Occultist, Author, Chela, Co-founder of the Theosophical Society. Bio: H. P. Blavatsky.
Article Selections from “The Amazons of the Lord” | Note and Closing Paragraphs by H.P.B.* [* This article is unsigned in The Theosophist. In The Collected… Read More »[On Christian Bigots and the Salvation Army]
Letter from H. | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. To the Editor of The Theosophist: Madame, On the last page of No. 4 of Psychic Notes [The… Read More »Strange Manifestations
Our friend Mr. Terry, of Melbourne, is fortunate in having access to a clairvoyante of exceptionally good lucidity, as he informs us. Quite recently she… Read More »Koot-Hoomi in Australia
Article Selections by Dorasamy Iyer | Introductory Note and Notes by H.P.B. To the Editor of The Theosophist: Madame,—As a member of a Reading-Room of Salem,… Read More »[Notes on “A Criticism Upon the ‘Mighty Problems of Brahma, Iswara and Maya’”]
“. . . . We of the secret knowledge do wrap ourselves in mystery, to avoid the objurgation and importunity of those who conceive that… Read More »The Hermetic Bretheren
A valued friend and correspondent in Upper India writes:— “We have not had the pleasure of hearing from you since your return to Bombay. We… Read More »A Needed Explanation
A letter signed by a Mr. R. Barnes Austin of Heathfield, England, addressed to the editor of The Theosophist, has been lying for two months,… Read More »Doomed!
Article Selections detailing comments from Mr. Cook’s Lecture | Notes and Reply by H.P.B. [Note: the following was preceded by letters to Mr. Joseph Cook… Read More »From Madame Blavatsky to Mr. Joseph Cook
Following is an article taken from the Bombay Gazette of January 30, in which we find a new and very important proof of the reality… Read More »A Conjurer Among the Spiritualists
Article Selections from “A Flash of Light upon Occult Freemasonry” | Notes by H.P.B. We are in receipt of an intensely interesting document. It is… Read More »[Notes on the Origin of Freemasonry and the Presence of Adepts in India]
Article Selections by S. Ramaswamier | Notes by H.P.B. Some questions have arisen in The Theosophist as to the views of the Hindus in general upon… Read More »[On Bhuts or Pisachas in India]
The emotional letter to the Editor of a Christian journal of London, from a well-known native clergyman of Ceylon, which we copy below, is generously… Read More »In Desperate Straits
A correspondent of Light having asked Mrs. Emma Hardinge Britten, the famous Spiritualist speaker and author, to state her beliefs as regards the existence of… Read More »“Nature-Spirits and Elementals”
The Spiritualist of Nov. 18th takes notice of the article published in the THEOSOPHIST for October under the heading “Fragments of Occult Truth,” but it… Read More »Spiritualism and Occult Truth
It is impossible for the Founders of the Theosophical Society to answer more than a few of the attacks made upon them in the Anglo-Indian… Read More »A Personal Explanation
In a lengthy review of A. Lillie’s book, Buddha and Early Buddhism, by M. A. (Oxon), our esteemed friend, the critic, takes the opportunity for… Read More »Esoteric Axioms and Spiritual Speculations
Says Light, in its “Notes by the Way,” edited by M.A. (Oxon):— “The current number of The THEOSOPHIST contains an important manifesto, which establishes and… Read More »“Is it Idle to Argue Further”?
Article Selections | Notes and Editor’s Note by H.P.B. From the July number of the Church Missionary Intelligeneer and Record, a London monthly magazine and the… Read More »On “Theosophism” in India
Letter by K. Sarman Banerjee | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. To the Editor of The Theosophist. A few months ago, one Babu Jugut Chunder Chatterjee,… Read More »Are Dreams but Idle Visions?
Article Selections by Piarai Lall Chachondia | Notes by H.P.B. Lakshmibai (The Authentic Story of a Bhut)1 1. A ghost, an earth-bound soul. We give room to… Read More »[Notes on Bhutas or Ghosts]
The article on dreams alluded to in the following letter is reprinted with the desired explanatory notes for the information of our readers:— TO THE… Read More »The Universe in a Nut-Shell
Sir,—In the course of your remarks you have made in your issue of the 17th, on the letter of my solicitors, Messrs. Sanderson and Company,… Read More »A Letter from Madame Blavatsky
To the Editor of the Bombay Gazette. Sir,—Since you were kind enough to republish in your paper of the 6th instant an article from the… Read More »“The Knight Without Reproach or Fear”
“The Crimes of Preachers in the United States”1 for the last five years—from May 1876 to May 1881, “translated out of the original newspapers and with previous… Read More »[Crimes of Preachers in the United States]
Article by Dr. Ram Das Sen| Editor’s Note by H.P.B. I. The following narrative was related in the presence of a large assemblage of friends… Read More »[Notes on “Weird Phenomena”]
Our much respected contemporary Light has taken us quite unexpectedly to task. Turning a sentence of ours—the one which heads the present protest—into a weapon,… Read More »“We Will Not Quarrel But Simply Argue”
Article by Gerald Massey | Editor’s Note by H.P. Blavatsky I see from quotations made my “M. A. (Oxon)” in Light for September 17 that… Read More »[Note on “The Theosophists”]
The Editor of the Theosophist. MADAME, Talking the other day to a friend, who, like me, without being a Theosophist, takes a very great interest… Read More »Is Creation Possible for Man?
