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The Masters of Wisdom are sometimes referred indistinctly as "Brothers", "[[Adepts]]", or "[[Mahatmas]]."
The Masters of Wisdom are sometimes referred indistinctly as "Brothers", "[[Adepts]]", or "[[Mahatmas]]."


== Adepts and Masters ==  
== General description==


The word "[[Adept]]" was used by Mme. Blavatsky as a general term to denote people with a varying degree of [[Occultism|occult]] knowledge and [[initiation]]. This term does not necessarily imply a person with a high spiritual evolution, and it was sometimes used even to denominate black magicians. Thus, there are good and evil Adepts, of a high or low order.
The Masters are [[Occultism|occultists]] who have developed the psychic and spiritual [[Siddhi|powers]] that are still latent in most human beings:


The word Master, however, seems to be reserved to high adepts who work in line with the evolutionary movement. This idea is expressed to certain extent by [[Charles Johnston]] in his published interview to H. P. Blavatsky:
<blockquote>A Mahatma is a personage who, by special training and education, has evolved those higher faculties and has attained that spiritual knowledge which ordinary humanity will acquire after passing through numberless series of incarnations during the process of cosmic evolution, provided, of course, that they do not go, in the meanwhile, against the purposes of Nature. . .<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 239.</ref></blockquote>


<blockquote>Then she told me something about other Masters and adepts she had known -- for she made a difference, as though the adepts were the captains of the occult world, and the Masters were the generals. She had known adepts of many races, from Northern and Southern India, Tibet, Persia, China, Egypt; of various European nations, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, English; of certain races in South America, where she said there was a Lodge of adepts.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'', vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 400.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>The occultist, when he has identified himself thoroughly with his [[Ātman|Atma]], acts upon the [[Buddhi]], for, according to the laws of Cosmic [[Evolution]], the [[Puruṣa|Purusha]] — the universal seventh principle––is perpetually acting upon and manifesting itself through [[Prakṛti|Prakriti]]—the universal [[sixth principle]]. Thus the MAHATMA, who has become one with his [[seventh principle]]—which is identical with Purusha, since there is no isolation in the spiritual [[monad]]—is practically a creator, for he has identified himself with the evoluting and the manifesting energy of nature.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 261-262.</ref></blockquote>
 
However, this should not give the impression that the Masters are "ascended" or incorporeal spirits. Blavatsky stated, "They are living men, not 'spirits' or even [[Nirmanakaya]]s."<ref>Manly P. Hall, "Madam Blavatsky - A Tribute," Theosophia (May-June, 1947), 11.</ref> Similarly, in her book [[The Key to Theosophy (book)|''The Key to Theosophy'']] we find the following dialogue:
 
<blockquote>ENQUIRER. Who are they, finally, those whom you call your "Masters"? Some say they are "Spirits," or some other kind of supernatural beings, while others call them "myths."<br>
THEOSOPHIST. They are neither. I once heard one outsider say to another that they were a sort of male mermaids, whatever such a creature may be. But if you listen to what people say, you will never have a true conception of them. In the first place they are living men, born as we are born, and doomed to die like every other mortal.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Key to Theosophy'' (London: Theosophical Publishing House, [1987]), Section 14, p. ???.</ref></blockquote>
 
The Masters are thus incarnated in a body, and live in physical locations in different parts of the world. For this reason, even Masters are subject to physical limitations when acting through the body. As [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote in [[Mahatma Letter No. 130#Page 10|one of his letters]] to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]]:
 
<blockquote>For you know — or think you know, of one [[Koot Hoomi|K.H.]] — and can know but of one, whereas there are two distinct personages answering to that name <u>in him</u> you know. The riddle is only apparent and easy to solve, were you only to know what a real <u>Mahatma</u> is. You have seen by [[Henry Kiddle#The Kiddle Incident|the Kiddle incident]] — perchance allowed to develop to its bitter end for a purpose — that even an "[[adept]]" when acting in his body is not beyond mistakes due to human carelessness.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 130 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 433.</ref></blockquote>


Although the Masters known through the Theosophical literature use a male body, there are testimonies by a number of [[chela]]s that there are [[Adepts#Women Adepts|women adepts]], even of the highest degree.
Although the Masters known through the Theosophical literature use a male body, there are testimonies by a number of [[chela]]s that there are [[Adepts#Women Adepts|women adepts]], even of the highest degree.


