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
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Articles from various theosophical authors.
H.P.B. —A Lion-hearted Colleague Passes
“On the shore stood Hiawatha, Turned and waved his hand at parting; On the clear and luminous water Launched his… Read More »H.P.B. —A Lion-hearted Colleague Passes
Buddha and Ambapali
In the story of the Buddha’s final journey and Paranirvana, recorded beautifully in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta,1 we are confronted with… Read More »Buddha and Ambapali
The Great War and the Great Initiation
Readers of the THEOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY who are acquainted with the Bhagavad Gita have been struck, again and again, with the… Read More »The Great War and the Great Initiation
The Dream of Ravan: A Mystery
Introduction to the Dream of Ravan Original 1853-54 Version (Dublin University Magazine) 1895 Edition (Theosophical Publishing Society) 1974 Edition (Theosophy… Read More »The Dream of Ravan: A Mystery
War in Olympus
Dark clouds are gathering over the hitherto cold and serene horizon of exact science, which forebode a squall. Already two… Read More »War in Olympus
Theosophical Symbolism
The number 7 has, ever since the Theosophical Society was founded November 17th, 1875, played a prominent part in all… Read More »Theosophical Symbolism
Buddhism, Christianity and Phallicism
Works by specialists and scholars have to be treated with a certain respect, due to science. But such works as… Read More »Buddhism, Christianity and Phallicism
Psychism and the Fourth Dimension
At the present day, though science has added to its former treasures many things rich and rare, its wildest admirer… Read More »Psychism and the Fourth Dimension
An Old Book and a New One
The nineteenth century is the century of struggle and strife, par excellence; of religious, political, social, and philosophical conflict. The… Read More »An Old Book and a New One
Count Saint Germain
At long intervals have appeared in Europe certain men whose rare intellectual endowments, brilliant conversation, and mysterious modes of life… Read More »Count Saint Germain
Chinese Spirits
The following notes have been collected partly from an old work by a French missionary who lived in China for… Read More »Chinese Spirits
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
Practical Theosophy
The ethics of life propounded by Jesus are not different from those found in theosophy, but the latter holds in… Read More »Practical Theosophy
The Five-Pointed Star
Of late numerous letters have been received in The THEOSOPHIST office concerning the efficacy of the mysterious Pentagram. Our Eastern… Read More »The Five-Pointed Star
Studies in the Upanishads
[I.] Many American theosophists are asking, “What are the Upanishads?” They are a portion of the ancient Aryan literature which… Read More »Studies in the Upanishads
The Theory of Cycles
It is now some time since this theory, which was first propounded in the oldest religion of the world, Vedaism,… Read More »The Theory of Cycles
Sanskrit’s Nearest Neighbour
There is a charming story in one of the Upanishads, a story full of the most delicate humour, which tells… Read More »Sanskrit’s Nearest Neighbour
Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms
As some apology may be thought necessary for having introduced, in the course of the following translation, certain unusual words… Read More »Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms
Theosophy (Lecture)
The subject of this lecture is Theosophy. One sometimes fancies that members of the audience who have come to these… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)
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
Nature’s Human Magnets
If any of us now-a-days ventures to relate some weird experience or seemingly incomprehensible phenomenon, two classes of objectors try… Read More »Nature’s Human Magnets
Dramas of the Mysteries
Let the king resolve to change the face of his court and forcibly evict the animal from the chair of… Read More »Dramas of the Mysteries
The Vedanta Philosophy
I. Two things seem to me to distinguish our philosophy in the West from the philosophy of India, especially in… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy
Rounds and Races
A fundamental axiom in Theosophy is that no one should accept as unquestionably true any statement of fact, principle, or… Read More »Rounds and Races
The Katha Upanishad and the Great Initiation
Many Scriptures have been inspired by the Great Initiation; with these are to be counted the Prometheus Bound of Æschylus… Read More »The Katha Upanishad and the Great Initiation
An Unsolved Mystery
The circumstances attending the sudden death of M. Delessert, inspector of the police de sûreté, seems to have made such an… Read More »An Unsolved Mystery
Occultism for Barter
When Jesus of Nazareth went to the Temple in Jerusalem he, it is said, drove money changers out of the… Read More »Occultism for Barter
Two Systems—of Lust and Sorrow
The great Buddha referred to two systems for the government of life which he said were each ignoble, and one… Read More »Two Systems—of Lust and Sorrow
What is the Udgitha?
JAMESTOWN April 16th, 1886 DEAR BROTHER:—Will you kindly explain, through THE PATH, what is to be understood by the Udgitha,… Read More »What is the Udgitha?
Facts and Ideations
The current of public attraction runs towards psychic phenomena and is becoming in Europe stronger every year. Even German science… Read More »Facts and Ideations
The Drift of Western Spiritualism
Late advices from various parts of the world seem to indicate that, while there is an increasing interest in the… Read More »The Drift of Western Spiritualism
“Not Unto Us.”
“All of life, throughout all the world, is to be the dwelling-place of the King; by renouncing life thou shalt… Read More »“Not Unto Us.”
Sankaracharya
Sankaracharya (from Saṅkara, a personal name + ācarya teacher) was an Indian reformer and teacher of Vedanta, who founded what… Read More »Sankaracharya
Points of Agreement in All Religions
[Note:] The Midwinter Fair at San Francisco had annexed to it a Religious parliament modeled after the first great one… Read More »Points of Agreement in All Religions
Does Consciousness Evolve? The Answer of the Vedanta
To the question, Does Consciousness Evolve? the Vedanta answers, yes, and no. Personal consciousness evolves, from childhood to maturity, from… Read More »Does Consciousness Evolve? The Answer of the Vedanta
Theosophic Diet
The question “whether to eat meat or not to eat it” is one which is uppermost in the minds of… Read More »Theosophic Diet
The Law of Cycles
It is a matter of the deepest interest for every thinking man to obtain as clear an idea as possible… Read More »The Law of Cycles
A Dissertation on the Life and Theology of Orpheus
Section I The great obscurity and uncertainty in which the history of Orpheus is involved, affords very little matter for… Read More »A Dissertation on the Life and Theology of Orpheus
Reincarnations in Tibet
So little is known by Europeans of what is going on in Tibet, and even in the more accessible Bhootan,… Read More »Reincarnations in Tibet
Theosophy (Lecture)
The purpose of The Theosophical Society is to keep alive the spiritual intuitions of mankind. Since we are here this… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)
A Servant of the Masters: Col. Henry S. Olcott
A Pioneer in a great movement, such as that represented by the Theosophical Society, should be known to the contemporary… Read More »A Servant of the Masters: Col. Henry S. Olcott
Life and Teachings of Pythagoras
I. Life “Pythagoras, the pure philosopher deeply versed in the profounder phenomena of nature, the noble inheritor of the ancient… Read More »Life and Teachings of Pythagoras
Vicarious Atonement and Karma
Students of Theosophy believe that all great religions were founded on the lives and teachings of Masters of Wisdom, men… Read More »Vicarious Atonement and Karma
The Adepts
In this I purpose to give but the condensed form of some objections made to the theory of the existence… Read More »The Adepts
Cycles and Cyclic Law
Ladies and gentlemen: This is our last meeting; it is the last impulse of the Cycle which we began when… Read More »Cycles and Cyclic Law