To Light a Thousand Lamps - The Theosophical Society

H. P. Blavatsky and The Theosophical Society / 149
wiser than she, members of a brotherhood of guardians and
protectors of humanity who hold in trust the truths about
man’s spiritual origin and destiny — truths which are given
out when the call from the hearts of men and women is
importunate enough to draw forth a further unveiling of
nature’s hidden lore. Prior to 1875 the Western world was
scarcely aware that advanced human beings existed, despite
the fact that in India, Tibet, China, and the Near East,
legend and scripture testify to an association of sages who
from time to time send out one of their number to live and
work among this or that people. To become worthy to be
taken in hand by a guru or teacher was held as the highest
spiritual boon, and many an aspirant for chelaship would
strive for years, without any sign of recognition, to prepare
himself by purification and self-abnegation to be accepted
for training. All of this was typically Eastern in atmosphere
and practice.
Then, with the coming of HPB to America, everything
changed. The cycle was evidently ripe for the Mahatmas
(variously called Adepts, Masters, or the Brothers) to make
themselves and their spiritualizing work for humanity more
generally understood. The Theosophical Society was inspired
by two Mahatmas whose chiefs had searched the
globe for nearly a century before finding one who could be
trained to receive and transmit the teaching; and, what is
more, who could and would willingly bear the karma of
enlightening a world heavily steeped in pride of material
accomplishment.* These two, later known as M and KH,
*See The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, Letter XXVI, p. 203.