DOCSLIB.ORG

Theosophy: Divine Wisdom from Long Sealed Ancient Fountains

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Theosophy: Divine Wisdom from Long Sealed Ancient Fountains Theosophy Divine Wisdom from Long-Sealed Ancient Fountains ii Theosophy Divine Wisdom from Long-Sealed Ancient Fountains H.P. Blavatsky and others Compiled & edited by Daniel H. Caldwell Blavatsky Study Center http://hpb.cc 2015 iii iv Table of Contents H.P. Blavatsky & Theosophy: An Introduction. 1 Who Is Helena Petrovna Blavatsky?: A Sketch of Her Life and Work. 5 H.P.B. Speaks . 17 Theosophy Defined by W.Q. Judge. 27 An Epitome of Theosophy by W.Q. Judge. 35 From Long-Sealed Ancient Fountains: The Origin of Modern Theosophy. 59 Great Adepts & Trained Seers: Knowledge of Spiritual Facts by Personal Experience and from Actual Observation. 65 “Isis Unveiled:” Adepts & The Secret Doctrine. 71 “Isis Unveiled:” Spiritual Identity. 79 “Isis Unveiled:” Evolution of the Soul. 91 “Isis Unveiled:” Pre-Existence, Metempsychosis, 105 Reincarnation. “Isis Unveiled:” Magic & Magical Powers. 109 “Isis Unveiled:” Adeptship & Mediumship. 119 v “Isis Unveiled:” Spiritualism. 131 “Isis Unveiled:” Spirits of Various Kinds. 139 “Isis Unveiled:” Magical Phenomena – Modern & Ancient. 149 “The Secret Doctrine:” Preface. 163 “The Secret Doctrine:” Three Fundamental Propositions. 167 “The Secret Doctrine:” The Stanzas of Dzyan. 175 “The Secret Doctrine:” Cosmic Evolution in Seven Stanzas . 181 “The Secret Doctrine:” Summing Up. 195 “The Secret Doctrine:” The Evolution of Mankind & the Four Pre-Historic Continents . 205 “The Secret Doctrine:” Anthropogenesis in the Secret Volume: Stanzas from the Book of Dzyan. 209 Plutarch on the Fate of the Three-fold Human Being after Physical Death. 219 The Sevenfold Constitution of a Human Being. 223 Dreams. .. 231 Psychic versus Initiate Visions & Knowledge. 251 At the Solemn Moment of Death: Dying & Soon After. 269 vi Reincarnation and Karma. 275 On the Kama-Loka & Devachan. 303 On the Mysteries of Reincarnation. 337 Spiritual Progress. .. 367 Occultism versus the Occult Arts. 375 The Voice of the Silence. 383 Master K.H. on Concentration & Union with the Higher Self. 395 On Pseudo-Theosophy & Pseudo-Adepts . 399 H.P. Blavatsky's Occult Status & the Claims of Latter-Day Messengers of the Masters . 407 Theosophical Glossary . 437 vii viii H.P. Blavatsky and Theosophy An Introduction The most basic fact of our existence is our awareness of self. We know we are alive but we see that people around us shift and change. Some are born; others die. But does death annihilate our consciousness, as well as destroy the body? Is there some kind of life after death? Why were we born in the first place? And having been born, why do we live? Many are asking, "What's it all about?" Yet in our modern world, reliable answers to such important questions are hard to discover. Many of us cannot find really satisfying answers from materialistic science, academic philosophy, or orthodox religion (Christian or otherwise). There is also a great proliferation of occult, metaphysical, Eastern and New Age groups offering their own "answers" to these perplexing questions. For the seeker with a genuine hunger for truth, the task of choosing among these conflicting authorities and contradictory answers can be difficult and confusing. "But surely somewhere," our minds cry out, "there must be available satisfying answers to these questions. Surely somewhere there must be preserved a true universal knowledge concerning humanity and the world in which we live. Surely somewhere there is such a source of wisdom." During the late 19th century, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) pointed to that Source of Wisdom. She called it the Ancient Wisdom and gave to it the Greek name of Theosophia or Theosophy ("Divine Wisdom" or "the wisdom of the gods"). H.P. Blavatsky stated that there is an ancient school of Adepts or Masters who know directly, inwardly and truly this Divine Wisdom. Madame Blavatsky said that she was taught Theosophy by some of these Adepts. Madame Blavatsky was the chief founder of the modern Theosophical Movement which was established to form the nucleus of a worldwide association of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color. She is also the author of The Secret Doctrine, the great sourcebook on Theosophy. This work in two large volumes shows the universality and the great age of the Theosophical system of thought. H.P.B. promoted a greater Western acquaintance with Eastern religions and philosophies and brought the teachings of reincarnation and karma into common knowledge in the Western world. A forceful and gifted individual, H.P. Blavatsky wrote in a forthright and powerful style challenging the confusion and absurdities of religious orthodoxy, exposing some of the fallacies of materialistic science, and assailing some of the claims of 19th century Spiritualism. She presented ideas and teachings which seemed like pretentious nonsense to her orthodox contemporaries. Furthermore, H.P.B. demonstrated psychic powers of a startling character, and said she was in contact with certain highly evolved Masters. It was inevitable that H.P.B. should make enemies on every hand who published slanderous untruths as to her