To the Editors of Lucifer.
As a very new member of the Theosophical Society I have jotted down a few points which appear to me to be worthy of your notice.
What books do you specially advise to be read in connection with Esoteric Buddhism? And any remarks upon them.(1)
Have the Adepts grown or developed to their present state and powers by their own inherent capacities? If so how far can the steps of the process be described?(2)
What is known of the training of the Yogis?(3)
What is known of the Root-races of man of which we are said to be the fifth?(4)
What are Elementals—their nature, powers and communication with man?(5)
In what light are Theosophists to regard the whole account in the late republication of the T.P.S. of the marriage of the Spirit daughter of Colonel Eaton with the Spirit son of Franklin Pearce?!(6)
In the Articles on “The Esoteric Character of the Gospels” I observe that as yet no notice has been taken of Prophecy and its alleged fulfilment in Jesus Christ. I have read these with intense interest, and regret that I was unable to obtain the first two numbers of Lucifer.(7)
I am, Yours truly,
J. M.
Editors’ Reply [H.P.B.]
1. Five Years of Theosophy, or better the back numbers of The Theosophist, and The Path, also Light on the Path.
When the general outlines have been mastered, other books can be recommended; but it must always be borne in mind that with very few exceptions all books on these subjects are the works of students, not of Masters, and must therefore be studied with caution and a well-balanced mind. All theories should be tested by the reason and not accepted en bloc as revelation.
2. The process and growth of the Adepts is the secret of Occultism. Were adeptship easy of attainment many would achieve it, but it is the hardest task in nature, and volumes would be required even to give an outline of the philosophy of this development. (See “Practical Occultism,” in this number.)
3. Nothing but what they give out themselves—which is very little. Read Patañjali’s Yoga Philosophy; but with caution, for it is very apt to mislead, being written in symbolic language. Compare the article on “Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy” in The Theosophist for March.
4. Wait for H. P. Blavatsky’s forthcoming work: The Secret Doctrine.
5. See The Secret Doctrine, also Isis Unveiled, and various articles in The Theosophist, especially “About the Mineral Monad” (also reprinted in Five Years of Theosophy).
6. The account referred to was quoted to show how absurdly materialistic are the common ideas, even among intelligent Spiritualists, of the post-mortem states. It was intended to bring home vividly the unphilosophical character, and the hopeless inadequacy, of such conceptions.
7. The subject of “Prophecy” may be dealt with in a future article of the series; but the questions involved are too irritating to the casual Christian reader, too important and need too much bibliographical research, to permit of their continuation from month to month.