Helena Blavatsky (1831-91) was the primary founder of the Theosophical Society, which was the most visible aspect of the ageless theosophical movement.

Here are some quotes giving the heart or essence of Theosophy, ie Divine Wisdom. Since most of her writings are online, one can just search for a portion of a quote and usually find the context and source.

This thread will also include gems from other theosophists besides HP Blavatsky. The small "t" theosophists means those outside any Theosophical organization.

[Altruism] is the keynote of Theosophy and the cure for all ills; this it is which the real Founders of the Theosophical Movement promote as its first object -- Universal Brotherhood.

Equal justice to all and love to every creature [is not] the highest standard of Theosophy. There is an even far higher one... the giving to others more than to oneself -- self-sacrifice.

These ethics [taught by Buddha] are the soul of the Wisdom-Religion, and were once the common property of the initiates of all nations.

[QUOTE]

The essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the divine with the human in man, the adjustment of his god-like qualities and aspirations, and their sway over the terrestrial or animal passions in him. Kindness, absence of every ill-feeling or selfishness, charity, good-will to all beings, and perfect justice to others as to one's self, are its chief features. He who teaches Theosophy preaches the gospel of good-will; and the converse of this is true also, -- he who preaches the gospel of good-will, teaches Theosophy.

Collected Writings 9, 245

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This is a beuatiful quote. Thanks so much.

Judith

Duty is that which is due to Humanity, to our fellow-men, neighbours, family, and especially that which we owe to all those who are poorer and more helpless than we are ourselves. This is a debt which, if left unpaid during life, leaves us spiritually insolvent and moral bankrupts in our next incarnation. Theosophy is the quintessence of duty... Our duty is to drink without murmur to the last drop, whatever contents the cup of life may have in store for us, to pluck the roses of life only for the fragrance they may shed on others,...

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.

[Theosophy rejects] the idea of a personal, or an extra-cosmic and anthropomorphic God... It is an eternal and periodical law which causes an active and creative force (the logos) to emanate from the ever-concealed and incomprehensible one principle at the beginning of every... new cycle of life. We believe in a Universal Divine Principle, the root of ALL, from which all proceeds, and within which all shall be absorbed at the end of the great cycle of Being.

H.P. Blavatsky wrote:

“... Eastern philosophy rejects the idea of a personal and extra-cosmic deity.... [A believer]...would do better far to remember that every man has a god within, a direct ray from the Absolute, the celestial ray from the One; that he has his ‘god’ within, not outside, of himself.”

(H.P. Blavatsky, Transactions of the Blavatsy Lodge vol. I, page 51 online or pp. 43-44 hardcopy)

http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/Transactions.htm (online)

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/ts/sdcomtbl.htm (hardcopy)

We live in an atmosphere of gloom and despair, but this is because our eyes are downcast and rivetted to the earth, with all its physical and grossly material manifestations. If, instead of that, man proceeding on this life-journey looked... within himself and centered his point of observation on the inner man, he would soon escape from the coils of the great serpent of illusion. From the cradle to the grave, his life would become supportable and worth living, even in its worst phases.

The Ethics of Theosophy are more important than any divulgement of psychic laws and facts. The latter relate wholly to the material and evanescent part of the septenary man, but the Ethics sink into and take hold of the real man -- the reincarnating Ego. We are outwardly creatures of but a day; within we are eternal. Learn, then, well the doctrines of Karma and Reincarnation, and teach, practice, promulgate that system of life and thought which alone can save the coming races.

==========================

ENQUIRER. Are not the ethics of Theosophy identical with those taught by Buddha?

THEOSOPHIST. Certainly, because these ethics are the soul of the Wisdom-Religion, and were once the common property of the initiates of all nations. But Buddha was the first to embody these lofty ethics in his public teachings, and to make them the foundation and the very essence of his public system. It is herein that lies the immense difference between exoteric Buddhism and every other religion. For while in other religions ritualism and dogma hold the first and most important place, in Buddhism it is the ethics which have always been the most insisted upon. This accounts for the resemblance, amounting almost to identity, between the ethics of Theosophy and those of the religion of Buddha.

