Theosophy is the
body of truths which forms the basis of all religions, and which
cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any. It restores
to the world the Science of the Spirit, teaching man to know
the Spirit as himself and the mind and body as his servants.
It illuminates the scriptures and doctrines of religions by unveiling
their hidden meanings, and thus justifying them at the bar of
intelligence, as they are ever justified in the eyes of intuition.
It puts death in its rightful place, as a recurring incidence
in an endless life, opening the gateway to a fuller and more
radiant existence.
What,
then, are the mains tenets of Theosophy?
Consciousness,
Universal and Individual
First, that the
universe is not just a place where nature's forces operate by
chance. Every event that has happened from the beginning of time
has happened according to certain laws inherent in the universe.
These laws are the expression of a Consciousness.
Everything that exists, from the electron to the largest star,
is impregnated with Consciousness.This Fundamental Reality
is so far beyond our grasp that sages and saints have called
it by contradictory terms. Many have termed it 'God;' but some
have called it Law, Heaven, the Great Architect, Evolution. Each
man, according to his temperament and his experience, must determine
how he will regard this Consciousness which directs everything.
Let us call it Logos.
Immortality
of Man
The next great
truth is that the nature of the Logos resides in every man and
woman. We are not those bodies which perish; they are only garments
which we wear for a while and cast aside. We are immortal
souls. The perfection of Logos dwells in us also, for we
live and move and have our being in Him. But we are unconscious
of our Divine Nature, till we awaken to it.
Reincarnation
It is to realize
our true nature that we are born. Our birth is as the entrance
into a workshop or laboratory, where by work we slowly unfold
our faculties. But it is not possible to realize the Divine Nature
in us by the experiences of one lifetime. So we reincarnate again
and again. We enter into life, we are born, we grow, we act,
we finish our work and we return. Our return is death.
After a rest in heaven, growing by realizing the joys we planned
but did not achieve, we are born again, more purified, stronger,
wiser, to work again, so as to become more expert in thought
and feeling and action. This is Reincarnation.
Karma
As we live and
act, sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. We do good and
we do evil, guided by our altruism or our selfishness. When we
do evil, we create discord in the universal harmony, and we must
restore that harmony. The evil we did must be balanced by new
good; the good we add must be reshaped to a more far-reaching
good. This process of sowing and reaping is called Karma. It
is the law of readjustment, which a man puts into operation by
every one of his thoughts, words and deeds.
Universal
Brotherhood
Since all souls
are divine, all souls are equal. There are young souls and old
souls, but all are brothers. In spite of every difference (of birth, capacity,
and environment; of race, creed, sex, caste or colour; of goodness
or wickedness) all people form an indivisible
brotherhood. All of us, high or low, ignorant or wise, make a
chain, and the stronger grow by helping the weaker. Brotherhood
is the law of growth for all persons.
But this Brotherhood
extends to all (animals, birds, and
fishes, even the plants, mountains and seas). We grow by our unity
with all things. The Divine Nature, which is latent in them as
in us, helps our inherent Divinity to step forth in its beauty.
God's Plan
Which is Evolution
There are two
eternal mysteries: the mystery of Logos and the mystery of Man.
All that we postulate concerning Logos, of goodness, holiness,
truth and beauty, resides in man. Religion, philosophy, science,
the arts, commerce, industry, philanthropy, all these are channels
along which the Divine Nature descends to reveal its Beauty.
And our human nature ascends to Divinity by growing in the virtues
and capacities associated with these channels.
Theosophy means
the Wisdom of God. It is a statement of the modes of action of
the Divine Mind. All our questions are solved when we understand
'God's Plan, which is Evolution.' This understanding is the heritage
of every soul. But he will possess it only as he learns to be
a brother to all that lives, for 'Loving action is the Divine
Wisdom at work, and whoso acts lovingly will inevitably come
to the Wisdom.'
Members
of the Theosophical Society study these truths, and Theosophists
endeavor to live them. Everyone willing to study, to be tolerant,
to aim high, and to work perseveringly, is welcomed as a member,
and it rests with the member to become a true Theosophist.
Books
of Interest
| At the Feet of the Master by Alcyone |
| Practical Occultism by H.P. Blavatsky |
| Seven Great Religions by Annie Besant |
| The Key to Theosophy by H. P. Blavatsky |
| An Outline of Theosophy by C.W. Leadbeater |
| The Hidden Side of Things by C.W. Leadbeater |
| First Principles of Theosophy by C. Jinarajadasa |
| The Laws of the Higher Life by Annie Besant |
| The Ageless Wisdom of Life by Clara Codd |
| On Knowing Oneself by Danielle Audoin |
| An Approach to Reality by N. Sri Ram |
| The Ancient Wisdom by Annie Besant |
| Light on the Path by Mabel Collins |
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