[Note: for historical context, see the introduction by C. Jinarajadasa and the appendices in the 1931 printing, as well as in the Blavatsky Collected Writings… Read More »[The Original Programme of The Theosophical Society]
For a long time there has been no event in the study of Oriental religions and philosophies equal in importance to the publication of Professor… Read More »Deussen’s Upanishads
It has often seemed to me that even the best Sanskrit scholars in Europe and America alike have no very clear insight into the purpose… Read More »The Culture-Language of the Future
There is a charming story in one of the Upanishads, a story full of the most delicate humour, which tells how the manifested forces of… Read More »Sanskrit’s Nearest Neighbour
The story of this Rajput Sage is a very ancient and very significant one. We have two versions of it, both very ancient; and from… Read More »A Rajput Sage
If the negative argument as to the newness of Indian writing is entirely worthless, can we build up any positive argument in its place? Let… Read More »The Antiquity of Indian Writing
The publication of the following article was inadvertently delayed.—H.S. Olcott. I am moved to say a word, not by way of fomenting controversy, but merely… Read More »India and Her Theosophists
[The [following] article is a rough translation from La Revue Theosophique. Better H.P.B. at second hand than not at all—Ed. [The Theosophist]] [I.] It is written… Read More »Le Phare de L’inconnu [The Beacon-Light of the Unknown]
“I myself but write one or two indicative words for the future, I but advance a moment, only to wheel and hurry back in the… Read More »A Poet Theosophist: Walt Whitman
I. No event in the intellectual history of the nineteenth century is, perhaps, of so great importance, and likely to produce such fruitful results, as… Read More »Sanskrit Study in the West
[A Note on Authorship: In its original printing this article closed with the following note: “The foregoing is a summary of a discussion with Mr.… Read More »The Occultism of Southern India
In the August number of this Magazine, in an essay entitled “Two Thousand Years Ago,” I endeavoured to show that all that is vital and… Read More »Materialistic Science (A Summary)
Some points in ancient law, which furnish coincidences with the occult doctrine of cyclic progression, and some legal theories which illustrate certain theological dogmas, are… Read More »Karma and Ancient Law
The events which preceded the formation of the Roman Empire, just before the beginning of our era, furnish an analogy in some respects to what… Read More »“Two Thousand Years Ago”—A Contrast
I. “The fairy tale of the three supernatural persons, woman can verify.”—Matthew Arnold. Three centuries ago, the main tide of thought which distinguishes the modern… Read More »The Creed of Christendom
“It is true that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.”—LORD BACON. Bulwer Lytton,… Read More »Emerson and Occult Laws
At the present day, though science has added to its former treasures many things rich and rare, its wildest admirer would not claim for science… Read More »Psychism and the Fourth Dimension
These two systems are so closely linked together that any attempt to treat the one without the other would be incomplete and unsatisfactory. The Sankhya… Read More »The Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy
The Theosophical doctrine, while endorsing many of the views of the Darwinian system of evolution, has so supplemented that doctrine with another—that of man’s spiritual… Read More »The Speech of the Gods
“I would advise all in general that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge; that they seek it not… Read More »Tetragrammaton
At the recent May Meeting of the Church Missionary Society, Sir M. Monier-Williams felt impelled to lay before the world in general, and the crowd… Read More »“Two Professors.” Christian and Skeptic.
[Note: for some background, see: Classification of “Principles”] It seems a pity that the time and energies of our brothers should be employed in a… Read More »Classification of Principles
The greatest schisms often come about through the supporters of one cause disputing over mere terminology. Mr. Subba Row, in his able addresses on Bhagavad… Read More »Theosophical Theories of the Microcosm
[For background, see: Classification of “Principles”] In the May Theosophist (1887 [see “The Constitution of the Microcosm”]) I find the first part of a long… Read More »Re-Classification of Principles
I. The few remarks which I have made in my first lecture on the Bhagavad Gita published in the February issue of Theosophist, on the septenary… Read More »The Constitution of the Microcosm
Months have passed since the publication of this remarkable work—remarkable as a psychic production besides its undeniable literary worth—and we have been watching all the… Read More »[Review:] United
In a most admirable lecture by Mr. T. Subba Row on the Bhagavad Gita, published in the February number of the Theosophist, the lecturer deals,… Read More »Classification of “Principles”
Have you ever stood on the shore, and watched the incoming tide? First a tiny ripple advances a few inches over the yellow sand, then… Read More »“The Second Wave”
To whatsoever cause it may be due matters little, but the word fetich is given in the dictionaries the restricted sense of “an object selected… Read More »Animated Statues
Paulthier, The French Indianist, may, or may not, be taxed with too much enthusiasm when saying that India appears before him as the grand and… Read More »Ancient Magic in Modern Science
The interesting story published under the above title has already attracted considerable attention. It is instructive in more ways than one. It truly depicts the… Read More »The Idyll of the White Lotus [An Explanation]
Jacob Boehme (or as some say Behmen) was a German mystic and spiritualist who began to write in the 17th century. In his works he… Read More »Jacob Boehme and the Secret Doctrine
I. Ecce Signum! Behold the sign foreseen in a brighter future; the problem that will be the question of the forthcoming age, that every thoughtful,… Read More »Occult or Exact Science?
