From: 1948 – De Laurence’s Catalog of Books on Occultism – Magic – Mysticism – Religion – The Cabala – Yoga – Astrology and all related subjects – Occult Students’ Equipment – Talismanic and Symbolic Jewelry
The Genesis Of The Hindu Adepts, Yoghees And Master Lamas of Central And Northern India written down by L. W. de Laurence, Author and Publisher
Mystic and Master Occultist, de Laurence is world-famous as an Adept of the Highest Rank. His lifelong study of religious thought and emotion have brought him recognition and renown while his humanistic and sympathetic insight have endeared his name to thousands. His works are everywhere and his name stands high on the roster of independent and intrepid thinkers of all time.
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Part 2 –
You will be very fortunate indeed if you do not find one or more of their number who has no inclination whatever to associate with you, and he will act as if the stranger irritated or worried him, and he will not deign to take the slightest notice of you, even ignoring your friendly greetings when you happen to meet him. At the end of a considerable length of time he may condescend to speak to you informing you among other things that he is a native of Rajputana(inferentially), a person of high degree, but, owing to his unsympathizing nature or his ill-disguised contempt for white humanity there will be little satisfaction in your brief conversation with him. If you were to offer one of these men 100 rupees* to engage him in a conversation he would refuse the present on the ground that asakye is not in need of money and he will beg to be excused. There may also be among the number others who may seem somewhat less unsociable but even more taciturn; and they will successfully foil every attempt you may make to draw them out unless you should establish yourself on a friendly footing with them. 
There is to be found, however, among these recluses men who are kind and amiable and whose memory will ever be among the brightest reminiscences of you India career; although amiable and kind these men may no be quite as communicative as you might see fit to think but they will be invariably friendly, polite and almost deferential; their entire behavior contrasting favorably with the persistent moroseness of some of the older Adepts. The same may be said of the Mongolian Adept, who is of a soft Mongolian caste with dreamy eyes. He has but recently joined the brotherhood of India but seems to have become greatly attached to the Masters who have apparently taken him for their Disciple.
A fact that the Western student should fix well in his mind is that, to become a Chela(Disciple) in the real teachings of Eastern Magic and Spritism in India, does not presuppose great learning or intellectual superiority on the part of the Initiate. The long years of probation, and the almost incredible hardships(such as fasting, sitting in one position for days, etc.) which are always inflicted upon the Neophyte before he is deemed worthy of Initiation or reception into the “Adepts’ Brotherhood” are more intended to test his physical endurance and to observe his trustworthiness, than to give him knowledge of their Secrets or develop his Occult Powers. If the reader will kindly bear with me I will in brief inform him, how, while in Northern India, a sincere soul secured Initiation into this Mystic Brotherhood and its Occult Teachings and also relate a bit of his experience among these silent and unobtrusive men, whose wonderful feats have been the standing wonder of the world, antedating the building of the first pyramids(for the early Jesuit Fathers were startled by their Occult Miracles and being at a loss to account for them, very promptly attributed their power to the Devil; and this foolish explanation, I regret to state, is still persisted in by the unlearned, who assert that it is even a sin to witness their Occult and Spiritual feats, and who anathematize these Adepts in Art Magic as Agents of the Devil).
