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Our Fourth Year

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

The end of the third year of publication has come (Volume III ends with the September number), and still the… Read More »Our Fourth Year

[On Spirit and Matter]

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

Selections from the Article “Karma” by A. Govinda Charlu | Reply by H.P.B. 1. We start with the supposition that… Read More »[On Spirit and Matter]

[On the Brahmo Samaj and Theosophical Society]

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

In the Sunday Mirror of February 20, we find a paragraph in which Sir Richard Temple’s opinion on the Brahmo Samaj is… Read More »[On the Brahmo Samaj and Theosophical Society]

Whence the Name “Lunatic”?

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

It is well known that the moon-beams have a very pernicious influence; and recently this question became the subject of… Read More »Whence the Name “Lunatic”?

Projection of the Double

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

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

A Card from the Countess Blavatsky

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The (NY) Sunday Mercury, January, 1875

Article Selections from the N.Y. Sunday Mercury | Reply by H.P.B. [Note: for a slightly re-worded and longer version of… Read More »A Card from the Countess Blavatsky

Vikramâditya’s “Jewel.”

Story/ by Charles Johnston, Lucifer Magazine, March, 1891

Dramatis personae. 1. Ghost of Kâlidâsa (the Court-poet of King Vikramâditya). 2. Professor M.M. (Orientalist). 3. Smith (a plebeian). ———… Read More »Vikramâditya’s “Jewel.”

A Trap for a Friend

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Irish Theosophist, December, 1895

Not exactly a trap, though even if a very valuable truth has allowed itself to be caught therein. It happened… Read More »A Trap for a Friend

Suggestions to Branches

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

Founding of Branches This paper is to give newly-formed Branches some idea of the methods which experience has shown to… Read More »Suggestions to Branches

About “The Secret Doctrine”

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Reminiscences of H.P.B., November, 1893

I have been asked to write anything known to me personally about the writing of The Secret Doctrine by H.P.B. As… Read More »About “The Secret Doctrine”

Two Lost Keys

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

It has never been admitted by orientalists that there existed a key to the Bhagavad-Gita, other than a knowledge of… Read More »Two Lost Keys

Stray Memoranda

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

“Why not,” I said to a Master’s messenger, “give to all these gaping theosophical children throughout the Society, the whole… Read More »Stray Memoranda

The Nadigranthams

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Theosophist, October, 1885

The article by T. Subba Row Garu in the July Theosophist will be read with great interest by all Theosophists,… Read More »The Nadigranthams

The Hymn of the Spirit

Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, March, 1895

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

The Turning Tide

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), September, 1899

“There are those who draw near to Thee through will, holding Thee ever in their hearts: there are those who… Read More »The Turning Tide

“A Personal and Impersonal God”

Article/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, February, 1883

A letter signed by H. X. has appeared in the December issue of the Theosophists under the heading abovementioned containing… Read More »“A Personal and Impersonal God”

[Note on the Symbolism of Triangles and Squares]

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

Article Selection by A. B. | Note by H.P.B. The whole system of our Theosophists is based upon a threefold… Read More »[Note on the Symbolism of Triangles and Squares]

The Todas

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

[Note: for some background, see “Isis Unveiled and the Todas.” The following article was preceded by a letter from Capt.… Read More »The Todas

[Notes from The Life of Paracelsus]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, March, 1887 [From The Life of Paracelsus, 1887]

Selections by Franz Hartmann | Notes by H.P.B. Acthna.—an invisible, subterrestrial fire, being the matrix from which bituminous substances take… Read More »[Notes from The Life of Paracelsus]

Theosophical Correspondence Class

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1893 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

The increase of the purely routine work of the General Secretary’s office has made it impossible to fully reply to… Read More »Theosophical Correspondence Class

[Review:] The Arya

Review/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, April, 1882

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

A Reminiscence & Correspondence

Article/Note(s)/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, February, 1893 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

[Note: It is possible that the following article was not written by Mr. Judge. (ED.)] The interesting series of historical… Read More »A Reminiscence & Correspondence

Modernized Upanishad

Translation/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, September, 1892

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 Harmonics of Smell

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

The old proverb, that “Truth is stranger than fiction,” is again exemplified. An English scientist—Professor William Ramsay, of University College,… Read More »The Harmonics of Smell

A Crisis for Spiritualism

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Spiritual Scientist, March, 1876

[Note: H.P.B.’s letter was preceded by the following Editor’s Note. For further context, see previous editions of the Spiritual Scientist, Banner… Read More »A Crisis for Spiritualism

Questions Answered About Yoga Vidya

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

A HINDU gentleman of the Madras Presidency propounds a number of questions about Occult Science which we answer in these… Read More »Questions Answered About Yoga Vidya

