THE PATHS OF MYSTICISM AND OCCULTISM


By Clara M Codd


as published in The Theosophist - January 1955


Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai [Madras], 600 020, India



[Page 274] FOR long years I have pondered over the problem of the difference between that “union with God” as held up by the great mystical teachers of both the East and the West, and that vast body of secret knowledge called by the Adepts the “Sacred Science”. I have known so many people leave our ranks and our esoteric training because they felt that other teachers showed them a more “direct way”. Sometimes it was the way of the older Christian saints, sometimes the way of more modern eastern teachers and sages. I see the difference quite clearly. Let me endeavour to express it.

A man can become “one with God”, the Eternal Life, the Ultimate, call It what we will, without having any cognizance whatever of the Sacred Science. That great knowledge is not in the least necessary. But a tremendous knowledge concerning man and his constitution, his past and his future, his method of evolution, also concerning the consciousness and constitution of the solar system, exists, and is to be found in only one place. For untold ages this Sacred Science has been garnered, added to, and handed on by one generation of Adepts to another. The Brotherhood of the Adepts are the only people who possess it. A tiny fringe of that vast knowledge They gave to the [Page 275] world through the medium of the Theosophical Society, especially through Their great messenger, H. P. Blavatsky, whose monumental work, The Secret Doctrine, is unique in history. In that work is to be found information nowhere else obtainable on this planet. And because it is so unique and so wonderful, it is one of our “best-sellers”, and will increasingly become even more so. It is not the Theosophical members who buy it for the most part, but hundreds of university professors and students. They buy it because nowhere else can they get that information. The day prophesied by H.P.B. is approaching, when Science and Philosophy will acknowledge the truth of the statements and teaching of The Secret Doctrine.

Does any man wish to obtain more of that tremendous knowledge, for the S. D. is a mere fringe of it ? There is only one possible way for him to obtain it, and that is to qualify for admittance to the Great Brotherhood who are its eternal custodians. I was explaining this to a young man who was belligerently upholding the teachings of a modern eastern sage. “But”, he said, “when we become one with the Eternal Life, we shall have all that knowledge automatically”. “No”, I replied, “you will not. You will have a marvellous intuitive understanding of life and the hearts of men, but that body of detailed, scientific knowledge is only to be gained in one way and no other”.

What each one of us must decide is what is our way and what do we desire. If we wish simply to become one with Life, let us go by the most direct road we can find. But if we wish to share that Sacred Knowledge there is no other way but the path of discipleship to a great Adept. It is also true that upon this occult road we must also one day become “one with God”, for the knowledge and power of that Sacred Science cannot be safely trusted to any but the wholly spiritual and impersonal man. [Page 276]

How shall we know to which way we belong ? T. Subba Row says that we need not seek the Path of Occultism, because, if we belong to it (and that means a decision of the Monad in long past ages), it will find us. There is another point to be noted. This path is a long, long path, extending over many lives. It brings no quick results, and never, never any “personal” ones. Therefore we must search our motive, and decide whether we have the needed unwearying strength and patience. To quote Light on the Path:

Pause and consider awhile. Is it the way you desire, or is it that there is a dim perspective in your visions of great heights to be scaled by yourself, of a great future for you to compass ? Be warned. The way is to be sought for its own sake, not with regard to your feet that shall tread it.

A Master has also said that it is safer to give children dynamite to play with than to give to the impure or uncontrolled man the secrets of the Sacred Knowledge. And so the beginning of the way is love, unselfishness and purity. That knowledge cannot be demanded, asked for, clutched. It will be given to a man by degrees in proportion to his growth and purity, and the way to it is a long, long way. We must carry the will to gain it with us through many births and deaths. H.P.B. has said that to think it can be easily and quickly gained is one of the delusions of the Kali Yuga.

Of mystical teachers and teachers of Yoga there are many. But there is only one body of great and high teachers of the Sacred Science.

The man who realizes his unity with Life, which is God, thereby becomes an unseen blessing to the world and his fellow-men. But the man who fights his way up, not only to saintship, but to the possession of the Sacred Science, becomes a mighty spiritual power indeed, able to hold back a little the heavy and ceaseless Karma of the world.


Go to Top of this page
Back to our On Line Documents
Back to our Main Page


A free sample copy of our bilingual magazine can be sent to you. This offer is only good for a mailing to a Canadian address. You have to supply a mailing address.

The Canadian membership of $25.00 includes the receipt of four seasonal issues of our magazine “The Light Bearer” . If you are a resident of Canada send a note to enquirers@theosophical.ca requesting a packet of information and your free copy of our magazine

For membership outside of Canada send a message to the International Secretary in Adyar, India theossoc@satyam.net.in

For a problem viewing one of our documents — or to report an error in a document — send a note to the webmaster at webmaster@theosophical.ca

We will try to answer any other query — if you would send a note to
info@theosophical.ca


This document is a publication of the
Canadian Theosophical Association (a regional association of the Theosophical Society in Adyar)
89 Promenade Riverside,
St-Lambert, QC J4R 1A3
Canada

To reach the President — Pierre Laflamme dial 450-672-8577
or Toll Free — from all of Canada 866-277-0074
or you can telephone the national secretary at 905-455-7325
website: http://www.theosophical.ca