HPB-SB-10-325

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

T i

vol. 10, p. 325

vol. 10

page 325

 

SBT, DT

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eng • рус

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D’ Represents the soul in a state of revery—liable to delusion, or “Electro Biology.”

D Represents the spirit on first awaking in the spirit sphere of revery, namely, in the condition easily imposed on by soul force. In a purgatorial state of hallucination, and prone to impose on others. It is from this region, I believe, that for the most part, come those spirits which haunt our promiscuous seances. They descend through the narrow way and biologise the mediums who are in a condition of soul revery at D. Spirits at D’ are under the control of soul or will force.

C This represents the position of the clairvoyant spirit but still within the influence of the corresponding region of soul imagination at C’.

B This is the position of spiritual reason and spiritual knowledge and power corresponding to B’.

A This is the position where the spirit, being beyond earth and human reason, has become a perfect unity, at one with the Holy Spirit of the Lord, and in perfect subjection to the will of God. Its utterances being “Thus saith the Lord.”

An Incident

Unarmed and unattended walks the Czar, Through Moscow’s busy street one winter’s day. The crowd uncover as his face they see,— “God greet the Czar!” they say. Along his path there moved a funeral, Grey spectacle of poverty and woe. A wretched sledge, dragged by one weary man, Slowly across the snow. And on the sledge, blown by the winter wind, Lay a poor coffin, very rude and bare. And he who drew it bent before his load, With dull and sullen air. The Emperor stopped and beckoned to the man; “Who is’t thou bearest to the grave?” he said. “Only a soldier, Sire!” the short reply. “Only a soldier, dead.” “Only a soldier!” musing, said the Czar; “Only a Russian, who was poor and brave. Move on. I follow. Such an one goes not Unhonoured to his grave.” He bent his head, and silent raised his cap; The Czar of all the Russias, pacing slow, Following the coffin, as again it went, Slowly across the snow. The passers in the street, all wondering, Looked on that sight, then followed silently: Peasant and Prince, and artisan and clerk, All in one company. Still, as they went, the crowd grew ever more, Till thousands stood around the friendless grave, Led by that princely heart, who, royal, true, Honoured the poor and brave.

Agnes Macdonell, inThe Spectator.

March 2nd, 1880.

Note.—This incident is narrated by a lady who was living in Moscow when it took place.

Experiences of Anesthetics

Some time ago you published a very interesting communication on this subject from Dr. Wyld. If medical men were as a rule psychologists, they would be doubtless able to collect very valuable evidence of the experiences of their patients while under the influence of anaesthetics, proving in a fair proportion of cases that separate psychic existence, disengaged from bodily conditions, which is affirmed by Spiritualists. The following case, communicated to me by a friend from his own experience, does not prove this, but is sufficiently remarkable to be worth the attention of psychologists.

Two years ago, the gentleman referred to, had an operation performed for the removal of a tumour in the face. He was put under ether, complete insensibility being for a time induced. He revived, however, during the progress of the operation, and at once, as he distinctly remembers, and as was confirmed by the surgeons present, joined in the conversation which had been passing between the latter; chloroform was then administered, and the operation was completed. The wound was sewn up after his restoration to consciousness, complete local insensibility remaining, however, during this process, a fact worth noting. Recollecting then that he had spoken, and what he had said in the interval between his revival from the effects of the ether, and his being put under chloroform, he asked the doctors “if he had been talking nonsense,” as he had no knowledge whatever of their conversation. They replied that he had joined in this with perfect relevance, as if he had heard all that had been said.

Although not affording the direct proof of psychic disengagement which some of Dr. Wyld’s cases, if I remember rightly, gave, the above seems to me to receive its most probable explanation on this hypothesis. It seems impossible to suppose that the material brain to which the nerves of touch could transmit no message, was nevertheless affected by the auditory nerve, (the case not being one of mere local paralysis.) On the other hand, the psychic body, artificially separated, while not able to receive impressions through the external body, may nevertheless possess an organism which can be reached through the medium of the air, whose vibrations may convey to it sound. And the impulse to speak may have carried it back to the brain, and hence the awaking, the words being then spoken without the least consciousness or memory of what provoked them.

There must surely be among your readers gentlemen of the medical profession, who are able to supplement Dr. Wyld’s researches in this direction; and contributions from their experience might throw further light on the subject, especially in its relation to the mesmeric and trance conditions.

Temple, March 15th.

Ce Que Veulent les Theosophes, Lear But

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Editor's notes

Sources

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  London Spiritualist, No. 395, March 19, 1880, p. 137

• 

  London Spiritualist, No. 395, March 19, 1880, p. 137