A Play in 4 Acts, Lasting About 45 Minutes,
On The Formation of the Theosophical Movement
Alan Hughes
Dramatis
Personae
HPB – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky – A
Russian noblewoman, domineering, perhaps speaking English with a French
accent
HSO – Henry Steele Olcott – A lawyer and
Colonel from the American Civil War
WQJ – William Quan Judge – An Irish lawyer
Narr. – the Narrator, and
melodramatic “deus ex machina” for this play
Honto – an American Indian squaw – a
materialised spirit
Other materialised spirits may also
appear, as required
The Audience – ideally of a melodramatic
disposition and willing to join in !
Act
1.
[To be
performed andante, with appropriate pauses]
[set:
Three chairs facing the audience]
Narr:
(Narrator extends suitable greeting to audience, mentions the title of this
evening's "play" and that it is expected to run for one night only,
is in four parts, and should last for about 50 minutes)
The idea for this truly amazing and potentially
world-changing Society of ours was first discussed in New York Manhattan
Two things tell us this: first, that there come special times in the cycles of
humanity when those better versed in the ways of Nature share - indeed, are
obliged by their rules to share - some of the accumulated knowledge of mankind
of which they are the custodians.
And secondly, in the 22nd Letter of that unique volume, we read: "after
nearly a century of fruitless search"- please consider the implications of
that! - "our chiefs had to avail themselves of the only opportunity"
- the only opportunity, note - "to send out
a European body upon European soil to serve as a connecting link between that
country" - those countries - "and our own".
Clearly, from this we can see that the formation of the Theosophical Society
was not just the brainchild of Henry Olcott and Madame Blavatsky - nor even of
the Mahatmas K.H. and M, for it came from their Masters. In fact, in the only letter
we have from the Mahachohan - K.H. and M's Chief - he clearly states why the
formation of the T.S. is necessary, and how vital to the world it is that itdoes
not fail.
These are the Mahachohan's words: 'How is the combative natural instinct of man
to be restrained from inflicting hitherto unheard of cruelties and enormities,
tyranny, injustice, etc, if it is not through the soothing influence of a
brotherhood?' A worldwide brotherhood. And speaking of tyranny - lest we are
inclined to attach the word to the political or religious activities of other
groups of people - we must heed the Mahachohan's warning that every one of us
has to fight the tyranny of the desires and demands of our own personal Ego -
our illusory apparent self- and to recognise our True Self, our Inner Abiding Presence.
So to draw back the curtain, as it were, on the run-up to that momentous year,
I will call upon the main character in this evening's story (calls out):
Madame Blavatsky, would you be kind enough to come forward. (HPB comes forward
and stands facing the audience).
Permit me, Madame, to say a few words of introduction –
HPB:
(Turning to Narrator) Are you not a member of the Theosophical Society?
Narr:
That I am, Madame.
HPB:
(huffily) And you consider I need an introduction??
Narr:
I was thinking, Madame, of the others here tonight.
HPB:
Are they not all members of the Society?
Narr:
Er - yes, your point is taken, (quietly) I knew we should have had a rehearsal
for this. (to HPB) Well, I was going to say something complimentary but –
[If the audience are in general NOT members of the Society a brief biography
has been added as an appendix at the end of the play – this can be given by
either the Narrator or dramatized by HPB herself. ]
HPB:
Who are you, anyway?
Narr:
I'm the - I'm the Silent Watcher.
HPB:
Not so silent, it would seem. Did you think I'd be pleased to hear
complimentary things said about me?
Narr:
Well, it's just that –
HPB:
It's the personal Ego, young man, that feeds off things like compliments.
And have you not just quoted the Mahachohan that it's the tyranny of the
personal Ego that we all have to subdue?
Narr:
(opens mouth but is silent - pause) Perhaps you'd care to take a seat, Madame,
while I introduce Colonel Olcott? (calling out) Colonel Henry Steele Olcott!
(HSO comes forward, bows to HPB and stands facing audience)
HSO:
(loudly) Good evening, everyone.
[If audience response is muted, ask HSO to repeat greeting]
Narr:
Colonel, I don't want to get a second ticking-off, but would you care to say
something about yourself.
