This article is about the philosophy introduced by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. See Theosophy (history of philosophy) for other uses. Theosophy ( Greek: θεοσοφία theosophia "knowledge of things divine" literally "god-wisdom" designates several bodies of ideas since

Theosophy is a doctrine of religious philosophy and metaphysics originating with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better William Quan Judge ( April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was a mystic, Esotericist, and Occultist, and one of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion Alice Ann Bailey ( June 16, 1880 &ndash December 15, 1949) known as Alice A Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, Geoffrey Hodson (12 March 1886 in Lincolnshire – 23 January 1983 in Auckland New Zealand) was a Occultist, Theosophist, mystic, CW Leadbeater ( Feb 16, 1854 Stockport, Cheshire, England - March 1, 1934 Perth, Western AP Sinnett (18 January 1840 - 26 June 1921 was an Author and Theosophist. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright Abner Doubleday (June 26 1819 &ndash January 26 1893 was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. The Seven Rays is a metaphysical concept that has appeared in several religions and Esoteric philosophies since at least the sixth century BCE in both Western culture Initiation is a concept in Theosophy that there are nine levels of spiritual development The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the main remnant of the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. The Theosophical Society (Pasadena is a successor organization to the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875 The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member Robert Crosbie (1849-1919 Isis Unveiled, published in 1877, is a book of Esoteric Philosophy, and was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky 's first major work The Key to Theosophy is a popular book by Helena P Blavatsky first published in 1889 and still in print today expounding the principles of theosophy in a readable The Mahatma Letters are letters that were written by the Theosophical Mahatmas to certain Theosophists especially A The Secret Doctrine the Synthesis of Science Religion and Philosophy, a book originally published as two volumes in 1888, is Helena P The Voice of the Silence is a book by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. For Sanat-Kumara the sage from Puranic - Hinduism, see Four Kumaras or Sanatkumara. Djwal Khul (variously spelled 'Djwhal Khul' 'Djwal Kul' or simply 'DK' is supposed by some Theosophists and others to be a Tibetan Master in the The Master Morya, in the teachings of the Theosophical Society is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one The Master Kuthumi, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended Paul the Venetian is one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" in the teachings of Theosophy and is regarded as one of the Ascended masters in the Ascended Serapis Bey, sometimes written as Serapis, is regarded in Theosophy as being one of the Masters of Wisdom; and in the Ascended Master Teachings The Master Hilarion, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended The Master Jesus is Jesus as understood by the metaphysical system of Theosophy as opposed to the Jesus Christ of the Christian religion The Count of St Germain ( fl 1710–1784 has been variously described as a Courtier, Adventurer, Charlatan, Inventor, Agni Yoga is a spiritual teaching transmitted by the artist Nicholas Roerich (Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh in Russian and his wife Helena Roerich (Yelena Ivanovna Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925 which postulates the existence of an objective intellectually The term Neo-Theosophy is a term originally derogatory for the system of Theosophical ideas expounded by Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater The Liberal Catholic Church (LCC is a form of Christianity open to Theosophical ideas and even Reincarnation. Students of Ascended Master Teachings organizations (also known as " Ascended Master Activities " believe that the Presence of Life - God - Individualizes as the "I Benjamin Creme (b Dec 5 1922 Scotland) is a British Esotericist, lecturer author artist and chief editor of Share International magazine. Philosophy of religion is a branch of Philosophy that is concerned with the philosophical study of religion including arguments over the nature and existence of God religious Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better In this context, theosophy holds that all religions are attempts by the "Spiritual Hierarchy" to help humanity in evolving to greater perfection, and that each religion therefore has a portion of the truth. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Ascended Masters, in the Ascended Master Teachings is derived from the Theosophical concept of Masters of Wisdom or "Mahatmas". Together with Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and others, Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion William Quan Judge ( April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was a mystic, Esotericist, and Occultist, and one of The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Contents 1 Name 2 The three objects 3 Basic Theosophical beliefs 3.1 Consciousness is universal and individual 3.2 Immortal higher self 3.3 Reincarnation is universal 3.4 Karma 3.5 Universality 3.6 Evolution 3.7 The Septenary 4 History 4.1 Original usage 4.2 The Theosophical Society 4.3 Influence 4.4 Music 4.5 20th-century literary references to Theosophy 5 Notes 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

Name

Main article: Theosophy (history of philosophy)

Blavatsky addressed the name in the beginning of The Key to Theosophy:

It comes to us the Alexandrian philosophers, called lovers of truth, Philaletheians, from phil "loving," and aletheia "truth. Theosophy ( Greek: θεοσοφία theosophia "knowledge of things divine" literally "god-wisdom" designates several bodies of ideas since " The name Theosophy dates from the third century of our era, and began with Ammonius Saccas and his disciples, who started the Eclectic Theosophical system. Ammonius Saccas ( 3rd century AD) was a Greek Philosopher from Alexandria who was often referred to as one of the founders of Neoplatonism.

