Difference between pages "Fyodorova O - To condemn or not to condemn" and "Malakhov P. - Three things from H. P. Blavatsky's work room"

Revision as of 08:33, 9 December 2020

Three things from H. P. Blavatsky's work room

by Pavel Malakhov

Published in "Modern Theosophical Thought", 2019-1 (7)Translated from Russian by Olga Fyodorovain Russian: Малахов П.Н. - Три вещи из кабинета Е. П. Блаватской

At the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar (Chennai, India) there is a museum of the Theosophical movement. It contains a variety of things that belonged to prominent Theosophists, presented to them or having something to do with them.

One of the expositions of said museum is a stand with personal belongings from the work room of H.P. Blavatsky. Each of them deserves the special attention of Theosophists, like everything connected with her name. It is not because of our worshiping her personality and not because of a sentimental or formal tribute to one of the T.S. founders, but because of HPB’s unusual, multifaceted life, permeated with the idea of serving humanity and her Masters. This naturally leaves impressions on everything that surrounds such a person. Every detail of the life of such extraordinary people can arouse deep speculations, including ones of accidental and non-accidental appearance of some things in our own environment.

Diary

One of these belongings is a diary, which has an engravement in gold on the face side of the cover: “H. P. Blavatsky 1878 ". The diary has no records, only a small mark in blue ink in the upper left corner, where the number 7 is clearly visible. There is elso a short note inside: "Sarah Cowell F.T.O presents this album to HP Blavatsky 1878". Above this inscription, a note of the archival worker was made in blue ink: "Box 13.36". Apparently this is the place where this exhibit is kept.

As you can see in the pictures, the diary is rather shabby. Who knows, it may have once contained many pages that were used for notes and letters. The remaining cover and a few pages are damaged by worms, but the paper is not very yellow.

The notebook has dimensions of 240x200 mm.

A small tray

The next item is a small metal tray measuring 125x113 mm.

The tray is gracefully decorated: raging waves, soaring birds and a dragon framing this picture.

Perhaps the tray was used for a hot mug, and judging by the dark spots, it could well be used sometimes as an ashtray.

Wood-engraved picture

Another exhibit of the museum is a three-dimensional artwork, engraved in a whole piece of wood in the intaglio method, measuring 94x75 mm. It shows a walking elephant with mountains and some trees in the background. The material is unknown, but judging by the fringed edges of the engraving, it looks like some kind of soft wood.

* * *

These and other exhibits came to the museum after the death of H.P. Blavatsky, as they were found in her work room. Perhaps someday it will be possible to learn the history of at least some of them. It is not known how long Helena Petrovna had them in her work room, and whether they were presented to her personally or intended for someone else, whether she carried any of this things with her, or whether these items gradually appeared in her room along with numerous visitors. Only her diary contains fairly definite evidence of their owner, date and purpose.

As you know, Helena Petrovna was not attached to things and easily left any environment when her life's work called to move on. And she traveled a lot, one might say constantly. The reason for having most of her belongings (though not so many) was not the things themselves, but the people associated with them; as it is said about the portraits of her friends and acquaintances with which she decorated her work room in London (See the article “HPB at Work” in the previous sixth issue of MMT).

What thoughts can arise when looking at these things, which were once in demand and used and became antiquarian overnight, as soon as their mistress (or keeper) left this world?

Do we need all the things we have? Does everything really belong to us? Why do we have them? Maybe some of them are really needed for current usage, some – for future needs, and the other part (perhaps the largest) is just a test for our attachment to things as such. In the latter case, the idea that each person is a manifestation of the One Life, in which all processes are interconnected, can help, and therefore, we are often the vehicles of some more extensive processes that do not end with us, but only include us as participants. In other words, some of the things that come to us are intended for someone else, and we are only temporary custodians. We are trusted to convey something to others, but due to weak eyesight, we do not see the addressee and believe that since the thing has come to us, then it belongs to us.