HSO:
Certainly. Well, my life seems to have divided itself into two halves. The
first - my domestic life - really came to an end when my wife and I divorced
after we'd had four children, and my father's business –
Narr:
Hey, just a minute; can we go back a bit? You were bom - when?
HSO:
August 1832.
Narr:
And married?
HSO:
1860. Er - yes, as I was going to say: father's business failed in 1851 so I
had to take up farming. I thought - if farming's going to be my life, I'm going
to do it scientifically. I studied the science of agriculture, wrote a few
books on the subject and actually started a School of Agriculture
HPB:
Didn't your government offer you a 'Directorship of Agriculture?'
HSO:
(to HPB) That's so - but how did you know that? Yes, they sent me to Europe to see how theydid
things. This led me to writing a few more books and becoming the Agriculture
Editor of the New York Tribune.
Then the war broke out.
HPB:
You'd better tell them which war you mean.
HSO:
Madame; 'the war' to an American means the war - the Civil War.
HPB:
It's possible you Americans may have to be less parochial about war in the
future.
HSO:
(shrugs) Why should we involve ourselves in other countries' affairs? (pause)
Anyway, I enrolled in the Northern Army –
Narr:
You went through the very bloody North
Carolina
HSO:
It was - yes, it was rough. But I got sick and er –
HPB:
He wanted to go back to the fighting - typical man; but the Government needed someone
like him, they said, to root out corruption in the War Departments. This he did
so successfully, despite heavy threats and tempting bribes, that he was
made a colonel.
Narr:
Then the Navy got hold of you.
HSO:
They wanted me to do a similar job for them.
Narr:
Which you did?
HSO:
Yes; then I resigned my commission as I wanted to study Law. I was admitted to
The Bar in 18–
HPB:
86.
HSO:
86? No, it was 68.
HPB:
Of course! I keep forgetting I also have to reverse the numbers I see in the
astral light.
HSO:
Ah, that reminds me, Madame, though the City of New York Treasury retained me
to handle any big law suit against the city, I kind of wanted to spend some
time looking into all those spiritualistic goings on up at Chittenden, in
Vermont, where the two Eddy brothers had a small farm.
Narr:
And as these things seem to arrange themselves, you got an assignment from the
New York Sunnewspaper to
do some investigative reporting.
HPB:
His reports caused a sensation!
Narr:
And this, Madame, is where you come into the story?
HSO:
Not quite. I came back to town but another newspaper, the New York Vermont
HPB:
His articles appeared twice a week for 12 weeks.
HSO:
Madame arrived on October - on the 14th, I think it was –
Narr:
This would be in 1874?
HSO:
1874, yes.
Narr:
And this meeting we'd like to hear more about in a minute; but first, there's
someone else I want to introduce to you all. So if you'd take a seat. Colonel,
I would like to call forward (raises voice) Mr. William Quan Judge!
(HSO sits next to HPB as WQJ comes forward, bows to HPB, shakes hands with HSO
and turns to face the audience)
Mr. Judge, we think of you now as the third member of the theosophical
'trinity', but am I not right in saying that your doctor many years ago would
not have believed such a career as yours would be possible.
WQJ:
He pronounced me dead.
Narr:
Could you elaborate a little, please?
WQJ:
Not really. I was dead. The doctor had said to my parents who were at the
bedside: 'I'm deeply sorry, but your son is dead'.
Narr:
(pause) I suspect that everyone in this room feels there's something more you
have to tell us.
WQJ:
Well, you can imagine my parents' surprise when I not only opened my eyes but
then started to tell them of having been somewhere else.
Narr:
And in the following months this visiting 'somewhere else' continued each time
you slept?
WQJ:
My mother was a strict Methodist and hated any talk about mysticism and things
like reincarnation or the religions of the East.
Narr:
And your dreams were of places in the East?
WQJ:
Yes, in India
Narr:
Yes?
WQJ:
Then he - or rather I - that is, the I in India
HPB:
Use your intuition, Judge,
and try to understand.
