The Key to Theosophy
Being
A CLEAR EXPOSITION, IN THE FORM OF QUESTION AND ANSWER,
OF THE ETHICS, SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY
FOR THE STUDY
OF WHICH THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY HAS BEEN FOUNDED
BY
H. P. BLAVATSKY
2002 scanned Reproduction from
A Photographic Reproduction of the
Original Edition, as First Issued
at London, England: 1889
THE THEOSOPHY COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A.
1987
"
Entered
according to Act of Congress in the year 1889, by H.P.Blavatsky
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D.C."
Dedicated
by
"H. P. B."
To all her Pupils
that
They may
Learn and Teach
in their turn.
THEOSOPHY AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
· The Meaning of the Name ―― 1
· The Policy of the Theosophical Society ― 4
· The Wisdom-Religion Esoteric in all Ages ―7
· Theosophy is not Buddhism ― 12
EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC THEOSOPHY
· What the Modern Theosophical Society is not ―16
· Theosophists and Members of the "T. S." ― 20
· The Difference between Theosophy and Occultism ― 25
· The Difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism ― 27
· Why is Theosophy accepted? ― 35
THE WORKING SYSTEM OF THE T. S.
· The Objects of the Society ― 39
· The Common Origin of Man ― 41
· Our other Objects ― 47
· On the Sacredness of the Pledge ― 48
―viii―
THE RELATIONS OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY TO THEOSOPHY
· On Self-Improvement ― 52
· The Abstract and the Concrete ― 56
THE FUNDAMENTAL TEACHINGS OF THEOSOPHY
· On God and Prayer ― 61
· Is it Necessary to Pray? ― 66
· Prayer Kills Self-Reliance ― 71
· On the Source of the Human Soul ― 75
· The Buddhist Teachings on the above ― 77
THEOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS AS TO NATURE AND MAN
· The Unity of All in All ― 83
· Evolution and Illusion ― 84
· On the Septenary Constitution of our Planet ― 88
· The Septenary Nature of Man ― 90
· The Distinction between Soul and Spirit ― 93
· The Greek Teachings ― 97
ON THE VARIOUS POST-MORTEM STATES
· The Physical and the Spiritual Man ― 101
· Our Eternal Reward and Punishment; and on Nirvana ― 109
· On the Various "Principles" in Man ― 117
ON RE-INCARNATION OR RE-BIRTH
· What is Memory according to Theosophical Teaching? ― 123
― ix ―
· Why do we not Remember our Past Lives? ― 127
· On Individuality and Personality ― 134
· On the Reward and Punishment of the Ego ― 137
ON THE KAMA-LOKA AND DEVACHAN
· On the Fate of the Lower "Principles" ― 143
· Why Theosophists do not believe in the Return of Pure "Spirits" ― 146
· A few Words about the Skandhas ― 154
· On Post-mortem and Post-natal Consciousness ― 157
· What is really meant by Annihilation ― 163
· Definite Words for Definite Things ― 171
ON THE NATURE OF OUR THINKING PRINCIPLE
· The Mystery of the Ego ― 177
· The Complex Nature of Manas ― 183
· The Doctrine is Taught in St. John's Gospel ― 186
ON THE MYSTERIES OF RE-INCARNATION
· Periodical Re-births ― 197
· What is Karma? ― 201
· Who are Those who Know? ― 215
· The Difference between Faith and Knowledge;
or, Blind and Reasoned Faith
― 218
· Has God the Right to Forgive? ―223
― x ―
WHAT IS PRACTICAL THEOSOPHY?
· Duty ―― 227
· The Relations of the T. S. to Political Reforms ― 231
· On Self-Sacrifice ― 237
· On Charity ― 242
· Theosophy for the Masses ― 245
· How Members can Help the Society ― 248
· What a Theosophist ought not to do ― 249
ON THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
· Theosophy and Asceticism ― 258
· Theosophy and Marriage ― 262
· Theosophy and Education ― 263
· Why, then, is there so much Prejudice against the T. S.? ― 271
· Is the Theosophical Society a Money-making Concern? ― 281
· The Working Staff of the T. S. ― 285
THE "THEOSOPHICAL MAHATMAS"
· Are They "Spirits of Light" or "Goblins Damn'd"? ― 288
· The Abuse of Sacred Names and Terms ― 300
The Future of the Theosophical Society ―304
APPENDIX― 308
The purpose of this book is exactly expressed in its title, "THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY," and needs but few words of explanation. It is not a complete or exhaustive text-book of Theosophy, but only a key to unlock the door that leads to the deeper study. It traces the broad outlines of the Wisdom Religion, and explains its fundamental principles; meeting, at the same time, the various objections raised by the average Western enquirer, and endeavouring to present unfamiliar concepts in a form as simple and in language as clear as possible. That it should succeed in making Theosophy intelligible without mental effort on the part of the reader, would be too much to expect; but it is hoped that the obscurity still left is of the thought not of the language, is due to depth not to confusion. To the mentally lazy or obtuse, Theosophy must remain a riddle; for in the world mental as in the world spiritual each man must progress by his own efforts. The writer cannot do the reader's thinking for him, nor would the latter be any the better off if such vicarious thought were possible. The need for such an exposition as the present has long been felt among those interested in the Theosophical Society and its work, and it is hoped that it will supply information, as free as possible from technicalities, to many whose attention has been awakened, but who, as yet, are merely puzzled and not convinced.
