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Theosophy

Organized by form

Regarding Theosophy
Articles
Source Materials
Bibliography
Reviews
Links

Regarding Theosophy

Theosophy is the quite obvious spiritual-intellectual background of this Web site. Etymologically it means God's Wisdom. Webster says it means "knowledge of the Divine Being obtained by spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations." [continued]

Articles

Jean Overton Fuller, Master Narayan, and the Krishnamurti-Scott-Anrias Issue. Article in Theosophical History about a relatively unknown but quite important Theosophical master and his alleged identification by Jean Overton Fuller. All in the context of the Krishnamurti-Scott-Anrias issue, which is about two Englishmen passing on contested Mahatmic evaluations of the metaphysical status of Krishnamurti and the esoteric soundness of his teachings.

The Masters and Their Emissaries: From H.P.B. to Guru Ma and Beyond.
Pamphlet by Govert Schuller tracing the lineage of the Masters' emissaries in chronological order.

Krishnamurti and the World Teacher Project: Some Theosophical Perceptions
Academic paper by Govert Schuller on the many different ways Krishnamurti was evaluated by different theosophical writers.

Centennial Efforts and Counter-Efforts of the Millennium
A presentation by Govert Schuller offering an esoteric interpretation of the last millennium of western history.

Messengers and Organizations: Successes and Crises
A skeletal presentation of some research done on the dynamics of the coming and going of messengers and its interaction with the organizations founded to carry their message.

The Relevance of Phenomenology for Theosophy. By Govert Schuller. Article making the case that the insights and ideas as developed within the phenomenological movement will find fruitful application in Theosophy.

The State of the TS (Adyar) in 2008: A Psycho-esoteric Interpretation. By Govert Schuller. Article arguing that Adyar Theosophists are still suffering from a variation of post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by the failed world teacher project with Krishnamurti.

Introduction by Cyril Scott
From David Anrias' Through the Eyes of the Masters. A great introduction to Theosophy and the existence and work of the Masters.

The Theosophical Society in Western History: A Study in Cycles Article by John R. Wilkinson originally published in The Theosophist Vol. 51, No. 9, June 30, 1930. Full text with annotations.

Revelation or Realization: The Conflict in Theosophy 
Pamphlet by J.J. van der Leeuw on the crisis in the Theosophical Society caused by Krishnamurti's dissolution of the Order of the Star.

Theosophy as a Political Movement
Illuminating article by political scientist Mark Bevir on the role Theosophy played as a Neo-Hindu reform movement and its influence on Indian nationalist ideology and politics.

Annie Besant's Quest for Truth: Christianity, Secularism, and New Age Thought. Article by political scientist Mark Bevir. "This essay examines the intellectual coherence of Annie Besant's life in such a way as to explore the rise of New Age thought in its relation to the Victorian crisis of faith." Refutes James Webb's theory that Theosophy is a "flight from reason."

The West Turns Eastward: Madame Blavatsky and the Transformation of the Occult Tradition. Article by political scientist Mark Bevir. "This essay examines, first, the way in which Madame Blavatsky transformed the occult tradition in response to the Victorian crisis of faith, and, second, the interpenetration of her occultism with her particular interpretations of Buddhism and Hinduism."

C. W. Leadbeater: A Great Occultist
Defense of CWL’s clairvoyance to E.L. Gardner’s challenge in his There Is No Religion Higher Than Truth. Contributions from Geoffrey Hodson, Hugh Shearman, Marijn Brandt and a collective letter signed by twenty-two of CWL’s former pupils.

The Consolation of Theosophy
By Frederick C. Crews. Review/essay for The New York Review of Books of Peter Washington's Madame Blavatsky's Baboon. An incisive, skeptical (but balanced) take on Blavatsky and Theosophy, and an important example of the view on these subjects from cultured academia. Including a short discussion with K. Paul Johnson.

"A spirited story of the psychic and the Colonel : Henry Steel Olcott had expected to scoff at Madame Blavatsky's séance, but he stayed on to help found The Theosophical Society." Article by Edward Hower for the Smithsonian.

