Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 Cardiff Theosophical Society, 206 Newport Road,

 Cardiff, Wales, UK, CF24 – 1DL  

 

The Writings of C W Leadbeater

Charles Webster Leadbeater

1858? - 1934

Return to Homepage

 

What Theosophy Is

 

From

A Textbook of Theosophy

By

C W Leadbeater

 

 

 “ There is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modernculture has lost sight.” In these words Mr. A. P. Sinnett began his1881 book, The Occult World, the first popular exposition of Theosophy, published thirty years ago. During the years that have passed since then, many thousands have

learned wisdom in that school, yet to the majority its teachings are still unknown, and they can give only the vaguest of replies to the query, “What is Theosophy?”

 

Two books already exist which answer that question: Mr. Sinnett’s Esoteric Buddhism and Mrs. Besant’s The Ancient Wisdom. I have no thought of entering into competition with those standard works; what I desire is to present a statement, as clear and simple as I can make it, which may be regarded as introductory to them.

 

We often speak of Theosophy as not in itself a religion, but the truth which lies behind all religions alike. That is so; yet, from another point of view, we may surely say that it is at once a philosophy, because it puts plainly before us an explanation of the scheme of evolution of both the souls and the bodies contained, in our solar system. It is a religion in so far as, having

shown us the course of ordinary evolution, it also puts before us and advises a method of shortening that course, so that by conscious effort we may progress more directly towards the goal.

 

It is a science, because it treats both these subjects as matters not of theological belief but of direct knowledge obtainable

by study and investigation. It asserts that man has no need to trust to blind faith, because he has within him latent powers which, when aroused, enable him to see and examine for himself, and it proceeds to prove its case by showing how those powers may be awakened. It is itself a result of the awakening of such powers by men, for the teachings which it puts before us are founded upon direct observations made in the past, and rendered possible only by such development.

 

As a philosophy, it explains to us that the solar system is a carefully - ordered mechanism, a manifestation of a magnificent life, of which man is but a small part. Nevertheless, it takes up that small part which immediately concerns us, and treats it exhaustively under three heads – present, past and future.

It deals with the present by describing what man really is, as seen by means of developed faculties. It is customary to speak of man as having a soul.

 

Theosophy, as the result of direct investigation, reverses that dictum, and states that man is a soul, and has a body – in fact several bodies, which are his vehicles and instruments in various worlds. These worlds are not separate in space; they are simultaneously present with us, here and now, and can be examined; they are the divisions of the material side of Nature –

different degrees of density in the aggregation of matter, as will presently be explained in detail. Man has an existence in several of these, but is normally conscious only of the lowest, though sometimes in dreams and trances he has glimpses of some of the others. What is called death is the laying aside of the vehicle belonging to this lowest world, but the soul or real man in a higher world is no more changed or affected by this than the physical man is changed or affected when he removes his overcoat. All this is a matter, not of speculation, but of observation and experiment.

 

Theosophy has much to tell us of the past history of man – of how in the course of evolution he has come to what he now is. This also is a matter of observation, because of the fact that there exists an indelible record of all that has taken place – a sort of memory of Nature – by examining which the scenes of earlier evolution may be made to pass before the eyes of the

investigator as though they were happening at this moment. By thus studying the past we learn that man is divine in origin and that he has a long evolution behind him – a double evolution, that of the life or soul within, and that of the outer form. We learn, too, that the life of man as a soul is of what to us

seems enormous length, and that what we have been in the habit of calling his life is in reality only one day of his real existence.

 

He has already lived through many such days, and has many more of them yet before him; and if we wish to understand the real life and its object, we must consider it in relation not only to this one day of it, which begins with birth and ends with

death, but also to the days which have gone before and those which are yet to come.

 

Of those that are yet to come there is also much to be said, and on this subject too a great deal of definite information is available. Such information is obtainable, first, from men who have already passed much further along the road of evolution than we, and have consequently direct experience of it; and,

secondly, from inferences drawn from the obvious direction of the steps which we seem to have been previously taken. The goal of this particular cycle, is in sight, though still far above us but it would seem that, even when that has been attained, an infinity of progress still lies before everyone who is willing to undertake it.

 

One of the most striking advantages of Theosophy is that the light which it brings to us at once solves many of our problems, clears away many difficulties, accounts for the apparent injustices of life, and in all directions brings order out of seeming chaos. Thus while some of its teaching is based upon the observation of forces whose direct working is somewhat beyond the ken of the ordinary man of the world, if the latter will accept it as a hypothesis he will very soon come to see that it must be a correct one, because it, and it alone, furnishes a coherent and reasonable explanation of the drama of life which is being played before him.