Theosophy, literally "god-wisdom" (Greek: θεοσοφία theosophia), designated several bodies of ideas predating Blavatsky:

The term appeared in Neoplatonism. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by Porphyry De Abstinentia (4. Porphyry of Tyre ( Greek:, c AD 233&ndashc 309 was a Phoenician Neoplatonic philosopher 9) mentioned "Greek and Chaldean theosophy", Ἑλληνική, Χαλδαϊκὴ θεοσοφία. Chaldea (from Greek grc Χαλδαία Chaldaia; Akkadian akk māt Kaldu Hebrew כשדים Kaśdim, "the Chaldees" of the The adjective θεόσοφος "wise in divine things" was applied by Iamblichus (De mysteriis 7. 1) to the Γυμνοσοφισταί, i. Gymnosophists is the name (meaning "naked philosophers" given by the Greeks to certain ancient Indian philosophers who pursued Asceticism to e. the Indian yogis or sadhus. A yogi ( Sanskrit, feminine root Yogini) is a term for a male practitioner of various forms of the path of Yoga, maintaining In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an Ascetic or practitioner of Yoga ( Yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three

There was a group of Renaissance philosophers: Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Robert Fludd, and, especially, Jacob Boehme; the Enlightenment theologian Emanuel Swedenborg was influenced by these. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim ( September 14, 1486 – February 18 1535) was a German magician, Occult Paracelsus (11 November or 17 December 1493 in Einsiedeln Switzerland – 24 September 1541 in Salzburg, Austria) was an alchemist, Robert Fludd, also known as Robertus de Fluctibus (1574 Bearsted Kent &ndash September 8 1637, London) was a prominent Jakob Böhme (probably April 24 1575 &ndash November 17 1624) was a German Christian mystic and Theologian The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century (born Emanuel Swedberg; February 8 1688–March 29 1772 was a Swedish Scientist, Philosopher, Christian mystic, and Theologian

The Oxford English Dictionary defines theosophy as: "Any system of speculation which bases the knowledge of nature upon that of the divine nature", noting it is used in particular with reference to Boehme. The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED) published by the Oxford University Press (OUP is a comprehensive Dictionary of the English

The three objects

The three declared objects of the original Theosophical Society as established by Blavatsky, Judge and Olcott were as follows:

• First — To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.
• Second — To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.
• Third — To investigate the unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man. "^[1]

Basic Theosophical beliefs

Consciousness is universal and individual

According to Theosophy, nature does not operate by chance. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. Every event, past or present, happens because of laws which are part of a universal paradigm. The Universal Paradigm is a New Age approach to life where many popular religions and philosophies are surveyed for Common Elements that are brought together in a unified whole to form Theosophists hold that everything, living or not, is put together from basic building blocks evolving towards consciousness. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the

Immortal higher self

Theosophists believe that all human beings in their "Higher Selves" are immortal, but their lower personalities are often unconscious of their eternal Spiritual Nature and that their physical, emotional, and lower mental components will decompose and perish. Higher Self is a term associated with multiple belief systems and with eternal conscious and intelligent Being.

Reincarnation is universal

Theosophy teaches that what is known as human is actually a Spiritual Nature classically called the Monad (Higher Self). This Monad has prompted wakefulness (self analyzing reflection) called the human state through myriad lives passing through the mineral, plant and animal stages during the evolution of life on earth. However Theosophy differs from the common belief that regression is possible. Human beings cannot incarnate as animals or plants again having attained awareness of Self, or really awareness of themselves as distinct from the lower kingdoms for whom such awareness does not exist, for form follows functional mind. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Conversely, people are considered only the epitome of spiritual/physical life on Earth and not the end stage of evolution, which continues for further stages. An epitome ( Greek epitemnein —to cut short is a summary or miniature form also used as a Synonym for embodiment EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001

This natural progression includes those types of beings that were men and women like ourselves, but have since become more than egocentric personalities. The Ancient Wisdom Religion considers that in reaching such levels of selfless spiritual development, a man or woman naturally partakes in a Hierarchy of Being, where concern is the welfare and highest good of all beings. Therefore, in this sense, where religions would have men worship such Angelic types as the son of the Father (God), Theosophy teaches that all people are such beings in various stages of attainment, through the changing of their focus of life from the outer ego to the welfare of all others.

Of course this must take as many lives to occur as it took to become enmeshed in so called material life. Men and women that have accomplished this are known throughout history as the benefactors and teachers of humanity, and have taught that all people may become what they have become. They teach that it is the duty of human beings to follow this Path of self-emancipation from the bondage of selfishness and become their own saviours, vicarious atonement essentially being impossible and outside the natural order. For although the thoughts and actions of another may be emulated, no being can be saved from foolishness through another's actions. Therefore Theosophy teaches that the immortal ethical life must be lived, and to this end teaches a Heart Doctrine of ethical thought and action as the practice by which the changes spoken of may be made.

