The Theosophical Library

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A Land of Mystery

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, March, April, June, August, 1880 [Serialized]

[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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Devachan

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, September, 1890

A letter to the editor from Holland upon this subject deserves reply, as is must give utterance to the questions… Read More »Devachan

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

The Theosophist and Hindu Pantheism

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, December, 1881

It is upon the above subject 1 that we find Mr. Henry Atkinson, of Boulogne, France, treating in the Philosophic… Read More »The Theosophist and Hindu Pantheism

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

An Ancient Telephone

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

It has been the custom of many people to belittle the ancients by assuming that they knew but little of… Read More »An Ancient Telephone

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

Death and Immortality

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1882

Letter by N.D.K. | Reply by H.P.B. [Note: it is quite possible that this reply to N.D.K. was authored by… Read More »Death and Immortality

Lamas And Druses

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

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

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

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

The Tide of Life

Article/Commentary/ by Charles Johnston with H. P. Blavatsky, , The Path, April-May, 1888 [Serialized]

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

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

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!

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

[Was Jehovah Inspired by Indra?]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, February, 1880

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 Dweller of the Threshold

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, December, 1888

Has such a being any existence? Has any one ever seen it? Are there many or several, and has it… Read More »The Dweller of the Threshold

The Number Seven

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

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 Religion of Chaldea

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, April, 1906

The land long known as Chaldea, wherein many nations successively grew and ruled, bears striking resemblances to the land of… Read More »The Religion of Chaldea

[Notes on the “Philosopher’s Stone”]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, January, 1883

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”]

[On the Siddhis “Anima” and “Mahima”]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, February, 1880

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 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

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]

Theosophical Society and Reforms

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

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

Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, 1792 [Drawn from The Philosophical and Mathematical Commentaries of Proclus on the First Book of Euclid’s Elements etc.]

[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”

Proclus, The Elements of Theology

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, Proclus: On the Theology of Plato, 1816

Foreword This admirable work contains two hundred and eleven propositions, disposed in a scientific order, and supported by the firmest… Read More »Proclus, The Elements of Theology

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

Points of Agreement in All Religions

Article/Lecture/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1894

[Note:] The Midwinter Fair at San Francisco had annexed to it a Religious parliament modeled after the first great one… Read More »Points of Agreement in All Religions

The Ethics of Study

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

“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

Eloquent, Just, and Mighty Death

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Irish Theosophist, May, 1896

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 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

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

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 Dream of Ravan: A Mystery

Article/Commentary/Translation/ by Anon., Dublin University Magazine, October, 1853 to April, 1854 [Serialized]

Introduction to the Dream of Ravan Original 1853-54 Version (Dublin University Magazine) 1895 Edition (Theosophical Publishing Society) 1974 Edition (Theosophy… Read More »The Dream of Ravan: A Mystery

Aryan Origins and the Primeval Savage

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

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

“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

Gathas of Zarathustra

Translation/ by D. J. Irani, 1924 [from The Divine Songs of Zarathushtra]

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

Mr. William Eglinton’s Departure from India

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

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

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

[On Common Doctrines]

Lecture/ by W. Q. Judge, Theosophical Congress, September, 1893

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]

About “Spirit” Materializations

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1891

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

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

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