Some care has been taken in disentangling some part of what is true from what is false in Spiritualistic teachings as to the post-mortem life, and to showing the true nature of Spiritualistic phenomena. Previous explanations of a similar kind have drawn much wrath upon the writer's devoted head; the Spiritualists, like too many others, preferring to believe what is pleasant rather than what is true, and becoming very angry with anyone who destroys an agreeable delusion. For the past year Theosophy has been the target for every poisoned arrow of Spiritualism, as though the possessors of a half truth felt more antagonism to the possessors of the whole truth than those who had no share to boast of.
Very hearty thanks are due from the author to many Theosophists who have sent suggestions and questions, or have otherwise contributed help during the writing of this book. The work will be the more useful for their aid, and that will be their best reward―H. P. B.
The Key to Theosophy
==============
THEOSOPHY AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
ENQUIRER. Theosophy and its doctrines are often referred to as a new-fangled religion. Is it a religion?
THEOSOPHIST. It is not. Theosophy is Divine Knowledge or Science.
ENQUIRER. What is the real meaning of the term?
THEOSOPHIST. "Divine Wisdom," qeosofia (Theosophia) or Wisdom of the gods, as qeogonia (theogonia), genealogy of the gods. The word qed" means a god in Greek, one of the divine beings, certainly not "God" in the sense attached in our day to the term. Therefore, it is not " Wisdom of God," as translated by some, but Divine Wisdom such as that possessed by the gods. The term is many thousand years old.
ENQUIRER. What is the origin of the name?
THEOSOPHIST. It comes to us from the
Alexandrian philosophers, called lovers of truth, Philaletheians, from
fil
(phil)
"loving," and
ajlhvqeia
(aletheia ) "truth." The name Theosophy dates from
2
the third
century of our era, and began with Ammonius Saccas and his disciples*,
who started the Eclectic
Theosophical system.
ENQUIRER. What was the object of this system?
THEOSOPHIST. First of all to inculcate certain great moral truths upon its disciples, and all those who were "lovers of the truth." Hence the motto adopted by the Theosophical Society: "There is no religion higher than truth." The chief aim of the Founder.
* Also called Analogeticists. As explained by Prof. Alex. Wilder, F. T. S., in his "Eclectic Philosophy," they were called so because of their practice of interpreting all sacred legends and narratives, myths and mysteries, by a rule or principle of analogy and correspondence: so that events which were related as having occurred in the external world were regarded as expressing operations and experiences of the human soul. They were also denominated Neo-Platonists. Though Theosophy, or the Eclectic Theosophical system, is generally attributed to the third century, yet, if Diogenes Laertius is to be credited, its origin is much earlier, as he attributed the system to an Egyptian priest, Pot-Amun, who lived in the early days of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The same author tells us that the name is Coptic, and signifies one consecrated to Amun, the God of Wisdom. Theosophy is the equivalent of Brahm-Vidya, divine knowledge.