WQJ:
To this day I'm not really sure why it was but when I recovered after that near
death in Ireland
HSO:
Didn't you tell me she died soon after that seventh birth?
WQJ:
(pause) Yes. (pause) Father decided that perhaps we'd have a better life in America , so to the United States
HSO:
Not so united.
WQJ: I
was 13. That was - let me see - in 1864.
Narr:
And then?
WQJ: I
got a job as a clerk in a law firm but then - then Father died.
Narr:
Life must have been tough for you and your siblings.
HPB:
Tough!? What do you expect? Anyone who makes the decision to take his spiritual
life seriously, thereby accelerating his karma, is of course going to find it
tough, (to Narrator) You'll see too, one day.
Narr:
Perhaps I'm just a wuss.
HPB:
Wuss? Is that an English word?
Narr:
Well, it will be by the year 2000. But please go on, Mr. Judge; how did you
meet Colonel Olcott?
WQJ:
You could see it as inevitable, I suppose; we were both East Coast lawyers. I'd
been fascinated by his book People
from the Other World, and though I wasn't able to visit the Eddy's place up
in Vermont
Narr:
Whoa, whoa, Mr Judge! Before we get to that fateful day, I think we need to pay
a visit to that farmhouse.
(WQJ, HSO and HPB return to seats in the audience).
oooooooooO0Ooooooooooo
Act
2.
[set Remove one of the three chairs and
push back the other two to give a bit of space for Honto to dance between them
and the audience]
Narr:
Well, I am now in one of the old (shivers) - and cold - rooms in the farmhouse
belonging to William and Horatio Eddy. These two brothers are simple souls,
with little education, used to hard work and, it must be said, of a surly nature;
this will be understood because of their being regarded as freaks in their
youth and repeatedly beaten. William is the usual medium and will (pointing to
rear of audience) take position in the cabinet at the back of the room at this
evening’s séance. (Narrator now turns round to look behind him, ie. away from
the audience) There are, I see, about 30 people present tonight and - ah! here
come Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky. (HSO and HPB take the seats facing
the audience)
Now, if we'd all remain quiet and wait. (pause) Quiet as mice.
HSO:
(quietly to HPB) The first spirit to appear usually is Honto. (there is a
movement in the back row of the audience and Honto comes forward to the space
between front row of audience and HSO and HPB) She's a Red Indian squaw. (Honto
bows to HSO)
HPB: I
can see that!
HSO:
She turns up most evenings. (Honto dances up and down for a while -perhaps
playing an instrument and singing a song, then bows again to HSO and returns to
audience. HSO claps loudly)
HPB:
Don't do that, Olcott! Look, you've made her dissolve.
[Other spirits may appear here, as long as it does not distract too much from
the story ]
Narr:
Now, for the sake of keeping this evening within bounds, can we imagine half an
hour has passed. (HSO and HPB close their eyes. Narrator intones quietly) 'Time
was not; for it lay asleep in the infinite bosom of duration', (pause) There
now, Madame, Colonel; if you'd open your eyes again –
HSO
and HPB: Good gracious me!! (and other exclamations of surprise, as they both
point at audience)
HPB: I
must say, I've never seen so many spooks at one time!
HSO:
It must be somebody's army. (turns round to look at imaginary guests behind
him). Did any of you try to invoke the Mongol hordes?!
HPB:
What a motley crowd! Just look at them! (points into audience) See that one
over there! He looks like Moses in a collar and tie! (the actors can make
comments about other members of the audience who may be known to them)
HSO:
Would anybody believe what we're seeing at this moment!!? (shakes his head)
Truly unbelievable! (To HPB) Why is it, Madame, that
these manifestations are so much more spectacular now you are here? (possibly
other audience participation at this point ? )
HPB:
I'm worried for William; let's see if we can't get rid of them all by shouting
and clapping. (HSO and HPB both shout and clap)
HSO:
They're gone. (turns to HPB) Now, Madame, may I ask you a question?
HPB:
Only one?
HSO:
(laughing) Yes, what a pity I didn't meet you before I wrote my newspaper
articles.
HPB:
The Wise Ones have their methods.
HSO:
Who do?
