Mahatma Letter No. 69

Quick Facts
People involved
Written by:	Koot Hoomi
Received by:	A. P. Sinnett
Sent via:	unknown
Dates
Written on:	unknown
Received on:	July 6, 1882
Other dates:	sent after 6/29/1882 per MKN
Places
Sent from:	unknown
Received at:	Simla, India
Via:	none

This is Letter No. 69 in Barker numbering. See below for Context and background.

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Page 1 transcription, image, and notes

I am sincerely pleased my "pupil" that you should write to me as agreed — whether you have — or have not — any special question to put to me. — It is impossible under your present health conditions that you should bring back to your physical brain the consciousness of higher planes of existence, yet remember, that the sense of magnetic refreshment is no true measure of spiritual benefit, and you may even attain greater spiritual progress whilst your psychic development appears to stand still.

Now to answer your questions.

(1) In esoteric teachings "Brahma," "Pitri," and "Deva" lokas, are states of consciousness belonging to the various ethereal hierarchies or classes of Dhyanis and Pitris (the "creators" and "ancestors" of Humanity) and of Devas — some far higher than man (spiritually)

NOTES:

Page 2

some — among the Deva classes — far behind on the descending arc of evolution, and only destined to reach the human stage in a future Manvantara. — Exoterically these lokas represent Nirvana, Devachan and the Astral world. The meaning of the terms Devachan and Deva-loka, is identical; "chan" and "loka" equally signifying place or abode. "Deva" is a word too indiscriminately used in Eastern writings, and is at times merely a blind.

(2) You will be right in referring the "Real Knowledge" and "True Cause" of the verses quoted to the highest plane of spiritual enlightenment; the "greater darkness" into which the perfected "Siddha" is finally merged thereby, is that Absolute Darkness, which is Absolute Light. The Real Knowledge here spoken of is not a mental but a spiritual state, implying full

NOTES:

• Real Knowledge could refer to Dgyu, as contrasted with unreal knowledge.
• verses quoted is uncertain, but might refer to verses that Sinnett was planning to use in The Theosophist.

Page 3

union between the Knower and the Known.

I hope that these brief replies may throw all the light you needed upon these points.

With sincere good-will,

Yours truly, K. H.

NOTES:

Physical description of letter

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

In blue pencil on both sides of a single sheet of thin waxy paper, about 8" X 10" [20.3 X 25.4 cm], unfolded.

Commentary about this letter

Joy Mills had this to say:

At the conclusion of Letter 68, just prior to the lengthy postscript, KH asks Sinnett, “How long do you propose to abstain from interrogation marks?” It is evident from Letter 69 that the Englishman did not “abstain” for long from asking at least two further questions, to which Sinnett must have promised to “abstain.” Here KH writes “you should write to me as agreed.” [JK] KH gives only brief replies. The opening paragraph implies that Sinnett’s way of life is what prevents him from physically remembering any spiritual experience, and that psychic development has little to do with spiritual progress. The Mahatma’s words: “The sense of magnetic refreshment is no true measure of spiritual benefit, and you may even attain greater spiritual progress whilst your psychic development appears to stand still” give us much to contemplate.

The response to Sinnett’s first question seems amply clear as to require no comment. While the Sanskrit term loka actually means “place” or “locality,” or even “world” or “plane,” the Mahatmas again and again stress that in the esoteric teachings it refers to states of consciousness. KH comments that those states “belong to the various ethereal hierarchies or classes of Dhyanis and Pitris . . . some—among the Deva classes.” Each state of consciousness, or loka, may be embodied in or by a particular class of dhyani or deva, that is, just as we in the human state “create” our world, so at subtler levels, it is the dhyanis or devas who “create” their world or loka in accordance with their state of consciousness.

The answer to whatever was Sinnett’s second question is reminiscent of what the Mahatma M said concerning “Real Knowledge” in the first set of Cosmological Notes (page 508). Although the “verse quoted,” to which KH refers, remains unidentified, it may have been something Sinnett was planning to use in one of the series called “Fragments of Occult Truth.” KH’s definition of the phrase “Real Knowledge” is most helpful and accords perfectly with M’s statement that it “deals with eternal verities and primal causes” and is a condition when the Adept’s mind is “en rapport with the Universal Mind.” How to bring about that “spiritual state” is among the tasks that confront us on the spiritual path.