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Papyrus—The Gem

Story/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, March, 1887

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

Isha Upanishad (By the Master)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, July, 1920 [Serialized]

By the Master all this is to be clothed and pervaded, whatever moves in this moving world. These words, like… Read More »Isha Upanishad (By the Master)

[Notes on “Three Unpublished Essays” by Éliphas Lévi]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, April-May, 1884 [Serialized]

Essay Selections by Éliphas Lévi (translated from French) | Notes by H.P.B. The three Essays—the first of which is now given—belong… Read More »[Notes on “Three Unpublished Essays” by Éliphas Lévi]

Stray Thoughts on Death and Satan

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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE THEOSOPHIST Madam,—Since you have published a posthumous letter of my Master and beloved friend, the… Read More »Stray Thoughts on Death and Satan

The Missing Link

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

A good many of the Western papers are terribly excited over a bit of news just arrived in Europe from… Read More »The Missing Link

Research: On the Etymology of Dzyan

Research Paper/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, January, 2020 [Last Updated: July 11, 2021]

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

Iconoclasm Toward Illusions

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

A disposition not to interfere in any way with beliefs which are illusions prevails with many who dislike the pain… Read More »Iconoclasm Toward Illusions

To the Spiritualists of Boston

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky with H. S. Olcott, , Spiritual Scientist, June, 1875

In a private letter received by me from A. N. Aksakoff, Counselor of State in the private Chancellery of the… Read More »To the Spiritualists of Boston

Paul the Disciple

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1915; January, October, 1916 [Serialized]

[I.] Paul’s life is supremely valuable because it shows the method of the Master, after the resurrection, in training his… Read More »Paul the Disciple

Blavatsky Still Lives

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, NY Times, January, 1889

The Very Latest News From the World of Occultism—Blavatsky and her Mahatmas Mr. W. Q. Judge, who is the head… Read More »Blavatsky Still Lives

The Coming of the Serpent

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

The white rays shed over all the Island when the Diamond on the mountain shot forth its last light continued… Read More »The Coming of the Serpent

Aphorisms on Karma

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

The following, among others not yet used, were given to me by teachers, among them being H. P. Blavatsky. Some… Read More »Aphorisms on Karma

Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)

Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, March, 1894; November, 1895; January-April, July-December, 1896; January-April, 1897; concluded in Theosophy, June, 1897 [Serialized]

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)

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

Conversations on Occultism [2nd Series]

Article/ by W. Q. Judge with H. P. Blavatsky, , The Path, October-December, 1894; January-February, 1895 [Serialized]

Occult Teachings Student.—What is Occultism? Sage.—It is that branch of knowledge which shows the universe in the form of an… Read More »Conversations on Occultism [2nd Series]

Karma and Ancient Law

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Theosophist, September, 1888

Some points in ancient law, which furnish coincidences with the occult doctrine of cyclic progression, and some legal theories which… Read More »Karma and Ancient Law

“C.C.M.” and Isis Unveiled

LTTE/ by A. O. Hume with H. P. Blavatsky, , The Theosophist, September, 1882 [Notes by H. P. Blavatsky]

To the Editor of the Theosophist. Dear Madame, I cannot say that, to me, the explanation furnished at page 288… Read More »“C.C.M.” and Isis Unveiled

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 Vedanta Philosophy

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), November, 1904

The keynote of the Indian Renaissance of today, is the great and increasing attention paid to the Vedanta Philosophy; and… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy

The Theosophical Society as Related to Brahmanism and Buddhism

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, May, 1893 [Incl. Follow-up(s)]

The subjoined circular has been sent by me to as many Brahmins as I could reach. I have purposely used… Read More »The Theosophical Society as Related to Brahmanism and Buddhism

Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Oriental Department Papers, December, 1896

[Translation] The divine Song, verily, is all their being, whatsoever there is; and the Word is the divine Song. The… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 3:12-16 (Heart, Will, Life)

Is “Time” a Dimension of “Space”

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, 1920

Let us come gradually to this knotty question, using a series of familiar references as stepping-stones. To begin with, readers… Read More »Is “Time” a Dimension of “Space”

Kamadeva: An Exploration by Two Students

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus with Anon, , Universal Theosophy, November, 2013

The following is not meant as an exhaustive treatise on Kamadeva, but rather as an outline of certain ideas, from… Read More »Kamadeva: An Exploration by Two Students

AUM!

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, 1886

The most sacred mystic syllable of the Vedas, is Aum. It is the first letter of the Sanscrit alphabet, and… Read More »AUM!

