Commentaries
Preface The following is a compilation of references to and quotations from the Manava Dharma Shastra (“Laws of Manu”) by H. P. Blavatsky in her… Read More »Manava-Dharma-Sastra (Manu-Smriti) [Selections]
Preface 1- The following pages are derived from “The Book of the Golden Precepts,” one of the works put into the hands of mystic students… Read More »Exploring The Voice of the Silence
THE SECRET DOCTRINE DIALOGUES H. P. BLAVATSKY TALKS WITH STUDENTS [FROM REPORTS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE, JANUARY 10 TO JUNE 20, 1889.]… Read More »The Secret Doctrine Dialogues
Through the Gates of Gold: A Fragment of Thought is a wonderful, profound, eloquent work, the study of which offers many insights and valuable seeds of… Read More »Through the Gates of Gold [Commentary]
It has been well said that when a great Master incarnates, his whole life is a parable. Not only does he teach spiritual law; he… Read More »Some Parables of the Buddha
The passages of the Buddhist Suttas here translated contain many things which illumine different sides of the Buddha’s character. There is, first, an often repeated… Read More »A High Disciple, a Prophecy, and a Miracle
The manner in which the Buddhist scriptures came into being has set its mark on them in two ways. First, since those scriptures with which… Read More »The Sevenfold Counsels of Perfection
Among the discourses of the Buddha there is one named the Lakkhana Suttanta. The first part of the Pali name corresponds to the Sanskrit Lakshana,… Read More »The Doctrine of the Divine Man
Besides the supreme figure of the Buddha and the noble personalities of his leading disciples, a host of men and women are depicted in the… Read More »Visâkhâ: A Woman Disciple of the Buddha
The teaching of the Buddha, particularly where it is most profound and spiritual, is for all practical purposes identical with the teaching of the great… Read More »The Buddha’s Cosmology
For millenniums the Brahman community has dominated the religious and intellectual life of India. It may be added that, today, the Brahmans are working to… Read More »The Buddha’s Teaching of the Logos
It has been suggested that the principal purpose of the Buddha, in all that he did and taught, was the founding of an Order which… Read More »The Ideal Brahman
Toward the close of the nineteenth century, it was the custom among Occidental students of Buddhism to maintain that the Buddha had not laboured to… Read More »“For I Desired Mercy, and Not Sacrifice”
Contents The Doctrine of the Bhagavad-Gita Kshetra and Kshetrajna Mulaprakriti, Daiviprakriti and Ishwara Worship Me with All Bhavas Glossary The Doctrine of the Bhagavad-Gita In… Read More »The Doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita
I. In the first two Gospels, there is a story of gentle irony at the expense of the non-discerning disciples. The Master had entered into… Read More »Self-Glorification or Self-Conquest
While the Suttas record instances in which the Buddha spoke eloquently to groups of villagers, to large numbers of men and women assembled in the… Read More »Building on Recollection
With the single exception, perhaps, of The Light of Asia, the popular narratives of the Buddha’s life surround the great story with coloured clouds of… Read More »Wise and Foolish Disciples
In the Pali Suttas the teachings of the Buddha are conveyed, not in philosophical abstractions, but in lively narratives with a picturesque background of Indian… Read More »Kshatriya and Brahman
Many Orientalists of a by-gone day, misled, perhaps, by learned but undiscerning Southern Buddhists, held that Nirvana, the consummation of the Buddha’s path, meant annihilation… Read More »The Ladder of Consciousness
It is the custom of Orientalists to speak of Buddhism as a religion, and a very beautiful and intuitional book has been written, with the… Read More »The Chain of Causation
Part I, Sections 1-3 [Introduction] Building the Cosmos Like the Chhandogya Upanishad, the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad consists of a series of Instructions for Disciples. The… Read More »Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
Something has been said of the relation of Siddhartha the Compassionate to the Masters, according to the Suttas and more modern witnesses. A living Aryan… Read More »A Visit to the Buddha
We have been told that Prince Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, born in the ancient city of Kapila, was initiated into the… Read More »Among the Celestials
The rules of conduct which the Buddha enjoined on the members of his Order are embodied, as almost always, in a story; and again, as… Read More »Discipline for Disciples
It will be remembered [see “States of Consciousness”] that the crowd of pilgrims who, with Pilgrim Potthapada, were in residence in The Hall set about… Read More »Vestures of Consciousness
