NATURE OF OUR THINKING PRINCIPLE.
THE DOCTRINE IS TAUGHT IN ST. JOHN’S GOSPEL.
XI. ON THE MYSTERIES OF RE-INCARNATION.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE; OR, BLIND AND REASONED FAITH.
XII. WHAT IS PRACTICAL THEOSOPHY?
THE RELATIONS OF THE T.S. TO POLITICAL REFORMS.
HOW MEMBERS CAN HELP THE SOCIETY.
WHAT A THEOSOPHIST OUGHT NOT TO DO.
XIII. ON THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
WHY, THEN, IS THERE SO MUCH PREJUDICE AGAINST THE T.S.?
IS THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY A MONEY-MAKING CONCERN?
XIV. THE “THEOSOPHICAL MAHATMAS.”
ARE THEY “SPIRITS OF LIGHT” OR “GOBLINS DAMN’D”?
THE ABUSE OF SACRED NAMES AND TERMS.
THE FUTURE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
PREFACE
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 phænomena. 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.
I.
THEOSOPHY AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
THE MEANING OF THE NAME.
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.
Enq. What is the real meaning of the term?
Theo. “Divine Wisdom,” Θεοσοφία (Theosophia) or Wisdom of the gods, as Θεογονία (theogonia), genealogy of the gods. The word Θεὸς 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.
Enq. What is the origin of the name?
Theo. It comes to us from the Alexandrian philosophers, called lovers of truth, Philatheians, from φιλ (phil) “loving,” and ἀλήθεια