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Judge W.Q. - Answers to Questioners: Difference between revisions

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{{Judge-article
{{Judge-article
  | title = Answers to Questioners
  | title = Answers to Questioners
| description = The first installment of the "Zadok" question-and-answer department announced the previous month: on celibacy and spiritual attainment, vegetarianism, whether one can be an occultist without consciously experiencing the Astral, and the two paths of out-of-body travel.
  | work type = articles
  | work type = articles
  | publication date = November, December 1887, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November 1888
  | publication date = November, December 1887, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November 1888
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{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—In 1885 the London Psychic Research Society took upon itself to investigate the alleged letters from Adepts received by Mr. Sinnett and others in India, and sent out a young man named Hodgson to inquire into facts that had happened months and years before. He reported that they were all{{Page aside in Path|v=4|n=2|p=56}}frauds by Mme. Blavatsky, and that she had a tremendous combination of conspirators ramifying all over India. His report was published by the P. R. Society. It is so preposterous however, that no well-informed Theosophist believes it. The newspapers and superficial thinkers often refer to it. Mr. Hodgson, in addition to inventing the great conspiracy theory, was full of prejudice which he has since displayed in various cities of the United States by declaiming against H. P. Blavatsky although he says she is not worth pursuing.}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—In 1885 the London Psychic Research Society took upon itself to investigate the alleged letters from Adepts received by Mr. Sinnett and others in India, and sent out a young man named Hodgson to inquire into facts that had happened months and years before. He reported that they were all{{Page aside in Path|v=4|n=2|p=56}}frauds by Mme. Blavatsky, and that she had a tremendous combination of conspirators ramifying all over India. His report was published by the P. R. Society. It is so preposterous however, that no well-informed Theosophist believes it. The newspapers and superficial thinkers often refer to it. Mr. Hodgson, in addition to inventing the great conspiracy theory, was full of prejudice which he has since displayed in various cities of the United States by declaiming against H. P. Blavatsky although he says she is not worth pursuing.}}
{{Page aside in Path|v=4|n=3|p=87}}
{{Style P-Subtitle|From C. N.:}}
{{Style P-No indent|1.—Is there a "Parent" Theosophical Society?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—Strictly there is not. Such a term would imply a separate parent body which gave out Charters or Diplomas. The Society is composed of its members who are, for administrative purposes, in Branches or unattached; the latter are called "members-at-large," but all are fellows of the T. S. The government is in the General Council, which now meets in India, in which all sections of the Society have a voice, and which issues charters and diplomas. But aside from Branch members and those at large, there is no parent Society. The term "parent" should be abandoned, as it implies separation.}}
{{Style P-No indent|2.—Is there an Esoteric Section of the Society in America different from that governed by H. P. Blavatsky?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—There is not, and there never was. In the first establishment of the T. S. other degrees than that of a mere diplomaed member were recognized, but no one save H. P. Blavatsky has had the authority to confer those degrees. She has now fully announced the first of those, although during all these 14 years they have existed and included certain members who were also fellows of the T. S.
Some misguided persons may have pretended to confer these degrees, but such a thing was improper on their part, and absolutely worthless to the recipient. These real degrees in occultism may not be trifled with, and yet they protect themselves because pretenders and triflers can make neither entry nor progress.
{{Page aside in Path|v=4|n=3|p=88}}
In 1875 H. P. Blavatsky directed a certain fellow of the Society to attend to the needs of all the members of the T. S., who were then called "entered apprentices" by her, and her letter of that date is still extant in which the present Esoteric Section was plainly referred to.}}
{{Style P-No indent|3.—Why has H. P. Blavatsky waited until now to so publicly proclaim the Esoteric Section?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—As a matter of fact she has not so waited. In 1875 and since many knew of its existence and have been in it, and she has frequently spoken of it; but until now there have not been enough members interested in the realities of theosophy to justify her in a definitive statement and organization. These efforts have to proceed slowly; people must first be waked up and directed towards theosophical doctrines before it is wise to open up that which is plain to those who know how to use their intuition. But the Western mind, for all its boasted progressiveness, is generally unable to know what is behind a wall unless a hole is cut through it: others, however, can guess what is hidden when they perceive signs and sounds that are quite plain and made on purpose.
But for the first 14 years of a theosophical effort—periodically made in every century—the work of such persons as H. P. Blavatsky is always directed to preparing the ground, and then more open invitation is extended. It is so done in the last 25 years of each century.}}
{{Style P-Signature|Hadji.}}
{{Style P-Subtitle|From R. L. R.:}}
{{Style P-No indent|1.—What is a Nirmanakaya?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—Such is one of the appellations given to an Adept who, in order to devote himself to mankind, has consciously given up his right to pass into Nirvana. He has no material body, but possesses all the other principles; and for such an one space is no obstacle. There are many of them, and they perform various works; some take full possession of great reformers, or statesmen who carry on a beneficial policy; others overshadow sometimes several persons, causing them to act, speak, and write in such a way as to produce needed changes in their fellow men. These Nirmanakayas pass through the haunts of men unseen and unknown; only the effects of their influence and presence are perceived, and these results are attributed to the genius of the individual or to chance alone.}}
{{Style P-No indent|2.—Has a Nirmanakaya any sex?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—No. The pronoun "He" has been used because it has a general application just as "man" or "men" has. In such a development as that of a Nirmanakaya the distinctions of sex have disappeared, because in the spiritual plane there is no sex.}}
{{Style P-Signature|Moulvie.}}
{{Page aside in Path|v=4|n=3|p=89}}
{{Style P-Subtitle|From T. D.:}}
{{Style P-No indent|If there be any defect in the Mind Cure system, what would you say it is?}}
{{Style P-No indent|''Answer''.—I should say the constant assertion that there is no evil or badness is that prime defect. For if one so asserts, he should also admit that there is no good. These two opposites stand or fall together; and they cannot disappear until all has passed to that plane which is above all good and all evil. Yet those who say that there is no evil are on the plane of consciousness where they perceive these two opposites. It appears to me that here in the Western world the old Hindu doctrine that all is illusion because impermanent is half-used. The illusionary quality is attributed only to so-called "evil," whereas the good is equally illusionary, since it as well as evil is so judged to be from some human standard. As in a community in which death is a blessing disease will be called "good," since it hastens death's advent; or, in another where insanity is supposed to be due to the presence of some god, such a condition is not esteemed to be evil.}}
{{Style P-Signature|Nilakant.}}


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