Eclectic Theosophy was divided under three heads: (1) Belief in one absolute, incomprehensible and supreme Deity, or infinite essence, which is the root of all nature, and of all that is, visible and invisible. (2) Belief in man's eternal immortal nature, because, being a radiation of the Universal Soul, it is of an identical essence with it. (3) Theurgy, or "divine work," or producing a work of gods; from theoi, "gods," and ergein, "to work." The term is very old, but, as it belongs to the vocabulary of the MYSTERIES, was not in popular use. It was a mystic belief practically proven by initiated adepts and priests―that, by making oneself as pure as the incorporeal beings―i.e., by returning to one's pristine purity of nature man could move the gods to impart to him Divine mysteries, and even cause them to become occasionally visible, either subjectively or objectively. It was the transcendental aspect of what is now called Spiritualism; but having been abused and misconceived by the populace, it had come to be regarded by some as necromancy, and was generally forbidden. A travestied practice of the theurgy of Iamblichus lingers still in the ceremonial magic of some modern Kabalists. Modern Theosophy avoids and rejects both these kinds of magic and "necromancy" as being very dangerous. Real divine theurgy requires an almost superhuman purity and holiness of life; otherwise it degenerates into mediumship or black magic. The immediate disciples of Ammonius Saccas, who was called Theodidaktos, "god-taught"―such as Plotinus and his follower Porphyry―rejected theurgy at first, but were finally reconciled to it through Iamblichus, who wrote a work to that effect entitled "De Mysteriis," under the name of his own master, a famous Egyptian priest called Abammon. Ammonius Saccas was the son of Christian parents, and, having been repelled by dogmatic spiritualistic Christianity from his childhood, became a Neo-Platonist, and like J. Boehme and other great seers and mystics, is said to have had divine wisdom revealed to him in dreams and visions. Hence his name of Theodidaktos. He resolved to reconcile every system of religion, and by demonstrating their identical origin to establish one universal creed based on ethics. His life was so blameless and pure, his learning so profound and vast, that several Church Fathers were his secret disciples. Clemens Alexandrinus speaks very highly of him. Plotinus, the "St. John" of Ammonius, was also a man universally respected and esteemed, and of the most profound learning and integrity. When thirty-nine years of age he accompanied the Roman Emperor Gordian and his army to the East, to be instructed by the sages of Bactria and India. He had a School of Philosophy in Rome. Porphyry, his disciple, whose real name was Malek (a Hellenized Jew), collected all the writings of his master. Porphyry was himself a great author, and gave an allegorical interpretation to some parts of Homer's writings. The system of meditation the Philaletheians resorted to was ecstacy, a system akin to Indian Yoga practice. What is known of the Eclectic School is due to Origen, Longinus, and Plotinus, the immediate disciples of Ammonius―(Vide Eclectic Philos., by A. Wilder.)
of the
Eclectic Theosophical School was one of the three objects of its modern
successor, the Theosophical Society, namely, to reconcile all religions, sects
and nations under a common system of ethics, based on eternal verities.
ENQUIRER. What have you to show that this is
not an impossible dream;
and that all the world's religions are based on
the one and the same truth?
THEOSOPHIST. Their comparative study and analysis. The "Wisdom-religion" was one in antiquity; and the sameness of primitive religious philosophy is proven to us by the identical doctrines taught to the Initiates during the MYSTERIES, an institution once universally diffused. "All the old worships indicate the existence of a single Theosophy anterior to them. The key that is to open one must open all; otherwise it cannot be the right key." (Eclect. Philo.)
THE POLICY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
ENQUIRER. In the days of Ammonius there were several ancient great religions, and numerous were the sects in Egypt and Palestine alone. How could he reconcile them?
THEOSOPHIST. By doing that which we again try to do now. The Neo-Platonists were a large body, and belonged to various religious philosophies*; so do our Theosophists. In those days, the Jew Aristobulus affirmed that the ethics of Aristotle represented
* It was under Philadelphus that Judaism established itself in Alexandria, and forthwith the Hellenic teachers became the dangerous rivals of the College of Rabbis of Babylon. As the author of "Eclectic Philosophy" very pertinently remarks: "The Buddhistic, Vedantic, and Magian systems were expounded along with the philosophies of Greece at that period. It was not wonderful that thoughtful men supposed that the strife of words ought to cease, and considered it possible to extract one harmonious system from these various teachings. . . . Panaenus, Athenagoras, and Clement were thoroughly instructed in Platonic philosophy, and comprehended its essential unity with the Oriental systems."
the esoteric teachings of the Law of
Moses; Philo Judζus endeavoured to reconcile the Pentateuch with the
Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy; and Josephus proved that the Essenes of
Carmel were simply the copyists and followers of the Egyptian Therapeutζ (the
healers). So it is in our day. We can show the line of descent of every
Christian religion, as of every, even the smallest, sect. The latter are the
minor twigs or shoots grown on the larger branches; but shoots and branches
spring from the same trunk―the WISDOM-RELIGION. To prove this was the aim of
Ammonius, who endeavoured to induce Gentiles and Christians, Jews and Idolaters,
to lay aside their contentions and strifes, remembering only that they were all
in possession of the same truth under various vestments, and were all the
children of a common mother.
* This is the aim of Theosophy
likewise.
ENQUIRER. What are your authorities for saying this of the ancient Theosophists of Alexandria?
* Says Mosheim of Ammonius: "Conceiving that not only the philosophers of Greece, but also all those of the different barbarian nations, were perfectly in unison with each other with regard to every essential point, he made it his business so to expound the thousand tenets of all these various sects as to show they had all originated from one and the same source, and tended all to one and the same end." If the writer on Ammonius in the Edinburgh Encyclopoedia knows what he is talking about, then he describes the modern Theosophists, their beliefs, and their work, for he says, speaking of the Theodidaktos: "He adopted the doctrines which were received in Egypt (the esoteric were those of India) concerning the Universe and the Deity, considered as constituting one great whole; concerning the eternity of the world . . . and established a system of moral discipline which allowed the people in general to live according to the laws of their country and the dictates of nature, but required the wise to exalt their mind by contemplation."