With this thought, we can reconsider our belongings and fulfill our duty as an intermediary – to transfer things to someone who really needs them.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{MTT publication
-  | author = Olga Fyodorova
+  | author =  Pavel Malakhov
-  | title = Condemn or not Condemn?
+  | title = Three things from H. P. Blavatsky's work room
   | subtitle =
   | issue = 2019-1
-  | number = 12
+  | number = 7
   | publications =
-  | info =
+  | info = Translated from Russian by Olga Fyodorova
+ | russian = Малахов П.Н. - Три вещи из кабинета Е. П. Блаватской
+ | categories = About Blavatsky H. P.
 }}
+{{Hide TOC}}
-{{Style P-Epigraph|“To judge the sins of others you gladly do,
+At the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar (Chennai, India) there is a museum of the Theosophical movement. It contains a variety of things that belonged to prominent Theosophists, presented to them or having something to do with them.
-Start with your own and the others’ you’ll never get to.”
+One of the expositions of said museum is a stand with personal belongings from the work room of H.P. Blavatsky. Each of them deserves the special attention of Theosophists, like everything connected with her name. It is not because of our worshiping her personality and not because of a sentimental or formal tribute to one of the T.S. founders, but because of HPB’s unusual, multifaceted life, permeated with the idea of serving humanity and her Masters. This naturally leaves impressions on everything that surrounds such a person. Every detail of the life of such extraordinary people can arouse deep speculations, including ones of accidental and non-accidental appearance of some things in our own environment.
-|Friedrich Rückert}}
-{{Style P-Epigraph|“Condemning the other is always wrong. Because no one can ever know what has happened and is happening in the soul of the one whom you condemn. ”
+{{Style P-Title level|3|Diary}}
-| Leo Tolstoy}}
-We all know the Gospel words:
+One of these belongings is a diary, which has an engravement in gold on the face side of the cover: “H. P. Blavatsky 1878 ". The diary has no records, only a small mark in blue ink in the upper left corner, where the number 7 is clearly visible. There is elso a short note inside: "Sarah Cowell F.T.O presents this album to HP Blavatsky 1878". Above this inscription, a note of the archival worker was made in blue ink: "Box 13.36". Apparently this is the place where this exhibit is kept.
-{{Style P-Quote|“Judge not, that you be not judged.
+As you can see in the pictures, the diary is rather shabby. Who knows, it may have once contained many pages that were used for notes and letters. The remaining cover and a few pages are damaged by worms, but the paper is not very yellow.
-For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
+The notebook has dimensions of 240x200 mm.
-And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7: 1-3)}}
+<gallery>
+ЕПБ - Тетрадь 1.jpg
+ЕПБ - Тетрадь 2.jpg
+ЕПБ - Тетрадь 3.jpg
+ЕПБ - Тетрадь 4.jpg
+</gallery>
-{{Style P-Quote|“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8: 7)}}
+{{Style P-Title level|3|A small tray}}
-There is a deep gulf between the knowledge of the words or proclamation and practice that Christians in vain have been striving to overcome for two millennia.
+The next item is a small metal tray measuring 125x113 mm.
-They condemn everyone and everything, from close relatives and neighbors to nations and the whole world.
+The tray is gracefully decorated: raging waves, soaring birds and a dragon framing this picture.
-And everyone believes that he has the right to be a judge.
+Perhaps the tray was used for a hot mug, and judging by the dark spots, it could well be used sometimes as an ashtray.
-William Judge, in one of his letters, excerpts from which are included in the article "The World Knowth Us Not," wrote:
+<gallery>
+ЕПБ - Поднос 1.jpg
+ЕПБ - Поднос 2.jpg
+ЕПБ - Поднос 3.jpg
+</gallery>
-{{Style P-Quote|“Every time we think someone else has done wrong we should ask ourselves two questions:
+{{Style P-Title level|3|Wood-engraved picture}}
-“(1) Am I the judge in this matter who is entitled to try this person?
+Another exhibit of the museum is a three-dimensional artwork, engraved in a whole piece of wood in the intaglio method, measuring 94x75 mm. It shows a walking elephant with mountains and some trees in the background. The material is unknown, but judging by the fringed edges of the engraving, it looks like some kind of soft wood.
-“(2) Am I any better in my way, do I or do I not offend in some other way just as much as they do in this?
+<gallery>
+ЕПБ - Картина из дерева 1.jpg