dishonesty, the fraudulence of her psychic phenomena, the 2 non-existence of her Masters, and the worthlessness of Theosophy. But how much of truth is there in these accusations? Careful, detailed research into the primary source documents clearly shows that the attacks on H.P.B. lack a solid basis. And though it is still fashionable in some circles to write disparagingly about Madame Blavatsky, the fact is that many of the things she said, that were incomprehensible to 19th century scholarship and science, have been confirmed by scholars and scientists in the last 100 years. Recent developments and advances in parapsychology and transpersonal psychology make it clear that the psychic and spiritual faculties H.P. Blavatsky wrote about and that she herself manifested are actual powers and abilities of the human psyche and spirit. In order to present the Theosophical or Occult Philosophy to the world, Madame Blavatsky wrote Isis Unveiled (1877), The Secret Doctrine (1888), The Key to Theosophy (1889), The Voice of the Silence (1889) and other works. What did H.P. Blavatsky teach? She outlined the fundamental principles of Theosophy which deal with (1) the unity of LIFE, (2) the law of cycles, and (3) the progressive unfoldment of consciousness in all kingdoms of nature (both visible and invisible). H.P.B. taught the origin and development of the universe and the origin and evolution of humanity. She described the birth, growth and death of planets and solar systems, and set forth humanity's evolution and history on this planet. H.P.B. outlined the tree and its branches: the original Esoteric Teaching or Primordial Tradition and some of its branches extant in the various world religions, ancient mythologies, and metaphysical philosophies. 3 She gave out the truth in detail about the complex sevenfold nature (spiritual and psychological) of a human being and about life after death. She taught the twin doctrine of karma and reincarnation. Madame Blavatsky also set forth a clear and comprehensive rationale for psychic and spiritualistic, mystical and spiritual phenomena and experiences. Madame Blavatsky taught that self- responsibility, ethics and altruism (service to others) are essential to true spiritual unfoldment. She pointed towards humanity's future destiny and evolution and showed the Path which each of us must travel in order to awaken our latent spiritual powers and abilities and to realize our essential identity with the UNIVERSAL SELF. What of the influence of Madame Blavatsky and her teachings? During her lifetime, H.P.B.'s brilliant conversations, profound knowledge of occult subjects, and reputation for psychic powers drew worldwide attention to her work. Since her death in 1891, her teachings have influenced the thinking of inquiring minds throughout the world. The writings of H.P. Blavatsky and her Masters furnish suggestions, clues and guidance for the study of Nature and Humanity, such as few other existing sources can supply. [The above introduction was compiled from various sources. D.H.C.] 4 Who Is Helena Petrovna Blavatsky? A Sketch of Her Life and Work H. P. Blavatsky (1831-1891) was one of the most extraordinary and controversial figures of the 19th century. The influence of her life, writings and teachings on world thought has been significant. The following three quotations may help to indicate the extent of Madame Blavatsky’s influence: "... Madame Blavatsky ... stands out as the fountainhead of modern occult thought, and was either the originator and/or popularizer of many of the ideas and terms which have a century later been assembled within the New Age Movement. The Theosophical Society, which she cofounded, has been the major advocate of occult philosophy in the West and the single most important avenue of Eastern teaching to the West." J. Gordon Melton, Jerome Clark and Aidan A. Kelly, editors, New Age Almanac, Detroit, Michigan, Gale Research Inc., 1991, p. 16. __________ "Theosophy occupies a central place in the history of new spiritual movements, for the writings of Blavatsky and some of her followers have had a great influence outside of her organization. ... The importance of Theosophy in modern history should not be underestimated. Not only have the writings of Blavatsky and others 5 inspired several generations of occultists, but the movement had a remarkable role in the restoration to the colonial peoples of nineteenth century Asia their own spiritual heritage." Robert S. Ellwood and Harry B. Partin, Religious and Spiritual Groups in Modern America, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1988, pp. 63, 79-80. __________ "...Helena Petrovna Blavatsky... is surely among the most original and perceptive minds of her time ... Buried in the sprawling bulk of her two major books ... there lies, in rudimentary form, the first philosophy of psychic and spiritual evolution to appear in the modern West ..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Theosophy and the Origins of the Indian National Congress
