i V
PRACTIcfAC
OCCULTISM
and
Occultism versus the Occult Arts
1939
THE THEOSOPHICAL
PUBLISHING HOUSE
Adyar, Madras, India
PRACTICAL OCCULTISM
IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS
HP HERE are many people who are
Theosophist.
But it is
quite another matter to put
onself upon the path which leads to the
Teachers are
"
all of those
the Teachers
"
are so reticent,
1
So holy is the connection thus formed deemed
in the Greek Church, that a marriage between
god-parents of the same child is regarded as the
worst kind of incest, is considered illegal and is
dissolved by laxv and this absolute prohibition
;
Divina
Sapientia
"
attempt.
To give an approximate idea of the
conditions under which alone the study
of Divine Wisdom can be pursued with
safety, that is, without danger that
Divine will give place to Black Magic, a.
page is given from the private rules/"
"
for
"
magnetic. By
"
["
Face to face," means in this instance
a study independent or apart from others,
when the disciple gets his instruction face
to face either with himself (his higher,
Divine Self) or his guru. It is then
only that each receives his due of infor
mation, according to the use he has made
of his knowledge. This can happen only
toward the end of the cycle of instruction.]
for
["
is in
structions, by Tson-kha-pa, in two portions,
one for ecclesiastical and exoteric purposes,
"
never be broken.
6. Those who desire to acquire the
I am the wisest,"
"
I am
more holy and pleasing to the teacher,
or in my community, than my brother,"
D0i^^*ol
"
1
Be it remembered that all "Chelas," even
lay disciples, are called Upasaka until after their
first initiation, when they become Lanoo-Upasaka.
To that day, even those who belong to Lamaseries
"
attune themselves
"
other. Professional
non-
"
February:
"
which is
"
the beginning
of Wisdom," but the knowledge of
SELF which is WISDOM ITSELF.
How grand and true appears, thus,
to the student of Occultism who has
commenced to realise some of the
THYSELF. . . .
OCCULTISM VERSUS THE
OCCULT ARTS
"I have heard, but ne er believed till now,
oft
There are, who can by potent magic spells
Bend to their crooked purpose Nature s
laws." MILTON.
superstition."
"
cover
"
enchant
" "
ment "
breaking
"
superstitions."
scientific
of Moses and the Magicians in accor
dance with natural laws, both having
been learned in all the Wisdom of the
Sanctuaries, which were the "
Royal
Societies
"
1
"The Yajna," say the Brahmans, "exists
from eternity, for it proceeded forth from the
Supreme One ... whom it lay dormant from
in
no beginning. the key to the TRAIVIDYA,
It is
the thrice sacred science contained in the Rig
verses, which teaches the Yagus or sacrificial
mysteries. The Yajna exists as an invisible
thing at all times it is like the latent power of
;
above
"
magic. But
what can this matter ?
The Voodoos and the Dugpas eat,
drink, and are merry over hecatombs
of victims of their infernal arts. And
so do the amiable gentlemen vivisec-
tionists and the diploma-ed
"
Hypno-
of the Faculties of Medicine
"
tisers ;
truly unselfish.
How about these unfortunates, we
shall be asked, who are thus rent in
twain by conflicting forces ? For it has
been said too often to need repetition,
and the fact itself is patent to any
observer, that when once the desire for
Occultism has really .awakened in a
THE OCCULT ARTS 49
the
come one of the modest benefactors of
" "
lead
terrible sacrifices required for such a
Great Re
nunciation of SELF," unconditionally
and absolutely, thought as in action.
in
Not
for himself, but for the world, he lives,"
is he accepted
must disappear, and he has to become
a mere beneficent force in Natiire.
