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The Ocean of Theosophy of An Introduction to the writings of H. P. Blavatsky Outlines the broad scope and principles of Theosophy William Q. Judge In the early s William Q. Judge recognized the need for a literature on theosophy that could be readily under- stood by all. He responded with a series of newspaper articles that were soon published in book form as The Ocean of Theosophy. Providing a concise yet comprehensive survey of the basic teach- ings, it clarifies such topics as reincar- nation and karma; the sevenfold nature of man, earth, and the universe; after- death states and cyclic evolution; sages, adepts, and the world’s religions; psy- chic phenomena, spiritualism, the pitfalls of pseudo-occultism; and many more. Here is knowledge based upon evidence and experience, written with brevity and depth. W Q. J was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April , . His family emi- grated in to New York where he specialized in corporate law (New York State Bar, ). A co-founder with H. P. Blavatsky and Henry S. Olcott of the Theosophical Society in , he later became General Secretary of its American Section and Vice President of the international Society. Writing and lecturing from coast to coast, he made theosophy known and respected throughout America. He died in New York City on March , Cover Design: Patrice Hughes In the Author’s Words . Just as the ancients taught, so does Theosophy: that the course of evolution is the drama of the soul and that Nature exists for no other purpose than the soul’s experience. The Theosophist agrees with Professor Huxley in the assertion that there must be beings in the universe whose intelligence is as much beyond ours as ours exceeds that of the black beetle, and who take an active part in the government of the natural order of things. We are therefore not appearing for the first time when we come upon this planet, but have pursued a long and immeasurable course of activity and intelligent perception on other systems of globes. Man has never been without a friend, but has a line of elder brothers who continually watch over the progress of the less progressed, and preserve the knowledge gained through aeons of trial and experience. Theosophy sees no unsolvable mystery anywhere, it throws the word coincidence out of its vocabulary and hails the reign of law in everything and every circumstance. The Ocean of Theosophy William Q. Judge h THEOSOPHICAL UNIVERSITY PRESS PASADENA, CALIFORNIA h Theosophical University Press Post Office Box C Pasadena, California 91109–7107 www.theosociety.org 2011 The text of this edition is verbatim with the 1893 Second Edition revised by William Q. Judge. It has been reset in larger type with quotations and typographical errors corrected. PDF eBook ISBN 978-1-55700-213-6 Library of Congress Information LC Control Number: 73078147 Author: Judge, William Quan (1851–1896) Title: The Ocean of Theosophy Description: xiii, 173, xx p.; 21 cm. ISBN 0-911500-25-1 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 0-911500-26-x (pbk. : alk. paper) Notes: First published in 1893. Includes index. Subjects: Theosophy LC Classification: BP565.J82 1973 Dewey Class No.: 212/.52 This PDF eBook was produced by Theosophical University Press Pasadena, California PREFACE n attempt is made in the pages of this book to write of A theosophy in such a manner as to be understood by the ordinary reader. Bold statements are made in it upon the knowledge of the writer, but at the same time it is distinctly to be understood that he alone is responsible for what is therein written: the Theosophical Society is not involved in nor bound by anything said in the book, nor are any of its members any the less good Theosophists because they may not accept what I have set down. The tone of settled conviction which may be thought to pervade the chapters is not the result of dogmatism or conceit, but flows from knowledge based upon evidence and experience. Members of the Theosophical Society will notice that cer- tain theories or doctrines have not been gone into. That is because they could not be treated without unduly extending the book and arousing needless controversy. The subject of the Will has received no treatment, inasmuch as that power or faculty is hidden, subtle, undiscoverable as to essence, and only visible in e¤ect. As it is absolutely colorless and varies in moral quality in accordance with the desire behind it, as also it acts frequently without our knowledge, and as it operates in all the kingdoms below man, there could be nothing gained by attempting to enquire into it apart from the Spirit and the desire. I