The Theosophical Library

Filters

Filter by Year

[Note: Use the sliders from both ends to define your date range]

Filter by Exact Date

[Notes: Articles published in monthly magazines are dated on the 1st of the month. Books where the exact date of publication are unknown, are dated as Dec, 31st, of the year they were published.]

Filter by Authors

Search for an Author

Select an Author

Filter by Co-Authors/Collaborators

[Note: first select the main author, then this will show co-authors, collaborators, compilers, etc.]

Filter by Recipients

[Note: this applies to recipients of letters and other correspondence.]

Filter by Source

Filter by Content Type

Filter by Keywords

Other Filters

Doomed!

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

A letter signed by a Mr. R. Barnes Austin of Heathfield, England, addressed to the editor of The Theosophist, has… Read More »Doomed!

Madame Blavatsky: Her Experience & Opinions of American Spiritualism

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Spiritual Scientist, December, 1874

From a letter received from Mme. Blavatsky last week we make the following extracts, want of space alone preventing us… Read More »Madame Blavatsky: Her Experience & Opinions of American Spiritualism

“Praise Him With The Timbrel And Dance”

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

. . . “Let the children of Zion . . . praise the Lord’s name in the dance. . .… Read More »“Praise Him With The Timbrel And Dance”

A Dissertation on the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries

Article/ by Thomas Taylor, The Pamphleteer, 1816 (No.'s 15-16), 2nd Ed. [Serialized] [PDF Version (scanned original)]

Εν ταις ΤΕΛΕΤΑΙΣ καθαρσεις ηγουνται και περιρραντηρια και αγνισμοι, α των εν απορρητοις δρωμενων, και της του θειου μετουσιας γυμνασματα… Read More »A Dissertation on the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries

Buddhism, Christianity and Phallicism

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, July, 1896 [Posthumously Published]

Works by specialists and scholars have to be treated with a certain respect, due to science. But such works as… Read More »Buddhism, Christianity and Phallicism

Is the Desire to “Live” Selfish?

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, July, 1884

The passage “to Live, to live, to Live must be the unswerving resolve,” occurring in the article on the Elixir… Read More »Is the Desire to “Live” Selfish?

The Drift of Western Spiritualism

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

Late advices from various parts of the world seem to indicate that, while there is an increasing interest in the… Read More »The Drift of Western Spiritualism

War in Olympus

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1879

Dark clouds are gathering over the hitherto cold and serene horizon of exact science, which forebode a squall. Already two… Read More »War in Olympus

H. P. Blavatsky

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

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

Contemporary Literature and Theosophy

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

There is growing every day among contemporary writers a strong disposition to take up theosophic doctrine, and especially in those… Read More »Contemporary Literature and Theosophy

Theosophy and Epidemics

Lecture/ by W. Q. Judge, Brooklyn Eagle, The Times (Philadelphia), September, 1892

[Note: the following article appeared almost word-for-word in at least two newspapers on the same day. The version given here… Read More »Theosophy and Epidemics

A False “Witness”

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

The Lucknow Witness, it appears, indulged some time since in a bit of casuistical morality at the expense of the… Read More »A False “Witness”

Fragments: on Idolatry, Avataras, Initiations, Cycles and Modern Fallacies

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, August, 1896 [Posthumously Published]

Idolatry The outward form of idolatry is but a veil, concealing the one Truth like the veil of the Saitic… Read More »Fragments: on Idolatry, Avataras, Initiations, Cycles and Modern Fallacies

Two Letters to the Editor of the N.Y. Times

LTTE/ by W. Q. Judge, Lucifer Magazine, March, 1892

Will you permit me to correct the statement of Mr. J. R. Perry in your issue of the 3rd that… Read More »Two Letters to the Editor of the N.Y. Times

The Path

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

This magazine is not intended either to replace or to rival in America The Theosophist, nor any other journal now… Read More »The Path

A Word On Pronouns

Note(s)/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, 1889

Article by Frances Ellen Burr | Note by W. Q. Judge It is claimed that civilization cannot alter the nature… Read More »A Word On Pronouns

The Theosophical Congress and the Parliament of Religions

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, November, 1893

The Congress of the Theosophical Society in September as a part of the Great Parliament of Religions was a significant… Read More »The Theosophical Congress and the Parliament of Religions

Buddhist Priests and the Title “Reverend”

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Madras Times, May, 1879

To the Editor, Sir,—My writing is prompted by the legitimate curiosity of a foreigner, who is studying the value of… Read More »Buddhist Priests and the Title “Reverend”

Introduction to the Story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur

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

The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the finest examples of esoteric mythology from the annals of… Read More »Introduction to the Story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur

Esoteric Buddhism and its Critic

LTTE/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Light, October, 1883

To the Editor of Light. “Bottom. Let me play the lion . . . I will roar, that I will do… Read More »Esoteric Buddhism and its Critic

Karma and Ethics

Lecture/ by W. Q. Judge, The San Francisco Call, October, 1891

Last evening William Q. Judge delivered a lecture in Odd Fellows’ Hall, on “Karma and Ethics,” before another large audience.… Read More »Karma and Ethics

Black Magic in Science

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

“. . . Commence research where modern conjecture closes its faithless wings.” (Bulwer’s Zanoni). “The flat denial of yesterday has become the… Read More »Black Magic in Science

[Genuine, Orthodox and Heteredox Brahmanism]

