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
Translation
Translations
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
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)
Mandalabrahmana Upanishad
[Mandalabrāhmana-Upanishad]1 Brāhmana I Om. The great muni Yājñavalkya went to Adityaloka (the sun’s world) and saluting him (the Purusha of… Read More »Mandalabrahmana Upanishad
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 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
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 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
Dhammapada (Theosophy Co. Rendition)
“This is not a new translation. It is only a rendition. Over a score of translations have been consulted in… Read More »Dhammapada (Theosophy Co. Rendition)
Skanda Upanishad
[Skanda]1 Om. O Mahādeva (Lord of Devas), I am indestructible through a small portion of Thy grace. I am replete… Read More »Skanda Upanishad
The Soul and the Self
The oneness of the soul with the Self is already a fact, and not a thing that requires a further… Read More »The Soul and the Self
Tejobindu Upanishad
[Tejobindu]1 Chapter I Param-Dhyāna (the supreme meditation) should be upon tejo bindu, which is the Ātmā of the universe, which… Read More »Tejobindu Upanishad
The Golden Sentences of Democrates
1. If any one will give his mind to these sentences, he will obtain many things worthy of a man, and… Read More »The Golden Sentences of Democrates
Yogakundali Upanishad
[Yogakundalī Upanishad]1 Chapter I Chitta2 has two causes, vāsanās and (prāna) vāyu. If-one of them is controlled, then both are… Read More »Yogakundali Upanishad
Vajrasuchi Upanishad
[Vajrasūchi Upanishad]1 I now proceed to declare the vajrasūchi—the weapon that is the destroyer of ignorance—which condemns the ignorant and… Read More »Vajrasuchi Upanishad
Isha Upanishad (By The Master)
[Translation] By the Master is to be covered all, whatever moving thing there is in the world. By this renouncing… Read More »Isha Upanishad (By The Master)
Nadabindu Upanishad
[Nādabindu]1 The syllable A is considered to be its (the bird Om’s) right wing, U, its left: M,2 its tail;… Read More »Nadabindu Upanishad
Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
[I.][Translation] These men, Sukesha Bharadvaja, Shaivya Satyakama, Sauryayani Gargya, Kaushalya Ashvalayana, Bhargava Vaidharbhi, and Kabandhi Katyayana, bent on the Eternal,… Read More »Prashna Upanishad (A Vedic Master)
Amritanada Upanishad
[Amṛtanāda-Upanishad]1 The wise, having studied the Śāstras and reflected on them again and again and having come to know Brahman,… Read More »Amritanada Upanishad
Idra Rabba Kadisha: The Greater Holy Assembly
Chapter I.The Ingress and the Preface. 1. Tradition.—Rabbi Schimeon spake unto his companions, and said: “How long shall we abide… Read More »Idra Rabba Kadisha: The Greater Holy Assembly
Maitreya Upanishad
Adhyāya I A King named Bṛhadratha, thinking this body to be impermanent and having acquired indifference (to objects), retired to… Read More »Maitreya Upanishad
Plotinus, The Enneads [3:1-9]
Ennead 3.1. Concerning Fate. POSSIBLE THEORIES ABOUT FATE. 1. The first possibility is that there is a cause both for… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [3:1-9]
Subala Upanishad
Khanda I Then he (Raikva1) asked: “What was at first?” To which (He the Lord) replied: “There was neither Sat2… Read More »Subala Upanishad
Tarasara Upanishad
[Tārasāra-Upanishad]1 Om. Bṛhaspati asked Yājñavalkya: “That which is called Kurukshetra is the place of the sacrifice of the Devas and… Read More »Tarasara Upanishad
Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad
Upadeśa I Om. Once upon a time, Nārada, the ornament of Parivrājakas (roaming ascetics), after roaming over all worlds and… Read More »Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad
Niralamba Upanishad
[Nirālamba]1 Harih-Om. I shall relate in the form of a catechism whatever should be known for the removal of all… Read More »Niralamba Upanishad
Adhyatma Upanishad
