Bhagavad Gita (The Book of Devotion)
Antecedent Words The Bhagavad-Gita is an episode of the Mahabharata, which is said to have been written by Vyasa. Who this Vyasa is and… Read More »Bhagavad Gita (The Book of Devotion)
Translation
Translations
Yoga Sutras (Aphorisms) of Patanjali
Dedication THIS BOOK IS LAID UPON THE ALTAR OF MASTERS’ CAUSE, AND IS DEDICATED TO THEIR SERVANT H. P. BLAVATSKY.… Read More »Yoga Sutras (Aphorisms) of Patanjali
Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
Full title: IAMBLICHUS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EGYPTIANS, CHALDEANS, AND ASSYRIANS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, BY THOMAS TAYLOR ————… Read More »Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
The Life and the Doctrines of Paracelsus
Complete Title: THE LIFE AND THE DOCTRINES OF PHILIPPUS THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST OF HOHENHEIM KNOWN BY THE NAME OF PARACELSUS AND… Read More »The Life and the Doctrines of Paracelsus
The Republic
With an introduction, copious notes, and an Apology for the Fables of Homer by Proclus, introducing the 2nd and 3rd… Read More »The Republic
Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)
General Introduction The Bhagavad Gita is one of the noblest scriptures of India, one of the deepest scriptures of the… Read More »Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)
Collection of the Chaldean Oracles
Part I The following remains of Chaldean theology are not only venerable for their antiquity, but inestimably valuable for the… Read More »Collection of the Chaldean Oracles
The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus
Full Title: THE MYSTICAL HYMNS OF ORPHEUS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE INVOCATIONS WHICH WERE USED… Read More »The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus
Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life
Full title: IAMBLICHUS’ LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS OR PYTHAGORIC LIFE. ACCOMPANIED BY FRAGMENTS OF THE ETHICAL WRITINGS OF CERTAIN PYTHAGOREANS IN… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life
Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)
Om: this syllable, this imperishable, is the All. Its expansion is what has been, what is, what shall be. All,… Read More »Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)
Pistis Sophia
Contents Preface Introduction The First Book The Second Book A Third Book A Fourth Book A Fifth Book A Sixth… Read More »Pistis Sophia
Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato
[p. 1] Let us now speak of the race of the philosopher, not for the sake of relating many particulars… Read More »Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato
Tattvasamasa
Introduction: “On the Tattvasamāsa and its place in Sāṃkhya,” by Prof. Max Müller SANSKRIT TRANSLITERATION (IAST) TRANSLATION 1. aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ… Read More »Tattvasamasa
The Chain of Causation
It is the custom of Orientalists to speak of Buddhism as a religion, and a very beautiful and intuitional book… Read More »The Chain of Causation
The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
Here the Chaldean Oracles—compiled and translated by Thomas Taylor—have been arranged with the hope of demonstrating the essence of the… Read More »The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
Wise and Foolish Disciples
With the single exception, perhaps, of The Light of Asia, the popular narratives of the Buddha’s life surround the great… Read More »Wise and Foolish Disciples
Sāṃkhya Kārikā
Salutations to that Kapila who, feeling compassion on the world sinking in the ocean of ignorance, constructed a boat in… Read More »Sāṃkhya Kārikā
Katha Upanishad (In the House of Death)
Seeking for favour, verily, Vajashravasa made a sacrifice of all his possessions. He had a son, named Nachiketas. Him, being… Read More »Katha Upanishad (In the House of Death)
The Nativity of Buddha
I feel more convinced than ever that Ashva Ghosha’s Sanskrit Life of Buddha will be the Life of Buddha which… Read More »The Nativity of Buddha
Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
Introductory Note An apology is scarcely needed for undertaking a translation of Sankara Acharya’s celebrated Synopsis of Vedantism entitled “Atmanatma… Read More »Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
Chhandogya Upanishad
Part I, Sections 1-6 [Introduction] The Powers of the Logos The great Upanishads were compiled as Instructions for disciples preparing… Read More »Chhandogya Upanishad
Tao Te Ching: A New Translation (in progress)
