THE 1900 LETTER FROM A MAHATMA

The Document Which Warned that the Adyar
Society Had Abandoned Real Theosophy

A Master of the Wisdom

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Introductory Note

The document reproduced below is the complete text of the 1900 letter
from a Master,  to Annie Besant. It   was published for the first time in
“The Eclectic Theosophist”, number 101, September-October 1987, p. 1.

Up to 1987, only the partial version of the letter was known, as
it had been  published by C. Jinarajadasa in “Letters From the
Masters of the Wisdom” ( TPH, letter 46 of the  first series).

If we consider the extremely relevant content of the letter,
one question is unavoidable: “why has its text  received such
a scarce attention, even after its full text was published in 1987?" 

There seem to be strong political reasons for that. On one hand,
it does not seem politically profitable for the leaders of the
Adyar Society to admit that their Society has ever since 1900
obviously done exactly the opposite of what the Letter recommends.
The text shows in a frank and direct language that the esoteric section
of the Adyar Society was already  out of line and out of focus since
 earlier than 1900.  It is easy to see that  it has remained so up to now.

On the other hand,  some students of William Q. Judge have their own
reasons to question the authenticity of the letter. They correctly point
out that by 1900 Annie Besant should not be a disciple of the Masters any
longer. She had broken  her solemn vows by publishing for the wide
public as part of her unlegitimate version of “The Secret Doctrine”
the Esoteric School Papers she had recently made a sacred promise to
 keep private and never to divulge.  She had  also forced Mr. William
Q. Judge (one of the three main founders of the movement in 1875)
out from the Adyar Society. And, unfortunately, even that was not all.
Mrs. Besant  belonged  to the “inner group” of Mr. Alfred P. Sinnett, who
made mesmeric and mediumnistic sessions with false Adepts, in London.

For these students of William Judge,  therefore, if Annie Besant was no
disciple any longer by 1900, the Masters could not communicate with her
in any form. As a conclusion, they say that the letter must  be a forgery
made by someone in the Adyar Society who was against Annie Besant.

So, for different reasons, both Adyar students and  some Judge students
tend to completely ignore the 1900 letter –  or to give it scarce attention.

Yet the fact remains that this letter anticipates, one by one, most of the
many mistakes and absurdities which would be done by the Adyar
leaders  in the following decades, including the creation of
an “esoteric popery” and the cessation of any criticisms against
conventional dogmatic religions. Such criticism was part of the original
programme of the theosophical movement created by H.P. Blavatsky.

Another factor to be considered in the equation  is that the ways and methods
of the Masters are often difficult to predict or ascertain, as H.P.B. herself
 warned. They are at liberty to keep in contact with non-disciples and ex-disciples.
On the other hand, Masters often do not give instructions to their true disciples,
so that these students may develop their own independent vision of things.

In the book “Mahatma Letters”, one can see examples of the fact
that Masters may keep some contact with an ex-disciple after he or
she completely “failed” – and this, for several karmic reasons.

Another possible hint as to the authenticity of the 1900 letter is
that it was sent in the exact year and month when the Aquarius
Age started, possibly being  a ‘last farewell’ to be understood only
from a historical perspective. For some reason this letter was
never destroyed, and for some reason it came to be widely known
only during the “general effort” of the following end-of-century,
 in 1987.  The letter gives precious hints for the theosophical
work to be done from that date, and is it hoped that in due  time it
will receive proper attention by students worldwide. As any reader
can see, the content of the letters speaks for itself –  as to its value.

The complete document is below. All the words and sentences which
were omitted by C. Jinarajadasa are here included in CAPITAL LETTERS.

(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)

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A psychic and a pranayamist who has got confused by the vagaries of  the members. The T.S. and its members are slowly manufacturing a creed. Says a Thibetan proverb 'credulity breeds credulity and ends in hypocrisy.' How few are they who can know anything about us. Are  we to be propitiated and made idols of. IS THE WORSHIP OF A NEW  TRINITY MADE UP OF THE BLESSED M., UPASIKA AND YOURSELF TO TAKE THE  PLACE OF EXPLODED CREEDS. WE ASK NOT FOR THE WORSHIP OF OURSELVES. THE DISCIPLE SHOULD IN NO WAY BE FETTERED.BEWARE OF AN ESOTERIC POPERY. The intense desire to see Upasika reincarnate at once has raised a misleading Mayavic ideation. Upasika has useful work to do on higher planes and cannot come again so soon. The T.S. must safely be ushered into the new century. YOU HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN UNDER DELUDING INFLUENCES. SHUN PRIDE, VANITY AND LOVE OF POWER. BE NOT GUIDED BY EMOTION BUT LEARN TO STAND ALONE. BE ACCURATE AND CRITICAL RATHER THAN CREDULOUS. THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST IN THE OLD RELIGIONS MUST NOT BE GLOSSED OVER WITH IMAGINARY EXPLANATIONS. THE E.S.T. MUST BE REFORMED SO AS TO BE AS UNSECTARIAN AND CREEDLESS AS THE T.S. THE RULES MUST BE FEW AND SIMPLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. No one has the right to claim authority over a pupil or his conscience. Ask him not what he believes. ALL WHO ARE SINCERE AND PURE MINDED MUST HAVE ADMITTANCE. The crest wave of intellectual advancement must be taken hold of and guided into spirituality. It cannot be forced into beliefs and emotional worship. The essence of the higher thoughts of the members in their collectivity must guide all action in the T.S. AND E.S. We never try to subject to ourselves the will of another. At favourable times we let loose elevating influences which strike various persons in various ways. It is the collective aspect of many such thoughts that can give the correct note of action. We show no favours. The best corrective of error is an honest and open-minded examination of all facts subjective and objective. MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS. The cant about 'Masters' must be silently but firmly put down. Let the devotion and service be to that Supreme Spirit alone of which each [1] one is a part. Namelessly and silently we work and the continual references to ourselves and the repetition of our names raises up a confused aura that hinders our work. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE A GOOD DEAL OF YOUR EMOTIONS AND CREDULITY BEFORE YOU BECOME A SAFE GUIDE AMONG THE INFLUENCES THAT WILL COMMENCE TO WORK IN THE NEW CYCLE. The T.S. was meant to be the corner-stone of the future religions of humanity. To accomplish this object those who lead must leave aside their weak predilections for the forms and ceremonies of any particular creed and show themselves to be true Theosophists both in inner thoughts and outward observance. The greatest of your trials is yet to come. We watch over you but you must put forth all your strength.

K.H.

NOTE:

 [1] In  “The Eclectic Theosophist” transcription of this letter, the word 'each' is omitted but the original letter has this word. See the photofacsimile of the actual letter.

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The full text of the above document  was also published in the “Theosophical History” magazine, London, October 1987, see pp. 115-117.

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