Fundamental Theosophical Literature links to the essential works composed by Theosophical writers since the founding of The Theosophical Society in 1875. Their writings form the base for all other Theosophical literature.
All books mentioned below are available online (free), unless otherwise indicated
Fundamental Theosophical works:
- All books by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
The most important of which are:
Isis Unveiled
The Secret Doctrine
The Voice of the Silence (DTh online edition)
The Key to Theosophy
- The other writings by H.P. Blavatsky, as far as not also included in the above, are found in:
- H.P. Blavatsky Collected Writings Volume Online (vol I-XV), and
- Letters of H.P. Blavatsky Online 1875-1891;
- A Modern Panarion 1874-1884. Compilation of H.P.B.’s articles. Edited and abridged by G.R.S. Mead;
- Some Unpublished Letters of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. 1875- 1878. Compiled, edited and with commentary by Eugene Rollin Corson;
- Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to Her Family in Russia. 1875-1890. More than 60 pages of text with scores of HPB’s letters written to her relatives.
- Some Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to W.Q. Judge and Other Miscellaneous Letters
- Letters from the Mahatmas K.H en M.
- Theosophical books and articles by William Quan Judge
- Theosophical books and articles by Annie Besant
- All books and articles by Gottfried de Purucker
Esoteric Theosophical Literature
Among the various purposes for which the Theosophical Society was founded – promoting brotherhood among humanity, stimulate study and comparison of genuine spiritual literature of all ages and cultures, and furthering scientific and occult-scientific research into the powers innate in the human being and nature – was to make known some esoteric hints and facts that had hitherto been hidden for humanity, or had been hidden since a very remote past. Herein we find a still small number of partly hidden as well as openly proclaimed facts, which were until recently (i.e. about 1875) only known to the gods (masters, mahatmas, initiates, rishis, bodhisattvas, or whatever term one wishes to use – those who cannot err and have lost the ability to misuse such essential truths). These hints and facts were given to humankind in relation to its present stage of mental and spiritual development. Among these may be truths that have never been known to any uninitiated person, but have now been made available publicly for those who can ‘read between the lines.’ Such people are but few in number, but they are the ones who carry our culture into the future, and lay a basis for long times to come. Theosophical students and writers may have understood or intuited – either consciously or unconsciously to themselves – some of such hints, and thus that ‘new’ eternal, ancient, knowledge and wisdom pervades their writings and actions. It has been these hints and open facts which have shaken world culture in the last more than a hundred years and will continue to do so for ages – until a new effort, when the time is ripe, perhaps in the far future, will be initiated by Those Who Know.
Naturally such information could only be given by a few authors who were in contact with these Masters of Wisdom and Compassion (to use one of various terms), belonging to what has been called ‘The Hierarchy of Compassion.’ It is on this base that this selection of works have been selected under this heading.
It does not mean that everything in these works is esoteric or recognizable as such, or recognizable as such at this moment yet – and that one would just have to read these books to elevate oneself to ‘above average.’ Such haughtiness leads to frustration when the true intentions of the student were selfish only to the slightest extent. All of us, learned or simple, may intuit the deeper meanings ‘written between the lines’ which are recognized by the spiritual heart rather than by the rational mind – though such meanings will never contradict rationality. Moreover the ‘less esoteric’ theosophical literature can for the compassionate theosophist be of more value even than the esoteric works, because they contain many practical directions which can immediately benefit humanity.
It should also be understood that ‘esoteric’ and ‘exoteric’ are not separated: it is the way in which a text is read and understood, and this is entirely dependent on the buddhic, i.e. distinctive power of the student. This is something that cannot be forced, least of all claimed by anyone. Spiritual and esoteric growth is a matter of many lifetimes.
Esoteric or partly esoteric Theosophical works:
- by the Mahatmas:
- by H.P. Blavatsky:
Not available online (at the moment of making this website) is:
Henk J. Spierenburg: The Inner Group teachings of H.P. Blavatsky to her Personal Pupils (1890-91). 2nd edition, 1996. Point Loma Publications, San Diego CA, ISBN-10: 0913004960; ISBN-13: 978-0913004968, but see Blavatsky Archives for a complete transcription of the original notes.
- by Willam Quan Judge:
- by G. de Purucker:
- by T. Subba Row:
Not available online (at the moment of making this webpage) is:
- Henk .J. Spierenburg: T. Subba Row Collected Writings. This work contains many articles that were not published previously. The work also contains a detailed biography of Subba Row. Volume 1 en 2. Point Loma Publications, 2001, 2002. (ISBN 1-889598-30-5; ISBN 1-889598-31-3). See review
- by Damodar K. Mavalankar:
- by Mable Collins:
- Downloadable zip file of full ASCII text of Isis Unveiled, both volumes in one file (1.47 MB zipped; 3.9 MB unzipped [↩]
- See also: The Secret Doctrine Verbatim html version showing pagination of original 1888 edition; Searchable PDF scanned version of the original 1888 edition; Downloadable zip file of full ASCII text of The Secret Doctrine, both volumes in one file (1.6 MB zipped; 4.4 MB unzipped) Introductory Notes on The Secret Doctrine in PDF format; Index to The Secret Doctrine (prepared by John P. Van Mater [↩]