Karma

Theosophy professes the method for people to free themselves from unconsciously causing negative karma, which has become the cause of suffering of humanity during life, through an emulation of dharma-duty to all that lives. Theosophy teaches, as do many ethical/religious doctrines, that what ye sow, so shall ye reap. The point being that a sense or law of rigid justice rules nature, whereby Causes sown (in terms of conscious and unconscious actions) all have their mathematically connected consequences. Evil and good are the result of human determination, and of themselves are illusions caused by the mind being absorbed in spirit/matter in a cycle of becoming. There is a natural involution of spirit into matter followed by an evolution of matter back into spirit. The purpose of the Universe is for spirit to manifest itself self-consciously. This is done in small unassuming ways where individuals make a decided work out of doing their duty in the daily round, and learning to treat all others as their equal. In this way the Karma of our past, which precoccupies much of our endeavor, is resolved, the resolvent and solvent being the application of what the Buddhists call Good Heart through Mindfulness.

Universality

Theosophy teaches that all life exists in an essential "Radical Unity" and in which all individual beings, regardless of the kingdom in which they exist (human, animal, vegetable or mineral), are involved in an inextricably interconnected single life. The advancement of any one aspect of this synergistically bound Unity affects all for the good. Of course, therefore, the opposite must be true. Human beings, being the only self conscious types in this continuum, are the product of countless awakenings into this state through lives of involvement with this "Radical Unity" and are therefore growing positively, when the awareness of this has become obvious.

Evolution

Theosophists believe that religion, philosophy, science, the arts, commerce, and philanthropy, among other "virtues," lead people ever closer to "the Absolute. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual "

Planets, solar systems, galaxies, and the cosmos itself are seen as conscious beings, fulfilling their own evolutionary paths. A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity. A galaxy is a massive gravitationally bound system consisting of Stars an Interstellar medium of gas and dust, and Dark matter In its most general sense a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system

The spiritual units of consciousness in the universe are the Monads, which may manifest as angels, human beings or in various other forms. Essentially, according to Leibniz in his Monadology, and adopted by Blavatsky because of the usefulness of the idea regarding a perspective upon what is called the Higher Self or Spiritual Nature of man, the idea of Monad stands for an essential unitary nature or point which is the basis for all compound natures. The Monadology ( Monadologie, 1714 is one of Gottfried Leibniz ’s works that best define his philosophy monadism. A Spiritual Atom, if you will. The point is that all beings, regardless of stature or complexity, are informed by the Monad, as it/they perfectly reflect(s) all of nature, but only from their vantage point. So-called empty Space is "dotted" with them to the exclusion of emptiness.

Theosophists also believe that human civilization, like all other parts of the universe, develops through cycles of seven stages. Thus in the first age, humans were pure spirit; in the second age, they are known as Hyperboreans; in the third as Lemurians; and in the fourth, Atlanteans. In Greek mythology, according to tradition the Hyperboreans were a mythical people who lived far to the north of Thrace. Lemuria (lɨˈmjʊəriə is the name of a hypothetical " lost land " variously located in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Atlantis (in Greek,, "island of Atlas " is the name of a Legendary Island, first mentioned in Plato 's dialogues Since Atlantis was the nadir of the cycle, the present fifth age is a time of reawakening humanity's psychic gifts. The term psychic here really means the realization of the permeability of consciousness as it had not been known earlier in evolution, although sensed by some more sensitive individuals of our culture.

In The Secret Doctrine,^[2] Blavatsky says that Semitic peoples were an offshoot of the initial Aryan Race which through a natural process of differentiation, had branched off from the Parent Aryan Race, along with its core beliefs, and became the basis for the Semitic peoples, as they are known in the Mid-east and from which ultimately sprung the Judeo-Christian perspective upon the Wisdom Religion of the Aryans. The Secret Doctrine the Synthesis of Science Religion and Philosophy, a book originally published as two volumes in 1888, is Helena P In Linguistics and Ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical " Shem " Hebrew שם translated as "name" Arabic: ساميّ "^[3] According to her, the Semitic were an early off-shoot or Sub-Race of this 5th Race of people, who are the participants within the earlier races, and will be the participants of the latter races to be, as the evolution of our Spiritual awareness naturally proceeds and the less flexible forms of preceding people (through a Darwinian perspective) are less and less adaptable to the Soul's needs. However, this evolutionary drive, must be consciously assisted by its participants. For there can be no increase in awareness for those who practice an addiction to a stultifying materialism. This is one of the major emphases in Theosophy and is discussed in what is known as the Third Fundamental in The Secret Doctrine. Self-imposed and Self-divised effort is said to bring about the changes needed for us to effectively grow in Spiritual awareness, and only this is said to be able to enrich our culture with genuine ethical civilization.

