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
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
Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
First Steps on the Path Prologue (Verses 1–15) I bow before Govinda, the objectless object of final success in the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)
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)
Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
[Translation] Invocation To Him I make obeisance, who is the end of all wisdom, the goal of all attainment, the… Read More »Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Wisdom)
Sankaracharya
Sankaracharya (from Saṅkara, a personal name + ācarya teacher) was an Indian reformer and teacher of Vedanta, who founded what… Read More »Sankaracharya
Schopenhauer and Shankara
It is a somewhat humiliating thing to think of, that in spite of all the good intentions and praiseworthy endeavours… Read More »Schopenhauer and Shankara
The Occultism of Southern India
[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
The Vedanta Philosophy
The keynote of the Indian Renaissance of today, is the great and increasing attention paid to the Vedanta Philosophy; and… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy
The Vedanta in Daily Life
Every land has something to contribute to our life. In many cases we may recognize our indebtedness. Thus from Rome… Read More »The Vedanta in Daily Life
“A Personal and Impersonal God”
A letter signed by H. X. has appeared in the December issue of the Theosophists under the heading abovementioned containing… Read More »“A Personal and Impersonal God”
Prakriti and Purusha
The editorial at the head of the article that precedes will explain to the learned Hermit of Almora and the… Read More »Prakriti and Purusha
The Vedanta Philosophy
I. Two things seem to me to distinguish our philosophy in the West from the philosophy of India, especially in… Read More »The Vedanta Philosophy
Sankara, the Teacher
The Upanishads, Buddha, and Sankara: these are the three great lights of Indian wisdom. The Upanishads far away in the… Read More »Sankara, the Teacher
Self and Eternal
“As the web-wombed spider puts forth and draws to him, as trees come forth upon the earth, as from a… Read More »Self and Eternal
Shankara’s Thought
The glamour of India; the hot, luminous sky; palm trees, with their metallic glitter, fringing her sacred rivers; heavy-curtained mango… Read More »Shankara’s Thought
Shankara, Teacher of India
A short time ago, an esteemed friend of mine who has devoted much study to Buddhism in writing of Indian… Read More »Shankara, Teacher of India
Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
[Translation] Seer and Seen The form is seen, the eye is seer; the mind is both seen and seer. The… Read More »Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
The power of vision in the eye sees form; the mind sees the power of vision in the eye; spiritual… Read More »Vakya Sudha (The Essence of the Teaching)
Tattva Bodha (Shankaracharya’s Catechism)
Introduction This charming little treatise bears in Sanskrit the title Tattva Bodha, which means “The Awakening to Reality,” or, to… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankaracharya’s Catechism)
[Explanation of Incidents in the Life of Sankaracharya]
Article selections from “The Life of Sankaracharya, Philosopher and Mystic” by Kashinath Trimbak Telang | Notes by H.P.B. The question… Read More »[Explanation of Incidents in the Life of Sankaracharya]
Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Spirit)
For the sake of those whose darkness has been worn away by purifications, who have attained to peace, whose passions… Read More »Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Spirit)
Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Self)
This awakening to the Self is recorded for those whose inner darkness has been worn away by strong effort, who… Read More »Atma Bodha (The Awakening to the Self)
“The Philosophy of Spirit”
[Note: the following addresses the book “The Philosophy of Spirit,” by William Oxley.] The book bearing the above title, and professing… Read More »“The Philosophy of Spirit”
The Soul and the Self
The oneness of the soul with the Self is already a fact, and not a thing that requires a further… Read More »The Soul and the Self
Tattva Bodha (Shankara’s Catechism)
Introductory In the “Awakening to the Self” [Atma Bodha], and, still more, in the “Crest-Jewel of Wisdom”, Shankara the Teacher… Read More »Tattva Bodha (Shankara’s Catechism)
Sankaracharaya, Philosopher and Mystic
At the request of Col. Olcott I have permitted the following paper to be published with materials collected by me… Read More »Sankaracharaya, Philosopher and Mystic
Short Survey of the Vedanta System
1. Introductory. Fundamental thought of the Vedanta § 1. The fundamental thought of the Vedânta, most briefly expressed by the Vedic… Read More »Short Survey of the Vedanta System
The Age of Sankara
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION Ex Orientale lux; Ex occidente frux-from the East light; from the West fruit-is a… Read More »The Age of Sankara
The Original Śaṅkarācārya
The once universal Wisdom Tradition, whose existence was made known to the modern world by H. P. Blavatsky, had been… Read More »The Original Śaṅkarācārya