Occult Study
(The following Paper was read lately by a Theosophist and “Lay Chela” in London to an audience consisting chiefly, but… Read More »Occult Study
Article
Articles from various theosophical authors.
Yoga: The Science of the Soul
I. Samatvamyoga ucha ate. (Equal–mindedness is called Yoga.)—Bhagavad-Gita. Tadviddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sivaya upadekshyanti te jnanam janinastattvad arshinah. (Seek to know… Read More »Yoga: The Science of the Soul
Theosophy and the Avesta
It is now nearly four years that the Theosophical Society has established itself amongst us. During this short period a… Read More »Theosophy and the Avesta
The Kingdom of Heaven and the Upanishads
[Reprinted as “The Parables of the Kingdom,” Quarterly Book Department, 1909] I. Were a student of the Upanishads, steeped in… Read More »The Kingdom of Heaven and the Upanishads
Reticence of Mahatmas and Evolution of the Individual
Members of the Theosophical Society and the general public have alike manifested a wide divergence of opinion both as regards… Read More »Reticence of Mahatmas and Evolution of the Individual
Our God and Other Gods
As a people we speak of “our God,” imagining that we all have the same idea, that we all mean… Read More »Our God and Other Gods
On the Theology of Plato, a Seventh Book
Chapter I. The mundane Gods, or those divinities who give completion to the sensible world, are assigned the last order… Read More »On the Theology of Plato, a Seventh Book
Dogmatism in Theosophy
The Theosophical Society was founded to destroy dogmatism. This is one of the meanings of its first object—Universal Brotherhood. And… Read More »Dogmatism in Theosophy
Gnostic Theosophy
In the second century of the Christian era, the Roman Empire comprehended some of the fairest and most cultured portions… Read More »Gnostic Theosophy
Renunciation of Action
It would be a grave mistake to think that by not acting one frees himself from the consequences of action.… Read More »Renunciation of Action
The Constitution of the Microcosm
I. The few remarks which I have made in my first lecture on the Bhagavad Gita published in the February… Read More »The Constitution of the Microcosm
Castes in India
No man of sincerity and moral courage can read Mr. G. C. Whitworth’s Profession of Faith, as reviewed in the… Read More »Castes in India
Jacob Boehme
Jacob Boehme was born in the little village of Alt Seidenburg, near Goerlitz, in 1575. Although his Theosophical co-workers, Giordano… Read More »Jacob Boehme
Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Set
“Salutations to thee, O Osiris, thou the greatest of the six gods issued from the Goddess Noo; thou the great… Read More »Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Set
Inscriptions Discovered by General A. Cunningham
7. Buddha’s birth is placed (on p. 141) in the year 643 B.C.. Is this date given by the Adepts as… Read More »Inscriptions Discovered by General A. Cunningham
The Sevenfold Constitution of Man
In the second volume of the Secret Doctrine, p. 81, Mme. Blavatsky bids us remember that to some extent even… Read More »The Sevenfold Constitution of Man
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… Read More »Summary of Recent Developments in Regards to Samkhya Texts
Iamblichus: The Egyptian Mysteries
Neoplatonism, like modern Theosophy, may be considered under three aspects: (1) philosophical and scientific; (2) practical and ethical; and (3)… Read More »Iamblichus: The Egyptian Mysteries
Free Your Mind
I. “The life of man is a self-evolving circle, which from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards… Read More »Free Your Mind
The Six Paramitas (Perfections)
HPB gives them as: 1. DANA, the key of charity and love immortal. 2. SHILA, the key of Harmony in… Read More »The Six Paramitas (Perfections)
Heralds from the Unseen
Part I “Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”—I Cor.… Read More »Heralds from the Unseen
Civilization and Religion of Egypt
When broke the dawn of that civilization in Egypt whose wondrous perfection is suggested by the fragments supplied to us… Read More »Civilization and Religion of Egypt
William Quan Judge
The logic of discipleship is implicit in the fundamental law of cosmogenesis and cosmic evolution—the law of sacrifice. The disciple… Read More »William Quan Judge
The Ancient Druids
I Their History and Religion The Science of Comparative Religion originating out of the philosophic spirit of the age, has… Read More »The Ancient Druids
Meditation, Concentration and Will
Introduction What is meditation? What role does concentration and will play in meditation? What is the purpose of meditation? And… Read More »Meditation, Concentration and Will
Zoroastrian Psychology
Western scholars may say “the Key to the Avesta is not the Pahlavi but the Vedas”; the Occultist’s answer is… Read More »Zoroastrian Psychology
The Poetry of Reincarnation in Western Literature
The poets are the seers of the race. Their best work comes from the intuitional heights where they dwell, conveying… Read More »The Poetry of Reincarnation in Western Literature
Was Cagliostro A “Charlatan”?
