Studies in Occultism; A Series of Reprints from the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky | Page 9

lend his ear to the "still small voice" and fail to hear the cries of his
little ones, or, he will listen but to the wants of the latter and remain
deaf to the voice of Humanity. It would be a ceaseless, a maddening
struggle for almost any married man, who would pursue true practical
Occultism, instead of its theoretical philosophy. For he would find
himself ever hesitating between the voice of the impersonal divine love
of Humanity, and that of the personal, terrestrial love. And this could
only lead him to fail in one or the other, or perhaps in both his duties.
Worse than this; for, _whoever indulges, after having pledged himself
to_ OCCULTISM, in the gratification of a terrestrial love or lust, must
feel an almost immediate result; that of being irresistibly dragged from
the impersonal divine state down to the lower plane of matter. Sensual,
or even mental self-gratification, involves the immediate loss of the
powers of spiritual discernment; the voice of the MASTER can no
longer be distinguished from that of one's passions or _even that of a
Dugpa_; the right from wrong; sound morality from mere casuistry.
The Dead Sea fruit assumes the most glorious mystic appearance, only
to turn to ashes on the lips, and to gall in the heart, resulting in:--
Depth ever deepening, darkness darkening still; Folly for wisdom, guilt

for innocence; Anguish for rapture, and for hope despair.
And once being mistaken and having acted on their mistakes, most men
shrink from realizing their error, and thus descend deeper and deeper
into the mire. And, although it is the intention that decides primarily
whether white or black magic is exercised, yet the results even of
involuntary, unconscious sorcery cannot fail to be productive of bad
Karma. Enough has been said to show that _sorcery is any kind of evil
influence exercised upon other persons, who suffer, or make other
persons suffer, in consequence_. Karma is a heavy stone splashed in the
quiet waters of Life; and it must produce ever widening circles of
ripples, carried wider and wider, almost ad infinitum. Such causes
produced have to call forth effects, and these are evidenced in the just
laws of Retribution.
Much of this may be avoided if people will only abstain from rushing
into practices neither the nature nor importance of which they
understand. No one is expected to carry a burden beyond his strength
and powers. There are "natural-born magicians"; Mystics and
Occultists by birth, and by right of direct inheritance from a series of
incarnations and aeons of suffering and failures. These are
passion-proof, so to say. No fires of earthly origin can fan into a flame
any of their senses or desires; no human voice can find response in their
souls, except the great cry of Humanity. These only may be certain of
success. But they can be met only far and wide, and they pass through
the narrow gates of Occultism because they carry no personal luggage
of human transitory sentiments along with them. They have got rid of
the feeling of the lower personality, paralysed thereby the "astral"
animal, and the golden, but narrow gate is thrown open before them.
Not so with those who have to carry yet for several incarnations the
burden of sins committed in previous lives, and even in their present
existence. For such, unless they proceed with great caution, the golden
gate of Wisdom may get transformed into the wide gate and the broad
way "that leadeth unto destruction," and therefore "many be they that
enter in thereby." This is the Gate of the Occult arts, practised for
selfish motives and in the absence of the restraining and beneficent
influence of Âtma-Vidyâ. We are in the Kali Yuga and its fatal

influence is a thousand-fold more powerful in the West than it is in the
East; hence the easy preys made by the Powers of the Age of Darkness
in this cyclic struggle, and the many delusions under which the world is
now laboring. One of these is the relative facility with which men fancy
they can get at the "Gate" and cross the threshold of Occultism without
any great sacrifice. It is the dream of most Theosophists, one inspired
by desire for Power and personal selfishness, and it is not such feelings
that can ever lead them to the coveted goal. For, as well said by one
believed to have sacrificed himself for Humanity--"Strait is the gate
and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life" eternal, and therefore
"few there be that find it." (_Matt._ vii, 14) So strait indeed, that at the
bare mention of some of the preliminary difficulties the affrighted
Western candidates turn back and retreat with a shudder....
Let them stop here and attempt no more in