There are two poles for him after that,
two paths, and no mid ward place of
rest. He has either to ascend laborious
ly, step by step, often through numer
ous incarnations and no Devachanic
break, the golden ladder leading to
Mahatmaship (theArhat*
condition), or he will let
.: g
6*1
52 OCCULTISM VERSUS
All this is either unknown or left out
of sight altogether. Indeed, one who
is able to follow the silent evolution of
the preliminary aspirations of the candi
dates often finds strange ideas quietly
our souls
"
Soul
"
er Self
"
or Spirit is as unable to
Assimilate such feelings as water to get
THE OCCULT ARTS 57
For this
"
Astral
"
the shadowy
61
the animal as in
"
Astral
"
Astral
"
reflects only
strait
gate
"
1
Those who would feel inclined to see three
Egos in one man will show themselves unable to
perceive the metaphysical meaning. Man is a
trinity composed of Body, Soul, and Spirit but ;
great
orphan
"
still
in a
hear the
"
are ; Mystics
and Occultists by birth, and by right of
direct inheritance from a series of in
carnations and aeons of suffering and
failures. These are passion-proof, so
to say. No fires of earthly origin can
68 OCCULTISM VERSUS
fan into a flame any of their senses or
desires ; no human voice can find res
therefore many
thereby." This is the Gate of the
Occult arts, practised for selfish motives
and , in the absence of the restraining
and beneficent influence of ATMA-
VIDYA. We are in the Kali Yuga and
its fatal influence is a thousandfold
more powerful in the West than it is in
the East hence the easy preys made
;
get at the
old of Occultism without any great
sacrifice. It is the* dream of most
Theosophists, one inspired by desire for
power and personal selfishness, and it is
few "
beginning try to
prevent evil or idle
your thoughts.
Accustom yourself to the thought that
no one beside yourself can assist you,
and wean away your affections from all
things gradually. Before you sleep, pray
as you did in the morning. Review the
actions of the day, and see wherein you
have failed, and resolve that you will
1
not fail in them to-morrow.
II
with Him. 1
If we admit that we are in
the stream of evolution, then each
circumstance must be to us quite right.
And in our failure to perform set acts
should be our greatest help, for we can
in no other way learn that calmness
1<f
yow" meaning the Higher Self. We are
as we make ourselves.
2
Path, August 89, p. 131.
)AILY LIFE 87
Ill
1
Light on the Path, Karma, p. 35.
2
Comments, Light on the Path.
3
Through the Gates of Gold, p. 69.
FOR DAILY LIFE 91
1
Path, August 87, p. 151.
2
Lucifer, Feb. 88, p. 478.
FOR DAILY LIFE 93
1
Page 60, Bhagavad Gita. (All quotations are
taken from Mohini s translation.)
2
Molinos, Spiritual Guide.
94 SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
2
Path, December 86, p. 279.
96 SOME PRACTICAL SUGGEST]
A disciple must
fully recognise
the very thought of individual rig!
1
Lucifer, p. 382, Jan. 88.
2
Light on the Path. p. 25.
3
Bhagavad Gita, Introduction,
FOR DAILY LIFE 97
IV
7
8 SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
moted by devotion and charity. We
must not sit idle and make no attempt
to advance because we do not feel our
speech or an act.
1
Theosophist, Oct. 88, p. 44.
2
Bhagavad Gita, p. 325.
FOR DAILY LIFE 9
rules ;
it involves the attaining of an
1
P. 61, -Bhagavad Gita.
-
This must be taken in its widest sense also,
i.e,, spiritual knowledge, etg.
104 SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
V
reality,
"
doubt
For if he has a ready answer to some
doubt he disperses that much, All
108 SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
doubts come from the lower nature, and
never in any case from the higher
nature. Therefore as he becomes more
and more devoted he is able to know
more and more clearly the knowledge
residing in his Sattva (goodness) nature.
For it says :
"
time." Also,
"
the
cessation of active external thought."
words.
"
Think constantly of me ;
Devotion is
VI
soul,
God in vain
"
of a pupil.
1
All complaint is a rebellion
. VII
worms
of the earth
"
because we
cling with all
our aspirations to earth. If we can
1
Magic, Hartmann, p. 61.
Printed by C. Subbarayudu
at the Vasanta Press, Adyar, Madras.