THEOSOPHIST. An almost countless number of
well-known writers. Mosheim, one of them, says that:―
"Ammonius taught that the religion of the multitude went hand-in-hand with philosophy, and with her had shared the fate of being by degrees corrupted and obscured with mere human conceits, superstitions, and lies; that it ought, therefore, to be brought back to its original purity by purging it of this dross and expounding it upon philosophical principles; and the whole Christ had in view was to reinstate and restore to its primitive integrity the wisdom of the ancients; to reduce within bounds the universally-prevailing dominion of superstition; and in part to correct, and in part to exterminate the various errors that had found their way into the different popular religions."
This, again, is precisely what the modern Theosophists say. Only while the great Philaletheian was supported and helped in the policy he pursued by two Church Fathers, Clement and Athenagoras, by all the learned Rabbis of the Synagogue, the Academy and the Groves, and while he taught a common doctrine for all, we, his followers on the same line, receive no recognition, but, on the contrary, are abused and persecuted. People 1,500 years ago are thus shown to have been more tolerant than they are in this enlightened century.
ENQUIRER. Was he encouraged and supported by the Church because, notwithstanding his heresies, Ammonius taught Christianity and was a Christian?
THEOSOPHIST. Not at all. He was born a Christian, but never accepted Church Christianity. As said of him by the same writer:
"He had but to propound his instructions according to the ancient pillars of Hermes, which Plato and Pythagoras knew before, and from them constituted their philosophy. Finding the same in the prologue of the Gospel according to St. John, he very properly supposed that the
purpose of Jesus was to restore the great doctrine of wisdom in its primitive
integrity. The narratives of the Bible and the stories of the gods he considered
to be allegories illustrative of the truth, or else fables to be rejected."
Moreover, as says the Edinburgh Encyclopdia, "he acknowledged that
Jesus Christ was an excellent man and the 'friend of God,' but alleged
that it was not his design entirely to abolish the worship of demons (gods), and
that his only intention was to purify the ancient religion."
THE WISDOM-RELIGION ESOTERIC IN ALL AGES
ENQUIRER. Since Ammonius never committed anything to writing, how can one feel sure that such were his teachings?
THEOSOPHIST. Neither did Buddha, Pythagoras, Confucius, Orpheus, Socrates, or even Jesus, leave behind them any writings. Yet most of these are historical personages, and their teachings have all survived. The disciples of Ammonius (among whom Origen and Herennius) wrote treatises and explained his ethics. Certainly the latter are as historical, if not more so, than the Apostolic writings. Moreover, his pupils―Origen, Plotinus, and Longinus (counsellor of the famous Queen Zenobia)―have all left voluminous records of the Philaletheian System―so far, at all events, as their public profession of faith was known, for the school was divided into exoteric and esoteric teachings.
ENQUIRER. How have the latter tenets reached our day, since you hold that what is properly called the WISDOM-RELIGION was esoteric?
THEOSOPHIST. The WISDOM-RELIGION was ever one, and being the last word of possible human knowledge, was, therefore, carefully preserved. It preceded by long ages the Alexandrian Theo-
sophists,
reached the modern, and will survive every other religion and philosophy.
ENQUIRER. Where and by whom was it so preserved?
THEOSOPHIST. Among Initiates of every country; among profound seekers after truth―their disciples; and in those parts of the world where such topics have always been most valued and pursued: in India, Central Asia, and Persia.
ENQUIRER. Can you give me some proofs of its esotericism?
THEOSOPHIST. The best proof you can have of the fact is that every ancient religious, or rather philosophical, cult consisted of an esoteric or secret teaching, and an exoteric (outward public) worship. Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that the MYSTERIES of the ancients comprised with every nation the "greater" (secret) and "Lesser" (public) MYSTERIES―e.g. in the celebrated solemnities called the Eleusinia, in Greece. From the Hierophants of Samothrace, Egypt, and the initiated Brahmins of the India of old, down to the later Hebrew Rabbis, all preserved, for fear of profanation, their real bona fide beliefs secret. The Jewish Rabbis called their secular religious series the Mercavah (the exterior body), "the vehicle," or, the covering which contains the hidden soul.―i.e., their highest secret knowledge. Not one of the ancient nations ever imparted through its priests its real philosophical secrets to the masses, but allotted to the latter only the husks. Northern Buddhism has its "greater" and its "lesser" vehicle, known as the Mahayana, the esoteric, and the Hinayana, the exoteric, Schools. Nor can you blame them for such secrecy; for surely you would not think of feeding your flock of sheep
on learned
dissertations on botany instead of on grass? Pythagoras called his Gnosis
"the knowledge of things that are," or
hj gnwsi" twn o~ntwn, and preserved
that knowledge for his pledged disciples only: for those who could digest such
mental food and feel satisfied; and he pledged them to silence and secrecy.
