Mahatma Letter No. 69: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:ML needs images]]
{{Infobox MLbox
[[Category:ML needs transcriptions proofread, links added]]
| header1 = People involved |
[[Category:ML needs Quick Facts]]
| writtenby        = [[Koot Hoomi]]
[[Category:ML needs prev/next buttons]]
| receivedby        = [[A. P. Sinnett]]
[[Category:ML transcripts notes]]
| sentvia          = unknown
[[Category:ML needs context, commentary]]
| header2 = Dates
[[Category:ML from Koot Hoomi]]
| writtendate      = unknown
 
| receiveddate      = July 6, 1882
'''This is Letter No. 69 in Barker numbering.''' See below for [[Mahatma Letter No. 69#Context and background|Context and background]].
| otherdate        = sent after 6/29/1882 per [[Mary K. Neff|MKN]]
 
| header3 = Places
<nowiki>
| sentfrom          = unknown
FACTS TO GO IN INFOBOX:
| receivedat        = [[Simla, India]]
From:  [[Koot Hoomi]]
| vialocation      = unknown{{pad|9em}}
To: [[A. P. Sinnett]]
}}
Date sent: After 6/29/1882 per [[Mary K. Neff]]
This is '''Letter No. 69''' in''' [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']], 4th chronological edition'''. It corresponds to '''Letter No. 69''' in '''Barker numbering.''' See below for [[Mahatma Letter No. 69#Context and background|Context and background]].
Date received: 7/6/1881 per [[Conger]]; 7/6/1882 per [[Hanson]]/[[Linton]]; undated per [[VHC]]
Sent from:
Where received: Simla
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<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 68|'''<nowiki> < </nowiki>'''Prev letter chrono]]</big>{{pad|3em}}
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 68|'''<nowiki> < </nowiki>'''Prev letter chrono]]</big>{{pad|3em}}
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 70a|Next letter chrono'''<nowiki> > </nowiki>''']]</big>{{pad|3em}}
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 70a|Next letter chrono'''<nowiki> > </nowiki>''']]</big>{{pad|3em}}
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<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 123|'''<nowiki> < </nowiki>'''Prev letter Barker]]</big>{{pad|3em}}
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 123|'''<nowiki> < </nowiki>'''Prev letter Barker]]</big>{{pad|3em}}
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 97|Next letter Barker'''<nowiki> > </nowiki>''']]</big>  
<big>[[Mahatma Letter No. 97|Next letter Barker'''<nowiki> > </nowiki>''']]</big>  
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== Page 1 transcription, image, and notes ==
== Page 1 transcription, image, and notes ==


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Now to answer your questions.
Now to answer your questions.


(1) In esoteric teachings "[[Brahma lokas|Brahma]]," "[[Pitri lokas|Pitri]]," and "[[Deva lokas|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]]<ref>''Theosopedia'', s.v."Devas," by Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr., accessed February 10, 2011, http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Devas.</ref> — some far higher than man (spiritually)
(1) In esoteric teachings "[[Brahma lokas|Brahma]]," "[[Pitri lokas|Pitri]]," and "[[Deva lokas|Deva]]" [[lokas]], are states of consciousness belonging to the various ethereal hierarchies or classes of [[Dhyāni-Chohan|Dhyanis]] and Pitris (the "creators" and "ancestors" of Humanity) and of [[Devas]]<ref>''Theosopedia'', s.v."Devas," by Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr., accessed February 10, 2011, http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Devas.</ref> — some far higher than man (spiritually)
 
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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.
some — among the Deva classes — far behind on the [[Evolution#Descending and ascending arcs|descending arc of evolution]], and only destined to reach the human stage in a future [[Manvantara]]. — [[Exotericism|Exoterically]] these [[Loka|lokas]] represent [[Nirvāṇa|Nirvana]], [[Devachan]] and the [[Astral Light|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
(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
 
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'''NOTES:'''
'''NOTES:'''
* "verses quoted" is uncertain.<ref>It is not clear which ‘verses’ KH is referring to, but possibly something APS was planning to use in one of his 'Fragments of Occult Truth' which he was now writing for The Theosophist. [RG]</ref>
* Real Knowledge could refer to [[Dgyu]], as contrasted with unreal knowledge.<ref>This could be a reference to item No.1 of M’s cosmological notes, where he uses the term '[[Dgyu]]'’ for 'real knowledge' as contrasted to unreal knowledge. See Appendix II in ''The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to A.P. Sinnett (book)|The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to A.P. Sinnett''.</ref>


* '''verses quoted''' refers to "Isa Upanishad" (verses 9-14).<ref>See F. Max Muller "The Sacred Books of the East. The Upanishads", vol. I, 1879, pp.312-313 (https://archive.org/details/upanishads01ml).</ref>
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With sincere good-will,
With sincere good-will,


Yours truly, K. H.
Yours truly, [[Koot Hoomi|K. H.]]
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== Context and background ==
== Context and background ==
 
No date is noted. However, since the Mahatma is obviously answering some questions from [[A. P. Sinnett]], inspired by the [[Devachan]] letter, it must have followed rather closely upon that.


== Physical description of letter ==
== Physical description of letter ==


The letter was written in blue pencil on both sides of a single sheet of thin waxy paper, about 10 x 8 inches or 25 x 20 cm. The current location of letter is in the British Library, Folio 3.  Images are available in microfilm and slide formats.
The original is in the British Library, Folio 3. According to [[George Linton]] and [[Virginia Hanson]], the letter was written:
<blockquote>
In blue pencil on both sides of a single sheet of thin waxy paper, about 8" X 10" <nowiki>[</nowiki>20.3 X 25.4 cm<nowiki>]</nowiki>, unfolded.<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 122.</ref>
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== Publication history ==
== Publication history ==
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<references/>
<references/>


== Additional resources ==
[[Category:ML from Koot Hoomi]]
[[Category:ML to A. P. Sinnett]]
[[Category:ML with images]]
 
[[it:Lettera dei Mahatma n° 69]]
[[es: CM69]]

Latest revision as of 19:57, 22 April 2024

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: unknown 

This is Letter No. 69 in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, 4th chronological edition. It corresponds to Letter No. 69 in Barker numbering. See below for Context and background.

< Prev letter chrono  Next letter chrono >  
< Prev letter Barker  Next letter Barker >

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[1] — some far higher than man (spiritually)

69-1_6981_thm.jpg

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

69-2_6982_thm.jpg

NOTES:

  • verses quoted refers to "Isa Upanishad" (verses 9-14).[2]

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.

69-3_6980_thm.jpg

NOTES:

Context and background

No date is noted. However, since the Mahatma is obviously answering some questions from A. P. Sinnett, inspired by the Devachan letter, it must have followed rather closely upon that.

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.[3]

Publication history

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.[4]

Notes

  1. Theosopedia, s.v."Devas," by Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr., accessed February 10, 2011, http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Devas.
  2. See F. Max Muller "The Sacred Books of the East. The Upanishads", vol. I, 1879, pp.312-313 (https://archive.org/details/upanishads01ml).
  3. George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 122.
  4. Joy Mills, Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 2010), 277-278.