The Theosophical Library

The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 1-7]

Article/Commentary/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, November-December, 1887; January-March, May-June, August-December, 1888; September, November-December, 1895; February, 1896 [Serialized]

Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 [Chapter I] If the title… Read More »The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 1-7]

The Living Power of Theosophy

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, November, 1923 [Reprinted in The Theosophical Movement, April, 1932]

One of the difficulties under which students of Theosophy labor is the practical and therefore one-sided or distorted view they… Read More »The Living Power of Theosophy

Sakya Muni’s Place in History

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, November, 1883

7. Buddha’s birth is placed (on p. 141) in the year 643 B.C.. Is this date given by the Adepts as… Read More »Sakya Muni’s Place in History

Charles Johnston

Editorial/ by Henry Bedinger Mitchell, Theosophical Quarterly, January, 1932

Charles Johnston died on Friday, October 16th [1932], at about twenty minutes past three in the afternoon. His death was… Read More »Charles Johnston

The Doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita

Book/Commentary/ by Bhavani Shankar, 1928 [1st Edition]

Contents The Doctrine of the Bhagavad-Gita Kshetra and Kshetrajna Mulaprakriti, Daiviprakriti and Ishwara Worship Me with All Bhavas Glossary The… Read More »The Doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita

Mahatmas and Chelas

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July, 1884

A MAHATMA is a personage, who, by special training and education, has evolved those higher faculties and has attained that… Read More »Mahatmas and Chelas

Culture of Concentration

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1888

The term most generally in use to express what is included under the above title is SELF CULTURE. Now it… Read More »Culture of Concentration

Contemplation

Article/ by Damodar K. Mavalankar, The Theosophist, February, 1884 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

A general misunderstanding of this term seems to prevail. The popular idea appears to be to confine oneself for half… Read More »Contemplation

The Life and the Doctrines of Paracelsus

Book/Translation/ by Franz Hartmann, 1887 [Paperback Version]

Complete Title: THE LIFE AND THE DOCTRINES OF PHILIPPUS THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST OF HOHENHEIM KNOWN BY THE NAME OF PARACELSUS AND… Read More »The Life and the Doctrines of Paracelsus

Culture of Concentration II

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

It is now over one year since I sent in Part I to the Editor of the PATH. Since then… Read More »Culture of Concentration II

Tao Te Ching (Book of the Way and of Righteousness)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, July, October, 1921; January, April, July, October, 1922; January, 1923 [Serialized]

1. The way that can be told is not the eternal Way. The word that can be spoken is not… Read More »Tao Te Ching (Book of the Way and of Righteousness)

Reincarnation in the Bible

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

An exhaustive paper on this subject is not contemplated in this article, but even a sketch will show that the… Read More »Reincarnation in the Bible

Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine

Article/Q & A/ by T. Subba Row, The Theosophist, September, 1883

8. Sankaracharya’s date is variously given by Orientalists, but always after Christ. Barth, for instance, places him about 788 A.D.… Read More »Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine

Collection of the Chaldean Oracles

Commentary/Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, The Classical Journal, December, 1817; March & June, 1818 [Serialized]

Part I The following remains of Chaldean theology are not only venerable for their antiquity, but inestimably valuable for the… Read More »Collection of the Chaldean Oracles

Apollonius of Tyana

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, October, 2012

Apollonius of Tyana is one of the most extraordinary exemplars in human history. What he shows us clearly is the… Read More »Apollonius of Tyana

Theosophy Generally Stated

Article/Lecture/ by W. Q. Judge, Lucifer Magazine, December, 1893

The claim is made that an impartial study of history, religion and literature will show the existence from ancient times… Read More »Theosophy Generally Stated

The Life and the Doctrines of Jacob Boehme, the God-Taught Philosopher

Book/Translation/ by Franz Hartmann, 1891 [Paperback Version]

Contents Preface The Life of Jacob Boehme Account of His Life and Labours, and of the Influence of his Writings… Read More »The Life and the Doctrines of Jacob Boehme, the God-Taught Philosopher

