Mr. Johnston and the Upanishads
To students who might be described as the second and third generations of the Theosophical Society, the Upanishads mean Mr. Johnston, and Mr. Johnston has… Read More »Mr. Johnston and the Upanishads
Editorial
Editorials, Notices, Society Affairs, etc.
Charles Johnston
I and mine do not convince by arguments, similes, rhymes, We convince by our presence.—Walt Whtiman Many times they mentioned his name, those old friends,… Read More »Charles Johnston
Charles Johnston
Charles Johnston died on Friday, October 16th [1932], at about twenty minutes past three in the afternoon. His death was due to heart disease, from… Read More »Charles Johnston
Charles Johnston, Orientalist, Dead
Charles Johnston, scholar, traveler and author, who translted many of the sacred writings of the East into English, died of heart disease yesterday at St.… Read More »Charles Johnston, Orientalist, Dead
[The Original Programme of The Theosophical Society]
[Note: for historical context, see the introduction by C. Jinarajadasa and the appendices in the 1931 printing, as well as in the Blavatsky Collected Writings… Read More »[The Original Programme of The Theosophical Society]
A Friend and a Brother
A powerful genius and promoter of the Theosophical movement in America has passed away from the gaze of the eye, but the organization of which… Read More »A Friend and a Brother
W. Q. Judge as Organizer
Into the lives of most of us there will come at some time or other an epoch when the struggling but vague aspirations of our… Read More »W. Q. Judge as Organizer
Man and Teacher
Oh the mystery of the Divine Ego back of every manifestation in the physical! Which of us can write truly of that divinity which for… Read More »Man and Teacher
“The Greatest of the Exiles”
“Those who are wise in spiritual things grieve neither for the dead nor for the living. I myself never was not, nor thou, nor all… Read More »“The Greatest of the Exiles”
A Friend of Old Time and of the Future
As such does William Q. Judge appear to me, as doubtless he does to many others in this and other lands. The first Theosophical treatise… Read More »A Friend of Old Time and of the Future
One of the Immortals
Men can really be judged only by their equals or superiors. The Adept side of the character of Wm. Q. Judge stands above criticism or… Read More »One of the Immortals
W.Q.J. As I Knew Him
It is nearly fifteen years since I first made the acquaintance of William Q. Judge, the occasion of it being a letter that I had… Read More »W.Q.J. As I Knew Him
“His One Ambition”
I first met William Q. Judge in the winter of 1885. He spent Christmas week at my home in company with Arthur Gebhardt, who at… Read More »“His One Ambition”
The Cremation [of W.Q.J.]
The proceedings at the cremation of the body of W. Q. Judge were of the simplest possible order. As he died on Saturday morning it… Read More »The Cremation [of W.Q.J.]
The Last Days of W. Q. Judge
The task of giving a short account of our leader’s last days and of the change that finally took him to a wider field of… Read More »The Last Days of W. Q. Judge
The Screen of Time
A new cycle has begun. The “turning inwards”—and homewards, of William Q. Judge was the signal for the dawn of a new day, long since… Read More »The Screen of Time
Death of William Q. Judge
The editor of this magazine, President of the Theosophical Societies in America, Europe and Australasia, our trusted teacher and friend, passed away on the 21st… Read More »Death of William Q. Judge
W. Q. J.
O hero of the iron age, Upon thy grave we will not weep, Nor yet consume away in rage For thee and thy untimely sleep,… Read More »W. Q. J.
Notice [re: Death of W.Q.J.]
Notice: To The Theosophical Society in America and its Fraters Throughout the World. Brothers:—Our leader has disappeared from the field of conflict. With courage undaunted,… Read More »Notice [re: Death of W.Q.J.]
