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Articles from various theosophical authors.

Messages From Masters

Article/ by Anon., The Pacific Theosophist, June, 1894 [author: “Lay Chela” (A. P. Sinnett?)]

The subject of Messages from Masters is so much under discussion just now that a few words on it may… Read More »Messages From Masters

Is Theosophy Vague?

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, September, 1948

H. P. Blavatsky declared quite candidly to theosophists that Theosophy, alone, would enable them to form a nucleus of a… Read More »Is Theosophy Vague?

Theosophy and the Masses

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, November, 1930

Theosophy is an all-inclusive philosophy; not to be separated from it is the Theosophical Movement, whose objective is the practical… Read More »Theosophy and the Masses

Buddhism

Article/ by Anon., Universal Brotherhood Magazine, July, 1900 [Author given as “V. M. F.”]

For this is the message we have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; but how shall… Read More »Buddhism

Theosophy Or Jesuitism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, June, 1888

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other… Read More »Theosophy Or Jesuitism

Notes on Abbé Roca’s “Esotericism of Christian Dogma”

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Le Lotus, December, 1887 [Translation from the original French]

In the opening pages of this essay—so remarkable for its sincerity and its boldness—the author [Abbé Roca] raises and solves… Read More »Notes on Abbé Roca’s “Esotericism of Christian Dogma”

Ātman/Anātman in Buddhism and Its Implication for the Wisdom Tradition

Article/ by Nancy Reigle, Eastern Tradition Research Archive (website), April, 2008

Does Christianity believe in reincarnation? Of course it does not. Yet, students of the Wisdom Tradition may seek to find… Read More »Ātman/Anātman in Buddhism and Its Implication for the Wisdom Tradition

Tsongkhapa and the Teachings of the Wisdom Tradition

Article/ by David Reigle, April, 2008

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was the founder of the Gelugpa or “Yellow Hat” order of Tibetan Buddhism. This soon became the dominant… Read More »Tsongkhapa and the Teachings of the Wisdom Tradition

Occultism Versus the Occult Arts

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, May, 1888

“I oft have heard, but ne’er believed till now,There are, who can by potent spellsBend to their crooked purpose Nature’s… Read More »Occultism Versus the Occult Arts

The Age of Sankara

Article/Book/ by T. S. Narayana Sastry, 1916

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION Ex Orientale lux; Ex occidente frux-from the East light; from the West fruit-is a… Read More »The Age of Sankara

Practical Occultism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

Important To Students As some of the letters in the Correspondence of this month show, there are many people who… Read More »Practical Occultism

The Crucifixion of Man

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, May, 1888

“Prometheus is the impersonated representative of Idea, or of the same power as Jove, but contemplated as independent, and not… Read More »The Crucifixion of Man

Esotericism of Christian Dogma: Creation as Taught by Moses and the Mahatmas

Article/ by Abbé Roca, Le Lotus, December, 1887 [Translated from the original French by H.P.B. (see Lucifer, January, 1888, p. 368) & portions from Collected Writings (see CW 8:343)]

I. Thanks to the light which is now reaching us from the far East through the Theosophical organs published in… Read More »Esotericism of Christian Dogma: Creation as Taught by Moses and the Mahatmas

The Greatest of All Wars

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, March, 1924 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, July, 1932]

All family feuds, all class struggles, all national wars, and all religious crusades are but reflected ramifications of the eternal… Read More »The Greatest of All Wars

What Good has Theosophy done in India?

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

“The race of mankind would perish, did they cease to aid each other. From the time that the mother binds… Read More »What Good has Theosophy done in India?

