If you ask Theosophists "What is Theosophy?" you will get a variety of answers. Some will say that it is a worldview that gives life meaning and purpose. Some will say that it is a spiritual philosophy that has been with us since very ancient times, the Ageless or Ancient Wisdom. Others will stress that it is a way of life, a path that leads to peace and understanding through selfless service. Theosophy is all of these, and even more.
Theosophy offers a worldview that emphasizes the unity and interdependence of all life, the underlying oneness of all the peoples and all the species on earth. It is a philosophy to be understood, not accepted blindly. Although many of its concepts and ideas are found in all the great world religions, it is not a religion. In a sense it is religion itself, the essence of true religion. Its principles have been voiced by seers and sages throughout human history. That is why Theosophy has been called the Ancient or Ageless Wisdom, the Wisdom Religion, the Wisdom Tradition and the Perennial Philosophy (Philosophia Perennis).
The Secret Doctrine
The Secret Doctrine, published in 1888 by H. P. Blavatsky (HPB), one of the founders of the Theosophical Society, shone a brilliant light on Theosophy in the eyes of the world. The volumes of this great work are source books of inner wisdom; in them the author quotes ancient sages such as Plato, Confucius, Gautama the Buddha and Jesus, as well as philosophers, scientists and other thinkers of her time.
Weaving together threads drawn from these and other sources, Blavatsky depicted the Cosmos as a fabric permeated by Spirit and Intelligence and divinely guided from within. She portrayed the human being as both an earthly and a divine being, with an immense potential awaiting unfoldment through future cycles of evolution.
She described the sevenfold nature of the human being, together with the capacity to develop ever higher expressions of feeling, concrete and abstract thought, intuitive insight, compassion, the realization of unity, and the Spiritual Will. She also described the superphysical worlds around us, realms in which intelligences and energies act upon us and upon all of Nature, and stated that these worlds interpenetrate our visible, physical planet. Since Blavatsky wrote The Secret Doctrine, Theosophy has been expressed in many forms; but perhaps none has been as complete as the Theosophical worldview in these writings, or has explained the fundamental principles of evolution with such depth.
A Vision of Order
The universe unfolds its latent powers stage by stage through the gradual awakening of consciousness. Theosophy emphasizes the important role of the human being in this process. By pointing to the Spark within each of us that is a part of the Source, the Divine Life from which all things are born, it meets our need to belong to something greater than ourselves. It explains the apparent inequalities of life as the results of karma, the Law of Balance and Harmony. This law gives us feedback on our actions and provides learning experiences. Theosophy widens our perspective to include the continuity of the many lives through which we grow toward spiritual maturity.
A Way of Life
At the heart of Theosophy is a way of life: in this life we act in awareness of our unity with all, and we seek to awaken our higher potentials, such as intuition, understanding, insight, love, compassion and creativity. Theosophy encourages us to expand our minds through study and our hearts by understanding and reaching out to others. It helps us develop practical skills through altruistic actions that serve humanity. It encourages self-examination and self-awareness; it helps us develop our character and grow by overcoming the obstacles that may prevent the Spiritual Will from finding expression through us.
The study of Theosophy inspires us to meditate. In this way, by stilling our minds and emotions, we can sense the deeper core of consciousness that is our Self and lies at the heart of all beings. The fundamentals of Theosophy are reasonable and easily grasped; but it also has depths that challenge us, and it offers a lifetime of study to those inclined to follow these teachings intuitively. Anyone can begin to lead a Theosophical life at any moment by trying to live in harmony with all life. The spiritual path Theosophy shows can help us reach heights beyond ordinary human understanding, because it allows our higher spiritual potential to unfold. Theosophy offers a philosophy that enables us to grow without limit while living actively within our everyday circumstances.
The Theosophical Worldview
The Theosophical Society, while reserving to each of its members the freedom to interpret the teachings known as Theosophy, is dedicated to preserving and realizing the Ageless Wisdom, which embraces both a worldview and a vision of human self-transformation. This tradition is founded on certain fundamental propositions:
- The universe and all that exists within it are one interrelated and interdependent whole.
- Every existent, from atom to galaxy, is rooted in the same universal, life-giving Reality. This Reality is all-pervasive, but it can never be reduced to the sum of 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.
- Recognition of the unique value of every living being is expressed in reverence for life, compassion for all, understanding of each individual's need to find truth for himself or herself, and respect for all religious traditions. How these ideals are to be realized in individual life is both the choice and the responsibility of each human being.
At the center of Theosophy's concerns lies the desire to strengthen understanding and unity among people of all races, nations, philosophies and religions. For this reason 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 dogma, but it points to the source of unity behind all differences. Devotion to truth, love for all living beings and commitment to a life of active altruism are the marks of a true Theosophist.
