Studies in Occultism; A Series of Reprints from the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky | Page 7

him study the philosophy and the "Science of Soul,"
and he can become one of the modest benefactors of humanity, without
any "superhuman" powers. Siddhis (or the Arhat powers) are only for
those who are able to "lead the life," to comply with the terrible
sacrifices required for such a training, and to comply with them to the
very letter. Let them know at once and remember always, that true
Occultism or Theosophy is the "Great Renunciation of SELF,"

unconditionally and absolutely, in thought as in action. It is
ALTRUISM, and it throws him who practises it out of calculation of
the ranks of the living altogether. "Not for himself, but for the world, he
lives," as soon as he has pledged himself to the work. Much is forgiven
during the first years of probation. But, no sooner is he "accepted" than
his personality must disappear, and he has to become a mere beneficent
force in Nature. There are two poles for him after that, two paths, and
no midward place of rest. He has either to ascend laboriously, step by
step, often through numerous incarnations and no Devachanic break,
the golden ladder leading to Mahâtmâship (the Arhat or Bodhisattva
condition), or--he will let himself slide down the ladder at the first false
step, and roll down into _Dugpa-ship_....
All this is either unknown or left out of sight altogether. Indeed, one
who is able to follow the silent evolution of the preliminary aspirations
of the candidates, often finds strange ideas quietly taking possession of
their minds. There are those whose reasoning powers have been so
distorted by foreign influences that they imagine that animal passions
can be so sublimated and elevated that their fury, force, and fire can, so
to speak, be turned inwards; that they can be stored and shut up in one's
breast, until their energy is, not expanded, but turned toward higher and
more holy purposes; namely, until their collective and unexpanded
strength enables their possessor to enter the true Sanctuary of the Soul
and stand therein in the presence of the _Master_--the Higher Self! For
this purpose they will not struggle with their passions nor slay them.
They will simply, by a strong effort of will put down the fierce flames
and keep them at bay within their natures, allowing the fire to smolder
under a thin layer of ashes. They submit joyfully to the torture of the
Spartan boy who allowed the fox to devour his entrails rather than part
with it. Oh, poor, blind visionaries!
As well hope that a band of drunken chimney-sweeps, hot and greasy
from their work, may be shut up in a Sanctuary hung with pure white
linen, and that instead of soiling and turning it by their presence into a
heap of dirty shreds, they will become masters in and of the sacred
recess, and finally emerge from it as immaculate as that recess. Why
not imagine that a dozen of skunks imprisoned in the pure atmosphere

of a _Dgon-pa_ (a monastery) can issue out of it impregnated with all
the perfumes of the incenses used?... Strange aberration of the human
mind. Can it be so? Let us argue.
The "Master" in the Sanctuary of our souls is "the Higher Self"--the
divine spirit whose consciousness is based upon and derived solely (at
any rate during the mortal life of the man in whom it is captive) from
the Mind, which we have agreed to call the Human Soul (the "Spiritual
Soul" being the vehicle of the Spirit). In its turn the former (the
personal or human soul) is a compound in its highest form, of spiritual
aspirations, volitions and divine love; and in its lower aspect, of animal
desires and terrestrial passions imparted to it by its associations with its
vehicle, the seat of all these. It thus stands as a link and a medium
between the animal nature of man which its higher reason seeks to
subdue, and his divine spiritual nature to which it gravitates, whenever
it has the upper hand in its struggle with the inner animal. The latter is
the instinctual "animal Soul" and is the hotbed of those passions, which,
as just shown, are lulled instead of being killed, and locked up in their
breasts by some imprudent enthusiasts. Do they still hope to turn
thereby the muddy stream of the animal sewer into the crystalline
waters of life? And where, on what neutral ground can they be
imprisoned so as not to affect man? The fierce passions of love and lust
are still alive and they are allowed to still remain in the place of their
birth--_that same animal soul_; for both the higher and the lower
portions of the "Human Soul" or Mind reject such inmates, though they
cannot avoid being tainted with