    THEOSOPHY AND THE ORIGINS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS By Mark Bevir Department of Political Science University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA [E-mail: [email protected]] ABSTRACT A study of the role of theosophy in the formation of the Indian National Congress enhances our understanding of the relationship between neo-Hinduism and political nationalism. Theosophy, and neo-Hinduism more generally, provided western-educated Hindus with a discourse within which to develop their political aspirations in a way that met western notions of legitimacy. It gave them confidence in themselves, experience of organisation, and clear intellectual commitments, and it brought them together with liberal Britons within an all-India framework. It provided the background against which A. O. Hume worked with younger nationalists to found the Congress. KEYWORDS: Blavatsky, Hinduism, A. O. Hume, India, nationalism, theosophy. 2 REFERENCES CITED Archives of the Theosophical Society, Theosophical Society, Adyar, Madras. Banerjea, Surendranath. 1925. A Nation in the Making: Being the Reminiscences of Fifty Years of Public Life . London: H. Milford. Bharati, A. 1970. "The Hindu Renaissance and Its Apologetic Patterns". In Journal of Asian Studies 29: 267-88. Blavatsky, H.P. 1888. The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy . 2 Vols. London: Theosophical Publishing House. ------ 1972. Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology . 2 Vols. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. ------ 1977. Collected Writings . 11 Vols. Ed. by Boris de Zirkoff. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. Campbell, B. 1980. Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement . Berkeley: University of California Press.
    [Show full text]
  • Theosophy and Science
    Theosophy and Science Science and Mysticism The motto of the Theosophical Society is “There is no religion higher than Truth.” That is a statement to which a scientist can subscribe equally well. Theosophists and scientists are indeed both engaged in a search for Truth. However, scientists seek for truth at the outward physical level, whereas Theosophists are concerned with Truth at an inner and more spiritual level, as taught by the great mystics and seers throughout the ages. That deeper Truth is sometimes called the “ancient wisdom” or the “perennial philosophy.” The scientific and mystical methods of search also differ, being complementary rather than contradictory. Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science, but we human beings need both. Yet many scientists, perhaps even the majority, do not see a need for any deeper Truth than those which objective scientific procedures discover. Others would like to have some involvement with religion but are discouraged by fundamentalist religious teachings that are inconsistent with well-established scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, many great scientists—Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, and David Bohm— have seen the need for the deeper spiritual understanding taught by the great reli- gious teachers and mystics of all ages. Scientists seek to understand the world by proposing explanations (or theories) that account for what we can observe in the physical environment around us. A theory must be adequate to account for what we observe repeatedly in experiments testing it. It should also be internally consistent and as simple as possible. A scientific theory is never “proved.” It is only tested by experiments, and if it accounts for what the experiments show, it is upheld.
    [Show full text]
  • Echoes of the Orient: the Writings of William Quan Judge
    ECHOES ORIENTof the VOLUME I The Writings of William Quan Judge Echoes are heard in every age of and their fellow creatures — man and a timeless path that leads to divine beast — out of the thoughtless jog trot wisdom and to knowledge of our pur- of selfish everyday life.” To this end pose in the universal design. Today’s and until he died, Judge wrote about resurgent awareness of our physical the Way spoken of by the sages of old, and spiritual inter dependence on this its signposts and pitfalls, and its rel- grand evolutionary journey affirms evance to the practical affairs of daily those pioneering keynotes set forth in life. HPB called his journal “pure Bud- the writings of H. P. Blavatsky. Her dhi” (awakened insight). task was to re-present the broad This first volume of Echoes of the panorama of the “anciently universal Orient comprises about 170 articles Wisdom-Religion,” to show its under- from The Path magazine, chronologi- lying expression in the world’s myths, cally arranged and supplemented by legends, and spiritual traditions, and his popular “Occult Tales.” A glance to show its scientific basis — with at the contents pages will show the the overarching goal of furthering the wide range of subjects covered. Also cause of universal brotherhood. included are a well-documented 50- Some people, however, have page biography, numerous illustra- found her books diffi cult and ask for tions, photographs, and facsimiles, as something simpler. In the writings of well as a bibliography and index. William Q. Judge, one of the Theosophical Society’s co-founders with HPB and a close personal colleague, many have found a certain William Quan Judge (1851-1896) was human element which, though not born in Dublin, Ireland, and emigrated lacking in HPB’s works, is here more with his family to America in 1864.
