The Theosophical Library

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The Works of Plato

Book/Translation/ by Thomas Taylor with Floyer Sydenham, , 1804 [Single PDF (All 5 Volumes: scanned original)]

Full Title: THE WORKS OF PLATO VIZ. HIS FIFTY-FIVE DIALOGUES, AND TWELVE EPISTLES TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK; NINE OF THE… Read More »The Works of Plato

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), April, May, June, July, 1900 [Serialized]

[I.] “I understand, Socrates. It is because you say that you always have a divine sign. So he is prosecuting… Read More »Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor with Jon W. Fergus, , January, 2016 [originally published in The Classical Journal, December, 1817; March & June, 1818]

Here the Chaldean Oracles—compiled and translated by Thomas Taylor—have been arranged with the hope of demonstrating the essence of the… Read More »The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]

The Real H. P. Blavatsky

Book/ by William Kingsland, 1928 [Paperback Edition]

Contents Preface A Note on the Use of the Word Theosophy Chapter I: Introductory Chapter II: Some Personal and Impersonal… Read More »The Real H. P. Blavatsky

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

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

Answers to Questions on the Ocean of Theosophy

Book/Q & A/ by Robert Crosbie, December, 1933 [Posthumously Published]

INTRODUCTORY. Robert Crosbie, the Founder of The United Lodge of Theosophists and of the magazine Theosophy, was for many years… Read More »Answers to Questions on the Ocean of Theosophy

The Theosophical Society

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

INSIDE FACTS AS TO ITS ORGANIZATION.—A DE FACTO BODY.—THE REAL T.S. IN NEW YORK.—THE PRESIDENT STILL A DELEGATE TO FOREIGN… Read More »The Theosophical Society

The Theosophical Movement

Article/Lecture/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1907

It will be best to treat my theme historically; and I may be pardoned, perhaps, if I speak of my… Read More »The Theosophical Movement

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 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7 [Chapter I] If the title of this sacred Hindu poem were… Read More »The Bhagavad-Gita [Notes, Chapters 1-7]

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

The Criterion of Theosophy

Q & A/ by W. Q. Judge, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), December, 1895

Question—The fundamental question, “What is the criterion of Theosophy?” calls for an answer. Has Theosophy the power of growth, progress… Read More »The Criterion of Theosophy

[Letter From H. P. Blavatsky to the Editor of Rebus]

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Ребус (Rebus), September, 1885

Dear Sir: In No. 30 of your interesting journal, on page 276, under “Brief Notes,” I find the following, regarding… Read More »[Letter From H. P. Blavatsky to the Editor of Rebus]

Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, July, October, 1906; January, April, July, October, 1907 [Serialized]

General Introduction The Bhagavad Gita is one of the noblest scriptures of India, one of the deepest scriptures of the… Read More »Bhagavad Gita (Songs of the Master)

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)

The Beacon-Light of the Unknown

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, La Revue Theosophique, May-August, 1889 [Serialized] [Translated from the original French]

I. It is said in an old book on occult studies: “The Gupta-Vidyā (Secret Science) is a sea alluring, but… Read More »The Beacon-Light of the Unknown

Tetragrammaton

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1887

“I would advise all in general that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge;… Read More »Tetragrammaton

Theosophical Symbols

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

The first article printed in the PATH on this subject was “Theosophical Symbolism” in Vol. I, May, 1886. The symbols… Read More »Theosophical Symbols

Charles Johnston: A Biography

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, 2014 [Originally printed in Hidden Wisdom: The Collected Writings of Charles Johnston, Vol. 1]

As one author notes, Charles Johnston “left us very little in the way of autobiography,—if biography still mean to us,… Read More »Charles Johnston: A Biography

The Science of Magic

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Spiritual Scientist, October, 1875

Happening to be on a visit to Ithaca, where spiritual papers in general, and the Banner of Light in particular, are very… Read More »The Science of Magic

Research: On the Etymology of Fohat

Research Paper/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, February, 2020 [Last Updated: February 6, 2025]

Introduction “Fohat” is one of the more mysterious terms in modern theosophical literature. It was introduced by H. P. Blavatsky… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Fohat

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 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”

What the Theosophical Society is Not

Article/Lecture/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1908

We have been considering, during this period of reunion, that it is just a third of a century since the… Read More »What the Theosophical Society is Not

Exploring The Voice of the Silence

Article/Commentary/ by Mark Casady, Theosophy Nexus, March, 2019 to October, 2020 [Last Updated: July 3, 2025][Updated Draft Edition]

Preface 1- The following pages are derived from “The Book of the Golden Precepts,” one of the works put into… Read More »Exploring The Voice of the Silence

Re-Classification of Principles

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, August, 1887

[For background, see: Classification of “Principles”] In the May Theosophist (1887 [see “The Constitution of the Microcosm”]) I find the… Read More »Re-Classification of Principles

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

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

Theosophy as a Guide in Life

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Booklet/Pamphlet, 1887

This is a practical age, and every system or theory is challenged to give proofs of what it may accomplish… Read More »Theosophy as a Guide in Life

Civilization, the Death of Art and Beauty

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, May, 1891

In an interview with the celebrated Hungarian violinist, M. Remenyi, the Pall Mall Gazette reporter makes the artist narrate some very… Read More »Civilization, the Death of Art and Beauty

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

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]

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