Contents Introduction Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 [Introduction] (Notes of a lecture, delivered at the Convention of the Theosophical Society, 1885, by… Read More »Notes on the Bhagavad Gita
Sir,—“R. R.” attempts in the October number of our Magazine to prove that I have taught in Isis Unveiled substantially the doctrine of Viśiṣṭādvaita, to which view… Read More »Isis Unveiled and the Visishtadvaita
“Continually soaked with blood, the whole earth is but an immense altar upon which all that lives has to be immolated—endlessly, incessantly.” . . .—Comte… Read More »Have Animals Souls?
The article by T. Subba Row Garu in the July Theosophist will be read with great interest by all Theosophists, not only because it is… Read More »The Nadigranthams
[Note: the following is a verbatim reproduction of the story as it first appeared in The Theosophist. For the enlarged, posthumous edition, see Nightmare Tales.] It was… Read More »A Bewitched Life
The current of public attraction runs towards psychic phenomena and is becoming in Europe stronger every year. Even German science and philosophy are beginning to… Read More »Facts and Ideations
Part I. The readers of this magazine have read in its pages, narratives far more curious and taxing to belief than the one I am… Read More »A Weird Tale
Letter Selections by Dhunjibhoy Jamsetjee | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. The Zendavesta is full of allusions to Devas, Drugs, and Drugnasus. The whole tenor of… Read More »[Notes on the Demons of the Zend-Avesta]
The following circular issued to the Branches of the Theosophical Society by the President-Founder, is now, by permission made public:— Headquaters, Adyar, 14th April, 1885.… Read More »Retirement of Madame Blavatsky
Christina Rossetti’s well-known lines: “Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end. Does the journey take the whole long day?… Read More »Spiritual Progress
In our last number, we published a contribution on the subject of Astrology by one of our brothers of the Madura Branch. We now find… Read More »A Remarkable Astrologer
Article Selections by A. P. Sinnett, “Kama-Loka and the Bearings of the Esoteric Doctrine on Spiritualism” | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. . . . many… Read More »[Notes on Kama-Loka and the After Death States]
Students of the information lately obtained from Eastern sources for the elucidation of what is known as the Esoteric doctrine, are well aware that the… Read More »Kama-Loka and the Bearings of the Esoteric Doctrine on Spiritualism
Article Selections by “A Theosophist” | Intro and Note by H.P.B. The following suggestive reply by a member of the Madura Branch to an enquiry… Read More »Faith in Astrology
Chirognomy is the art of delineating character by means of the hand. One of the arts of the Gypsies of Europe is Palmistry, which is… Read More »Chirognomy and Palmistry
A writer in The Saturday Review, in 1882, said: “We had thought we had heard the last of thought reading.” It seems, however, that he… Read More »Thought Transference or Mind Reading
For many years it has been customary to regard that collection of interesting stories called “The Arabian Nights,” as pure fiction arising out of Oriental… Read More »Are the “Arabian Nights” All Fiction?