According to [[T. Subba Row]] there are different types of Adepts, corresponding to the [[Seven Rays]] of the Logos:
=== Lifespan ===
 
Blavatsky said that the Masters "have discovered means to make their bodies last far longer than the norm." This is connected to the popular idea of the "elixir of life," which, according to her, is a metaphor for "a real occult process, warding off age and dissolution for periods which would seem fabulous."<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VIII (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960) 399-400</ref></blockquote>
 
In a famous article, [[The "Elixir of Life"]], written by a former disciple of the Masters, the author claims that those who follow this process can live a thousand years or so. However, Blavatsky rejected this notion, saying:


<blockquote>In the adept hierarchy, there are always seven classes of adepts, corresponding to the seven rays of the Logos. Two of these classes of adepts are so mysterious, and their representatives on earth are so rare, that they are seldom spoken of. Perhaps one or two adepts of these two mysterious orders appear every two or three thousand years.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 106.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Their [the Masters'] knowledge and learning are immense, and their personal holiness of life is still greater — still they are mortal men and none of them 1,000 years old, as imagined by some.<ref>Manly P. Hall, "Madam Blavatsky - A Tribute," Theosophia (May-June, 1947), 11.</ref></blockquote>
 
Similarly, she stated:
 
<blockquote>I have never heard of mortal man, layman, or Adept, who could live even half the [969] years allotted to Methuselah. Some Adepts do exceed, by a good deal, what you would call the ordinary age; yet there is nothing miraculous in it, and very few of them care to live very long.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Key to Theosophy'' (London: Theosophical Publishing House, [1987]), Section 14, p. ???.</ref></blockquote>
 
A reference as to how long a human body may last was given by [[Damodar K. Mavalankar]] in a letter to [[W. Q. Judge]], saying, "At the most, how long can a human life last? Not more than four hundred years."<ref>See [http://www.dailytheosophy.net/0001-home-2/03-literature-2/03-1-fundamental-theosophical-literature-inleiding-links/eastern-school-of-theosophy/lettres-by-damodar-k-mavalankar-to-william-quan-judge/# Letters by Damodar K. Mavalankar to William Quan Judge]</ref> This is repeated by Judge in his book [[The Ocean of Theosophy (book)|''The Ocean of Theosophy'']].<ref>William Quan Judge, ''The Ocean of Theosophy'', (Pasadena: Theosophical University Press, 2011), 37.</ref>


== Renouncing Nirvana ==  
== Renouncing Nirvana ==  
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<blockquote>In many ways, but chiefly by teaching their souls direct, in the spiritual world. But that is difficult for you to understand. This is quite intelligible, though. At certain regular periods, they try to give the world at large a right understanding of spiritual things. One of their number comes forth to teach the masses, and is handed down to tradition as the Founder of a religion. Krishna was such a Master; so was Zoroaster; so were Buddha and Shankara Acharya, the great sage of Southern India. So also was the Nazarene. He went forth against the counsel of the rest, to give to the masses before the time, moved by a great pity, and enthusiasm for humanity; he was warned that the time was unfavorable, but nevertheless he elected to go, and so was put to death at the instigation of the priests. . . .<br>
<blockquote>In many ways, but chiefly by teaching their souls direct, in the spiritual world. But that is difficult for you to understand. This is quite intelligible, though. At certain regular periods, they try to give the world at large a right understanding of spiritual things. One of their number comes forth to teach the masses, and is handed down to tradition as the Founder of a religion. Krishna was such a Master; so was Zoroaster; so were Buddha and Shankara Acharya, the great sage of Southern India. So also was the Nazarene. He went forth against the counsel of the rest, to give to the masses before the time, moved by a great pity, and enthusiasm for humanity; he was warned that the time was unfavorable, but nevertheless he elected to go, and so was put to death at the instigation of the priests. . . .<br>
But that is not the only work of the adepts. At much shorter periods, they send forth a messenger to try to teach the world. Such a period comes in the last quarter of each century, and the Theosophical Society represents their work for this epoch.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'', vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 401-402.</ref></blockquote>
But that is not the only work of the adepts. At much shorter periods, they send forth a messenger to try to teach the world. Such a period comes in the last quarter of each century, and the Theosophical Society represents their work for this epoch.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'', vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 401-402.</ref></blockquote>
One must bear in mind, however, that there are different types of Adepts corresponding to the [[Seven Rays]] of the Logos, and they may have different functions. As [[T. Subba Row]] stated:
<blockquote>In the adept hierarchy, there are always seven classes of adepts, corresponding to the seven rays of the Logos. Two of these classes of adepts are so mysterious, and their representatives on earth are so rare, that they are seldom spoken of. Perhaps one or two adepts of these two mysterious orders appear every two or three thousand years.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 106.</ref></blockquote>