An Astral Prophet

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, June, 1890

Every educated Englishman has heard the name of General Yermoloff, one of the great military heroes of this age; and… Read More »An Astral Prophet

Taittiriya Upanishad 1 (The Lotus of the Teaching)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, June, 1895

I. [Translation] Om Bless us Mitra; bless us Varuna; bless us Aryaman; bless us Indra, Vrhaspati; bless us wide-stepping Vishnu.… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad 1 (The Lotus of the Teaching)

Another Theosophical Prophecy

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, May, 1886

In the first number of The Path was inserted a prophecy made from certain books in India called Nadigrandhams, respecting… Read More »Another Theosophical Prophecy

The Buddha’s Former Births

Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, April, 1910

[Introduction] Among the great religions of the world, none has been so greatly misunderstood in our day as the teaching… Read More »The Buddha’s Former Births

[Note on “Is Man only a Machine?”]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, December, 1880

Note by H.P.B. on an article by Joseph Pollock Mr. Pollock has as ably presented both sides of the case… Read More »[Note on “Is Man only a Machine?”]

The Childhood and Youth of St. Paul

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Open Court, April, 1911

“When I was a child . . .” The religions of the Orient give us a wide view of life… Read More »The Childhood and Youth of St. Paul

Occult or Exact Science?

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, April-May, 1886 [Serialized]

I. Ecce Signum! Behold the sign foreseen in a brighter future; the problem that will be the question of the… Read More »Occult or Exact Science?

[Notes on the Czar and the “Nihilist-Socialists”]

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June, 1881

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”]

Cock-and-Bull

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

Some months ago, the THEOSOPHIST was taken to task by certain Christian Roman Catholic friends, for crediting “supernatural” cock-and-bull “inventions”… Read More »Cock-and-Bull

[On Harmony and Brotherhood]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, October, 1887

[Note: in the pages of Lucifer, aphorisms or brief explanations of specific topics, like the following, often appear at the… Read More »[On Harmony and Brotherhood]

[On Cremation]

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, October, 1881

Nothing promises to prove more dangerous to the Bible and to the Bible Christians—not even the new Revision of the… Read More »[On Cremation]

Conversations on Occultism with H.P.B.

Article/ by W. Q. Judge with H. P. Blavatsky, , The Path, April, 1894

In 1875, ’76, ’77 and ’78 my intimacy with H.P.B. gave me many opportunities for conversing with her on what… Read More »Conversations on Occultism with H.P.B.

Dr. Carpenter on “Tree-Trickery” and H. P. Blavatsky on Fakir “Jugglery”

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Religio-Philosophical Journal, December, 1877

A wise saying that which affirms that he who seeks to prove too much, in the end proves nothing. Professor… Read More »Dr. Carpenter on “Tree-Trickery” and H. P. Blavatsky on Fakir “Jugglery”

Persian Zoroastrianism and Russian Vandalism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, October, 1879

Few persons are capable of appreciating the truly beautiful and esthetic; fewer still of revering those monumental relics of bygone… Read More »Persian Zoroastrianism and Russian Vandalism

Buddhistic Exegesis

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1879

We feel honored in being able to lay before Western thinkers, preliminary contributions from two of the most eminent priests… Read More »Buddhistic Exegesis

Visions in the Crystal

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

At a number of his lectures Colonel Olcott has exhibited a crystal from the Gastein Mountains, which was kindly sent… Read More »Visions in the Crystal

Visishthadwaita Philosophy [2]

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

Article selections from “Viśishtadvaita Philosophy,” by Govinda Charlu | Notes by H.P.B. Parabrahma being an All-pervading principle, itself being the All,… Read More »Visishthadwaita Philosophy [2]

Electroscope and “Astral Doubles”

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

Some Australian and American papers are very much exercised with a new invention made by Dr. Gnedra (?) of Victoria… Read More »Electroscope and “Astral Doubles”

A Singular Case

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

A Correspondent writes:— The Banner of Light has a curious case given in its columns. “There is,” it says, “a gentleman, in… Read More »A Singular Case

Sin Against Life

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, November, 1887

A newspaper paragraph lately declared that a certain American lady of great wealth, residing in London, had conceived the strange… Read More »Sin Against Life

Rajput and Brahman in Buddha’s Day

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, 1929

The understanding of Buddhism by Western scholars is in general marked by certain limitations. To begin with, they are inclined… Read More »Rajput and Brahman in Buddha’s Day

Lovers of the East: Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837)

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, June, 1895

A satirical critic of our orientalists once said that their capacity, like the Word divine in the heavens, had three… Read More »Lovers of the East: Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837)

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