The Mahatmans are highly evolved men, controlling powers over Nature's forces which they have gained through self-directed evolution during many, many lives in the near and distant past. Now they are become Masters of life; in former ages they were men like you and me. The Masters and the Path of Occultism. It should never be forgotten that Occultism is concerned with the inner man, who must be strengthened and freed from the dominion of the physical body and its surroundings, which must become his servants. Hence the first and chief necessity of chelaship is a spirit of absolute unselfishness and devotion to Truth; then follow self-knowledge and self-mastery. These are all-important, while outward observance of fixed rules is a matter of secondary moment. H. P. Blavatsky.