Taittiriya Upanishad (Instructions for Disciples)
The Taittiriya Upanishad is made up, for the most part, of Instructions for younger disciples, who are learning the first… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad (Instructions for Disciples)
Translation
Translations
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
Proclus, The Elements of Theology
Foreword This admirable work contains two hundred and eleven propositions, disposed in a scientific order, and supported by the firmest… Read More »Proclus, The Elements of Theology
The Fruits of Discipleship
The questions of King Ajatashatru, with the Buddha’s answers, make up the Sutta called The Fruits of Discipleship. There is… Read More »The Fruits of Discipleship
Ibn ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam (Pearls of Wisdom)
Shaykh al-ʾAkbar Muḥyiddin ibn al-ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam, Chapters 1-5, with selections from Qayṣarī’s Commentary (Shaykh Sīdī Dawūd al-Qayṣarī, Maṭla’ Khuṣūṣ… Read More »Ibn ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam (Pearls of Wisdom)
Chandogya Upanishad 4:1-2 (An Old Legend)
[Translation] Janashruti, the grandson of Janashruta, was full of faith, a giver of many gifts, bestowing much cooked food. He… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 4:1-2 (An Old Legend)
Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius of Tyana
Introduction The Life of Apollonius of Tyana has only been once translated in its entirety into English, as long ago… Read More »Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius of Tyana
Kshatriya and Brahman
In the Pali Suttas the teachings of the Buddha are conveyed, not in philosophical abstractions, but in lively narratives with… Read More »Kshatriya and Brahman
Vestures of Consciousness
It will be remembered [see “States of Consciousness”] that the crowd of pilgrims who, with Pilgrim Potthapada, were in residence… Read More »Vestures of Consciousness
Taittiriya Upanishad 2 (The Lotus of the Bliss of the Eternal)
II.[Translation] The knower of the Eternal obtains the supreme; therefore this is declared: Real, wisdom, endless is the Eternal; he… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 2 (The Lotus of the Bliss of the Eternal)
“For I Desired Mercy, and Not Sacrifice”
Toward the close of the nineteenth century, it was the custom among Occidental students of Buddhism to maintain that the… Read More »“For I Desired Mercy, and Not Sacrifice”
Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals
“The little work called Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals, compiled by Mr. Dhunjibhoy Jamsetjee Medhora, a Parsi Theosophist of Bombay,… Read More »Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals
Among the Celestials
We have been told that Prince Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, born in the ancient city of… Read More »Among the Celestials
The Races of Ancient India
Of the Brahmans, white is the color; of the Kshattriyas, red; of the Vaishyas, yellow is the color; of the… Read More »The Races of Ancient India
Discipline for Disciples
The rules of conduct which the Buddha enjoined on the members of his Order are embodied, as almost always, in… Read More »Discipline for Disciples
The Warrior
Seership is of the Self; actor-ship, of the powers. For, as the great King, even without being engaged himself, becomes… Read More »The Warrior
The Kalevala
[Reviews: “The National Epic of Finland,” by H. P. Blavatsky & “The Kalevala,” by Anon.] [Dedication] To Dr. J. D.… Read More »The Kalevala
Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
[Translation] By whom commanded does the mind go forth? By whom compelled does the first life go forth? By whom… Read More »Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
[Translation] Seer and Seen The form is seen, the eye is seer; the mind is both seen and seer. The… Read More »Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
Some Parables of the Buddha
It has been well said that when a great Master incarnates, his whole life is a parable. Not only does… Read More »Some Parables of the Buddha
The Earliest Races
[I.] At the beginning of the formative period, in the first of the four ages, the Evolver put forth beings.… Read More »The Earliest Races
Buddha’s Renunciation
[Introduction] It is not quite certain when the poem, from which is taken this story of The Great Renunciation, was… Read More »Buddha’s Renunciation
Fragments of the Ethical Writings of Certain Pythagoreans
FROM HIPPODAMUS, THE THURIAN, IN HIS TREATISE ON FELICITY. ———— Of animals, some are the recipients of felicity, but others… Read More »Fragments of the Ethical Writings of Certain Pythagoreans
Modernized Upanishad
Chapter First 1 The Master was asked by the pupil to tell at whose wish the mind of man, when… Read More »Modernized Upanishad
The Hymn of the Spirit
Thousand-headed is Spirit, thousand-eyed, thousand-footed; he wrapping the world altogether, overpassed it by a space of ten fingers. Spirit verily… Read More »The Hymn of the Spirit
A Visit to the Buddha
Something has been said of the relation of Siddhartha the Compassionate to the Masters, according to the Suttas and more… Read More »A Visit to the Buddha
Chandogya Upanishad 6:1-7 (First Principles 1)
[Translation] There lived once Shvetaketu, Aruni’s grandson; his father addressed him, saying: —Shvetaketu, go, learn the service of the Eternal;… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 6:1-7 (First Principles 1)
Taittiriya Upanishad 1 (The Lotus of the Teaching)
I. [Translation] Om Bless us Mitra; bless us Varuna; bless us Aryaman; bless us Indra, Vrhaspati; bless us wide-stepping Vishnu.… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 1 (The Lotus of the Teaching)
Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
By whom impelled flies the forward-impelled Mind? By whom compelled does the First Life go forth? By whom impelled is… Read More »Kena Upanishad (By Whom?)