Change of Name
Commencing with the next, April, number, the PATH, which has been published for ten years under that name, will drop the title and thereafter will… Read More »Change of Name
The Work Since May
This month ends the year and gives us, for examination and review, seven months of experience in theosophical work. Last April, after the Boston Convention,… Read More »The Work Since May
H. S. Olcott vs. H. P. B.
In the April Theosophist Col. Olcott makes public what we have long known to be his private opinion—a private opinion hinted at through the pages… Read More »H. S. Olcott vs. H. P. B.
The Theosophical Society
INSIDE FACTS AS TO ITS ORGANIZATION.—A DE FACTO BODY.—THE REAL T.S. IN NEW YORK.—THE PRESIDENT STILL A DELEGATE TO FOREIGN LAND, AND HOLDING OVER IN… Read More »The Theosophical Society
The Truth about East and West
Mrs. Besant and others have joined together to try and show that I am attempting to create discord in the Theosophical Society between the East… Read More »The Truth about East and West
A Mahatma’s Message to Some Brahmans
A copy of the letter hereunder printed was sent me in 1893 by the Brahman gentleman mentioned therein, whose full name is Benee Madhab Battacharya… Read More »A Mahatma’s Message to Some Brahmans
Bogus Mahatma Messages
On November 30th, 1894, I received, from a source I always respect, this warning: “Look out for anonymous and bogus ‘occult’ messages to members of… Read More »Bogus Mahatma Messages
Universal Brotherhood and Admission of Members
Some confusion has at times arisen in the minds of Branch officers and members on the point of admitting persons to the T.S. It has… Read More »Universal Brotherhood and Admission of Members
Nigamagama Dharma Sabha
This is the name of a society in India which has also members in the ranks of the Theosophical Society in America and elsewhere. It… Read More »Nigamagama Dharma Sabha
On “The Judge Case,” Vice-Presidency and Autonomy
[Note: The following collection includes various writings on “The Judge Case,” the Vice-Presidency and the Resolution of Autonomy of “The Theosophical Society in America.” These… Read More »On “The Judge Case,” Vice-Presidency and Autonomy
Of Funds and Property
It was thought by some at one time in the history of the Theosophical Society that a society fund was an indispensable prerequisite to the… Read More »Of Funds and Property
Spiritualism
Last month we gave two prophecies from the “spirit” Jim L Nolan as reported some years ago by the Religio-Philosophical Journal.1 As this “control” has… Read More »Spiritualism
Two Spiritualistic Prophecies
In 1877 the Religio-Philosophical Journal had questions and answers published in its pages, giving spirit lore from “the independent voice,” headed as follows: By the… Read More »Two Spiritualistic Prophecies
The Theosophical Congress and the Parliament of Religions
The Congress of the Theosophical Society in September as a part of the Great Parliament of Religions was a significant as well as successful event.… Read More »The Theosophical Congress and the Parliament of Religions
Theosophical Correspondence Class
The increase of the purely routine work of the General Secretary’s office has made it impossible to fully reply to all the numerous questions put… Read More »Theosophical Correspondence Class
Suggestions to Branches
Founding of Branches This paper is to give newly-formed Branches some idea of the methods which experience has shown to be the best for the… Read More »Suggestions to Branches
The Theosophical Society as Related to Brahmanism and Buddhism
The subjoined circular has been sent by me to as many Brahmins as I could reach. I have purposely used the words “Brahmins of India”… Read More »The Theosophical Society as Related to Brahmanism and Buddhism
Seven Years Gone
The Path was started in April, 1886, and with this month completes the first seven years of its life. Many things have happened here in… Read More »Seven Years Gone
Two Theosophical Events
A Libel Retracted 1 September, 1892, will stand as a red letter month in our history. Two events of importance occurred, the one removing a… Read More »Two Theosophical Events
Impossibilities Demanded
Many impossibilities have been at all times demanded by members of the Society from those who have by the misfortunes of Karma been put in… Read More »Impossibilities Demanded
Convention of the European Section
The Second Annual Convention of the European Section of the Theosophical Society was a most successful affair, and from beginning to end all went smoothly,… Read More »Convention of the European Section
The Ashes of H.P.B.