There are some references to some kind of involvement of the Masters in political or social matters. For example in [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters'']], the [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]] around November 1880:
There are some references to some kind of involvement of the Masters in political or social matters. For example in [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters'']], the [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]] around November 1880:
Line 47: Line 70:


<blockquote>The adept hierarchy is as strictly a product of nature as a tree is: it has a definite and indispensable purpose and function in the development of the human race: this function is to keep open the upward path, through which descend the light and leading without which our race would require to make each step by the wearisome, never ending method of trial and failure in every direction, until chance showed the right way.
<blockquote>The adept hierarchy is as strictly a product of nature as a tree is: it has a definite and indispensable purpose and function in the development of the human race: this function is to keep open the upward path, through which descend the light and leading without which our race would require to make each step by the wearisome, never ending method of trial and failure in every direction, until chance showed the right way.
<br>
 
In fact the function of the adept hierarchy is to provide religious teachers for the stumbling masses of mankind.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 113.</ref></blockquote>
In fact the function of the adept hierarchy is to provide religious teachers for the stumbling masses of mankind.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 113.</ref></blockquote>


In [[Mahatma_Letter_No._112#Page 3|one of his letters]] to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]], [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] talks about another aspect of their work. He mentions the Masters' "prime duty of gaining knowledge and disseminating through all available channels such fragments as mankind in the mass may be ready to assimilate".<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 112 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 382.</ref></blockquote>
In [[Mahatma_Letter_No._112#Page 3|one of his letters]] to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]], [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] talks about another aspect of their work. He mentions the Masters' "prime duty of gaining knowledge and disseminating through all available channels such fragments as mankind in the mass may be ready to assimilate".<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 112 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 382.</ref></blockquote>
Regarding their roles as teachers, they do not impart information to their chelas as regular teachers do, but rather train them to develop their abilities so that they can perceive truths by their own means. As Subba Row explained:
<blockquote>Our Gurus, be it remember, never teach us as our English school masters. Nothing by word. They simply impress in our minds and help us develop the higher [[Round#Fifth_Round|fifth rounder's]] faculty.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''T. Subba Row Collected Writings'' vol. I (San Diego, USA: Point Loma Publications, 2001), 15.</ref></blockquote>
This is confirmed in the following testimony from H. P. Blavatsky:
<blockquote>Knowledge comes in visions, first in dreams and then in pictures presented to the inner eye during meditation. Thus have I been taught the whole system of evolution, the laws of being and all else that I know—the mysteries of life and death, the workings of karma. Not a word was spoken to me of all this in the ordinary way, except, perhaps, by way of confirmation of what was thus given me—nothing taught me in writing.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'', vol. 13 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1982), 285.</ref></blockquote>


