"As a student ... ever at work and tireless, never satisfied. More light, more facts, advanced theories, different hypotheses, further suggestions, always pushing toward an ideal." (acc Rawson, acc Cranston, p53) referring to 1854.
"Such knowledge is priceless; and it has been hidden only from those who overlooked it, derided it, or denied its existence." HPB, Isis Unveiled I-vii, Cranston p56.
"The acquisition of the highest knowledge and power require not only many years of the severest study ...., and an audacity bent by no peril, but also as many years of retreat in comparative solitude, and association with but students pursuing the same object, in a locality where nature itself preserves like the neophyte an absolute and unbroken stillness, if not silence!" HPB 1881, CW 3:268, Cranston p80.
"The world is not prepared yet to understand the philosophy of Occult Svcience - let them assure themselves first of all that there are beings in an invisible world, whether "Spirits' of the dead or Elementals; and that there are hidden powers in man ..." 1875 HPB Letters to APS p4, Cranston p132
"8th. Races of men differ in spiritual "gifts" as in color, stature, or any other external quality; among some peoples seership naturally prevails, among others mediumship." HPB, last chpt Isis Unveiled Cranston p164
"Do not imagine that which cannot be; do not hope that at the last moment you will be helped. If you are unfit to pass your first probation and assert your rights of a future Adept by forcing circumstances to bow before you - you are as totally unfit for any further trials ..." CJ LMW 2-68,69 Cranston p202
"The test of [one's] philosophy is always best made under circumstances which "try men's souls"; one can be charmingly serene when far away from the field of battle. Let anyone, who aspires to the martyr's crown ... help us in trying to establish a society on the basis of Tolerance and Brotherhood." HPB CW4:97 Cranston p203
"Psychism, with all its allurements and all its dangers, is necessarily developing among you, and you must beware lest the Psychic outruns the [mental] and spiritual development. Psychic capacities held perfectly under control, checked and directed by the [mind] principle, are valuable aids in development. But these capacities running riot, controlling instead of being controlled, using instead of being used, lead the student into the most dangerous delusions and the certainty of moral destruction." HPB to the American Conventions 1888-1891, p34 Cranston p225
"... by struggling their whole lives in purity, study, and self-sacrifice, through trials, privations, and self-discipline, ... HPB CW1:299 Cranston 226
" The Occult Fraternities in every part of the world have now made a rule that admission into their ranks must be sought through the 'Theosophical Society'." Subba Row ; Theosophical Forum 1935, p188 Cranston p237
"Our society preaches universal fraternity and love, but it leaves its branches free either to embrace each other or not ... Why could you not...make an effort to establish a separate branch which you might call . the Noological Group of the TS or something of the kind? We need such independent centers of research and experimentation. ... Work therefore for Truth. Not an atom of your work will be lost." HPB May 17 1883 , Cranston p242
"Dr Walt Anderson remarks: It does not seem to have occurred to many physicists that the reality unfolded in their research and theory might be experienced." via Bateson, Mind and Nature 120-129, Cranston p259-260
"But to many of her pupils the process [her practical way of teaching] was unpalatable, for it is never pleasant to be brought face to face with one's own weaknesses; and so many turned from her, but those who would stand the test, and remaind true to her, would recognize within themselves the inner development which alone leads to occultism." " ...it required much training and many a hard battle with myself before I could conquer the satisfaction in self which a life of idleness, ease, and high position is sure to engender." Wachmeister , Cranston p293
" It seemed as if the Society had received its death blow; day after day came in resignations from those who had hitherto been looked upon as shining lights in the Society, or else insulting letters from men and women who until then had worn the mask of friendship. The remainder of the members of the TS were more or less paralyzed, and all they wanted to do was to keep quiet and out of sight, so that no mud should be thrown at them. But a few bright stars shown through..." Wachmeister Theosophical Siftings 1981 3:3-4, Cranston 294-5
"Yes, the work has brought upon me contumely, ignominy of all kinds, hatred, malice and slander. Were it only from the outsiders I would mind very little. But, sad to say, it is the 'Theosophists' chiefly who tear me to pieces. Our mystic birds are so wise as to soil their own nest instead of leaving it and choosing another." HPB Irish Theosophist 1895 Feb, Cranston, p309
"The minute book of the (London) Blavatsky Lodge, in recording the first formal meeting on May nineteenth, declared that the aim of the lodge be active work. Cranston p323
the Psychical Researchers... have proved for themselves
they have perfectly sound evidence
they have unpublished papers
an account of astral journeys made consciously
the whole thing authenticated and in print
yet when you make the same claim, they call you a fraud..