[Three Parts: Aug., 1892, Jan. & May 1893] [Aug, 1892] A permanent Headquarters building for the American Section being now actually possessed, the General Secretary,… Read More »The Ashes of H.P.B.
[Review:] The Light of Egypt
In several quarters there has been of late a persistent attempt to push the sale of this book, particularly among Theosophists, and this attempt, combined… Read More »[Review:] The Light of Egypt
Seven Steps Forward
With this issue Path starts on the seventh year of life, and the seven past years have been full of action, of work, and of… Read More »Seven Steps Forward
Six Years Gone
Six years have gone into the void since the Path was started, and we are still in the middle of eternity. Doubtless other ages have… Read More »Six Years Gone
Tract Mailing Scheme
Into the T.M.S. the General Secretary has now incorporated the operations of that invaluable “Press Scheme,” devised and carried an single-handed by a most devoted… Read More »Tract Mailing Scheme
Reply: Resignation of Presidency, T.S. by Col Olcott
The following correspondence sufficiently explains itself. It is inserted here in order that American members generally may be in possession of the information. It will… Read More »Reply: Resignation of Presidency, T.S. by Col Olcott
“The Brotherhood of the New Life”
This is one of the many enterprises gotten up to catch the unwary who seek after spiritual things, and the words of the Bible are… Read More »“The Brotherhood of the New Life”
Argument for Reincarnation
It has been suggested to The Path that theosophists jot down as they occur any arguments hit upon to support the doctrine of reincarnation. One… Read More »Argument for Reincarnation
The Blessings of Publicity
A well-known public lecturer, a distinguished Egyptologist, said, in one of his lectures against the teachings of Theosophy, a few suggestive words, which are now… Read More »The Blessings of Publicity
The League of Theosophical Workers
The “LEAGUE OF THEOSOPHICAL WORKERS” has been formed in accordance with the report of the committee appointed at the last annual convention of the American… Read More »The League of Theosophical Workers
Five Years Finished
About eighteen hundred and twenty-five days have slipped away since the Path was started, and now we enter upon the sixth year without any prospect… Read More »Five Years Finished
How the Society is Run
A few facts may be useful to stimulate and interest by way of chronicle. The Theosophical Society entered on its sixteenth year in November, 1890.… Read More »How the Society is Run
The Oriental Department
The year 1891 is to mark an era in the Theosophical Society. The General Secretary desires to announce that with the consent of the Executive… Read More »The Oriental Department
Libel by Dr. Coues and the “N. Y. Sun”
In the New York Sun of Sunday, July 20th, appeared an article by Dr. Elliott Coues of Washington, D.C., purporting to be an interview with… Read More »Libel by Dr. Coues and the “N. Y. Sun”
The New “Department of Branch Work”
[Serialized: June & Aug., 1890] [June, 1890] The following circular addressed to Branches will explain itself. It is proper, however, to state that the original… Read More »The New “Department of Branch Work”
Closed or Open Lodges
The Theosophical Society has never prohibited Private Branches. If five Members-at-large can exist separately, they can exist together; for they are no worse off when… Read More »Closed or Open Lodges
The Headquarters at Adyar
Having shown our readers in February Path the counterfeit presentment of H. P. Blavatsky, to whom the Theosophical Society owes its origin, we wish them… Read More »The Headquarters at Adyar
The Path’s Fifth Year
Our Magazine has turned the last corner of the square and now enters up an it’s fifth year. Whether it shall live ten or twenty… Read More »The Path’s Fifth Year
The Tract-Mailing Scheme
The General Secretary heartily thanks those Brethren who have responded to the call “To Theosophists Willing to Work,” and congratulates them that the number now… Read More »The Tract-Mailing Scheme
The Fall of Ideals
