Studies in Occultism; A Series of Reprints from the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky | Page 3

one finds no
echo in the breasts of the others, then the required conditions are absent,
and it is useless to proceed.
[This can hardly happen if the preliminary choice made was consistent
with the magnetic requirements. It is known that Chelas otherwise
promising and fit for the reception of truth, had to wait for years on
account of their temper and the impossibility they felt to put themselves
in tune with their companions. For--]
5. The co-disciples must be tuned by the guru as the strings of a lute
(_vina_) each different from the others, yet each emitting sounds in
harmony with all. Collectively they must form a key-board answering
in all its parts to thy lightest touch (the touch of the Master). Thus their
minds shall open for the harmonies of Wisdom, to vibrate as
knowledge through each and all, resulting in effects pleasing to the
presiding gods (tutelary or patron-angels) and useful to the Lanoo. So
shall Wisdom be impressed forever on their hearts and the harmony of
the law shall never be broken.
6. Those who desire to acquire the knowledge leading to the Siddhis
(occult powers) have to renounce all the vanities of life and of the
world (here follows enumeration of the Siddhis).
7. None can feel the difference between himself and his fellow-students,
such as "I am the wisest," "I am more holy and pleasing to the teacher,
or in my community, than my brother," etc.,--and remain an upâsaka.
His thoughts must be predominantly fixed upon his heart, chasing
therefrom every hostile thought to any living being. It (the heart) must
be full of the feeling of its non-separateness from the rest of beings as
from all in Nature; otherwise no success can follow.
8. A Lanoo (disciple) has to dread external living influence alone
(magnetic emanations from living creatures). For this reason while at
one with all, in his inner nature, he must take care to separate his outer
(external) body from every foreign influence: none must drink out of,

or eat in his cup but himself. He must avoid bodily contact (i.e., being
touched or touch) with human, as with animal being.
[No pet animals are permitted, and it is forbidden even to touch certain
trees and plants. A disciple has to live, so to say, in his own atmosphere
in order to individualize it for occult purposes.]
9. The mind must remain blunt to all but the universal truths in nature,
lest the "Doctrine of the Heart" should become only the "Doctrine of
the Eye," (i.e., empty exoteric ritualism).
10. No animal food of whatever kind, nothing that has life in it should
be taken by the disciple. No wine, no spirits, or opium should be used;
for these are like the _Lhama-yin_ (evil spirits), who fasten upon the
unwary, they devour the understanding.
[Wine and spirits are supposed to contain and preserve the bad
magnetism of all the men who helped in their fabrication; the meat of
each animal, to preserve the psychic characteristics of its kind.]
11. Meditation, abstinence in all, the observation of moral duties, gentle
thoughts, good deeds and kind words, as good will to all and entire
oblivion of Self, are the most efficacious means of obtaining
knowledge and preparing for the reception of higher wisdom.
12. It is only by virtue of a strict observance of the foregoing rules that
a Lanoo can hope to acquire in good time the Siddhis of the Arhats, the
growth which makes him become gradually One with the Universal
ALL.
* * * * *
These 12 extracts are taken from among some 73 rules, to enumerate
which would be useless as they would be meaningless in Europe. But
even these few are enough to show the immensity of the difficulties
which beset the path of the would-be "Upâsaka," who has been born
and bred in Western lands.[B]

All western, and especially English, education is instinct with the
principle of emulation and strife; each boy is urged to learn more
quickly, to outstrip his companions, and to surpass them in every
possible way. What is mis-called "friendly rivalry" is assiduously
cultivated, and the same spirit is fostered and strengthened in every
detail of life.
With such ideas "educated into" him from his childhood, how can a
Western bring himself to feel towards his co-students "as the fingers on
one hand"? Those co-students, too, are not of his own selection, or
chosen by himself from personal sympathy and appreciation. They are
chosen by his teacher on far other grounds, and he who would be a
student must first be strong enough to kill out in his heart all feelings of
dislike and antipathy to others. How many Westerns are ready even to
attempt this in earnest?
And then the details of