Self-Glorification or Self-Conquest
I. In the first two Gospels, there is a story of gentle irony at the expense of the non-discerning disciples.… Read More »Self-Glorification or Self-Conquest
Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato
Introduction Of that golden chain of philosophers, who, having themselves happily penetrated, luminously unfolded to others the profundities of the… Read More »Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato
Anugita
Mahabharata, Book 14: Aswamedha Parva Section XVI Janamejaya said, “When the high-souled Kesava and Arjuna after slaying their enemies repaired… Read More »Anugita
Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
I. [Translation] The Evolver first of the bright ones came into being, the maker of the whole, the guardian of… Read More »Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)
States of Consciousness
One of the Buddhist Suttas is known as the Potthapada Sutta, so called in honour of the Brahman to whom… Read More »States of Consciousness
Chandogya Upanishad 1:8-2:21 (The Mysteries of Sound 2)
[Translation] Three, verily, were skilled in the up-singing Shilaka Shalavatya, Chaikitayana Dalbhya, Pravahana Jaivala. They said: In the up-singing, indeed,… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 1:8-2:21 (The Mysteries of Sound 2)
The Dream of Life
Dream, wherein the Self is mirrored, has two, powers,—to extend and to envelope; enveloping the habitual self and its world,… Read More »The Dream of Life
Manava-Dharma-Sastra (Manu-Smriti) [Selections]
Preface The following is a compilation of references to and quotations from the Manava Dharma Shastra (“Laws of Manu”) by… Read More »Manava-Dharma-Sastra (Manu-Smriti) [Selections]
The First Alcibiades
With Taylor’s “Additional Notes,” drawn from the MS Commentary of Proclus. Stephanus numbers included. Contents Introduction Translation Additional Notes Introduction1… Read More »The First Alcibiades
The Buddha’s Former Births
[Introduction] Among the great religions of the world, none has been so greatly misunderstood in our day as the teaching… Read More »The Buddha’s Former Births
The Buddha’s Teaching of the Logos
For millenniums the Brahman community has dominated the religious and intellectual life of India. It may be added that, today,… Read More »The Buddha’s Teaching of the Logos
The Pythagoric Symbols, with the Explanations of Iamblichus
All these Symbols are exhortatory in common to the whole of virtue; but particularly each to some particular virtue. Different… Read More »The Pythagoric Symbols, with the Explanations of Iamblichus
Tattva Bodha (Shankaracharya’s Catechism)
Introduction This charming little treatise bears in Sanskrit the title Tattva Bodha, which means “The Awakening to Reality,” or, to… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankaracharya’s Catechism)
Aitareya Upanishad (Macrocosm and Microcosm)
I. Atma, verily, Universal Self, alone was this in the beginning, nor was aught else with opening and closing eyes.… Read More »Aitareya Upanishad (Macrocosm and Microcosm)
The Meaning of OM
Mandukya Upanishad The unchanging Om is the All. Its expansion is, what has been, what is, what shall be. And… Read More »The Meaning of OM
The Ideal Brahman
It has been suggested that the principal purpose of the Buddha, in all that he did and taught, was the… Read More »The Ideal Brahman
“Vita Brevis”
Whither are gone the great lords of the earth, with their might of chariots and armies? The earth, that witnessed… Read More »“Vita Brevis”
The Sevenfold Counsels of Perfection
The manner in which the Buddhist scriptures came into being has set its mark on them in two ways. First,… Read More »The Sevenfold Counsels of Perfection
The Foundations of Christian Mysticism
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.… Read More »The Foundations of Christian Mysticism