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

Selections from “Esoteric Spiritualism the Law of ‘Influx’ and ‘eflux’” by William Yeats | Introductory Note & Footnotes by H.P.B.… Read More »[Genuine, Orthodox and Heteredox Brahmanism]

Electric and Magnetic Affinities Between Man and Nature

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

Without going too deeply into certain vexed questions based upon what the orthodox men of science please to term the… Read More »Electric and Magnetic Affinities Between Man and Nature

Sanskrit Study in the West

Article/ by Charles Johnston, The Theosophist, March & May, 1889 [Serialized]

I. No event in the intellectual history of the nineteenth century is, perhaps, of so great importance, and likely to… Read More »Sanskrit Study in the West

“The Crown of Life”

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), November, 1899

“Laying all thy works in thought on me, and full of me, let thy imagination be ever bent on me,… Read More »“The Crown of Life”

Three Books on the Vedanta

Review/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1912

1. The System of the Vedanta, by Prof. Paul Deussen. 2. The Philosophy of the Upanishads, by Prof. Paul Deussen.… Read More »Three Books on the Vedanta

Life and Teachings of Pythagoras

Article/ by F. S. Darrow, The Theosophical Path, July-August, 1911 [Serialized]

I. Life “Pythagoras, the pure philosopher deeply versed in the profounder phenomena of nature, the noble inheritor of the ancient… Read More »Life and Teachings of Pythagoras

Dramas of the Mysteries

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1924

Let the king resolve to change the face of his court and forcibly evict the animal from the chair of… Read More »Dramas of the Mysteries

Children as Teachers

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), December, 1900

When we talk of teaching children, of forming their minds and hearts by suggestions taken from the experience of our… Read More »Children as Teachers

A Weird Tale

Story/ by W. Q. Judge, The Theosophist, July & December, 1885 [Serialized]

Part I. The readers of this magazine have read in its pages, narratives far more curious and taxing to belief… Read More »A Weird Tale

Theories About Reincarnation and Spirits

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Path, November, 1886

Over and over again the abstruse and mooted question of Rebirth or Reincarnation has crept out during the first ten… Read More »Theories About Reincarnation and Spirits

The Great War and the Great Initiation

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, 1919

Readers of the THEOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY who are acquainted with the Bhagavad Gita have been struck, again and again, with the… Read More »The Great War and the Great Initiation

[Miscellaneous Notes]

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

Note by H.P.B. on an Extract from the Poona Observer The following is an extract from the Poona Observer and Civil… Read More »[Miscellaneous Notes]

Two Systems—of Lust and Sorrow

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

The great Buddha referred to two systems for the government of life which he said were each ignoble, and one… Read More »Two Systems—of Lust and Sorrow

Theosophy and Spiritualism

Note(s)/Q & A/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, August, 1882

A Calcutta correspondent asks: (a) Is Occultism a science akin to Spiritualism? (b) What are the principal points in which… Read More »Theosophy and Spiritualism

The St. James Gazette and Esoteric Buddhism

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, November, 1883

“Learning is light, ignorance is darkness,” says a proverb. It is good to be learned, when one’s knowledge rests on… Read More »The St. James Gazette and Esoteric Buddhism

Theosophy (Lecture)

Article/Lecture/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1924

There may be some here this afternoon who have no defined understanding of The Theosophical Society and its purpose. It… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)

Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato

Translation/ by Thomas Taylor, 1820

Introduction Of that golden chain of philosophers, who, having themselves happily penetrated, luminously unfolded to others the profundities of the… Read More »Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato

The Dwellers on High Mountains

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Word, June, 1912 [Posthumously Published]

An account of the dwellers upon high mountains would be incomplete without some reference to a widespread belief prevailing in… Read More »The Dwellers on High Mountains

The Second Year

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, April, 1887

The first number of this magazine naturally appealed to the future, to show whether there was any need for its… Read More »The Second Year

The Fourfold Self’s Three Vestures

Commentary/Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Lucifer Magazine, July, 1894

Introduction The doctrine of the fourfold Self and its three vestures is outlined in Prashna Upanishad, clearly stated in Mandukya… Read More »The Fourfold Self’s Three Vestures

The Seventeen-Rayed Sun-Disc

Editorial/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, May, 1883

The following interesting letter was received by us from Fresno, California. As it is a private one, we can give… Read More »The Seventeen-Rayed Sun-Disc

Theosophical Studies

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Occult Word, February, 1887

Study all scriptures written near and far; Worship all images and saints of earth; But if you do not study… Read More »Theosophical Studies

Considerations on Magic

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

We hear a good deal nowadays and are likely to hear still more of occult science. In this regard we… Read More »Considerations on Magic

[Notes on the Demons of the Zend-Avesta]

Note(s)/ by H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophist, June, 1885

Letter Selections by Dhunjibhoy Jamsetjee | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. The Zendavesta is full of allusions to Devas, Drugs, and… Read More »[Notes on the Demons of the Zend-Avesta]

The Religion of China

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, 1907

[I.] The records of China go back nearly five thousand years. Twenty-eight centuries before our era, say these records, a… Read More »The Religion of China

Rounds and Races

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

A fundamental axiom in Theosophy is that no one should accept as unquestionably true any statement of fact, principle, or… Read More »Rounds and Races

Filters

Filter by Exact Date

Search for an Author

Select an Author

Filter by Co-Authors/Collaborators

Filter by Recipients

Featured Content

Collected Writings

Authors

Publications

Browse by Keyword