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
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
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
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)
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Wise and Foolish Disciples
With the single exception, perhaps, of The Light of Asia, the popular narratives of the Buddha’s life surround the great… Read More »Wise and Foolish Disciples
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
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)
Details of Discipline
We have considered some of the rules which the Buddha laid down for his followers [see “Discipline for Disciples”]. We… Read More »Details of Discipline
“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.”
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 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
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
Mars and Mercury: A Possible Solution
[Note: This article refers to disagreements upon a certain theosophical idea on the nature of Mars and Mercury and their… Read More »Mars and Mercury: A Possible Solution
Emerson and Occult Laws
“It is true that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about… Read More »Emerson and Occult Laws
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)
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”
Chandogya Upanishad 3:1-11 (Honey for the Gods)
[Translation] That sun is honey for the bright powers; the heaven is the curved support of it; the mid-world is… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:1-11 (Honey for the Gods)
Paul the Disciple
[I.] Paul’s life is supremely valuable because it shows the method of the Master, after the resurrection, in training his… Read More »Paul the Disciple
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)
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)
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
The Ethics of Study
“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but… Read More »The Ethics of Study
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
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
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
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
Eloquent, Just, and Mighty Death
It is part of the strange, deceptive quality of things, that nothing should teach us so much of life, nothing… Read More »Eloquent, Just, and Mighty Death
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 Vedanta Philosophy
The keynote of the Indian Renaissance of today, is the great and increasing attention paid to the Vedanta Philosophy; and… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy
Tales of the Ancient Rajputs
There is an old tradition, so old that it has almost died from the memories of men, that veils eventful… Read More »Tales of the Ancient Rajputs
The Tide of Life
I. “Our souls have sight of that immortal sea which brought us hither; Can in a moment travel thither— And… Read More »The Tide of Life
Theosophy (Lecture)
It may be asked how the single word, Theosophy, can stand as the title of a lecture. It is because… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)
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)
The Song of Life
The Gospels are the perfect flower of Palestine. The Upanishads are the chiefest treasure of most ancient India. The heart… Read More »The Song of Life
The Noble Eightfold Path
I. There are two extremes, Brothers, that he who has renounced should shun. On the one side, the constant following… Read More »The Noble Eightfold Path