Remember how long you have been putting off these things, and how often you have received an opportunity from the gods, and yet do not use it. You must now at last perceive of what universe you are a part, and of what administrator of the universe your existence is an efflux, and that a limit of time is fixed for you, which if you do not use for clearing away the clouds from your mind, it will go and you will go, and it will never return.

Marcus Aurelius, MEDITATIONS II, 4

The soul of man does violence to itself, first of all, when it becomes an abscess and, as it were, a tumor on the universe, so far as it can. For to be vexed at anything which happens is a separation of ourselves from nature, in some part of which the natures of all other things are contained.

In the next place, the soul does violence to itself when it turns away from any man, or even moves toward him with the intention of injuring, such as are the souls of those who are angry.

In the third place, the soul does violence to itself when it is overpowered by pleasure or pain.

Fourthly, when it plays a part, and does or says anything insincerely and untruly.

Fifthly, when it allows any act of its own and any movement to be without an aim, and does anything thoughtlessly and without considering what it is, it being right that even the smallest things be done with reference to an end; and the end of rational animals is to follow the reason and the law of the most ancient city and polity.

Marcus Aurelius MEDITATIONS II, 16

HP Blavatsky:

So strong is human selfishness, that wherever there is the smallest personal interest at stake, there men become deaf and blind to the truth, as often consciously as not... No "wisdom from above" descends on any one save on the sine qua non condition of leaving at the threshold of the Occult every atom of selfishness, or desire for personal ends and benefit... Nature gives up her innermost secrets and imparts true wisdom only to him, who seeks truth for its own sake, and who craves for knowledge in order to confer benefits on others, not on his own unimportant personality.

CW 12, 314, 315 "The Dual Aspect of Wisdom"

If in truth the universe groans under the burden of selfish acts and thoughts, we are responsible insofar as we have individually contributed to that weight. Every one of us is human, every one of us has mixed motives to a degree, but we have a grand ideal of constantly endeavoring to make our lives truly altruistic. This is a goal that cannot be attained in a single lifetime, but it is a goal that we must never give up. It must be the predominating and overruling influence in our lives and, if we can aspire toward this, then we can have confidence that at least a larger expression of unselfishness than of its opposite will flow forth from us.

Selfishness is hostile to the growth of the soul. It is inimical to the growth of mankind, because it is a turning in upon oneself. Conversely, not thinking ourselves to be of first importance releases the light from within, and the light which flows into our souls does not stay within our own radius. It bursts the barriers of our personalities and sends a radiance into the lives of many, many others. Every altruistic thought and aspiration sends its influence into the thought atmosphere of our world, and every individual -- whether known to us or not -- who is in sympathetic vibration with that quality of aspiration responds in kind, and his life is ennobled and his surroundings irradiated. In like manner the opposite is true, and for this also we are responsible.

Grace Knoche, (1909-2006) Leader of the TS - 1971-2006

All men have spiritually and physically the same origin, which is the fundamental teaching of Theosophy. As mankind is essentially of one and the same essence, and that essence is one -- infinite, uncreate, and eternal, whether we call it God or Nature -- nothing, therefore, can affect one nation or one man without affecting all other nations and all other men.

Key to Theosophy

The unity of God, the immortality of the spirit, belief in salvation only through our works, merit and demerit; such are the principal articles of faith of the Wisdom-religion.

Isis Unveiled

The object of doing our duties to all men and to ourselves the last, is not the attainment of personal happiness, but of the happiness of others; the fulfilment of right for the sake of right, not for what it may bring us. Happiness, or rather contentment, may indeed follow the performance of duty, but is not and must not be the motive for it...

Duty is that which is due to Humanity, to our fellow-men, neighbours, family, and especially that which we owe to all those who are poorer and more helpless than we are ourselves. This is a debt which, if left unpaid during life, leaves us spiritually insolvent and moral bankrupts in our next incarnation. Theosophy is the quintessence of duty...

If you ask me how we understand Theosophical duty practically and in view of Karma, I may answer you that our duty is to drink without a murmur to the last drop, whatever contents the cup of life may have in store for us, to pluck the roses of life only for the fragrance they may shed on others, and to be ourselves content but with the thorns, if that fragrance cannot be enjoyed without depriving some one else of it.

Key to Theosophy

Hi everybody!

