Theos-Talk Archives (December 1996 Message tt00089)

> Edgar "Mauricio" Rivera wrote:
>
> > - What is Theosophy? I have read Webster's description so far
> >  but seems to differ a little bit from what I hear in this
> > list.  and Bart states
>
>  .  .  .  I would define "theosophy" for you as the search for
>  the basic truth or truths underlying science, religion, and
>  philosophy.  (Edgar)
>
> > - How is Theosophy differs from other philosophies (i.e.  Yoga,
> > Rosicruscians, Brahmanism, alchemy, gnostics, etc) in a basic
> > way.
>
> (Bart)
> The others are belief systems.  Theosophy is a method for
> building a belief system.

The difinitive answer can be found in Blavatsky's writings (AKA
those 'Black and Blue' volumes called 'Colected Writings'):

(1879) "What is Theosophy"

Theosophy is, then, the archaic Wisdom-Religion, the esoteric
doctorine once known in every ancient country having claims to
civilisation.  This "Wisdom" all the old writings show us as an
emanation of the divine Principle...under this designation, all
of the ancient philosophers of the east and west, the Hierophants
of old egypt, the Rishis of Aryavarta, the Theodidaktoi of
Greece, included all knoledge of things occult and essentially
divine...Every Theosophist, then, holding to a theory of the
Deity "which has not revelation, but an inspiration of his own
for its basis," may accept accept any of the above definitions or
belong to any of the above religions, and yet remain in within
the boundries of Theosophy.  For the latter is belief in the
deity as the ALL, the source of all existance, the infinite that
cannot be comprenended or known, the universe alone revealing
"It", or, as some prefer it, Him"

(1886) "Original Program of the Theosophical Society"

Theosophy is an all-embrasing Science; many are the ways leading
to it, as numerous in fact as its definitions, which begin by the
sublime, during the day of Ammonious Saccas, and ended by the
ridiculus - in Webster's Dictionary.

Theosophy must not represent merely a collection of moral
verities, a bundle of metaphysical ethics epitomized in
theoretical dissertations.  Theosophy must be made practical, and
has, therefore, to be disencumbered of useless discussion...It
has to find objective expression in an all-embrasing code of life
throughly impregnated with its spirit - the spirit of mutual
tollerance, charity and love.

(1888) "The Theosophical Society"

But though Theosophy means Divine Wisdom, it implies nothing
resembling belief in a personal god.  It is not "the wisdom of
God," but "divine" wisdom.

(1888) "Is Theosophy a Religion"

Theosophy is not a religion, we say, but Religion itself, the one
bond of unity, which is so universal and all embrasing that no
man, as no speck - from gods and mortal down to animals, the
blade of grass and atom - can be outside of it's light.
Therefore any organization or body of that name must nessasarily
be a UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD.

"The degree of success or failure are the landmarks the masters
have to follow, as they will constitute the barriers placed with
your own hands between yourselves and those you have asked to be
your teachers.  The nearer your approach to the goal contemplated
- the shorter the distance between the student and the Master."