The Key to Theosophy

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

[Reprinted Verbatim from the Original Edition first published in 1889.]

THE UNITED LODGE OF THEOSOPHISTS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1920

Dedicated
by
“H. P. B.”

To all her Pupils
that

They may Learn and Teach
in their turn

CONTENTS

SECTION I. — page
Theosophy and the Theosophical Society:
The Meaning of the Name — 1
The Policy of the Theosophical Society — 3
The Wisdom-Religion Esoteric in all Ages — 5
Theosophy is not Buddhism — 10
SECTION II.
Exoteric and Esoteric Theosophy:
What the Modern Theosophical Society is not — 12
Theosophists and Members of the “T.S.” — 15
The Difference between Theosophy and Occultism — 19
The Difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism — 21
Why is Theosophy accepted? — 27
SECTION III.
The Working System of the T.S.:
The Objects of the Society — 30
The Common Origin of Man — 31
Our other Objects — 36
On the Sacredness of the Pledge — 37
SECTION IV.
The Relations of the Theosophical Society to Theosophy:
On Self-Improvement — 40
The Abstract and the Concrete — 43
SECTION V.
The Fundamental Teachings of Theosophy:
On God and Prayer — 47
Is it Necessary to Pray? — 50
Prayer Kills Self-Reliance — 55
On the Source of the Human Soul — 57
The Buddhist Teachings on the above — 59
SECTION VI.
Theosophical Teachings as to Nature and Man:
The Unity of All in All — 64
Evolution and Illusion — 65
The Septenary Constitution of our Planet — 67
The Septenary Nature of Man — 69
The Distinction between Soul and Spirit — 72
The Greek Teachings — 75
SECTION VII.
On the Various Post-mortem States:
The Physical and the Spiritual Man — 79
Our Eternal Reward and Punishment; and on Nirvana — 85
On the Various “Principles” in Man — 91
SECTION VIII.
On Re-incarnation or Rebirth:
What is Memory according to Theosophical Teaching? — 96
Why do we not Remember our Past Lives? — 99
On Individuality and Personality — 104
On the Reward and Punishment of the Ego — 107
SECTION IX.
On the Kama-Loka and Devachan:
On the Fate of the Lower “Principles” — 112
Why Theosophists do not believe in the Return of Pure “Spirits” — 114
A few Words about the Skandhas — 120
On Post-mortem and Post-natal Consciousness — 123
What is really meant by Annihilation — 127
Definite Words for Definite Things — 134
SECTION X.
On the Nature of our Thinking Principle:
The Mystery of the Ego — 139
The Complex Nature of Manas — 143
The Doctrine is Taught in St. John’s Gospel — 146
SECTION XI.
On the Mysteries of Re-incarnation:
Periodical Rebirths — 155
What is Karma? — 158
Who are Those who Know? — 170
The Difference between Faith and Knowledge;
or, Blind and Reasoned Faith — 172
Has God the Right to Forgive? — 176
SECTION XII.
What is Practical Theosophy?
Duty — 180
The Relations of the T.S. to Political Reforms — 183
On Self-Sacrifice — 188
On Charity — 192
Theosophy for the Masses — 194
How Members can Help the Society — 196
What a Theosophist ought not to do — 197
SECTION XIII.
On the Misconceptions about the Theosophical Society:
Theosophy and Asceticism — 204
Theosophy and Marriage — 207
Theosophy and Education — 208
Why, then, is there so much Prejudice against the T.S? — 214
Is the Theosophical Society a Money-making Concern? — 221
The Working Staff of the T.S. — 225
SECTION XIV.
The “Theosophical Mahatmas”:
Are They “Spirits of Light” or “Goblins Damn’d”? — 228
The Abuse of Sacred Names and Terms — 237
CONCLUSION.
The Future of the Theosophical Society — 241