What are the Theosophists?
Are they what they claim to be—students of natural law, of ancient and modern philosophy, and even of exact science?… Read More »What are the Theosophists?
The Theosophist
What is Theosophy?
This question has been so often asked, and misconception so widely prevails, that the editors of a journal devoted to… Read More »What is Theosophy?
Fragments of Occult Truth [1-3]
[Note: for the following 5 Fragments by A.P. Sinnett, see “Fragments of Occult Truth [4-8]”] No. 1 We have received… Read More »Fragments of Occult Truth [1-3]
Fragments of Occult Truth [4-8]
[Note: for the first 3 Fragments by A.O. Hume, see “Fragments of Occult Truth [1-3]”] No. 4: The Evolution of… Read More »Fragments of Occult Truth [4-8]
Notes on the Bhagavad Gita
Contents Introduction Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 [Introduction] (Notes of a lecture, delivered at the Convention of… Read More »Notes on the Bhagavad Gita
The “Elixir of Life”
And Enoch walked with the Elohim, and the Elohim took him.”—GENESIS. The curious information—for whatsoever else the world may think… Read More »The “Elixir of Life”
Transmigration of the Life Atoms
Editor’s Note by H.P.B. to a letter by N.D.K. In your learned note on Mr. Oxley’s article (Hierosophy and Theosophy),… Read More »Transmigration of the Life Atoms
How a “Chela” Found His “Guru”
. . . When we met last at Bombay I told you what had happened to me at Tinnevelly. My… Read More »How a “Chela” Found His “Guru”
Chelas
Notwithstanding the many articles which have appeared in this magazine upon the above subject, much misunderstanding and many false views… Read More »Chelas
Classification of “Principles”
In a most admirable lecture by Mr. T. Subba Row on the Bhagavad Gita, published in the February number of… Read More »Classification of “Principles”
Qualifications for Chelaship
The power of the Adepts over forces of nature, not generally recognized, has been enlarged upon on various occasions, but… Read More »Qualifications for Chelaship
Chelas and Lay Chelas
As the word Chela has, among others, been introduced by Theosophy into the nomenclature of Western metaphysics, and the circulation… Read More »Chelas and Lay Chelas
Re-Classification of Principles
[For background, see: Classification of “Principles”] In the May Theosophist (1887 [see “The Constitution of the Microcosm”]) I find the… Read More »Re-Classification of Principles
Sakya Muni’s Place in History
7. Buddha’s birth is placed (on p. 141) in the year 643 B.C.. Is this date given by the Adepts as… Read More »Sakya Muni’s Place in History
Mahatmas and Chelas
A MAHATMA is a personage, who, by special training and education, has evolved those higher faculties and has attained that… Read More »Mahatmas and Chelas
Contemplation
A general misunderstanding of this term seems to prevail. The popular idea appears to be to confine oneself for half… Read More »Contemplation
Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine
8. Sankaracharya’s date is variously given by Orientalists, but always after Christ. Barth, for instance, places him about 788 A.D.… Read More »Sri Sankaracharya’s Date and Doctrine
Le Phare de L’inconnu [The Beacon-Light of the Unknown]
[The [following] article is a rough translation from La Revue Theosophique. Better H.P.B. at second hand than not at all—Ed. [The… Read More »Le Phare de L’inconnu [The Beacon-Light of the Unknown]
The Moral Law of Compensation
“For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be… Read More »The Moral Law of Compensation
Animated Statues
To whatsoever cause it may be due matters little, but the word fetich is given in the dictionaries the restricted… Read More »Animated Statues
Buddhist Morals
In a recent issue of the China Mail appears an account of the destruction of the “Temple of Longevity,” one… Read More »Buddhist Morals
Masons and Jesuits
Our Masonic readers, of whom very respectable numbers are scattered throughout India, ought to be on the lookout for recent… Read More »Masons and Jesuits
Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
Introductory Note An apology is scarcely needed for undertaking a translation of Sankara Acharya’s celebrated Synopsis of Vedantism entitled “Atmanatma… Read More »Atmanatmaviveka (Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit)
Apollonius Tyaneus and Simon Magus
In the “History of the Christian Religion to the year two hundred,” by Charles B. Waite, A.M., announced and reviewed… Read More »Apollonius Tyaneus and Simon Magus
Tetragrammaton
“I would advise all in general that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge;… Read More »Tetragrammaton
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 Culture-Language of the Future
It has often seemed to me that even the best Sanskrit scholars in Europe and America alike have no very… Read More »The Culture-Language of the Future
Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy
The following letter having been sent to us from a Parsee gentleman, we publish the paragraphs containing his queries seriatim… Read More »Zoroastrianism in the Light of Occult Philosophy
The Ensouled Violin
The almost supernatural or magic art of Nicolo Paganini—the greatest violin player that the world has ever produced—was often speculated… Read More »The Ensouled Violin
Count Saint Germain
At long intervals have appeared in Europe certain men whose rare intellectual endowments, brilliant conversation, and mysterious modes of life… Read More »Count Saint Germain
“C.C.M.” and Isis Unveiled
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
Milk for Babes and Strong Meat for Men
When the great poet and writer, Coleridge, tried to establish his Watchman—a periodical in prose and verse, intended to advocate… Read More »Milk for Babes and Strong Meat for Men
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
Theosophy and Miracles
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
Wart-Charming
Editor’s Note by H.P.B. on an article by Frederick Helmone With reference to the following correspondence which appeared in Knowledge, dated… Read More »Wart-Charming
The Five-Pointed Star
Of late numerous letters have been received in The THEOSOPHIST office concerning the efficacy of the mysterious Pentagram. Our Eastern… Read More »The Five-Pointed Star
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
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
Spiritual Progress
Christina Rossetti’s well-known lines: “Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end. Does the journey… Read More »Spiritual Progress
The Adepts in America in 1776
The following suggestions and statements are made entirely upon the personal responsibility of the writer, and without the knowledge or… Read More »The Adepts in America in 1776
The Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy
These two systems are so closely linked together that any attempt to treat the one without the other would be… Read More »The Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy
Death and Immortality
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
A Hindu Professor’s Views on Indian Yoga
We lay aside other matter already in type to give place to the essential portions of an “Introduction to Indian… Read More »A Hindu Professor’s Views on Indian Yoga
Is the Desire to “Live” Selfish?
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 Bhagavad Gita and Esoteric Buddhism
The only fault I have to find with Mr. Sinnett’s book is that he too often says that: “this knowledge… Read More »The Bhagavad Gita and Esoteric Buddhism
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
[The Mayavi Rupa]
Article selection from “Nanga Baba of Gwalior”, by M.B.V. | Note by H.P.B. “In a corner of the parade ground… Read More »[The Mayavi Rupa]