== According to C. W. Leadbeater ==
== According to C. W. Leadbeater ==
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<blockquote>The [[Adept]]s are dealing with the entire world in enormous comprehensive sweeps of power; They are influencing millions in their [[Causal Body|causal bodies]] or on the [[buddhi]]c plane, and all the time steadily, though by almost imperceptible degrees, raising the higher bodies of the people on a wholesale scale. And yet the same Master who spends His life in doing that work will sometimes turn aside and pay personal attention to little details connected with one pupil.<ref>Charles Webster Leadbeater, ''The Masters and the Path'', (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1992), ???.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>The [[Adept]]s are dealing with the entire world in enormous comprehensive sweeps of power; They are influencing millions in their [[Causal Body|causal bodies]] or on the [[buddhi]]c plane, and all the time steadily, though by almost imperceptible degrees, raising the higher bodies of the people on a wholesale scale. And yet the same Master who spends His life in doing that work will sometimes turn aside and pay personal attention to little details connected with one pupil.<ref>Charles Webster Leadbeater, ''The Masters and the Path'', (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1992), ???.</ref></blockquote>
== See also ==
*[[Mahatma]]
*[[Adepts]]
*[[Brotherhood of Adepts]]
*[[Chela]]
*[[Chelaship]]
*[[Initiation]]
*[[Occultism]]
*[[Portraits of the Masters]]
*[[:Category:Mahatmas and Adepts|A list of Wiki articles on individual Mahatmas and Adepts]]


==Online resources==
==Online resources==
===Articles and pamphlets===
===Articles and pamphlets===
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2381# Working as Colleagues of the Masters] by Ed Abdill
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/working-as-colleagues-of-the-masters Working as Colleagues of the Masters] by Ed Abdill
*[http://www.theosophical.ca/adyar_pamphlets/AdyarPamphlet_No101.pdf# Is Belief in the Masters Superstitious or Harmful?] by Annie Besant
*[https://cdn.website-editor.net/e4d6563c50794969b714ab70457d9761/files/uploaded/AdyarPamphlet_No101.pdf# Is Belief in the Masters Superstitious or Harmful?] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Super-Human%20Men-%20Annie%20Besant.htm# Superhuman Men - in History and in Religion] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Super-Human%20Men-%20Annie%20Besant.htm# Superhuman Men - in History and in Religion] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/CanTheMahatmasBeSelfish.htm# Can The Mahatmas Be Selfish?] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/can-the-mahatmas-be-selfish# Can The Mahatmas Be Selfish?] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/MadameBlavatskyOnTheHimalayanBrothers.htm# Madame Blavatsky on "The Himalayan Brothers"] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/mdm-blavatsky-on-the-himalayan-brothers# Madame Blavatsky on "The Himalayan Brothers"] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/MahatmasAndChelas.htm# Mahatmas and Chelas] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/mahatmas-and-chelas# Mahatmas and Chelas] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/TheosophicalMahatmas.htm# The Theosophical Mahatmas] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/theosophical-mahatmas# The Theosophical Mahatmas] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-14.htm# The "Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Key to Theosophy'' Section 14, by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-14.htm# The "Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Key to Theosophy'' Section 14, by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Masters.pdf# Masters and Gurus] by Radha Burnier
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Masters.pdf# Masters and Gurus] by Radha Burnier
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*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/PerfectedOnes.pdf# The Perfected Ones] by Clara Codd
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/PerfectedOnes.pdf# The Perfected Ones] by Clara Codd
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway1.htm# The Mahatmas and Their Instruments - Part 1] and [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway2.htm# Part 2] by Laura Holloway
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway1.htm# The Mahatmas and Their Instruments - Part 1] and [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/holloway2.htm# Part 2] by Laura Holloway
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/theosophy/judge/articles/mahatmas.htm# The Mahatmas as Ideals and Facts] by W. Q. Judge
*[http://www.ultindia.org/pamphlets/wqj/TheosophicalAdepts.pdf# Theosophical Adepts (a collection of articles)] by W. Q. Judge
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/theosophy/judge/articles/masters-adepts-teachers-disciples.htm# Masters, Adepts, Teachers, and Disciples] by W. Q. Judge
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/masters-adepts-teachers-and-disciples# Masters, Adepts, Teachers, and Disciples] by W. Q. Judge
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Teacher.pdf# Who Is The Teacher?] by Joy Mills
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Teacher.pdf# Who Is The Teacher?] by Joy Mills
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2383# How the Masters Know Truth] by Shirley J. Nicholson
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/how-the-masters-know-truth How the Masters Know Truth] by Shirley J. Nicholson
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2382# Mahatmas versus Ascended Masters] by Pablo Sender
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/mahatmas-versus-ascended-masters Mahatmas versus Ascended Masters] by Pablo Sender
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2377# Who Are the Masters?] An Interview with Joy Mills by Richard Smoley
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/who-are-the-masters Who Are the Masters?] An Interview with Joy Mills by Richard Smoley


