The Theosophical Library

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Meditation and Self-Study

Article/ by Anon., Hermes Magazine, March, 1976

Atmanam atmana pasya Meditation and self-study are of immeasurable importance to every single person. They concern the longest journey of… Read More »Meditation and Self-Study

Zoroastrianism

Article/ by S. D. Bharucha, The Path, May, 1894

The managers of the Parliament of Religions of the World’s Fair requested Mr. Narroji of London, a Parsee who is… Read More »Zoroastrianism

Seeds and Seedlings: Evolution and the Evolver

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, January, 1957

Evolution is the oldest teaching in the world, and misconceptions and misunderstandings of it are as old as man. To… Read More »Seeds and Seedlings: Evolution and the Evolver

The Cremation [of W.Q.J.]

Editorial/ by Claude Falls Wright with E. T. Hargrove, James Morgan Pryse, , Theosophy, May, 1896

The proceedings at the cremation of the body of W. Q. Judge were of the simplest possible order. As he… Read More »The Cremation [of W.Q.J.]

Do the Adepts Deny the Nebular Theory?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

1. Is the Nebular Theory, as generally held, denied by the Adepts? It seems hard to conceive of the alternate… Read More »Do the Adepts Deny the Nebular Theory?

The Kings of China

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, May, 1926

In his Ocean of Theosophy William Q. Judge speaks of “ancient and honorable China” — ancient it is, for as… Read More »The Kings of China

The Nature and Office of Buddha’s Religion

Article/ by Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera, The Theosophist, November, 1879; February, May, October, 1880 [Serialized]

By the Rt. Rev. H. Sumangala, High Priest of Adam’s Peak, and President of Widyodaya College; Senior Buddhist Member of… Read More »The Nature and Office of Buddha’s Religion

Reincarnation: A Western Study of the Subject

Article/ by Edward Dwight Walker, The Path, April, 1887

Although commonly rejected throughout Europe and America, reincarnation is unreservedly accepted by the majority of mankind at the present day,… Read More »Reincarnation: A Western Study of the Subject

Death of William Q. Judge

Editorial/ by Anon., Theosophy, April, 1896

The editor of this magazine, President of the Theosophical Societies in America, Europe and Australasia, our trusted teacher and friend,… Read More »Death of William Q. Judge

Brahma

Poem(s)/ by Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Atlantic Monthly, November, 1857

If the red slayer think he slays, Or if the slain think he is slain, They know not well the… Read More »Brahma

Buddhism, The Fulfilment of Hinduism

Lecture/ by Swami Vivekananda, September, 1893

I am not a Buddhist, as you have heard, and yet I am. If China, or Japan, or Ceylon follow… Read More »Buddhism, The Fulfilment of Hinduism

Lao Tzu and the Taoists

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, November, 1926

H. P. Blavatsky described Lao Tzu as a God-like being and classed him with Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus, who “united… Read More »Lao Tzu and the Taoists

Brotherhood: The Law of Being

Article/ by Anon., Universal Brotherhood Magazine, September, 1899 [Author signed as “Pentaur”]

It has ever been the aim of true scientific research not so much to discover new phenomena and to record… Read More »Brotherhood: The Law of Being

The Last Days of W. Q. Judge

Editorial/ by E. T. Hargrove, Theosophy, May, 1896

The task of giving a short account of our leader’s last days and of the change that finally took him… Read More »The Last Days of W. Q. Judge

Notice [re: Death of W.Q.J.]

Editorial/ by J. D. Buck, Theosophy, April, 1896

Notice: To The Theosophical Society in America and its Fraters Throughout the World. Brothers:—Our leader has disappeared from the field… Read More »Notice [re: Death of W.Q.J.]

W. Q. J.

Editorial/ by George W. Russell with Frederick J. Dick, Julia Keightley, , The Irish Theosophist, April, 1896

O hero of the iron age, Upon thy grave we will not weep, Nor yet consume away in rage For… Read More »W. Q. J.

