There is no religion higher than truth
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 commit to any dogmas. Each member can remain in whatever religion they choose - as long as they respect each other's beliefs and practices.
The three objects of the Theosophical Society
- To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color.
- To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.
- To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.
Theosophical Society Links
The Theosophical Society
Articles about the history, aims and objects of th more...2 points
Theosophical Society in America (United States)
The theosophical society is a nonsectarian undogma more...0 points
The Theosophical Society-Adyar
The Theosophical Society, a worldwide body whose p more...0 points
Theosophy | All Considering
0 points
Concepts first popularized in the West by the Theosophical Society
- Akasha
- In the 19th century western science was still considering the 'Ether' as a scientific concept. The Indian version of Ether (though a lot more subtle) is Akasha.
- Karma (and reincarnation)
- The concept of reincarnation has a long history in Western thought, starting with Pythagoras. Blavatsky added the Indian concept of Karma - which clarifies the doctrine considerably.
- Holism: the Unity of All Life
- The absolute unity of all - Blavatsky didn't call it holism yet, but the fundamental insight that everything is connected is there.
- Chakra and Aura
- The word 'chakra' is from Sanskrit. Leadbeater popularized the concept, but it was known in Indian texts on yoga. The word Aura has a long history in the west, but the use it currently has as something everybody has started with Leadbeater.
- The Great White Brotherhood and Masters
- Discussion by theosophists about the masters and the Great White Brotherhood.
Theosophy FAQ's
- Theosophical Abbreviations
- Making sense of articles theosophists write for each other.
- Are all theosophists atheists?
- No.Theosophists come in all shapes and sizes. I've met them atheist,deist, monotheist, polytheist, pantheist and agnostic (have I left any option out?).
- FAQ on the Theosophical Movement - Katinka Hesselink Net
- Several questions on the TM: where to find lodges, how to become a member etc.
- What is White Lotus Day?
- The death of H.P. Blavatsky commemorated by theosophists worldwide.
- Gender neutral objects to the Theosophical Society
- Why is the language of the three objects of the Theosophical Society not gender neutral?
History of the Theosophical Society
Starting 1875, New York
Among those present three went on to keep the flame alive: H.P. Blavatsky, H.S. Olcott and the youngster W.Q. Judge.
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky remains best known today. Her work The Secret Doctrine is still a classic and new age best seller. She is seen by historians of modern day spirituality as the founding mother of New Age spirituality. Many of the themes in that movement are present in her work:
- the unity of all
- reincarnation and karma
- clairvoyance and paranormal effects in general
- divination methods
- Life after death
H.S. Olcott was the president of the Theosophical Society till his death in 1908. He worked tirelessly for Eastern religions like Buddhism, Hinduism and even Zoroastrianism (the Indian Parsis). To this day he is remembered for his work for Buddhism, education and even journalism in Sri Lanka.
W.Q. Judge did not join Blavatsky and Olcott when they traveled to India in 1878. He stayed behind in the United States and only slowly became a prominent member. Among theosophists he is well known as a writer of articles and stories that popularize Blavatsky's ideas. Shortly before his death (and after Blavatsky's) there was a quarrel with Annie Besant and Olcott on one side and Judge on the other. This lead to the split of the Theosophical Society into several rival groups. The movement has never been united since.
Theosophical Movement FAQ: on the different Theosophical groups.
A theosophical chronology
Theosophy books
Theosophia: Hidden Dimensions of Christianity
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $17.05 (as of 10/10/2008)
The Etheric Double (Theosophical Classics Series)
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 10/10/2008)
Jiddu Krishnamurti & Annie Besant
More theosophical controversy
Annie Besant was also no stranger to publicity. She was not only the most acclaimed speaker of her day - she was also a woman. That alone would have kept the papers writing about her. But there was more: She lost custody of her kids in a widely publicized divorce. From preacher's wife she turned atheist. She fought for contraception and the rights of factory workers: every step of her career was the talk of the town.
When this atheist turned theosophist, her very public explanation made heads turn. Had she finally lost her mind? Well, no. She had merely read Blavatsky The Secret Doctrine and had felt it to be the solution to many of her questions.
When she went to India, she started out merely a theosophical lecturer. Where Blavatsky and Olcott had been more interested in Buddhism, Annie Besant became interested in Hinduism. She taught herself Sanskrit and with the help of a Brahmin friend translated the Bhagavad Gita.
After Olcott passed on, she became president of the Theosophical Society. She also became very active in the fight for independence that the Indian people were starting to fight for.
With the help of C.W. Leadbeater, her colleague, she found and raised a young Brahmin boy: Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Together they would raise the boy to be the new 'world teacher'. This outraged Rudolf Steiner and ultimately caused him to quit the Theosophical Society.
Though Krishnamurti renounced the organization they founded for him (The Order of the Star of the East), he did become a world teacher. He traveled all over the world to give talks and meet people for the rest of his life.
This was a big disappointment to the people around him - as well as a scandal.