"In Search of 'Shambha-la' and the Aryan Lamas: The Tibet images of the theosophists, occultists, Nazis and neo-Nazis." By Dr. Martin Brauen. Chapter from Dreamworld Tibet: Western Illusions.

The Theosophical Society and Labour and National Movements in Indonesia, 1913-1918. Article by Herman de Tollenaere. Short paper on the relationship between Theosophists and political movements in Indonesia.

The limits of liberalism and of Theosophy:colonial Indonesia and the German Weimar republic, 1918-1933. Article by Herman de Tollenaere "... about parallels and links to, and differences with, the religio-philosophical tendency of Theosophy" and political liberalism.

Marx and Engels on Spiritualism and Theosophy. Article by Herman de Tollenaere for Theosophical History. Short paper on how Theosphists and Marxists saw each other.

Source Materials

Conclusion: The Future of the Theosophical Society.
Last chapter from Blavatsky's The Key to Theosophy presenting the future "torch-bearer of Truth" and the idea of cyclical spiritual impulses by the Masters.

Nine Portraits of the Masters by David Anrias
Nine pencil drawings scanned from the book Through the Eyes of the Masters.

From an Elder Brother
Full text with annotations. Message from a Mahatma or Master of Wisdom, given on December 26 or 27, 1925, to commemorate the fifty year anniversary of the Theosophical Society.

The Seven Principles of Man
Comparison of Theosophical and Ascended Master terms in a conveniently arranged table.

Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary
An ongoing project by Theosophical University Press Online. Started by G. de Purucker and now edited by Grace Knoche.

Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals
Indices to Theosophical and Related Periodicals: Journals, Series and Pamphlets. This html page contains links to indices to some 70 ceased and about 20 continuing Theosophical periodicals. Nearly 30 of the indices are incomplete.

Electronic Editions of Theosophical University Press Publications (H.P. Blavatsky's major works online)

The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett
Letters from M. and K.H. to some of their pupils, written in the 1880s.

The Secret Doctrine, Krishnamurti, and Transformation
Comparative study by Aryel Sanat of the teachings of Krishnamurti and Blavatsky concerning the transformation of consciousness.

H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement: A Brief Historical Sketch By Charles J. Ryan.

Articles by H. P. Blavatsky
236 articles with full text.

Refutation of Charges against Madame Blavatsky
By different students.

Blavatsky Archives Online
"This site publishes material [including rare and hard-to-find source documents] on the life, writings and teachings of Madame H.P. Blavatsky (1831-91), the founder of modern Theosophy."

The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky: Reminiscences and Impressions by Those Who Knew Her
Compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell.

'The Myth of the "Missing" Third Volume of The Secret Doctrine' by Daniel H. Caldwell. The text under discussion can be found in: 1) H.P.Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine (Adyar, India: TPH, 1938) Adyar Edition, Vol. V , 2) Idem., Collected Writings (Wheaton, IL: TPH, 1985) Vol. XIV, and 3) Idem., The Esoteric Writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (Wheaton, IL: TPH, 1980).

Theosofia: In Neo-Platonic and Christian Literature (Summary and Conclusions) By Louis Siémons. "This article describes how the terms theosophy and theosophist can be traced back to Neo-Platonist writers."

The Case of the Cottingley Fairies
The controversial story by John Cooper about photographing fairies. The famous photographs can be found at: Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism, and Fairies by Donald E. Simanek. Bill Keidan wrote about Hodson's involvement [Soon available again].

The Theosophical Mahatmas: A Critique of Paul Johnson's New Myth. By David Pratt. A critique of Johnson's thesis, as stated and elaborated in his several books, that the Masters as depicted by Blavatsky were not truthful reports, but fictionalized accounts based on several real live historical persons she had met during her extensive travels.

Krishnamurti And Blavatsky
By Jean Overton Fuller. Article reconciling Theosophy and the Masters with Krishnamurti's teachings.

The Purchase of Adyar Headquarters: A Reminiscence of H.P.B. by Chetty, G. Soobiah. Charming account by an insider. Reporting Olcott's claims of Masters in the neighbourhood.

