Why I Do Not Return to India
(This letter was written in April 1890 but was not published in the Theosophist until January 1922.)
H.P. Blavatsky’s last message, her “Open Letter”, was withheld from scrutiny for 32 years by Adyar – one should ask themselves, why? It is one of the most important documents of “source material” but few people have taken it seriously, probably because of its uncomfortably truthful content. The Adyarites, “the Âryâvartas”, have especially refused to acknowledge its message. Over the ensuing years, members became accustomed to the status quo and did not investigate the real reasons for Blavatsky’s departure from Adyar in 1885. Blavatsky advised the importance of not taking as the final word anything she or anyone else in a position of authority might say or write but to investigate everything for themselves. To this day some members would rather blindly accept the current narrative.
Because this letter has been ignored, perhaps simply overlooked, the movement has shifted from being guided by Adepts to being controlled by successive leaders of the Society, and has deteriorated. A few pockets within the movement have strived to maintain their allegiance to Blavatsky and her Teachers. This was mostly due to the “Back To Blavatsky” movement, a rallying call to all theosophists, a phrase coined by B.P. Wadia (1881-1958) in May 1920, [CT,1, 40] two years before the “Open Letter” was published.
Olcott appears to have completely misunderstood the message of Blavatsky’s “Open Letter”. He received it in late August; a few months later he wrote to her stating that he was considering retiring, then in November he asked her to take the office of President. Before Blavatsky penned her letter, but after she started the Esoteric Section, Olcott had developed nasty resentments toward her, until the Mahatmas intervened with a warning. Olcott was not a member of the Esoteric Section. It seems that at this point, Olcott still held some resentment and was in denial.
Blavatsky’s message was perfectly clear when she wrote “Thenceforth let it be clearly understood that the rest of my life is devoted only to those who believe in the Masters, and are willing to work for Theosophy as They understand it, and for the T.S. on the lines upon which They originally established it.”
The “Open Letter” which follows is a very important document and merits close study by all.
___________
To this day very few people are aware of the reasoning behind her decision in 1890. Although deeply prophetic most have misconstrued why she wrote this letter. Because the Adyarites refuse to accept Blavatsky and her Master’s message to this day they still believe what they want to believe and have ignored her message proving that Blavatsky was correct all along. Still to this day there are members who would rather just blindly believe what they have been told than to investigate Blavatsky’s reasoning.] Olcott appears to have completely misunderstood Blavatsky’s message. That becomes obvious when he threatened to retire (that she would never return to India nor would the Masters) that he threatened to retire as President. “He wrote to Blavatsky, 7 October, 1890, telling her he meant to retire, and, 12 November, asked her to take the office of President.”
The truth is that I can never return to India in any other capacity than as Their faithful agent. . . .
Here in Europe and America are many who have never flinched in their devotion to Theosophy; consequently the spread of Theosophy and of the T.S., in the West, during the last three years, has been extraordinary. The chief reason for this is that I was enabled and encouraged by the devotion of an ever-increasing number of members to the Cause and to Those who guide it, to establish an Esoteric Section, in which I can teach something of what I have learned to those who have confidence in me, and who prove this confidence by their disinterested work for Theosophy and the T.S. For the future, then, it is my intention to devote my life and energy to the E.S., and to the teaching of those whose confidence I retain. It is useless that I should use the little time I have before me to justify myself before those who do not feel sure about the real existence of the Masters, only because, misunderstanding me, it therefore suits them to suspect me. . . .
Thenceforth let it be clearly understood that the rest of my life is devoted only to those who believe in the Masters, and are willing to work for Theosophy as They understand it, and for the T.S. on the lines upon which They originally established it.
If, then, my Hindu brothers really and earnestly desire to bring about the regeneration of India, if they wish to ever bring back the days when the Masters, in the ages of India’s ancient glory, came freely among them, guiding and teaching the people; then let them cast aside all fear and hesitation, and turn a new leaf in the history of the Theosophical Movement. Let them bravely rally round the President-Founder, whether I am in India or not, as around those few true Theosophists who have remained loyal throughout, and bid defiance to all calumniation and ambitious malcontents–both without and within the Theosophical Society.