===Books===
===Books===
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===Audio===
===Audio===
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/Downloads/mp3/kunz/Masters%20of%20the%20Wisdom.mp3# Masters of the Wisdom] by Dora Kunz
*[https://archive.org/download/1151_20191125/1151.mp3# The Path to the Masters of Wisdom] by Clara Codd
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/Downloads/mp3/sanat/Krishnamurti%20on%20the%20Masters.mp3# Krishnamurti on the Masters] by Aryel Sanat
*[https://archive.org/download/1365_20200103/1365.mp3# The Masters of the Wisdom: The World, and the Theosophical Society Today] by Dora Kunz
*[https://archive.org/download/1364_20191228/1364.mp3# The Masters and the Future of the Theosophical Society] by Dora Kunz
*[http://www.old.theosophical.org/files/resources/Downloads/mp3/sanat/Krishnamurti%20on%20the%20Masters.mp3# Krishnamurti on the Masters] by Aryel Sanat
*[http://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/Downloads/mp3/abdill/The%20Adepts:%20Our%20Brothers.mp3# "The Adepts: Our Brothers"] by Ed Abdill


===Video===
===Video===
*[http://www.theosophicalinstitute.org/medialibrary/viewtitle.php?titleid=1FA4F59E-037F-498C-AC93-A73F17DD159E&file=053CEEF4-19EF-409F-9D50-7024217FD9F6#053CEEF4-19EF-409F-9D50-7024217FD9F6# The Masters and Their Wisdom - Part 1] by Pablo Sender
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRS5NcAidxo# The Mahatmas and Their Letters] by Theosophical Society in America
*[http://www.theosophicalinstitute.org/medialibrary/viewtitle.php?titleid=1FA4F59E-037F-498C-AC93-A73F17DD159E&file=D40DE709-02BE-4EFE-BFB5-CA3427436644#D40DE709-02BE-4EFE-BFB5-CA3427436644# The Masters and Their Wisdom Part 2] [http://www.theosophicalinstitute.org/medialibrary/viewtitle.php?titleid=1FA4F59E-037F-498C-AC93-A73F17DD159E&file=A1B2912B-C5DB-402C-88A1-81932D9E7D77#A1B2912B-C5DB-402C-88A1-81932D9E7D77# Part 3] and [http://www.theosophicalinstitute.org/medialibrary/viewtitle.php?titleid=1FA4F59E-037F-498C-AC93-A73F17DD159E&file=BD9395ED-2517-4847-A314-9177E18A3091#BD9395ED-2517-4847-A314-9177E18A3091# Part 4] by Tim Boyd
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7QW0CGyvkY# The Mahatmas, Their Letters, and The Path] by Ed Abdill
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLOfiqc0c4A# In Their Own Words - Wisdom from the Mahatmas] by Ed Abdill
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBU6S8Yutbk# The Masters of the Wisdom] by Pablo Sender
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErsV6ugfxxo# The Masters and Their Wisdom - Part 1] by Pablo Sender
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNK9_L9haCw The Masters and Their Wisdom Part 2], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTkChZrBw_0 Part 3], and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0OnqpG0yAY Part 4] by Tim Boyd
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidDBxWetAg# The Hierarchy of Earth's Adepts: Part 1] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNAn9vHIm5M# Part 2] by Geoffrey Hodson
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcxsYqiYRA# The Mahatmas: Working with the Wise Ones for a Better World] by Barbara Herbert


== Additional resources ==
== Additional resources ==
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[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]
[[Category:Mahatmas and Adepts]]
[[Category:Mahatmas and Adepts]]
[[es: Maestros de Sabiduría]]
[[ru:Мастера Мудрости]]

