Theosophy is a doctrine of religious philosophy and metaphysics, holding that all religions are attempts by the spiritual hierarchy to help humanity to evolve to greater perfection and that each religion has but a portion of the truth.
Although there are other applications of the word, it is commonly used to refer to Blavatskian Theosophy.
As a religious movement, Theosophy was founded by Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, along with William Quan Judge, and Henry Steel Olcott.
As a child, Blavatsky traveled extensively, gaining an interest in spiritualism and the occult. She came to the United States from Russia in 1872, which is where she met Judge and Olcott, and formed the Theosophical Society in New York City in 1875.
In 1877, she published Isis Unveiled, a book of esoteric philosophy. In it, she discusses occult science and the unknown forces of nature, as well as similarities between Christianity and the Eastern religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, the Vedas, and Zoroastrianism, concluding that they stem from a common source. Although heralded as a milestone in Western Esotericism, her book wasn't well received, and the number of her followers decreased somewhat over the next couple of years.
Blavatsky and Olcott traveled to India in 1879, establishing an international headquarters in Adyar, where it still is. In India, Theosophy attracted a larger following.
The Indian press, however, accused her of being a fraud and, in 1885, the London Society for Psychical Research declared that Blavatsky was a fraud. Her followers did not abandon her, however.
She left India and traveled to Germany, Belgium, and London, where she remained until her death.
Her major books were The Secret Doctrine, the Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy, published in two volumes in 1888, the first volume named Cosmogenesis, the second Anthropogenesis. The first part of the book explained the origin and evolution of the universe, heavily influenced by Hindu concepts. The second part describes the origins of the human race, giving an account of root races dating back millions of years. The first root race was ethereal, while the second contained some physical bodies and lived in Hyperborea. The third root race, said to be the first human race, was situated on the lost continent of Lemuria, while the fourth was in Atlantis. The fifth race overlapped the fourth.
In 1889, she published The Voice of the Silence, and contains what Blavatsky claims to have been a translation of fragments from a sacred book that she had encountered in the East. Buddhist scholars have claimed that the book demonstrated an understanding of the deeper side of Mahayana Buddhism. The 14th Dalai Lama wrote the preface for the centennial edition.
Following Blavatsky's death in London in 1891, there was a split in the movement, with Judge prompting the Theosophical Society in America to separate from the international body. Olcott continued to lead the movement from India. After Olcott's death, Annie W. Besant became the leader of the movement, and during her tenure, the movement saw rapid growth during the late 1920s, after which it went into decline.
Meanwhile, Judge continued to head the movement in the United States. Under his leadership, the movement enjoyed growth, including such prominent figures as Abner Doubleday and Thomas Alva Edison. Today, the headquarters for the Theosophical Society in America is in Wheaton, Illinois.
Today, the organization based in India is known as the Theosophical Society - Adyar, while the US-based organization is known simply as the Theosophical Society.
The system of Theosophical concepts held by Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbetter, a member of the Theosophical Society who later founded the Liberal Catholic Church, is often referred to by detractors as Neo-Theosophy, as it was changed considerably from that which had been introduced by Blavatsky.
Splinter groups include the United Lodge of Theosophists, the I AM Movement, Church Universal and Triumphant, and perhaps some others.
Developing separately, Boehmian theosophy, also known as Christian theosophy, refers to a range of positions within Christianity that focuses on the attainment of direct knowledge of divinity, and is characterized as including mystical and occultist philosophies. Its origins are attributed to Jakob Bohme, a German philosopher.
Another form of theosophy, developed separately by a Persian philosopher, Mulla Sadra. Known as transcendent theosophy, it is a form of Islamic philosophy.
A form of Jewish mysticism, known as Kabbalah, has characteristics of theosophy, although it is not generally known by that name.
web sites whose chief topics deal with any type of Theosophy are appropriate for this category.