Charles Johnston, Orientalist, Dead

Editorial/ by Anon., NY Times, October, 1931

Charles Johnston, scholar, traveler and author, who translted many of the sacred writings of the East into English, died of… Read More »Charles Johnston, Orientalist, Dead

Porphyry’s Life of Pythagoras

Translation/ by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, Pythagorean Sourcebook & Library, 1919

1. Many think that Pythagoras was the son of Mnesarchus, but they differ as to the latter’s race; some thinking him… Read More »Porphyry’s Life of Pythagoras

The Vedantic Approach to Reality

Article/ by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, The Monist, April, 1916

Philosophy is the attempt to think out the presuppositions of experience, to grasp, by means of reason, life or reality… Read More »The Vedantic Approach to Reality

Reply to An English F.T.S.

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

[Note: the following represents the opening Reply to “Some Inquiries Suggested by Mr. Sinnett’s ‘Esoteric Buddhism’”] It was not in… Read More »Reply to An English F.T.S.

A Friend of Old Time and of the Future

Editorial/ by Robert Crosbie, Theosophy, May, 1896

As such does William Q. Judge appear to me, as doubtless he does to many others in this and other… Read More »A Friend of Old Time and of the Future

Kaivalya Upanishad

Translation/ by K. Narayanaswami Aiyer, Thirty Minor Upanishads, 1914

[Kaivalya Upanishad]1 Harih-Om. Then2 Āśwalāyana went to Lord Parameshtī (Brahmā) and addressed Him thus: “Please initiate me into Brahmavidyā (Divine… Read More »Kaivalya Upanishad

Yugas

Article/ by A. J. Vosburgh, The Path, January, 1896

In reading Theosophical literature one is often confronted by the words Mahayuga, Kaliyuga, Manvantara, Kalpa, etc. No doubt all of… Read More »Yugas

Introduction to the Philosopher [Laotze] and His Book the Tao Teh

Article/ by Walter Gorn Old, 1904 [from The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze, 1904]

Little or nothing is known in regard to the early life of the old philosopher Laotze, but history reports that… Read More »Introduction to the Philosopher [Laotze] and His Book the Tao Teh

W.Q.J. As I Knew Him

Editorial/ by Elliot B. Page, Theosophy, May, 1896

It is nearly fifteen years since I first made the acquaintance of William Q. Judge, the occasion of it being… Read More »W.Q.J. As I Knew Him

HPB & Philo

Article/ by Mark Casady, Theosophy Nexus, August, 2013

HPB, in the glossary of the Key to Theosophy, apparently consulting a bio on Philo, considers his writings to be… Read More »HPB & Philo

An Important Message from the Kogi Elders

Article/ by Raymond Rugland, Sunrise: Theosophic Perspectives, May, 1993

Our love of truth is evinced by our ability to discover and appropriate what is good wherever we come… Read More »An Important Message from the Kogi Elders

Japanese Buddhist Sects

Article/ by Anon., The Path, November-December, 1890 [Serialized] [Author given as “Kyo-Ryo-Va-Sha”]

I In Japan there are twelve principal Buddhist sects, all of them having different names and with different reasons for… Read More »Japanese Buddhist Sects

Is the Sun merely a Cooling Mass?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

2. And, further, the time necessary for the manvantara even of one planetary chain, much more of all seven,—seems largely… Read More »Is the Sun merely a Cooling Mass?

Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita [Chapter 4]

Commentary/Lecture/ by Bhavani Shankar, March, 1914 [2nd Edition, 1923]

Contents Preface 1. The Place of Jnanayoga in the Gita 2. The Pedigree of Jnanayoga 3. The Doctrine of Avataras… Read More »Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita [Chapter 4]

Tao Te Ching (The Canon of Reason and Virtue)

Translation/ by Paul Carus with D. T. Suzuki, , 1898 [From Lao-Tze’s Tao-Teh-King, 1898]

1: Reason’s Realization 1. The Reason that can be reasoned is not the eternal Reason. The name that can be… Read More »Tao Te Ching (The Canon of Reason and Virtue)

“I am Dharma”: A Brief Thought from the Anugita Parva (Mahabharata, Aswamedhika Parva)

Article/ by Kristan Stratos, Theosophy Nexus, October, 2015

Then I thought that I have no dominion, or that everything is my dominion. Even this body is not mine,… Read More »“I am Dharma”: A Brief Thought from the Anugita Parva (Mahabharata, Aswamedhika Parva)