One of the Buddhist Suttas is known as the Potthapada Sutta, so called in honour of the Brahman to whom the Buddha addressed the teaching… Read More »States of Consciousness
The questions of King Ajatashatru, with the Buddha’s answers, make up the Sutta called The Fruits of Discipleship. There is a certain likeness between the… Read More »The Fruits of Discipleship
Part I, Sections 1-6 [Introduction] The Powers of the Logos The great Upanishads were compiled as Instructions for disciples preparing for Initiation. They contain philosophical… Read More »Chhandogya Upanishad
Om: this syllable, this imperishable, is the All. Its expansion is what has been, what is, what shall be. All, verily, is Om. And whatsoever… Read More »Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)
[Translation] Invocation To Him I make obeisance, who is the end of all wisdom, the goal of all attainment, the unseen Lord of the flock,… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
Brahmâ the Evolver, first of the Bright Powers came to birth, Maker of all, Preserver of the world. He declared the Wisdom of the Eternal,… Read More »Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
Prashna Upanishad, “the Mystical Teaching of the Questions,” brief though it be, is a masterly summary of the Secret Wisdom. It illustrates two fundamental principles… Read More »Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
Seeking for favour, verily, Vajashravasa made a sacrifice of all his possessions. He had a son, named Nachiketas. Him, being still a boy, faith entered… Read More »Katha Upanishad (In the House of Death)
1. The way that can be told is not the eternal Way. The word that can be spoken is not the eternal Word. Unnamed, It… Read More »Tao Te Ching (Book of the Way and of Righteousness)
By whom impelled flies the forward-impelled Mind? By whom compelled does the First Life go forth? By whom impelled is this Voice that they speak?… Read More »Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
By the Master all this is to be clothed and pervaded, whatever moves in this moving world. These words, like all that is of primary… Read More »Isha Upanishad (By the Master)
[Note: the following was meant by Mr. Crosbie to be a continuation of the Notes on Chapters 1-7 by W. Q. Judge.] Contents Chapter 8… Read More »The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 8-18]
Contents Preface 1. The Place of Jnanayoga in the Gita 2. The Pedigree of Jnanayoga 3. The Doctrine of Avataras 4. Jnanayoga as the Means… Read More »Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita [Chapter 4]
Introduction This charming little treatise bears in Sanskrit the title Tattva Bodha, which means “The Awakening to Reality,” or, to translate quite literally, “The Awakening… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankaracharya’s Catechism)
A good many readers make the acquaintance of the Upanishads in the two volumes which Prof. Max Müller contributed to the now world-famous Sacred Books… Read More »The Dramatic Element in the Upanishads
[Note: The following is Johnston’s second, revised edition of the Yoga Sutras (1917), which is updated from the initial serialization in the Theosophical Quarterly.] Introduction… Read More »Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
[Part I] [Introduction] The shortest of all the older Upanishads is the Mandukya. Yet in some ways it contains fuller and deeper teaching than any… Read More »Mandukya-Karika by Gaudapada (Natural, Psychical and Spiritual Bodies)
General Introduction The Bhagavad Gita is one of the noblest scriptures of India, one of the deepest scriptures of the world. It is rich in… Read More »Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)
[Dedication:] ToAndrew Carnegie,An Exponent of theRational Philanthropy:which, by Feeding the Root,instead of Lopping the Branches,stimulates development from within;and by theSupreme Charity of Letting Alone, enables… Read More »Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze)
[I.] We have heard much of the Sacred Books of the East. It is time to say something of the Sacred Books of the West,… Read More »The Early Races in the Popol Vuh
I feel more convinced than ever that Ashva Ghosha’s Sanskrit Life of Buddha will be the Life of Buddha which will hold the attention of… Read More »The Nativity of Buddha
The Gospels are the perfect flower of Palestine. The Upanishads are the chiefest treasure of most ancient India. The heart of the Galilean message is… Read More »The Song of Life
[Translation] Seer and Seen The form is seen, the eye is seer; the mind is both seen and seer. The changing moods of mind are… Read More »Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
