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)
Translation
Translations
The Buddha’s Cosmology
The teaching of the Buddha, particularly where it is most profound and spiritual, is for all practical purposes identical with… Read More »The Buddha’s Cosmology
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)
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 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 Doctrine of the Divine Man
Among the discourses of the Buddha there is one named the Lakkhana Suttanta. The first part of the Pali name… Read More »The Doctrine of the Divine Man
Hamsa Upanishad
[Hamsa]1 Gautama addressed Sanatkumāra thus: “O Lord, thou art the knower of all dharmas and art well versed in all… Read More »Hamsa Upanishad
From the Upanishads
Wilt thou not open thy heart to know What rainbows teach, and sunsets show? Verdict which accumulates From lengthening scroll… Read More »From the Upanishads
The Early Races in the Popol Vuh
[I.] We have heard much of the Sacred Books of the East. It is time to say something of the… Read More »The Early Races in the Popol Vuh
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
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 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
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)
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 Four Duties of a Dervish
The faith of Islam, the latest of the world-wide religions, is also, in many things, the most materialistic and dogmatic.… Read More »The Four Duties of a Dervish
Nala and the Gods (Mahabharata)
And when the king of the Nishadhas had been chosen by the daughter of Bhima, the lords of the worlds… Read More »Nala and the Gods (Mahabharata)
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)
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
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)
Pythagoric Sentences, from the Protreptics of Iamblichus
[Note:] Several of these sentences as published by Arcerius, are in a very defective state; but which, as the learned… Read More »Pythagoric Sentences, from the Protreptics of Iamblichus
The Golden Verses of Pythagoras
1. First worship the immortal gods as the Law ordains. 2. Reverence thy oath, and next, the illustrious heroes. 3.… Read More »The Golden Verses of Pythagoras
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
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)
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)
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
“On the Virtues,” by Theages, Metapus & Clinias
From Theages, in his Treatise “On the Virtues”: The order of the soul subsists in such a way, that one… Read More »“On the Virtues,” by Theages, Metapus & Clinias
“On Tranquility,” by Hipparchus
Since men live but for a very short period, if their life is compared with the whole of time, they… Read More »“On Tranquility,” by Hipparchus
The Dramatic Element in the Upanishads
A good many readers make the acquaintance of the Upanishads in the two volumes which Prof. Max Müller contributed to… Read More »The Dramatic Element in the Upanishads
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
“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”
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)
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
Paingala Upanishad
[Paiṅgala Upanishad]1 Adhyāya I Om. Paiṅgala, having served under Yājñavalkya for twelve years, asked him to initiate him into the… Read More »Paingala Upanishad
Tattva Bodha (Shankara’s Catechism)
Introductory In the “Awakening to the Self” [Atma Bodha], and, still more, in the “Crest-Jewel of Wisdom”, Shankara the Teacher… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankara’s Catechism)
“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
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
Rajput and Brahman
Aruna’s grandson Shvetaketu came to the gathering of the Panchâlas. He came to Pravâhana the son of Jibala, in the… Read More »Rajput and Brahman
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)
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
Yogatattva Upanishad
I shall now describe yoga-tattva (yoga-truth) for the benefit of yogins who are freed from all sins through the hearing… Read More »Yogatattva Upanishad
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)
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
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
Plotinus, The Enneads [1:1-9]
Ennead 1.1. The Organism and the Self. PSYCHOLOGIC DISTINCTIONS IN SOUL. 1. To what part of our nature do pleasure… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [1:1-9]
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
“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
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]