Research: On the Etymology of Ah-hi
Ah-hi and Ahi in the Writings of Blavatsky (In Chronological Order) In Isis Unveiled (1877): Burnouf has endeavored to show that the Vedic myth of… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Ah-hi
Kalahaṃsa in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky
The following is an examination of the use of the term “kalahamsa” in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky, with the purpose of highlighting and… Read More »Kalahaṃsa in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky
Dharmodayā: The Identity and Esoteric Tradition of the Nepalese Svābhāvikas
The school of the Nepalese Swābhāvikas described in Brian Hodgson’s pioneering essays on Buddhism in Nepal is of some significance in the thought-world of the… Read More »Dharmodayā: The Identity and Esoteric Tradition of the Nepalese Svābhāvikas
Research: the “Dzeno-doo” sect of “Tzi-onene”
The term “Dzenodoo” appears on page 173 of The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1. In the original 1888 edition: The seven “mysteries” are called by the… Read More »Research: the “Dzeno-doo” sect of “Tzi-onene”
Research: On the Etymology of Senzar
Senzar in the Writings of Blavatsky (In Chronological Order) Yes, the letter-tree of Tibet is a fact; and moreover, the inscriptions in its leaf-cells and… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Senzar
Manava-Dharma-Sastra (Manu-Smriti) [Selections]
Preface The following is a compilation of references to and quotations from the Manava Dharma Shastra (“Laws of Manu”) by H. P. Blavatsky in her… Read More »Manava-Dharma-Sastra (Manu-Smriti) [Selections]
Research: On the Etymology of Lanoo
One of the more curious terms of unknown origin in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky, is “Lanoo,” a term used by her to indicate… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Lanoo
Research: Svabhavat in the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky
Abstract In the writings of H. P. Blavatsky (HPB), and in Theosophical literature in general, we find the use of a term “svabhavat” (given here… Read More »Research: Svabhavat in the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky
Research: On the Etymology of Fohat
Introduction “Fohat” is one of the more mysterious terms in modern theosophical literature. It was introduced by H. P. Blavatsky (HPB) in her book The… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Fohat
Research: On the Etymology of Dzyan
In The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1, p. xx fn. H.P.B. gives an etymology of Dzyan thus: Indeed, the secret portions of the “Dan” or “Jan-na”* (“Dhyāna”) of Gautama’s… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Dzyan
The Stanzas of Dzyan: A “Critical Edition” based on Four Primary Sources
The Stanzas of Dzyan A “Critical Edition” of the English Translation by H. P. Blavatsky, based on Four Primary Sources,* Combined with Quotations Attributed to… Read More »The Stanzas of Dzyan: A “Critical Edition” based on Four Primary Sources
Research: Sien-Tchan and Related Terms
The following is some preliminary research into a few terms used by H. P. Blavatsky, which appear to be Chinese terms given in an archaic… Read More »Research: Sien-Tchan and Related Terms
Theosophical Light on The Ramayana
The vast writings of H. P. Blavatsky – totalling more than 10,000 pages in the form of books and articles – do not endeavour only… Read More »Theosophical Light on The Ramayana
Exploring The Voice of the Silence
Preface 1- The following pages are derived from “The Book of the Golden Precepts,” one of the works put into the hands of mystic students… Read More »Exploring The Voice of the Silence
Dolpopa on svabhāva
Dolpopa, the major writer of the Jonang order of Tibetan Buddhism, taught that ultimate reality, referred to by him under various names, is “empty of… Read More »Dolpopa on svabhāva
Meditation, Concentration and Will
Introduction What is meditation? What role does concentration and will play in meditation? What is the purpose of meditation? And why does Krishna, representing the… Read More »Meditation, Concentration and Will
Emerson’s Over-Soul: A Theosophical Perspective
The great spiritual literature of mankind is written with a certain poetic beauty. If you think of the Bhagavad-Gita, the Dhammapada, The Tao Te Ching… Read More »Emerson’s Over-Soul: A Theosophical Perspective
