The Theosophical Library

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The Impudence of Modern Philosophers

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, December, 1891

In Herbert Spencer’s new book Justice, he defines that principle thus: “Every man is free to do that which he… Read More »The Impudence of Modern Philosophers

Have we to Lower the Flag of Truce?

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, December, 1883

The spiritualistic journals, with the honourable and solitary exception of the Banner of Light, lose no opportunity for effecting Quixotic thrusts… Read More »Have we to Lower the Flag of Truce?

Is Karma Only Punishment?

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, February, 1890

The following query has been received from H.M.H.: “In August PATH Hadji Erinn, in reply to the above question, stated… Read More »Is Karma Only Punishment?

Hindu Theosophy and Professor Buchanan

LTTE/ by W. Q. Judge, Religio-Philosophical Journal, April, 1889

To the Editor of the Religio-Philosophical Journal: Will you permit me to say a few words about Prof. J. Rodes… Read More »Hindu Theosophy and Professor Buchanan

The Babel of Modern Thought

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, January-February, 1891 [Serialized]

“O ye Lords of Truth who are cycling in eternity . . . save me from the annihilation in this Region of… Read More »The Babel of Modern Thought

New Year’s Resolutions

Article/Lecture/ by Robert Crosbie, Theosophy Magazine, January, 1922 [Posthumously Published]

All have doubtless made New Year”s resolutions, and all, no doubt, have failed to keep them. There must be a… Read More »New Year’s Resolutions

Fragments of the Ethical Writings of Certain Pythagoreans

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, Life of Pythagoras, 1818

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

The Path of Action

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1887

The Mohammedan teacher directs his disciples to tread carefully the razor’s edge between the good and the bad; only a… Read More »The Path of Action

Transmigration of Souls

Article/Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1891

Is there any foundation for the doctrine of transmigration of souls which was once believed in and is now held… Read More »Transmigration of Souls

[Review: The Book of Life]

Review/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, September, 1887

The Book of Life, by Siddhartha (also) Vonisa; his discoveries from “6215 to 6240, Anno Mundi.” A cross between an… Read More »[Review: The Book of Life]

The Power to Heal

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, April, 1883

It is a striking commentary upon the imperfection of our modern system of medicine that an almost unanimous scepticism prevails… Read More »The Power to Heal

Theosophy and Spiritism: Explanations Relative to the Controversy on Occultism

Article/LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Scientifique d'Études Psychologiques, May, 1883 [Incl. Follow-up(s)] [Translated from the original French]

To Mr. Fauvety, President of the Scientific Society for Psychological Studies. Mr. President, The monthly Bulletin of the Society of which you are the… Read More »Theosophy and Spiritism: Explanations Relative to the Controversy on Occultism

Bright Spot of Light

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1881

MADAME,—In the last issue of your valuable journal, a member of the New York Theosophical Society seeks to be enlightened… Read More »Bright Spot of Light

Nigamagama Dharma Sabha

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1894

This is the name of a society in India which has also members in the ranks of the Theosophical Society… Read More »Nigamagama Dharma Sabha

The States of Consciousness

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Lucifer Magazine, October, 1890

“When the eyes that are beneath are closed, Then the eyes that are above are opened.” Orphic Mysteries. About two… Read More »The States of Consciousness

Patanjali

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, March, 2013

“About Patanjali’s life very little, if anything, can be said.” 1 A biography of Patanjali could almost begin and end… Read More »Patanjali

States of Consciousness

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1925

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

“Nature-Spirits and Elementals”

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, February, 1882

A correspondent of Light having asked Mrs. Emma Hardinge Britten, the famous Spiritualist speaker and author, to state her beliefs… Read More »“Nature-Spirits and Elementals”

The Priestess of Isis and her Accusers

LTTE/ by Charles Johnston with Vera Johnston, , The Irish Theosophist, March, 1895

To the Editor of THE IRISH THEOSOPHIST. Dear Sir.,—Wide publicity having recently been given to attacks on the late Mme.… Read More »The Priestess of Isis and her Accusers

A Page of the Apocalypse

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1907; January, 1908 [Serialized]

I. One of the purposes of the Theosophical Society is to pursue the comparative study of religions, with a view… Read More »A Page of the Apocalypse

[Reply to:] “Madame Blavatsky”

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Spiritualist (London), March, 1879

Sir,—If my memory has not altogether evaporated under the combined influences of this blazing Indian sun, and the frequent misconstructions… Read More »[Reply to:] “Madame Blavatsky”

The Theosophical Society in India

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, October, 1884

[Note: for background, see the history of the conspiracy of the Coulombs against H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society.]… Read More »The Theosophical Society in India

[Explanation of the Appearance of Ghosts]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, December, 1883

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]

Hierosophy and Theosophy

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, July, 1883

Article selections from “Hierosophy and Theosophy”, by William Oxley | Notes by H.P.B. In dealing with what appears to be the difference between… Read More »Hierosophy and Theosophy

Funeral Rites among Savage Races

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, August, 1883

Editor’s Note by H.P.B. on a letter responding to previous remarks. In your note to the letter on “The Efficacy… Read More »Funeral Rites among Savage Races

Why the Theosophical Society is Poor

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1889

A very great difference is to be observed between the condition of the treasury of our society, especially of the… Read More »Why the Theosophical Society is Poor

Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)

Translation/ by H. P. Blavatsky, 1877 [Originally published in Isis Unveiled 1:507.]