Letter from the Maha-chohan
"Several good reasons given to K. H. by the Chohan why the T.S. should be a Brotherhood of Humanity."

Bibliography

See separate page

Reviews

Isis Unveiled: A Master Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology
By H. P. Blavatsky. Book review by John P. Van Mater for Sunrise. Another review by Alvin Boyd Kuhn.

The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy By H.P. Blavatsky. Review by Alvin Boyd Kuhn.

Among the Adepts: Madame Blavatsky on The "Secret Doctrine". Historical article-length book review by Annie Besant of HPB's The Secret Doctrine. First published in The Pall Mall Gazette (London), April 25, 1889.

The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett
Compiled by A.T. Barker. Review by Alvin Boyd Kuhn.

Access to Great Ideas: The Secret Doctrine Reference Series Several authors. Book review by Richard I. Rob for Sunrise.

The Universal Brotherhood: HPB to the American Conventions Written by H. P. Blavatsky. Book review by W. T. S. Thackara for Sunrise.

In Search of the Masters ; The Masters Revealed; Initiates of Theosophical Masters
Written by K. Paul Johnson. A review and critique of K. Paul Johnson's thesis by Daniel Caldwell.

HPB: The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement
By Sylvia Cranston. Book review by Connie Hargrave for Share International.

Madame Blavatsky’s Baboon: A History of the Mystics, Mediums, and Misfits Who Brought Spiritualism to America
Written by Peter Washington. Book review by  W.T.S. Thackara for Theosophical History. Also review by Joseph P. Szimhart for Cultic Studies Journal, and a review (part 1 & part 2) by Frederick C. Crews for the New York Review of Books.

Review of E.L. Gardner's booklet No religion higher than truth, in which the controversial case was made that C.W. Leadbeater was not really clairvoyant, but victim to Kriyashakti, or the power of imaginary projection.

The Judge Case. A Conspiracy Which Ruined the Theosophical Cause. Book by Ernest E. Pelletier. Reviewed by Brett Forray for Theosophical History. Forray addresses the weaknesses and biases of this massive study. (Pelletier's response; editor's remarks)

Links

Theosophical History Journal
This webpage is a collaborative effort of serious students of all aspects of theosophy, with an emphasis on the wave of occultism, spiritualism, New Age thought and Theosophy as it has developed during the last 150 years. Edited by Prof. James Santucci of California State University.

The Theosophical Society
International TS Headquarters near Adyar, India. Founded by H.P.Blavatsky in 1875.

The Theosophical Society
In Pasadena, California. Originally the American branch of the mother organization which split of in 1895 under W.Q. Judge.

The United Lodge of Theosophists
Founded in 1909 by Robert Crosbie. To spread the teachings of Theosophy as recorded in the writings of H.P. Blavatsky and William Q. Judge.

The Theosophical Society in America
In Wheaton, IL. American branch of the Adyar TS.

Blavatsky.Net
"This site focuses on Madame Blavatsky and her teaching - Theosophy. It features an introduction to Theosophy, study aids, original text of Theosophy, supporting evidence, membership, and visitor interaction."

Exploring Theosophy: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy. Collection of the many interesting articles written by the editor David Pratt.

Hodsonia
"An esoteric resource on the life and work of Geoffrey Hodson (1886-1983), Theosophical teacher, mystic and gnostic seer." Edited by Bill Keidan.

Jean Overton Fuller
Web site in the make dedicated to the Theosophical scholar and author Jean Overton Fuller. Edited by Tom Lipscombe.

The Quest
A magazine of philosophy, religion, science, and the arts published by the Theosophical Society in America.

Quest Books
Quest Books is the imprint of the Theosophical Publishing House, the publishing arm of the Theosophical Society in America, dedicated to promoting understanding among all peoples of the world.

Sunrise
Published by the Theosophical Society in Pasadena. The magazine presents a wide range of philosophic and scientific themes in the light of ancient and modern theosophy and its application to daily experience.

David Green's Critical History Page on Theosophy 
Critical articles on Blavatsky, Leadbeater, ULT, Alice Bailey etc.

Theosophy Trust
An online library within the ULT fold, dedicated to Raghavan N. Iyer.

 

 

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