Gandhi on Theosophy, Modern Civilization and Social Reform
Let me begin this morning, by honoring the noble and ancient practice of saluting those who have made this talk possible. I have drawn inspiration… Read More »Gandhi on Theosophy, Modern Civilization and Social Reform
Free Your Mind
I. “The life of man is a self-evolving circle, which from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger circles,… Read More »Free Your Mind
Exploring Isis Unveiled
Volume 1 Part 1: Do flying guitars unconsciously cerebrate? Blavatsky’s Isis Unveiled was tremendously well-received at the time, an instant best-seller, a critical success, going… Read More »Exploring Isis Unveiled
Tao Te Ching: A New Translation (in progress)
Tao-teh-king (Chin.). Lit., “The Book of the Perfectibility of Nature” written by the great philosopher Lao-tze. It is a kind of cosmogony which contains all… Read More »Tao Te Ching: A New Translation (in progress)
The Meaning of “Tao”
This will be an exploration of the Chinese term Tao through a breakdown of the traditional Chinese characters. Tao is a mysterious term, translated and… Read More »The Meaning of “Tao”
The Theosophy of Tsongkhapa
Tsongkhapa is an extremely significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism. His impact has been compared to that of Thomas Aquinas in the west (Dargyay 55) and… Read More »The Theosophy of Tsongkhapa
The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
Here the Chaldean Oracles—compiled and translated by Thomas Taylor—have been arranged with the hope of demonstrating the essence of the Chaldean system, both theoretic and… Read More »The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
A.L. Rawson and H.P.B.’s World Travels
Albert Leighton Rawson is famous in theosophical history for two things; first, he is a major witness of HPB’s travels and second, he claims to… Read More »A.L. Rawson and H.P.B.’s World Travels
The Abstract Algebraical Formula
The history of cosmic evolution, as traced in the Stanzas [of Dzyan], is, so to say, the abstract algebraical formula of that Evolution. Hence the… Read More »The Abstract Algebraical Formula
Turn the Other Cheek
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are… Read More »Turn the Other Cheek
Blavatsky’s Influence
[Part 1] I think since around the mid-80s, Blavatsky has been getting wider recognition for her influence on contemporary spirituality. With the completion of her… Read More »Blavatsky’s Influence
“I am Dharma”: A Brief Thought from the Anugita Parva (Mahabharata, Aswamedhika Parva)
Then I thought that I have no dominion, or that everything is my dominion. Even this body is not mine, or the whole Earth is… Read More »“I am Dharma”: A Brief Thought from the Anugita Parva (Mahabharata, Aswamedhika Parva)
Living Messengers Called Words
“When, O Lord of the Word, the Wise established Name-giving, the first principle of language, Their inmost essence, pristine and pure, Hidden deep within, was… Read More »Living Messengers Called Words
Tattvasamasa
Introduction: “On the Tattvasamāsa and its place in Sāṃkhya,” by Prof. Max Müller SANSKRIT TRANSLITERATION (IAST) TRANSLATION 1. aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ || 1. Eight Natures (prakṛtis)… Read More »Tattvasamasa
“Children of Light”: A Commentary
This present blog might be seen as an extension of a topic previously posted, “The Voice (of Conscience) and the guardian angel” as the two… Read More »“Children of Light”: A Commentary
Visions by William Stainton Moses
I think the search is on for the lost Blavatsky/Moses letters – so allow me to introduce a thread on his “Visions”—which are actually pretty… Read More »Visions by William Stainton Moses
The Secret Doctrine Dialogues
THE SECRET DOCTRINE DIALOGUES H. P. BLAVATSKY TALKS WITH STUDENTS [FROM REPORTS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE, JANUARY 10 TO JUNE 20, 1889.]… Read More »The Secret Doctrine Dialogues
Charles Johnston: A Biography
As one author notes, Charles Johnston “left us very little in the way of autobiography,—if biography still mean to us, as it had ceased to… Read More »Charles Johnston: A Biography
Through the Gates of Gold [Commentary]
Through the Gates of Gold: A Fragment of Thought is a wonderful, profound, eloquent work, the study of which offers many insights and valuable seeds of… Read More »Through the Gates of Gold [Commentary]
Hey, just what is that there theosophy anyhow?