Latest revision as of 00:56, 30 December 2023

The Masters of Wisdom, or simply "The Masters" are initiates in the occult science and esoteric philosophy, who take disciples or chelas. H. P. Blavatsky, in the glossary of her book The Key to Theosophy defined the Theosophical concept of "Master" as follows:

Master. A translation from the Sanskrit Guru, "Spiritual teacher," and adopted by the Theosophists to designate the Adepts, from whom they hold their teachings.[1]

The Masters of Wisdom are sometimes referred indistinctly as "Brothers", "Adepts", or "Mahatmas."

General description

The Masters are occultists who have developed the psychic and spiritual powers that are still latent in most human beings:

A Mahatma is a personage who, by special training and education, has evolved those higher faculties and has attained that spiritual knowledge which ordinary humanity will acquire after passing through numberless series of incarnations during the process of cosmic evolution, provided, of course, that they do not go, in the meanwhile, against the purposes of Nature. . .[2]

The occultist, when he has identified himself thoroughly with his Atma, acts upon the Buddhi, for, according to the laws of Cosmic Evolution, the Purusha — the universal seventh principle––is perpetually acting upon and manifesting itself through Prakriti—the universal sixth principle. Thus the MAHATMA, who has become one with his seventh principle—which is identical with Purusha, since there is no isolation in the spiritual monad—is practically a creator, for he has identified himself with the evoluting and the manifesting energy of nature.[3]

However, this should not give the impression that the Masters are "ascended" or incorporeal spirits. Blavatsky stated, "They are living men, not 'spirits' or even Nirmanakayas."[4] Similarly, in her book The Key to Theosophy we find the following dialogue:

ENQUIRER. Who are they, finally, those whom you call your "Masters"? Some say they are "Spirits," or some other kind of supernatural beings, while others call them "myths."
THEOSOPHIST. They are neither. I once heard one outsider say to another that they were a sort of male mermaids, whatever such a creature may be. But if you listen to what people say, you will never have a true conception of them. In the first place they are living men, born as we are born, and doomed to die like every other mortal.[5]

The Masters are thus incarnated in a body, and live in physical locations in different parts of the world. For this reason, even Masters are subject to physical limitations when acting through the body. As Master K.H. wrote in one of his letters to A. P. Sinnett:

For you know — or think you know, of one K.H. — and can know but of one, whereas there are two distinct personages answering to that name in him you know. The riddle is only apparent and easy to solve, were you only to know what a real Mahatma is. You have seen by the Kiddle incident — perchance allowed to develop to its bitter end for a purpose — that even an "adept" when acting in his body is not beyond mistakes due to human carelessness.[6]

Although the Masters known through the Theosophical literature use a male body, there are testimonies by a number of chelas that there are women adepts, even of the highest degree.

Lifespan

Blavatsky said that the Masters "have discovered means to make their bodies last far longer than the norm." This is connected to the popular idea of the "elixir of life," which, according to her, is a metaphor for "a real occult process, warding off age and dissolution for periods which would seem fabulous."[7]

In a famous article, The "Elixir of Life", written by a former disciple of the Masters, the author claims that those who follow this process can live a thousand years or so. However, Blavatsky rejected this notion, saying:

Their [the Masters'] knowledge and learning are immense, and their personal holiness of life is still greater — still they are mortal men and none of them 1,000 years old, as imagined by some.[8]

Similarly, she stated:

I have never heard of mortal man, layman, or Adept, who could live even half the [969] years allotted to Methuselah. Some Adepts do exceed, by a good deal, what you would call the ordinary age; yet there is nothing miraculous in it, and very few of them care to live very long.[9]

A reference as to how long a human body may last was given by Damodar K. Mavalankar in a letter to W. Q. Judge, saying, "At the most, how long can a human life last? Not more than four hundred years."[10] This is repeated by Judge in his book The Ocean of Theosophy.[11]

