives some very specific "conditions under which alone the study of Divine Wisdom can be pursued with safety."<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Collected Writings'' vol. IX (Wheaton, Ill: Theosophical Publishing House, 1962), 155-162.</ref> In a later issue published in June, 1889, she answers a question about the "practicality" of some of the requirements for chelaship as given in "Practical Occultism":
<blockquote>Chelaship has nothing whatever to do with means of subsistence or anything of the kind, for a man can isolate his mind entirely from his body and its surroundings. Chelaship is a state of mind, rather than a life according to hard and fast rules on the physical plane. This applies especially to the earlier, probationary period, while the rules given in ''Lucifer'' for April last pertain properly to a later stage, that of actual occult training and the development of occult powers and insight. These rules indicate, however, the mode of life which ought to be followed by all aspirants so far as practicable, since it is the most helpful to them in their aspirations.
It should never be forgotten that Occultism is concerned with the inner man who must be strengthened and freed from the dominion of the physical body and its surroundings, which must become his servants. Hence the first and chief necessity of Chelaship is a spirit of absolute unselfishness and devotion to Truth; then follow self-knowledge and self-mastery. These are all-important; while outward observance of fixed rules of life is a matter of secondary moment.<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Collected Writings'' vol. XI (Wheaton, Ill: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), fn. 300-301.</ref></blockquote>
=== According to A. Besant and C. W. Leadbeater ===
Dr. [[Annie Besant]] described a disciple in the following way:
<blockquote>A "disciple" is the name given, in the occult schools, to those who, being on the probationary path, are recognized by some Master as attached to Himself. The term asserts a fact, not a particular moral stage, and does not carry with it a necessary implication of the highest moral elevation. . . . Discipleship implies a past tie between Master and disciple, and a Master may recognise that tie, growing out of past relationship, with one who has still much to achieve; the disciple may have many and serious faults of character, may by no means—though his face be turned to the Light—have exhausted all the heavy Karma of the past, may be facing many a difficulty, fighting on many a battlefield with the legions of the past against him. The word "disciple" does not necessarily imply initiation, nor saintship; it only asserts a position and a tie—that the person is on the probationary path, and is recognised by a Master as His.<ref>Besant, Annie, ''Discipleship And Some Karmic Problems'' (Adyar Pamphlets, No 195, Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, March 1935),3-4.</ref></blockquote>
Both [[Annie Besant]] and [[C. W. Leadbeater]] promoted the book [[At the Feet of the Master (book)|''At the Feet of the Master'']] as "a statement so concise and yet so complete, so simple and yet so all-inclusive"<ref>Leadbeater, C. W., ''The Masters And The Path'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1925),53.</ref> about the necessary preparation to pass through the portal of Initiation. In this book, the qualifications given by [[Shankaracharya]] in his Vivekacudamani (''viveka'', ''vairagya'', ''shatsampatti'', and ''mumukshutva'') are used as a model, though in some cases are translated differently. The qualifications are: Discrimination, Desirelessness, Good Conduct (Self-control as to the Mind, Self-control in Action, Tolerance, Cheerfulness, One-pointedness, and Confidence), and Love. About these qualifications [[Annie Besant|Dr. Besant]] said:
<blockquote>What of the famous qualifications for initiation which he must now seek to make his own? They are not asked for in perfection, but some possession of them there must be ere the portal may swing open to admit him. . . . The completion of the qualities may be left for the other side, if the beginnings are seen; but the initiate must fill up the full tale, and the more there is lacking the more will there be to be done.<ref>Besant, Annie, ''Discipleship And Some Karmic Problems'' (Adyar Pamphlets, No 195, Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, March 1935),6-7.</ref></blockquote>
== Stages of Chelaship ==
In the writings of [[H. P. Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] and the [[Mahatmas]] we can see that the would-be disciple has first to go through a period of [[probation]] (typically, but not always, lasting seven years) "to prove their fitness, and develop the qualities necessary to the security of both Master and pupil."<ref>Blavatsky, H. P., ''Collected Writings'' vol. IX (Wheaton, Ill: Theosophical Publishing House, 1962), 155-162.</ref> After this period the disciple is accepted, and eventually can be initiated.
=== Later teachings ===
[[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa|C. Jinarājadāsa]] wrote:
<blockquote>The first stage is that of the Probationary Pupil, when a Master of the Wisdom puts the aspirant “on Probation”. This is done either on the physical or the astral plane, but more usually on the latter. . . . If, after seven years of testing, the pupil on Probation is found to have grown in self-sacrifice to man and to God, his Master then finally receives the pupil into the stage of Acceptance. . . . A still closer link between Master and pupil takes place at the next stage, when the pupil becomes the “Son of the Master”. . . . Coincident usually with the stage of the Son of the Master, the pupil is presented by his Master to the Great White Brotherhood for Initiation.<ref>Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, ''First Principles of Theosophy'', (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1967), 336-343.</ref></blockquote>