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)

The Signs of the Time

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, March, 1881

How rapidly the salutary leaven of Freethought is working its way into every class of society throughout Europe and America,… Read More »The Signs of the Time

A Poet Theosophist: Walt Whitman

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Theosophist, June, 1889

“I myself but write one or two indicative words for the future, I but advance a moment, only to wheel… Read More »A Poet Theosophist: Walt Whitman

Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, March & May, 1895 [Serialized]

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)

[Notes on the Theosophical Society, Christianity, Buddhism and Vedanta]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July, 1881

Article Selections from “The Work of the Theosophical Societies” | Notes by H.P.B. Extracts from the President’s Letters to the… Read More »[Notes on the Theosophical Society, Christianity, Buddhism and Vedanta]

Ghost Stories Galore

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, April, 1884

Article from 1877 by D.A.C. | Note by H.P.B. [Note: the notes to this article are all signed “Editor,” with… Read More »Ghost Stories Galore

Theosophical Objects

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Booklet, June, 1893

The Theosophical Society has been in existence since November, 1875, having been then founded in New York with the following… Read More »Theosophical Objects

[Re-Union of the Arya Samaj and the Theosophical Society?]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, May, 1883

Notice from the Indian Mirror | Note by H.P.B. Rai Bishen Lall, M.A., Pundit Gaindan Lall, B.A., and party deputed… Read More »[Re-Union of the Arya Samaj and the Theosophical Society?]

How She Must Laugh

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1892

Since the demise of H.P. Blavatsky’s body, a little over a year ago, mediums in various parts of the world… Read More »How She Must Laugh

A Society Without a Dogma

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Spiritualist (London), February, 1878

Times have greatly changed since the winter of 1875-6, when the establishment of the Theosophical Society caused the grand army… Read More »A Society Without a Dogma

Chandogya Upanishad 6:1-7 (First Principles 1)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, July, 1894

[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)

Miracles

Editorial/Review/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, September, 1881

That golden treasury of arcane knowledge—the Catholic Mirror—reports a “magnificent lecture” upon miracles by Archbishop Seguers. It is a “fascinating… Read More »Miracles

The Turn of the Wheel

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, October, 1890

[I.] He was the son of a small ruler in Rajpootana. His father, of the warrior caste, governed a district… Read More »The Turn of the Wheel

The Sheaths of the Soul

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Lucifer Magazine, June, 1892

In my last article, “Mesmerism,” I arrived at the point where we discover that the inner mortal man has several… Read More »The Sheaths of the Soul

The Rosicrucians

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, May, 1938

An old Persian proverb says, “The darker the sky, the brighter the stars will shine.” Perhaps the very darkness of… Read More »The Rosicrucians

The Signs of This Cycle

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, October, 1892

Men of all nations for many years in all parts of the world have been expecting something they know not… Read More »The Signs of This Cycle

Journalist vs. Missionary

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, May, 1880

Some weeks ago, the Times of India, in a moment of rancorous spite towards the Invalide Russe, which it had… Read More »Journalist vs. Missionary

Neptune and the Titius-Bode Law

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Theosophy Nexus, December, 2012

One of the primary empirical evidences, in my view, of the scientific accuracy of the theosophical teachings related by HPB… Read More »Neptune and the Titius-Bode Law

A Coming Buddhist Book

Interview/ with H. P. Blavatsky, New York World, January, 1877 [Reprinted in The Banner of Light, Feb 3, 1877]

[Note: H.P.B. protested to some follow-up articles in the day’s newspapers, which either twisted or misunderstood her meaning about gravitation… Read More »A Coming Buddhist Book

Various Slanders Refuted

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, New York Sun, New York World, May, 1877

[Note: the wording between the two printings of this letter to the editor(s) differed slightly, including the title. The exact… Read More »Various Slanders Refuted

Kabalistic Views on “Spirits” as Propagated by The Theosophical Society

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Religio-Philosophical Journal, January, 1878

Editor, Journal: Dear Sir:—I must beg you to again allow me a little space for the further elucidation of a very… Read More »Kabalistic Views on “Spirits” as Propagated by The Theosophical Society

Stone-Showers

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, August, 1882

[Note: for some background, see “[Note on “Stone-Throwing by ‘Spirits’”],” “[On “Stone-Showers”],” “More Anecdotes of Hassan Khan Djinni,” and “[More on… Read More »Stone-Showers

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