m e m i—fl THEOSOPHYSIMPLIFIED S COOPE R IRVING . Au r W s P r t Nation al Lec turer of th e Theosophical Society . tho of ay to e fec u % ” % % mn H l H n ss M ds Psyc c D v l t ea th , Th e S ecret of appi e . etho of hi e e op e T HE T HEOS OPHICAL BOOK CONCERN HO YW OOD LOS ANGE E LL L S , CALIFORNIA O he r Books b he amA h r t y t S e ut o M od of P i D mn eth s sych c ev elop e t Cloth 50 cents m, e e A discussion in clear and si pl language , fre t te th e a t from echnical rms, of ml ws, prac ices and s ts t tt re ul of psychic develop en . The li le volume was written with th e hope that it might deter its t mth r eaders from a tempting to practice any of e u i t d f w k i p c i w ic ar e nw se me ho s o a a en ng sy h sm, h hm t so prevalen today, and cause them to regard ore k to th e indly and perhaps even follow, path of t t h a to tr charac er developmen , whic lone leads ue W to P rf H alt lot 50 nt ays e ect e h C h , ce s h mks ff r T is anual see to o er its eaders a terse ye t popular description of th e fundamental laws h m t to t e t t ts of heal h, and glean ore impor an fac mh x fl t O s fro t e e isting mass of con ic ing pinion attempt h as also been made to weld together th e t t t to discoveries of physical and occul scien is s, and show h ow those of one dovetail with those of th e t t f n o her . The sugges ions o fered have been perso h t an h is k n ally tested b y t e au hor d t eir value now . Th e S r t of Ha in Cloth 5 0 nt ec e pp esms , ce s It i f t b ut n ot i s to t s di ficul , pos ible, find rue mn h i i me appiness wh le liv ng a ong , and engaged mffi ia m t t any proble s, di cul ies and r ls of k th e ti h in daily life . This boo , wri ng of whic was A th Fe t o the Maste r e ff or t to spired b y t e e f , is an m h ow x i e t e pla n in a co mons nse, prac ical way, such M r m a d to t s. h appiness ay b e found and p te o her S imlifi d Pa r 25 n t Theosophy p e pe , ce s For sale by Th e Th e osoph ic al Book Con c e rn California Krotona, Hollywood, Los Ange le s, THEOSOPHY R V C P R I ING S . OO E N nal L c ur r T s c l S c Au W s P r atio e t e of the heo ophi a o iety . thor of ay to e fect ” % ” % % H l T h r H l m e S ss M ds Ps D v n ea th , ec et of appine , etho of ychic e e op e t T HE T HEOSOPHICAL BOOK CONCERN ” K ROT ONA HO YW OOD LOS A GE S CA FORN A , LL , N LE , LI I 1915 YR 1 91 5 COP IGHT, R BY I VING S . PREFACE This simple outline of the teachings of Theosophy is intended for those who are commencing their study of the v s subject, and to be of ser ice to teachers of clas es in Its n i elementary Theosophy . o ly recommendation is ts t t simplicity and direc ness of statement , to at ain which fi r t no e o has been spared . C i 1 91 5 h cago , March , . I . S . C. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Sources and Nature of Theosophy II The Other Worlds III The Aura and the Soul IV What Happens After Death V Growth Through Reincarnation -V I The Problem of Destiny VII The Splendid Goal A Course of Reading in Theosophy Index . l t The Theosophica Socie y . CHAPTER I THE SOURCES AN D NATURE OF THEOSOPHY When an unfamiliar system of thought is presented % to ask : t for consideration , it is always legitimate Wha ” are th e sources of your information % Our willingness to take the time and expend th e e n e r gy necessary to study that system naturally depends upon th e clearness and reasonableness of the answer . So in presenting the teachings of Theosophy it is right to expect that a frank statement will be made as to th e sources of theosophical knowledge . These sources are of two kinds ( 1 ) Those which are accessible at once to any t t t t hough ful man wi h his normal in ellectual capacities , and ( 2 ) Those which may be reached only afte r pre t th e t liminary raining and development of charac er, mind and subtle senses . t An objec ion may be made to the second kind, by one t o commencing the s udy of The sophy , on the ground that all information obtained in this way must be taken — at — ou th t s least for a time e statemen s of other . This t e t t to is of course rue , y we are accustomed constan ly t t t h . t e r t t adop his atti ude In fact , greater pa of curren knowledge cannot b e verified by the ordinary untrained. t h man , but is accep ed solely on t e statements of experts . For example , we read and believe many statements r about atoms , yet none of us could duplicate th e e xp e i ments by which these statements are proved Without fi long scienti c training . We accept the conclusions of [ 9 ] ‘I‘ HE OS OPHY S IMPLIFIE D astronomers regarding the movements of the sun , moon s v l and star , e en though these conc usions contradict the v s e idence of our senses , becau e we have faith in those lt who have made a specia y of astronomy . Musicians tell us of the superb technical mastery of Liszt and we l l u be ieve them , though it wou d take s years of pains taking study and practice before we could realize this l for ourse ves . It is not unreasonable , therefore , in commencing the ossibl s study of Theosophy, to accept as p e the statement made by expert s trained in theosophical investigation . L l ff ater, if it is thought worth whi e , an e ort may be made to verify these statements and convince ourselves th f of the truth of e deeper teachings of Theosophy . O un t as course , it is wise to accept a sta ement a truth l o mere y because it is made by another pers n , but it is also equally unwise to deny it until we actually know l dl the facts . The best course is to ho d the mid e path an d fii rm a neither to deny nor , but to empty the mind of prejudice and preconceived notions and to submit ev erything to the cr iterion of the reasoning conscious ness and of the intuition . The first of these sources which are accessible at once to a thoughtful man is the teaching of the gr e at r e ligion s l of the wor d . When we begin the study of comparative l religion , we seem ost in a maze of contradictions and w able even of absurdities , but ith practice we become an d in thought to strip away the ceremonials, forms customs peculiar to each religion and get at the funda mental ideas and teachings common to all. The differences which exist between one religion and another are due to the various characteristics of the l l peop e who ho d them , and to the deposit of ceremonies , ul c spec ations and fancies which , during the enturies , has gradually obscured or covered up the basic truths ll all l s. taught by their Founder Fundamenta y, re igions [ 10 ] THEOSOPHY SIMPLIFIED — a r eligion since its teachings are unaccompanied by ritual or ceremonial and are n ot in the custody of a — t it l priesthood never heless is profound y religious , as it th e e t t teaches ess n ial tru hs found in all religions . A great many theosophical truths may be found in studying the fragments which have come down to us th t an cie n t M ste rie s of e ins ruction given in the y . These t t famous ins itu ions , which flourished in Persia , Egyp t, Greece and Rome , were founded for the purpose of giv ing to th e advanced people of th e time a philosophical and rational interpretation of the myths and legends which satisfied th e common people and constituted th e t popular religions .