+ЕПБ - Картина из дерева 2.jpg
+</gallery>
-“This will settle the matter, I think. And in . . . there ought to be no judgments and no criticism. If some offend then let us ask what is to be done, but only when the offence is against the whole. When an offence is against ''us'', then let it go. This is thought by some to be “goody-goody”, but I tell you the heart, the soul, and the bowels of compassion are of more consequence than intellectuality. The latter will take us all sure to hell if we let it govern only. Be sure of this, and try as much as you can to spread the true spirit in all directions, or else not only will there be individual failure, but also the circle H.P.B. made as a nucleus for possible growth will die, rot, fail, and come to nothing…”
+<center><nowiki>* * *</nowiki></center>
-“Let me say one thing I KNOW: only the feeling of true brotherhood, of true love towards humanity aroused in the soul of someone strong enough to stem this tide can carry us through to the close of next century and onward. For Love and Trust are the only weapons that can overcome the REAL enemies against which the true Theosophist must fight.”}}
+These and other exhibits came to the museum after the death of H.P. Blavatsky, as they were found in her work room. Perhaps someday it will be possible to learn the history of at least some of them. It is not known how long Helena Petrovna had them in her work room, and whether they were presented to her personally or intended for someone else, whether she carried any of this things with her, or whether these items gradually appeared in her room along with numerous visitors. Only her diary contains fairly definite evidence of their owner, date and purpose.
-If we call ourselves Theosophists, then we must follow the most important objective of the Theosophical Society, namely, to form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or colour, which is our primary duty, that we must reach with pure intentions, avoiding lust for power, greed, without expecting any reward.
+As you know, Helena Petrovna was not attached to things and easily left any environment when her life's work called to move on. And she traveled a lot, one might say constantly. The reason for having most of her belongings (though not so many) was not the things themselves, but the people associated with them; as it is said about the portraits of her friends and acquaintances with which she decorated her work room in London (See the article “[[Malakhov P. - HPB at Work|HPB at Work]]” in the previous sixth issue of MMT).
-Besides we have duties arising from the law of karma. We must distinguish between them so as not to do other people's duties.
+What thoughts can arise when looking at these things, which were once in demand and used and became antiquarian overnight, as soon as their mistress (or keeper) left this world?
-As the Bhagavad Gita says:
+Do we need all the things we have? Does everything really belong to us? Why do we have them? Maybe some of them are really needed for current usage, some – for future needs, and the other part (perhaps the largest) is just a test for our attachment to things as such. In the latter case, the idea that each person is a manifestation of the One Life, in which all processes are interconnected, can help, and therefore, we are often the vehicles of some more extensive processes that do not end with us, but only include us as participants. In other words, some of the things that come to us are intended for someone else, and we are only temporary custodians. We are trusted to convey something to others, but due to weak eyesight, we do not see the addressee and believe that since the thing has come to us, then it belongs to us.
-{{Style P-Quote|“It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though they may be faulty, than another's duties. Destruction in the course of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.” (3:35)}}
+With this thought, we can reconsider our belongings and fulfill our duty as an intermediary – to transfer things to someone who really needs them.
-We make judgments about a person based on external actions, without taking into account his inner nature, which has developed as a result of many past lives, without knowing his relationship with other people in past lives.
-Here we should recall the words of Jesus in the generally accepted translation: “and a man's enemies are his household.”
-If we translate this phrase from the ancient Gospel or Peshitta, written in Aramaic, which was then spoken in Galilee and throughout Palestine, we get the following:
-{{Style P-Quote|“A man's enemies will be children in his house (bnei bayta, ביתה בני).”}}