Enter Ghost. Hamlet: . . . . . . “Ministers of grace, defend us! Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn’d Bring with… Read More »Hazy Notions
Once fairly started on a friendly discussion—not “quarrelling,” we hope—with Light, 1 we may just as well set matters right regarding another topic, about which,… Read More »What is “A Fact”?
The reliability of the identification of returning spirits, may be inferred from this bit of fresh intelligence recently received through the Religio-Philosophical Journal, of July… Read More »Trance Mediums and “Historical” Visions
It is upon the above subject 1 that we find Mr. Henry Atkinson, of Boulogne, France, treating in the Philosophic Inquirer of Madras. This gentleman… Read More »The Theosophist and Hindu Pantheism
Owing to the fanciful reports of superficial and prejudiced travellers, to their entire ignorance of Asiatic religions and—very often, their own—Western nations generally are labouring… Read More »Superstition
Magna est veritas et prevalebit. The reality of the phenomena has prevailed, and the Church is now forced to seek alliance with the Spiritualists against… Read More »[Spiritualism and the Christian Churches]
[Note: for some background, see “Madame Blavatsky on ‘The Himalayan Brothers’”] Since the first appearance of The Occult World the London Spiritualist undertook a series… Read More »Western “Adepts” and Eastern Theosophists
To the Editor of The Theosophist. Madam: The following is a very important notice received from Benares. Please publish it in your columns, and give your… Read More »Dayanand Saraswati and his Followers
Poetry and profanity is the leading feature we find in this month’s otherwise sober English papers, we are sorry to say. There are two short… Read More »[On the Salvation Army]
Oh, that mine adversary had written a Book! was the sad exclamation of the long-suffering Job. “Oh, that our adversaries had always edited newspapers!” is… Read More »[On the Gods of the New Dispensation]
Article Selection from “Advice from a Swami” | Notes by H.P.B. I offer you a most valuable advice at the express order of my very… Read More »[Notes on Atman]
Editor’s Note by H.P.B. on an article titled “The Witchcraft and Demonology of Pictavia” [Note: the following comment by H.P.B. follows an article which gives… Read More »[Three Explanations for a Case of “Spirit” Phenomena]
MADAME,—In the last issue of your valuable journal, a member of the New York Theosophical Society seeks to be enlightened as to the cause of… Read More »Bright Spot of Light
[Dedicated by the Translator to those sceptics who clamour so loudly, both in print and private letters—“Show us the wonder-working ‘Brothers,’ let them come out… Read More »The Grand Inquisitor
Our authorities for representing the pentagram or the five-pointed star as the microcosm, and the six-pointed double triangle as the macrocosm, are all the best… Read More »The Six-Pointed and Five-Pointed Stars
TO THE EDITOR OF THE THEOSOPHIST Madam,—Since you have published a posthumous letter of my Master and beloved friend, the late Éliphas Lévi, I think… Read More »Stray Thoughts on Death and Satan
In the August number of The Theosophist there appeared a short paragraph announcing the death of Pandit Shraddha Ram of Jallunder, Puñjab. Several friends and… Read More »The Theosophist and Arya Samajist
Letter Selections by Raghu Nandan | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. To the Editor of The Theosophist. Madame,—On Saturday, the 23rd of July, 1881, Shri Shrikrishna Parsanna… Read More »[On the Religious Neutrality of the T.S.]
