Contents:

Definition

The Theosophical Society

Objects of the TS

What Is Theosophy?

What are the Theosophists?

Seal of The Theosophical Society

On Theosophy and Madame Blavatsky

Notes on Madame Blavatsky's Baboon

Basic Ideas of Theosophy

The word theosophy has been used in the West for about 2,000 years to indicate knowledge of divine things or knowledge derived from insight and experience as well as intellectual study. It comes from the Greek theos (god, divinity) and sophia (wisdom). While the modern theosophical movement can be traced back to Blavatsky and her teachers, it is part of a spiritual movement as old as thinking humanity. Its philosophy is a contemporary presentation of the perennial wisdom underlying the world's religions, sciences, and philosophies. These concepts are not dogmas nor is there a creed to summarize its principles; students accept only those ideas that have value for them. Theosophical books are considered neither as revelation nor final authority, but as guides in the individual's search.

Reincarnation and karma are the most widely known ideas popularized in the West by theosophists. Although considered Oriental, reincarnation was present in Platonic philosophy, Judaism,and early Christianity and was not excluded from Church teachings until the 6th century. Together, reincarnation and karma explain the causes of each person's character and circumstances, tracing them to thoughts, actions, and desires in this or a past life. For this reason people are responsible for their own lives, and no one else -- divine or human -- can take away or neutralize the results of any of our actions. We are each the product of our accumulated past and evolve spiritually through self directed and self devised efforts over a series of lives.

The basic theosophical idea is the essential oneness of all beings. Life is everywhere throughout the cosmos because all originates from the same unknowable divine source. Consequently, everything -- from the subatomic to plants, animals, and humans, planets, stars, and galaxies -- is alive and evolving. Each is divine at its root and expresses itself through spiritual, intellectual, psychological, ethereal, and material ranges of consciousness and substance, depending on its level of development. Evolution consists of an emerging selfexpression which differentiates into material forms, then develops conscious and spiritual aspects on its return over cosmic time periods to the divine source. The life of the individual, of humanity, and of the entire earth is part of this cosmic process.

Because we are fundamentally one, altruism and compassion are expressions in human life of cosmic and planetary realities. Humanity is more closely joined inwardly than physically, and our thoughts and feelings have a potent impact on others. By trying to live in harmony with the divine as best we can, we not only benefit our immediate surroundings but also humanity as a whole. The ideal is to put the welfare of humanity and all that lives ahead of one's own selfrealization.

As beings rooted in divinity, we each have the ability to discover reality for ourselves. To progress we must learn to judge what is true and false, real and illusory; we do not grow by blindly following the dictates of authority, however high. G. de Purucker compares the theosophical student to a scientific researcher, and adds:

Have we not been told again and again that we must consult our consciences before we accept anything? In order to do that, we have to think; we also know that even if in doing so we should, through our own blindness or incapacity, reject a truth offered to us, we shall nevertheless have done aright, because we have been faithful to ourselves and to our consciences, . . . the inner man understands, and the truth in time will dawn in faithful hearts. G. de Purucker, Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy, p. 289

In following our own spiritual instincts and intuitions, we awaken our latent potentials. For this reason, it is harmful to force others to adopt what we believe is the "proper" avenue of thought; each must follow his or her own unique path of unfoldment.