Charles Johnston: A Biography
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
Theosophical Symbols
The first article printed in the PATH on this subject was “Theosophical Symbolism” in Vol. I, May, 1886. The symbols… Read More »Theosophical Symbols
Chhandogya Upanishad
Part I, Sections 1-6 [Introduction] The Powers of the Logos The great Upanishads were compiled as Instructions for disciples preparing… Read More »Chhandogya Upanishad
Research: Svabhavat in the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky
Abstract In the writings of H. P. Blavatsky (HPB), and in Theosophical literature in general, we find the use of… Read More »Research: Svabhavat in the Writings of H. P. Blavatsky
Papyrus—The Gem
The roads were thronged with the people moving toward the great square, for it was a feast of the Goddess.… Read More »Papyrus—The Gem
Sāṃkhya Kārikā
Salutations to that Kapila who, feeling compassion on the world sinking in the ocean of ignorance, constructed a boat in… Read More »Sāṃkhya Kārikā
The Sevenfold Division
MR. Sinnett’s book Esoteric Buddhism has done a great deal towards bringing before the West the Eastern philosophy regarding man… Read More »The Sevenfold Division
“The Collapse of Koot Hoomi”
[Note: for background, see “[On the Coulomb Forged Letters]”] Madame Blavatsky leaves London for India today (Friday). Last night she… Read More »“The Collapse of Koot Hoomi”
Masons and Jesuits
Our Masonic readers, of whom very respectable numbers are scattered throughout India, ought to be on the lookout for recent… Read More »Masons and Jesuits
Occultism: What is it?
Not only in the Theosophical Society, but out of it, are tyros in Occultism. They are dabblers in a fine… Read More »Occultism: What is it?
Reply: Resignation of Presidency, T.S. by Col Olcott
The following correspondence sufficiently explains itself. It is inserted here in order that American members generally may be in possession… Read More »Reply: Resignation of Presidency, T.S. by Col Olcott
Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
First Steps on the Path Prologue (Verses 1–15) I bow before Govinda, the objectless object of final success in the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
William Quan Judge
There are events common to human life, events small and inconsiderable in seeming, which, in their ulterior development and under… Read More »William Quan Judge
A Bengal Bazaar
India is a ruin, beautiful only by moonlight; and, like a ruined temple, old India’s beauties dwell no longer in… Read More »A Bengal Bazaar
The Heritage of the Brahmans
It is said that long ago, in the childhood of the world, the senses were so fine that we could… Read More »The Heritage of the Brahmans
Glamour
The word “glamour” was long ago defined in old dictionaries as “witchery or a charm on the eyes, making them… Read More »Glamour
Gathas of Zarathustra
Ahunuvaiti Gatha Yasna 29 Unto Thee, O Lord, the Soul of Creation cried: “For whom didst Thou create me, and… Read More »Gathas of Zarathustra
A Few Questions to “Hiraf ”
Among the numerous sciences pursued by the well-disciplined army of earnest students of the present century, none has had less… Read More »A Few Questions to “Hiraf ”
Buddha: The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
Over the centuries there have been numerous biographies of Gautama the Buddha in various formats, from the ancient traditional biographies, to epic poems like Sir Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, to articles, modern biographies and documentaries. Throughout all of these we find certain keynotes, certain events and ideas that form a basis for the life of Buddha, but we also find more fantastical aspects to the stories. Modern scholars tend to dismiss the latter as merely “mythological” or exaggerated, and they seek (and fail) to find the “real Buddha” by stripping these away. In the present biography, we will attempt to trace not only the historical basis for the life of the Buddha, but to unveil, as much as is possible, some of the symbolism involved in the traditional accounts. How far we are successful in so doing is left to the reader to decide.
Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
Introductory Note An apology is scarcely needed for undertaking a translation of Sankara Acharya’s celebrated Synopsis of Vedantism entitled “Atmanatma… Read More »Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
The Skin of the Earth
The cold materialism of the 19th century paralyzes sentiment and kills mysticism. Thus it commits a double crime, in robbing… Read More »The Skin of the Earth
Apollonius Tyaneus and Simon Magus
In the “History of the Christian Religion to the year two hundred,” by Charles B. Waite, A.M., announced and reviewed… Read More »Apollonius Tyaneus and Simon Magus
Research: On the Etymology of Fohat
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
The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
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]
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism, from which most of the technical terms in the Secret Doctrine are drawn, has been hitherto almost an… Read More »Tibetan Buddhism
H. P. Blavatsky
We have inserted in this issue a picture of H. P. Blavatsky, who is—whether from the standpoint of her enemies… Read More »H. P. Blavatsky
Research: On the Etymology of Senzar
Senzar in the Writings of Blavatsky (In Chronological Order) Yes, the letter-tree of Tibet is a fact; and moreover, the… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Senzar
Tetragrammaton
“I would advise all in general that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge;… Read More »Tetragrammaton
The Devil’s Own: Thoughts on Ormuzd and Ahriman
“Hail, holy light, offspring of Heaven first-born. Or of the Eternal co-eternal beam. . . . . . . Since God is light Bright effluence… Read More »The Devil’s Own: Thoughts on Ormuzd and Ahriman
Devachan
A letter to the editor from Holland upon this subject deserves reply, as is must give utterance to the questions… Read More »Devachan
The Number Seven
A deep significance was attached to numbers in hoary antiquity. There was not a people with anything like philosophy, but… Read More »The Number Seven
A Buddhist Doctrine
There are twelve principal Buddhist sects in Japan. These are: Ku-Sha-Shiu, Jo-Jitsu-Shiu, Ris-Shiu, Ho-so-Shiu, San Ron-Shiu, Ke-Gon-Shiu, Ten-Dai-Shiu, Shin-Gon-Shiu, Jo-Do-Shiu,… Read More »A Buddhist Doctrine
Uncomfortable Brothers
“To freedom you are called, Brothers!—only that your freedom be not a pretext for the flesh. But serve each other… Read More »Uncomfortable Brothers
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
[Note: The following is Johnston’s second, revised edition of the Yoga Sutras (1917), which is updated from the initial serialization… Read More »Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Introduction to the Dream of Ravan
In the caves of Eastern Sibyl,1 what curious leaves lie hidden, or go whirling in the wind! written over with… Read More »Introduction to the Dream of Ravan
Research: On the Etymology of Dzyan
In The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1, p. xx fn. H.P.B. gives an etymology of Dzyan thus: Indeed, the secret portions… Read More »Research: On the Etymology of Dzyan
[On Common Doctrines]
Mr. Chairman; brothers and sisters; men and women; members of the Parliament of Religions: The Theosophical Society has been presenting… Read More »[On Common Doctrines]
The Works of Plato
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
The Chain of Causation
It is the custom of Orientalists to speak of Buddhism as a religion, and a very beautiful and intuitional book… Read More »The Chain of Causation
Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
[Introduction] Marinus, the author of the ensuing life, was the disciple of Proclus, and his successor in the Athenian school.… Read More »Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
A Memory of Madame Blavatsky
The first and earliest impression I received from Madame Blavatsky was the feeling of the power and largeness of her… Read More »A Memory of Madame Blavatsky
From the Highlands of Lemuria
[I.] Alfred Russel Wallace has dedicated one of the most charming chapters of Island Life, the most delightful and fascinating… Read More »From the Highlands of Lemuria
Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy
The following letter having been sent to us from a Parsee gentleman, we publish the paragraphs containing his queries seriatim… Read More »Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy
The Culture-Language of the Future
It has often seemed to me that even the best Sanskrit scholars in Europe and America alike have no very… Read More »The Culture-Language of the Future
The Upanishads and the Brahmans
“Thinking sacrifices and offerings are best, these fools know not the better way.” —Mundaka Upanishad. It has always been accepted… Read More »The Upanishads and the Brahmans
Traces of India in Ancient Egypt
“Who is the God to whom we shall offer worship? He whose shadow is Immortality!”—Rig Veda. “The Egyptians are the… Read More »Traces of India in Ancient Egypt
Hit the Mark
“Having taken the bow, the great weapon, let him place on it the arrow, sharpened by devotion. Then, having drawn… Read More »Hit the Mark
Practical Theosophy
The ethics of life propounded by Jesus are not different from those found in theosophy, but the latter holds in… Read More »Practical Theosophy