The Theosophical Library

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The Religion of India

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

I. When we come to India, the contrast with Egypt and Chaldea is strongly marked. Of the ancient Sumerian culture… Read More »The Religion of India

Practical Theosophy

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

The ethics of life propounded by Jesus are not different from those found in theosophy, but the latter holds in… Read More »Practical Theosophy

“The Brotherhood of the New Life”

Editorial/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, February, 1892

This is one of the many enterprises gotten up to catch the unwary who seek after spiritual things, and the… Read More »“The Brotherhood of the New Life”

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

Taittiriya Upanishad (Instructions for Disciples)

Translation/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, January, April, 1924 [Serialized]

The Taittiriya Upanishad is made up, for the most part, of Instructions for younger disciples, who are learning the first… Read More »Taittiriya Upanishad (Instructions for Disciples)

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

A Reply to Our Critics

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

In the ordinary run of daily life speech may be silver, while “silence is gold.” With the editors of periodicals… Read More »A Reply to Our Critics

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

The Theosophical Glossary

Book/ by H. P. Blavatsky, 1892 [Posthumously Published]

THE THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY BY H. P. BLAVATSKY I PREFACE. ——— The Theosophical Glossary labours under the disadvantage of being an almost… Read More »The Theosophical Glossary

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 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

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

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

The School of Pythagoras at Crotona

Article/ by Arnaldo Cervesato, The Theosophical Path, November, 1916

[Crotona] This was the ancient city of Magna Graecia, Italy, and has no reference to modern places of that name.… Read More »The School of Pythagoras at Crotona

[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]

The Earth Chain of Globes

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, February, March & April, 1893 [Serialized]

[No. I.] Although H.P.B. gave out to several of those who met her during the period from 1875 to 1878… Read More »The Earth Chain of Globes

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

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

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 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

Patanjali and His Disciples

Article/Review/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, April, 1915

Dr. J. Haughton Woods prints, in the November number of the Journal of the American Oriental Society, a translation of… Read More »Patanjali and His Disciples

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

Reincarnation of Animals

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

Very little has been said on the question whether or not the theory of Reincarnation applies to animals in the… Read More »Reincarnation of Animals

Vicarious Atonement and Karma

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, October, 1926

Students of Theosophy believe that all great religions were founded on the lives and teachings of Masters of Wisdom, men… Read More »Vicarious Atonement and Karma

The Origin of the Gospels and the Bishop of Bombay

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

The ignorance which commonly prevails among English Christians concerning the history of their own religious books and, it is feared,… Read More »The Origin of the Gospels and the Bishop of Bombay

Genius

Article/ by H. P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Magazine, November, 1889

“Genius! thou gift of Heaven, thou light divine! Amid what dangers art thou doom’d to shine. Oft will the body’s… Read More »Genius

[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]

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)

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

[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]

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

Theosophy and Miracles

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

Article selection by Gilbert Elliot, Esq. | Note by H.P.B. . . . The main difficulty in the way of ascertaining the… Read More »Theosophy and Miracles

Cycles and Cyclic Law

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

Ladies and gentlemen: This is our last meeting; it is the last impulse of the Cycle which we began when… Read More »Cycles and Cyclic Law

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!

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

The Lord of the Three Worlds

Article/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Forum (2nd Series), July, 1898

“All this, verily, is the Eternal; let him draw near to it in the silence, as gleaming through all the… Read More »The Lord of the Three Worlds

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

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

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

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

A Servant of the Masters: Col. Henry S. Olcott

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

A Pioneer in a great movement, such as that represented by the Theosophical Society, should be known to the contemporary… Read More »A Servant of the Masters: Col. Henry S. Olcott

Theosophy—Its Claims, Doctrines, and Progress

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, December, 1892

When the Theosophical Society was started by the erstwhile famous Madam Blavatsky, in 1875, the now famous orator, Mrs. Annie… Read More »Theosophy—Its Claims, Doctrines, and Progress

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”

[Notes on “Kama rupa” and the Power of Will]

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

Article selections by Lalla Maikoolal | Notes by H.P.B. The following is the result of my meditations and I give… Read More »[Notes on “Kama rupa” and the Power of Will]

Chandogya Upanishad 1:1-7 (The Mysteries of Sound 1)

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

Note: It will be advisable to study the Commentary that follows, before reading this translation. [Translation] OM: let a man… Read More »Chandogya Upanishad 1:1-7 (The Mysteries of Sound 1)

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

Advantages and Disadvantages in Life

Article/ by W. Q. Judge, The Path, July, 1895

That view of one’s Karma which leads to a bewailing of the unkind fate which has kept advantages in life… Read More »Advantages and Disadvantages in Life

Theosophy (Lecture)

Article/Lecture/ by Charles Johnston, Theosophical Quarterly, July, 1927

The purpose of The Theosophical Society is to keep alive the spiritual intuitions of mankind. Since we are here this… Read More »Theosophy (Lecture)

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