THE VIRTUAL KEY (Blavatsky Lecture 2005) by Betty Bland. Theosophical Publishing House,
London.
£3.50 (£4.00 by post) Orderline: 020 7563 9816
The Blavatsky Lecture was inaugurated primarily to commemorate the work done by H. P. Blavatsky in disseminating theosophy through her voluminous writings. The majority of such lectures have expanded upon the
philosophical, altruistic or occult science aspect of the teachings. However a few have illuminated the mystical-bhakti side.
The wonderful lectures by Jeanine Miller and Muriel Daw are fine examples of
the latter and now, we have a glorious addition - The Virtuous Key by Betty
Bland. Dealing with the Paramitas it is a fine companion to Muriel Daw's Paramitas of Perfection.
The author's biographical details state that her interest lies in the practical
application of theosophical principles in everyday life. This central feature
pervades her work. At the outset the author makes it clear that she is aware of the
need, and attendant struggle, to discover and use the Wisdom-Keys to unlock the
path to acquiring nobler qualities in ourselves so that we may better lead the
theosophical life. Indeed HPB's gem The Voice of the Silence lists seven portals
each of which requires an exceptional key to unlock its hidden arcana. But other
than 'The Few', to whom The Voice of the Silence is dedicated, the majority find
themselves faced with as Betty Bland puts it 'a huge and complex koan' with a
'not straightforward pathway but a maze of repeating virtues and dangers' .The
objective of her work is to bring HPB's message into sharper focus and, above
all, broadcast its meaning in clear and accessible language. However in keeping
with the spirit of the Second Object of the Society, it is good also to find succinct
extracts from At the Feet of the Master and a few other texts.
The core of the lecture then focuses on the seven Paramitas in turn: Charity -
Harmony - Patience - Dispassion - Energy - Meditation - Wisdom. Viraga
or Dispassion is the portal through which we cross from the outer to the
inner realms; and it does not mean being without emotion (a common
misunderstanding), but directing our emotional nature through our higher nature.
She emphasizes that although we may choose to place emphasis on one or other
virtue, these paramitas are not to be developed one after the other, but as a whole.
To this end there is a useful diagram to illustrate their interrelationship and also
the harmonic resonance between the lower four and the higher three. Each
paramita is unfolded in two parts: fIrstly in terms of its inner meaning with
pertinent quotations mainly from The Voice of the Silence; and then down to earth
guidance about its application in our daily life. There is also the warning that
challenges appear at ever-new octaves since growth moves in spirals. A master
stroke occurs on the last page where Betty Bland quotes from the verse about the
ring of power from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The One Ring in this verse, she
points out, represents evil and is the antithesis of the One Key underlying the
seven keys of the paramitas. So if we substitute One Key for One Ring we can
restate the verse from Lord of the Rings as:
'One Key to guide them all, One Key to find them,
One Key to bring them all and in true service to join them' ;
which is rather like Deus Est Demon Inversus, to put Blavatsky's famous quote
in reverse.
It is rare to find a work that is easy to read, yet profound in its message; this
is certainly one. The lecture itself was delivered with poise and disarming
eloquence and the booklet is attractively illustrated by Colyn Boyce.
The old adage of only being able to lead a horse to water applies in full measure. For Betty Bland has given us a Key and told us how we must use it: but now
it is up to us to give that Key several turns to 'win the reward past all telling - the
power to bless and save humanity'.
Edi Bilimoria