The Mahatmas as Ideals and Facts

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1893

A visitor from one of the other planets of the solar system who might learn the term Mahatma after arriving… Read More »The Mahatmas as Ideals and Facts

Theosophy in Daily Life

Article/Lecture/ by Robert Crosbie, Theosophy Magazine, May, 1921 [Posthumously Published]

Many people think that religion means a preparation for death or the states of the future. Religion really means a… Read More »Theosophy in Daily Life

Le Phare de L’inconnu [The Beacon-Light of the Unknown]

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July-September, 1889 [Serialized] [Translation from the original French]

[The [following] article is a rough translation from La Revue Theosophique. Better H.P.B. at second hand than not at all—Ed. [The… Read More »Le Phare de L’inconnu [The Beacon-Light of the Unknown]

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus

Book/Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, 1824 [PDF Version (Scanned Original)]

Full Title: THE MYSTICAL HYMNS OF ORPHEUS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE INVOCATIONS WHICH WERE USED… Read More »The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus

Tenets of Theosophy

LTTE/ by W. Q. Judge, The Washington Post, March, 1891

EDITOR POST: In your issue of March 8, Prof. Merwin-Marie Snell, of the Catholic University of America, answers my short… Read More »Tenets of Theosophy

Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, 1818 [PDF Version (Scanned Original)]

Full title: IAMBLICHUS’ LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS OR PYTHAGORIC LIFE. ACCOMPANIED BY FRAGMENTS OF THE ETHICAL WRITINGS OF CERTAIN PYTHAGOREANS IN… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life

Pistis Sophia

Translation/ by G. R. S. Mead, 1896 [Revised 2nd Ed., 1921] [PDF Version 1 | PDF Version 2]

Contents Preface Introduction The First Book The Second Book A Third Book A Fourth Book A Fifth Book A Sixth… Read More »Pistis Sophia

Studies in the Secret Doctrine

Article/ by B. P. Wadia, Theosophy Magazine, November, 1922 to June, 1923 (1st Series); November, 1923 to July, 1924 (2nd Series); November, 1924 to June, 1925 (3rd Series) [Serialized]

Contents First Series 1. The Writer of The Secret Doctrine 2. Scope, Structure and Method 3. Knowledge—Absolute and Relative 4.… Read More »Studies in the Secret Doctrine

Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

Book/Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, 1821 [PDF Version (Scanned Original)]

Full title: IAMBLICHUS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EGYPTIANS, CHALDEANS, AND ASSYRIANS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, BY THOMAS TAYLOR ————… Read More »Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

Hints on Esoteric Theosophy [1-2]

Book/Letter(s)/ by A. O. Hume with Alice Gordon, Bal Nilaji Pitale, Daji Raja Chandra Singhji, Damodar K. Mavalankar, Dorab H. Bharucha, G. Muthuswamy Chetty, G. Y., Godolphin Mitford, Gunputrow N. Land, Gwala K. Deb (Dharbagiri Nath), H. P. Blavatsky, H. R. Z., H. S. Olcott, John Smith, K. A. Iyengar, K. M. Shroff, Krishna Shastri Godbole, M. S. Mudaliar, Mahatma K. H., Martandrao Babaji Nagnath, Minnie J. B. Scott, R. S. Harisinghji Rupsinghji, Ross Scott, S. Ramaswamier, T. V. Mudaliar, , April & August, 1882

No. 1 Is Theosophy a Delusion? Do the Brothers Exist? These letters are published with the permission of the writers,… Read More »Hints on Esoteric Theosophy [1-2]

Universal Theosophy: Talks by Robert Crosbie

Book/ by Robert Crosbie, 1934/1945 [Compilation] [Posthumously Published]

The following is a collection of talks by Robert Crosbie which was compiled and published in book form posthumously. Contents… Read More »Universal Theosophy: Talks by Robert Crosbie

H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement

Book/ by Charles J. Ryan, 1937

Prefatory Note Foreword Chapter 1: Introductory Chapter 2: Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Chapter 3: Training in Chelaship Chapter 4: From Apprenticeship… Read More »H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement

Our Directives: A Study of the Evolution of the “Objects of the T.S.”—from 1875 to 1891