==Online resources==
==Online resources==
===Articles and pamphlets===
===Articles and pamphlets===
*[http://theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Discipleship# Discipleship] in Theosopedia
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No11.pdf# Gurus and Chelas] An Article by E.T. Sturdy and a Reply by Annie Besant
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No11.pdf# Gurus and Chelas] An Article by E.T. Sturdy and a Reply by Annie Besant
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No195a.pdf# Discipleship] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No25.pdf# Some Difficulties of the Inner Life] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No25.pdf# Some Difficulties of the Inner Life] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/AreChelasMediums.htm# Are Chelas "Mediums"?] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/AreChelasMediums.htm# Are Chelas "Mediums"?] by H. P. Blavatsky
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*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/PracticalOccultism.htm# Practical Occultism] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/PracticalOccultism.htm# Practical Occultism] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/SpiritualProgress.htm# Spiritual Progress] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/SpiritualProgress.htm# Spiritual Progress] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://hpb.narod.ru/QualificationsForChelashipMMC.html# Qualifications For Chelaship] by Mohini M. Chatterjee
*[http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/Study%20notes/Theosophy%20and%20Theosophists/Hartmann%20on%20how%20to%20enter%20the%20Path%20to%20Infinite%20Life.pdf# How to Enter the Path to Infinite Life] by Franz Hartmann
*[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/path/v03n04p105_to-aspirants-of-chelaship.htm# To Aspirants for Chelaship] by William Q. Judge
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Why_Not_I-CWL.htm# Why Not I?] by C. W. Leadbeater
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Why_Not_I-CWL.htm# Why Not I?] by C. W. Leadbeater
===Books===
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/otherdocuments/AtTheFeetOfTheMaster_AlcyoneJKrishnamurti.pdf# At the Feet of the Master] by Alcyone (J. Krishnamurti)
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Path_Of_Discipleship-AB.htm# The Path of Discipleship] by Annie Besant
===Audio===
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/Downloads/mp3/plummer/Is%20Discipleship%20Possible%20in%20the%20West.mp3# Is Discipleship Possible in the West?] by L. Gordon Plummer
===Video===
*[http://www.theosophical.org/online-programs/recent-webcasts/2356# Approaches to Discipleship and the Theosophical Society] by C.V.K. Maithreya


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Revision as of 16:13, 5 March 2013

Chela (devanāgarī: चेल cela) is a Sanskrit word that meaning "servant" or "slave." In Hinduism the term is used to denominate the religious student or disciple of a spiritual master or guru.

In Theosophy the term is frequently used to denominate a disciple accepted by one Master of Wisdom as a candidate for initiation into the occult sciences. In her The Theosophical Glossary H. P. Blavatsky defines it as "A disciple, the pupil of a Guru or Sage, the follower of some adept of a school of philosophy (lit., child).[1] Some synonyms frequently found in the Theosophical literature are "Disciple" and "Lanoo".


Online resources

Articles and pamphlets

Notes

  1. ↑ Blavatsky, H. P., Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 74.
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