Q & A

Questions and Answers

Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 1)

Book/Commentary/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, 1890

The following transactions are compiled from shorthand notes taken at the meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society,… Read More »Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 1)

Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 2)

Book/Commentary/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, 1891

81 PART II. STANZAS II TO IV 83 Meeting V. Meeting held at 17, Lansdowne Road, London, W., on February… Read More »Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Part 2)

The Secret Doctrine Dialogues

Book/Commentary/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, December, 2014 [Posthumously Published] [Transcribed from the original shorthand notes used to produce the Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge]

THE SECRET DOCTRINE DIALOGUES H. P. BLAVATSKY TALKS WITH STUDENTS [FROM REPORTS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE, JANUARY… Read More »The Secret Doctrine Dialogues

Answers to Questions on the Ocean of Theosophy

Book/Q & A/ by Robert Crosbie, December, 1933 [Posthumously Published]

INTRODUCTORY. Robert Crosbie, the Founder of The United Lodge of Theosophists and of the magazine Theosophy, was for many years… Read More »Answers to Questions on the Ocean of Theosophy

The Criterion of Theosophy

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), December, 1895

Question—The fundamental question, “What is the criterion of Theosophy?” calls for an answer. Has Theosophy the power of growth, progress… Read More »The Criterion of Theosophy

Sakya Muni’s Place in History

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, November, 1883

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 »Sakya Muni’s Place in History

Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, September, 1883

8. Sankaracharya’s date is variously given by Orientalists, but always after Christ. Barth, for instance, places him about 788 A.D.… Read More »Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine

Dialogue on the Mysteries of the After Life

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, January, 1889

M. Of course it is most difficult, and, as you say, puzzling to understand correctly and distinguish between the various aspects,… Read More »Dialogue on the Mysteries of the After Life

Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June-July, 1883 [Serialized]

The following letter having been sent to us from a Parsee gentleman, we publish the paragraphs containing his queries seriatim… Read More »Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy

What is the Udgitha?

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, May, 1886

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?

Theosophy and Spiritualism

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, August, 1882

A Calcutta correspondent asks: (a) Is Occultism a science akin to Spiritualism? (b) What are the principal points in which… Read More »Theosophy and Spiritualism

Answers To Questioners

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1887

The notice published last month, that questions might be asked, addressed to “Zadok,” has elicited several queries, from which we… Read More »Answers To Questioners

Transmigration of Souls

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1891

Is there any foundation for the doctrine of transmigration of souls which was once believed in and is now held… Read More »Transmigration of Souls

Explanation Wanted

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June, 1883 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

Question by “A Junior Student” | Reply by H.P.B. I shall feel highly obliged if you will kindly insert in… Read More »Explanation Wanted

The Stream of Thought and Queries

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, August-September, 1889 [Serialized]

I. I have watched the stream of thought, the battalions of questions pouring along the channels that reach out from… Read More »The Stream of Thought and Queries

Kali Yuga and the Coming Race

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, January, 1895

(1) How many years are there in Kali Yuga? (2) Will the sixth sub-race begin very soon, that is, will… Read More »Kali Yuga and the Coming Race

Devachan

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky with Franz Hartmann, , The Theosophist, May, 1883

Question by F. Hartmann | Reply by H.P.B. Will you kindly permit me a question? In Vol. IV, No. 2,… Read More »Devachan

Queries from Australia

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, December, 1883

Replies by H.P.B. to several Queries from C. Rohner Allow me to address you on a subject of vital importance… Read More »Queries from Australia

Stumbling Blocks in Words

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, August, 1890

A fellow student came to me the other day and asked, “What is the relation of ‘space’ to ‘sat’? Is… Read More »Stumbling Blocks in Words

Pertinent Questions

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June, 1883

Questions by H. N. Vakil | Reply by H.P.B. Will you or any of your readers enlighten me on the… Read More »Pertinent Questions

Answers to Queries

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, December, 1887 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

A Correspondent from New York writes: . . . The Editors of Lucifer would confer a great benefit on those who… Read More »Answers to Queries

Dialogues Between the Two Editors: On Astral Bodies, or Doppelgangers

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky with Mabel Collins, , Lucifer Magazine, December, 1888

M. C. Great confusion exists in the minds of people about the various kinds of apparitions, wraiths, ghosts or spirits. Ought we… Read More »Dialogues Between the Two Editors: On Astral Bodies, or Doppelgangers