(Charles Johnston)
They will never do much --
they are far too timid. That was the secret motive that turned them against me. They were afraid of raising a storm if they said our phenomena were true." (HPB) CW8:392-409, Cranston p328
"In the future, as the flower of our civilization unfolds, new diseases will arise and more strange disorders will be known, springing from causes that lie deep in the minds of men and which can only be eradicated by spiritual living." HPB CW 9:102-3, Cranston,p335
"What is the most important thing necessary in the study of Theosophy? "Common sense, a sense of humor, more common sense.." HPB replying to a young theosphist, Cranston p337
Dec 1887 Lucifer 242-251
"... in almost every point the doctrines of the [Anglican] Church are in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus.... we have told you of the oneness of Theosophy and the teachings of Jesus. You have heard our profession of faith, and learned the grievances and plaints which we lay at the door of dogmatic Christianity. the work which your Master has alloted to you, but which is so sadly neglected by that wealthy and domineering colossus - the Christian Church. ...endeavouring to do the work that Jesus, like Buddha, ... has commanded all the followers to undertake, but which the Churches, having become dogmatic, are entirely unable to accomplish." Cranston p339
"While I fully agree to the proposition that we should forgive our enemies, yet I do not thereby lose 'my appeal unto Caesar', and in that appeal, which is now made to the Law and not to the Emperor, I may keep the comman to forgive, while for the protection of the name of a dead friend and the security in the future of Theosophists, I hale into the Courts of the land those who having no sense of what is right or just, see fit to publish broadcast wicked and unfounded slanders." HPB The Path Sept 1890 Cranston p375
"Self-watchfulness is never more necessary than when a personal wish to lead, and wounded vanity, dress themselves in the peacock's feathers of devotion and altruistic work .. If every Fellow in the Society were content to be an impersonal force for good, careless of praise or blame so long as he subserved the purposes of the Brotherhood, the progress made would astonish the World." Cranston p406 April 15 1891 Letter to American Convention
"for if minerals are alive, then of course all worlds are inhabited." p460 Sylvia Cranston !!!!!!!!!!!
"There was a woman who talked perpetually of 'the divine spark' within her, until HPB stopped her with - 'Yes, my dear, you have a divine spark within you and if you are not very careful you will hear it snore!" Yeats, Autobiography Cranston p467
"In 1926 by common consent of all members we left the Theosophical Society, on the ground that in our view its activities were then encrusted with peripheral organizations to the exclusion of the great teaching given to Madame Blavatsky by her masters in Tibet." Christmas Humphreys 1974, Cranston p500
"... the mysterious, dream foundation of our collective consciousness." HPB SD II 293, last sentence. p518 Cranston
"The thoughts we think, but are unable to define and formulate, once repelled, seek refuge in the very root of our being." ...When chased by the persistent efforts of our will "they retreat before it, still further, still deeper into - who knows what - fibres, but wherein they remain to reign and impress us unbidded and unknown to ourselves." (Edgard Quinet) Yes, unseen and eluding grasp, they yet work, and thus lay the foundations of our future actions and thoughts, and obtain mastery over us, though we may never think of them and are often ignorant of their very being and presence. (HPB , Lucifer, 1889 Memory in the Dying) Cranston p519
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