To send the injured unredressed away, How great soe’er the offender, and the wrong’d Howe’er obscure, is wicked, weak and… Read More »Was Cagliostro A “Charlatan”?
Knowledge and Negligence
Fix thy Soul’s gate upon the Star whose ray thou art, the flaming Star that shines within the lightless depths… Read More »Knowledge and Negligence
The Count de St. Germain
One of the most mysterious characters in modern history is the famous Count de St. Germain, described by his friend… Read More »The Count de St. Germain
The Tendency of the Present Civilization
Pretty much every subject comes up for discussion at our afternoon tea table. Hence I was not surprised lately, walking… Read More »The Tendency of the Present Civilization
Over-Soul
“But souls that of his own good life partake, He loves as his own self; dear as his eye They… Read More »Over-Soul
Kosmic Mind
Whatsoever quits the Laya (homogeneous) state, becomes active conscious life. Individual consciousness emanates from, and returns into Absolute consciousness, which… Read More »Kosmic Mind
The Feathered-Serpent
Under the distinctively American name and symbol of the Feathered-Serpent are to be found the Great Teachers of Mexico and… Read More »The Feathered-Serpent
H. P. B.
When I first met H. P. B. in the spring of 1887, she was already an old and valued friend. I had… Read More »H. P. B.
Sankaracharaya, Philosopher and Mystic
At the request of Col. Olcott I have permitted the following paper to be published with materials collected by me… Read More »Sankaracharaya, Philosopher and Mystic
Continuity of Consciousness
What does modern science know of the duration of the ages of the World, or even of the length of… Read More »Continuity of Consciousness
Basic Principles of Theosophy
It would be natural enough, perhaps, to suppose that a subject such as Basic Principles of Theosophy—or “basic principles” of… Read More »Basic Principles of Theosophy
The Children of the Sun
The ancient glory of America is to be sought in Mexico, Central America and Peru. In impassable valleys or on… Read More »The Children of the Sun
Hypatia: The Last of the Neoplatonists
The fourth century was the turning point in the history of the Western world, the period in which Christianity took… Read More »Hypatia: The Last of the Neoplatonists
Philosophy of the Yogācāra
The Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism, as far as it is known in China and Tibet, divides itself into two great schools,… Read More »Philosophy of the Yogācāra
Appendix to “Devachan”
[For the article to which this is an appendix, see “Fragments of Occult Truth,” No. 6] Appendix A It may… Read More »Appendix to “Devachan”
The Vedanta Philosophy and the Doctrine of Maya
The doctrine of Maya is considered by many thinkers, both in the East and the West, to be an integral… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy and the Doctrine of Maya
Chwang Tzu
Lao Tzu is austere and serene; Confucius is the ritualist in life; but now we approach Chwang Tzu — the… Read More »Chwang Tzu
Poetical Occultism (2)
[For Number I of this series, authored by “S.B.J.”, see here.] II. Perhaps no passage in Light on the Path… Read More »Poetical Occultism (2)
The Gods of Egypt
Every cosmogony purports to deal with the origin of the universe, its manifestation marking the beginning of time. Before the… Read More »The Gods of Egypt
The Greek Mysteries
At the time of the early Third Race, high Intelligences from previous periods of evolution incarnated upon this globe in… Read More »The Greek Mysteries
Quetzalcoatl
Since the earliest times of which we have any historical knowledge, the emblem of the serpent has always been used… Read More »Quetzalcoatl