HPB:
Do you really think our meeting at this remote place was by chance?
HSO:
It was - it was planned. ?
HPB:
My dear Colonel, although you and I are free to do as we please - for good or
ill - there are those advanced souls whose only concern is for the welfare of
humanity collectively. From a child I've known I've been privileged to have had
a special protection - and a special task. That's why most of my life has been
spent in travelling.
HSO:
You're right, I have a hundred questions!
HPB: I
was told when I was in Paris to come to America
HSO: I
don't believe it!
HPB:
(puts hand on HSO's arm) There will, my new friend, be plenty of time for us to
talk. Some - but not all - of what I've been taught I can share with you.
HSO: I
don't know what to say.
HPB:
Well, for a start you can tell me exactly what you think all those astral forms
were.
HSO:
When I wrote my book about them, I called it 'People from the Other World',
because that's what I thought they were - people who had died, and these spooky
forms were literally their spirits re-appearing.
HPB:
Didn't it occur to you that if that's what they were, they would have better
things to impart than the trivialities they speak of?
HSO:
Indeed I did, Madame. And if you read my book you'll see I remarked on that
very aspect. If someone had returned from, say, Timbuktu, they'd be full of the
most interesting stories of what they'd seen and experienced; what it was like
there and so on; but here were these so-called spirits of the dead returning
from somewhere far more - er –
HPB:
Intriguing?
HSO:
Exactly: and what did they talk of? As you say - trivialities (pause) Well?
HPB:
Well what?
HSO:
Aren't you going to tell me what these things are?
Narr:
I've got a feeling we need to pay attention here.
HPB:
(with a big sigh) They are many things: William Eddy has a loose linga sharira; some of those
forms you saw were that subtle - yet still physical - substance drawn out and
clothed with the thought forms of those present. However some are kama lokic shells and have little to do with William,
(holds up hand to HSO) Yes! I promise one day to explain! Mostly they are elementals
ensouling the astral light, and these can be controlled by anyone with a strong
enough will.
HSO:
They can be made to do one's bidding?
HPB:
Yes. Other forms may be mayavi
rupas formed accidentally or
by intent. In rare cases one's Higher Ego may take on a vague form, usually to
serve as a warning. And we mustn't forget of course, that occasional, and
terrifying phenomenon called The
Dweller on the Threshold. But 'Angel Guides' they are not. (HSO is
slowly shaking his head) And, my friend, they are certainly not the spirits of
the dead. (turns to look at HSO) You did ask!
HSO: I
can't believe you didn't know I was writing that book. Why did you let me
mislead people?
HPB:
You described what you saw. That wasn't misleading anyone. Anyway, the reality
of so-called spirit-world forms needed championing, and preferably by someone
who would command respect.
HSO: I
see. I was set up, was I?
HPB:
And another thing –
HSO:
No, no, no! I can't take in any more just now! Can I leave lesson 2 for another
time. And if it's OK with you, can we return to New York
Act
3.
[set:
5 chairs: One out front facing audience for G. Felt; three skewed, to half face
both the audience and Felt; and one off to side for the Narrator]
Narr:
And so we come to that very important day - the 7th of September, 1875. To put
the date in context - er, I'm afraid I've got to do a few more minutes of
talking here, so if you want to get out your sweets, peanuts and crisps, this
would be a good time; yes, to put the date in context, we could say that it is
now 10 years since Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses Grant, thus putting an
end to the bitter Civil War; though in that same year -1865 - President Abraham
Lincoln - as you all know - was assassinated.
16 years have passed sinceDarwin published his Origin of Species, and 6 years
since both the opening of the Suez Canal and the completion of the first
trans-America railroad, (although this year -1875 - saw the 50 year
celebrations for the start of The Stockton and Darlington
railway). 5 years ago the Vatican Council had informed the world that from now
on any proclamation from The Pope must be considered infallible.