Defense of Theosophy

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, February, 1924 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, May, 1932]

One of the causes which led to the disruption of the forces drawn together by H.P.B. in her body politic… Read More »Defense of Theosophy

Fight out the Field, O Neophyte

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, The Theosophical Movement, November-December, 1953; January, 1954 [Serialized]

[Prepare, and be forewarned in time. If thou hast tried and failed, O dauntless fighter,yet lose not courage: fight on,… Read More »Fight out the Field, O Neophyte

To Dr. Lewins, and the Hylo-Idealists at Large

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, February, 1888

The editors have received the two following letters—one from the learned Founder of Hylo-Idealism, the other from a gentleman, a… Read More »To Dr. Lewins, and the Hylo-Idealists at Large

Apollonius of Tyana

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, July, 1936

The great Theosophist of the first century B.C. was Jesus the Christ. The great Theosophist of the first century A.D.… Read More »Apollonius of Tyana

Theosophy and Eastern Yoga

Article/ by Charles J. Ryan, The Theosophical Forum, July, 1936

I strongly advise you to give up all yoga practices, which in almost all cases have disastrous results. . .… Read More »Theosophy and Eastern Yoga

On Getting Ready

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, October, 1924 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, August, 1932]

In work or play, in business as in sport, men prepare themselves by constant practice. The student-server of Theosophy also… Read More »On Getting Ready

Reply to the Mistaken Conceptions of the Abbé Roca Concerning My Observations on Christian Esotericism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Le Lotus, April, 1888 [Translation from the original French]

In the February issue of Le Lotus [see “Reply to Madame Blavatsky’s Observations on Christian Esotericism”], the Abbé speaks of… Read More »Reply to the Mistaken Conceptions of the Abbé Roca Concerning My Observations on Christian Esotericism

Sunday Devotion to Pleasure

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, March, 1888

The following is an extract from the Daily Telegraph of March 1st, and may speak for itself:— “At yesterday’s sitting… Read More »Sunday Devotion to Pleasure

Chinese Shadows

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Новое время (New Times), February, 1888 [Translation from the original Russian]

Vicars of the Anglican Church here are at loggerheads with their own Bishops. And on what a subject, if you… Read More »Chinese Shadows

The Path of the Masters

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, The Theosophical Movement, February-April, 1933 [Serialized]

The Path of Woe Students of Theosophy, having grasped the tenets of Reincarnation, Karma, and the Path to the Masters,… Read More »The Path of the Masters

The Life Principle

Article/ by Navroji Dorabji Khandalavala, Lucifer Magazine, March, 1888

A few years back a very interesting controversy raged between several scientists of reputation. Some of these held that spontaneous… Read More »The Life Principle

Yoga and Yoga Discipline: A Theosophical Interpretation

Article/ by Charles J. Ryan, Booklet, 1940

Contents Chapter 1: The Yoga of Theosophy Chapter 2: A Tibetan Aspect of Yoga Chapter 3: Yoga in India Chapter 4:… Read More »Yoga and Yoga Discipline: A Theosophical Interpretation

Modern Idealism, Worse than Materialism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, October, 1896 [Posthumously Published]

That which is herein presented will be, as a matter of course, Dead Sea fruit to blind materialism; withal it… Read More »Modern Idealism, Worse than Materialism

Esoteric and Exoteric

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, December, 1924 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, October, 1932]

Soul builds body. The nature of the one is occult, as that of the other is phenomenal. Of unchanging reality… Read More »Esoteric and Exoteric

Divine Ethics

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, The Theosophical Movement, June, 1954

In its practical bearing, Theosophy is purely divine ethics. (The Theosophical Glossary, “Theosophia”) All that was great, generous, heroic, was,… Read More »Divine Ethics

Psychology—The Science of the Soul

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, October, 1896 [Posthumously Published]

Ethics and law are, so far, only in the phases where there are as yet no theories, and barely systems,… Read More »Psychology—The Science of the Soul

The Substantial Nature of Magnetism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, September, 1891 [Posthumously Published]

Materialists who arraign the Occultists and Theosophists for believing that every Force (so called) in Nature has at its origin… Read More »The Substantial Nature of Magnetism

Reply to Madame Blavatsky’s Observations on Christian Esotericism

Article/ by Abbé Roca, Le Lotus, February, 1888 [Translation from the original French]

I. There are some men whom nothing can discourage and nothing cast down, because they have faith, faith critically examined,… Read More »Reply to Madame Blavatsky’s Observations on Christian Esotericism

What of Phenomena?