 

The existence of Perfected Men, and the possibility of coming into touch with Them and being taught  by Them, are prominent among the great new truths which Theosophy brings to the Western World. Another of them is the stupendous fact that the world is not drifting blindly into anarchy, but that its progress is under the control of a perfectly organized Hierarchy, so that

final failure even for the tiniest of its units is of all

impossibilities the most impossible. A glimpse of the working of that Hierarchy inevitably engenders the desire to co-operate with it, to serve under it, in however humble a capacity, and some time in the far-distant future to be worthy to join the outer

fringes of its ranks.

 

This brings us to that aspect of Theosophy which we have called religious. Those who come to know and to understand these things are dissatisfied with the slow aeons of evolution; they yearn to become more immediately useful, and so they demand and obtain knowledge of the shorter but steeper Path. There is no possibility of escaping the amount of work that has to be done. It is like carrying a load up a mountain; whether one carries it straight up a steep path or more gradually by a road of gentle slope, precisely the same number of foot-pounds must be exerted. Therefore to do the same work in a small fraction

of the time means determined effort. It can be done, however, for it has been done; and those who have done it agree that it far more than repays the trouble.

 

The limitations of the various vehicles are thereby gradually transcended, and the liberated man becomes an intelligent co-worker in the mighty plan for the evolution of all beings.

 

In its capacity as a religion, too, Theosophy gives (Page 6) its followers a rule of life, based not on alleged commands delivered at some remote period of the past, but on plain common sense as indicated by observed facts. The attitude of the student of Theosophy towards the rules which it prescribes resembles rather that which we adopt to hygienic regulations than obedience to religious commandments. We may say, if we wish, that this thing or that is in accordance with the divine Will, for the divine Will is expressed in what we know as the laws of nature. Because that Will wisely ordereth all things, to infringe its laws means to disturb the smooth working of the scheme, to hold back for a moment that fragment or tiny part of evolution, and consequently to bring discomfort upon ourselves and others. It is for that reason that the wise man avoids infringing them – not to escape the imaginary wrath of some offended deity.

 

But if from a certain point of view we may think of Theosophy as a religion, we must note two great points of difference between it and what is ordinarily called religion in the West. First, it neither demands belief from its followers, nor does it even speak of belief in the sense in which that word is usually employed. The student of occult science either knows a thing or suspends his judgment about it; there is no place in his scheme for blind faith.

 

Naturally, beginners in the study cannot yet know for

themselves, so they are asked to read the results of the various observations and to deal with them as probable hypothesis – provisionally to accept and act upon them, until such time

as they can prove for themselves.

 

Secondly, Theosophy never endeavours to convert any man from whatever religion he already holds. On the contrary, it explains his religion to him, and enables him to see in it deeper meanings than he has ever known before. It teaches him to understand it and live it better than he did, and in many cases it gives back to him, on a higher and more intelligent level, the faith in it which he had previously all but lost.

 

Theosophy has its aspect as a science also; it is in very truth a science of life, a science of the soul. It applies to everything the scientific method of oft-repeated, painstaking observation, and then tabulates the results and makes deductions from them. In this way it has investigated the various planes of nature, the conditions of man’s consciousness during life and after what is

commonly called death. It cannot be too often repeated that its statements on all these matters are not vague guesses or tenets of faith, but are based upon direct and oft-repeated observation of what happens. Its investigators have dealt also to a certain extent with subjects more in the range of ordinary science, as may be seen by those who read the recently issued book on Occult

Chemistry.

 

Thus we see that Theosophy combines within itself some of the characteristics of philosophy, religion and science. What, it

might be asked, is its gospel for this weary world? What are the main points which emerge from its investigations?

 

What are the great facts which it has to lay before humanity?

They have been well summed up under three main heads.

 

“There are three truths which are absolute, and which cannot be lost, but yet may remain silent for lack of speech.

 

“The soul of man is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendour has no limit.

 

“The principle which gives life dwells in us and without us, is undying and eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by the man who desires perception

 

“Each man is his own absolute lawgiver; the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment.

 

“These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are as simple as the simplest mind of man”.

 

Put shortly, and in the language of the man of the street, this means that God is good, that man is immortal, and that as we sow so we must reap. There is a definite scheme of things; it is under intelligent direction and works under immutable laws. Man has his place in this scheme and is living under these laws.

 

If he understands them  and co-operates with them, he will advance rapidly and will be happy; if he does not understand them – if wittingly or unwittingly, he breaks them, he will delay his progress and be miserable. These are not theories, but proved facts. Let him who doubts read on, and he will see.

