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Theosophy An Introductory Study Course

By John Algeo

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Some Fundamental Concepts Of Theosophy

Theosophy—in its religious, scientific, and philosophical aspects—offers such concepts as the following for consideration:

• Ultimate reality is a unified whole—absolute, impersonal, unknowable, and indescribable.
• The universe in which we live is manifold, diverse, constantly changing, relative (which means that each part has meaning and value only in relation to
others), and illusory or “mayavic” (that is, its reality differs from its appearance).
• The ultimate reality is the source of all consciousness, matter, and energy, which are its three mutually necessary aspects in the manifest universe and are present in every being and every particle. There is no dead or unconscious matter.
• The universe and everything in it are emanations or expressions of the ultimate reality, not creations out of nothing by a personal creator.
• The universe is eternal, but with innumerable worlds periodically manifesting within it.
• The universe is pervaded by a collective intelligence, a cosmic mind, which is consciously expressed in varying degrees by all the beings in the universe.
• The physical universe of which we are normally aware is only one aspect of the total universe, which consists of multiple planes, fields, or dimensions of being—coexisting, interpenetrating, and interacting aspects of the whole. Of the seven planes of our solar system, human beings function primarily on the lower three: physical, emotional, and mental.
• The universe and everything in it are orderly, following patterns of regular cycles, including alternating phases of activity and rest, governed by a
universal principle of cause and effect or karma. In human life, this principle of cycles is expressed, among other ways, by repeated rebirths or reincarnation.
• Evolution, which is the result of an inner and intelligent guidance expressed through personal effort, is good, has purpose, and follows a plan.
• Our material forms are evolving, but so are our conscious knowledge of the universe and our spiritual awareness of our basic unity with all life.
• We are composite beings; we have a number of independently evolved principles or faculties whose development is a purpose of evolution. In both
the universe and us, there are seven such principles.
• We are threefold beings: (1) a temporary, single-lifetime personality, (2) an abiding, evolving individuality that reincarnates, and (3) a spark or direct
emanation of the ultimate reality. The integration of these three aspects is the driving force of our evolution.
• The process of evolution, which begins by unconscious impulse, must eventually become a conscious process directed by the free will and ever
increasing self-awareness of the evolving entities. The conscious participation by human beings in evolutionary change is symbolized as walking a path.
• The evolving entities of the universe include intelligences both less and more advanced than human beings, of whom some of the more advanced (the Masters or Adepts) may serve as helpers and guides to the less advanced.
• The key to the advancement of human evolution is a dedication by the individual to the service of others, that is, altruism—an awareness of brotherly
unity and a forgetfulness of personal separateness.
• The pain, cruelty, and frustration we experience in life are the result of ignorance, unbalanced actions, relative dislocations, or change; they are not
independently existing evils.
• It is possible, as a result of individual effort in this life, for human beings to come by intuitive knowledge or mystical experience to a full awareness of their nonseparateness from the ultimate reality.
• Correspondences, analogies, meaningful connections, and patterned repetitions exist among all things in the universe. By using those correspondences, we can use what we know to discover the unknown. 

• Behind the exoteric or public forms of all religions and religious philosophies there exists an esoteric or inner teaching that holds such concepts as those listed here.

A contemporary effort to express the basis of such fundamental concepts is the Theosophical World View:

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, while reserving for each member full freedom to interpret those teachings known as Theosophy, is dedicated to preserving and realizing the ageless wisdom, which embodies both a worldview and a vision of human self-transformation.

This tradition is founded upon certain fundamental propositions:
 1. The universe and all that exists within it are one interrelated and interdependent whole.
 2. Every existent being—from atom to galaxy—is rooted in the same universal, life-creating Reality. This Reality is all pervasive, but it can never be summed up in its parts, since it transcends all its expressions. It reveals itself in the purposeful, ordered, and meaningful processes of nature as well as in the deepest recesses of the mind and spirit.
 3. Recognition of the unique value of every living being expresses itself in reverence for life, compassion for all, sympathy with the need of all individuals to find truth for themselves, and respect for all religious traditions. The ways in which these ideals become realities in individual life are both the privileged choice and the responsible act of every human being.