Occult alphabets and secret ciphers are the development of the old Egyptian
hieratic writings, the secret of which was, in the days of old, in the
possession only of the Hierogrammatists, or initiated Egyptian priests. Ammonius
Saccas, as his biographers tell us, bound his pupils by oath not to divulge
his higher doctrines except to those who had already been instructed in
preliminary knowledge, and who were also bound by a pledge. Finally, do we not
find the same even in early Christianity, among the Gnostics, and even in the
teachings of Christ? Did he not speak to the multitudes in parables which had a
two-fold meaning, and explain his reasons only to his disciples? "To you," he
says, "it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but unto them
that are without, all these things are done in parables" (Mark iv. 11). "The
Essenes of Judea and Carmel made similar distinctions, dividing their adherents
into neophytes, brethren, and the perfect, or those initiated" (Eclec.
Phil.). Examples might be brought from every country to this effect.
ENQUIRER. Can you attain the "Secret Wisdom" simply by study? Encyclopaedias define Theosophy pretty much as Webster's Dictionary does, i. e., as "supposed intercourse with God and superior spirits, and consequent attainment of superhuman knowledge by physical means and chemical processes." Is this so?
THEOSOPHIST. I think not. Nor is there any lexicographer capable of
explaining, whether to himself or others, how
superhuman knowledge can be attained by physical or chemical
processes. Had Webster said "by metaphysical and alchemical
processes," the definition would be approximately correct: as it is, it is
absurd. Ancient Theosophists claimed, and so do the modern, that the infinite
cannot be known by the finite― i.e., sensed by the finite Self―but that the divine
essence could be communicated to the higher Spiritual Self in a state of
ecstasy. This condition can hardly be attained, like hypnotism, by
"physical and chemical means."
ENQUIRER. What is your explanation of it?
THEOSOPHIST. Real ecstasy was defined by Plotinus as "the liberation of the mind from its finite consciousness, becoming one and identified with the infinite." This is the highest condition, says Prof. Wilder, but not one of permanent duration, and it is reached only by the very very few. It is, indeed, identical with that state which is known in India as Samadhi. The latter is practised by the Yogis, who facilitate it physically by the greatest abstinence in food and drink, and mentally by an incessant endeavour to purify and elevate the mind. Meditation is silent and unuttered prayer, or, as Plato expressed it, "the ardent turning of the soul toward the divine; not to ask any particular good (as in the common meaning of prayer), but for good itself ―for the universal Supreme Good" of which we are a part on earth, and out of the essence of which we have all emerged. Therefore, adds Plato, "remain silent in the presence of the divine ones, till they remove the clouds from thy eyes and enable thee to see by the light which issues from
themselves, not what appears as good to thee, but what is intrinsically
good."
*
ENQUIRER. Theosophy, then, is not, as held by some, a newly devised scheme?
THEOSOPHIST. Only ignorant people can thus refer to it. It is as old as the world, in its teachings and ethics, if not in name, as it is also the broadest and most catholic system among all.
ENQUIRER. How comes it, then, that Theosophy has remained so unknown to the nations of the Western Hemisphere? Why should it have been a sealed book to races confessedly the most cultured and advanced?
THEOSOPHIST. We believe there were nations as cultured in days of old and certainly more spiritually "advanced" than we are. But there are several reasons for this willing ignorance. One of them was given by St. Paul to the cultured Athenians― a loss, for long centuries, of real spiritual insight, and even interest, owing to their too great devotion to things of sense and their
* This is what the scholarly author of "The Eclectic Philosophy," Prof. A. Wilder, F. T. S., describes as "spiritual photography": "The soul is the camera in which facts and events, future, past, and present, are alike fixed; and the mind becomes conscious of them. Beyond our every-day world of limits all is one day or state the past and future comprised in the present." . . . Death is the last ecstasis on earth. Then the soul is freed from the constraint of the body, and its nobler part is united to higher nature and becomes partaker in the wisdom and foreknowledge of the higher beings." Real Theosophy is, for the mystics, that state which Apollonius of Tyana was made to describe thus: "I can see the present and the future as in a clear mirror. The sage need not wait for the vapours of the earth and the corruption of the air to foresee events. . . . The theoi, or gods, see the future; common men the present; sages that which is about to take place." "The Theosophy of the Sages" he speaks of is well expressed in the assertion, "The Kingdom of God is within us."
long slavery to the dead letter of dogma and
ritualism. But the strongest reason for it lies in the fact that real Theosophy
has ever been kept secret.
ENQUIRER. You have brought forward proofs that such secrecy has existed; but what was the real cause for it?
THEOSOPHIST. The causes for it were: Firstly, the perversity of average human nature and its selfishness, always tending to the gratification of personal desires to the detriment of neighbours and next of kin. Such people could never be entrusted with divine secrets. Secondly, their unreliability to keep the sacred and divine knowledge from desecration. It is the latter that led to the perversion of the most sublime truths and symbols, and to the gradual transformation of things spiritual into anthropomorphic, concrete, and gross imagery―in other words, to the dwarfing of the god-idea and to idolatry.