The Septenary

It might be important and quite useful to see that the most material of the vestures of the Soul are interpenetrated by the particles of the more subtle vesture. For example-The "Sthula-Sarira" or most material body, is, as science is aware, mostly space at its so-called atomic level (as all matter is known to be), and these interstitial spaces are inhabited by the those subtler particles of the Astral Body or Linga sarira, and so on for the other more energy like envelopes of the Soul. The important thing about this interpenetration of each sheath, is that we see the inner person as a fluid and unbroken continuity, although varying in density/flexibility and energy and therefore more and more susceptible to the behest of the Real Person - the Soul/Higher Self since they are less and less encumbered in material boundary. Perhaps the image of a suspension or colloid in chemistry is an apt perspective. And since matter is merely the material opposite of consciousness (ultimately the Highest aspect of us being pure consciousness), this interpenetration of sheaths allows for consciousness to interpenetrate Man's nature and explains how we are sensitive to what we think is external stimulate, through the five senses. Theosophy, as well as many other esoteric groups and occult societies, claims in their esoteric cosmology that the universe is ordered by the number seven. The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine hidden secret referring to "knowledge of the hidden" Esoteric cosmology is Cosmology that is an intrinsic part of an esoteric or occult system of thought In mathematics Seven is the fourth Prime number. It is not only a Mersenne prime (since 23 &minus 1 = 7 but also a The reincarnating consciousness of the monad utilizes spirit/matter forms in seven bodies:

• The first body is called sthula-sarira (Sanskrit, from sthula meaning coarse, gross, not refined, heavy, bulky, fat in the sense of bigness, conditioned and differentiated matter + sarira to moulder, waste away). The Septenary in HP Blavatsky 's teachings refers to the seven principles of man. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical A gross body, impermanent because of its wholly compounded character. The physical body is usually considered as the lowest substance-principle. The physical form is the result of the harmonious co-working on the physical plane of forces and faculties streaming through their astral vehicle or linga-sarira, the pattern or model of the physical body.
• The second body is called Linga-Sarira, (Sanskrit, from linga meaning characteristic mark, model, pattern + sarira, from the verbal root sri to moulder, waste away). A pattern or model that is impermanent; the model-body or astral body, only slightly more ethereal than the physical body. It is the astral model around which the physical body is built, and from which the physical body flows or develops as growth proceeds.
• The third body is prana (Sanskrit, from pra before + the verbal root an to breathe, to live). Prana (प्राण) is the Sanskrit for " Breath " (from the root prā "to fill" cognate to Latin plenus "full" In theosophy, the breath of life. This life or prana works on, in, and around us, pulsating unceasingly during the term of physical existence. Prana is "the radiating force or Energy of Atma -- as the Universal Life and the One Self -- its lower or rather (in its effects) more physical, because manifesting, aspect. Prana or Life permeates the whole being of the objective Universe; and is called a 'principle' only because it is an indispensable factor and the deus ex machina of the living man. A deus ex machina ( lat. ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina literally "god from a/the machine" is an improbable "
• The fourth principle is kāma (Sanskrit, from the verbal root kam meaning to desire). Desire; the desire principle is the driving, impelling force. Born from the interaction of atman, buddhi, and manas, kama per se is a colourless force, good or bad according to the way the mind and soul use it. It is the seat of the living electrical impulses, desires, and aspirations, considered in their energetic aspect.
• The fifth principle is manas (Sanskrit, from the verbal root man meaning to think). Mana is the concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people animals and inanimate objects The seat of mentation and egoic consciousness; in humanity Manas is the human person, the reincarnating ego, immortal in essence, enduring in its higher aspects through the entire manvantara. When embodied, manas is dual, gravitating toward buddhi in its higher aspects and in its lower aspects toward kama. The first is intuitive mind, the second the animal, ratiocinative consciousness, the lower mentality and passions of the personality.
• The sixth principle or vehicle is Buddhi (Sanskrit, from the verbal root budh to awaken, enlighten, know). In Hindu mythology, Buddhi is one of the wives of Ganesha. Buddhi is a feminine Sanskrit noun derived from The vehicle of pure, universal spirit, hence an inseparable garment or vehicle of atman, which is, in its essence, of the highest plane of akasa or alaya. In man buddhi is the spiritual soul, the faculty of discriminating, the channel through which streams divine inspiration from the atman to the ego, and therefore that faculty which enables us to discern between good and evil: spiritual conscience. The qualities of the buddhic principle when awakened are higher judgment, instant understanding, discrimination, intuition, love that has no bounds, and consequent universal forgiveness.
• The seventh is called Atman (Sanskrit). The Ātman ( IAST: Ātman Sanskrit: आत्मन्‍ is a philosophical term used within Hinduism and Vedanta to identify the Soul Self; pure consciousness, that cosmic self which is the same in every dweller on this globe and on every one of the planetary or stellar bodies in space. It is the feeling and knowledge of "I am," pure cognition, the abstract idea of self. It does not differ at all throughout the cosmos except in degree of self-recognition. It may also be considered as the First Logos in the human microcosm. During incarnation the lowest aspects of atman take on attributes, because it is linked with buddhi, as the buddhi is linked with manas, as the manas is linked with kama, etc.