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Recommended Resources
The focus of this site is on Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the founder of Theosophy, and includes an introduction to Theosophy, study aids, tools for research, original texts on the subject by Blavatsky, Judge, and others, supporting evidence, and membership information. Other topics include science, near-death experiences, and news on Theosophy. The principles and purposes of Theosophy are included.
http://www.blavatsky.net/
Formerly known as the Blavatsky Archives, the site features a full-length biography of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the founder of theosophy, as well as other biographical accounts and reminiscences of people who knew her, as well as the full texts of many of her writings, including some that have not been previously published, and both positive and critical assessments of her life and work.
http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/
David Pratt discusses Helena P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society, the key concepts of theosophy, and theosophical perspectives on the nature of reality, spiritual paths, God and religion, karma, reincarnation, health and disease, after-death journeys, sex, cyclic evolution, spirit and matter, and life on other worlds. Also included are several studies in various aspects of theosophy, and theosophical history.
http://www.davidpratt.info/
Located in Halcyon, California, the Temple was founded by Francia A. La Due and William H. Dower in 1898, as a continuation of the Theosophical teachings of Madame H.P. Blavatsky and William Q. Judge. A history of the spiritual body is put forth, as well as its philosophies, teachings, and purpose. An archive of textual teachings and artwork, a calendar of events, and an online bookstore are included.
https://www.templeofthepeople.org/
Founded in 1974, the Trust was created to encourage and promote research into religion, philosophy, and science, and to disseminate the results of such research to the public, which it has accomplished, in part, through the publishing of several books, a series of videos, and through this website. The Trust’s founders are acknowledged, informational articles are included, and links to outside resources are posted to the site.
http://www.blavatskytrust.org.uk/
Representing the international headquarters in Pasadena, California, the site presents a history of the organization, including basic concepts, objectives, a history, and organizational structure. Other resources include correspondence courses, downloadable theosophy literature, books in print, electronic and audio books, and other literature. Biographies of Blavatsky, Olcott, and Judge are included, with selected articles from Sunrise Magazine.
https://www.theosociety.org/
The Theosophical Society - Adyar
Founded in 1875, the Theosophical Society is headquartered in Adyar, India. A discussion of the benefits and requirements of membership is presented, along with a profile of the organization’s history, organizational structure, mission, objects, emblems, and international rules. Its worldwide locations, retreat centers, and main campus are highlighted, and a calendar of conferences and events are included.
https://www.ts-adyar.org/
The non-profit corporation was established for the purpose of disseminating theosophical literature, and for the publication of its journal, Theosophy Magazine. Its site also includes a profile of the company, featured books, magazines, and other products, which may be purchased online. Books may be located by author or by topic. Optionally, a catalog of books is available for downloading in PDF format.
http://www.theosophycompany.org/
Created by an associate of the United Lodge of Theosophists, the site offers information, explanations, and discussions relating to all aspects of Theosophy and the Theosophical movement and the ULT. An introduction to Blavatsky’s book, “The Secret Doctrine,” is included, along with an overview of karma, reincarnation, and the Seven Principles of Theosophy. Informational articles and an online bookstore are featured.
https://blavatskytheosophy.com/
Online since 1994, the site offers an archive of some of the more significant teachers of Theosophy, including Helena P. Blavatsky, William Q. Judge, Robert Crosbie, Raghavan N. Iyer, and others, making their articles, letters, transactions, and other of their written works available for viewing online. A profile of the Theosophy religion is also presented.
http://www.theosophy.org/
As a project of Universal Theosophy, the site seeks to build an online community of theosophical students and members. An introduction is set forth, along with its guiding principles and guidelines for forum discussion. Manuscripts may be submitted for publication, several study groups are set up, and a members list may be viewed online. The key concepts, texts, and a lexicon for Universal Theosophy are included.
https://nexus.universaltheosophy.com/
Theosophy is defined in several informational articles, and the writings of H.P. Blavatsky, William Q. Judge, Charles Johnston, Damodar K. Mavalankar, and Thomas Taylor are archived, along with the religion’s key concepts, sacred texts, and the several spiritual and religious movements and teachers who contributed to the philosophy, as well as additional texts. Links to related resources are included.
http://www.universaltheosophy.com/
The free online book, “An Introduction to the Body of Knowledge Known as Theosophy and the Worldwide Theosophical Movement” makes up the content of this site, which includes an introduction, mission, and the overall aims, purposes, goals, and aspirations of the site. Theosophists considered to have made significant contributions to theosophy are featured, along with the precursors of theosophy.
http://www.wisdomworld.org/