ENQUIRER. You are often spoken of as "Esoteric Buddhists." Are you then all followers of Gautama Buddha?
THEOSOPHIST. No more than musicians are all followers of Wagner. Some of us are Buddhists by religion; yet there are far more Hindus and Brahmins than Buddhists among us, and more Christian-born Europeans and Americans than converted Buddhists. The mistake has arisen from a misunderstanding of the real meaning of the title of Mr. Sinnett's excellent work, "Esoteric Buddhism," which last word ought to have been spelt with one, instead of two, d's, as then Budhism would have meant what it
was intended for, merely "Wisdomism" (Bodha, bodhi,
"intelligence," "wisdom") instead of Buddhism, Gautama's religious
philosophy. Theosophy, as already said, is the WISDOM-RELIGION.
ENQUIRER. What is the difference between Buddhism, the religion founded by the Prince of Kapilavastu, and Budhism, the "Wisdomism" which you say is synonymous with Theosophy?
THEOSOPHIST. Just the same difference as there is between the secret teachings of Christ, which are called "the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven," and the later ritualism and dogmatic theology of the Churches and Sects. Buddha means the "Enlightened" by Bodha, or understanding, Wisdom. This has passed root and branch into the esoteric teachings that Gautama imparted to his chosen Arhats only.
ENQUIRER. But some Orientalists deny that Buddha ever taught any esoteric doctrine at all?
THEOSOPHIST. They may as well deny that Nature has any hidden secrets for the men of science. Further on I will prove it by Buddha's conversation with his disciple Ananda. His esoteric teachings were simply the Gupta Vidya (secret knowledge) of the ancient Brahmins, the key to which their modern successors have, with few exceptions, completely lost. And this Vidya has passed into what is now known as the inner teachings of the Mahayana school of Northern Buddhism. Those who deny it are simply ignorant pretenders to Orientalism. I advise you to read the Rev. Mr. Edkins' Chinese Buddhism ―especially the chapters on the Exoteric and Esoteric schools
and teachings―and then compare the testimony of the
whole ancient world upon the subject.
ENQUIRER. But are not the ethics of Theosophy identical with those taught by Buddha?
THEOSOPHIST. Certainly, because these ethics are the soul of the Wisdom-Religion, and were once the common property of the initiates of all nations. But Buddha was the first to embody these lofty ethics in his public teachings, and to make them the foundation and the very essence of his public system. It is herein that lies the immense difference between exoteric Buddhism and every other religion. For while in other religions ritualism and dogma hold the first and most important place, in Buddhism it is the ethics which have always been the most insisted upon. This accounts for the resemblance, amounting almost to identity, between the ethics of Theosophy and those of the religion of Buddha.
ENQUIRER. Are there any great points of difference?
THEOSOPHIST. One great distinction between Theosophy and exoteric Buddhism is that the latter, represented by the Southern Church, entirely denies (a) the existence of any Deity, and (b) any conscious post-mortem life, or even any self-conscious surviving individuality in man. Such at least is the teaching of the Siamese sect, now considered as the purest form of exoteric Buddhism. And it is so, if we refer only to Buddha's public teachings; the reason for such reticence on his part I will give further on. But the schools of the Northern Buddhist Church, established in those countries to which his initiated Arhats retired after the Master's death, teach all that is now
called Theosophical doctrines, because
they form part of the knowledge of the initiates―thus proving how the truth
has been sacrificed to the dead-letter by the too-zealous orthodoxy of Southern
Buddhism. But how much grander and more noble, more philosophical and
scientific, even in its dead-letter, is this teaching than that of any other
Church or religion. Yet Theosophy is not Buddhism.
II.
EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC THEOSOPHY.
WHAT THE MODERN THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IS NOT.
ENQUIRER. Your doctrines, then, are not a revival of Buddhism, nor are they entirely copied from the Neo-Platonic Theosophy?
