Paradoxes of the Highest Science (book)
Paradoxes of the Highest Science is a book with collected previously unpublished manuscripts by French occultist Éliphas Lévi.
In Mahatma Letter #75, Master K.H. promises A. P. Sinnett to send him "a number of his MSS. — that have never been published, in a large, clear, beautiful handwriting with my comments all through." The manuscripts, with the Master's comments to various portions of the manuscript appended, were eventually sent to A. O. Hume. According to Boris de Zirkoff, it was Hume himself who translated the original French manuscript into English, wrote a Preface to it, and added some notes of his own, signed "Translator." The Master's comments are signed "E.O.," which stands for "Eminent Occultist," according to Hume's statement in the Preface. This was published as the second of a planned series of Theosophical Miscellanies (Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press Co., Ltd., 5 Council House St., 1883) under the title Paradoxes of the Highest Science. Later, C. Jinarajadasa re-published it from Adyar in 1922, calling it "Second Edition," and adding on the title page, "With Foot-notes by a Master of the Wisdom."[1]
Notes by H. P. Blavatsky
There exists in the Archives of The Theosophical Society at Adyar a worn out copy of the Paradoxes of the Highest Science (1883), containing some marginal notes of H. P. Blavatsky's, although probably in Miss Francesca Arundale’s handwriting, presumably copied by her from HPB's own notes in some other copy of the same booklet.
Below, are Blavatsky's notations[2] The double page references are to the original Calcutta edition of 1883, and the 2nd edition published by C. Jinarâjadâsa (Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, 1922), the latter between parentheses.
Page 1(v). Immediately after the words "(By the Translator)," H. P. B. wrote:
A. O. Hume.
Page 2(vii). To the right of the letters "E. O.," she placed the mark #, and at the bottom of the page wrote:
# K.H.
Page 21(31). To the Translator's note—in which he objects to the fact that Master K. H. condemns suicide as well as homicide unconditionally, even in self-defence, and says, ". . . to allow a man to kill you, when you can prevent this by killing him, is, it seems to me, suicide to all intents and purposes." H. P. B. remarks:
A far subtler sophistry—this. H.P.B.
Page 22(32). In E.O.'s note she crossed out the word "inconnues," in his French expression: "Pas de demi-inconnues," and wrote on the margin:
mesures.
Page 32(46). To the Translator's note—in which he again questions the Master's better judgment, when the latter considers the Western or Christian conception of God as "a ridiculous supernumerary." H.P.B. added the remarks:
Hit number 2 and the translator giving himself out as an Adwaitee too. H. P. B.