16 years have passed since
Also in this present year -1875 - Bizet wrote his opera Carmen, and Thomas Edison - who later became a member of the T.S. - was in the middle of an extraordinary period of invention. He had made the first electric typewriter three years ago, will follow this with the phonograph two years from now and a patent on the first electric light bulb two years after that. In 1875 Alexander Graham Bell was getting very excited with the prospect of perfecting his telephone, and Queen Victoria was doubtless equally excited - though showing it in a less exuberant way than Bell - at the thought that she would soon be able to add to her titles - 'Empress of India'; whilst Gladstone and Disraeli continued to glare at each other across the floor of the British House of Commons.
An eventful time, - oh yes, and I forget to add that in 1875 The Royal
Engineers beat The Old Etonians 2-1 in the final of the F.A. Cup. I must also
add that 1875 was the year that Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to
swim the English Channel .
All this, and with the prospect, in about 20 years time, of the Dawn of a New
Age; for the Great Cycle of the first 5000 years of Kali Yuga is to end in 1897.
So, there we are!
And here we are in HPB's rooms at 46 Irving Place , New
York
Notwithstanding the fact that Irving
Place
The reason for this extraordinary gathering is due to the anticipation of
learning something of a revelational nature from tonight's speaker. He is Mr.
George Felt, the brilliant architect and engineer, who has not only made a
lifelong study of ancient art, architecture and hieroglyphics, but has also
made an epic discovery. He said that his talk - entitled “The Lost Canon of Proportion of the Egyptians' - is like Gaul of Caesar's time -
divided into three parts. As this remark produced a few polite chuckles from
our sophisticated audience, I assume it was a joke, but I'm afraid it went over
my head.
He has just taken a break after speaking for about half an hour, during which
he has been comparing the geometry of some of Egypt's oldest buildings to what
he has termed 'the Cosmic scheme of proportion'
(enter Felt who faces audience. Narr. Drops his voice) Now, I believe, we are
coming to the really exciting part so let us be attentive and try to absorb
what he has to say.
Felt:
(standing) The burden of what I wish to set before you next is twofold: first,
we have been assured by all the scholars of Egyptology that the age of most of
the buildings of antiquity in Egypt
HSO:
Indeed it does! Mr. Felt, you're surely not going to suggest –
WQJ
and HPB: (to HSO) Ssh!
HPB:
Please go on, Mr. Felt.
Felt:
If that shocks you. Colonel Olcott, I am now going to risk giving you a heart
attack because I can confidently proclaim that I have correctly interpreted the
Zodiac which one finds on the ceiling of the temple of Dendera
Narr:
It says in my script that everyone gasps in amazement, (encourage with wave of
arm)
Felt:
This - this iconoclastic discovery, which incidentally I cannot claim sole
credit for, means we have to re-write completely our ancient history. According
to the Egyptologists - according to all historians - 80,000 years ago we were
all supposed to be running around trying to bang our dinner over the head with
a club. But, ladies and
gentlemen, perhaps not ! Here in Egypt at least
was a civilisation not only with a knowledge of exactly where the chakras of
the Earth are - or were - but cultured and knowledgeable enough to build these
great structures with extraordinary precision; structures which were built
before the time of the Pharaohs, and therefore definitely not built as their tombs, but - among
other things - as sanctuaries for the initiation of those deemed ready for
admission into The Mysteries.
In what is now called the King's Chamber is the font which is at the centre of
these ceremonies, which our books would have us believe is a sarcophagus -
although for which Pharoah they're not all in agreement.
HSO:
You imply, Mr. Felt, that the siting of the Great Pyramid was significant but
is not so now; is that correct?
Felt:
Well, it's still significant, but the chakra I mentioned - er - you all know, I
take it, what a chakra is; it's a (makes a spiral motion with his hand) - it's
a vortex of energy - it's one of the umbilical cords that connect our planet to
the Mother Womb of Cosmos. The one that touched down at the site of the Great
Pyramid has since moved to Jerusalem
(more exclamations of surprise from HSO and WQJ)
The shift of this astral cyclone is recorded in detail - if one can read The
Bible esoterically - in the chapters of Exodus. You'll all remember, I'm sure,
from your school Bible studies, the pillar of smoke by day, which became - not
surprisingly as it was so highly charged - a glowing pillar of fire by night -
yes? And how the Israelites - symbolizing the 'New Race' - were saved by the
vortex keeping them safe in the 'Eye'; - to say nothing of it conveniently
creating by its centrifugal force a dry path for them to cross the Red Sea, -
and allowing the waters to crash back after them, thus putting an end to the
'Old Race', (looks at watch) Oh dear! I'm afraid I get rather carried away with
my enthusiasm for all this and I see it's later than I thought. I don't want to
miss my railroad train. Er - would it be acceptable to you if I kept the last
part of my talk about the correct method of reading the hieroglyphics on
ancient structures until another evening?