THEOSOPHIST. They are not. But to these questions I cannot give you a better answer than by quoting from a paper read on "Theosophy" by Dr. J. D. Buck, F.T.S., before the last Theosophical Convention, at Chicago, America (April, 1889). No living theosophist has better expressed and understood the real essence of Theosophy than our honoured friend Dr. Buck:―
"The Theosophical Society was organized for the purpose of promulgating the Theosophical doctrines, and for the promotion of the Theosophic life. The present Theosophical Society is not the first of its kind. I have a volume entitled: 'Theosophical Transactions of the Philadelphian Society,' published in London in 1697; and another with the following title: 'Introduction to Theosophy, or the Science of the Mystery of Christ; that is, of Deity, Nature, and Creature, embracing the philosophy of all the working powers of life, magical and spiritual, and forming a practical guide to the sublimest purity, sanctity, and evangelical perfection; also to the attainment of divine vision, and the
holy angelic arts, potencies, and other
prerogatives of the regeneration,' published in London in 1855. The following is
the dedication of this volume:―
"'To the students of Universities, Colleges, and schools of Christendom: To Professors of Metaphysical, Mechanical, and Natural Science in all its forms: To men and women of Education generally, of fundamental orthodox faith: To Deists, Arians, Unitarians, Swedenborgians, and other defective and ungrounded creeds, rationalists, and sceptics of every kind: To just-minded and enlightened Mohammedans, Jews, and oriental Patriarch-religionists: but especially to the gospel minister and missionary, whether to the barbaric or intellectual peoples, this introduction to Theosophy, or the science of the ground and mystery of all things, is most humbly and affectionately dedicated.'
"In the following year (1856) another volume was issued, royal octavo, of 600 pages, diamond type, of 'Theosophical Miscellanies.' Of the last-named work 500 copies only were issued, for gratuitous distribution to Libraries and Universities. These earlier movements, of which there were many, originated within the Church, with persons of great piety and earnestness, and of unblemished character; and all of these writings were in orthodox form, using the Christian expressions, and, like the writings of the eminent Churchman William Law, would only be distinguished by the ordinary reader for their great earnestness and piety. These were one and all but attempts to derive and explain the deeper meanings and original import of the Christian Scriptures, and to illustrate and unfold the Theosophic life. These works were soon forgotten, and are now generally unknown. They sought to reform the clergy and revive genuine piety, and were never welcomed. That one word, "Heresy," was sufficient to bury them in the limbo of all such Utopias. At the time of the Reformation John Reuchlin made a similar attempt with the same result, though he was the intimate and trusted friend of Luther. Orthodoxy never desired to be informed and enlightened. These reformers were informed, as was Paul by Festus, that too much learning had made them mad, and that it would be dangerous to go farther. Passing by the verbiage, which was partly a matter of habit and education with these writers, and partly due to religious restraint through
secular power, and coming to the core of the matter, these writings were
Theosophical in the strictest sense, and pertain solely to man's knowledge of
his own nature and the higher life of the soul. The present Theosophical
movement has sometimes been declared to be an attempt to convert Christendom to
Buddhism, which means simply that the word 'Heresy' has lost its terrors and
relinquished its power. Individuals in every age have more or less clearly
apprehended the Theosophical doctrines and wrought them into the fabric of their
lives. These doctrines belong exclusively to no religion, and are confined to no
society or time. They are the birthright of every human soul. Such a thing as
orthodoxy must be wrought out by each individual according to his nature and his
needs, and according to his varying experience. This may explain why those who
have imagined Theosophy to be a new religion have hunted in vain for its creed
and its ritual. Its creed is Loyalty to Truth, and its ritual 'To honour every
truth by use.'
"How little this principle of Universal Brotherhood is understood by the masses of mankind, how seldom its transcendent importance is recognised, may be seen in the diversity of opinion and fictitious interpretations regarding the Theosophical Society. This Society was organized on this one principle, the essential Brotherhood of Man, as herein briefly outlined and imperfectly set forth. It has been assailed as Buddhistic and anti-Christian, as though it could be both these together, when both Buddhism and Christianity, as set forth by their inspired founders, make brotherhood the one essential of doctrine and of life. Theosophy has been also regarded as something new under the sun, or at best as old mysticism masquerading under a new name. While it is true that many Societies founded upon, and united to support, the principles of altruism, or essential brotherhood, have borne various names, it is also true that many have also been called Theosophic, and with principles and aims as the present society bearing that name. With these societies, one and all, the essential doctrine has been the same, and all else has been incidental, though this does not obviate the fact that many persons are attracted to the incidentals who overlook or ignore the essentials."
No better or more explicit answer―by a man
who is one of our most esteemed and earnest Theosophists―could be given to
your questions.
ENQUIRER. Which system do you prefer or follow, in that case, besides Buddhistic ethics?
THEOSOPHIST. None, and all. We hold to no religion, as to no philosophy in particular: we cull the good we find in each. But here, again, it must be stated that, like all other ancient systems, Theosophy is divided into Exoteric and Esoteric Sections.
ENQUIRER. What is the difference?