Sisters & brothers: Sometimes it is good to go back to the basics. To that effect, I wish to propose some reflections based on certain… Read More »Hey, just what is that there theosophy anyhow?
The Six Paramitas (Perfections)
HPB gives them as: 1. DANA, the key of charity and love immortal. 2. SHILA, the key of Harmony in word and act, the key… Read More »The Six Paramitas (Perfections)
Buddha: The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
Over the centuries there have been numerous biographies of Gautama the Buddha in various formats, from the ancient traditional biographies, to epic poems like Sir Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, to articles, modern biographies and documentaries. Throughout all of these we find certain keynotes, certain events and ideas that form a basis for the life of Buddha, but we also find more fantastical aspects to the stories. Modern scholars tend to dismiss the latter as merely “mythological” or exaggerated, and they seek (and fail) to find the “real Buddha” by stripping these away. In the present biography, we will attempt to trace not only the historical basis for the life of the Buddha, but to unveil, as much as is possible, some of the symbolism involved in the traditional accounts. How far we are successful in so doing is left to the reader to decide.
Buddha and Ambapali
In the story of the Buddha’s final journey and Paranirvana, recorded beautifully in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta,1 we are confronted with a peculiarly interesting story: the… Read More »Buddha and Ambapali
Some Clarifications Regarding H. P. Blavatsky
Blavatsky herself, I find was quite articulate in stating her case and a lot of the common critiques and misconceptions about her had already been… Read More »Some Clarifications Regarding H. P. Blavatsky
The Seven Creations in the Puranas
The Seven Creations in the Puranas by Nancy Reigle H. P. Blavatsky tells us in the Proem of The Secret Doctrine that: The history of… Read More »The Seven Creations in the Puranas
Kamadeva: An Exploration by Two Students
The following is not meant as an exhaustive treatise on Kamadeva, but rather as an outline of certain ideas, from which students may find starting-points… Read More »Kamadeva: An Exploration by Two Students
Introduction to the Dream of Ravan
In the caves of Eastern Sibyl,1 what curious leaves lie hidden, or go whirling in the wind! written over with strange, hieroglyphic characters, not without… Read More »Introduction to the Dream of Ravan
Introduction to the Story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur
The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the finest examples of esoteric mythology from the annals of ancient Greece. The entire tale… Read More »Introduction to the Story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur
Introduction to Sankhya
[Note: this article is a continuation of our biography of Kapila Rishi.] Part 1 As we found in our earlier article [see our biography of… Read More »Introduction to Sankhya
Summary of Recent Developments in Regards to Samkhya Texts
In Indian tradition, Sāṃkhya is regarded as the oldest philosophical system, and its founder, Kapila, is regarded as the first knower (ādi-vidvān). Yet, by the… Read More »Summary of Recent Developments in Regards to Samkhya Texts
Kapila Rishi
At the outset it must be admitted that the composition of a historical biography of Rishi Kapila is, in our age, a near impossibility. As… Read More »Kapila Rishi
