Theosophical society

In …through the activities of the Theosophical Society, one of whose leaders was the American Henry Olcott. The Sinhalese reformer Anagarika Dharmapala also exerted some influence, particularly through his work as one of the founders of the Mahabodhi Society, which focused its initial efforts on restoring Buddhist control of the pilgrimage… • Hinduism • In Another movement influenced in part by Hinduism is the Theosophical Society. Founded in New York City in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky of Russia, it was originally inspired by Kabbala (Jewish esoteric mysticism), gnosticism (esoteric salvatory knowledge), and forms of • history of new religious movements • In Esoteric groups—such as the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, and its many offshoots—integrated Indian philosophical and religious concepts into a synthesis that also drew on Western mysticism, Neoplatonism, Kabbala, religious monism, and communication with the spirit world. • influence on Pollock • In …also a member of the Theosophical Society, a sect that promoted metaphysical and occult spirituality. Schwankovsky gave Pollock some rudimentary training in drawing and painting, introduced him to advanced currents of European modern art, and encouraged his interest in theosophical literature. At this time Pollock, who had been raised an… • theosophy • In …with the founding of the Theosophical Society in New York City in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–91), Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907),...

Some Basic Concepts of Theosophy An Overview and The word theosophy has been used in the Occident for about 2,000 years to indicate knowledge of divine things or knowledge derived from insight and experience as well as intellectual study. It comes from the Greek theos (god, divinity) and sophia (wisdom), and means divine wisdom — wisdom concerning life from a standpoint of the divine consciousness which informs the universe. While the modern theosophical movement can be traced back to Blavatsky and her teachers, it is part of a spiritual movement as old as thinking humanity. Its philosophy is a contemporary presentation of a A primary idea is the essential oneness of all beings. Life is everywhere throughout the cosmos because all originates from the same unknowable divine source. Consequently, everything from the subatomic to plants, animals, humans, planets, stars, and galaxies is alive and evolving. Each is divine at its root and expresses itself through spiritual, intellectual, psychological, ethereal, and material ranges of consciousness and substance. Evolution reflects this emerging self-expression of faculties which differentiates into material forms; develops spiritual and conscious aspects; and, over cosmic time-periods, returns to the divine source. The life of the individual, of humanity, and of the entire earth is part of this cosmic process. Exhibiting this fundamental oneness, altruism and compassion are human expressions of cosmic and planetary realities. H...

History of The Theosophical Society In 1877, two years after forming The Theosophical Society, Blavatsky published her first major work, The Theosophist ( At that time, however, Blavatsky's fame in the West rested largely on published accounts of the paranormal phenomena she had produced privately over the years. In 1884 the Society for Psychical Research issued a report — since repudiated by that Society — declaring Blavatsky and her phenomena frauds. Gravely ill, Blavatsky moved to Europe, finally settling in London. There she published her masterwork, Lucifer ("lightbearer") and before her death in 1891 revitalized the theosophical work in the Occident. Over the last hundred years, the modern theosophical movement has divided into several separate organizations, each of which seeks to fulfill the Society's objectives in its own way and with its own emphasis. A few years after Blavatsky's death, the parent organization split into two: the Society following H. S. Olcott and Annie Besant which retained its international headquarters at Adyar, Madras, India (its Amer. Sec. became known as the TS in America); and the Society following W. Q. Judge, Vice President of the TS and General Secretary of its American Section, with international headquarters first in New York City and now in Pasadena. On Judge's death in 1896, On Katherine Tingley's death in 1929, The Secret Doctrine and other works. Shortly before his death, he moved the international headquarters to Covina, Califor...

