Meditation
“The seer is not born, nor dies, nor does He come from aught, or become aught. Unborn, everlasting, eternal, the… Read More »Meditation
Charles Johnston
Theosophist, Author, Linguist. Translator of the Upanishads, Gita, Yoga Sutras, etc. Bio: Charles Johnston
The Theosophical Movement
It will be best to treat my theme historically; and I may be pardoned, perhaps, if I speak of my… Read More »The Theosophical Movement
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
[I.] “I understand, Socrates. It is because you say that you always have a divine sign. So he is prosecuting… Read More »Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
What the Theosophical Society is Not
We have been considering, during this period of reunion, that it is just a third of a century since the… Read More »What the Theosophical Society is Not
Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)
General Introduction The Bhagavad Gita is one of the noblest scriptures of India, one of the deepest scriptures of the… Read More »Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)
The Tree of Life
“Rooted above, with branches downwards, stands the immemorial Tree of Life. This, verily, is called the Shining, the Eternal, the… Read More »The Tree of Life
Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)
Om: this syllable, this imperishable, is the All. Its expansion is what has been, what is, what shall be. All,… Read More »Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)
The Nativity of Buddha
I feel more convinced than ever that Ashva Ghosha’s Sanskrit Life of Buddha will be the Life of Buddha which… Read More »The Nativity of Buddha
Chhandogya Upanishad
Part I, Sections 1-6 [Introduction] The Powers of the Logos The great Upanishads were compiled as Instructions for disciples preparing… Read More »Chhandogya Upanishad
A Bengal Bazaar
India is a ruin, beautiful only by moonlight; and, like a ruined temple, old India’s beauties dwell no longer in… Read More »A Bengal Bazaar
Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
First Steps on the Path Prologue (Verses 1–15) I bow before Govinda, the objectless object of final success in the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
The Heritage of the Brahmans
It is said that long ago, in the childhood of the world, the senses were so fine that we could… Read More »The Heritage of the Brahmans
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism, from which most of the technical terms in the Secret Doctrine are drawn, has been hitherto almost an… Read More »Tibetan Buddhism
Uncomfortable Brothers
“To freedom you are called, Brothers!—only that your freedom be not a pretext for the flesh. But serve each other… Read More »Uncomfortable Brothers
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
[Note: The following is Johnston’s second, revised edition of the Yoga Sutras (1917), which is updated from the initial serialization… Read More »Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
A Memory of Madame Blavatsky
The first and earliest impression I received from Madame Blavatsky was the feeling of the power and largeness of her… Read More »A Memory of Madame Blavatsky
The Upanishads and the Brahmans
“Thinking sacrifices and offerings are best, these fools know not the better way.” —Mundaka Upanishad. It has always been accepted… Read More »The Upanishads and the Brahmans
The Culture-Language of the Future
It has often seemed to me that even the best Sanskrit scholars in Europe and America alike have no very… Read More »The Culture-Language of the Future
From the Highlands of Lemuria
[I.] Alfred Russel Wallace has dedicated one of the most charming chapters of Island Life, the most delightful and fascinating… Read More »From the Highlands of Lemuria
The Chain of Causation
It is the custom of Orientalists to speak of Buddhism as a religion, and a very beautiful and intuitional book… Read More »The Chain of Causation
Traces of India in Ancient Egypt
“Who is the God to whom we shall offer worship? He whose shadow is Immortality!”—Rig Veda. “The Egyptians are the… Read More »Traces of India in Ancient Egypt
Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
[Translation] Invocation To Him I make obeisance, who is the end of all wisdom, the goal of all attainment, the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
The Seven Dwipas
I. It is the opinion of many at the present day that the almost grotesque myths and fantastic geographical and… Read More »The Seven Dwipas
The Story of Adam and Eve in the New Testament
In trying to realize the thought, feeling and aspiration of the people of Palestine in the time of Jesus, with… Read More »The Story of Adam and Eve in the New Testament
India, Mother of Nations
It is a hundred years now since Schopenhauer foretold that India and the genius of India would produce an effect… Read More »India, Mother of Nations
Is “Time” a Dimension of “Space”
Let us come gradually to this knotty question, using a series of familiar references as stepping-stones. To begin with, readers… Read More »Is “Time” a Dimension of “Space”
Karma and Ancient Law
Some points in ancient law, which furnish coincidences with the occult doctrine of cyclic progression, and some legal theories which… Read More »Karma and Ancient Law
Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)
[Translation] The divine Song, verily, is all their being, whatsoever there is; and the Word is the divine Song. The… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)
Theosophy and Modern Problems
Think that all the members of the audience realize that this lecture is a part of the Theosophical Convention,—the annual… Read More »Theosophy and Modern Problems
Oriental Gleanings
He hath awakened from the DREAM of life. ‘Tis we who, lost in stormy visions, keep With phantoms an unprofitable… Read More »Oriental Gleanings
The Buddha’s Life
We first heard of Buddhism, it may almost be said, through the works of Brian Houghton Hodgson, and his explorations… Read More »The Buddha’s Life
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
Part I, Sections 1-3 [Introduction] Building the Cosmos Like the Chhandogya Upanishad, the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad consists of a series… Read More »Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
The Logos and the Mind
Io veggio ben sì come già risplende nello intelletto tuo l’eterna luce . . . —DANTE, Paradiso, V. “Well do… Read More »The Logos and the Mind
Colonel Olcott at Home
There are few more picturesque things in the world, and also few more horribly inconvenient, than landing in the harbor… Read More »Colonel Olcott at Home
Aryan Origins and the Primeval Savage
In discussing the question of Indian Chronology, and the almost inextricable confusion it had been thrown into by the conjectures… Read More »Aryan Origins and the Primeval Savage
The Antiquity of Indian Writing
If the negative argument as to the newness of Indian writing is entirely worthless, can we build up any positive… Read More »The Antiquity of Indian Writing
“To Die, To Sleep”
To sleep; perchance to dream, ay, there’s the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When… Read More »“To Die, To Sleep”
A Hundred Years Ago
I. Here is a curious old book, duskily venerable in paper and binding outworn in the fashion of the German,… Read More »A Hundred Years Ago
The Dogma of the Virgin Birth
“A certain woman lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee. . .… Read More »The Dogma of the Virgin Birth
Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
[Translation] Self was here verily in the beginning; nothing else opposing at all. He beheld, saying: Let me now put… Read More »Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
“Two Thousand Years Ago”—A Contrast
The events which preceded the formation of the Roman Empire, just before the beginning of our era, furnish an analogy… Read More »“Two Thousand Years Ago”—A Contrast
Katha Upanishad (In the House of Death)
Seeking for favour, verily, Vajashravasa made a sacrifice of all his possessions. He had a son, named Nachiketas. Him, being… Read More »Katha Upanishad (In the House of Death)
The Message of India
“In the highest golden veil is the stainless, partless Eternal, the pure, the Light of lights, whom the Self-knowers know.… Read More »The Message of India
“Emerson and Occultism.”
“’Tis thus at the roaring Loom of Time I ply, And weave for God the garment thou seest Him by.”… Read More »“Emerson and Occultism.”
Indian Ideals
The breath of the Indian Renaissance, so long foretold, so long in coming, begins to blow in our faces; to… Read More »Indian Ideals
A Drama of the Great Initiation
Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound was completed, so far as the essential part of it is concerned, on April 6, 1819—that is,… Read More »A Drama of the Great Initiation
Devotion and Understanding!
When the time comes to resume our Branch meetings, one breaks the silence of the summer with a certain reluctance.… Read More »Devotion and Understanding!