Yet the current president of the Theosophical Society, Mrs Radha Burnier, was a student of Krishnamurti's. It is her policy to learn from Krishnamurti what we can and to integrate that into theosophical life. Her article walking without crutches exemplifies the essence of Krishnamurti's teachings: ultimately each of us has to find truth, right living and love in our own hearts and minds. No one else can do more then point the way.
The Theosophical Society and the paranormal
Aura's were discovered and investigated and sensationalist reports started coming in as well. One of these was later known as the Cottingley Fairy Photographs.
This lens isn't by me, but it's too good to not be featured here.
-
The Cottingley Fairy Photographs
-
The story of two young girls and the photographs that created controversy, hope and curiosity for over 63 years. Elsie Wright was 16 and her cousin, Frances Griffiths, was 10 in 1917 when the first two photographs of the famous Cottingley Fairies we...
More theosophy books: themes
How the World Can Be the Way It Is: An Inquiry for the New Millennium into Science, Philosophy, and Perception
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
The Seven Rays Made Visual: An Illustrated Introduction to the Teaching on the Seven Rays
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
Theosophical people & themes
-
Karma and Reincarnation: are we reborn?
-
Karma and reincarnation are linked. Karma is the idea that what we do and have done influences our circumstances, talents and options. Reincarnation means that what we do and think will not just influence our present life, but also our future ex...
-
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. Paradoxically he spent the rest of his life teaching all over the world: lecturing, talking to people...
-
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 in the 19th and early 20th century, all of those things were revolutionary for a woman to be...
-
Rudolf Steiner the founder of Anthroposophy
-
(1861-1925) Founder of Waldorf education, alternative farming methods (bio-dynamic farming), alternative health practices and dietary advice - Rudolf Steiner was way ahead of his time. Rudolf Steiner was quite a learned man. He was an expert on Goet...
More about Theosophy
-
Theosophy Blogs & Forums: The Wisest Spirituality online Ever
-
The latest from theosophists online. Find out what theosophical blogs have updated recently, what the theosophical forums are talking about etc.
Theosophy blog on myspace
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byH.P. Blavatsky, principle founder of the Theosophical Society
-
Blavatsky : Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
-
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.
-
H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky
-
Blavatsky is a monumental figure in the history of religion - East AND West. This book tracks her life, the many controversies around her, her ideas, and her influence.
-
The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky, Volume One (Letters of H.P. Blavatsky)
-
This book caused a storm in theosophical circles: how dare they publish letters that many serious theosophists thought were NOT written by H.P. Blavatsky? Well they - the vice president of the Theosophical Society, his wife and an editorial committee...
-
Blavatsky Collected Writings
-
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 Unveiled, The Voice of the Silence, the Key to Theosophy - and her fascinating articles.
-
The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy
-
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 al...
Blavatsky blog on Myspace
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byReader Feedback
|
Positive-quotes
Really nice lens urs...Good work.. Posted July 19, 2008 |
|
Tiddledeewinks
Interesting lens. I didn't know about this, but I have heard of Rudolph Steiner. I'm reading the book "The Science of Mind" by Ernest Holmes. Posted June 29, 2008 |
|
HealthBug
I've always been interested in theosophy, although I didn't knew that I have an inclination towards theosophy. Posted June 28, 2008 |
|
RinchenChodron
Great lens ***** - we have a local group of Theosophists that meets at a beautiful place in Boulder, Colorado called Starhouse Posted June 21, 2008 |
|
enslavedbyfaeries
Just wanted to say thank you for your kind words and featuring my Cottingley Fairy lens here. I saw your Squidcast this morning too, -it made my day. :) Posted June 21, 2008 |
More Spiritual and Theosophical Lenses
More religion and spirituality resources-
Spiritual Teachers - my favorites and yours
-
These are some of the teachers - past and present - who will keep reminding us that there IS more to life. There is more to US... Spiritual teachers are the salt that gives flavor to our otherwise somewhat dry western culture. With all the focus on...
-
Why Vegetarian? The Environment & cruelty to animals
-
There are several reasons for people to become vegetarians. For me it has to do with the spiritual effects of eating meat as well as the impact of eating animals on animals and the environment in general.
-
The Ultimate Questions - religion and spirituality
-
These are the ultimate philosophy questions we all ask ourselves about religion and spirituality. Vote, get inspired and share. Part lensography, part hey monkeybrain lens - I hope you all enjoy.
-
Spiritual Lenses - Katinka Hesselink Net: religion and spirituality
-
A lensography of my best spirituality lenses as well as a summary of my website. I feature information from various religious traditions like Buddhism, Sufism, Fourth Way and Theosophy. I also pay attention to various spiritual teachers, whether the...
Thanks for all your support!
A big thank you to all of you who've supported my online work by:
- linking to any of my web projects
- voting on my lenses
- buying stuff from my lenses
- asking questions
- giving constructive feedback
- ... donating money :)
- and being generally supportive :) ;)