Article/ by Grace F. Knoche, The Theosophical Forum, October, 1947

Inspired by the conviction that the Theosophical Society was the inevitable outgrowth of the spiritual demands of the century, its… Read More »Our Directives: A Study of the Evolution of the “Objects of the T.S.”—from 1875 to 1891

The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 8-18]

Article/Commentary/ by Robert Crosbie, Theosophy Magazine, July, 1915; May-December, 1916; January-February, 1917 [Serialized]

[Note: the following was meant by Mr. Crosbie to be a continuation of the Notes on Chapters 1-7 by W.… Read More »The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 8-18]

The Tree of Life

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

“Rooted above, with branches downwards, stands the immemorial Tree of Life. This, verily, is called the Shining, the Eternal, the… Read More »The Tree of Life

Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1923

Om: this syllable, this imperishable, is the All. Its expansion is what has been, what is, what shall be. All,… Read More »Mandukya Upanishad (The Measures of the Eternal)

The Dual Aspect of Wisdom

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

“No doubt but ye are the people and wisdom shall die with you.”—JOB xii. 2. “But wisdom is justified of… Read More »The Dual Aspect of Wisdom

[Review:] Qabbalah, The Philosophical Writings of Solomon Ben Yehudah Ibn Gebirol (or Avicebron)

Review/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, February, 1889

Such is the title1 of an admirably thoughtful, learned, and very conscientious volume (for full title vide infra note), by… Read More »[Review:] Qabbalah, The Philosophical Writings of Solomon Ben Yehudah Ibn Gebirol (or Avicebron)

Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, The Works of Plato, 1804

[p. 1] Let us now speak of the race of the philosopher, not for the sake of relating many particulars… Read More »Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato

The Moral Law of Compensation

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Theosophist, October, 1881

“For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be… Read More »The Moral Law of Compensation

Animated Statues

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1886

To whatsoever cause it may be due matters little, but the word fetich is given in the dictionaries the restricted… Read More »Animated Statues

On “The Good” and “The One” of Plato

Note(s)/ by Thomas Taylor, 1804 [From an extensive note in Taylor’s translation of The Republic]

The good, which is here celebrated by Socrates as that which reigns in the intelligible place, is neither the same… Read More »On “The Good” and “The One” of Plato

Much Reading, Little Thought

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

The wise man sagely said that of making books there is no end. If true in his day, it is… Read More »Much Reading, Little Thought

The Abstract Algebraical Formula

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, November, 2015

The history of cosmic evolution, as traced in the Stanzas [of Dzyan], is, so to say, the abstract algebraical formula… Read More »The Abstract Algebraical Formula

A German Mystic’s Teachings

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, October, 1888

In the last three numbers of the Path we have given a story by the German Mystic Kernning of the… Read More »A German Mystic’s Teachings

The Nativity of Buddha

Article/Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), July, 1902

I feel more convinced than ever that Ashva Ghosha’s Sanskrit Life of Buddha will be the Life of Buddha which… Read More »The Nativity of Buddha

Buddhist Morals

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

In a recent issue of the China Mail appears an account of the destruction of the “Temple of Longevity,” one… Read More »Buddhist Morals

The History of a Planet

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

No star, among the countless myriads that twinkle over the sidereal fields of the night sky, shines so dazzlingly as… Read More »The History of a Planet

The Meaning of “Tao”

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, June, 2016

This will be an exploration of the Chinese term Tao through a breakdown of the traditional Chinese characters. Tao is… Read More »The Meaning of “Tao”

Tattvasamasa

Translation/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, July, 2015 [Last Updated: May 27, 2021]

Introduction: “On the Tattvasamāsa and its place in Sāṃkhya,” by Prof. Max Müller SANSKRIT TRANSLITERATION (IAST) TRANSLATION 1. aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ… Read More »Tattvasamasa

Dialogue on the Mysteries of the After Life

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, January, 1889

M. Of course it is most difficult, and, as you say, puzzling to understand correctly and distinguish between the various aspects,… Read More »Dialogue on the Mysteries of the After Life

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