[Translation] Satyakama the son of Jabala addressed his mother Jabala thus: I am going to dwell with a teacher, in the service of the Eternal.… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 4:4-9 (Teachers Other Than Human)
I. A Mystery Many conjectures have been offered as to the source and authorship of this curious and wonderful book, which appeared in the first… Read More »The Dream of Ravan
[Translation] Janashruti, the grandson of Janashruta, was full of faith, a giver of many gifts, bestowing much cooked food. He caused many houses of refuge… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 4:1-2 (An Old Legend)
[Translation] The divine Song, verily, is all their being, whatsoever there is; and the Word is the divine Song. The Word, verily, enounces and guards… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)
[Translation] When a fair time had come, and a lucky day and hour, King Bhima called the lords of the earth to the choosing. Hearing… Read More »King Nala’s Rivals
[Translation] That sun is honey for the bright powers; the heaven is the curved support of it; the mid-world is the comb; the beams are… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:1-11 (Honey for the Gods)
[Translation] I select and assign the different notes of the chant. The animal note is the up-singing of the Fire-lord. The undefined note is the… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 2:22-24 (The Mysteries of Sound 3)
[Translation] Three, verily, were skilled in the up-singing Shilaka Shalavatya, Chaikitayana Dalbhya, Pravahana Jaivala. They said: In the up-singing, indeed, are we skilled; let us… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 1:8-2:21 (The Mysteries of Sound 2)
Note: It will be advisable to study the Commentary that follows, before reading this translation. [Translation] OM: let a man draw near to this imperishable… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 1:1-7 (The Mysteries of Sound 1)
[Translation] Self was here verily in the beginning; nothing else opposing at all. He beheld, saying: Let me now put forth worlds. He put forth… Read More »Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
III. [Translation] Invocation Om. May That guard us two—teacher and pupil; may That save us two; may we two do the work with valor; may… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 3 (The Lotus of the Sage Bhrgu)
II.[Translation] The knower of the Eternal obtains the supreme; therefore this is declared: Real, wisdom, endless is the Eternal; he who knows that, hid in… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 2 (The Lotus of the Bliss of the Eternal)
I. [Translation] Om Bless us Mitra; bless us Varuna; bless us Aryaman; bless us Indra, Vrhaspati; bless us wide-stepping Vishnu. Obeisance to the Eternal; obeisance… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 1 (The Lotus of the Teaching)
I. [Translation] The Evolver first of the bright ones came into being, the maker of the whole, the guardian of the world. He taught the… Read More »Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
[Translation] By the Master is to be covered all, whatever moving thing there is in the world. By this renouncing thou shalt enjoy; nor grudge… Read More »Isha Upanishad (By The Master)
Introductory In the “Awakening to the Self” [Atma Bodha], and, still more, in the “Crest-Jewel of Wisdom”, Shankara the Teacher uses many words in a… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankara’s Catechism)
[Translation] By whom commanded does the mind go forth? By whom compelled does the first life go forth? By whom commanded do they put forth… Read More »Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
[Translation] Aruna’s son Uddalaka addressed his son Shvetaketu, saying: —Learn from me, dear, the reality about sleep. When a man sinks to sleep, as they… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 6:8-16 (First Principles 2)
[Translation] There lived once Shvetaketu, Aruni’s grandson; his father addressed him, saying: —Shvetaketu, go, learn the service of the Eternal; for no one, dear, of… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 6:1-7 (First Principles 1)
Introduction The doctrine of the fourfold Self and its three vestures is outlined in Prashna Upanishad, clearly stated in Mandukya Upanishad, and developed by Shankara… Read More »The Fourfold Self’s Three Vestures
Mandukya Upanishad The unchanging Om is the All. Its expansion is, what has been, what is, what shall be. And what is beyond the three… Read More »The Meaning of OM
The most ancient declaration of Esoteric Teaching in the Sacred Books of India is probably this verse from the earliest and oldest of the ten… Read More »Esoteric Teaching (Rig Veda, i. 164, 45)
