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 3 –
There were the same black piercing eyes that seemed to be able to read every thought in his soul. There was the same stern face, a face, judging from its appearance, that had had the smile stripped from it as the winter blasts strip the leaves from the trees, for although he remained in this master’s society for many years, he never saw a smile change its stern settings.
The habitation of this grand Adept was justly in keeping with the stern reality of his face and eyes. It consisted partially of the sides of an ancient Popado, being of Buddhist type, there being many of these old structures still standing in Northern India and Thibet. This ancient Buddhist Papado has been turned into a Lamasery, after being almost wrecked by the Mongols, but without doubt it had been used for other purposes during the many centuries. This old Monastery stood in the midst of the lonely mountains which the hand of nature had not slighted by had rendered it more beautiful than any place he has ever seen, either in the United States or Europe, by covering the surrounding country with a mantle of beautiful verdure, this nature seemed to have done in a sense of pity to cover up the dreary memorials of the past centuries. His Master was by no means the only inhabitant of this Monastery with its fascinating vale and ancient ruins. There were five other Lamas besides two Hindu menials, one of which performed the duties of gardner and sheep raiser, the other acted as housekeeper and cook.
This strange Monastery presented a most uninviting appearance, but to the true Disciple of Magic and East Indian Occultism it is like the workshop of the faithful mechanic, or the room of a country school house to the untutored soul seeking education. The Lama had evidently been faithfully watching for him, for as they approached the weird Temple a tall thin man stepped from behind a long row of carved pillars and piously descending the Ancient marble steps, extended his hand to him as a genuine token of welcome.
This, as he had suspected, was his master; the Lama he had traveled over a hundred miles of mountainous country to partake of his hospitality and receive the wealth of Occult Knowledge which the Lama could give him and under whose tutelage he has augmented his knowledge of East Indian Occultism until today he would not exchange the Lama’s teachings and the knowledge of Spiritualism which he gave him for the crown of a King or the wealth of a nation. This great Master was of a tall slender physique while his features were more emaciated than any person he has ever beheld; yet the Lama’s face was not one that would impress you as being repulsive, in fact, one would be inclined to call it pleasant were it not for a certain solemn set expression about the forehead and lips, a sure indication of sternness and uncompromising individuality.
This priest’s dress was selected along certain aesthetic lines. He wore a turban of red and purple Turkish cloth, a dark purple caftan hung loosely from his shoulders while his slippers were made of goat skin. His appearance would strike one on the whole as being rather singular and even odd in this beautiful spot of Mystic India, which is a strange and weird country where one meets at ever turn the unexpected and unusual, and the traveler from the Western country finds it most difficult not to realize that he is indulging in a dream.
“So you are the Munshi that has journeyed all the way from Benares(the Holy City of India),” he said addressing him in Tamie, this being the only tongue which he was able to speak at that time with any degree of fluency.
“You do not talk like a Sutra Karan(man from the West),” said the Adept, as he walked to a great Mango tree and sat down on the ground beneath its branches in true Hindu fashion, with legs crossed, and invited him to do the same, which he did.
“I see that you have already been advised of my coming,” he said to the Lama. “I have received no verbal message of any kind for over fifty years,” answered the Lama, seemingly offended at his assertion.
“Then how did you learn of my arrival; and who told you that I came here with the intention of becoming a Chela(Disciple) of Oriental Occultism,” he replied, very much astonished, but still positive that some one had informed the Lama.
“I knew months ago you were coming,” replied the Lama, “and nobody told me of it. I saw you asleep beside your sick friend, and besides, I also saw you cross the river Sutley, and can describe some of your trials on the way through the mountains and after I do so you can judge for yourself whether any person has told me anything concerning you intentions or journey here.” And to his utter astonishment and amazement the Lama described day by day his condition of mind and intentions for over a year back. The Lama also gave him a complete description of his journey step by step; the places where he had stopped, and even described the revelation as it appeared to him when he was awakened while asleep at the bedside of his sick companion. Of this he had not mentioned a single word to anyone.
The Lama even challenge him to ask questions concerning his past life or future intentions and when he did so the Lama unhesitatingly answered them with such precision and accuracy that it amazed and bewildered him. He no longer wondered why the common people of India and the travelers from Europe and the United States had such profound respect for these great Masters of Occultism and Spiritism, and why the Western student feels so inclined towards their teachings as to study them; for there is indeed great merit in such an undertaking; for the true Adept and Master Lama of India turns nobody from his door who is sincere and will be a good true Chela(Disciple) of their wonderful teachings.
“I have a place here where you can remain free,” the Lama said. “It is near my own room. The less you bring of your material belongings into the Monastery the better, for there is no greater foolishness than that of having a lot of things around you that are useless, as they only serve to attract your attention from the development of Occult and Spiritual Powers.”
The Lama now led the way up the stone steps through a dimly lighted corridor to a spacious court beyond the center of the engraved pillars between which was suspended a blanket; curtains and blankets serve as doors in these Monasteries, as they keep out sun and are impervious to rain. After passing through the door his Master led him along the passage way to a room on the right of it. The floor of stone and mortar was covered with a matting of coir; the furniture consisted of a chest of Spanish cedar, handsomely carved and stained a dead black, a chair and a sleeping couch. This consisted of a camel skin fastened to wooden bars so as to leave a low place between them.
There was also a pair of clean red blankets but no pillow of any description. When he remarked of this deficiency the Lama quickly informed him that he who must have a pillow to rest his head on has no chance of raising above the level of the materialist and that he must do with one; for it is of great importance that during sleep your head should be on a level with the rest of your body and that you always sleep on your back for only in that position can the soul and brain be brought to develop that which it is deficient in; namely, and Occult Perception of the Astral and Spiritual forces. It is thus that he stood in the room which for a number of years was destined to serve as his bed-room and apartment for solitary meditation and study. In this room of stone it was his humble privilege to witness and experience some of the strangest and most weird Occult and Spiritual phenomena that will ever come within the experience or under the observation of any student or investigator of East Indian Occultism or Spirit Magic. But he has no regrets.
PART 4 FOLLOWS IN THE NEXT POST…
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