HSO:
(jumping up with enthusiasm) My dear Mr. Felt! I'm sure I'm speaking for all
when I say a second visit from you would not only be 'acceptable' to us, but it
would awaited with extreme impatience.
Felt:
You're very flattering. Colonel; we'll be in touch soon then to arrange a date.
HSO:
Indeed we will; but to let you slip away without expressing our thanks would be
very remiss of us. To say we're grateful to you for sharing with us that which
I feel certain is the fruit of years of painstaking study –
HPB:
He wants to be off to catch his train, Olcott!
HSO:
Er - yes. Well, on behalf of us all, please accept not only our thanks but our
congratulations, (claps vigorously, joined by WQJ and rest of audience)
Narr:
Hope he doesn't dissolve.
(G. Felt waves to audience and exits).
WQJ:
Well, well, well! What an amazing fellow!
(HSO is scribbling on a piece of paper. He hands it to WQJ. WQJ silently reads
it and hands it to HPB)
HPB:
(holding out note in front of her and reading slowly)
'Would it not be a good thing to form a society for this kind of study?'
(HPB looks into the distance, turns to HSO and slowly nods).
Narr:
And with that nod our Society was born.
(End of scene. All return to audience)
oooooooO0Oooooooo
Act
4.
[set:
3 empty chairs out front]
Narr:
The scene is now a room in HPB's apartment on 8th Avenue 47th Street
The Theosophical Society, for
that was the name that had been agreed upon, is now a properly constituted
body, with Colonel Henry Steele Olcott as its president, William Quan Judge as
Council (counsel ?),and with Madame Helena Blavatsky given the title of
Corresponding Secretary. It is the 17th of December, 1878, which is to be the
last day for HPB and Col. Olcott in America
before sailing on the steamship Canada bound
for London , from whence they will make the long
voyage to India
For all the adventures of the last three years since that fateful day in
September '75, you must needs read Col. Olcott's 1st series of 'Old Diary Leaves' and the 1st Volume of The Collected Writings of HPB .
There has been much laughter as the deep friendship of the founders increased.
There was the first cremation in America
If I could now re-call our 'trinity' back to the front here - (WQJ, HPB and HSO
take seats out front. HPB immediately starts to write.)
It is not surprising that though HPB's fame had spread before the publication
of Isis ,
and had attracted many leading thinkers to her apartment, after the volumes
came out the stream of visitors so increased that she had to use every moment
to compose the essays and deal with the correspondence she felt were vital to
her mission.
HSO:
No wonder, Madame, that you want to stay up late every night; you must regard
sleep as an unwelcome interruption to your writing.
HPB:
We've not too much time left to us.
HSO:
Wish you wouldn't say things like that.
HPB:
(stops writing) My dear friend, it's so important! In fact we couldn't
overstress the importance of what we have to do. Remember Western science has
become so materialistic that any aspects of Nature that are non-physical are
deemed impossible. All the great names of science say so.
WQJ: I
disagree with you, Madame; not all of them.
HPB:
Yes , there are one or two exceptions.
HSO:
So, in short, what are we trying to tell them?
HPB: That
the forms of matter - including of course human physical forms - are
transitory, and should be understood as vehicles of consciousness. Science
declares consciousness to be a by-product of matter - a result of molecular
action!! But all forms eventually dissolve away,
however mighty they are.
To teach our children in school that nothing persists - that nothing of value
continues after that dissolution, is to close their minds, and - worse than
that -to condemn them to living lives that have no purpose. To steal a child's
future is the grossest of felonies!
WQJ:
Well put, Madame; and what of the pronouncements of the more dogmatic of the
world's theologians?
