Try! - Revision history

Alejandro Daniele at 19:18, 26 November 2025

2025-11-26T19:18:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:18, 26 November 2025
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	[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]		[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
	[[Category:Theosophical worldview]]		[[Category:Theosophical worldview]]
			[[es:¡Inténtelo!]]

Joe Hasiewicz: The quote was actually found in volume 2 of Old Diary Leaves.

2025-02-08T17:46:59Z

The quote was actually found in volume 2 of Old Diary Leaves.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 8 February 2025
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	[[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Henry Steel Olcott]] wrote:		[[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Henry Steel Olcott]] wrote:
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	I taught dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.<ref>Henry S. Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Vol. 1 (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900 ), 396-397.</ref>		I taught dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.<ref>Henry S. Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Vol. 2 (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900 ), 396-397.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

SysopJ: /* In Rosicrucianism */

2023-01-11T18:41:42Z

In Rosicrucianism

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 11 January 2023
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	[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Clymer book]]		[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Clymer book]]
	[[File:Try from title page .png\|160px\|thumb\|From title page of Randolph book]]		[[File:Try from title page .png\|160px\|thumb\|From title page of Randolph book]]
			[[File:Try from Phelons book The Three Sevens.png\|160px\|right\|thumb\|From 1977 reprint of ''The Three Sevens'']]
	=== In Rosicrucianism ===		=== In Rosicrucianism ===

			Rosicrucian R. Swinburne Clymer used the word TRY printed in gold on the covers of his books that were published through the Philosophical Publishing Company. The [[W. P. Phelon\|Phelons]] published ''The Three Sevens'' in 1889, and when it was reprinted in 1977 with notations by Clymer, "Try was on the cover.

	~~Rosicrucian R. Swinburne Clymer used the word TRY printed in gold on the covers of his books that were published through the Philosophical Publishing Company.~~ Paschal Beverly Randolph used the same image on some covers, and a simpler rendition on title pages at his Randolph Publishing Company. The necessity of individual effort is emphasized throughout the teachings of [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Hermeticism]], and other occult philosophies.		Paschal Beverly Randolph used the same image on some covers, and a simpler rendition on title pages at his Randolph Publishing Company. The necessity of individual effort is emphasized throughout the teachings of [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Hermeticism]], and other occult philosophies.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ: /* Individual effort */

2022-04-15T01:47:58Z

Individual effort

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:47, 15 April 2022
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	<blockquote>The pivotal doctrine of the Esoteric philosophy admits no privileges or special gifts in man, save those won by his own [[Ego]] through personal effort and merit throughout a long series of [[Metempsychosis\|metempsychoses]] and [[reincarnation]]s.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 17.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>The pivotal doctrine of the Esoteric philosophy admits no privileges or special gifts in man, save those won by his own [[Ego]] through personal effort and merit throughout a long series of [[Metempsychosis\|metempsychoses]] and [[reincarnation]]s.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 17.</ref></blockquote>

			Another example is in [[Mahatma Letter No. 111]] in which K. H. says,
			<blockquote>
			If Mr. Crookes would penetrate Arcana beyond the corridors the tools of modern science have already excavated, let him — Try. He tried and found the Radiometer; tried again, and found Radiant matter; may try again and find the "Kama-rupa" of matter — its fifth state. But to find it's Manas he would have to pledge himself stronger to secrecy than he seems inclined to. You know our motto, and that its practical application has erased the word "impossible" from the occultist's vocabulary. If he wearies not of trying, he may discover that most noble of all facts, his true SELF. But he will have to penetrate many strata before he comes to It.
			</blockquote>

	== Other uses ==		== Other uses ==

SysopJ at 01:26, 1 October 2021

2021-10-01T01:26:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 1 October 2021
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	'''Try!''' is an injunction frequently used by the [[Masters of Wisdom]] in their communications to aspirants and [[chela\|disciples]]. In a general sense, it is used to encourage the aspirant to keep trying in his treading of the [[Spiritual_Path#Occult_path\|Occult Path]]. Energetic effort as a universal force propels life on the spiritual path.		'''Try!''' is an injunction frequently used by the [[Masters of Wisdom]] in their communications to aspirants and [[chela\|disciples]]. In a general sense, it is used to encourage the aspirant to keep trying in his treading of the [[Spiritual_Path#Occult_path\|Occult Path]]. Energetic effort as a universal force propels life on the spiritual path.

