The Theosophical Library

Filters

Filter by Year

[Note: Use the sliders from both ends to define your date range]

Filter by Exact Date

[Notes: Articles published in monthly magazines are dated on the 1st of the month. Books where the exact date of publication are unknown, are dated as Dec, 31st, of the year they were published.]

Filter by Authors

Search for an Author

Select an Author

Filter by Co-Authors/Collaborators

[Note: first select the main author, then this will show co-authors, collaborators, compilers, etc.]

Filter by Recipients

[Note: this applies to recipients of letters and other correspondence.]

Filter by Source

Filter by Content Type

Filter by Keywords

Other Filters

A Commentary on the Gayatri

Article/Commentary/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, January, 1893

Unveil, O Thou who givest sustenance to the Universe, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, that face… Read More »A Commentary on the Gayatri

Change of Name

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1896

Commencing with the next, April, number, the PATH, which has been published for ten years under that name, will drop… Read More »Change of Name

Songs of the Master

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), January-April, 1900 [Serialized]

[I.] Introductory Before all things remember that the Bhagavad Gita is a textbook of the Mysteries. It has seven keys,… Read More »Songs of the Master

“A Friend in Need, a Friend Indeed”

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

We copy the following letter from the Bombay Gazette of April 4th, not for its bearing upon the recent “unpleasantness,”… Read More »“A Friend in Need, a Friend Indeed”

Rahatship

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

It highly gratified our Delegates to Ceylon to find that not only every educated priest and layman, but the uneducated… Read More »Rahatship

A Psychological Phenomenon

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

Article selections (anonymous) | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. We have much pleasure to be able to lay before the public… Read More »A Psychological Phenomenon

A Circulating Library

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, June, 1889

A theosophical circulating Library has been established at the General Secretary’s office in New York, Room 47, 21 Park Row.… Read More »A Circulating Library

The Truth about East and West

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, 1895

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 Sevenfold Counsels of Perfection

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1930

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

Theosophy (Lecture)

Article/Lecture/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1925

At the Convention of The Theosophical Society yesterday, much was said regarding the significance of the fact that the Society… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)

“Under the Shadow of Great Names” [1]

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

The common vice of trying to palm off upon the world the crude imaginings or rhapsodical concoctions of one’s own… Read More »“Under the Shadow of Great Names” [1]

The Theosophist and Arya Samajist

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

In the August number of The Theosophist there appeared a short paragraph announcing the death of Pandit Shraddha Ram of… Read More »The Theosophist and Arya Samajist

The Magic Screen of Time

Story/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, 1889

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

Another “Spiritual” Puzzle

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

Letter by E.W.W | Reply by H.P.B. I feel that Mr. Terry has been doing great service in procuring for… Read More »Another “Spiritual” Puzzle

The Chosen “Vessels of Election”

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

A friendly correspondent “8111,” has sent to us a severe rebuke embodied in a long letter. Received after the 20th… Read More »The Chosen “Vessels of Election”

[Answers to Questions on Adepts]

Note(s)/ by Damodar K. Mavalankar, The Theosophist, December, 1883

Questions by D. P. Dhumme | Reply by Damodar K. Mavalankar Madame,—Will you, with your usual kindness, enlighten me on… Read More »[Answers to Questions on Adepts]

Why Races Die Out

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

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

The Foundations of Christian Mysticism

Article/Commentary/Translation/ by Franz Hartmann, Lucifer Magazine, February-April, June-July, September, 1893 [Serialized]

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

Turkish Barbarities

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

[Note: for background and context, see newspaper articles of the time about the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78)] To the Editor of The… Read More »Turkish Barbarities

[Note on the Policy of Mutual Toleration]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, March, 1882

Article Selections from “The Samajees that India Needs”| Notes by H.P.B. A correspondent, writing from Lahore, under date, February 17,… Read More »[Note on the Policy of Mutual Toleration]

Kapila Rishi

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, August, 2013 [Last Updated: July 2, 2025]

At the outset it must be admitted that the composition of a historical biography of Rishi Kapila is, in our… Read More »Kapila Rishi

[True Poverty and True Wealth]

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), October, 1898

There is one Lord, the inmost soul of all beings, who makes visible one power in many forms;—they who behold… Read More »[True Poverty and True Wealth]

Emerson’s Over-Soul: A Theosophical Perspective

Article/ by S. T. M., Universal Theosophy, April, 2017

The great spiritual literature of mankind is written with a certain poetic beauty. If you think of the Bhagavad-Gita, the… Read More »Emerson’s Over-Soul: A Theosophical Perspective

From the Upanishads

Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Booklet/Pamphlet, July, 1896

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

Sobs, Sods and Posies

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

A few weeks ago, one George Nairns, a British sailor, brutally murdered at Calcutta a poor police sepoy who was… Read More »Sobs, Sods and Posies

