Henk Spierenburg Theosophy Books

With the exception of the Inner Group Teachings and the Subba Row Collected Writings, these books share the fact that they is organize Blavatsky's work. In other words: Henk brought together quotes from the various parts of Blavatsky's writings about one subject. In addition he would look up what Blavatsky's possible sources had to say on the subject, and where possible he checked contemporary translations of the ancient texts she used.

Given that we can now all search Blavatsky's writings online and on cd-rom, what is most important about these books today is these scholarly notes, and the index at the back of them. Henk was unparalleled in his capacity for making a thorough index. Not for nothing his addition to the Dutch translation of the Nag Hammadi writings was the index.

I have not been able to find all of them, so for the sake of posterity, I list them here.
- H.P. Blavatsky on the Gnostics (1994)
- The Vedanta Commentaries of H.P. Blavatsky (1992)
- The Veda Commentaries of H.P. Blavatsky (1996)
- The Buddhism of H.P. Blavatsky (1991)
- The Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky (1985, 1995)
- Astrology of a Living Universe, Helena Blavatsky's Visionary Philosophy of the Seven Sacred Planets (1997)
- The New Testament Commentaries of H.P. Blavatsky (1987)
- T. Subba Row Collected Writings (Volume 1: 2001; Volume 2: 2001/2002)

Unlike his English books, his Dutch books are often written by him, or translations of ancient texts into Dutch. He was more comfortable in Dutch than English - refusing to give lectures in English for instance (though I can't help but think that his reluctance to travel also had something to do with that).

- De Philonische Geheime Leer, De Kabala van Philo van Alexandrië (2001)
- Avadhuta Gita (1998)
- De Pelgrimstocht van de Ziel, Een Oud-Syrische Vertelling (1998)
- Over 25 Incarnaties van de Dalai Lama (2000)
- De Nag Hammadi Geschriften (registers) (2004)

De Philonische geheime leer
H.J. Spierenburg
Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish scholar - philosopher living at the time of jesus, roughly. He left a lot of writings, and in the centuries following his demise, he would be written about a lot. Only Plato got more commentary. But one aspect of his work has been neglected - the fact that he was initiated in the mysteries. Henk Spierenburg shows in this work that the kabalistic tree - usually dated to the 7th century A.D. - is already present in Philo's work. At the end of this book Henk also shows the amazing overlap between these teachings and what is said about the same subject in Vedic Sanskrit texts.

De Avadhuta Gita: A less well known Sanskrit text about Raja Yoga translated into Dutch.

De pelgrimstocht van de ziel
H.J. Spierenburg
Other titles of this text are 'The hymn of the pearl', 'The song of redemption', 'The hymn of the mantel of glory' etc. Present in one version of the Acts of Paul, an apocryphic Christian work about the work of the Apostle Paul in India, this beautiful tale of a man in a strange land is translated into Dutch by Henk Spierenburg.

Over 25 incarnaties van
de Dalai Lama
H.J. Spierenburg
A welcome overview of the history of the Dalai Lamas. A thoroughly unromantic book, in which the bare facts known about these spiritual leaders of Tibet are told.

Nag hammadi geschriften
Jacob Slavenburg
& Willem Glaudemans
A translation praised by scholars, though they add that the value is mostly due to a thorough reading of the English translations of the Nag Hammadi writings. However that may be, the index is very well done by Henk Spierenburg.

Though he was not fond of sharing his personal life, the biographical information I gathered with his widow is rather lacking in depth and color. I've decided to fill in at least the few blanks I can.

His first contact with theosophy, so he told me one day, came in his teens as an employer took the smart but edgy youth to a ULT lodge meeting. As his biography makes clear, Henk had not had it easy. From a working class background he literally started at the bottom of the stack with technical work that requires expertise (lenses aren't the easiest things to make or mend). Still, this was the time after the war: The Netherlands were being rebuilt and many people got a chance to work themselves up from their class background. Henk would prove to be one of them.

He told me that the thing that impressed him about the ULT was the students who came there to ask smart questions, though I'm sure his lifelong love for Blavatsky started there as well.

Though Henk said I reminded him of himself at that age, I'm sure in many ways I was closer to those smart students. After all, my background is way more privileged than Henk knew as a kid and I've been a smart mouth for as long as I can remember.

Anyhow, Henk soon started teaching theosophy instead of just learning it. By the end of the 60's he's teaching and has started the Dutch magazine Lucifer. What's known to anybody who knows anything about this, but hasn't been published online, is that Henk Spierenburg started that magazine with Dick J.P. Kok, the man who would go on to found Isis, the third largest theosophical organization in The Netherlands. Their magazine is still called Lucifer.

They quarreled, presumably because Kok wanted to be in charge. Kok went on to found Isis and Henk went on to become the largest name in Dutch theosophical history. Isis on the other hand turned out to be a PR hit: it convinces people to this day that they're a world wide organization, which they really are not. They do however succeed very well in translating theosophy into something relevant to the world today.

