To Light a Thousand Lamps - The Theosophical Society

150 / TO LIGHT A THOUSAND LAMPS
went to their Chief and said: Let us try and see if we cannot
bring about a center of e¤ort and inspire a few individuals
who will work for the enlightenment of mankind. The
Chief was doubtful, but agreed to let them try. They did
not look for perfect people. Had they waited until HPB,
Olcott, Judge, and others who wanted to help had become
perfect, The Theosophical Society might never have been
born. The wonder of it is that those early theosophists had
the courage to support an ideal that was seemingly beyond
realization: to establish a nucleus of men and women who
would give their finest energies to furthering the ideal of
universal brotherhood.
Almost immediately after public disclosure of their existence,
Masters and Adepts, under various initials and
names, became the talk of theosophists and their contemporaries.
Inevitably, people with little or no knowledge of
what discipleship entails wanted personal contact with the
Brothers. For many, this was a natural and spontaneous
outpouring of love and esteem for those great beings who
imbodied all that they aspired to be. Some, no doubt, simply
wanted to be special. Others reacted with scorn and
ridicule; little did they realize what profound compassion
moved these friends of mankind. HPB came to regret that
she had ever allowed ‘‘phenomena and the Masters’’ to become
public knowledge (Blavatsky Letters, p. 97). After a
relatively few years, the Masters withdrew from outer contact
with the Society, yet retained the link inwardly with
HPB and with the heart of the Movement, to remain the
guiding inspiration of subsequent generations of seekers.
Today the subject of Mahatmas and their direct or indi-