Theosophical Encyclopedia

Fatalism

Details: Published: Friday, 21 June 2019 09:57

TE 8

The subject is bound up in the concept of KARMA. According to Theosophical theory, what one does at any particular time causes one’s future (environment, social situations, etc.), but does not pre-determine how one will respond to that future. While people very familiar with a particular person might be able to predict how he or she would react in any situation, that does not imply that the person is fated to act in that manner. It is a common observation that people often behave in unpredictable ways. In other words, karma may draw us to certain circumstances, but we are able to respond to them with free will, whether we actually do so or not. Some Hindus do interpret karma in a fatalistic manner, feeling that they ought not act to prevent something since it is that person’s karma to be in the situation.

Absolute Consciousness

Details: Published: Friday, 21 June 2019 09:57

TE 4 cosmos

The state of consciousness, which is beyond limitation, and hence is beyond the cognizer, cognition and cognized. It is thus a state of unconsciousness.

Blood

Details: Published: Friday, 21 June 2019 09:56

From immemorial times, blood has had great significance, ritually and esoterically. It has been used to imitate rain in rain-making ceremonies; smeared on the wood-work of houses to appease the tree spirits; used by magicians for evil purposes and so on. Religious fundamentalists such as Jehovah’s Witnesses forbid the “eating of blood” and its use for ritualistic purposes is frequently described in the Christian Holy Bible.

Dumb Races

Details: Published: Thursday, 20 June 2019 15:48

TE 6 50

According to Helena P. BLAVATSKY'S The Secret Doctrine, these are half-human entities who were produced by the mating of humans and animals during the Third Root Race.

Emily Lutyens, (nee Lytton) 1874-1964

Details: Published: Saturday, 20 April 2019 14:25

Rare photo: Lady Emily Lutyens and C. Jinarajadasa in New South Wales, Australia, around 1928

Prominent supporter of J. Krishnamurti and international lecturer for the Theosophical Society (TS). Lady Emily Lutyens was born in 1874, the daughter of Robert Lytton, a former Viceroy of India who became 1st Earl of Lytton. In 1897, she married Edwin Landseer Lutyens; it was a romantic marriage which served to enhance the career of her husband, an eminent architect.

Frits Kunz

Details: Published: Saturday, 20 April 2019 14:24

Prolific Theosophical writer and lecturer for the Theosophical Society (TS) in America. Kunz was born on May 16, 1888, in Freeport, Illinois, USA. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he was appointed Principal of Ananda College in Sri Lanka, occupying that post from 1914 to 1918. In 1918, Kunz went to Adyar and became manager of the Theosophical Publishing House.

Theurgy

Details: Published: Saturday, 20 April 2019 14:24

The practice of magical rituals to attain communion with the gods or beneficent spirits. Thomas Taylor called it “the art of divine works.” It comes from two Greek words, theoi, gods, and ergein, work, thus implying work of a divine nature or “work of the gods.”

Helena P. Blavatsky states that it was one of the three divisions of Eclectic Theosophy of Ammonius Saccas, the founder of Neoplatonism. The Neo-Platonists Iamblichus wrote of it extensively in his work, On the Mysteries. He states that the theurgist, “through the power of arcane signatures,” is able to command “mundane natures,” no longer as a human being, but like gods (p. 281, Thomas Taylor translation).