Renouncing Nirvana

An important feature of the Masters of Wisdom is that, although they have attained the right to enter in Nirvāṇa they renounce to it in order to stay in touch with humanity. This is the same concept of the Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, which was not very well know at the time to the Western world:

. . .the hitherto very esoteric doctrine of the Nirmanakayas was lately brought forward as a proof and explained in the treatise called The Voice of the Silence. These Nirmanakayas are the Bodhisattvas or late Adepts, who having reached Nirvana and liberation from rebirth, renounce it voluntarily in order to remain invisibly amidst the world to help poor ignorant Humanity within the lines permitted by Karma.[12]

This is evidently a sacrifice on their part, renouncing to live in a state of bliss on higher planes to incessantly work on the lower ones. As Mahatma K.H. wrote to A. P. Sinnett:

I will be busy night and day, morning, noon, and evening. At times I feel a passing regret that the Chohans should not evolute the happy idea of allowing us also a "sumptuary allowance" in the shape of a little spare time. Oh, for the final Rest! for that Nirvana where — "to be one with Life, yet — to live not." Alas, alas! having personally realized that: ". . . the Soul of Things is sweet, The Heart of Being is celestial Rest," one does long for — eternal REST![13]

The work of the Masters

When asked by Charles Johnston about their work she answered: "You would hardly understand, unless you were an adept. But they keep alive the spiritual life of mankind."[14] He then asked her how the adepts guide the souls of men, to which H. P. Blavatsky answered:

In many ways, but chiefly by teaching their souls direct, in the spiritual world. But that is difficult for you to understand. This is quite intelligible, though. At certain regular periods, they try to give the world at large a right understanding of spiritual things. One of their number comes forth to teach the masses, and is handed down to tradition as the Founder of a religion. Krishna was such a Master; so was Zoroaster; so were Buddha and Shankara Acharya, the great sage of Southern India. So also was the Nazarene. He went forth against the counsel of the rest, to give to the masses before the time, moved by a great pity, and enthusiasm for humanity; he was warned that the time was unfavorable, but nevertheless he elected to go, and so was put to death at the instigation of the priests. . . .
But that is not the only work of the adepts. At much shorter periods, they send forth a messenger to try to teach the world. Such a period comes in the last quarter of each century, and the Theosophical Society represents their work for this epoch.[15]

One must bear in mind, however, that there are different types of Adepts corresponding to the Seven Rays of the Logos, and they may have different functions. As T. Subba Row stated:

In the adept hierarchy, there are always seven classes of adepts, corresponding to the seven rays of the Logos. Two of these classes of adepts are so mysterious, and their representatives on earth are so rare, that they are seldom spoken of. Perhaps one or two adepts of these two mysterious orders appear every two or three thousand years.[16]

There are some references to some kind of involvement of the Masters in political or social matters. For example in The Mahatma Letters, the Master K.H. wrote to A. P. Sinnett around November 1880:

A crisis, in a certain sense, is upon us now, and must be met. I might say two crises — one, the Society's, the other for Tibet. For, I may tell you in confidence, that Russia is gradually massing her forces for a future invasion of that country under the pretext of a Chinese War. If she does not succeed it will be due to us; and herein, at least we will deserve your gratitude. You see then, that we have weightier matters than small societies to think about; yet, the T.S. must not be neglected.[17]

Another reference by the same Master, written around July, 1882, states:

The Egyptian operations of your blessed countrymen involve such local consequences to the body of Occultists still remaining there and to what they are guarding, that two of our adepts are already there, having joined some Druze brethren and three more on their way. I was offered the agreeable privilege of becoming an eye-witness to the human butchery, but — declined with thanks. For such great emergency is our Force stored up, and hence — we dare not waste it on fashionable tamasha.[18]

T. Subba Row described the function of the Masters in nature as follows:

The adept hierarchy is as strictly a product of nature as a tree is: it has a definite and indispensable purpose and function in the development of the human race: this function is to keep open the upward path, through which descend the light and leading without which our race would require to make each step by the wearisome, never ending method of trial and failure in every direction, until chance showed the right way. In fact the function of the adept hierarchy is to provide religious teachers for the stumbling masses of mankind.[19]

