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
“The Second Wave”
Have you ever stood on the shore, and watched the incoming tide? First a tiny ripple advances a few inches… Read More »“The Second Wave”
“Blavatskianism” In and Out of Season
THEOSOPHISTS! let us consult together. Let us survey the army, the field of battle, and the fighters. Let us examine… Read More »“Blavatskianism” In and Out of Season
The Opening Eyelids of the Morn
“There is a small white lotus bud in this house of the Soul; in it there is a firmament, and… Read More »The Opening Eyelids of the Morn
The Religion of Chaldea
The land long known as Chaldea, wherein many nations successively grew and ruled, bears striking resemblances to the land of… Read More »The Religion of Chaldea
[Review: The Latest Romance of Science]
“The Latest Romance of Science,” summarized by a Frenchman. If the Atomo-mechanical Theory of the Universe has caused considerable embarrassment… Read More »[Review: The Latest Romance of Science]
[On Sir Richard Temple’s Lecture]
Sir Richard has done our Society the great honour of misrepresenting its character and objects to an English audience. A… Read More »[On Sir Richard Temple’s Lecture]
A Final Answer
It is impossible for an Editor to please everybody, and whoever has tried it has been set down as a… Read More »A Final Answer
Mars and Mercury
In the June Path there was printed a review of a pamphlet issued by the London Lodge T. S., and… Read More »Mars and Mercury
Buddha and Ambapali
In the story of the Buddha’s final journey and Paranirvana, recorded beautifully in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta,1 we are confronted with… Read More »Buddha and Ambapali
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)
The Vedanta in Daily Life
Every land has something to contribute to our life. In many cases we may recognize our indebtedness. Thus from Rome… Read More »The Vedanta in Daily Life
Papyrus
The Tale-teller, shading his gentle eyes from the evening sun, paused a moment while he listened to the soft strains… Read More »Papyrus
[Review:] The Arya
The Arya, “a Monthly Journal devoted to Aryan Philosophy, Art, Literature, Science, and Religion, as well as to Western Modern… Read More »[Review:] The Arya
[Notes on God, Spirit and Matter]
Article Selections by Pestanji Dorabji Khandalawala | Notes by H.P.B. . . . Man is a miniature universe, a child… Read More »[Notes on God, Spirit and Matter]
[Notes on the Czar and the “Nihilist-Socialists”]
A strange phenomenon happened, write the Russian papers. “There was a sign in heaven on the day of the regicide.… Read More »[Notes on the Czar and the “Nihilist-Socialists”]
Cup-Mark Inscriptions
H. Rivett-Carnac, Esquire, of the Bengal Civil Service, C.I.E., F.S.A., M.R.A.S., F.G.S., etc., has placed us under obligations by sending… Read More »Cup-Mark Inscriptions
The Decadence of Protestant Christianity
Doubts have been expressed by Asiatic friends as to the truth of our assertion that Protestantism was fast approaching the… Read More »The Decadence of Protestant Christianity
Zoroaster and His Religion
Article selections by Pestonji Dorabji Khandalavala | Notes by H.P.B. All authors of antiquity agree in giving a place to… Read More »Zoroaster and His Religion
Why Races Die Out
In our own times we have instances of the disappearance of races, and very often it is attributed to the… Read More »Why Races Die Out
[On the Coulomb Forged Letters]
Pamphlet Selections incl. Comments by H.P.B. [Note: for bakckground, see “The Theosophical Society in India,” and the history of the… Read More »[On the Coulomb Forged Letters]
The History of a “Book”
As the indications in the press all point towards a Russian reign of terror, either before or at the death… Read More »The History of a “Book”
Wrong Popular Notions
“What are your proofs?” is often asked of the Theosophical student who believes in reincarnation and Karma, who holds to… Read More »Wrong Popular Notions
The Kali Yuga
A correspondent is confused on this subject from the statement in What is Theosophy by Mr. Old, that we are… Read More »The Kali Yuga
Theosophy (Lecture)