[Note: for background, see the history of the conspiracy of the Coulombs against H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society.] To the Editor of The Times.… Read More »The Theosophical Society in India
Notwithstanding the many articles which have appeared in this magazine upon the above subject, much misunderstanding and many false views seem still to prevail. What… Read More »Chelas
The power of the Adepts over forces of nature, not generally recognized, has been enlarged upon on various occasions, but no account of them can… Read More »Qualifications for Chelaship
In the review of the Vedantasara on page 318 of Vol. IV of the Theosophist, I find the reviewer asserting that Sankaracharya’s Adwaita teaching is… Read More »Vedantism and Buddhism
Article Selection by Miad Hoyo-ra Kora-hon | Note by H.P.B. It may not be amiss for me to remark that persons in the possession of… Read More »[Note on the Odic Aura of Mediums]
Letter by Khetra Mohana Mukhopadhyaya | Notes by H.P.B. On page 144 of Esoteric Buddhism we have the following:— “A Buddha visits the earth for each of… Read More »The Future Buddhas
A correspondent of the Indian Mirror, an influential daily paper at Calcutta, writing under the heading of “Proper Education for our Ladies,” says:— Your editorial on the… Read More »The Future Occultist
In various writings on occult subjects, it has been stated that unselfishness is a sine qua non for success in occultism. Or a more correct… Read More »Can The Mahatmas Be Selfish?
A MAHATMA is a personage, who, by special training and education, has evolved those higher faculties and has attained that spiritual knowledge, which ordinary humanity… Read More »Mahatmas and Chelas
Note by H.P.B. on a condensed reproduction of “The Silver Hatchet,” by A. Conan Doyle. [Note by H.P.B.:] We reprint this from a Christmas Annual, edited, we… Read More »[Note on “The Silver Hatchet” by A. Conan Doyle]
Letter by H. C. Niblett | Note by H.P.B. We are told and have also read a great deal about the number seven. We are… Read More »Nirvana
The passage “to Live, to live, to Live must be the unswerving resolve,” occurring in the article on the Elixir of Life, published in the March… Read More »Is the Desire to “Live” Selfish?
We are in a position to state that Mr. Sinnett never intended to maintain that Buddhism, as popularly conceived, is the nearest approach ever made… Read More »[Septenary Division in Different Indian Systems]
The Glasgow Herald of April 11, 1884, contains 2-1/2 columns devoted by the eminent London Ontologist to—“The Theosophists.” A dangerous subject taking it all in all,… Read More »Mr. Moncure D. Conway’s “A Tour Round the World”
[Note: it is not certain who the author of this article was. It is included in the Collected Writings of H. P. Blavatsky, though there… Read More »Astrology
The communication in your December number from Chhabigram Dolatram, headed as above, is a piece of special pleading, directed against the adepts, and flowing from… Read More »Adepts and Politics
It is generally supposed that animals are not under the operation of the law of Karma, as applied to human beings. If so, how can… Read More »Karma
St. Francis Xavier was a Roman Catholic priest. His sacred corpse is lodged at Gôa, and exposed every third or fourth year to the public… Read More »A Roman Catholic Saint at Goa
According to the newest edition of the “Imperial Dictionary,” by John Ogilvie, L. L. D., “A medium is a person through whom the action of another being… Read More »Are Chelas Mediums?
The pamphlet of Mr. C. C. Massey, an F.T.S., of the London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, is a valuable contribution to the discussion now… Read More »The Metaphysical Basis of “Esoteric Buddhism”
Article Selections from “Magicon…” | Notes by H.P.B. A stupendous revolution in the realm of spirit caused the source of all being to begin an… Read More »[Notes on Spiritual Death and the Descent of Spirit into Matter]
Article Selections | Notes by H.P.B. . . . At the time when European civilization first invaded Japan, mirrors were unknown among the common people.… Read More »[A Parable of the Séance Room]
A Correspondent writes:— The Banner of Light has a curious case given in its columns. “There is,” it says, “a gentleman, in the city of New York… Read More »A Singular Case
Article Selection from The Diocesan Vyedomosty of Mogilev (Russia) | Note by H.P.B. The “Diocesan Vyedomosty” of Mogilev (Russia) quotes an interesting experience in the life of the… Read More »A Spirit Visit
La France in an article headed “Chronique Allemande” says about Prince Bismarck: “There is no doubt that he works hard, while undergoing treatment at Kissingen; but… Read More »Prince Bismarck’s Mysterious Visitor