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, February, 1888

To the Editors of Lucifer: I avail myself of your invitation to correspondents, in order to ask a question. “How… Read More »What of Phenomena?

Apollonius of Tyana

Article/ by Maurice Fredal, The Theosophist, October, 1886

In spite of misrepresentation and disdain, and the mistaken zeal of sectaries who have thought, by blackening the character of… Read More »Apollonius of Tyana

Apollonius and the Mahatmas

Article/ by Sylvester Baxter, The Path, October, 1886 [Serialized]

I The journey to India made by the great adept, Apollonius, of Tyana, was a special interest for us modern… Read More »Apollonius and the Mahatmas

How to Reach Masters

Article/Lecture/ by B. P. Wadia, The Theosophical Movement, 1921 [Lecture delivered in France, 1921]

The existence of Soul, which is, in fact, the Real Man, leads us to accept the fact of its unfoldment.… Read More »How to Reach Masters

The Relation of Colour to the Interlaced Triangles, or The Pentacle

Article/Lecture/ by Maud R. Brainerd, Lucifer Magazine, February, 1888 [A paper read before the Chicago Branch of the Theosophical Society]

Colour registers grades of vibration. Vibration registers grades of life. Life, esoterically considered, is ascent towards its source—the great First… Read More »The Relation of Colour to the Interlaced Triangles, or The Pentacle

Theosophical Light on The Ramayana

Article/Lecture/ by Anon., Blavatsky Theosophy (website), June, 2019

The vast writings of H. P. Blavatsky – totalling more than 10,000 pages in the form of books and articles… Read More »Theosophical Light on The Ramayana

The Basis of Universality and Brotherhood

Article/ by B. Finkernagel, The Theosophical Forum, June, 1937

When any individual has arrived at the definite realization that at every conceivable point the Universe is pulsating with life… Read More »The Basis of Universality and Brotherhood

Help the Work

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, November, 1924 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, September, 1932]

There are various motives which prompt students to serve the Cause of Theosophy. The nature and extent of that service… Read More »Help the Work

“Blend Thy Mind And Soul”

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, The Theosophical Movement, February, 1957

The Book of the Golden Precepts advises the aspiring devotee to “search for the Paths.” The Inner Life begins with… Read More »“Blend Thy Mind And Soul”

Universal Brotherhood

Article/ by Clifton Meek, The Theosophical Forum, February, 1936

The purpose of Theosophy and the aim of Theosophists is not that of converting men to a particular form of… Read More »Universal Brotherhood

The Language of the Buddhist Scriptures: Pali

Article/ by Geoffrey A. Barborka, The Theosophical Forum, June, 1936

Pali is the name that has been given to the language spoken in the north of India, from and before… Read More »The Language of the Buddhist Scriptures: Pali

Apollonius, Sage of Tyana

Article/ by Elsa-Brita Titchenell, Sunrise: Theosophic Perspectives, January, 1979

During the first century A.D. the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea comprised the known Western world, where the Roman empire… Read More »Apollonius, Sage of Tyana

Gautama, The Lord Buddha, and His Teachings

Article/ by Irene R. Ponsonby, The Theosophical Forum, June, 1936

“Buddhism teaches an evolution or development of this x-factor of consciousness and will [the Karman, the Dhyani-Buddha, or the Reincarnating… Read More »Gautama, The Lord Buddha, and His Teachings

Thoth, Divine Scribe

Article/ by N. A. Lewis, The Theosophical Forum, January, 1947

Who is this Thoth, of whom so many explanations are made, and who remains, even so, mysterious, inscrutable? We find… Read More »Thoth, Divine Scribe

The Divine Discontent of Gautama the Buddha

Article/ by Inez Davenport, The Theosophical Forum, June, 1936

Twenty-five hundred years ago there was born to the royal family of the Sakya clan, a son, the Prince Siddartha,… Read More »The Divine Discontent of Gautama the Buddha

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