Radiant Heat, Musical Vapours, and Fairy Bells

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

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

Eastern and Western Psychology

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, July, October, 1917; January, April, July, 1918 [Serialized]

I. A Theosophical Need Mr. Judge writes, in one of the closing chapters of The Ocean of Theosophy, that “there… Read More »Eastern and Western Psychology

Remembering the Experiences of the Ego

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

To many it seems puzzling that we do not remember the experiences of the Higher Self in sleep. But as… Read More »Remembering the Experiences of the Ego

The Science of Life

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

What is Life? Hundreds of the most philosophical minds, scores of learned well-skilled physicians, have asked themselves the question, but… Read More »The Science of Life

[On Mesmeric Healing]

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

Insane by Electricity.—A young man, twenty-four years of age, named George Odette, has just been adjudged insane and committed to… Read More »[On Mesmeric Healing]

Closed or Open Lodges

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, May, 1890

The Theosophical Society has never prohibited Private Branches. If five Members-at-large can exist separately, they can exist together; for they… Read More »Closed or Open Lodges

Another Distinguished Fellow

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

A short time since we had the pleasure of announcing that the aged Baron du Potet de Sennevoy had accepted… Read More »Another Distinguished Fellow

Echoes from India: What is Hindu Spiritualism?

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Banner of Light, October, 1879

To the Editor of the Banner of Light: Phenomena in India, beside the undoubted interest they offer in themselves, and,… Read More »Echoes from India: What is Hindu Spiritualism?

Imagination and Occult Phenomena

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

The faculty of imagination has been reduced to a very low level by modern western theorisers upon mental philosophy. It… Read More »Imagination and Occult Phenomena

[On the Kama-rupa and Vampires]

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

Article Selection by Dr. Fortin | Note by H.P.B. [Note: the assumption made with this note, signed “Translator,” is that… Read More »[On the Kama-rupa and Vampires]

Libel by Dr. Coues and the “N. Y. Sun”

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

In the New York Sun of Sunday, July 20th, appeared an article by Dr. Elliott Coues of Washington, D.C., purporting… Read More »Libel by Dr. Coues and the “N. Y. Sun”

[Notes on Evolution and Perception]

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

Extracts from “The Cosmic Position of Man” and “The Janus-facedness of Man,” by Baron Karl du Prel | Notes by… Read More »[Notes on Evolution and Perception]

Eighth Wonder

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, October, 1891 [Posthumously Published] [Written in 1889]

Just back from under the far-reaching shadow of the eighth wonder of the World—the gigantic iron carrot that goes by… Read More »Eighth Wonder

If Methuselah Existed, Why So Short Our Lives?

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

At a Theosophical Society meeting the other day, it was stated that in the early races, say the second and… Read More »If Methuselah Existed, Why So Short Our Lives?

Madame Blavatsky Explains

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

To the Editor of the Spiritual Scientist: Dear Sir,—For the last three months one has hardly been able to open a… Read More »Madame Blavatsky Explains

Kalahaṃsa in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky

Research Paper/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, November, 2021 [Last Updated: January 22, 2025]

The following is an examination of the use of the term “kalahamsa” in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky, with… Read More »Kalahaṃsa in the writings of H. P. Blavatsky

India and Her Theosophists

Article/ by W. Q. Judge with H. S. Olcott, , The Theosophist, September, 1893

The publication of the following article was inadvertently delayed.—H.S. Olcott. I am moved to say a word, not by way… Read More »India and Her Theosophists

Occultism in the Upanishads

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophy, September, 1896

“The true desires are overlaid with false; though true, there is a false covering-up of them. For if any one… Read More »Occultism in the Upanishads

The Storehouse of Thought

Article/Lecture/ by Robert Crosbie, Theosophy Magazine, February, 1920 [Posthumously Published]

When we consider the idea of thought we must remember that there cannot be thought without a thinker. There are… Read More »The Storehouse of Thought

The Dream of Life

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

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

Indian Chronology

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), May, 1902

“It holds through all literature, that our best history is still poetry. It is so in Hebrew, in Sanskrit, and… Read More »Indian Chronology

Where the Rishis Were

Story/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, January, 1891

The rishis were the sacred Bards, the Saints, the great Adepts known to the Hindus, who gave great spiritual impulses… Read More »Where the Rishis Were

[Notes on “A Criticism Upon the ‘Mighty Problems of Brahma, Iswara and Maya’”]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, March, 1882

Article Selections by Dorasamy Iyer | Introductory Note and Notes by H.P.B. To the Editor of The Theosophist: Madame,—As a member… Read More »[Notes on “A Criticism Upon the ‘Mighty Problems of Brahma, Iswara and Maya’”]

Filters

Filter by Exact Date

Search for an Author

Select an Author

Filter by Co-Authors/Collaborators

Filter by Recipients

Featured Content

Collected Writings

Authors

Publications

Browse by Keyword