“Alas! we know that ideals can never be completely embodied in practice. Ideals must ever lie a great way off—and we will thankfully content ourselves… Read More »The Fall of Ideals
To Theosophists Willing to Work
For some 18 months past, private zeal has carried out a system by which a single copy of one of the tracts expounding popularly some… Read More »To Theosophists Willing to Work
Professor Max Müller on Buddhism
The distinguished Sanskritist Max Müller delivered last year before the University of Glasgow a series of lectures—called Gifford Lectures—upon Religions, and made the following remarks… Read More »Professor Max Müller on Buddhism
A Chat with Correspondents
One illustration of the expansion of Theosophical interest through this country is found in the growth of business during the last two years in the… Read More »A Chat with Correspondents
Theosophical Tracts
Earnest Theosophists, of small means and opportunity, often inquire what one thing they can do to further the spread of Truth and contribute to the… Read More »Theosophical Tracts
“Peace with Honor” or “A Scientific Frontier”
The Path has never been a controversial magazine, and does not intend to be. But it cannot in justice to its readers fail to notice… Read More »“Peace with Honor” or “A Scientific Frontier”
Force of Prejudice
“The difference is as great between The optics seeing, as the objects seen. All manners take a tincture from our own, Or some discolour’d through… Read More »Force of Prejudice
A Circulating Library
A theosophical circulating Library has been established at the General Secretary’s office in New York, Room 47, 21 Park Row. Donations of money and books… Read More »A Circulating Library
End of Our Third Year
With this number the third year of The Path’s existence comes to an end. The only definite rule we made in the conduct of the… Read More »End of Our Third Year
The Press and Occultism
When The Path first appeared on the scene, the World and the Sun, two prominent daily newspapers of New York, devoted a large space to… Read More »The Press and Occultism
The Third Year
This magazine begins its third year with the present number. While we are not sectarian, we acknowledge having a definite object in view in all… Read More »The Third Year
Two Years on the Path
Twenty-four months ago this Magazine was started. It was then the second periodical devoted solely to the Theosophical Society’s aims, and the only one in… Read More »Two Years on the Path
“Let Every Man Prove His Own Work”
Such is the title of a letter received by the Editors of Lucifer. It is of so serious a nature that it seems well to… Read More »“Let Every Man Prove His Own Work”
Sin Against Life
A newspaper paragraph lately declared that a certain American lady of great wealth, residing in London, had conceived the strange desire to possess a cloak… Read More »Sin Against Life
The Signs of the Times
It is intensely interesting to follow season after season the rapid evolution and change of public thought in the direction of the mystical. The educated… Read More »The Signs of the Times
Notice to Inquirers
Within the mind and heart of every thoughtful individual there exists some vital question unanswered. Some subject is uppermost, and asserts itself obtrusively with greater… Read More »Notice to Inquirers
[On the Life of a True Theosophist]
It is rumoured that A Catechism on Every-Day Life, by a Theosophical writer, is ready for press. Let us hope it will contain no special… Read More »[On the Life of a True Theosophist]
The Last of a Good Lama
Whatever may be said against godless Buddhism, its influence, wherever it penetrates, is most beneficent. One finds the Spirit of “Lord Buddha . . .… Read More »The Last of a Good Lama
What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name? Very often there is more in it than the profane is prepared to understand, or the learned mystic to explain. It… Read More »What’s in a Name?
Judges or Slanderers?
“. . . . . For our own part, we regard her (Madame Blavatsky) neither as the mouthpiece of hidden seers, nor as a mere… Read More »Judges or Slanderers?