HPB & Philo
HPB, in the glossary of the Key to Theosophy, apparently consulting a bio on Philo, considers his writings to be of a kabbalistic nature. Philo-Judaeus.… Read More »HPB & Philo
Sankaracharya
Sankaracharya (from Saṅkara, a personal name + ācarya teacher) was an Indian reformer and teacher of Vedanta, who founded what has become known as Advaita… Read More »Sankaracharya
Nagarjuna
Often viewed as the greatest or most important philosopher of the Buddhists, 1 Nāgārjuna plays a central role in the transmission of Buddhist thought. H.P.… Read More »Nagarjuna
Aryasanga
Composing a biography on Aryasanga is not an easy task. Reliable records are scant and partial at best. Thus what we will offer here is… Read More »Aryasanga
The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga
“Let us divide Meditation into two sorts. First is the meditation practiced at a set time, or an occasional one, whether by design or from… Read More »The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga
Patanjali
“About Patanjali’s life very little, if anything, can be said.” 1 A biography of Patanjali could almost begin and end with this simple statement. As… Read More »Patanjali
Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
For the first part of this article, see: “Patanjali.” While Patañjali is commonly referred to as the founder or father of the Yoga Darṣana (one… Read More »Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Introduction to the Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching is today the second most widely translated book in human history. It forms the fundamental core of modern Taoist philosophy and… Read More »Introduction to the Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu (or Laozi), an honorific title meaning “Old Sage” or “Ancient Master,” is the name used to indicate the author of the famous Tao… Read More »Lao Tzu
“The One Form of Existence”: prabhavāpyaya in the Original Purāṇa-saṃhitā
“Book of Dzyan,” stanza 1, verse 8, is given by H. P. Blavatsky in The Secret Doctrine (vol. 1, p. 46) as: “8. Alone, the one… Read More »“The One Form of Existence”: prabhavāpyaya in the Original Purāṇa-saṃhitā
Neptune and the Titius-Bode Law
One of the primary empirical evidences, in my view, of the scientific accuracy of the theosophical teachings related by HPB is the treatment of Neptune.… Read More »Neptune and the Titius-Bode Law
Apollonius of Tyana
Apollonius of Tyana is one of the most extraordinary exemplars in human history. What he shows us clearly is the living of the life, the… Read More »Apollonius of Tyana
Creation Stories: The Cosmogony Account from the Purāṇas
Part 1. On the Original Purāṇa-saṃhitā The first place that one would look when seeking knowledge of cosmogony from Indian sources is the purāṇas. The… Read More »Creation Stories: The Cosmogony Account from the Purāṇas
Ibn ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam (Pearls of Wisdom)
Shaykh al-ʾAkbar Muḥyiddin ibn al-ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam, Chapters 1-5, with selections from Qayṣarī’s Commentary (Shaykh Sīdī Dawūd al-Qayṣarī, Maṭla’ Khuṣūṣ al-Kilam fi Ma’ānī Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam) Contents… Read More »Ibn ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam (Pearls of Wisdom)
A Svābhāvika School of Buddhism?
Part 1 As already discussed here, the alleged Svābhāvika school of Buddhism in Nepal that is spoken of in many books on Buddhism, and also… Read More »A Svābhāvika School of Buddhism?