Tao-teh-king (Chin.). Lit., “The Book of the Perfectibility of Nature” written by the great philosopher Lao-tze. It is a kind… Read More »Tao Te Ching: A New Translation (in progress)
The Works of Plato
Full Title: THE WORKS OF PLATO VIZ. HIS FIFTY-FIVE DIALOGUES, AND TWELVE EPISTLES TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK; NINE OF THE… Read More »The Works of Plato
Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)
[Translation] The divine Song, verily, is all their being, whatsoever there is; and the Word is the divine Song. The… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)
Chandogya Upanishad 3:1-11 (Honey for the Gods)
[Translation] That sun is honey for the bright powers; the heaven is the curved support of it; the mid-world is… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:1-11 (Honey for the Gods)
Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
[Translation] Invocation To Him I make obeisance, who is the end of all wisdom, the goal of all attainment, the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
First Steps on the Path Prologue (Verses 1–15) I bow before Govinda, the objectless object of final success in the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
Stray Thoughts on Death and Satan
TO THE EDITOR OF THE THEOSOPHIST Madam,—Since you have published a posthumous letter of my Master and beloved friend, the… Read More »Stray Thoughts on Death and Satan
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
[Note: The following is Johnston’s second, revised edition of the Yoga Sutras (1917), which is updated from the initial serialization… Read More »Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Gathas of Zarathustra
Ahunuvaiti Gatha Yasna 29 Unto Thee, O Lord, the Soul of Creation cried: “For whom didst Thou create me, and… Read More »Gathas of Zarathustra
Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
[Introduction] Marinus, the author of the ensuing life, was the disciple of Proclus, and his successor in the Athenian school.… Read More »Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
[Translation] Self was here verily in the beginning; nothing else opposing at all. He beheld, saying: Let me now put… Read More »Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
The Song of Life
The Gospels are the perfect flower of Palestine. The Upanishads are the chiefest treasure of most ancient India. The heart… Read More »The Song of Life
The Noble Eightfold Path
I. There are two extremes, Brothers, that he who has renounced should shun. On the one side, the constant following… Read More »The Noble Eightfold Path
Isha Upanishad (By the Master)
By the Master all this is to be clothed and pervaded, whatever moves in this moving world. These words, like… Read More »Isha Upanishad (By the Master)
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
The Ladder of Consciousness
Many Orientalists of a by-gone day, misled, perhaps, by learned but undiscerning Southern Buddhists, held that Nirvana, the consummation of… Read More »The Ladder of Consciousness
Building on Recollection
While the Suttas record instances in which the Buddha spoke eloquently to groups of villagers, to large numbers of men… Read More »Building on Recollection
The Uttarādhyayana Sūtra
Contents Introduction First Lecture: On Discipline Second Lecture: On Troubles Third Lecture: The Four Requisites Fourth Lecture: Impurity Fifth Lecture:… Read More »The Uttarādhyayana Sūtra
The Symbolism of the Upanishads
I. Students of the Oriental Theosophy, which finds its highest expression in the Ten Upanishads, are met at the outset… Read More »The Symbolism of the Upanishads
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
Part I, Sections 1-3 [Introduction] Building the Cosmos Like the Chhandogya Upanishad, the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad consists of a series… Read More »Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
Chandogya Upanishad 1:1-7 (The Mysteries of Sound 1)
Note: It will be advisable to study the Commentary that follows, before reading this translation. [Translation] OM: let a man… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 1:1-7 (The Mysteries of Sound 1)
Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
Brahmâ the Evolver, first of the Bright Powers came to birth, Maker of all, Preserver of the world. He declared… Read More »Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
The Grand Inquisitor
[Dedicated by the Translator to those sceptics who clamour so loudly, both in print and private letters—“Show us the wonder-working… Read More »The Grand Inquisitor
Pages from the Upanishads—Mandukya Upanishad
The Four Steps of the Self. The syllable OM is all; its expansion is what has been, what is, what… Read More »Pages from the Upanishads—Mandukya Upanishad