 

 

Return to Homepage

Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 Cardiff Theosophical Society, 206 Newport Road, 

Cardiff, Wales, UK, CF24 – 1DL 

 

 

 

For more info on Theosophy

Try these

 

 

 

Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings are informal

and there’s always a cup of tea afterwards

 

Theosophy

Cardiff

The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website

 

Theosophy

Wales

The National Wales Theosophy Wesbsite

 

Dave’s Streetwise Theosophy Boards

The Theosophy Website that

Welcomes Absolute Beginners

If you run a Theosophy Group then please

Feel free to use any material on this Website

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy

 

Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 

Cardiff Blavatsky Archive

A Theosophy Study Resource

 

Cardiff Theosophy Start-Up

A Free Intro to Theosophy

 

Blavatsky Blogger

Independent Theosophy Blog

 

Quick Blasts of Theosophy

One Liners & Quick Explanations

 

Feelgood

Theosophy

Visit the Feelgood Lodge

The main criteria for the inclusion of

links on this site is that they are have some

relationship (however tenuous) to Theosophy

and are lightweight, amusing or entertaining.

Topics include Quantum Theory and Socks,

Dick Dastardly and Legendary Blues Singers.

 

Theosophy

Aardvark

No Aardvarks were harmed in the

preparation of this Website

 

Great Theosophists

The Big Names of Theosophy

 

History of the Theosophical Society

 

History of Theosophy in Wales

 

Theosophy and the Great War

 

Pages About Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

H P Blavatsky and The Masters

Her Teachers Morya & Koot Hoomi

 

The Blavatsky Blogger’s

Instant Guide To

Death & The Afterlife

 

The Most Basic Theosophy Website in the Universe

If you run a Theosophy Group you can use

this as an introductory handout

 

Theosophy

The New Rock ‘n Roll

 

The Voice of the Silence

 

The Key to Theosophy

 

The South of Heaven Guide

To Theosophy and Devachan

 

The South of Heaven Guide

To Theosophy and Dreams

 

The South of Heaven Guide

To Theosophy and Angels

 

Theosophy and Help From

The Universe

 

Death & How to Get Through It

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

“Man After Death”

 

Wales! Wales! Theosophy Wales

The All Wales Guide to

Getting Started in Theosophy

 

Theosophy and the Number Seven

A selection of articles relating to the esoteric

significance of the Number 7 in Theosophy

 

The Tooting Broadway

Underground Theosophy Website

The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy

 

The Mornington Crescent

Underground Theosophy Website

The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy

 

Theosophy Birmingham

The Birmingham Annie Besant Lodge

 

 

_____________________

 

Tekels Park

Camberley, Surrey, England GU15 - 2LF

 

Tekels Park to be Sold to a Developer

Concerns are raised about the fate of the wildlife as

The Spiritual Retreat, Tekels Park in Camberley,

Surrey, England is to be sold to a developer

 

Tekels Park is a 50 acre woodland park, purchased

 for the Adyar Theosophical Society in England in 1929.

In addition to concern about the park, many are

 worried about the future of the Tekels Park Deer

as they are not a protected species.

 

Many feel that the sale of a sanctuary 

for wildlife to a developer can only mean 

disaster for the park’s animals

 

Confusion as the Theoversity moves out of 

Tekels Park to Southampton, Glastonbury & 

Chorley in Lancashire while the leadership claim

that the Theosophical Society will carry on using 

Tekels Park despite its sale to a developer

 

 

Future of Tekels Park Badgers in Doubt

Badgers have been resident

in Tekels Park for Centuries

 

Tekels Park & the Loch Ness Monster

A Satirical view of the sale of Tekels Park

in Camberley, Surrey to a developer

 

The Toff’s Guide to the Sale of Tekels Park

What the men in top hats have to

say about the sale of Tekels Park

to a developer

 

____________________

 

 

Theosophy Wales Centre

The Ocean of Theosophy

By William Quan Judge

 

Theosophy Cardiff Nirvana Pages

 

National Wales Theosophy

 

 

Glastonbury Pages

 

Chalice Well, Glastonbury.

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Chalice Well, Glastonbury,

Somerset, England

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Abbey

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s

Glastonbury Abbey Chronology

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Tor

 

The Labyrinth

The Terraced Maze of Glastonbury Tor

 

Glastonbury and Joseph of Arimathea

 

The Grave of King Arthur & Guinevere

at Glastonbury Abbey

 

Views of Glastonbury High Street

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Bookshops

 

 

__________________________

 

 

Classic Introductory Theosophy Text

A Text Book of Theosophy By C W Leadbeater

 

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

 

 

Elementary Theosophy

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

 

The Seven in Man and Nature

 

The Meaning of Death

 

 

Try these if you are looking for a

local Theosophy Group or Centre

 

UK Listing of Theosophical Groups

 

Worldwide Directory of Theosophical Links

 

International Directory of 

Theosophical Societies

 

 

WALES

Pages about Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

 

Wales is a Principality within the United Kingdom

and has an eastern border with England.

The land area is just over 8,000 square miles.

Snowdon in North Wales is the highest mountain at 3,650 feet.

The coastline is almost 750 miles long.

The population of Wales as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.

 

 

Theosophy Wales Burn-Up

 

Theosophy Wales Vanguard

 

Theosophy Wales Now!

 

theosophycardiff.org