Prehistoric Svabhāvavāda
Part 1 Svabhāvavāda, the doctrine of svabhāva or inherent nature, as the cause of the world, is old. It is referred to, for example, in… Read More »Prehistoric Svabhāvavāda
Ātman/Anātman in Buddhism and Its Implication for the Wisdom Tradition
Does Christianity believe in reincarnation? Of course it does not. Yet, students of the Wisdom Tradition may seek to find evidence that early Christians did… Read More »Ātman/Anātman in Buddhism and Its Implication for the Wisdom Tradition
Tsongkhapa and the Teachings of the Wisdom Tradition
Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was the founder of the Gelugpa or “Yellow Hat” order of Tibetan Buddhism. This soon became the dominant order in Tibet, making Tsongkhapa… Read More »Tsongkhapa and the Teachings of the Wisdom Tradition
The Doctrinal Position of the Wisdom Tradition: Great Madhyamaka
It has now become possible to identify the specific school or tradition of Buddhism in Tibet that represents the doctrinal position of the Wisdom Tradition… Read More »The Doctrinal Position of the Wisdom Tradition: Great Madhyamaka
Plato on Intelligent Design: Truth, Beauty, and the Good
Perusing an internet forum on intelligent design some months ago brought me to an unusual post by David Alexander entitled “Is beauty just Darwin’s bad… Read More »Plato on Intelligent Design: Truth, Beauty, and the Good
Ahimsa
Ahimsa paramo dharma: Nonviolence is the highest religion Nonviolence, ahimsa, is the central doctrine of Jainism. It also plays an important role in Hinduism, Buddhism,… Read More »Ahimsa
Meditation on Universal Brotherhood
What is meant by meditation? A general definition would be: one-pointed concentration on a subject, continued attention to it. For every form of meditation, theosophy… Read More »Meditation on Universal Brotherhood
The First Fundamental Proposition of the Secret Doctrine
There are three fundamental propositions that we are told must be comprehended before we can understand the Secret Doctrine, the once universal Wisdom Tradition, now… Read More »The First Fundamental Proposition of the Secret Doctrine
God’s Arrival in India
Ancient India is considered to be the spiritual motherland of our planet. According to The Secret Doctrine, it was the home of the once universal… Read More »God’s Arrival in India
Theosophy among the Hopi
Much about the origin and age of the original inhabitants of America remains unknown. Popularizers still propagate the view of the first Americans as semi-savage,… Read More »Theosophy among the Hopi
Tsong-kha-pa: Wisdom for Today
Of the many works of the Tibetan master Tsong-kha-pa, few compare in terms of popularity and breadth of influence with his Great Treatise on the… Read More »Tsong-kha-pa: Wisdom for Today
The Original Śaṅkarācārya
The once universal Wisdom Tradition, whose existence was made known to the modern world by H. P. Blavatsky, had been preserved for long ages in… Read More »The Original Śaṅkarācārya
The Maya Creation Story
People of all times and places have sought to understand how the universe came into being and how humanity developed. Each culture provides its own… Read More »The Maya Creation Story
Holy Wind, Holy Spirit
Although we live with the wind daily, delight in its blessings and suffer its wrath, how often do we question what it is or where… Read More »Holy Wind, Holy Spirit
Sāṃkhya and the Wisdom-Religion
The existence of the once universal Wisdom-Religion was made known to the modern world by H. P. Blavatsky, who called its modern form Theosophy. She… Read More »Sāṃkhya and the Wisdom-Religion
The Fourteenfold Path of the Jains
Any one of you who has once felt the touch of the god within never is the same again. Never can be the same again.… Read More »The Fourteenfold Path of the Jains
Theosophy and Buddhism
Theosophy is the modern name given by H. P. Blavatsky towhat is described by her as the once universal but now hiddenWisdom-Religion, the parent source… Read More »Theosophy and Buddhism
Why Take Blavatsky Seriously?
Scholars have not heretofore taken Blavatsky seriously, because it is generally accepted that she was proven to be a fraud. There was therefore no reason… Read More »Why Take Blavatsky Seriously?
The Wisdom of Emptiness
Understanding “emptiness” is presented in Buddhism as the culmination of religious training. It is attained through the systematic practice of the perfect virtues, including the… Read More »The Wisdom of Emptiness
Evolution in the Vishnu Purana
In H. P. Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine we find over 100 direct references to the Vishnu Purana, largely in her discussions of cosmic and human evolution. Purana means “old,” hence a… Read More »Evolution in the Vishnu Purana
The Voice of the Silence: Bringing the Heart Doctrine to the West
Among the many works that Madame Blavatsky brought before the public, The Voice of the Silence was unique in its appeal to the heart and… Read More »The Voice of the Silence: Bringing the Heart Doctrine to the West
The Secret Doctrine: Original Genesis and the Wisdom Tradition
The Secret Doctrine is recognized by all as H. P. Blavatsky’s greatest and most influential work. At the same time, it is generally regarded as… Read More »The Secret Doctrine: Original Genesis and the Wisdom Tradition
Meditation: What Is It?
