Blavatsky Study Center

One of the "Fragments" from HPB's Pen
A Manuscript Page on Initiations

The text below was originally published in Lucifer, August, 1896 with other "Fragments"
from H.P.B.'s pen.  See other background information at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos-talk/message/36603

INITIATIONS

In a secret work upon the Mysteries and the rites of Initiation, in which very rough but correct prints are given of the sacramental postures, and of the trials to which the postulant was subjected, the following details are found:

(1) The neophyte—representing the Sun, as “Sahasrakirana,” “ he of the thousand rays”—is shown kneeling before the “Hierophant.” The latter is in the act of cutting off seven locks of the neophyte’s long hair,† and in the following—(2)—illustration, the postulant’s bright crown of golden beams is thrown off, and replaced by a wreath of sharp ligneous spines, symbolizing the loss.* This was enacted in India. In trans-Himâlayan regions it was the same.

In order to become a “perfect One,” the Sakridâgâmin (“he who will receive new birth,” lit.) had, among other trials, to descend into Pâtâla, the “nether world,” after which process only he could hope to become an “Anâgâmin”—“one who will be reborn no more.” The full Initiate had the option of either entering this second Path by appearing at will in the world of men under a human form, or he could choose to first rest in the world of Gods (the Devachan of the Initiates), and then only be reborn on this our earth. Thus, the next stage shows the postulant preparing for this journey.

(3) Every kind of temptation—we have no right to enumerate these or speak of them—was being placed on his way. If he came out victorious over these, then the further Initiation was proceeded with; if he fell—it was delayed, often entirely lost for him.

These rites lasted seven days.

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† See Judges, xvi, again, where Samson, the symbolical personification of the Sun, the Jewish Hercules, speaks of his seven locks which, when cut off, will deprive him of his (physical) strength, i.e., kill the material man, leaving only the spiritual. But the Bible fails to explain, or rather, conceals purposely, the esoteric truth, that the seven locks symbolize the septenary physical or terrestrial man, thus cut off and separated from the spiritual. To this day the High Lamas cut off during public consecrations a lock of the hair of the candidates for the religious life, repeating a formula to the effect that the six others will follow, when the “upâsaka” IS READY. The lock of hair or tonsure of the Roman Catholic priests is a relic of the same mystery-idea.

* No need of explaining that Sañjñâ—pure spiritual conscience— is the inner perception of the neophyte (or chela) and Initiate; the scorching of it by the too ardent beams of the Sun being symbolical of the terrestrial passions. Hence the seven locks are symbolical of the seven cardinal sins, and as to the seven cardinal virtues—to be gained by the Sakridâgâmin (the candidate “for new birth”) they could be attained by him only through severe trial and suffering.