The Key to Theosophy / Being a Clear Exposition, in the Form of Question and Answer, of the Ethics, Science and Philosophy for the Study of Which the Theosophical Society Has Been Founded

SECTION I.	page
Theosophy and the Theosophical Society:
The Meaning of the Name	1
The Policy of the Theosophical Society	3
The Wisdom-Religion Esoteric in all Ages	5
Theosophy is not Buddhism	10
SECTION II.
Exoteric and Esoteric Theosophy:
What the Modern Theosophical Society is not	12
Theosophists and Members of the “T.S.”	15
The Difference between Theosophy and Occultism	19
The Difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism	21
Why is Theosophy accepted?	27
SECTION III.
The Working System of the T.S.:
The Objects of the Society	30
The Common Origin of Man	31
Our other Objects	36
On the Sacredness of the Pledge	37
SECTION IV.
The Relations of the Theosophical Society to Theosophy:
On Self-Improvement	40
The Abstract and the Concrete	43
SECTION V.
The Fundamental Teachings of Theosophy:
On God and Prayer	47
Is it Necessary to Pray?	50
Prayer Kills Self-Reliance	55
On the Source of the Human Soul	57
The Buddhist Teachings on the above	59
SECTION VI.
Theosophical Teachings as to Nature and Man:
The Unity of All in All	64
Evolution and Illusion	65
The Septenary Constitution of our Planet	67
The Septenary Nature of Man	69
The Distinction between Soul and Spirit	72
The Greek Teachings	75
SECTION VII.
On the Various Post-mortem States:
The Physical and the Spiritual Man	79
Our Eternal Reward and Punishment; and on Nirvana	85
On the Various “Principles” in Man	91
SECTION VIII.
On Re-incarnation or Rebirth:
What is Memory according to Theosophical Teaching?	96
Why do we not Remember our Past Lives?	99
On Individuality and Personality	104
On the Reward and Punishment of the Ego	107
SECTION IX.
On the Kama-Loka and Devachan:
On the Fate of the Lower “Principles”	112
Why Theosophists do not believe in the Return of Pure “Spirits”	114
A few Words about the Skandhas	120
On Post-mortem and Post-natal Consciousness	123
What is really meant by Annihilation	127
Definite Words for Definite Things	134
SECTION X.
On the Nature of our Thinking Principle:
The Mystery of the Ego	139
The Complex Nature of Manas	143
The Doctrine is Taught in St. John’s Gospel	146
SECTION XI.
On the Mysteries of Re-incarnation:
Periodical Rebirths	155
What is Karma?	158
Who are Those who Know?	170
The Difference between Faith and Knowledge;
or, Blind and Reasoned Faith	172
Has God the Right to Forgive?	176
SECTION XII.
What is Practical Theosophy?
Duty	180
The Relations of the T.S. to Political Reforms	183
On Self-Sacrifice	188
On Charity	192
Theosophy for the Masses	194
How Members can Help the Society	196
What a Theosophist ought not to do	197
SECTION XIII.
On the Misconceptions about the Theosophical Society:
Theosophy and Asceticism	204
Theosophy and Marriage	207
Theosophy and Education	208
Why, then, is there so much Prejudice against the T.S?	214
Is the Theosophical Society a Money-making Concern?	221
The Working Staff of the T.S.	225
SECTION XIV.
The “Theosophical Mahatmas”:
Are They “Spirits of Light” or “Goblins Damn’d”?	228
The Abuse of Sacred Names and Terms	237
CONCLUSION.
The Future of the Theosophical Society	241

PREFACE

The purpose of this book is exactly expressed in its title, “The Key to Theosophy,” and needs but few words of explanation. It is not a complete or exhaustive text-book of Theosophy, but only a key to unlock the door that leads to the deeper study. It traces the broad outlines of the Wisdom Religion, and explains its fundamental principles; meeting, at the same time, the various objections raised by the average Western enquirer, and endeavouring to present unfamiliar concepts in a form as simple and in language as clear as possible. That it should succeed in making Theosophy intelligible without mental effort on the part of the reader, would be too much to expect; but it is hoped that the obscurity still left is of the thought not of the language, is due to depth not to confusion. To the mentally lazy or obtuse, Theosophy must remain a riddle; for in the world mental as in the world spiritual each man must progress by his own efforts. The writer cannot do the reader’s thinking for him, nor would the latter be any the better off if such vicarious thought were possible. The need for such an exposition as the present has long been felt among those interested in the Theosophical Society and its work, and it is hoped that it will supply information, as free as possible from technicalities, to many whose attention has been awakened, but who, as yet, are merely puzzled and not convinced.

Some care has been taken in disentangling some part of what is true from what is false in Spiritualistic teachings as to the post-mortem life, and to showing the true nature of Spiritualistic phÆnomena. Previous explanations of a similar kind have drawn much wrath upon the writer’s devoted head; the Spiritualists, like too many others, preferring to believe what is pleasant rather than what is true, and becoming very angry with anyone who destroys an agreeable delusion. For the past year Theosophy has been the target for every poisoned arrow of Spiritualism, as though the possessors of a half truth felt more antagonism to the possessors of the whole truth than those who had no share to boast of.

Very hearty thanks are due from the author to many Theosophists who have sent suggestions and questions, or have otherwise contributed help during the writing of this book. The work will be the more useful for their aid, and that will be their best reward.

H. P. B.

THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY.

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