    [Show full text]
  • Treatise on Astral Projection V2
    TREATISE ON ASTRAL PROJECTION V2 by Robert Bruce Copyright © 1999 Contents Part One................................................................................................................................. 1 Part Two................................................................................................................................. 6 Part Three .............................................................................................................................. 12 Part Four ............................................................................................................................... 17 Part Five ................................................................................................................................ 21 Part Six................................................................................................................................... 27 Part Seven .............................................................................................................................. 34 Part Eight............................................................................................................................... 41 Book Release – “Astral Dynamics”....................................................................................... 51 Book Release – “Practical Psychic Self-Defense”................................................................ 52 i Copyright © Robert Bruce 1999 1 Part One This version has been completely rewritten and updated, with thought to all
    [Show full text]
  • Theosophy and the Arts
    Theosophy and the Arts Ralph Herman Abraham January 17, 2017 Abstract The cosmology of Ancient India, as transcribed by the Theosophists, con- tains innovations that greatly influenced modern Western culture. Here we bring these novel embellishments to the foreground, and explain their influ- ence on the arts. 1. Introduction Following the death of Madame Blavatsky in 1891, Annie Besant ascended to the leadership of the Theosophical Society. The literature of the post-Blavatsky period began with the very influential Thought-Forms by Besant and C. W. Leadbeater, of 1901. The cosmological model of Theosophy is similar to the classical Sanskrit of 6th century BCE. The pancha kosa, in particular, is the model for these authors. The classical pancha kosa (five sheaths or levels) are, from bottom up: physical, vital, mental, intellectual, and bliss. The related idea of the akashic record was promoted by Alfred Sinnett in his book Esoteric Buddhism of 1884. 2. The Esoteric Planes and Bodies The Sanskrit model was adapted and embellished by the early theosophists. 2-1. Sinnett Alfred Percy Sinnett (1840 { 1921) moved to India in 1879, where he was the editor of an English daily. Sinnett returned to England in 1884, where his book, Esoteric 1 Buddhism, was published that year. This was the first text on Theosophy, and was based on his correspondence with masters in India. 2-2. Blavatsky Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831 { 1891) { also known as HPB { was a Russian occultist and world traveller, While reputedly in India in the 1850s, she came under the influence of the ancient teachings of Hindu and Buddhist masters.
    [Show full text]
  • ON SPIRITUAL INDIVIDUALITY John Gordon
    ON SPIRITUAL INDIVIDUALITY John Gordon One of the main things which worries followers of the ‘religions of the Book’ – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – in relation to the philosophies of both Hinduism and Buddhism is the apparent suggestion that, at the end of the evolutionary line, all human identity is lost. This was one of the main criticisms of Theosophy advanced by Carl Jung (1875-1961) as described by Stephan Hoeller in his book The Gnostic Jung & the Seven Sermons to the Dead, where he says: “Unlike many (although not all) the spiritual systems of the East, especially of India, the Western tradition has never envisioned a permanent dissolution of human individuality in Divinity. The West knows and desires no dewdrop-like slipping into the shining sea. Instead, Jung states here that the principle of individuation is the essence of every created being and that the undifferentiated principle and our own lack of discrimination are great dangers to us.”1 Unfortunately, Western tradition has not properly understood the Eastern philosophy purely because it has focussed on the purely exoteric aspects of it. Vedic philosophy and Esoteric Buddhism – as described and clarified by modern Theosophy – provide us with a somewhat different viewpoint. However, before going into further detail on that score, let us first look at the somewhat common angle of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to establish the basis of their belief system in a Creator-God to be worshipped by all. Unfortunately, by reference to all the ancient traditions, the ultimate ‘God’ was not the Creator, per se. The creation of the objective universe was left to a deputised second ‘God’, often described (as in Freemasonry) as ‘the Great Architect’, or ‘Great Artificer’.