Article Selections from the Journal of the Hindu Sabha| Notes by H.P.B We find in the “Journal of the Hindu Sabha,” edited by our highly-valued… Read More »[Notes on “Who are the Aryas and the Buddhists”]
The rabid Christians in Ceylon seem to have been rather overdoing their game of detraction in the case of the Theosophists. The love of justice… Read More »[On Col. Olcott’s Opponents in Ceylon]
Nothing promises to prove more dangerous to the Bible and to the Bible Christians—not even the new Revision of the sacred volume by the combined… Read More »[On Cremation]
Notes by H.P.B. on the first three articles under the title “Fragments of Occult Truth,” written by A. O. Hume. We have received from our… Read More »[Notes on “Fragments of Occult Truth” 1-3]
Article Selections by Babu Tripuracharan Banerjea | Notes by H.P.B. Sooner a pard can lose its spots than a theologian his dogmatism. . . .… Read More »[Notes on “The New Dispensation Dissected”]
That golden treasury of arcane knowledge—the Catholic Mirror—reports a “magnificent lecture” upon miracles by Archbishop Seguers. It is a “fascinating discourse” on the “manifestations of… Read More »Miracles
This is the heading of an article I find in a London publication, a new weekly called Light, and described as a “Journal Devoted to… Read More »“The Claims of Occultism”
Insane by Electricity.—A young man, twenty-four years of age, named George Odette, has just been adjudged insane and committed to an asylum for lunatics, in… Read More »[On Mesmeric Healing]
Article Selections by N.D.K. | Note and Editor’s Note by H.P.B. The author of “Confessions of a Thug,” “Seeta,” “Tara,” etc. (the well-known Colonel Meadows… Read More »[On the Role of the “Astral Soul” in Phenomena]
Article Selections by C.C.M. and Onesimus | Notes by H.P.B. [Note: for some background, see “Madame Blavatsky on “The Himalayan Brothers””. In The Theosophist for… Read More »[On the “Brothers” and Real Adepts]
Translation Selections by Alexander Wilder | Notes by H.P.B. (Continued from No. 22 [July, 1881]) Iamblichus: A Treatise on the Mysteries A New Translation, by… Read More »[Notes on Planetary Spirits and “Always Existing” Entities]
Sir— “On the authority of an adept” (?) “they” (the Theosophists and Madame Blavatsky) “are all mediums under the influence of the lower spirits.” Such… Read More »Madame Blavatsky on “The Himalayan Brothers”
Of late numerous letters have been received in The THEOSOPHIST office concerning the efficacy of the mysterious Pentagram. Our Eastern readers are perhaps unaware of… Read More »The Five-Pointed Star
Some time ago we noted the cheering fact (for murderers) that George Nairns, a drunken beast who killed a poor Hindu at Calcutta, and subsequently… Read More »Spotless Murderers
A few weeks ago, one George Nairns, a British sailor, brutally murdered at Calcutta a poor police sepoy who was quietly standing on his beat,… Read More »Sobs, Sods and Posies
Article Selections from “Our Ceylon Work”| Note by H.P.B. The Ceylon Times, of Colombo, of June 8, noticing the good work of our President in that island,… Read More »[On the “Hide and Seek” Policy of the Christian God]
The British Theosophical Society We have received no official report as yet from those quarters though we hope to publish the Secretary’s Report next month.… Read More »[On Adepts Living Apart from Society]
Under the heading of “Forgiveness and Chastisement” the New Dispensation, comparing its members to Jesus when whipping out the money-changers from the temple, takes us… Read More »[On “The New Dispensation”]
The nefarious influence of the year 1881 is still asserting itself. The assassination of the President of the United States, General Garfield, follows the murder… Read More »[On the Death of Émile Littré]
Article Selections from a letter by A. J. Riko | Note and Editor’s Note by H.P.B. [Note: see also [Note on “Stone-Throwing by ‘Spirits’”]] Following… Read More »[On “Stone-Showers”]
The last mail from Europe informs us of the canonization of a new Saint who, if he takes his mundane habits to heaven, will be… Read More »Canonization of a New Saint
In the ordinary run of daily life speech may be silver, while “silence is gold.” With the editors of periodicals devoted to some special object… Read More »A Reply to Our Critics
From Professor Hare, the great American chemist, a world-wide celebrity, a quarter of a century ago, down to Professor Zöllner, the Leipzig astronomer in 1878,… Read More »The Evidence of Science
Fiat Justitia, ruat coelum is not the motto of our century. Nothing is so amusing as to watch at every fresh exposure of some tricky… Read More »Science, Phenomena, and the Press
Having already (p. 139, Vol. II, Theosophist) borne testimony to the admirable moral qualities and intellectual endowments of our lamented friend, the late Epes Sargent,… Read More »[Review:] The Scientific Basis of Spiritualism
Article Selections from “The Hindu Sabha”| Notes by H.P.B. The Hindu Sabha. Inaugurated A.D. 1880—Kali Era 4882. Affiliated to The Theosophical Society, Bombay. The members… Read More »[Note on Confusion about Theosophy and Theosophists]
