The Key to Theosophy
_______________________
The Key to Theosophy
By
The Difference Between
Theosophy
and Occultism
Q. You speak
of Theosophy and Occultism;
are they identical?
A. By no
means. A man may be a very good Theosophist indeed, whether in or outsideof the Society, without being in any way an
Occultist. But no one can be a true Occultist without being a real Theosophist;
otherwise he is simply a black magician, whether conscious or unconscious.
Q. What do
you mean?
A. I have
said already that a true Theosophist must put in practice the loftiest moral
ideal, must strive to realize his unity with the whole of humanity, and work
ceaselessly for others. Now, if an Occultist does not do all this, he must act
selfishly for his own personal benefit; and if he has acquired more practical
power than other ordinary men, he becomes forthwith a far more
dangerous enemy to the world and those around him than the
average mortal. This is clear.
Q. Then is an
Occultist simply a man who possesses more power than other people?
A. Far
more-if he is a practical and really learned Occultist, and not one only in
name. Occult sciences are not, as described in Encyclopedias, …those imaginary
sciences of the Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or influence of
Occult qualities or supernatural powers, as alchemy, magic, necromancy, and
astrology …-for they are real, actual, and very dangerous sciences. They teach
the secret potency of things in Nature, developing and cultivating the hidden
powers
"latent in man," thus giving him tremendous advantages
over more ignorant mortals. Hypnotism, now become so common and a subject of
serious scientific inquiry, is a good instance in point.
Hypnotic
power has been discovered almost by accident, the way to it having been
prepared by mesmerism; and now an able
hypnotist can do almost anything with it, from forcing a
man, unconsciously to himself, to play the fool, to making him commit a
crime-often by proxy for the hypnotist, and for the benefit of the latter. Is not
this a terrible power if left in the hands of unscrupulous persons? And please
to remember that this is
only one of the minor branches of Occultism.
Q. But are not all these Occult sciences, magic, and sorcery,
considered by the most cultured and learned people as relics of ancient
ignorance and superstition?
A. Let me
remind you that this remark of yours cuts both ways. The "most cultured
and learned" among you regard also Christianity and every other religion
as a relic of ignorance and superstition. People begin to believe now, at any
rate, in hypnotism, and some-even of the most cultured-in Theosophy and phenomena.
But who among them, except preachers and blind fanatics, will confess to a
belief in Biblical miracles? And this is where the point of difference comes
in. There are very good and pure Theosophists who may believe in the
supernatural, divine miracles included, but no Occultist will
do so.
For an
Occultist practices scientific Theosophy,
based on accurate knowledge of Nature's secret workings; but a Theosophist,
practicing the powers called abnormal, minus the light of Occultism, will
simply tend toward a dangerous form of mediumship,
because, although holding to Theosophy
and its highest conceivable code of ethics, he practices it in the dark, on
sincere but blind faith.
Anyone,
Theosophist or Spiritualist, who attempts to cultivate one of the branches of
Occult science-e.g.,Hypnotism, Mesmerism, or even the
secrets of producing physical phenomena, etc.-without the knowledge of the
philosophic rationale of those powers, is like a rudderless boat launched on a
stormy ocean.
__________________________
Find answers to more questions
with
these Theosophy links
Dave’s
Streetwise Theosophy Boards
The Theosophy Website that
Welcomes Absolute Beginners
If you run a Theosophy Study Group,
please feel free
to make use of the
material on this Website
Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings
are informal
and there’s always a cup of tea afterwards
The
Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
The
National Wales Theosophy Website
This is for
everybody not just people in Wales
Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide
General pages
about Wales, Welsh History
and The History of
Theosophy in Wales
Independent Theosophy Blog
One liners and quick explanations
About aspects of Theosophy
H P Blavatsky is usually the only
Theosophist that most people have
ever
heard of. Let’s put
that right
Lentil burgers, a
thousand press ups before breakfast and
the daily 25 mile
run may put it off for a while but death
seems to get most of
us in the end. We are pleased to
present for your
consideration, a definitive work on the
subject by a Student of
Katherine Tingley entitled
An
Independent Theosophical Republic
Links to Free Online Theosophy
Study Resources; Courses, Writings,
No
Aardvarks were harmed in the
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
Classic Introductory
Theosophy Text
A Text Book of Theosophy By C
What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man
The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life
The Constitution of Man After Death Reincarnation
The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains
The Result of Theosophical Study
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of
Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Quick Explanations with Links to More
Detailed Info
What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis
Anthropogenesis
Root Races
Karma
Ascended Masters After Death States
Reincarnation
The Seven Principles of Man Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical Society Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical Society Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
History of the Theosophical Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical Society Emblem
Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made The Law of Laws
The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law
Karma Does Not Crush Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth
Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates The Pair of Triplets Thought, The Builder
Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points
The Third Thread Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation
The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools
The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past
Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma
National Karma
India’s Karma
National Disasters
Try these if you are looking
for a
local Theosophy Group or Centre
UK Listing of Theosophical Groups