    [Show full text]
  • A Textbook of Theosophy
    A Textbook of Theosophy C.W. Leadbeater A Textbook of Theosophy Table of Contents A Textbook of Theosophy..................................................................................................................................1 C.W. Leadbeater......................................................................................................................................2 Chapter I. WHAT THEOSOPHY IS.......................................................................................................3 Chapter II. FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO MAN.....................................................................................6 Chapter III. THE FORMATION OF A SOLAR SYSTEM....................................................................9 Chapter IV. THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE............................................................................................12 Chapter V. THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN......................................................................................16 Chapter VI. AFTER DEATH................................................................................................................23 Chapter VII. REINCARNATION.........................................................................................................34 Chapter VIII. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE...............................................................................................38 Chapter IX. THE PLANETARY CHAINS...........................................................................................42 Chapter X. THE RESULT OF
    [Show full text]
  • The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon the Theosophical Seal a Study for the Student and Non-Student
    The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon The Theosophical Seal A Study for the Student and Non-Student by Arthur M. Coon This book is dedicated to all searchers for wisdom Published in the 1800's Page 1 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION PREFACE BOOK -1- A DIVINE LANGUAGE ALPHA AND OMEGA UNITY BECOMES DUALITY THREE: THE SACRED NUMBER THE SQUARE AND THE NUMBER FOUR THE CROSS BOOK 2-THE TAU THE PHILOSOPHIC CROSS THE MYSTIC CROSS VICTORY THE PATH BOOK -3- THE SWASTIKA ANTIQUITY THE WHIRLING CROSS CREATIVE FIRE BOOK -4- THE SERPENT MYTH AND SACRED SCRIPTURE SYMBOL OF EVIL SATAN, LUCIFER AND THE DEVIL SYMBOL OF THE DIVINE HEALER SYMBOL OF WISDOM THE SERPENT SWALLOWING ITS TAIL BOOK 5 - THE INTERLACED TRIANGLES THE PATTERN THE NUMBER THREE THE MYSTERY OF THE TRIANGLE THE HINDU TRIMURTI Page 2 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon THE THREEFOLD UNIVERSE THE HOLY TRINITY THE WORK OF THE TRINITY THE DIVINE IMAGE " AS ABOVE, SO BELOW " KING SOLOMON'S SEAL SIXES AND SEVENS BOOK 6 - THE SACRED WORD THE SACRED WORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Page 3 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION I am happy to introduce this present volume, the contents of which originally appeared as a series of articles in The American Theosophist magazine. Mr. Arthur Coon's careful analysis of the Theosophical Seal is highly recommend to the many readers who will find here a rich store of information concerning the meaning of the various components of the seal Symbology is one of the ancient keys unlocking the mysteries of man and Nature.
    [Show full text]
  • Morya, One of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" Spoken of in Modern Theosophy and in the Ascended Master Teachings I
    Morya, one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" spoken of in modern Theosophy and in the Ascended Master Teachings is considered one of the "Ascended Masters." He is also known as the "Chohan of the First Ray". Morya first became known to the modern world when H. P. Blavatsky declared that he and Kkuthumi were her guides in establishing the Theosophical Society. Seven Rays Blavatsky wrote that Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi belonged to a group of highly developed humans known as the Great White Brotherhood. Although Master Morya's personality has been depicted in some detail by various theosophical authors, critics point out that there is little evidence that Blavatsky's Masters, including Morya, ever existed. There being a dearth of material evidence to prove anything with certainty, this article focuses on presenting the narratives about Morya given by various believers in his existence, beginning from the time of his alleged contacts with 19th-century theosophists. Morya Khan is known in many New Age religions as the Ascended Master of the Blue Ray or First Ray. He is well known as the 'Master M' who worked with the Kuthumi in the late nineteenth century to establish the Theosophical Society and to spread the knowledge of higher truths to a wider circle among mankind. After his alleged ascension in the late 1800s, he continued working for this same purpose. He is believed to have ascended in 1898. http://www.crystalinks.com/morya.html אל מוריה الموريا Ελ Μόρυα 天使のエル·モリヤ http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/chain_of_flowers723/56856858.html Morya (Theosophy) For other uses, see Morya.