Theosophy in the Apocrypha

Article/ by Katherine Hillard, Theosophy, November, 1896

I. Esdras The word Apocrypha means hidden, or secret, i. e., esoteric, and is applied to fourteen books originally published… Read More »Theosophy in the Apocrypha

Through the Gates of Gold [Commentary]

Commentary/ by Mark Casady, Theosophy Nexus, September, 2014 to April, 2016 [Serialized]

Through the Gates of Gold: A Fragment of Thought is a wonderful, profound, eloquent work, the study of which offers many… Read More »Through the Gates of Gold [Commentary]

On Tao

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, December, 1926

Like the Sanskrit Word Aum, Tao stands for that which is the source, the power, and the form of the… Read More »On Tao

The Ancient Wisdom of the Maoris

Article/ by John St. Clair, Theosophy, April, 1897

In his reports of the World’s parliament of religions at Chicago, Mr. Stead has a fine portrait of Tawhiao the… Read More »The Ancient Wisdom of the Maoris

“The Greatest of the Exiles”

Editorial/ by Clement Acton Griscom, Jr., Theosophy, May, 1896

“Those who are wise in spiritual things grieve neither for the dead nor for the living. I myself never was… Read More »“The Greatest of the Exiles”

The Late Charles Johnston

LTTE/ by Henry Bedinger Mitchell, NY Times, October, 1931

To the Editor of the New York Times: The Time’s notice of the life and work of the late Charles… Read More »The Late Charles Johnston

Plotinus, The Enneads [6:1-9]

Translation/ by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, 1918 [Originally published in Plotinus: Complete Works]

Ennead 6.1. Of the Ten Aristotelian and Four Stoic Categories. HISTORICAL REVIEW OF CATEGORIES. 1. Very ancient philosophers have investigated… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [6:1-9]

One of the Immortals

Editorial/ by Jerome A. Anderson, Theosophy, May, 1896

Men can really be judged only by their equals or superiors. The Adept side of the character of Wm. Q.… Read More »One of the Immortals

“His One Ambition”

Editorial/ by J. D. Buck, Theosophy, May, 1896

I first met William Q. Judge in the winter of 1885. He spent Christmas week at my home in company… Read More »“His One Ambition”

Are the Great Nations to be Swept Away in an Hour?

Article/Q & A/ by Anon., The Theosophist, September, 1883 [For notes on authorship see Blavatsky CW vol. 5, pp. 129-138]

3. The different races which succeed each other on the earth are said to be separated by catastrophes, among which… Read More »Are the Great Nations to be Swept Away in an Hour?

The Screen of Time

Editorial/ by Anon., Theosophy, May, 1896 [Author signed as “T.”]

A new cycle has begun. The “turning inwards”—and homewards, of William Q. Judge was the signal for the dawn of… Read More »The Screen of Time

Plotinus, The Enneads [2:1-9]

Translation/ by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, 1918 [Originally published in Plotinus: Complete Works]

Ennead 2.1. Of the Heaven. HEAVEN, THOUGH IN FLUX, PERPETUATES ITSELF BY FORM. 1. Nothing will be explained by the… Read More »Plotinus, The Enneads [2:1-9]

Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze)

Commentary/Translation/ by Walter Gorn Old, 1904

[Dedication:] ToAndrew Carnegie,An Exponent of theRational Philanthropy:which, by Feeding the Root,instead of Lopping the Branches,stimulates development from within;and by theSupreme… Read More »Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze)

Theosophy in Name and Reality

Article/ by Anon., Theosophy Magazine, April, 1987

People are sometimes surprised to hear that Theosophy is radically different from any of the popular blends of science and… Read More »Theosophy in Name and Reality

A Friend and a Brother

Editorial/ by E. Augustus Neresheimer, Theosophy, May, 1896

A powerful genius and promoter of the Theosophical movement in America has passed away from the gaze of the eye,… Read More »A Friend and a Brother

Fama Fraternitatis

Translation/ by Thomas Vaughan, 1652

Seeing the only wise and merciful God in these latter days hath poured out so richly His mercy and goodness… Read More »Fama Fraternitatis

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