See: Encyclopedic Theosophic Glossary

History

Original usage

Theosophists trace the origin of Theosophy to the universal striving for spiritual knowledge that existed in all cultures. It is found in an unbroken chain in India but existed in ancient Greece and also in the writings of Plato (427-347 BCE), Plotinus (204-270) and other neo-Platonists, as well as Jakob Boehme (1575-1624). India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece Events By place Greece Sparta 's King Archidamus II is succeeded by his son Agis II. Events By Place Greece In the wake of the Macedonian victory at Olynthus, Athens seeks to make peace with Macedonia Plotinus ( Greek:) (ca AD 204–270 was a major philosopher of the ancient world who is widely considered the founder of Neoplatonism (along with his For the area code see Area code 204. For the car see Peugeot 204. Events By Place Roman Empire Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire and is succeeded by Aurelian. Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by Jakob Böhme (probably April 24 1575 &ndash November 17 1624) was a German Christian mystic and Theologian Some relevant quotations:

. . . we are imprisoned in the body, like an oyster in his shell.

— The Socrates of Plato, Phaedrus

To the philosopher, the body is "a disturbing element, hindering the soul from the acquisition of knowledge. . . "

. . . what is purification but. . . the release of the soul from the chains of the body?

— The Socrates of Plato, Phaedo

The Theosophical Society

Modern Theosophical esotericism, however, begins with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) usually known as Madame Blavatsky. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better In 1875 she founded the Theosophical Society in New York City together with Henry Steel Olcott, who was a lawyer and writer. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The City of New York Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms During the Civil War Col. Olcott worked to root out corruption in war contracts. Blavatsky was a world traveler who eventually settled in India where, with Olcott, she established the headquarters of the Society in Bangalore. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Her first major book Isis Unveiled (1877) presented elements mainly from the Western wisdom tradition based on her extensive travels in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Isis Unveiled, published in 1877, is a book of Esoteric Philosophy, and was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky 's first major work Her second major work The Secret Doctrine (1888), contains a commentary on The Book of Dzyan, and is based upon what she called an Unwritten Secret Doctrine (really the Wisdom tradition or Wisdom Religion allotted to Man), which is described as the underlying basis of all the religions of humanity. The Secret Doctrine the Synthesis of Science Religion and Philosophy, a book originally published as two volumes in 1888, is Helena P The Book of Dzyan (comprising the Stanzas of Dzyan) is a reputedly ancient text of Tibetan origin These writings, along with her Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence are key texts for genuine students.

Upon Blavatsky's death in 1891, several Theosophical societies emerged following a series of schisms. Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The word schism (ˈsɪzəm or /ˈskɪzəm/ from the Greek σχίσμα skhísma (from σχίζω skhízō, "to tear to split" Annie Besant became leader of the society based in Adyar, India, while William Quan Judge split off the American Section of the Theosophical Society in New York which later moved to Point Loma, Covina, and Pasadena, California under a series of leaders: Katherine Tingley, Gottfried de Purucker, Colonel Arthur L. Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Adyar is a village in Dakshina Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India William Quan Judge ( April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was a mystic, Esotericist, and Occultist, and one of Point Loma is a seaside neighborhood of San Diego, California. Covina is a city in Los Angeles County, California about 22 miles (35 km east of downtown Los Angeles. Pasadena ( is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Katherine Augusta Westcott Tingley (1847 Newbury, Massachusetts - 1929 Visingsö, Sweden) was a Social worker and prominent Gottfried de Purucker ( January 15, 1874, Suffern New York – September 27, 1942) was an author and Theosophist who joined Conger, James A. Long, Grace F. Knoche, and in March 2006 Randell C. James A Long (* 27 August 1898 in York, Pennsylvania, USA; † 19 July 1971 in California, USA Grace F Knoche ( February 15, 1909 – February 18, 2006) was leader of the Theosophical Society with international headquarters Grubb. The great pulp fiction writer Talbot Mundy was a member of the Point Loma group, and wrote many articles for its newsletter. Pulp magazines (or pulp fiction; often referred to as "the pulps" were inexpensive Fiction magazines Talbot Mundy (born William Lancaster Gribbon) ( April 23, 1879 – August 5, 1940) was an English writer Yet another international theosophical organization, the United Lodge of Theosophists, was formed by Robert Crosbie. The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member Robert Crosbie (1849-1919 Robert Crosbie (born 10 January 1849 in Montreal, Canada; died 25 June 1919 in the U He was a student of William Quan Judge and after his death went to Point Loma in 1900 to help Katherine Tingley's Thesosphical society, and which he left in 1904 to found the ULT in 1909. He experienced a lack of respect for the original work of Blavatsky and W. Q. Judge in Tingley's work and wished to bring that original stream of study back to the world, through a re-presentation of unaltered original writtings.