HPB:
Well, they get very hot under the collar at any mention of spiritualism, as you've
both already found out. It's ironic really, when you consider that this seeming
proof of a life after death should bewelcomed by them as a demonstration of what
they believe.
HSO:
Now even the spiritualists themselves have turned against us. Some are beside
themselves with fury?
HPB: I
hope you two are not going to flinch.
HSO:
They do want their 'Angel Guides', though.
HPB:
In a way they're a substitute for a personal God; something to have a
relationship with - petition, even. Why can't mankind see that all must walk in
life relying upon themselves instead of leaning on a theological crutch that
for countless ages has been the direct cause of nearly all human misery.
(WQJ and HSO exchange glances)
WQJ:
Taking on the spiritualists is one thing; taking on the massed ranks of
the world's priesthood will have us labelled as apprentices of The Devil.
HSO:
The belief in a benevolent Man-in-the-Sky is certainly a handicap to humanity's
spiritual progress.
HPB:
(takes a deep breath and speaks slowly) The Masters say that the idea of a
personal God is pure invention. It was evolved by humanity - who could not
grasp the idea of a Universal Spiritual Essence - to explain the causes of the
world. And this First Cause has been made into a Being; a Being which for
thousands of years people have worshipped or feared. How can we demean such a
sublime wonder by turning it into a personal God!? And this personal God is
supposed to be a 'loving God' who, nonetheless, delays sending that 'soft refreshing
rain' in Africa until it's too late, causing the deaths of millions of people
in frightful agony. He's said to be an 'A Powerful God' but he can't - or won't
- prevent hurricanes or tidal waves from causing horrendous suffering and
overwhelming grief; also, a 'Creator God' who is himself perfect and who has
created an imperfect Man so he can threaten him with eternal hell-fire if he
doesn't believe in him. Well, the demise of such an ogre is not only long
overdue but should attract no mourners to his passing, (resumes writing)
HSO:
(to WQJ) Batten down the hatches, brother! We're in for a rough ride!
WQJ:
Yes indeed; but we must also try somehow to make everyone see how ridiculous is
the notion that with all the richness and variety the human condition can
offer, we have but one short experience of it.
HSO:
And for some - very short.
WQJ:
The Great Law of Nature is carried out through the alternation between periods
of activity and rest in endless cycles.
HSO:
Each one being the effect of the one before.
WQJ:
KARMA!
HPB:
But, my friends, how that Great Law is misunderstood.
WQJ:
It is seized upon by the ignorant to say how gross is the idea of telling a
young lad born terribly deformed that it's all his fault. Little do they
understand Christ's teaching that 'no man is given a cross heavier than he is
able to bear.' So if some are asked to bear a heavier cross, it may well be
that they are inwardly stronger than others and are able to absorb some of
their past karma more rapidly than the rest of us. (pause) It's not a 'Good
Lord' that we should put our trust in but The
Good Law !
HPB:
Bravo, Judge! When you say things like that you give me confidence that we are
leaving our work here in America
WQJ:
Thank you, Madame. And I would try to stress above everything else that all is
a Unity; not a series of things joined together. Existence is One Thing. After
all, what am I but a vehicle of experience for the whole of Nature.
HSO:
(to HPB) The fire is upon him, Madame!
WQJ: Well,
it's just that the fact seems so obvious to me. Beneath the manifold world of
temporary forms there is a Single Reality which is the Essence of all things.
When Olcott wanted to make our Society a body which studied the Ancient Wisdom,
you stressed that first and foremost our object should be the formation of a
nucleus of Universal Brotherhood. If all of us have our being in the same
Essence - the same indivisible Essence - then this Brotherhood is not
a pious ideal but a fact of Nature.
HPB:
Music to my ears!
WQJ:
All manifest things issue from the One Divine Unity. They are that Divinity in
their innermost nature, even though they are clothed in different forms and
given different names. This must be the hallmark of what we teach. It surely
follows that no doctrine based upon a fundamental duality - in other words, of
spirit and matter forever separate; of Divinity and Man as essentially
distinct; and of good and evil as eternal realities - no such doctrine, I say,
can have a place in the teachings of The Theosophical Society!