Here is the quote from Mother Teresa that I mentioned on the last day of the Krotona Class:

~~~

People are unreasonable, unlogical and selfish,
- Love them anyway.

If you do good, there will be people who accuse you of selfish motives,
- Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will make unreal friends and real enemies,
- Be successful anyway.

Your good deeds will be forgotten tomorrow,
- Do good deeds anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
- Be honest and frank anyway.

What has cost you years to build, can be destroyed very quickly,
- Build anyway.

People who need help, can attack you when you help them,
- Help them anyway.

When you do your utmost for mankind, you will often get small thanks for your pains,
- Do your utmost anyway.



Mother Teresa, A Simple Path, 1995

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky:

- Daily practical wisdom consists of four things: - To know the root of Truth, the branches of Truth, the limit of Truth, and the opposite of Truth.

- He who lives in one color of the rainbow is blind to the rest. Live in the light diffused through the entire arc, and you will know it all.

- Let every action be done with perfect gravity, humanity, freedom, and justice, and perform it as though that action were your last.


George Sydney Arundale:

- Through that which is best in him lies each man's best way of service. There are as many ways of service as there are people in the world to be helped.

- There is no one in the world who does not need something, and there is no one in the world who cannot give something.

- The better the deed, the better the day.

Esoteric Philosophy reconciles all religions, strips every one of its outward human garments, and shows the root of each to be identical with that of every other great religion. It proves the necessity of a Divine Absolute Principle in Nature. It denies Deity no more than it does the sun.

The Secret Doctrine, Volume 1, Page 4

Changes may occur in the instrument during one life so as to make it appropriate for a new class of Karma, and this may take place in two ways: (a) through intensity of thought and the power of a vow, and (b ) through natural alterations due to complete exhaustion of old causes.


"Aphorisms on Karma"

Hi everybody!

Here is a list of HPB quotes, one for every day of the year.

http://www.theosophical.ca/BlavatskyQuotationBookHPB.html

“He who defendeth not the persecuted and the helpless, who giveth not of his food to the starving nor draweth water from his well for the thirsty, hath been born too soon in human shape.”

— Madame Blavatsky

There is but one road to the Path; at its very end alone the "Voice of the Silence" can be heard. The ladder by which the candidate ascends is formed of rungs of suffering and pain; these can be silenced only by the voice of virtue. Woe, then, to thee, Disciple, if there is one single vice thou hast not left behind. For then the ladder will give way and overthrow thee; its foot rests in the deep mire of thy sins and failings, and ere thou canst attempt to cross this wide abyss of matter thou hast to lave thy feet in Waters of Renunciation. Beware lest thou should'st set a foot still soiled upon the ladder's lowest rung. Woe unto him who dares pollute one rung with miry feet. The foul and viscous mud will dry, become tenacious, then glue his feet unto the spot, and like a bird caught in the wily fowler's lime, he will be stayed from further progress. His vices will take shape and drag him down. His sins will raise their voices, like as the jackal's laugh and sob after the sun goes down; his thoughts become an army, and bear him off a captive slave.

— The Voice of he Silence

We advance most rapidly when we stop to help other wayfarers. We receive most when we sacrifice most. We attain to the largest measure of Divine love when we most unselfishly love the brethren. We become one with the Supreme most surely when we lose ourselves in work for Humanity.

WQ Judge

"It is he alone who has the love of humanity at heart, who is capable of grasping thoroughly the idea of a regenerating practical Brotherhood who is entitled to ... [Theosophy]. A man who places not the good of mankind above his own good is not worthy of becoming our chela...." (Mahatma Letters)

"To live to benefit mankind is the first step. To practise the six glorious virtues is the second." (Voice of the Silence)

There is no question of sin or sinner. There is no question of good and evil. there is only the question: are you working for yourself as you understand yourself, or are you working for for the Self as you ought to understand you are, and not for anything else? The Friendly Philosopher: Robert Crosbie

"Ere thou canst settle in Jñana Marga [the Path of pure knowledge] and call it thine, thy Soul has to become as the ripe mango fruit: as soft and sweet as its bright golden pulp for others' woes, as hard as that fruit's stone for thine own throes and sorrows, O Conqueror of Weal and Woe."

— The Voice of the Silence