Article Selections from “The Work of the Theosophical Societies” | Notes by H.P.B. Extracts from the President’s Letters to the Bombay Headquarters Thursday, May 12,… Read More »[Notes on the Theosophical Society, Christianity, Buddhism and Vedanta]
Article Selections from “The Five Pointed Star” | Notes and Editor’s Note by H.P.B. To Madame H. P. Blavatsky, . . . Circumstances of a… Read More »[Notes on Two Stories of Phenomena]
Article Selections by the Adept Hillarion Smerdis (signed “X. . . F.T.S.”) | Notes by H.P.B. . . . Your archaeologists and ethnologists are yet… Read More »[Notes on “A Letter from Surb Ohannes”]
Mr. L. Oliphant’s new work “Land of Gilead” attracts considerable attention. Reviews appeared some time since, but we had to lay the subject aside until… Read More »Lamas And Druses
In the “History of the Christian Religion to the year two hundred,” by Charles B. Waite, A.M., announced and reviewed in the Banner of Light… Read More »Apollonius Tyaneus and Simon Magus
Letter by A. Constantine, Esq. | Editor’s Note by H. P. Blavatsky Can any of the numerous readers of the Theosophist enlighten me as to… Read More »A Psychic Warning
Ancient civilization saw nothing absurd in the claims of astrology, no more than many an educated and thoroughly scientific man sees in it today. Judicial… Read More »Stars and Numbers
By Khansaher Darasha Dosabhoy, F.T.S., Deputy-Collector at Sholapur. | Editor’s Note by H.P. Blavatsky Insurance Companies Beware! “I am already known to you as a… Read More »Native Astrologers
A strange phenomenon happened, write the Russian papers. “There was a sign in heaven on the day of the regicide. On March 1 about 10… Read More »[Notes on the Czar and the “Nihilist-Socialists”]
. . . “Let the children of Zion . . . praise the Lord’s name in the dance. . . with the timbrel and harp”… Read More »“Praise Him With The Timbrel And Dance”
“Heaven save us from beholding a Russian insurrection, senseless and merciless. Those who in our country would bring about all manner of violent revolutions, are either… Read More »The State of Russia
At long intervals have appeared in Europe certain men whose rare intellectual endowments, brilliant conversation, and mysterious modes of life have astounded and dazzled the… Read More »Count Saint Germain
The German press has recently attempted in numerous editorials to solve what seems a mystery to the ordinary and sceptical public. They feel that they… Read More »Ancient Doctrines Vindicated by Modern Prophecy
We extract the following from a letter, dated April 7—from an esteemed friend of ours, a native gentleman and a Fellow of our Society at… Read More »A “Medium” Wanted
Doubt has been expressed of the correctness of the statement that Indian Yogis have lived and still reside at extreme altitudes in the Himalayas. It… Read More »Human Life at High Altitudes
Complying with the pressing invitations of our Buddhist brothers, our President, Col. Olcott, is again on his way to Ceylon. He sailed on April 22,… Read More »[On Ceylon and Christian Converts]
The learned principal of Benares college—Dr. G. Thibaut—has laid us under obligations by the presentation of a copy of the paper On the Sûryaprajñapti, which… Read More »[On the Sūryaprajñapti]
The Bombay Guardian, an organ of the Methodist sect, recently expressed in strong terms the decided opinion that the Government of India should “demand of… Read More »[A Missionary Demand]
Article Selections by Vishnu Bawa’s “True Religion Defined” | Notes by H.P.B. What is dharma, or that which is popularly interpreted to be Religion? Or rather,… Read More »[Notes on Dharma and Paramatma]
Article Selections from a Story by “A Kshatriya Lady” | Note by H.P.B. . . . there lived, about forty years ago, a Brahman names… Read More »[Note on “A Hindu Story of Re-Incarnation”]
The Lucknow Witness, it appears, indulged some time since in a bit of casuistical morality at the expense of the “Theosophists.” The term used by… Read More »A False “Witness”
An important Biblical error is alleged to have been discovered by Mr. Charles Beke, the learned author of a well-known work called Origines Biblicæ, and… Read More »An Important Biblical Error
The great voice of the Giant Bell of the Kremlin at Moscow, called “Ivan Velikiy,” whose heavy tongue has uttered no sound for the last… Read More »The Assassination of the Czar
To the Editor of the Bombay Gazette. Sir,—The Methodist organs are very fond of me. So foolishly fond, I am afraid, that rarely a month passes… Read More »The Year 1881 (2)
It is hardly the province of our journal to notice the fugitive vagaries of occasional correspondents in daily papers, unless by chance some article happens… Read More »Logic Versus Peripatetic
We lay aside other matter already in type to give place to the essential portions of an “Introduction to Indian Yoga” which is found in… Read More »A Hindu Professor’s Views on Indian Yoga
If any of us now-a-days ventures to relate some weird experience or seemingly incomprehensible phenomenon, two classes of objectors try to stop his mouth with… Read More »Nature’s Human Magnets
About two years ago, the question of Buddhism was greatly discussed in the American, especially the New York, papers. Many an unbeliever in Christianity had… Read More »New York Buddhists