Article by Purmeshri Dass | Note by D.K.M. The use of flesh-meat is forbidden on the ground that it is animal food and the reasons… Read More »The Best Food for Man
Letter by “A Student” | Reply by Damodar K. Mavalankar In the Supplement to the February issue, I find registered two occurrences under the head… Read More »“Phenomena”
Essay Selections by Éliphas Lévi (translated from French) | Notes by H.P.B. The three Essays—the first of which is now given—belong to the unpublished MSS. of… Read More »[Notes on “Three Unpublished Essays” by Éliphas Lévi]
Letter by Raj Coomar Roy | Note by H.P.B. The objects of the Theosophical Society are very laudable, and if they are realized by the… Read More »[Note to “Practical Work for Theosophists”]
Article from 1877 by D.A.C. | Note by H.P.B. [Note: the notes to this article are all signed “Editor,” with the exception of Note 3,… Read More »Ghost Stories Galore
Article Selections by Léon Leconte | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. A Suisse journal “Lumière et Liberté” contains an article, from which we make the following… Read More »“The Planetary Cycles of Humanity, or the Astronomical Progress of Civilization”
Article Selection by A. B. | Note by H.P.B. The whole system of our Theosophists is based upon a threefold division; the Divine, the Intellectual, and the… Read More »[Note on the Symbolism of Triangles and Squares]
Article Selection by Dr. Fortin | Note by H.P.B. [Note: the assumption made with this note, signed “Translator,” is that the original article by Dr.… Read More »[On the Kama-rupa and Vampires]
Letter from K.C.M. | Reply by Damodar K. Mavalankar In your last issue Mr. V. K. Rajwade Rolves the question “Why are men averse to… Read More »On Prayer
Article Selections | Introduction and Notes by H.P.B. Drama of the Latter Days: A Suggestion. We hardly need to offer an apology to the English… Read More »[Notes on “Drama of the Latter Days”]
From a private letter to our energetic friend, Mrs. Parker, from Professor J. R. Buchanan, we learn that that distinguished gentleman is engaged in preparing… Read More »Psychometry
One of the ablest philosophical students and writers of Great Britain writes in a private letter to a friend, who has kindly allowed us to… Read More »A British Thinker on The Theosophist
In last month’s Nineteenth Century, the great English thinker and philosopher, Mr. Herbert Spencer, has contributed a remarkable article, “Religion: a Retrospect and Prospect.” This contribution, which… Read More »The High Water Mark of Modern Philosophy
[Note: the current article is a continuation of a series between Damodar and the Epiphany, beginning with Damodar’s “Oxford Mission Shots at Occultism”. The Epiphany’s… Read More »Theosophy and Love: A Rejoinder
I feel really obliged to my friend and brother, Babu Siris Chandra Vasu, B. A., for the presentation of a copy of a Treatise on… Read More »The Philosophy and Science of Vedantic Raja Yoga
(The following Paper was read lately by a Theosophist and “Lay Chela” in London to an audience consisting chiefly, but not exclusively, of Theosophists.—Ed.) The… Read More »Occult Study
The saying has become trite that we are oftener victims of words than of facts. The Theosophical Society has been credited with atheism and materialism,… Read More »Victims of Words
Article selctions by Dr. Rohner | Editor’s Note by H.P.B. [Relaying a story about a family aboard a train] . . . one of the… Read More »Spirit Guardianship, or What?
At various times, already, we had an opportunity of learning from the reports of the Moscow “Society of the Lovers of Natural Sciences,” how careless… Read More »What Scientific Russia Knows of Ceylon
Some interesting experiments have recently been tried by Mr. F. W. H. Myers and his colleagues of the Psychic Research Society of London, which, if… Read More »Introversion of Mental Vision
Selections from a Review of “Buddha and Early Buddhism” by Arthur Llillie, by Dharani Dhar Kauthumi | Notes by H.P.B. On page 5, we read:—… Read More »[Notes on Sophia, Aditya and Kshetra]
Having just had a little leisure I was going over Mirza Moorad Alee’s letter in the Philosophic Inquirer of the 6th Instant. Col. Olcott’s reply… Read More »White and Black Magic
Extracts from “The Cosmic Position of Man” and “The Janus-facedness of Man,” by Baron Karl du Prel | Notes by H.P.B. These are two short… Read More »[Notes on Evolution and Perception]
The Rev. Editor of the Christian College Magazine comes down short and heavy upon Col. Olcott. He speaks of somebody’s “invincible ignorance” and remarks that “on the… Read More »The Theosophists and Irenæus
The only fault I have to find with Mr. Sinnett’s book is that he too often says that: “this knowledge is now being given out… Read More »The Bhagavad Gita and Esoteric Buddhism