"It [the quality of Benevolance] is not so much a feeling of active altruism as a being grounded in a kind of consciousness in which the conflict between self-interest and altruism is dissolved. It is more a feeling of interest in good being achieved than simply that I, as an individual, should realize the good".

Franklin Merrill-Wolfe in "The Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object"

"Behold it written: 'Ere the gold flame can burn with steady light, the lamp must stand well guarded in a spot free from all wind.' [from the Bhagavatgita] Exposed to shifting breeze, the jet will flicker and the quivering flame cast shades deceptive, dark and ever-changing, on the Soul's white shrine. And then, O thou pursuer of the truth, thy Mind-Soul will become as a mad elephant, that rages in the jungle. Mistaking forest trees for living foes, he perishes in his attempts to kill the ever-shifting shadows dancing on the wall of sunlit rocks."

(Voice of the Silence)

These written above are the first of the rules which are written on the walls of the Hall of Learning. Those that ask shall have. Those that desire to read shall read. Those who desire to learn shall learn.


Mabel Collins

Light On The Path.

Blavatsky mentions the Jnaneshwari, a wise & devotional commentary by a 13th century youthful sage called Jnanadeva, in her Voice of the Silence. If you love the Bhagavad Gita, you will love Sri Jnanadeva.

Here is an online translation: http://www.bvbpune.org/contents1.html

Nicholas. I love everything that has to do with going forward, and trying to be a better person. Theosophy has indeed made me strive to be a better person and much more.

If once men do but realize that in these alone can true happiness be found, and never in wealth, possession, or any selfish gratification, then the dark clouds will roll away, and a new humanity will be born upon earth. Then the Golden Age will be there indeed.

Lucifer VOL IV No 21 May 1889, Pg. 188

"If thou hast tried [to make progress along the Path to Enlightenment] and failed, O dauntless fighter, yet lose not courage: fight on and to the charge return again, and yet again." — Voice of the Silence

Another lesson that can be drawn... is the one-sidedness of the brotherhood proposed by people of all nationalities who make a great parade of “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity,” but whose brotherhood is one of hate rather than of love. With them it is too often a question of forcibly depriving the rich man of his possessions for the supposed benefit of the poor man, and of inspiring the poor man with hatred for everyone who is better off than himself. A great many political movements whose party cry is brotherhood actually produce the reverse effect, and, instead of working for a Universal Brotherhood, they work for a carefully selected brotherhood exclusive of most.

WQ Judge

If Theosophy prevailing in the struggle, its all-embracing philosophy strikes deep root into the minds and hearts of men, if its doctrines of Reincarnation and Karma, in other words, of Hope and Responsibility, find a home in the lives of the new generations, then, indeed, will dawn the day of joy and gladness for all who now suffer and are outcast. For real Theosophy IS ALTRUISM, and we cannot repeat it too often. It is brotherly love, mutual help, unswerving devotion to Truth. If once men do but realize that in these alone can true happiness be found, and never in wealth, possessions, or any selfish gratification, then the dark clouds will roll away, and a new humanity will be born upon earth. Then, the GOLDEN AGE will be there, indeed.
But if not, then the storm will burst, and our boasted western civilization and enlightenment will sink in such a sea of horror that its parallel History has never yet recorded.
H.P.Blavatsky - “Our Cycle and the Next” Lucifer, May, 1889

There is one statement which struck me forcibly when I first read it, and it has always remained with me as a sort of continuous reminder in daily life; that was that “the so-called small services in daily life count as much with Us as the so-called greater services” - a very instructive and significant statement. When I first heard it, I thought over it a great deal, trying to realize what lay at the back of those words. Why should these small services of daily life count with a Master as though they were some great service done to mankind?
And the conclusion to which I came was an obvious one, that the big opportunities come only now and then, generally at long intervals of time. Therefore, they will never lead to the growth of a habit. But the little things of daily life come every day and all day long, and therefore we create the habit of service if we render any service that comes our way, looking on every contact with another as an opportunity to serve that person. As that becomes our habitual attitude to every one whom we meet, we shall gradually find that everyone is profoundly interesting, and that the giving of service is the greatest joy in life.
Annie Besant - Presidential Address delivered in Varanasi, India, December 1930

Jon,

Wow, that “Our Cycle and the Next” quote is a great quote. From that little quote, we can see how advanced HPB really was.

I am inspired by her words. She really is a role model for us to follow.