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 FoundedBlavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna)
Religion
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
Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna)
Theosophy
power. Individuals in every age have more or less clearly
apprehended the Theosophical doctrines and wrought them into
the fabric of their lives. These doctrines belong exclusively
to no religion, and are confined to no society or time. They
are the birthright of every human soul. Such a thing as
orthodoxy must be wrought out by each individual according
to his nature and his needs, and according to his varying
experience. This may explain why those who have imagined
Theosophy to be a new religion have hunted in vain for its
creed and its ritual. Its creed is Loyalty to Truth, and its
ritual ‘To honour every truth by use.’
How little this principle of Universal Brotherhood is
understood by the masses of mankind, how seldom its
transcendent importance is recognised, may be seen in the
diversity of opinion and fictitious interpretations regarding
the Theosophical Society. This Society was organized on this
one principle, the essential Brotherhood of Man, as herein
briefly outlined and imperfectly set forth. It has been
assailed as Buddhistic and anti-Christian, as though it could
be both these together, when both Buddhism and Christianity,
as set forth by their inspired founders, make brotherhood the
one essential of doctrine and of life. Theosophy has been
also regarded as something new under the sun, or at best as
old mysticism masquerading under a new name. While it is true
that many Societies founded upon, and united to support,
the principles of altruism, or essential brotherhood, have
borne various names, it is also true that many have also
been called Theosophic, and with principles and aims as the
present society bearing that name. With these societies, one
and all, the essential doctrine has been the same, and all
else has been incidental, though this does not obviate the
fact that many persons are attracted to the incidentals who
overlook or ignore the essentials.”
No better or more explicit answer—by a man who is one of our most
esteemed and earnest Theosophists—could be given to your questions.
ENQ. Which system do you prefer or follow, in that case, besides
Buddhistic ethics?
THEO. None, and all. We hold to no religion, as to no philosophy in
particular: we cull the good we find in each. But here, again, it
must be stated that, like all other ancient systems, Theosophy is
divided into Exoteric and _Esoteric_ Sections.
ENQ. What is the difference?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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