-In Greek, it looks like this: a man's enemies are his household.
-This phrase leads to deep reflection. Doesn't this sentence mean reincarnation, namely, that a person's enemies in the next life can be his children?
-Now let’s consider condemnation from the esoterical point of view.
-Helena Petrovna Blavatsky said the following in “Conversations on Occultism” recorded by William Judge:
-{{Style P-Quote|''“Sage''. – There is a very important thing you should not overlook. Every time you harshly and unmercifully criticize the faults of another, you produce an attraction to yourself of certain quantities of elementals from that person. They fasten themselves upon you and endeavor to find in you a similar state or spot or fault that they have left in the other person. It is as if they left him to serve you at higher wages, so to say.”}}
-And Elena Petrovna also said the following about the elementals:
-{{Style P-Quote|“Skandhas may produce elementals by unconscious Kriyāśakti. Every elemental that is thrown out by man must return to him, sooner or later, since it is his own vibration', they thus become his Frankenstein. Elementals are simply effects producing effects; they are disembodied thoughts, good and bad; they remain crystallized in the Astral Light, and are attracted by affinity, and galvanized back into life again when their originator returns to earth-life; you can paralyze them by reverse effects. Elementals are caught like a disease, and hence are dangerous to ourselves and to others; this is why it is dangerous to influence others. The elementals which live after your death are those which you implant in others; the rest remain latent till you reincarnate, when they come to life again.” “The Inner Group Teachings of H. P. Blavatsky” (Meeting No. XVIII: April 1, 1891)}}
-There is something to think about for all condemning and criticizing people, especially for theosophists who are familiar with the teachings of karma and reincarnation. Don't you know that if you dislike Jews, for example, you will be born into this nation in your new incarnation. Why should we create new karma?
-With the help of the esoteric doctrine of the elementals, it is possible to explain not only the general condemnation, but also other spontaneous social and supposedly spiritual phenomena, for example, the phenomenon of Glossolalia in the evangelical Pentecostal and charismatic churches, when people begin to speak in an incomprehensible imaginary new dialect. This phenomenon is contrary to common sense. After all, even a parrot can be taught to speak clear words. The reason for this is the pursuit of innovations, so that without much effort, without painstaking research, someone can stand out among others. Now is the era of quick action, superficial knowledge and blind faith. Theosophists, on the other hand, should serve as a researcher and interpreter for those who want to know and seek, but only on the basis of utmost selflessness and sympathy for other people.
-Therefore, keeping in mind the doctrine of the elementals and other similar beings, the problem of condemnation becomes very serious and dangerous. If you have entered the path of purification of actions, speech and thoughts, then during condemnation you again get thoughts polluted, and through them everything else, so you start “flowing down the stream”.
-So, firstly, do not rush to conclusions without knowing all the karmic knots and their consequences, and secondly, do not infect your mind with harmful thoughts, so that they couldn’t “turn and tear you in pieces.”
-Let us, first of all, tirelessly, tensely and constantly monitor our thoughts, striving to realize our own duty in order to do it as conscientiously as possible, thereby becoming a suitable instrument for transmitting theosophical teaching.
-However, not to condemn does not mean not to have a sense of discrimination, which appears from within through maximum effort and study.
-No wonder they now say: “Tell me what you read, and I will tell you what kind of person you are.”
-And to prevent the above contamination through the elementals, constant vigilance and common sense are needed when examining the motives of the speaker or writer.
-Our task is to “flow up the stream” in order to create balance or harmony in this world.
-"Iti maya srutam," so I have heard.
-[[Category: Ethics]]
-[[t-ru-lib:Фёдорова О.А. - Осуждать или не осуждать]]

Difference between pages "Fyodorova O - To condemn or not to condemn" and "Malakhov P. - Three things from H. P. Blavatsky's work room"

Revision as of 08:33, 9 December 2020

Diary

A small tray

Wood-engraved picture

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