Vol 3 Page 54

CLOSING NOTE TO “SPIRITUAL MIRACLES”

[The Theosophist, Vol. II, No. 6, March, 1881, p. 129]

[Laurence Oliphant’s book The Land of Gilead describes “miracles” he witnessed at the home of Sheik Ruslan Abutu, in Damascus. “Miracles” were performed by the Sheik upon himself and Dervish subjects who appeared quite unconscious of pain when pierced with knives and fed with burning charcoal. No blood was drawn and only slight cicatrices remained as evidence of the incisions. The London Spiritualist in reviewing L. Oliphant’s book says: “There are secret circles in India in which, it is whispered, such miracles may be witnessed and very likely Madame Blavatsky could, if she chose, have something to say upon the subject.”]

* * * Most undoubtedly she would have much to say; and to begin with, that she never saw “miracles”—the very name of which she rejects with scorn—either in such “circles” or in any other. But she has witnessed most wondrous “phenomena,” and far more wonderful than any she has seen in Europe and America.*
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* [It is not known whether the three stars which stand at the opening of this Note have any special meaning. We have left them exactly as they occur in the original—Compiler.]
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