THEOSOPHIST. The members of the Theosophical Society at large are free to profess whatever religion or philosophy they like, or none if they so prefer, provided they are in sympathy with, and ready to carry out one or more of the three objects of the Association. The Society is a philanthropic and scientific body for the propagation of the idea of brotherhood on practical instead of theoretical lines. The Fellows may be Christians or Mussulmen, Jews or Parsees, Buddhists or Brahmins, Spiritualists or Materialists, it does not matter; but every member must be either a philanthropist, or a scholar, a searcher into Aryan and other old literature, or a psychic student. In short, he has to help, if he can, in the carrying out of at least one of the objects of the programme. Otherwise he has no reason for becoming a "Fellow." Such are the majority of the exoteric Society, composed of "attached" and "unattached" members.* These may, or may not, become
*[An "attached member" means one who has joined some particular branch of the T. S. An "unattached," one who belongs to the Society at large, has his diploma, from the Headquarters (Adyar, Madras), but is connected with no branch or lodge.]
Theosophists de facto. Members they are, by virtue of their having joined
the Society; but the latter cannot make a Theosophist of one who has no sense
for the divine fitness of things, or of him who understands Theosophy in
his own―if the expression may be used―sectarian and egotistic way.
"Handsome is, as handsome does" could be paraphrased in this case and be made to
run: "Theosophist is, who Theosophy does." ―
THEOSOPHISTS AND MEMBERS OF THE "T. S."
ENQUIRER. This applies to lay members, as I understand. And what of those who pursue the esoteric study of Theosophy; are they the real Theosophists?
THEOSOPHIST. Not necessarily, until they have proven themselves to be such. They have entered the inner group and pledged themselves to carry out, as strictly as they can, the rules of the occult body. This is a difficult undertaking, as the foremost rule of all is the entire renunciation of one's personality―i. e., a pledged member has to become a thorough altruist, never to think of himself, and to forget his own vanity and pride in the thought of the good of his fellow-creatures, besides that of his fellow-brothers in the esoteric circle. He has to live, if the esoteric instructions shall profit him, a life of abstinence in everything, of self-denial and strict morality, doing his duty by all men. The few real Theosophists in the T. S. are among these members. This does not imply that outside of the T. S. and the inner circle, there are no Theosophists; for there
are, and more than people know of; certainly far more than are found among the
lay members of the T. S.
ENQUIRER. Then what is the good of joining the so-called Theosophical Society in that case? Where is the incentive?
THEOSOPHIST. None, except the advantage of getting esoteric instructions, the genuine doctrines of the "Wisdom-Religion," and if the real programme is carried out, deriving much help from mutual aid and sympathy. Union is strength and harmony, and well-regulated simultaneous efforts produce wonders. This has been the secret of all associations and communities since mankind existed.
ENQUIRER. But why could not a man of well-balanced mind and singleness of purpose, one, say, of indomitable energy and perseverance, become an Occultist and even an Adept if he works alone?
THEOSOPHIST. He may; but there are ten thousand chances against one that he will fail. For one reason out of many others, no books on Occultism or Theurgy exist in our day which give out the secrets of alchemy or mediaeval Theosophy in plain language. All are symbolical or in parables; and as the key to these has been lost for ages in the West, how can a man learn the correct meaning of what he is reading and studying? Therein lies the greatest danger, one that leads to unconscious black magic or the most helpless mediumship. He who has not an Initiate for a master had better leave the dangerous study alone. Look around you and observe. While two-thirds of civilized society ridicule the mere notion that there is anything in Theosophy, Occultism, Spiritualism, or in the Kabala, the other third is composed of the most heterogeneous and opposite
elements. Some believe in the
mystical, and even in the supernatural (!), but each believes in his own
way. Others will rush single-handed into the study of the Kabala, Psychism,
Mesmerism, Spiritualism, or some form or another of Mysticism. Result: no two
men think alike, no two are agreed upon any fundamental occult principles,
though many are those who claim for themselves the ultima thule of
knowledge, and would make outsiders believe that they are full-blown adepts. Not
only is there no scientific and accurate knowledge of Occultism accessible in
the West ―not even of true astrology, the only branch of Occultism which, in
its exoteric teachings, has definite laws and a definite system―but no
one has any idea of what real Occultism means. Some limit ancient wisdom to the
Kabala and the Jewish Zohar, which each interprets in his own way
according to the dead-letter of the Rabbinical methods. Others regard Swedenborg
or Boehme as the ultimate expression of the highest wisdom; while others again
see in mesmerism the great secret of ancient magic. One and all of those who put
their theory into practice are rapidly drifting, through ignorance, into black
magic. Happy are those who escape from it, as they have neither test nor
criterion by which they can distinguish between the true and the false.
ENQUIRER. Are we to understand that the inner group of the T. S. claims to learn what it does from real initiates or masters of esoteric wisdom?
THEOSOPHIST. Not directly. The personal presence of such masters is not required. Suffice it if they give instructions to some of those who have studied under their guidance for years, and devoted their whole lives to their service. Then, in turn, these can
give out the
knowledge so imparted to others, who had no such opportunity. A portion of the
true sciences is better than a mass of undigested and misunderstood learning. An
ounce of gold is worth a ton of dust.
ENQUIRER. But how is one to know whether the ounce is real gold or only a counterfeit?