Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
The power of vision in the eye sees form; the mind sees the power of vision in the eye; spiritual… Read More »Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
Translation
Translations
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 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
“On Felicity,” by Hippodamus
Of animals, some are the recipients of felicity, but others are incapable of receiving it. And those animals, indeed, are… Read More »“On Felicity,” by Hippodamus
Plato’s Chariot Allegory, with the Commentary of Hermeas
[Introduction] The following is an exploration of the Platonic Charioteer Allegory, an allegory which appears not only in Greek philosophy, but… Read More »Plato’s Chariot Allegory, with the Commentary of Hermeas
Chandogya Upanishad 6:8-16 (First Principles 2)
[Translation] Aruna’s son Uddalaka addressed his son Shvetaketu, saying: —Learn from me, dear, the reality about sleep. When a man… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 6:8-16 (First Principles 2)
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
Plotinus, The Enneads [5:1-9]
Ennead 5.1. The Three Principal Hypostases, or Forms of Existence. AUDACITY THE CAUSE OF HUMAN APOSTASY FROM THE DIVINITY. 1.… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [5:1-9]
Chandogya Upanishad 2:22-24 (The Mysteries of Sound 3)
[Translation] I select and assign the different notes of the chant. The animal note is the up-singing of the Fire-lord.… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 2:22-24 (The Mysteries of Sound 3)
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
A High Disciple, a Prophecy, and a Miracle
The passages of the Buddhist Suttas here translated contain many things which illumine different sides of the Buddha’s character. There… Read More »A High Disciple, a Prophecy, and a Miracle
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 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
Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food
Book One 1. Hearing from some of our acquaintance, O Firmus,1 that you, having rejected a fleshless diet, have again… Read More »Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food
The Gospel of Thomas
These are the secret words Spoken by the Living Jesus, And recorded by Didymus Judas Thomas. 1. Jesus said: He… Read More »The Gospel of Thomas
The Mother of the Vedas (Gayatri)
The Gâyatri, the most sacred Indian verse, the Mother of the Vedas, is taken from the third of the ten… Read More »The Mother of the Vedas (Gayatri)
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)
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 Pythagoric Sentences of Demophilus
1. Request not of the divinity such things as when obtained you cannot preserve; for no gift of divinity can ever… Read More »The Pythagoric Sentences of Demophilus
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
Taittiriya Upanishad 3 (The Lotus of the Sage Bhrgu)
III. [Translation] Invocation Om. May That guard us two—teacher and pupil; may That save us two; may we two do… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 3 (The Lotus of the Sage Bhrgu)
“The Good and Happy Man,” by Archytas
In the first place, it is requisite to know this, that the good man is not immediately happy from necessity;… Read More »“The Good and Happy Man,” by Archytas
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)
Chandogya Upanishad 4:4-9 (Teachers Other Than Human)
[Translation] Satyakama the son of Jabala addressed his mother Jabala thus: I am going to dwell with a teacher, in… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 4:4-9 (Teachers Other Than Human)
Pythagoric Ethical Sentences from Stobæus
Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done. Choose rather to be strong in soul than… Read More »Pythagoric Ethical Sentences from Stobæus
Muktika Upanishad
Adhyāya I Addressing with devotion and obedience Śrī-Rāma—the Lord Hari, at the end of His Samādhi, who being Himself changeless… Read More »Muktika Upanishad
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
The Birth of the World-Egg
The universe was wrapped in darkness, unseen, unnamed, unthinkable, unknowable, in dreamless sleep. Then the Self-being, the unmanifested Master, manifested… Read More »The Birth of the World-Egg
The Great Deep
For the Waters were in the beginning, when fire had perished from the face of the world; and all things,… Read More »The Great Deep
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
Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Book I. Chapter I. O Pericles, to me the dearest of friends, I am of opinion that the whole philosophy… Read More »Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
Prashna Upanishad, “the Mystical Teaching of the Questions,” brief though it be, is a masterly summary of the Secret Wisdom.… Read More »Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
Indian Proverbs
[I.] On a lake reflecting myriads of stars a swan, by night seeking the young lotus buds, though wise, was… Read More »Indian Proverbs
True Friendship
He who transgresses and despises modesty, who says—I am a friend but undertakes nothing for his friend, know that he… Read More »True Friendship
The Sorrows of Damayanti
Thereon Damayanti, seeing King Nala, ruler of men, thus distraught, his thoughts wrapped up in the play, herself not distraught… Read More »The Sorrows of Damayanti
Visâkhâ: A Woman Disciple of the Buddha
Besides the supreme figure of the Buddha and the noble personalities of his leading disciples, a host of men and… Read More »Visâkhâ: A Woman Disciple of the Buddha
Buddha’s Method
“If a Bhikshu should desire, brethren, by the complete destruction of the three bonds to become purified, to be no… Read More »Buddha’s Method
Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Spirit)
For the sake of those whose darkness has been worn away by purifications, who have attained to peace, whose passions… Read More »Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Spirit)
Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)
Latin Text Verum sine mendacio, certum et verissimum: quod est inferius, est sicut id quod est superius, et quod est… Read More »Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)
Esoteric Teaching (Rig Veda, i. 164, 45)
The most ancient declaration of Esoteric Teaching in the Sacred Books of India is probably this verse from the earliest… Read More »Esoteric Teaching (Rig Veda, i. 164, 45)
The Prince and the Woodman
A certain prince, born under an evil star, was cast out from the city, and fed by a certain woodman.… Read More »The Prince and the Woodman
The Tale of a Tiger
Once on a time, as I passed through the Southern Forest, I beheld An old Tiger who had taken a… Read More »The Tale of a Tiger
The Song of the Self
Nor earth nor water, fire nor liquid air, Nor ether, nor the powers, nor these in one; Undifferentiated, in dreamless… Read More »The Song of the Self
“Concerning Human Life,” by Euryphamus
The perfect life of man falls short indeed of the life of God, because it is not self-perfect, but surpasses… Read More »“Concerning Human Life,” by Euryphamus
Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Self)
This awakening to the Self is recorded for those whose inner darkness has been worn away by strong effort, who… Read More »Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Self)
Concerning Three Brahmans
I. In the city of Devikota, there is a Brahman, Vedasharma by name. In the season of the equinox, he… Read More »Concerning Three Brahmans
Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)
Tradition declares that on the dead body of Hermes, at Hebron, was found by an Isarim, an initiate, the tablet… Read More »Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)