[Adhyātma-Upanishad]1 The One Aja (unborn) is ever located in the cave (of the heart) within the body. (Pṛthivī) the earth… Read More »Adhyatma Upanishad
Siphra Ditzniuta: The Book of Concealed Mystery
Chapter I 1. Tradition.—“The Book of Concealed Mystery” is the book of the equilibrium of balance. [The word “Dtzenioutha” is… Read More »Siphra Ditzniuta: The Book of Concealed Mystery
Sarvasara Upanishad
[Sarvasāra]1 [In the text, all the questions are given first and then the answers follow. But the following arrangement is… Read More »Sarvasara Upanishad
Kalisantarana Upanishad
[Kalisantārana Upanishad]1 At the end of Dvāpara yuga, Nārada2 went to Brahma and addressed him thus: “O Lord, how shall… Read More »Kalisantarana Upanishad
Brahma Upanishad
[Brahmopanishad]1 [This Upanishad is intended to give a complete and clear idea of the nature of Ātmā, that has four… Read More »Brahma Upanishad
The Similitudes of Demophilus
1. Flattery is like painted armour, because it affords delight, but is of no use. 2. Learning is similar to a golden… Read More »The Similitudes of Demophilus
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
Varaha Upanishad
[Varāha]1 Chapter I The great sage Ṛbhu performed penance for twelve deva (divine) years. At the end of the time,… Read More »Varaha Upanishad
Plotinus, The Enneads [4:1-9]
Ennead 4.1. Of the Being of the Soul. It is in the intelligible world that dwells veritable being. Intelligence is… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [4:1-9]
Selections from the Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki
Utpatti-Khanda: Evolution of the World Chapter III: Causes of Bondage in the Body Rāma said:—It is even so as you… Read More »Selections from the Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki
Idra Zuta Kadisha: The Lesser Holy Assembly
Chapter I.Which Containeth the Introduction. 1. Tradition.—On that day on which the Companions were assembled together in the house of… Read More »Idra Zuta Kadisha: The Lesser Holy Assembly
Sandilya Upanishad
Chapter I Om. Śāndilya questioned Atharvan thus: “Please tell me about the eight aṅgas (parts) of Yoga which is the… Read More »Sandilya Upanishad
Bhikshuka Upanishad
[Bhikshuka]1 Among bhikshus (religious mendicants) who long for moksha (salvation), there are four2 kinds, viz., Kutīchaka, Bahūdaka, Hamsa, and Paramahamsa.… Read More »Bhikshuka Upanishad
Dhyanabindu Upanishad
[Dhyānabindu-Upanishad]1 Even if sin should accumulate to a mountain extending over many yojanas (distance), it is destroyed by dhyānayoga. At… Read More »Dhyanabindu Upanishad
Garbha Upanishad
[Garbha-Upanishad]1 Om. The body is composed of the five (elements); it exists in the five (objects of sense, etc.); it… Read More »Garbha Upanishad
Sepher Yetzirah
Preface to the Second Edition It has been at the earnest’ wish of many students, members of the Theosophical Society,… Read More »Sepher Yetzirah
Amritabindu Upanishad
[Amṛtabindu]1 Om. Manas (mind) is said to be of two kinds, the pure and the impure. That which is associated… Read More »Amritabindu Upanishad
Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras
Chapter I. Importance of the Subject Since wise people are in the habit of invoking the divinities at the beginning… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras
Diogenes Laërtius’s Life of Pythagoras
I. Early Life Since we have now gone through the Ionian philosophy, which was derived from Thales, and the lives… Read More »Diogenes Laërtius’s Life of Pythagoras
Confessio Fraternitatis
Whatsoever is published, and made known to everyone, concerning our Fraternity, by the foresaid Fama, let no man esteem lightly… Read More »Confessio Fraternitatis
Anonymous Biography of Pythagoras, preserved by Photius
1. Plato was the pupil of Archytas, and thus the ninth in succession from Pythagoras; the tenth was Aristotle. Those… Read More »Anonymous Biography of Pythagoras, preserved by Photius
Sariraka Upanishad
[Śārīraka-Upanishad]1 Om. The body is a compound of pṛthivī (earth) and other mahābhūtas (primordial elements, as pas or water, agni… Read More »Sariraka Upanishad