Rudolf Steiner created a successful branch of the Theosophical Society Adyar in Germany. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the main remnant of the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. He focused on a Western esoteric path that incorporated the influences of Christianity and natural science, resulting in tensions with Annie Besant (cf. Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, Rudolf Steiner and the Theosophical Society) — having already founded his own Anthroposophical Society a month earlier — after he refused members of the Order of the Star of the East membership in the German Section. The relationship between Rudolf Steiner and the Theosophical Society founded by H The General Anthroposophical Society is an organization dedicated to supporting the community of those interested in the form of Spirituality known as Anthroposophy Jiddu Krishnamurti ( Telugu: జిడ్డు కృష్ణ మూర్తి or J Steiner was vehemently opposed to The Order of the Star of the East's proclamation that the young boy, Jiddu Krishnamurti, was the incarnation of Maitreya (who was believed to have "over-shadowed" Jesus Christ). Jiddu Krishnamurti ( Telugu: జిడ్డు కృష్ణ మూర్తి or J Maitreya ( Sanskrit) or Metteyya ( Pāli) is a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. However and fortunately, J. Krishnamurti himself saw through this business and left the Society. The great majority of German-speaking theosophists, as well as several others, joined Steiner's new society. (Steiner later became famous for his ideas about education, resulting in an international network of "Steiner Schools. Waldorf education (also known as Steiner or Steiner-Waldorf education is a Pedagogy based upon the Educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder ")

In North London, another splinter group split off to form the Palmers Green Lodge under the leadership of the occultist and colonial adventurer, Thomas Neumark-Jones. Thomas Ernst Neumark-Jones (1841&ndash1912 was born to German emigre parents in Hampstead London The Palmers Green Lodge published the journal Kayfabe which published, among others, Rainbow Circle writers like Hobhouse and Chiozza Money. In Professional wrestling, kayfabe (ˈkeɪfeɪb KAY-fayb) refers to the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" that is the portrayal of professional After the death of William Quan Judge, another society, the United Lodge of Theosophists, emerged, recognizing no leader after Judge; it is now based in Los Angeles, California. The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member Robert Crosbie (1849-1919 Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

Other organizations based on the theosophical teachings of Helena Blavatsky, Besant and Leadbeater include the Agni Yoga, "I AM" Activity, The Bridge to Freedom, The Summit Lighthouse, and The Temple of The Presence. Agni Yoga is a spiritual teaching transmitted by the artist Nicholas Roerich (Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh in Russian and his wife Helena Roerich (Yelena Ivanovna The "I AM" Activity is a religious movement founded in the early 1930s by Guy Ballard (1878&ndash1939 and his wife Edna (1886-1971 in Chicago Illinois The Bridge to Freedom was established in 1951 by Geraldine Innocente and other Students of the Ascended Masters, after she received what was believed to be an Anointing The Summit Lighthouse (TSL is an organization founded by Mark L The Temple of The Presence was established in 1995 by Carolyn Shearer and Monroe Shearer after they received an Anointing to become Messengers for the Ascended Masters, Archangels These various offshoots dispute the authenticity of their rivals. Thus followers of the United Lodge of Theosophists will claim that only " the Writings of HPB, William Quan Judge and Robert Crosbie can be trusted to contain unadulterated concepts and ethical direction. "

Influence

At its strongest in membership and intensity during the 1920s the parent Theosophical Society (or Theosophical Society Adyar) had around 7,000 members in the USA. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the main remnant of the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [2] The largest section of The Theosophical Society, the Indian section, at one time had more than 20,000 members, now reduced to around 10,000.

Theosophy was closely linked to the Indian independence movement: the Indian National Congress was founded during a Theosophical conference, and many of its leaders, including M. K. Gandhi were associated with theosophy. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January

The present-day New Age movement is to a considerable extent based on the teachings of Blavatsky, though some writers have described Alice Bailey as the founder of the "New Age movement". New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature Alice Ann Bailey ( June 16, 1880 &ndash December 15, 1949) known as Alice A ^[4] However, the term was used prior to Bailey; a weekly Journal of Christian liberalism and Socialism called The New Age was published as early as 1894. The New Age was a British Literary magazine, noted for its wide influence under the editorship of A ^[5] James R. Lewis and J. Gordon Melton, in Perspectives on the New Age wrote, "The most important—though certainly not the only—source of this transformative metaphor, as well as the term "New Age," was Theosophy, particularly as the Theosophical perspective was mediated to the movement by the works of Alice Bailey. " ^[6]

Artists and authors who investigated Theosophy, aside from the musicians listed below, include Aldous Huxley, Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Franz Kafka, William Butler Yeats, George William Russell (Æ), Owen Barfield, and T. S. Eliot, in Europe, and Arthur Dove, George Lucas, Katherine Dreier, Robert Duncan, Marsden Hartley, Wallace Stevens, and James Jones^[7] in America. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Wassily Kandinsky (Russian Василий Кандинский first name pronounced as) ( – 13 December 1944 was a Russian painter, Printmaker Pieter Cornelis (Piet Mondriaan, after 1912 Mondrian, (pronounced Dutch pit 'mɔndrian later pit 'mɔndɹiɔn ( March 7, 1872 &ndash February George William Russell ( April 10, 1867 &ndash July 17, 1935) who wrote under the Pseudonym Æ (sometimes Owen Barfield ( November 9, 1898 – December 14, 1997) was a British Philosopher, Author, poet and Critic. Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic. Arthur Garfield Dove ( August 2, 1880 &ndash November 23, 1946) was an American Artist. George Walton Lucas Jr (born May 14, 1944) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, producer, Screenwriter Katherine Sophie Dreier ( September 10, 1877 &ndash March 29, 1952) was an artist and a patron of the arts Robert Duncan ( January 7, 1919 – February 3, 1988) was an American poet and a student of H Marsden Hartley (January 4 1877 - September 2 1943 was an American Modernist painter and poet in the early 20th century Wallace Stevens ( October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955) was a major American Modernist Poet. James Ramon Jones ( November 6, 1921 &ndash May 9, 1977) was an American author known for his explorations of World War [3]

