The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy

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Ranked #678 in Religion, #40,960 overall

Blavatsky's Masterpiece

It unites science and religion in a unique synthesis. Changed my life and my world view completely. Contains many of the themes of the modern New Age movement like: karmic evolution, Atlantis, parapsychology, Unity of All Life/everything, unity of all religions etc.

Founder of New Age - before the word existed

The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy 

The Secret Doctrine : The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy (Volumes 1 and 2)

Amazon Price: $21.56 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now

Blavatsky's great contribution to spiritual understanding worldwide. She united religion and science at a time when the two words seemed to mean opposite things (as they often do now).

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Blavatsky taught Holism before the word was invented.

Holistic thought is basically the fact that everything is both interconnected and (ultimately) goes back to ONE source. Holistic thought is the opposite of reductionist thinking: Reductionist thinking explains things by explaining the part. In holistic thinking the context is stressed.

Inspired by the Secret Doctrine  

By Sri Madhava Ashish and Sri Krishna Prem

Inspiring ideas from 'The Secret Doctrine' 

All is ONE

The source of everything is the oneness of the uni more...1 point

Consciousness is graded

There are several levels of consciousness. Mind is more...1 point

Evolution of consciousness

Human consciousness is part of the general cycle o more...0 points

Karma

Karma as a law of nature: the ethical law of cause more...0 points

Ultimate Truth unites science and religion

0 points

Soul of individual is one with the Soul of the Universe

In the words of Advaita Vedanta: Atman is Brahman0 points

What we see is illusion

The universe is fundamentally different from the w more...0 points

Akasha

There is a cosmic record on the Astral Plane of ev more...0 points

People are different - and that's OK

People should be judged on their spiritual worth, more...0 points

What you (probably) did not know about The Secret Doctrine 

  • Although both volumes were first published in 1888, H.P. Blavatsky started writing 1879

  • The Secret Doctrine was meant to be a rewrite of Isis Unveiled, Blavatsky's first book

  • The book came out in two separate volumes, but as early as 1884 people had subscribed to installments which never came out. Instead the subscribers just received the book itself

  • Blavatsky was ill during most of the writing

  • Blavatsky was also publicly denounced by the SPR while writing the Secret Doctrine - it's a wonder the book got finished at all, given the amount of stress she was under

  • Much of the book was written based on visions she got from her Mahatmas

  • After Blavatsky thought she was finished, she had two associates (the Keightley's) look it over - they rearranged the whole thing and added questions that Blavatsky then answered

The Third Volume of the Secret Doctrine 

This controversial third volume of the Secret Doctrine was published by Annie Besant after Blavatsky's demise in 1891 'from papers found in her desk'. Some feel Besant edited the material too much. Others feel this is the first volume of the Secret Doctrine as Blavatsky had meant to write it (before editors got int the way).

The Secret Doctrine Vol III

Amazon Price: $24.96 (as of 11/23/2009)Buy Now

The first half is as good an introduction into theosophical thought as you'll find - ideas jump off every page while it's also very compelling reading. The second half is Blavatsky's Esoteric Instructions to her students. This part is probably edited by Besant more. Still, also very thought provoking.

Also available on kindle

More Blavatsky Books 

Isis Unveiled [Two Volume Set]

Also available on kindle

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Amazon Price: $23.76 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

The Voice of the Silence (Verbatim Edition)

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Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

Occultism of the Secret Doctrine

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Amazon Price: $39.80 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

Helena Blavatsky (Western Esoteric Masters)

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Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

The Key to Theosophy (Quest Book)

Also available on kindle

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Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

What did you think about The Secret Doctrine? 

Please tell me your honest opinion of this book - if you did read it (or part of it).

What did you think?

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Love it! Great read.

spirituality says:

I needed all the help I could get reading it (joined a Secret Doctrine Studygroup), but it did change the way I looked at life, science and the universe.

Sorry, not my cup of tea.

Margo_Arrowsmith says:

I haven't read it, but it sounds very interesting.

 

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Meditating on the Secret Doctrine 

aka: what people have to say...

Reminiscences of H.P. Blavatsky and the Secret Doctrine - Countess Constance Wachtmeister et al.
In giving an account of the manner in which Helena Petrovna Blavatsky wrote The Secret Doctrine, while yet the circumstances are fresh in my memory, with memoranda and letters still available for reference, I shall not shrink from dwelling at some length on my own relations with my dear friend and teacher; and on many attendant circumstances which, while not directly connected with the actual writing of the book [The Secret Doctrine], will contribute, I feel sure, to an intelligent comprehension of both the author and her work.
Metaphysics: The "Secret Doctrine" and its study
Being extracts from the notes of personal teachings given by H.P. Blavatsky. to private pupils during the years 1888 to 1891, included in a large MSS volume left to me by my father, who was one of the pupils. -- P
The Secret Doctrine as a Contribution to World Thought, Sri Madhava Ashish, Modern Theosophy
The world's many religious teachings are human attempts to express mankind's half defined ideas about himself and the world he lives in. As we become richer in our wealth of concepts and more knowledgeable about our environment, we find it necessary from time to time to reformulate our religious ideas. H.P. Blavatsky's contribution to world thought was such a reformulation.
Meditating on The Secret Doctrine, Pablo D. Sender
Pablo Sender on meditation on Blavatsky's master piece: 'The Secret Doctrine.'
The path / Mistaken notions on the secret doctrine - Modern Theosophy
My chief and only object was to bring into prominence that the basic and fundamental principles of every exoteric religion and philosophy, old or new, were from first to last but echoes of the primeval "Wisdom Religion."
The Secret Doctrine as Spiritual Practice, Pablo Sender - Modern Theosophy
Pablo Sender on awakening spiritual perception through study of Blavatsky's master piece: 'The Secret Doctrine.'

More Blavatsky 

Introducing H.P. Blavatsky

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