The faith of Islam, the latest of the world-wide religions, is also, in many things, the most materialistic and dogmatic. The Semite peoples, Hebrew or… Read More »The Four Duties of a Dervish
[I.][Translation] These men, Sukesha Bharadvaja, Shaivya Satyakama, Sauryayani Gargya, Kaushalya Ashvalayana, Bhargava Vaidharbhi, and Kabandhi Katyayana, bent on the Eternal, following the Eternal, were seeking… Read More »Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
I. Students of the Oriental Theosophy, which finds its highest expression in the Ten Upanishads, are met at the outset by a serious difficulty which… Read More »The Symbolism of the Upanishads
Preface to the Second Edition It has been at the earnest’ wish of many students, members of the Theosophical Society, and of my Hermetic fratres… Read More »Sepher Yetzirah
Contents Preface Introduction Part I. I. The Soul and its Powers.II. Knowledge.III. The Nature of the Soul.IV. The Absolute.V. Deity.VI. Being.VII. Personality.VIII. God.IX. Creation.X. The… Read More »The Foundations of Christian Mysticism
Unveil, O Thou who givest sustenance to the Universe, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, that face of the True Sun now… Read More »A Commentary on the Gayatri
In these papers an attempt will be made to give a clear account of the theory of life and development contained in Madame Blavatsky’s Secret… Read More »An Outline of the “Secret Doctrine”
81 PART II. STANZAS II TO IV 83 Meeting V. Meeting held at 17, Lansdowne Road, London, W., on February 7th, 1889, Mr. W. Kingsland in… Read More »Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 2)
When dealing with a book of symbolical nature like the present, many different explanations are possible, for they must vary according to the general or… Read More »The Idyll of the White Lotus: Reflections on its Inner Meaning
The following transactions are compiled from shorthand notes taken at the meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society, from January 10th to June… Read More »Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 1)
Dedication THIS BOOK IS LAID UPON THE ALTAR OF MASTERS’ CAUSE, AND IS DEDICATED TO THEIR SERVANT H. P. BLAVATSKY. ALL CONCERN FOR ITS FRUITS… Read More »Yoga Sutras (Aphorisms) of Patanjali
I. “Our souls have sight of that immortal sea which brought us hither; Can in a moment travel thither— And see the children sport upon… Read More »The Tide of Life
Chapter I.Which Containeth the Introduction. 1. Tradition.—On that day on which the Companions were assembled together in the house of Rabbi Schimeon, and on which… Read More »Idra Zuta Kadisha: The Lesser Holy Assembly
Chapter I.The Ingress and the Preface. 1. Tradition.—Rabbi Schimeon spake unto his companions, and said: “How long shall we abide in the condition of one… Read More »Idra Rabba Kadisha: The Greater Holy Assembly
Chapter I 1. Tradition.—“The Book of Concealed Mystery” is the book of the equilibrium of balance. [The word “Dtzenioutha” is difficult to translate, but I… Read More »Siphra Ditzniuta: The Book of Concealed Mystery
“The first step is Sacrifice; the next, Renunciation.” “’Es leuchtet mir ein, I see a glimpse of it!’ cries he, elsewhere: ‘there is in man… Read More »Cain and Abel
Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 [Chapter I] If the title of this sacred Hindu poem… Read More »The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 1-7]
“The Soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendour has no limit.” It is with… Read More »“Light on the Path.”
The interesting story published under the above title has already attracted considerable attention. It is instructive in more ways than one. It truly depicts the… Read More »The Idyll of the White Lotus [An Explanation]
Contents Introduction Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 [Introduction] (Notes of a lecture, delivered at the Convention of the Theosophical Society, 1885, by… Read More »Notes on the Bhagavad Gita
[Reference:] “A Treatise on the Yoga Philosophy”, by Dr. N. C. Paul, G.B., M.C., Sub-Assistant Surgeon, 1850. Second Edition, 1882. When, in America and Europe,… Read More »Commentary on A Treatise on the Yoga Philosophy
Introduction to the Dream of Ravan Original 1853-54 Version (Dublin University Magazine) 1895 Edition (Theosophical Publishing Society) 1974 Edition (Theosophy Co., India) Part I In… Read More »The Dream of Ravan: A Mystery
Part I The following remains of Chaldean theology are not only venerable for their antiquity, but inestimably valuable for the unequalled sublimity of the doctrines… Read More »Collection of the Chaldean Oracles
“They assert that there are seven corporeal worlds, one Empyrean and the first; after this, three etherial, and then three material worlds,1 the last of… Read More »A Concise Exposition of Chaldaic Dogma, by Psellus