THE
LIFE OF
The
Theosophical Society gets off the Ground
The Theosophical Society:
Its Origin, Plan and Aims
by
H
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Its Origin, Plan and
Aims
[Printed for the Information
of Correspondents]
[[This
the
"In drafting the New York circular it occurred to me
that the membership of, and supervising entities behind, the Society would be naturally
grouped in three divisions, viz., new members not detached from worldly
interests; pupils, like myself, who had withdrawn from the same or were ready
to do so; and the adepts themselves, who, without being actually members, were
at least connected with us and concerned in our work as a potential agency for
the doing of spiritual good to the world. With H.P.B.'s
concurrence I defined these three groups, calling them sections, and
sub-dividing each into three degrees. This, of course, was in the hope and
expectation that we should have more practical guidance in adjusting the
several grades of members than we had had -- or have since had, I may
add."
Col. Olcott specifically
states that the passage beginning: "As the highest development . . . " and ending with: "unseen universes" was
written by H.P.B. This paragraph in item VI is highlighted for reference here
but not on the original document
The important words:
"the Brotherhood of Humanity" were here used
for the first time, and the Circular is devoid of any mention of Spiritualism
or phenomena. -- Boris de Zirkoff
in Blavatsky's Collected Writings 1:375.]]
I. The
Society was founded at the City of New York, in the year 1875.
II. Its officers are a
President; two Vice-Presidents; a Corresponding Secretary; a Recording
Secretary; a Treasurer; a Librarian; and Councillors.
III. At
first it was an open body, but, later, it was reorganized on the principle of
secrecy, experience having demonstrated the advisability of such a change.
IV. Its Fellows are
known as Active, Corresponding and Honorary. Only those are admitted who are in sympathy with its
objects, and sincerely desire to aid in the promotion of the same.
V. Its Fellowship is
divided into three Sections, and each Section into three Degrees. All
candidates for active fellowship are required to enter as probationers, in the
Third Degree of the Third Section, and no fixed time is specified in which the
new Fellow can advance from any lower to a higher degree; all depends upon
merit. To be admitted into the highest degree, of the first section, the
Theosophist must have become freed of every leaning toward any one form of
religion in preference to another. He must be free from all exacting
obligations to society, politics and family.
He must be ready to lay
down his life, if necessary, for the good of Humanity, and of a brother Fellow
of whatever race, color or ostensible creed. He must renounce wine, and every
other description of intoxicating beverages, and adopt a life of strict chastity.
Those who have not yet
wholly disenthralled themselves from religious prejudice, and other forms of
selfishness, but have made a certain progress towards self-mastery and
enlightenment, belong in the Second Section. The Third Section is probationary:
its members can leave the Society at will, although the obligation assumed at
entrance will continually bind them to absolute secrecy as to what may have
been communicated under restrictions.
VI. The objects of the
Society are various. It influences its fellows to acquire an intimate knowledge
of natural law, especially its occult manifestations. As
the highest development, physically and spiritually, on earth, of the Creative
Cause, man should aim to solve the mystery of his being. He is the procreator
of his species, physically, and having inherited the nature of the unknown but
palpable Cause of his own creation, must possess in his inner, psychical self,
this creative power in lesser degree. He should, therefore, study to develop
his latent powers, and inform himself respecting the laws of magnetism,
electricity and all other forms of force, whether of the seen or unseen
universes.
The Society teaches and
expects its fellows to personally exemplify the highest morality and religious
aspiration; to oppose the materialism of science and every form of dogmatic
theology, especially the Christian, which the Chiefs of the Society regard as
particularly pernicious; to make known among Western nations the
long-suppressed facts about Oriental religious philosophies, their ethics,
chronology, esoterism, symbolism; to counteract, as
far as possible, the efforts of missionaries to delude the so-called
"Heathen" and "Pagans" as to the real origin and dogmas of
Christianity and the practical effects of the latter upon public and private
character in so-called civilized countries; to disseminate a knowledge of the
sublime teachings of that pure esoteric system of the archaic period, which are
mirrored in the oldest Vedas, and in the philosophy of Gautama
Buddha, Zoroaster and Confucius; finally, and chiefly, to aid in the
institution of a Brotherhood of Humanity, wherein all good and pure men, of
every race, shall recognize each other as the equal effects (upon this planet)
of one Uncreate, Universal, Infinite, and Everlasting
Cause.
VII. Persons of either
sex are eligible.
VIII. There are branches
of the parent Society in several countries of the East and West.
IX. No fees are exacted,
but those who choose may contribute towards the
Society's expenses. No applicant is received because of his wealth or
influence, nor rejected because of his poverty or obscurity.Correspondence
with the parent body may be addressed to "The Theosophical Society,
The
Theosophical Society gets off the Ground
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Lentil burgers, a thousand
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We are pleased to
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An Independent
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Classic Introductory
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A Text Book of Theosophy By C
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
An Outstanding
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By a student of
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Elementary
Theosophy Who is the Man?
Body
and Soul Body,
Soul and Spirit
Preface Theosophy
and the Masters General
Principles
The Earth
Chain Body
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Manas Of Reincarnation
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Karma Kama Loka Devachan Cycles
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Differentiation
Of Species Missing
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