Page:A Collection of Esoteric Writings.djvu/300

286 VI.Mr. Subba Row, taking hold of "Esoteric Buddhism," the "Elixir of Life" and "Man," is pleased to father all their sins of omission and commission on the "Original Expounder." This is hardly fair. The first work was written absolutely without my knowledge, and as the author understood those teachings from letters he had received, what have I to do with them? The Elixir of Life was written by its author under direct dictation, or inspection, in his own house, in a far way country, in which I had never been till two years later. Finally "Man" was entirely rewritten by one of the two "chelas" and from the same materials as those used by Mr. Sinnett for "Esoteric Buddhism"; the two having understood the teachings, each in his own way. What had I to do with the "states of consciousness" of the three authors, two of whom wrote in England while I was in India? He may attribute to the lack of scientific precision in the "original teachings," there being "a jumble." No one would accuse Mr. Subba Row's Bhagavat Gita lectures of any such defects. Yet, I have already heard three or four intelligent persons among our members expounding the said three lectures (those which have already appeared)—in three different and diametrically opposite ways.

This will do, I believe. The Secret Doctrine will contain, no doubt, still more heterodox statements from the Brahminical view. No one is forced to accept my opinions or teaching in the Theosophical Society, one of the rules of which enforces only mutual tolerence for religious views. Our body is entirely unsectarian and "only exacts from each member that toleration of the beliefs of others which he desires..in regard to his own faith."

Most of us have been playing truants to this golden rule as to all others: more's the pity.