Central to the concerns of Theosophy is the desire to promote understanding and brotherhood among people of all races, nationalities, philosophies, and religions.
Therefore, all people, whatever their race, creed, sex, caste, or color, are invited to participate equally in the life and work of the Society. The Theosophical Society imposes no dogmas, but points toward the source of unity beyond all differences.
Devotion to truth, love for all living beings, and commitment to a life of active altruism are the marks of the true Theosophist.
These teachings have also been set forth in a poetical way, in a form known as the Three Truths of the White Lotus because they originally appeared in a late nineteenth-century symbolic story called The Idyll of the White Lotus by Mabel Collins:
There are three great truths which are absolute and which cannot be lost, but which may remain silent for lack of speech.

The human soul is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendor has no limit.
The principle that gives life dwells in us and around us, is undying and eternally beneficent, is not seen or heard or smelt, but is perceived by the one who desires perception.

We are each our own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to ourselves, the decreer of our life, our reward, our punishment.
These truths, which are as great as life itself, are as simple as the simplest human mind. Feed the hungry with them.

REFERENCES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READING OR VIEWING Abdill, Foundations of the Ageless Wisdom (DVD) and The Secret Gateway. Ellwood, Theosophy, “Introduction,” ch. 1 “Theosophical Foundations,” ch. 6 “Veiled Truth.” Layton, Life, Your Great Adventure, ch. 1 “Divine Plan in a Chaotic World.” McDavid, An Introduction to Esoteric Principles, ch. 1 “Introduction.” Nicholson, Ancient Wisdom—Modern Insight, “Introduction: The Living Tradition.” Ravindra, Science and the Sacred. QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION—Chapter One 1. What is the meaning of the word Theosophy? How old is the name and how old is Theosophy? 2. What does the motto of the Theosophical Society mean to you? 3. In what respect is Theosophy religious but not a religion, scientific but not a science, philosophical but not a philosophy? 4. Theosophy is, in part, composed of the basic teachings underlying all religions and belonging exclusively to none. Mention some basic teachings that appear in all or many religions with which you are familiar and which seem to you to be related to the concepts of Theosophy. 16 5. What is the attitude of Theosophy toward Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions? How does this compare with your own opinion or attitude concerning them? 6. From the information in this chapter, what seem to you to be the most characteristic teachings of Theosophy. 7. How do the three objects of the Theosophical Society relate to Theosophy? 8. Suppose that a friend who knows nothing about Theosophy asks you what it is. How would you describe it?

REFERENCES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READING OR VIEWING
Abdill, Foundations of the Ageless Wisdom (DVD) and The Secret Gateway.
Ellwood, Theosophy, “Introduction,” ch. 1 “Theosophical Foundations,” ch. 6 “Veiled
Truth.”
Layton, Life, Your Great Adventure, ch. 1 “Divine Plan in a Chaotic World.”
McDavid, An Introduction to Esoteric Principles, ch. 1 “Introduction.”
Nicholson, Ancient Wisdom—Modern Insight, “Introduction: The Living Tradition.”
Ravindra, Science and the Sacred.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION—Chapter One
 1. What is the meaning of the word Theosophy? How old is the name and how old is
Theosophy?
 2. What does the motto of the Theosophical Society mean to you?
 3. In what respect is Theosophy religious but not a religion, scientific but not a
science, philosophical but not a philosophy?
 4. Theosophy is, in part, composed of the basic teachings underlying all religions
and belonging exclusively to none. Mention some basic teachings that appear in
all or many religions with which you are familiar and which seem to you to be
related to the concepts of Theosophy.
16
 5. What is the attitude of Theosophy toward Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and
other religions? How does this compare with your own opinion or attitude
concerning them?

6. From the information in this chapter, what seem to you to be the most
characteristic teachings of Theosophy.

7. How do the three objects of the Theosophical Society relate to Theosophy?

8. Suppose that a friend who knows nothing about Theosophy asks you what it is.
How would you describe it?