(HSO and HPB applaud)
HSO:
True wisdom. Judge!
HPB: A
Living Wisdom!
Narr:
A good theme for one of our Summer Schools.
(HSO stands up)
HPB:
Er - are you going to make a speech now, Olcott?
HSO: The
most important thing I can remind you of, Madame, is that the time when we
should be leaving here to catch the steamship has already passed, (shakes hands
with WQJ) As Madame has said, dear friend, we're leaving the New World to you. Our task it seems is elsewhere, (smiles)
WQJ:
Why are you smiling?
HSO:
To think that all I did that evening out at the Eddy's farmhouse was to say
'permettez-moi, Madame,' and offer her a light for her cigarette.
WQJ:
That'll teach you to think twice before trying to get to know exotic looking
ladies!
HSO:
It certainly will!
WQJ:
Well, I shall very much look forward to meeting up with you both again out in India
HSO:
And how welcome that will be! Come now, Madame, our carriage awaits.
HPB:
(still scribbling) Ask him to wait awhile, would you; I'll be there as soon as
I've finished this sentence, (still scribbling, HPB reads as she writes:)
Theosophy belongs neither to Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, nor
Christianity, for it is theessence of
these. The world's religions have all sprung from Theosophy - the Ageless
Wisdom - and the time has now come for them all to merge back into that One
Religion which - (pretends to cross something out)
Narr:
Did I hear a ship's hooter? (gets audience to make noise)
HSO:
(with irony) Would you like me to ask the captain of the boat too, to delay his
departure for you? (looks up to 'heaven') Aristocrats!! (exits)
Narr:
There's the hooter again, (audience again)
HPB:
(still writing) - That One religion of Nature from which every dogma has grown
and - and become sadly materialised, (pretends to gather up papers, stands up,
kisses WQJ and follows HSO, waving as she goes)
(pause)
Narr:
Our revels now are - almost - ended. To round off the story of the formation of
our Society this evening, I would like to ask Mr Judge if he would care to say
a few closing words - Mr Judge.
WQJ:
(to Narr.) Thank you, Mr - er - thank you. (faces audience) Brothers and
Sisters, it is surely unnecessary to say to you - members of the T.S. as you
all are - that this Society must
not fail. It willnot
fail. As you've just heard, we are entering a New Cycle with all the
opportunities that it offers! Humanity has a choice; it can either move further
down that road to where its goals are wealth, possessions and selfish
gratification, or up towards a Golden Age of compassionate love and the true
joy that comes from an awareness that none of us are separate but integral
parts of the whole of Nature. We have been assured by The Masters that in this
task, as long as The Theosophical Society exists, the link between them and
ourselves will be maintained.
So, though many attempts will be made to break our resolve through slander,
malice and deliberate distortions of what we are attempting to teach -and, more
importantly, to show by the way we live - it is only
indifference that can seriously weaken our cause.
To study what The Masters have given us is a privilege. What individually you
do with that privilege is up to you.
Remember, when we have gone on, you will be the Society's advocates; you will
be its emissaries. And remember too that wonderful phrase – our 'Inner
Abiding Presence'. Draw comfort from the thought of its existence, or -
dare I say - from its realisation.
Therefore, dear friends, whatever your achievements or failures; whenever come
your times of happiness or sorrow; wherever you go, may your Inner Abiding Presence always guide you. (puts hands
together) Namaste.
(turns to Narr:) Namaste.
Narr:
Namaste.
THE
END
[If it
seems appropriate. Narrator can ask WQJ to stay and then bring back HPB,
HSO,
Mr Felt and Honto to take a final bow.]
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“Old
Diary Leaves”, by Alan Hughes, has been published also at “The
Aquarian Theosophist”, June 2009, Supplement. See the whole collection of “The
Aquarian Theosophist” at http://www.teosofia.com/AT.html .
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Always visit www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com , www.TheosophyOnline.com and www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com .
If you want to have access to a
daily study of the original teachings of Theosophy, write tolutbr@terra.com.br and
ask for information on the e-group E-THEOSOPHY.
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