	== ~~General use~~ ==		== Use by Mahatmas ==

	Between the months of March and August of 1875 [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Olcott]] began to receive various letters from [[Serapis Bey\|Master Serapis]] who was known for his simple exhortation – "Try".<ref>Jeffrey D, Lavoie, ''The Theosophical Society: The History of a Spiritualist Movement'' (Boca Raton, FL: BrownWalker Press, 2012), 56.</ref> For example, a message from this Adept transmitted by [[Hillarion\|Master Hilarion]] closes with the words: "Try, try—try!"		Between the months of March and August of 1875 [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Olcott]] began to receive various letters from [[Serapis Bey\|Master Serapis]] who was known for his simple exhortation – "Try".<ref>Jeffrey D, Lavoie, ''The Theosophical Society: The History of a Spiritualist Movement'' (Boca Raton, FL: BrownWalker Press, 2012), 56.</ref> For example, a message from this Adept transmitted by [[Hillarion\|Master Hilarion]] closes with the words: "Try, try—try!"
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	<blockquote>A Rosicrucian had to struggle ALONE, and toil long years to find some of the preliminary secrets—the A B C of the great [[Kabbalah\|Cabala]]—only on account of his ordeal, during which were to be tried all his mental and physical energies. After that, if found worthy, the word “Try” was repeated to him for the last time before the final ceremony of the ordeal. When the High Priests of the Temple of Osiris, of Serapis, and others, brought the neophyte before the dreaded Goddess Isis, the word “Try” was pronounced for the last time; and then, if the neophyte could withstand that final mystery, the most dreaded as well as the most trying of all horrors for him who knew not what was in store for him; if he bravely “lifted the veil of Isis,” he became an initiate, and had naught to fear more. He had passed the last ordeal, and no longer dreaded to meet face to face the inhabitants from “over the dark river.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. I (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 115.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>A Rosicrucian had to struggle ALONE, and toil long years to find some of the preliminary secrets—the A B C of the great [[Kabbalah\|Cabala]]—only on account of his ordeal, during which were to be tried all his mental and physical energies. After that, if found worthy, the word “Try” was repeated to him for the last time before the final ceremony of the ordeal. When the High Priests of the Temple of Osiris, of Serapis, and others, brought the neophyte before the dreaded Goddess Isis, the word “Try” was pronounced for the last time; and then, if the neophyte could withstand that final mystery, the most dreaded as well as the most trying of all horrors for him who knew not what was in store for him; if he bravely “lifted the veil of Isis,” he became an initiate, and had naught to fear more. He had passed the last ordeal, and no longer dreaded to meet face to face the inhabitants from “over the dark river.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. I (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 115.</ref></blockquote>

			[[File:Try in HPB letter.jpg\|right\|170px\|thumb\|HPB letter to Prince Dondakov-Korsakov, Dec. 25, 1882]]
			=== By H. P. Blavatsky to a friend ===

			In a letter to her friend, Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Dondukov-Korsakov, written on December 25, 1882, [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Mme. Blavatsky]] exhorted him to make use of a remedy she had provided:
			<blockquote>
			Do not forget, my Prince, to wear the talisman (the excrescence of the elephant). It is in the tobacco box in an envelope. I swear it will bring you happiness and the <u><span style="border-bottom: 1px double #000;">desired</span></u> <u>relief</u> <u>Try</u>.<ref>H. P. Blavatsky, ''H. P. B. Speaks 2'' (Adyar: Theosophical Publishing House, 1951), 112.</ref>
			</blockquote>

	=== By Annie Besant ===		=== By Annie Besant ===

SysopJ at 21:37, 9 June 2021

2021-06-09T21:37:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 9 June 2021
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	I taught dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.<ref>Henry S. Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Vol. 1 (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900 ), 396-397.</ref>		I taught dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.<ref>Henry S. Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Vol. 1 (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900 ), 396-397.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
	~~[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Rosicrucian book]]~~

			[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Clymer book]]
			[[File:Try from title page .png\|160px\|thumb\|From title page of Randolph book]]
	=== In Rosicrucianism ===		=== In Rosicrucianism ===

	Rosicrucian R. Swinburne Clymer used the word TRY on the covers of his books that were published through the Philosophical Publishing Company. The necessity of individual effort is emphasized throughout the teachings of [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Hermeticism]], and other occult philosophies.
			Rosicrucian R. Swinburne Clymer used the word TRY printed in gold on the covers of his books that were published through the Philosophical Publishing Company. Paschal Beverly Randolph used the same image on some covers, and a simpler rendition on title pages at his Randolph Publishing Company. The necessity of individual effort is emphasized throughout the teachings of [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Hermeticism]], and other occult philosophies.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ: /* General use */

2019-12-10T17:19:01Z

General use

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:19, 10 December 2019
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	Similarly, in a letter to [[Mohini Mohun Chatterji\|Mohini]] the Master says ". . . go forward to your end thro’ all obstacles and overbearing all opposition. ''Try'' and you will succeed".<ref>Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom'' First Series No. 23 (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 61.</ref>		Similarly, in a letter to [[Mohini Mohun Chatterji\|Mohini]] the Master says ". . . go forward to your end thro’ all obstacles and overbearing all opposition. ''Try'' and you will succeed".<ref>Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom'' First Series No. 23 (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 61.</ref>

			[[H. P. Blavatsky]] received such an exhortation from [[Koot Hoomi\|Master K. H.]] at the end of [[Mahatma Letter to H. P. Blavatsky - MHM No. 20\|Letter No. 20]] in [[Mrs. Holloway and the Mahatmas (book)\|''Mrs. Holloway and the Mahatmas'']].

