First Edition copyright © 1940 by Theosophical University Press. Electronic version ISBN 1-55700-159-6. This edition may be downloaded for off-line viewing without charge. No part of this publication may be reproduced for commercial or other use in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission of Theosophical University Press. For ease of searching, no diacritical marks appear in this electronic version of the text.
Those whom we desire to know us will find us at the very frontiers. Those who have set against themselves the Chohans . . . — would not find us were they to go [to] L'hassa with an army. — The Master K. H.
II — Articles: Metaphysical and Occult
The Swami of Akalkot
Castes in India
The Vedantasara
Vedantism and Buddhism
Kavya Dosha Vivechana
The Work of the Branches
The Work of the Branches
Oxford Mission Shots at Occultism
Rejoinder
White and Black Magic
Contemplation
Contemplation
Contemplation - II
The Philosophy and Science of Vedantic Raja Yoga
Self-Mesmerisation
The Metaphysical Basis of "Esoteric Buddhism"
III — Comments and Answers to Questions
The "Occult World" and the "Spiritualist"
Pert Questions and Plain Answers
Answer to * * * 's Misconceptions
Seeing Bright Light with Closed Eyes
Can Females Become Adepts?
To The Editor of The TheosophistOn Prayer"Phenomena"
The Best Food for ManExplanation Wanted
Esoteric Buddhism and Hinduism
The Astral Body
IV — Historical
Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott
Letter No. XXXVII
The Work of the Theosophical Society
Personal Items
How a "Chela" Found His "Guru"
A Meeting at Adyar
A Psychological Phenomenon
Testimony to Phenomena
A Great Riddle Solved
A Great Riddle Solved
Colonel Olcott at the Court of Kashmir
Interview with a Mahatma
Letter of H. P. Blavatsky to Dr. Hartmann
Letter No. CLXXIX
Damodar K. Mavalankar
V — Personal Letters
Letters to W. Q. Judge I - VI
Letters to A. P. Sinnett I - V
Letter to Mrs. Cables
VI — References to Damodar by the Mahatmans and H. P. Blavatsky
Part I: Quotations from The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett
Part II: Quotations from The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett
Notes on "A Hindu Chela's DiaryA Hindu Chela's Diary
This volume is not a history of the early days of the Theosophical Society. No attempt has been made to produce a highly documented and exhaustive record, but by a careful selection of valuable material from the archives of the Theosophical Society (Point Loma), and from the magazine, The Theosophist, as well as from other sources, the aim has been to recreate for the reader the atmosphere of zeal and of devotion to the Masters and the T. S. which inspired the whole life of one of the outstanding characters in the early days of the Theosophical Society, Damodar K. Mavalankar. Unimportant matters, such as official notes and formal reports which contain nothing of permanent interest, though signed by Damodar, have been omitted.
No doubt many Theosophists have entertained the thought of compiling the writings of Damodar, but as far as we know, this is the only book of its kind that is at present available. It was some years ago that consideration was first given to the preparation of a book on Damodar, but it was not until this summer of 1940 that the Literary Executive Committee felt that our Press could undertake this additional work, the compilation of which has been done by Mr. Sven Eek, Manager of the Publications Department of Theosophical University Press.
Particular help was given to the Editorial Board by Professor C. J. Ryan, who has contributed the valuable Biographical Notes. Professor Ryan is well known to Theosophists as the author of H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement and of innumerable articles in Theosophical periodicals during more than forty years.
The material for this present volume has been taken from original sources, and is literally transcribed with the exception of obvious typographical errors which have been corrected. In certain instances such corrections appear in square brackets for the sake of absolute clarity. The Editors of this book are responsible only for those footnotes enclosed in square brackets and signed EDS.
Acknowledgment is due to A. Trevor Barker, Editor of The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett and The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett, for permission to include extracts from these two books. — THE EDITORS
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