Answer Theosophy is more of a philosophy of religion than a religion per se. The word theosophy comes from the Greek words theos “god” and sophia “wisdom”. Literally, theosophy means “divine wisdom.” The roots of this philosophy can be traced back to ancient Gnosticism, with borrowings from Greek philosophy and medieval mysticism. Modern theosophy also draws heavily on Hinduism. The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, a Russian-born spiritualist, and Henry Steel Olcott, an American lawyer and newspaperman. Three years later, they moved the international base of operations for the Theosophical Society to India. Theosophy teaches that all religions contain elements of the “Ancient Wisdom” and that wise men throughout history have held the secret of spiritual power. Those who have been enlightened by the divine wisdom can access a transcendent spiritual reality through mystical experience. Like In 1911, the Theosophical Society proclaimed the advent of a “World Teacher”—a young Hindu named Jiddu Krishnamurthi. Theosophists heralded this messianic character as the world’s hope of enlightenment, peace, and unity. However, a few years later, Krishnamurthi renounced his position as “World Teacher” and stopped claiming to be a messiah. Although theosophists contend that their philosophy is compatible with Christianity (and with Buddhism, Hinduism, and all other religions), it is clear that theosophy is at odds with the Bible. Not only...

Toward the later part of her life, Blavatsky worked tirelessly to write about and promote her teachings through the Theosophical Society. The Society was founded in 1875 in New York but was quickly expanded to India and then to Europe and the rest of United States. At its height, theosophy was quite popular—but by the end of the 20th century, only a few chapters of the Society remained. Theosophy is, however, closely aligned with the New Age religion and is the inspiration for many smaller spiritually-oriented groups. • Theosophy is an esoteric philosophy based on ancient religions and myths, particularly Buddhism. • Modern theosophy was founded by Helena Blavatsky, who wrote numerous books on the subject and co-founded the Theosophical Society in India, Europe, and the United State. • Members of the Theosophical Society believe in the oneness of all life and the brotherhood of all people. They also believe in mystical abilities such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and travel on the astral plane. Portrait of theosophy founder Helena Blavatsky. Hulton Archive / Getty Images In 1875, Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and a number of others formed the Theosophical Society in the United Kingdom. Two years later, she published a major book on theosophy called "Isis Unveiled" which described the "Ancient Wisdom" and Eastern philosophy on which her ideas were based. The organization ran into problems in 1884 as the result of a report published by the British Society ...

The word theosophy has been used in the Occident for about 2,000 years to indicate knowledge of divine things or knowledge derived from insight and experience as well as intellectual study. It comes from the Greek theos (god, divinity) and sophia (wisdom), and means divine wisdom — wisdom concerning life from a standpoint of the divine consciousness which informs the universe. While the modern theosophical movement can be traced back to Blavatsky and her teachers, it is part of a spiritual movement as old as thinking humanity. Its philosophy is a contemporary presentation of a perennial wisdom underlying the world’s religions, sciences, and philosophies. Theosophical concepts are not dogmas; only the ideas that have value need be accepted. Theosophical books are considered neither as revelation nor final authority, but as guides in the individual’s search. However, there are some basic concepts that theosophy brings to light. A primary idea is the essential oneness of all beings. Life is everywhere throughout the cosmos because all originates from the same unknowable divine source. Consequently, everything from the subatomic to plants, animals, humans, planets, stars, and galaxies is alive and evolving. Each is divine at its root and expresses itself through spiritual, intellectual, psychological, ethereal, and material ranges of consciousness and substance. Exhibiting this fundamental oneness, altruism and compassion are human expressions of cosmic and planetary realities...

theosophy, theosophy, theos (“god”) and sophia (“wisdom”), is generally understood to mean “divine wisdom.” Forms of this doctrine were held in antiquity by the Beliefs The various forms of theosophical speculation have certain common characteristics. The first is an emphasis on mystical experience. Theosophical writers hold that there is a deeper spiritual reality and that direct contact with that reality can be established through see History The contemporary theosophical movement was born with the founding of the William Quan Judge (1851–96). A Russian aristocrat, Blavatsky immigrated to the The Secret Doctrine, also in two volumes (1888), and other works that are recognized as classic expositions of theosophical doctrine. The basic goals of the Theosophical Society are enunciated in the so-called Three Objects: to form a nucleus of the In pursuing these objectives, the society has been a major Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Although the movement enjoyed some early success, it suffered after Blavatsky became the focus of a major controversy. She claimed to be in regular contact with a brotherhood of Great Masters, or Adepts, who, she asserted, had perfected themselves and were directing the spiritual evolution of humanity. In 1884 a former employee and confidant accused her of faking the extraordinary phenomena that accompanied the reception of some messages from the Masters. That claim was investigated by William Hodgson, a ...