Some prominent Hindu leaders, such as Swami Vivekananda and Swami Dayananda Sarasvati criticized Theosophy. Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930 -) is a distinguished Hindu teacher of Vedanta and Sanskrit in the tradition of Adi Shankara. ^[8][9] Swami Dayananda Sarasvati initially worked with Blavatsky and Olcott after they arrived in India, but soon afterwards accused them of lying on several different topics, and then all collaboration was stopped on a permanent basis. Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930 -) is a distinguished Hindu teacher of Vedanta and Sanskrit in the tradition of Adi Shankara.

Music

Composers such as Ruth Crawford-Seeger, Dane Rudhyar, and most famously Alexander Scriabin were Theosophists whose beliefs influenced their music, especially by providing a justification or rationale for their dissonant counterpoint. Ruth Crawford Seeger ( 3 July 1901 - 18 November 1953) born Ruth Porter Crawford was a Modernist Composer and an American Dane Rudhyar ( March 23, 1895, in Paris – September 13, 1985, in San Francisco) born Daniel Chennevière Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Скря́бин Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin; sometimes transliterated as Skriabin In Music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and Rhythm, and interdependent in Harmony According to Rudhyar, Scriabin was "the one great pioneer of the new music of a reborn Western civilization, the father of the future musician. " (Rudhyar 1926b, 899) and an antidote to "the Latin reactionaries and their apostle, Stravinsky" and the "rule-ordained" music of "Schoenberg's group. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to Arnold Schoenberg ( pronounced ˈʃøːnbɛrk (13 September 1874 &ndash 13 July 1951 was an Austrian and later American Composer, associated with " (Ibid. , 900-901) Scriabin devised a quartal synthetic chord, often called his "mystic" chord, and before his death Scriabin planned a multimedia work to be performed in the Himalayas that would bring about the armageddon; "a grandiose religious synthesis of all arts which would herald the birth of a new world. In Music, quartal harmony is the building of chordal and melodic structures with a distinct preference for intervals of fourths A synthetic chord is a made-up or non-traditional chord which cannot be analyzed in terms of traditional music theory or harmonic analysis In Christian mythology Armageddon ( Greek Αρμαγεδδων; also spelled Har-Magedon in some modern English translations also known as " (AMG [4]). This piece, Mysterium, was never realized, due to his death in 1915.