Authority

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1887

We have received the following from California: In the July Path is an article entitled—”Shall We Know Our Friends in… Read More »Authority

Evolution

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1892

A correspondent of PATH says: I am unable to get a comprehensive view of evolution theosophically. Does a “round” mean… Read More »Evolution

Questions and Answers

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1895

[Note: these were serialized from Nov., 1895 to Mar., 1896] M.—I read in the New York Sun in October an… Read More »Questions and Answers

Psychometry and Archæology

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June, 1883

Question by Poorna Chundra Mookherji | Note by H.P.B. . . . Now the great problem [facing the author as… Read More »Psychometry and Archæology

Philological and Archæological “Difficulties”

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, November, 1883

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 »Philological and Archæological “Difficulties”

Karma: An Appendix to “Fragments of Occult Truth”

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July, 1883

[Note: see “Fragments of Occult Truth,” No’s 1-3 and 4-8 by A.O. Hume and A.P. Sinnet respectively.] With reference to… Read More »Karma: An Appendix to “Fragments of Occult Truth”

About the Mineral Monad

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

5. Is the expression “a mineral monad” authorized by the Adepts? If so, what relation does the monad bear to… Read More »About the Mineral Monad

Can Females Become Adepts?

Note(s)/Q & A/ by Damodar K. Mavalankar, The Theosophist, October, 1883

Will you kindly let me know whether females can attain to adeptship, and whether female adepts exist at all?—“An Inquirer.”… Read More »Can Females Become Adepts?

Inscriptions Discovered by General A. Cunningham

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, November, 1883

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 Enquirer

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Vahan, June & August, 1891; January, May-June & August, 1892 [Serialized]

[Jun 15, 1891] Query—Is it well to talk about Occultism to the ordinary enquirer into Theosophy? W.Q.J.—It is better not… Read More »The Enquirer

Pronunciation of Sanskrit & The Sanskrit Language

Editorial/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, June, 1886 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

[Note: the following are two parts published in June and July, 1886] [June, 1886] Dear Brother: Is there any dictionary… Read More »Pronunciation of Sanskrit & The Sanskrit Language

Historical Difficulty—Why?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, October, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

6. Is there not some confusion in the letter quoted on p. 62 of Esoteric Buddhism, where “the old Greeks… Read More »Historical Difficulty—Why?

Do the Adepts Deny the Nebular Theory?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

1. Is the Nebular Theory, as generally held, denied by the Adepts? It seems hard to conceive of the alternate… Read More »Do the Adepts Deny the Nebular Theory?

Reply to An English F.T.S.

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

[Note: the following represents the opening Reply to “Some Inquiries Suggested by Mr. Sinnett’s ‘Esoteric Buddhism’”] It was not in… Read More »Reply to An English F.T.S.

Is the Sun merely a Cooling Mass?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

2. And, further, the time necessary for the manvantara even of one planetary chain, much more of all seven,—seems largely… Read More »Is the Sun merely a Cooling Mass?

Are the Great Nations to be Swept Away in an Hour?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

3. The different races which succeed each other on the earth are said to be separated by catastrophes, among which… Read More »Are the Great Nations to be Swept Away in an Hour?

Is the Moon Immersed in Matter?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

4. The moon is said to be the scene of a life even more immersed in matter than the life… Read More »Is the Moon Immersed in Matter?

[On Living the Life]

Editorial/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

To the Editors of Lucifer. Several questions have of late occurred to me at the entry of the subject of… Read More »[On Living the Life]

Why Do Animals Suffer?

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

Q. Is it possible for me who love the animals to learn how to get more power than I… Read More »Why Do Animals Suffer?

[On Kama-Loka]

Editorial/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

To the Editors of Lucifer. As you invite questions, I take the liberty of submitting one to your consideration. Is… Read More »[On Kama-Loka]

[On the Absolute and God]

Editorial/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

To the Editors of Lucifer. In the last issue of Lucifer is a paper “Self-Evident Truths and Logical Deductions.” The… Read More »[On the Absolute and God]

[On Sources for Initial Study of Theosophy]

Editorial/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

To the Editors of Lucifer. As a very new member of the Theosophical Society I have jotted down a few… Read More »[On Sources for Initial Study of Theosophy]

[On Knowledge of Post-Mortem States]

Editorial/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, April, 1888

A lady writes from America: In the fourth number of Lucifer on page 328 are the words: “Enough has been… Read More »[On Knowledge of Post-Mortem States]

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?

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