    [Show full text]
  • Theosophy Intro.Pdf
    THEOSOPHY AN INTRODUCTORY STUDY COURSE FOURTH EDITION by John Algeo Department of Education THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA P. O. Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270 Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2007 by the Theosophical Society in America Based on the Introductory Study Course in Theosophy by Emogene S. Simons, copyright © 1935, 1938 by the Theosophical Society in America, revised by Virginia Hanson, copyright © 1967, 1969 by the Theosophical Society in America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except for quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA For additional information, contact: Department of Information The Theosophical Society in America P. O. Box 270 Wheaton, IL 60189-0270 E-mail: [email protected] Web : www.theosophical.org 2 CONTENTS Introduction 4 1. What Is Theosophy? 7 2. The Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World 17 3. Universal Brotherhood 23 4. Human Beings and Our Bodies 30 5. Life after Death 38 6. Reincarnation 45 7. Karma 56 8. The Power of Thought 64 9. The Question of Evil 70 10. The Plan and Purpose of Life 77 11. The Rise and Fall of Civilizations 92 12. The Ancient Wisdom in Daily Life 99 Bibliography 104 FIGURES 1. The Human Constitution 29 2. Reincarnation 44 3. Evolution of the Soul 76 4. The Three Life Waves 81 5. The Seven Rays 91 6. The Lute of the Seven Planes 98 3 INTRODUCTION WE LIVE IN AN AGE OF AFFLUENCE and physical comfort. We drive bulky SUVs, talk incessantly over our cell phones, amuse ourselves with DVDs, eat at restaurants more often than at home, and expect all the amenities of life as our birthright.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pilgrim and the Path: Living Theosophy
    The Pilgrim and the Path: Living Theosophy A Theosophical Study Course By John Algeo, Ph.D. © 1997 The Theosophical Society in America P.O. Box 270, Wheaton, Illinois 60189-0270 PREFACE THE PILGRIM AND THE PATH: LIVING THEOSOPHY Theosophy tells us that we are pilgrims, implying that we are on a journey to a particular place. If we decide that we are indeed pilgrims and start to look for the path that will take us to the goal of our pilgrimage, we should also have some idea of why we are traveling and where we are headed. To begin a process of self-unfoldment, we had also better know what is being unfolded. These matters are considered in the following lesson and some subsequent ones, based on chapters from a book by I. K. Taimni called Self-Culture or, in later American editions, A Way to Self-Discovery . Two other books will also be referred to ( The Pilgrim Self by Robert Ellwood and The Pilgrim and the Pilgrimage by Emily Sellon), and some supplementary material will be included. —J.A. Contents: PREFACE 1 Evolution in the Light of the Wisdom Tradition 1 2 The Human Constitution 12 3 Self Discovery—A Science (Part 1) 21 4 Self Discovery—A Science (Part 2) 27 5 The Functions of the Physical Body 33 6 The Control, Purification, and Sensitization of the Physical Body 38 7 The Functions of the Desire Body 43 8 The Control, Purification, and Sensitization of the Emotions 50 9 The Functions of the Lower Mental Body 57 10 The Control, Purification, and Development of the Lower Mind (part 1) 63 11 The Control, Purification, and Development
    [Show full text]
  • The Etheric Double ?
    The Aquarian Theosophist www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com THE ETHERIC DOUBLE ? THE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS OF A FALSE ASSUMPTION ______________ G.A. FARTHING REVISED EDITION NOVEMBER 1996 1 The Aquarian Theosophist www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING DIFFERENCES IN THEOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS AN EXAMINATION OF SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES IN DATA AND TERMINOLOGY BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL LITERATURE AND LATER VERSIONS Introduction There are many of the more thoughtful students of Theosophy and many teachers who are genuinely confused at the discrepancies they find between what has become known as second generation Theosophy (the Annie Besant/ C.W. Leadbeater or A.B./C.W.L. system) and the teachings of the two Masters instrumental in setting up the Theosophical Society and introducing Theosophy as given out through H.P. Blavatsky (the H.P.B./ Masters system). These discrepancies do not come to light as long as only one system is studied. In the minds of such students there are no difficulties or inconsistencies to worry about. The attitude can then well be that really there cannot be any serious divergences because surely the source of data, the main outlines of the Esoteric Science, are common to both systems, therefore discrepancies are likely to be trivial and really inconsiderable. This attitude is not really tenable but it is one generally held by those who have studied nothing but second generation literature. Moreover, it is this second generation literature which has become the commonly accepted one throughout the Adyar Society and generally in the world at large.
    [Show full text]