20th-century literary references to Theosophy

• In Luigi Pirandello's key novel The Late Mattia Pascal (1904), the protagonist's landlord Anselmo Paleari owns many a theosophical work in his private library and frequents a local theosophist school. Luigi Pirandello ( June 28, 1867 — December 10, 1936) was an Italian Dramatist Novelist, and short The Late Mattia Pascal (Il Fu Mattia Pascal is a novel by Luigi Pirandello.
• In E.M. Forster's novel, Howard's End (1910), there are several references to the Schlegel siblings' study and participation in Theosophy, as well as a mention of Madame Blavatsky. Edward Morgan Forster OM, CH (1 January 1879–7 June 1970 was an English novelist Short story writer Essayist, and Librettist Howards End is a Novel by E M Forster, first published in 1910, which tells a story of class struggle in turn-of-the-century England Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better The characterization serves to highlight the Schlegels' (who were German) non-conformist, liberal and artistic pursuits - considered radical and inappropriate by the upper-class Edwardian society into which Margaret Schlegel was to marry. Class and society Socially the Edwardian era was a period during which the British Class system was very rigid
• In Hermann Hesse's novel, Demian, Knauer asks Emil if Emil is a theosophist. Hermann Hesse (ˈhɛʀman ˈhɛsə ( 2 July, 1877 — 9 August, 1962) was a German - Swiss poet novelist and painter Demian The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth is a Bildungsroman by Hermann Hesse, first published in 1919 but a prologue was added in 1960
• Theosophy is mocked in several episodes of James Joyce's Ulysses (1922). James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 &ndash 13 January 1941 was an Irish expatriate writer widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the Ulysses is a novel by James Joyce, first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920
• In the play Juno and the Paycock (1924) by Sean O'Casey, which is set in pre-independence Dublin, one of the secondary characters is a Theosophist. Juno and the Paycock is a play by Sean O'Casey, the second of his well-known "Dublin Trilogy" and one of the most highly regarded and oft-performed Seán O'Casey ( Irish Seán Ó Cathasaigh (30 March 1880 &ndash 18 September 1964 was a major Irish dramatist and Memoirist A committed irish Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. This character is quite shallow, and through him O'Casey parodies theosophy as an intellectual fad.
• H. P. Lovecraft read W. Howard Phillips Lovecraft ( August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of horror, fantasy Scott-Elliot's The Story of Atlantis & Lost Lemuria and altered Theosophical ideas in his short story, "The Call of Cthulhu (1928). For the 2005 film see The Call of Cthulhu (film. " The Call of Cthulhu " is one of H "
• Mahatma Gandhi met Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant in India in about 1889, shortly after Besant had joined the Society. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January He declined invitations to join, but said the meeting induced him to study his own background in Hinduism. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. He mentions this, and his further study of Theosophy during 1903 as published in his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927–29). The Story of My Experiments with Truth ( Gujarātī "સત્યના પ્રયોગો અથવા આત્મકથા" transliterated
• Mark Frost utilizes Theosophy as a plot point in his novel The List of 7 (1993) and features Madame Blavatsky as a minor character. Mark Frost (born November 25, 1953) is an American novelist television/film writer director and Executive producer.
• The novel Little, Big by John Crowley includes a minor character who is a Theosophist. Little Big or The Fairies' Parliament is a modern fantasy novel by John Crowley, published in 1981. John Crowley (born December 1, 1942) is an American author of Fantasy, Science fiction and mainstream fiction
• A 1997 film called FairyTale: A True Story includes a Theosophist as a main character. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar FairyTale A True Story is a 1997 film from Paramount Pictures, loosely based on the story of the Cottingley Fairies.
• Theosophists, along with Rosicrucians, frequently visit Clara in Isabel Allende's novel The House of the Spirits. The term Rosicrucian (symbol the Rose Cross) describes a secret society of mystics allegedly formed in late mediaeval Germany, holding a doctrine "built on Isabel Allende Llona, (born in Lima, Peru; 2 August 1942 is a Chilean American Novelist. The House of the Spirits ( La casa de los espíritus, 1982 is a debut novel by Isabel Allende.
• L. Frank Baum, a notable member of the Theosophical Society, wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), which some see as an allegory of theosophical tenets. Lyman Frank Baum ( May 15 1856 &ndash May 5 1919) was an American Author, Actor, and Independent filmmaker Many of the story's oft-cited parallels to mysticism -- the rainbow and the ruby slippers, for example - actually originated with the 1939 MGM musical adaptation. There are Theosophical elements in all fourteen Oz books, with Tik-Tok of Oz (1914) particularly strong in Theosophist symbolism. Tik-Tok of Oz is the eighth Land of Oz book written by L Frank Baum. ^[10]
• Jorge Luis Borges uses some of the concepts of theosophy in his short story "The Witness".
• The Maltese poet Kevin Saliba wrote a poem entitled Summa Theosofica in which he poeticises a seminal passage from Madame Blavatsky's book The Key To Theosophy. The poem was published in the poetry collection Ħbula Stirati (Tight Ropes) (2007).
• Ishmael Reed refers to theosophy in the novel Mumbo Jumbo. Ishmael Scott Reed ( February 22, 1938) is an American Poet, essayist and novelist Mumbo Jumbo is a 1972 Novel by African-American Author Ishmael Reed.
• Van Morrison's song "Dweller on the Threshold," has Theosophy concepts at its core.
• Murray Silver's "When Elvis Meets the Dalai Lama" (Bonaventure Books, Savannah, 2005) is the author's memoirs relating how he started out as a rock concert promoter and ended up as a special assistant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Some Theosophists believe Silver wears the mantle of Henry Steel Olcott.

Notes

See also

• Theosophy (history of philosophy)
• Ascended master
• Esoteric cosmology
• Theosophical Society

External links

• Theosophy Library Online
• Theosophical History
• Blavatsky Study Center-Blavatsky Archives
• Theosophical Society - Adyar
• Theosophical Society - North America
• United Lodge of Theosophists
• Blavatsky.net
• Theosophy World, online e-zine
• Mysticism, Theosophy & the Occult - Anna Kingsford
• Henry T Laurency
• Theosophical Society Point Loma - The Hague

References

• Blavatsky, Helena: The Key to Theosophy, ISBN 0-911500-07-3
• René Guénon. Theosophy ( Greek: θεοσοφία theosophia "knowledge of things divine" literally "god-wisdom" designates several bodies of ideas since Ascended Masters, in the Ascended Master Teachings is derived from the Theosophical concept of Masters of Wisdom or "Mahatmas". Esoteric cosmology is Cosmology that is an intrinsic part of an esoteric or occult system of thought The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. René Guénon ( November 15 1886 – January 7 1951) was a French author and intellectual who remains an influential figure in the Theosophy: History of a Pseudo-Religion (2004), Sophia Perennis. Pseudoreligion (or pseudotheology is a generally Pejorative term applied to a non-mainstream Belief system or Philosophy which is functionally ISBN 0-900588-79-9
• Roth, Christopher F. , "Ufology as Anthropology: Race, Extraterrestrials, and the Occult. " In E. T. Culture: Anthropology in Outerspaces, ed. by Debbora Battaglia. Durham, N. C. : Duke University Press, 2005.
• Washington, Peter Madame Blavatsky's Baboon: Theosophy and the Emergence of the Western Guru (1993), London: Secker & Warburg. ISBN 0-436-56418-1 Review

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