Buddhism in America

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, New York Sun, May, 1877

To the Editor of The Sun: Sir—As, in your leading article of May 6th, I am at one moment given credit… Read More »Buddhism in America

Ancient Magic in Modern Science

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

Paulthier, The French Indianist, may, or may not, be taxed with too much enthusiasm when saying that India appears before… Read More »Ancient Magic in Modern Science

Astral Intoxication

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, October, 1887

There is such a thing as being intoxicated in the course of an unwise pursuit of what we erroneously imagine… Read More »Astral Intoxication

Mars and Mercury: A Possible Solution

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Lucifer Magazine, September, 1893

[Note: This article refers to disagreements upon a certain theosophical idea on the nature of Mars and Mercury and their… Read More »Mars and Mercury: A Possible Solution

Tales of the Ancient Rajputs

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Path, October, 1888

There is an old tradition, so old that it has almost died from the memories of men, that veils eventful… Read More »Tales of the Ancient Rajputs

The Five-Pointed Star

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

Of late numerous letters have been received in The THEOSOPHIST office concerning the efficacy of the mysterious Pentagram. Our Eastern… Read More »The Five-Pointed Star

African Magic

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

Before we enter into the subject of the occult art as practised on the West Coast of Africa, it will… Read More »African Magic

Namastae!

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, October, 1879

The foundation of this journal is due to causes which, having been enumerated in the Prospectus, need only be glanced… Read More »Namastae!

Sankaracharya

Article/ by Jon W. Fergus, Universal Theosophy, June, 2013

Sankaracharya (from Saṅkara, a personal name + ācarya teacher) was an Indian reformer and teacher of Vedanta, who founded what… Read More »Sankaracharya

The Theory of Cycles

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July, 1880

It is now some time since this theory, which was first propounded in the oldest religion of the world, Vedaism,… Read More »The Theory of Cycles

The Theosophy of Tsongkhapa

Article/ by Samantha Province, Theosophy Nexus, March-April, 2016

Tsongkhapa is an extremely significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism. His impact has been compared to that of Thomas Aquinas in… Read More »The Theosophy of Tsongkhapa

Hindu Theism

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

Old readers will recollect our desire, long ago expressed, that some respectable Brahmo would undertake, in these columns, a candid… Read More »Hindu Theism

Indian Ideals

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Lucifer Magazine, March, 1894

The breath of the Indian Renaissance, so long foretold, so long in coming, begins to blow in our faces; to… Read More »Indian Ideals

Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, 1923 [Serialized]

Brahmâ the Evolver, first of the Bright Powers came to birth, Maker of all, Preserver of the world. He declared… Read More »Mundaka Upanishad (The Two Wisdoms)

The Astral Light

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Religio-Philosophical Journal, July, 1889

A natural preliminary question is: “What is the Astral Light?” It is a difficult question to answer; as difficult as… Read More »The Astral Light

Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy

Article/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June-July, 1883 [Serialized]

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

Premature and Phenomenal Growths

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, January, 1884

A Russian Theosophist in a letter dated November 1883, writes as follows:— The Petersburg and Moscow papers are greatly concerned… Read More »Premature and Phenomenal Growths

Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms

Article/ by Thomas Taylor, 1804, 1816 & 1820 [Compilation]

As some apology may be thought necessary for having introduced, in the course of the following translation, certain unusual words… Read More »Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms

The Jews in Russia

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

It is to be regretted that your incandescent contemporary, The Sun, should have no better sources of information. It stated on… Read More »The Jews in Russia

The Author of Isis Unveiled Defends the Validity of Her Masonic Patent

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Franklin Register, February, 1878

[Note: for some background, see “Honours to Madame Blavatsky,” by Charles Sotheran, Banner of Light, February 2, 1878; H.P.B. in her Scrapbook… Read More »The Author of Isis Unveiled Defends the Validity of Her Masonic Patent

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

Proofs of the Hidden Self

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, August, 1894

Through Dreams The dream state is common to all people. Some persons say they never dream, but upon examination it… Read More »Proofs of the Hidden Self

Rings, Rounds, and Obscuration

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

A number of correspondents have propounded questions growing out of a recent article on “Evolution” and relating to the great… Read More »Rings, Rounds, and Obscuration

Studies in the Upanishads

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, May & July, 1886; March, 1891 [Serialized]

[I.] Many American theosophists are asking, “What are the Upanishads?” They are a portion of the ancient Aryan literature which… Read More »Studies in the Upanishads

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