The Second Year
The first number of this magazine naturally appealed to the future, to show whether there was any need for its existence, any field ripe already… Read More »The Second Year
A Year on the Path
The present issue of this Magazine closes the first year of its publication. It was not started because its projectors thought that they alone knew… Read More »A Year on the Path
Pronunciation of Sanskrit & The Sanskrit Language
[Note: the following are two parts published in June and July, 1886] [June, 1886] Dear Brother: Is there any dictionary or book giving the correct… Read More »Pronunciation of Sanskrit & The Sanskrit Language
The Path
This magazine is not intended either to replace or to rival in America The Theosophist, nor any other journal now published in the interest of… Read More »The Path
Madame Blavatsky’s Protest
[Note: for background, see “[On the Coulomb Forged Letters]”; “The Collapse of Koot Hoomi”; “To Theosophists and Men of Honour,” The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to… Read More »Madame Blavatsky’s Protest
Retirement of Madame Blavatsky
The following circular issued to the Branches of the Theosophical Society by the President-Founder, is now, by permission made public:— Headquaters, Adyar, 14th April, 1885.… Read More »Retirement of Madame Blavatsky
A Remarkable Astrologer
In our last number, we published a contribution on the subject of Astrology by one of our brothers of the Madura Branch. We now find… Read More »A Remarkable Astrologer
The Future Occultist
A correspondent of the Indian Mirror, an influential daily paper at Calcutta, writing under the heading of “Proper Education for our Ladies,” says:— Your editorial on the… Read More »The Future Occultist
Mr. Moncure D. Conway’s “A Tour Round the World”
The Glasgow Herald of April 11, 1884, contains 2-1/2 columns devoted by the eminent London Ontologist to—“The Theosophists.” A dangerous subject taking it all in all,… Read More »Mr. Moncure D. Conway’s “A Tour Round the World”
A Roman Catholic Saint at Goa
St. Francis Xavier was a Roman Catholic priest. His sacred corpse is lodged at Gôa, and exposed every third or fourth year to the public… Read More »A Roman Catholic Saint at Goa
Prince Bismarck’s Mysterious Visitor
La France in an article headed “Chronique Allemande” says about Prince Bismarck: “There is no doubt that he works hard, while undergoing treatment at Kissingen; but… Read More »Prince Bismarck’s Mysterious Visitor
Psychometry
From a private letter to our energetic friend, Mrs. Parker, from Professor J. R. Buchanan, we learn that that distinguished gentleman is engaged in preparing… Read More »Psychometry
A British Thinker on The Theosophist
One of the ablest philosophical students and writers of Great Britain writes in a private letter to a friend, who has kindly allowed us to… Read More »A British Thinker on The Theosophist
The High Water Mark of Modern Philosophy
In last month’s Nineteenth Century, the great English thinker and philosopher, Mr. Herbert Spencer, has contributed a remarkable article, “Religion: a Retrospect and Prospect.” This contribution, which… Read More »The High Water Mark of Modern Philosophy
Theosophy and Love: A Rejoinder
[Note: the current article is a continuation of a series between Damodar and the Epiphany, beginning with Damodar’s “Oxford Mission Shots at Occultism”. The Epiphany’s… Read More »Theosophy and Love: A Rejoinder
Victims of Words
The saying has become trite that we are oftener victims of words than of facts. The Theosophical Society has been credited with atheism and materialism,… Read More »Victims of Words
What Scientific Russia Knows of Ceylon
At various times, already, we had an opportunity of learning from the reports of the Moscow “Society of the Lovers of Natural Sciences,” how careless… Read More »What Scientific Russia Knows of Ceylon
Introversion of Mental Vision
Some interesting experiments have recently been tried by Mr. F. W. H. Myers and his colleagues of the Psychic Research Society of London, which, if… Read More »Introversion of Mental Vision
The Oxonians and Theosophy Again
Barring an occasional drop of gall in the cup of Hippocrates, our esteemed antagonists of the Oxford Mission are very kind towards us. In fact,… Read More »The Oxonians and Theosophy Again
Divination by the Laurel Cubes
From a private letter, written by a perfectly reliable and very learned Theosophist in Europe, we copy the following, omitting however the names of the… Read More »Divination by the Laurel Cubes
Mr. Moncure Conway
Under this heading our old well-wisher, a pious Baptist editor in Ceylon, takes an opportunity of snapping at us. As usual, he goes out of… Read More »Mr. Moncure Conway