The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett

The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett is a book published in 1923 by A. Trevor Barker. (ISBN 1-55700-086-7) According to Theosophical teachings, the letters were written between 1880 and 1884 by Koot Hoomi and Morya to A. P. Sinnett.[1] The letters were previously quoted in several theosophical books (e.g. The Occult World by Sinnett), but not published in full. The letters were important to the movement due to their discussions on the theosophical cosmos and spiritual hierarchy. From 1939, the original letters were in the possession of the British Museum but later the British Library.

Facsimile (a fragment) of the 8th letter from the Master K.H.[2]

The book was both praised and criticized by theosophists. Dr H. N. Stokes called the book "the most authoritative work of a theosophical nature ever made accessible to the public. It is simply transcendent in its importance."

  1. ^ The Letters have been received through Madame Blavatsky. Encyclopædia Britannica wrote, "In 1875 she <Blavatsky> conceived the plan of combining the spiritualistic 'control' with the Buddhistic legends about Tibetan sages. Henceforth she determined to exclude all control save that of two Tibetan adepts or 'mahatmas'. The mahatmas exhibited their 'astral bodies' to her, 'precipitated' messages which reached her from the confines of Tibet in an instant of time, supplied her with sound doctrine, and incited her to perform tricks for the conversion of sceptics." // Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna, EB (1910).
  2. ^ "Received through Mad. B. About February 20th, 1881." // The Mahatma letters to A.P. Sinnett from the Mahatmas M. & K.H. Transcribed, compiled, and with an Introduction by A.T. Barker, New York, Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers, 1924 – p. 26.