	Another case can be found in the closing of a letter to [[Francesca Arundale]]: "Try, child, HOPE, and accept my blessings".<ref>Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom'' First Series No. 20 (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 56.</ref>		Another case can be found in the closing of a letter to [[Francesca Arundale]]: "Try, child, HOPE, and accept my blessings".<ref>Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom'' First Series No. 20 (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 56.</ref>

Janet Kerschner: /* By Colonel Olcott */

2018-11-15T16:01:33Z

By Colonel Olcott

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:01, 15 November 2018
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	[[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Henry Steel Olcott]] wrote:		[[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Henry Steel Olcott]] wrote:
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	I ~~tuaght~~ dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.		I taught dear [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|Damodar]] to swim, who was up to a certain point one of the greatest cowards I ever saw in the water. He would shiver and tremble if the water was half-knee high, and you may believe that neither H.P.B. nor I spared him our sarcasms. I remember well how all that changed. "Fie!" said I. "A pretty adept you will make when you dare not even wet your knee." He said nothing then, but the next day when we went bathing ''he plunged in and swam across the stream'': having taken my taunt as meant, and decided that he should swim or die. That's the way for people to grow into adepts. ''Try'', is the first last, and eternal law of self-evolution. Fail fifty, five hundred times, if you must, but try on and try ever, and you will succeed at the end. "I cannot" never built a man or a planet.<ref>Henry S. Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Vol. 1 (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900 ), 396-397.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
	[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Rosicrucian book]]		[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Rosicrucian book]]

Janet Kerschner: /* By Colonel Olcott */

2018-11-15T14:45:13Z

By Colonel Olcott

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:45, 15 November 2018
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	<blockquote>We would fain be the voice of the dumb, the defender of the oppressed, the reformer of evil, the upholder of righteousness. It is a great ambition; but "it is better to try nobly and to fail, than ignobly not to try at all."<ref>C. Hayavando Rao, ''The Indian Biographical Dictionary'' (Adyar: Pillar & Co.,1915), vi. Available online at [http://archive.org/details/indianbiographic00raoc Archive.org.]</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>We would fain be the voice of the dumb, the defender of the oppressed, the reformer of evil, the upholder of righteousness. It is a great ambition; but "it is better to try nobly and to fail, than ignobly not to try at all."<ref>C. Hayavando Rao, ''The Indian Biographical Dictionary'' (Adyar: Pillar & Co.,1915), vi. Available online at [http://archive.org/details/indianbiographic00raoc Archive.org.]</ref></blockquote>

			[[File:Damodar.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Damodar K. Mavalankar]]
	=== By Colonel Olcott ===		=== By Colonel Olcott ===

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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
	[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Rosicrucian book]]		[[File:Try-Rosicrucian.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Cover of Rosicrucian book]]

	=== In Rosicrucianism ===		=== In Rosicrucianism ===

Janet Kerschner: /* General use */

2018-11-15T13:45:16Z

General use

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 15 November 2018
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	== General use ==		== General use ==

	Between the months of March and August of 1875 [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Olcott]] began to receive various letters from [[Serapis Bey\|Master Serapis]] who was known for his simple exhortation – "Try".<ref>Jeffrey D, Lavoie, "The Theosophical Society: The History of a Spiritualist Movement" (Boca Raton, FL: BrownWalker Press, 2012), 56.</ref> For example, a message from this Adept transmitted by [[Hillarion\|Master Hilarion]] closes with the words: "Try, try—try!"		Between the months of March and August of 1875 [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Colonel Olcott]] began to receive various letters from [[Serapis Bey\|Master Serapis]] who was known for his simple exhortation – "Try".<ref>Jeffrey D, Lavoie, ''The Theosophical Society: The History of a Spiritualist Movement'' (Boca Raton, FL: BrownWalker Press, 2012), 56.</ref> For example, a message from this Adept transmitted by [[Hillarion\|Master Hilarion]] closes with the words: "Try, try—try!"

	[[Serapis Bey]] also wrote a letter to [[Henry Steel Olcott]], of which remains only a brief note from the end that seems to have been appended by [[Tuitit Bey]]. He referred to a mundane matter of getting a pamphlet published, exhorting Olcott to '''Try''' to help [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Madame Blavatsky]]: "Try. <u>Her</u> duty to pay for it – <u>yours</u> to suggest it and help her."<ref>Tuitit Bey letter to Henry Steel Olcott, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom Series 2" (Chicago: Theosophical Press, 1926), 60-61.</ref>		[[Serapis Bey]] also wrote a letter to [[Henry Steel Olcott]], of which remains only a brief note from the end that seems to have been appended by [[Tuitit Bey]]. He referred to a mundane matter of getting a pamphlet published, exhorting Olcott to '''Try''' to help [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Madame Blavatsky]]: "Try. <u>Her</u> duty to pay for it – <u>yours</u> to suggest it and help her."<ref>Tuitit Bey letter to Henry Steel Olcott, ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom Series 2'' (Chicago: Theosophical Press, 1926), 60-61.</ref>
	[[File:Serapis note to HSO in MW2.jpg\|center\|520px\|thumb\|Note by Tuitit Bey on Letter No. 25 to Olcott]].		[[File:Serapis note to HSO in MW2.jpg\|center\|520px\|thumb\|Note by Tuitit Bey on Letter No. 25 to Olcott]].