A Land of Mystery
[I] Whether one surveys the imposing ruins of Memphis or Palmyra; stands at the foot of the great pyramid of… Read More »A Land of Mystery
Karma and Ancient Law
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
Buddhism in America
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
Conversations on Occultism [2nd Series]
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]
The Ethics of Study
“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but… Read More »The Ethics of Study
Mr. William Eglinton’s Departure from India
The enemies of Spiritualism and Theosophy can rejoice and triumph, and the Calcutta bigoted and dyspeptic fogies—old or young—are invited… Read More »Mr. William Eglinton’s Departure from India
[Was Jehovah Inspired by Indra?]
Article selection from “Indra”, by Rajendro Nauth Dutta | Notes by H.P.B. Indra1 is the name of one of these… Read More »[Was Jehovah Inspired by Indra?]
The Author of Isis Unveiled Defends the Validity of Her Masonic Patent
[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
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
The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac
The division of the Zodiac into different signs dates from immemorial antiquity. It has acquired a world-wide celebrity and is… Read More »The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac
Hindu Theism
Old readers will recollect our desire, long ago expressed, that some respectable Brahmo would undertake, in these columns, a candid… Read More »Hindu Theism
Exploring Isis Unveiled
Volume 1 Part 1: Do flying guitars unconsciously cerebrate? Blavatsky’s Isis Unveiled was tremendously well-received at the time, an instant… Read More »Exploring Isis Unveiled
[On the Siddhis “Anima” and “Mahima”]
Article selection from “An Indian Aethrobat”, by Babu Krishna Indra Sandyal | Note by H.P.B. In the November issue of… Read More »[On the Siddhis “Anima” and “Mahima”]
The Science of Magic
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
Theosophical Society and Reforms
ZEALOUS THEOSOPHIST. Don’t you think the Theosophical Society ought to take some definite stand on the questions of reform? Constitutional… Read More »Theosophical Society and Reforms
Ancient Magic in Modern Science
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
The Vedanta Philosophy
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
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
Lamas And Druses
Mr. L. Oliphant’s new work “Land of Gilead” attracts considerable attention. Reviews appeared some time since, but we had to… Read More »Lamas And Druses
[Notes on the “Philosopher’s Stone”]
Selections from HPB’s translation of Éliphas Lévi’s “Rituel de la Haute Magie” | Notes by H.P.B. . . . This stone… Read More »[Notes on the “Philosopher’s Stone”]
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
African Magic
Before we enter into the subject of the occult art as practised on the West Coast of Africa, it will… Read More »African Magic
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
Indian Ideals
The breath of the Indian Renaissance, so long foretold, so long in coming, begins to blow in our faces; to… Read More »Indian Ideals
Astrology Verified
Writing in the Theosophist upon the subject of Astrology, C.C.Massey says that he thinks at present we are not fully… Read More »Astrology Verified
Eloquent, Just, and Mighty Death
It is part of the strange, deceptive quality of things, that nothing should teach us so much of life, nothing… Read More »Eloquent, Just, and Mighty Death
The Jews in Russia
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
Kamadeva: An Exploration by Two Students
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
India, Mother of Nations
It is a hundred years now since Schopenhauer foretold that India and the genius of India would produce an effect… Read More »India, Mother of Nations
About “Spirit” Materializations
An examination of the records of the past forty years of what is known as the spiritualistic movement discloses a… Read More »About “Spirit” Materializations
Rings, Rounds, and Obscuration
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
Aryan Origins and the Primeval Savage
In discussing the question of Indian Chronology, and the almost inextricable confusion it had been thrown into by the conjectures… Read More »Aryan Origins and the Primeval Savage
The Tide of Life
I. “Our souls have sight of that immortal sea which brought us hither; Can in a moment travel thither— And… Read More »The Tide of Life
A Thunder Cloud With Silver Lining
“All comes in good time to him who knows to wait,” says the proverb. The small party of New York… Read More »A Thunder Cloud With Silver Lining
Premature and Phenomenal Growths
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
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
The Esoteric Character of the Gospels
Part I “. . . . Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of… Read More »The Esoteric Character of the Gospels
Tales of the Ancient Rajputs
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 Astral Light
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
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”
Aphorisms on Karma
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
The Logos and the Mind
Io veggio ben sì come già risplende nello intelletto tuo l’eterna luce . . . —DANTE, Paradiso, V. “Well do… Read More »The Logos and the Mind
Should Men Cut Their Hair?
Article selection by Alexander Wilder | Note by H.P.B. Whether the hair should be cut I could never quite satisfy… Read More »Should Men Cut Their Hair?
Devachan
A letter to the editor from Holland upon this subject deserves reply, as is must give utterance to the questions… Read More »Devachan
Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
[Translation] Self was here verily in the beginning; nothing else opposing at all. He beheld, saying: Let me now put… Read More »Aitareya Upanishad (Father, Mother and Son)
The Song of Life
The Gospels are the perfect flower of Palestine. The Upanishads are the chiefest treasure of most ancient India. The heart… Read More »The Song of Life
[Reviews:] Theosophical and Mystic Publications
The Theosophist, a magazine of Oriental Philosophy, Art, Literature, and Occultism. Conducted by H. P. Blavatsky, and H. S. Olcott,… Read More »[Reviews:] Theosophical and Mystic Publications