His first experience was many, many years ago, among the Hindu Adepts of Thrinagur or as it is by some termed Serunagor, which has its location in the beautiful vale of Kashmar, which is the capital of that ancient mountain Paradise of the mighty Himalayas. The city is one of ancient and remote antiquity, and has during the last twenty centuries been venerated by the Buddhist of Northern India, for in this old city the first Buddhist assemblage was held, in the sixth year of our present era. At this assemblage an entirely new document in Sanscrit of the Scared Canon was indorsed. This canon was known as the “Bribketa” and was translated in Thibetan. These Sanscrit writings when translated and bound filled over one hundred and fifty volumes. When he was ready to leave Umballa town for Jalandhar in the valley of Punjab, a companion of his from whom he had from time to time received advice and assistance and to whom hi is to this very day greatly indebted for his kindness, agreed to accompany him to Kashmar and introduce him to one of the Master Lamas from whom he desired to obtain certain instruction. They reached Serunagor in the middle of the rainy season after a long and tiresome journey through the jungle hills and mountains. The next day after their arrival his friend was taken to his mat by a serious fever which was superinduced as the result of a snake bite he had received a few days back in the mountains and had been extremely careless in giving proper treatment. He was now confronted with a new difficulty(for at that time he had had very little experience with the Adepts and less with the mountainous country of Northern India), that of finding the Master Lama, for his friend, who was by this time delirious from the fever, and after placing him in suitable hands he determined to go ahead by himself, deeply regretting his friend’s illness and the fact that he had neglected to ask of him the exact location of the habitation of the Lama whom he supposed of course some of the native Hindus in that locality would know or at least be able to direct him, but on inquiry he was surprised to learn that nobody knew or had ever heard of the Lama. The English residents did not know the Lama, but the officer of the town directed him to a low Caste Faikree whose name was Zhenboa, but he was not the Lama he was seeking; he inquired of all the Bazaars and of all the Shopkeepers but this prove futile, and he gave up in despair and concluded to wait for his friend’s recovery, so he returned to his friend’s sick room, and being quite tired and fatigued he went to sleep on a goatskin beside his cot. How long he slept he was not certain, having no time only the Sun to go by, but he was awakened some time after midnight, by something that startled him out of a sound sleep and made every nerve in his body feel as if they were paralyzed, for he was held as if by some invisible power stronger than steel. I say steel, because if a man is bound by steel bands he can at least move his muscles, which he was unable to do excepting those of his eyes. He opened his eyes and in letters that had a weird and unearthly hue about them was written these words: “Travel north five miles then seek advice from the shepherds.” 
The message which he since learned was transmitted to him by Astral and Occult Powers, disappeared as suddenly as it had come and he felt the terrible influence and power which had awakened him withdraw when he was startled the second time by the outlines of a face which had manifested itself to him, although the room was perfectly dar. The eyes were those of a genuine Hindu, dark, piercing and steady. They gave him a look that went to the bottom of his soul and then the face disappeared. He obtained very little sleep the balance of that night, as he had at that time had no experience in these mysterious revelations and Occult Projection of the Astral Body consequently sleep and he were strangers the balance of that night. He arose early next morning, and burned a good fumigation at the feet of his sick companion and started over the mountains in a northerly direction. Why he went he could not explain, even to himself, as the country was strange and rough and it is not considered safe to journey through these parts of India alone, owing to a certain low class of natives or thugs who waylay a traveler and throw a cloth or bag over his head, then murder him by cutting his throat and bury his body after robbing it of any valuables they may find thereon. He thought of all this, but some invisible power kept urging him on and when ever he was inclined to hesitate or turn back his min would revert back to the words, “Travel north five miles, seek advice from the shepherds” and he kept on his way. When after traveling about three hours, without seeing any sign of the shepherds, and being tired, he sat down and rested undecided just what to do. He felt that he would not dare go against the presentiment and warning that had been given him during the night but he must confess he would rather have been back in Benares than in those mountains alone. However, he determined for the satisfaction of his own mind to start again, when a voice startled him by saying directly in his ear, “Go Northeast.” He turned quickly around, vexed at being spoken to in this way, expecting to see somebody, but to his dismay he was entirely alone, everything being quiet and still around him. He now began to think that he too was becoming a victim of the mountain fever, which often suddenly attacks a man in the Oriental countries, but his own good sense told him better for, every organ and function in his body was perfectly health and normal. But to be brief, he started in the direction the voice had bid him go and after traveling about – what he judged to be two and a half miles he found himself among the local sheep raisers that inhabit the mountains and valleys Northwest of Senguna. A Mohammedan sheep raiser who knew the Lama readily consented to conduct him to his abode so he engaged the Mohammedan as a guide and at Sunset, he found himself in the presence of the Great Adept and Lama, tired and weary, after his long journey, and you may imagine his surprise when he saw that the Lama’s eyes and face were identical with those which had looked at him after he was awakened from his sleep and told to go north and seek advice from the shepherd.
PART 3 FOLLOWS IN THE NEXT POST…
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*NOTE–The rupee in India is the monetary unit. In accounts it is divided in 16 annas, each of 12 pice, and in Bombay sometimes into four quarters of 100 reis. The government rupee, the only one now minted, contains 165 troy grains of silver. Its nominal value is 2 shillings English, or 48 cents American money, though its intrinsic value varies. Accounts are generally in rupees, of about 40 cents intrinsic value, or in English coin. The currency consists of British and Spanish coins, rupees, copper fanams, and cowries, or little shells, used by the natives.