The subject of this lecture is Theosophy. One sometimes fancies that members of the audience who have come to these… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)
Mr. A. Lillie’s Delusions
To the Editor of Light. Sir,— I write to rectify the many mistakes—if they are, indeed, only “mistakes”—in Mr. Lillie’s last letter… Read More »Mr. A. Lillie’s Delusions
Superstition
Owing to the fanciful reports of superficial and prejudiced travellers, to their entire ignorance of Asiatic religions and—very often, their… Read More »Superstition
[Explanation of the Appearance of Ghosts]
Letter selections from Henry G. Atkinson | Notes by H.P.B. There is a long article on Ghosts, and the author… Read More »[Explanation of the Appearance of Ghosts]
Radiant Heat, Musical Vapours, and Fairy Bells
Article Selections | Opening and Closing Notes by H.P.B. An intelligent and ingenious friend in Europe has sent to Col.… Read More »Radiant Heat, Musical Vapours, and Fairy Bells
[Difference between “Spiritualists” and “Spiritists”]
Article selection by M. Camille Flammarion | Note by H.P.B. “Spiritism feels too grateful to the great scientist William Crookes… Read More »[Difference between “Spiritualists” and “Spiritists”]
The Great War and the Great Initiation
Readers of the THEOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY who are acquainted with the Bhagavad Gita have been struck, again and again, with the… Read More »The Great War and the Great Initiation
Projection of the Double
In one of the daily issues of the N. Y. World—an influential journal of the great American metropolis—for the year 1878,… Read More »Projection of the Double
Gambetta’s Eye and Brain
Science in the face of her Parisian representatives was very much exercised, if not offended, lately, by what is viewed… Read More »Gambetta’s Eye and Brain
[Genuine, Orthodox and Heteredox Brahmanism]
Selections from “Esoteric Spiritualism the Law of ‘Influx’ and ‘eflux’” by William Yeats | Introductory Note & Footnotes by H.P.B.… Read More »[Genuine, Orthodox and Heteredox Brahmanism]
Reincarnations in Tibet
So little is known by Europeans of what is going on in Tibet, and even in the more accessible Bhootan,… Read More »Reincarnations in Tibet
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
Madame Blavatsky on “The Himalayan Brothers”
Sir— “On the authority of an adept” (?) “they” (the Theosophists and Madame Blavatsky) “are all mediums under the influence… Read More »Madame Blavatsky on “The Himalayan Brothers”
Esoteric Axioms and Spiritual Speculations
In a lengthy review of A. Lillie’s book, Buddha and Early Buddhism, by M. A. (Oxon), our esteemed friend, the… Read More »Esoteric Axioms and Spiritual Speculations
The Magic Screen of Time
An old Hindu saying thus runs: “He who knows that into which Time is resolved, knows all.” Time, in the… Read More »The Magic Screen of Time
Occult and Spiritual Phenomena in the Light of Modern Science
I have just received Light—the ablest of the Spiritual periodicals of England—of September 23, and read its “NOTES BY THE… Read More »Occult and Spiritual Phenomena in the Light of Modern Science
Rounds and Races
A fundamental axiom in Theosophy is that no one should accept as unquestionably true any statement of fact, principle, or… Read More »Rounds and Races
Parabrahm, Defined by Vedantins
Letter by Ramji Mall Pandit | Reply by H.P.B. I beg to call the attention of those who are interested… Read More »Parabrahm, Defined by Vedantins
Friends or Enemies in the Future
The fundamental doctrines of Theosophy are of no value unless they are applied to daily life. To the extent to… Read More »Friends or Enemies in the Future
The Denials and the Mistakes of the Nineteenth Century
At or near the beginning of the present century all the books called Hermetic were loudly proclaimed and set down… Read More »The Denials and the Mistakes of the Nineteenth Century
The Truth about East and West
Mrs. Besant and others have joined together to try and show that I am attempting to create discord in the… Read More »The Truth about East and West
The Logos and Meditation
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say… Read More »The Logos and Meditation