Today there is a lot of material available on meditation, much of which is seemingly conflicting. One feels at a loss to try and sort… Read More »Meditation: What Is It?
Book of Dzyan Research Report: The Doctrine of Svabhāva or Svabhāvatā and the Questions of Anātman and Śūnyatā
The doctrine of svabhava or svabhavata, as was discussed in the previous Book of Dzyan Research Report, “Technical Terms in Stanza II,” is a fundamental… Read More »Book of Dzyan Research Report: The Doctrine of Svabhāva or Svabhāvatā and the Questions of Anātman and Śūnyatā
A Wonder of Ancient India: The Mahabharata
Daunted by its size and a misconception that an intimate understanding of Hinduism was needed, I never considered taking the Mahabharata off the shelf. By accident I… Read More »A Wonder of Ancient India: The Mahabharata
Book of Dzyan Research Report: Technical Terms in Stanza II
There are seven technical terms in stanza II of the “Book of Dzyan” as translated in H. P. Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine: “ah-hi” (ahi) and “parnishpanna”,… Read More »Book of Dzyan Research Report: Technical Terms in Stanza II
Prajnaparamita-Hridaya-Sutra (The Heart Sutra)
[Introduction] This scripture has always been held in the greatest veneration in Mahayana countries. In China and Japan there are at least twenty-eight different recensions… Read More »Prajnaparamita-Hridaya-Sutra (The Heart Sutra)
Yoga and Enlightenment
There are several different schools of yoga. Best known in the West is hatha yoga. It involves bodily postures and breathing techniques which are supposed… Read More »Yoga and Enlightenment
Book of Dzyan Research Report: Theosophy in Tibet: The Teachings of the Jonangpa School
Some seven centuries ago there arose in Tibet a school of teachings which has many parallels to Theosophy. This is the Jonangpa school. Like Theosophy… Read More »Book of Dzyan Research Report: Theosophy in Tibet: The Teachings of the Jonangpa School
Book of Dzyan Research Report: Technical Terms in Stanza I
Serious students of The Secret Doctrine, and especially those who are Theosophical teachers and lecturers, will wish to know what light current research can throw… Read More »Book of Dzyan Research Report: Technical Terms in Stanza I
The Evolution of Humanity and Its Civilizations
The story of mankind cannot be understood without considering the birth of the planet of which we are all inseparable parts. If our universe is… Read More »The Evolution of Humanity and Its Civilizations
An Important Message from the Kogi Elders
Our love of truth is evinced by our ability to discover and appropriate what is good wherever we come upon it. — J. W.… Read More »An Important Message from the Kogi Elders
Karma in the Oglala Indian Tradition
Karma, a Sanskrit word meaning “action,” is regarded as a law of absolute universal justice, in which effect is linked with cause. It covers all… Read More »Karma in the Oglala Indian Tradition
Wisdom Teachings of the Hopi
Much of the wisdom of the American Indians is written in symbols — a language without letters or sounds that speaks to that part of… Read More »Wisdom Teachings of the Hopi
Discovering the Tao Teh Ching
Lao-tzu’s Tao Teh Ching sat on the bookshelf for many years before it was finally dusted off and read. After only the first chapter I… Read More »Discovering the Tao Teh Ching
House of the Great Kiva: Astronomical Observations
Standing in the altar room looking out through the east-facing door towards the dark mesas, I could tell that the sun was about to rise.… Read More »House of the Great Kiva: Astronomical Observations
South Corner Time: Excavations and Sunrise Observations at Indian Racetrack
The Indian Racetrack is located on a mesa above the Animas River Valley of northwestern New Mexico. It is composed of four parabolic arcs of… Read More »South Corner Time: Excavations and Sunrise Observations at Indian Racetrack