Henk Spierenburg on the other hand simply went on studying, lecturing and writing. He ended up a member of the TS Adyar, according to his widow this was because it was the only democratic theosophical organization. I may add that he had studied history enough to realize what the non-democratic structure of the other theosophical organizations did to their stability, or lack thereof.

In his theosophical history work he ended up often stressing that Besant had been praised by Blavatsky as much as Judge had. And that de Purucker had made as many extra-ordinary claims about Masters as Besant and Leadbeater had. In short: he seems to have been dead set to equalize the playing field.

Still, it's clear that his personal life long theosophical love was Blavatsky. And the books he gave me were never by Besant and Leadbeater, instead focusing on Blavatsky, Judge, de Purucker and Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Best Jiddu Krishnamurti Books

Krishnamurti's books were usually compiled by others from his talks. Below you will find introductions to his work, but also deeper philosophic reflection...

Interfaith Jewelry - letting all religions coexist

A lot of people are worried about the way different religions antagonize one another. It's an old story, but one that humanity can no longer ignore. Islam...

Theosophy Books - theosophical inspiration

Links to book reviews of theosophical books and a selection of the most famous and inspirational books in the theosophical movement. Books by Annie Besant, ...

Yoga Sutras by Patanjali - Science of Yoga - Taimni

A very scholarly translation and commentary on THE yoga classic: the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. Taimni not only explains each sutra, but also puts them in ...

Alex Grey

Alex Grey (born November 29, 1953) is an American artist specializing in spiritual and visionary art. There is a clear connection with the world of alternative...

Annie Besant, teacher, lecturer, secularist and theosophist...

Minister's wife, student of medicine, raised a prophet, reformer, secularist and more. Annie Besant (1847-1933) was many things in her lifetime - and living...

The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Ravi Ravindra

The yoga sutras are two thousand year old spiritual classic. In India every spiritual teacher of any note has written a commentary on it. Ravi Ravindra is the...

Man The Measure Of All Things

Deep, engaging and insightful interpretation of Blavatsky's 'The Secret Doctrine'. 'Man the measure of all things' is one of those books I've heard about...

Jiddu Krishnamurti, world teacher

Jiddu Krishnamurti was famous in his lifetime for first being raised as a 'world teacher' and then renouncing the organisation founded in his honor. Paradox...

Theosophy Blogs & Forums: religious and interfaith debate

The latest from theosophists online. Find out what theosophical blogs have updated recently, what the theosophical forums are talking about etc. From organi...

Best Paul Brunton books and biography

Paul Brunton was an influential spiritual teacher in the first half of the 20th century. He was instrumental in making the Maharshi known in the West. His...

Blavatsky Collected Writings and Books

The best series of occult and spiritual literature ever. This lens contains links to all Blavatsky's books and articles. Read The Secret Doctrine, Isis Unve...

H.P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society

Blavatsky compared the science of her day, studied the world religions and came up with her own synthesis, which she called 'theosophy', or ancient wisdom. With...

Elizabeth Clare Prophet Books

Spiritual teachers are often controversial. Elizabeth Clare Prophet is accused of the usual: not being very scientific, not being clear about her sources...

Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom: A Commentary on The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett

The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett is one of the books that is central to theosophical literature. I read, and reread it a lot, in the early years of my being...

Best Books by Alexandra David-Neel

Best known for her visit to Tibet, when it was closed to foreigners, Alexandra David-Neels books are travel journals mixed with spiritual insight. She helped...

Geoffrey Hodson books on clairvoyance

Geoffrey Hodson (12 March 1886 in Lincolnshire, England - 23 January 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand) was a occultist, Theosophist, mystic, philosopher and ...

There IS an afterlife

I think there IS an afterlife. This lens records various religious beliefs - and gives you the option of really deciding which is best. From Ancient Egypt and...

Theosophical Society - theosophy

The cool thing about the Theosophical Society is that it is a great place to learn about religion, philosophy, science and metaphysics - without having to ...

The Law of One Quotes

Though we see a world of change and contrast all about, it's one of the ancient esoteric insights that all is One. That is: everything is intimately connec...

The Best H.P. Blavatsky Books

Blavatsky's public life was spent doing two things: writing and organizing the Theosophical Society. This lens introduces her books: The Secret Doctrine, Is...

Creative Evolution by Amit Goswami PhD

Inspiring integration of the latest in physics with a spiritual perspective. Convincing in the point that since consciousness is part of the universe now ...

Talbot Mundy

Talbot Mundy (born William Lancaster Gribbon) (April 23, 1879 - August 5, 1940) was an English writer. He also wrote under the pseudonym Walter Galt. Born...

The Voice of the Silence, by H.P. Blavatsky: review

This is the version of The Voice of the Silence that I keep reading - and which I give to anyone who is interested. It doesn't only have Blavatsky's original...

The Occult Roots Of Nazism

THE book about one of the most controversial topics in occult history: the relationship between Nazism and occultism. Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke did ground breaking...