I have just received Light—the ablest of the Spiritual periodicals of England—of September 23, and read its “NOTES BY THE… Read More »Occult and Spiritual Phenomena in the Light of Modern Science
A letter signed by a Mr. R. Barnes Austin of Heathfield, England, addressed to the editor of The Theosophist, has… Read More »Doomed!
“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
The interesting story published under the above title has already attracted considerable attention. It is instructive in more ways than… Read More »The Idyll of the White Lotus [An Explanation]
“. . . . We of the secret knowledge do wrap ourselves in mystery, to avoid the objurgation and importunity… Read More »The Hermetic Bretheren
Ancient civilization saw nothing absurd in the claims of astrology, no more than many an educated and thoroughly scientific man… Read More »Stars and Numbers
The article on dreams alluded to in the following letter is reprinted with the desired explanatory notes for the information… Read More »The Universe in a Nut-Shell
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
[Note: for some background, see “Madame Blavatsky on ‘The Himalayan Brothers’”] Since the first appearance of The Occult World the… Read More »Western “Adepts” and Eastern Theosophists
Magna est veritas et prevalebit. The reality of the phenomena has prevailed, and the Church is now forced to seek… Read More »[Spiritualism and the Christian Churches]
The Spiritualist of Nov. 18th takes notice of the article published in the THEOSOPHIST for October under the heading “Fragments… Read More »Spiritualism and Occult Truth
In the article entitled “War in Olympus” (Theosophist for November 1879), an allusion was made to a great row then… Read More »Russian Superstitions
Question by F. Hartmann | Reply by H.P.B. Will you kindly permit me a question? In Vol. IV, No. 2,… Read More »Devachan
The Asiatic nations have often been accused of holding obstinately to their old routine and customs, and of being the… Read More »Another “Orthodox” Prosecution!
[A Note on Authorship: In its original printing this article closed with the following note: “The foregoing is a summary… Read More »The Occultism of Southern India
If the negative argument as to the newness of Indian writing is entirely worthless, can we build up any positive… Read More »The Antiquity of Indian Writing
Science in the face of her Parisian representatives was very much exercised, if not offended, lately, by what is viewed… Read More »Gambetta’s Eye and Brain
Editorial Comments and Notes by H.P.B. on a letter from the Swami of Almora. In our February number (see page… Read More »The Almora Swami
The thoughtful reader must have pondered well over the mysterious import that the number Seven seems to have always had… Read More »The Number Seven and Our Society
[Dedicated by the Translator to those sceptics who clamour so loudly, both in print and private letters—“Show us the wonder-working… Read More »The Grand Inquisitor
Chirognomy is the art of delineating character by means of the hand. One of the arts of the Gypsies of… Read More »Chirognomy and Palmistry
The Theosophical doctrine, while endorsing many of the views of the Darwinian system of evolution, has so supplemented that doctrine… Read More »The Speech of the Gods
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
Jacob Boehme (or as some say Behmen) was a German mystic and spiritualist who began to write in the 17th… Read More »Jacob Boehme and the Secret Doctrine
The events which preceded the formation of the Roman Empire, just before the beginning of our era, furnish an analogy… Read More »“Two Thousand Years Ago”—A Contrast
According to the newest edition of the “Imperial Dictionary,” by John Ogilvie, L. L. D., “A medium is a person through whom… Read More »Are Chelas Mediums?
Ever since we came to India friends in Europe and America have been asking us to tell them something about… Read More »The Brahmo Samaj
Article Selections by Vishnu Bawa’s “True Religion Defined” | Notes by H.P.B. What is dharma, or that which is popularly interpreted… Read More »[Notes on Dharma and Paramatma]
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
Says Light, in its “Notes by the Way,” edited by M.A. (Oxon):— “The current number of The THEOSOPHIST contains an… Read More »“Is it Idle to Argue Further”?
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]
Our authorities for representing the pentagram or the five-pointed star as the microcosm, and the six-pointed double triangle as the… Read More »The Six-Pointed and Five-Pointed Stars
The first numbers of our iconoclastic Madras contemporary in its new English garb are on our table. We confess with… Read More »The Philosophic Inquirer
Article Selections | Introduction and Notes by H.P.B. Drama of the Latter Days: A Suggestion. We hardly need to offer… Read More »[Notes on “Drama of the Latter Days”]
Quotation from Prof. Maudsley | Note by H.P.B. “Disclosing to man the stern and uniform reign of law in nature,… Read More »Materialism and its Lessons
The pamphlet of Mr. C. C. Massey, an F.T.S., of the London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, is a valuable… Read More »The Metaphysical Basis of “Esoteric Buddhism”
Enter Ghost. Hamlet: . . . . . . “Ministers of grace, defend us! Be thou a spirit of health,… Read More »Hazy Notions
Article Selections from “Magicon…” | Notes by H.P.B. A stupendous revolution in the realm of spirit caused the source of… Read More »[Notes on Spiritual Death and the Descent of Spirit into Matter]
An important Biblical error is alleged to have been discovered by Mr. Charles Beke, the learned author of a well-known… Read More »An Important Biblical Error
Selections from Eliphas Levi’s “Dogme de la Haute Magie” | Notes by H.P.B. Gleanings from Eliphas Levi1 Extracts from the… Read More »[Notes on Symbolism in Selections by Eliphas Levi]
Those of us whose duty it is to watch the Theosophical movement and aid its progress can afford to be… Read More »The Leaven of Theosophy
Letter by W.H.C.D. | Reply by H.P.B. TO THE EDITOR OF THE THEOSOPHIST I have been studying the pamphlet on… Read More »Questions About Esoteric Theosophy Answered
If, according to the ironical definition of a French writer, language were not given to man “that he might the… Read More »A Great Light Under a Bushel
An Anglo-Indian paper of Madras speaks thus of the telephone: “The wonders of science bid fair to grow more wonderful.… Read More »The Magic of Science
Review by H.P.B. | Reply by William Tebb | Note by H.P.B. THE VACCINATION INQUIRER and Health Review, the Organ… Read More »[On Vaccination]
Article selections by the Swami | Notes by H.P.B. [Note: the following note by H.P.B. preceded the December, 1879 portion… Read More »Notes to “The Autobiography of Dayanund Saraswati, Swami.”
The German press has recently attempted in numerous editorials to solve what seems a mystery to the ordinary and sceptical… Read More »Ancient Doctrines Vindicated by Modern Prophecy
“For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; yet am I also judged… Read More »Which the Truth, and Which a Lie?