claim no originality for this book. I invented none of it, discovered none of it, but have simply written that which I have been taught and which has been proved to me. It therefore is only a handing on of what has been known before. William Q. Judge New York, May, 1893. CONTENTS CHAPTER I theosophy and the masters Theosophy generally defined. The existence of highly devel- oped men in the Universe. These men are the Mahatmas, Initi- ates, Brothers, Adepts. How they work and why they remain now concealed. Their Lodge. They are perfected men from other periods of evolution. They have had various names in history. Apollonius, Moses, Solomon, and others were members of this fraternity. They had one single doctrine. They are possible be- cause man may at last be as they are. They keep the true doctrine and cause it to reappear at the right time. Pages 1 to 14. CHAPTER II general principles A view of the general laws governing the Cosmos. The seven- fold division in the system. Real Matter not visible and this always known to the Lodge. Mind the intelligent portion of the Cosmos. In the universal Mind the sevenfold plan of the Cosmos is con- tained. Evolution proceeds upon the plan in the universal Mind. Periods of Evolution come to an end; this is the Night of Brahma. The Mosaic account of Cosmogenesis has dwarfed modern con- ceptions. The Jews had merely one part of the doctrine taken from the ancient Egyptians. The doctrine accords with the inner meaning of Genesis. The general length of periods of Evolution. Same doctrine as Herbert Spencer’s. The old Hindu chronology gives the details. The story of Solomon’s Temple is that of the evolution of man. The doctrine far older than the Christian one. The real age of the world. Man is over 18,000,000 years old. Evolution is accomplished solely by the Egos within that at last viii / The Ocean of Theosophy become the users of human forms. Each of the seven principles of man is derived from one of the seven great divisions of the Universe. Pages 15 to 24. CHAPTER III the earth chain The doctrine respecting the Earth. It is sevenfold also. It is one of a chain of seven corresponding to man. The whole seven are not in a chain separated as to members, but they interpenetrate each other. The Earth chain is the reincarnation of a former old and now dead chain. This old chain was one of which our moon is the visible representative. Moon now dead and contracting. Venus, Mars, etc., are living members of other similar chains to ours. A mass of Egos for each chain. The number, though incal- culable, is definite. Their course of evolution through the seven globes. In each a certain part of our nature is developed. At the fourth globe the process of condensation is begun and reaches its limit. Pages 25 to 31. CHAPTER IV septenary constitution of man The constitution of man. How the doctrine di¤ers from the ordinary Christian one. The real doctrine known in the first cen- turies of this era, but purposely withdrawn from a nation not able to bear it. The danger if the doctrine had not been withdrawn. The sevenfold division. The principles classified. The divisions agree with the chain of seven globes. The lower man is a compo- site being. His higher trinity. The lower four principles transitory and perishable. Death leaves the trinity as the only persistent part of us. What the physical man is, and what the other unseen mor- tal man is. A second physical man not seen but still mortal. The senses pertain to the unseen man and not to the visible one. Pages 32 to 38. Contents /ix CHAPTER V body and astral body The body and life principle. The mystery of life. Sleep and death are due to excess of life not bearable by the organism. The body an illusion. What is the cell. Life is universal. It is not the result of the organism. The Astral Body. What it is made of. Its powers and functions. As a model for the body. It is possessed by all kingdoms of nature. Its power to travel. The real sense organs are in the astral body. The place the astral body has at spiritualistic séances. The astral body accounts for telepathy, clairvoyance, clair- audience, and all such psychical phenomena. Pages 39 to 50. CHAPTER VI kama — desire The fourth principle. Kama Rupa. In English, the Passions and Desires. Kama Rupa is not produced by the body but is the cause for body. This is the balance principle of the seven. It is the basis of action and mover of the will. Right desire leads to right act. This principle has a higher and a lower aspect. The principle is in the astral body. At death it coalesces with the astral body and makes of it a shell of the man.
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