In one of his letters to A. P. Sinnett, Master K.H. talks about another aspect of their work. He mentions the Masters' "prime duty of gaining knowledge and disseminating through all available channels such fragments as mankind in the mass may be ready to assimilate".[20]

Regarding their roles as teachers, they do not impart information to their chelas as regular teachers do, but rather train them to develop their abilities so that they can perceive truths by their own means. As Subba Row explained:

Our Gurus, be it remember, never teach us as our English school masters. Nothing by word. They simply impress in our minds and help us develop the higher fifth rounder's faculty.[21]

This is confirmed in the following testimony from H. P. Blavatsky:

Knowledge comes in visions, first in dreams and then in pictures presented to the inner eye during meditation. Thus have I been taught the whole system of evolution, the laws of being and all else that I know—the mysteries of life and death, the workings of karma. Not a word was spoken to me of all this in the ordinary way, except, perhaps, by way of confirmation of what was thus given me—nothing taught me in writing.[22]

According to C. W. Leadbeater

The number of adepts who retain physical bodies in order to help the evolution of the world is but small-- perhaps some fifty or sixty in all. But it must be remembered that the great majority of these do not take pupils, as They are engaged in quite other work. Madame Blavatsky employed the term adept very loosely, for in one place she actually speaks of adepts who have been initiated, and adepts who have not been initiated. In all later writings we have reserved the word “initiate” for those who have passed at least the first of the four great stages upon the Path of Holiness, and the word adept we have restricted to those who have attained the Asekha level, and so have finished the evolution required of them in this chain of worlds. The consciousness of the Asekha rests normally upon the nirvanic or atmic plane while his physical body is awake. But out of the number who have already attained adeptship only the very small proportion above-mentioned retain physical bodies, and remain in touch with the earth in order to help it; and out of this a still smaller proportion are willing under certain conditions to accept men as pupils or apprentices; and it is to these last (the smallest number) only that we give the name of Masters. Yet few though They be Their office is of incalculable importance, since without Their aid it would be impossible for man to enter the portals of initiation.[23]

The work the Masters do on the inner planes was explained by C. W. Leadbeater as follows:

The Adepts are dealing with the entire world in enormous comprehensive sweeps of power; They are influencing millions in their causal bodies or on the buddhic plane, and all the time steadily, though by almost imperceptible degrees, raising the higher bodies of the people on a wholesale scale. And yet the same Master who spends His life in doing that work will sometimes turn aside and pay personal attention to little details connected with one pupil.[24]

See also

Online resources

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Notes

  1. Helena Ptrovna Blavatsky, The Key To Theosophy, Glossary (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1972), 348.
  2. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 239.
  3. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 261-262.
  4. Manly P. Hall, "Madam Blavatsky - A Tribute," Theosophia (May-June, 1947), 11.
  5. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Key to Theosophy (London: Theosophical Publishing House, [1987]), Section 14, p. ???.
  6. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 130 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 433.
  7. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VIII (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960) 399-400
  8. Manly P. Hall, "Madam Blavatsky - A Tribute," Theosophia (May-June, 1947), 11.
  9. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Key to Theosophy (London: Theosophical Publishing House, [1987]), Section 14, p. ???.
  10. See Letters by Damodar K. Mavalankar to William Quan Judge
  11. William Quan Judge, The Ocean of Theosophy, (Pasadena: Theosophical University Press, 2011), 37.
  12. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. 12 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1991), 31.
  13. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 68 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 203-204.
  14. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 401.
  15. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. 8 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1960), 401-402.
  16. Tallapragada Subba Row, Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 106.
  17. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 5 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 15.
  18. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 68 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 203.
  19. Tallapragada Subba Row, Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 113.
  20. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 112 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 382.
  21. Tallapragada Subba Row, T. Subba Row Collected Writings vol. I (San Diego, USA: Point Loma Publications, 2001), 15.
  22. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings, vol. 13 (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1982), 285.
  23. Charles Webster Leadbeater, The Inner Life, (Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1942), 18-19.
  24. Charles Webster Leadbeater, The Masters and the Path, (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1992), ???.