The changing world, and lectures to theosophical students. / Fifteen lectures delivered in London during May, June, and July, 1909

What should be the attitude of the theosophical student towards the inspired man or the inspired book? He should be receptive, stilling all his normal vibrations so far as is possible, and opening his whole nature to the impact and influx of the waves of vibration that pour forth upon him. But his attitude should be more than receptive: he should gently endeavour to attune himself and to co-operate with the inflowing waves. He should try to strengthen the sympathetic vibrations, so that the accompanying changes in consciousness may be as complete as possible. For this he must pour out to the inspiring Object his love, his trust, his complete confidence and self-surrender, for thus only can he attune his bodies into sympathy with those of the Inspirer. He must, for the time, empty himself of his own ideas, his own feelings, his own activities, surrendering himself to reproduce, not to initiate. As the unruffled lake can mirror the moon and the stars, but as that same lake rippled by a passing breeze can yield only broken reflexions, so may the lower being, steadying his mind, calming his desires, and imposing stillness on his activities, reproduce within himself the image of the higher, so may the disciples mirror the Master’s mind. And so, also, if his own thoughts spring up, his own desires arise, will he have but broken reflexions, dancing lights, that tell him nought.

If you are going to read one of the inspired books of the world—The Imitation of Christ; The Golden Verses of Pythagoras; The Light on the Paths; The Voice of the Silence—it is well to preface the reading with a prayer, if that be your habitual way of raising your consciousness to its highest mood, or with the repetition of a mantra, or the soft chanting of some familiar and beloved rhythm, in order to bring yourself into a sympathetic condition. Then read a phrase, re-read, brood over it, savour it mentally, suck out its essence, its life.

Thus shall your subtle body become, to some extent at least, attuned to that of the inspired writer, and repeating his vibrations, shall set up in your consciousness the corresponding changes. Priceless is the value of inspired books: they are steps of a ladder set up between earth and heaven, a veritable Jacob’s ladder, on which descend and ascend the angels of God.

There remains a third class of books worthy of the attention of the theosophical student, but towards which his attitude should be entirely different from those which he adopts towards the revealed and the inspired. These are books containing the observations of students more advanced than himself, observations carried on upon planes above the physical, observations made by students who are evolving in knowledge of, and in power on, those planes, and have not yet reached the stature of the Perfect Man. There are books such as The Secret Doctrine and Esoteric Buddhism, written by disciples, which are not records of the direct observations of students, but are rather transcriptions of the teachings of Masters, into which errors may creep by misunderstandings of those teachings. H. P. Blavatsky herself told us that there were inevitably errors in The Secret Doctrine; and as we have in that wonderful book her own descriptions of the pictures shown to her by her Master, there is an opening for possible errors of observation: these are probably not serious, as she was carefully overlooked and aided during the writing. These two books stand apart from the bulk of our literature, the Masters having been largely concerned in their production. The books I have in mind are those written by disciples, using their own normal faculties, faculties still in course of evolution; books relating chiefly to the astral, mental, and buddhic planes, to the constitution of man, to the past of individuals, nations, races, and worlds. We are gradually accumulating a large amount of literature of this kind, a literature of observations by students using superphysical faculties. With regard to this, certain things need to be borne in mind.

First: the students in question are in course of evolution, and the faculties of which they make use to-day, which have become their normal faculties, are more developed and reach higher planes than those which they used ten or fifteen years ago. Hence they see now very much more than they saw then, both in quantity and quality, and this enlarged sight must inevitably give reports differing in fulness from that of the earlier and narrower vision.

Secondly: this greater fulness will change relative proportions and perspective. A thing which seemed imposing and independent when seen alone, may become subordinate and comparatively insignificant when seen as a part of a larger whole. It may change form and colour, seen with surroundings which become visible only when it is looked at with a higher vision. That which was a globe, sailing through space, to the physical eye, becomes the free end of a continuous body, materially attached to the sun, when seen with superphysical sight. Was it false to describe it a globe? Yes, and no.

It was and is a globe on the physical plane, answering to all that is meant by a globe down here. In subtler regions it is not a globe, but a body, the tip of which is a globe only to gross vision, vision to which its continuation is invisible.

Thirdly: the keener vision detects intermediate stages before unseen, and shows a series of changes between two which, to the less acute sight, were in immediate sequence. Thus, in the earlier observations, it was said that the ultimate physical atom broke up into astral matter. When a similar phenomenon is studied twelve years later, it is seen that the physical atom breaks up into an immense number of inconceivably minute particles, and that these immediately group themselves into forty-nine astral atoms, which may or may not, again, combine into astral molecules. Again, a whirling wall was mentioned: keener vision sees no wall, but an illusory enclosure, caused by rapid motion, like the fiery circle traced by a whirling fire-tipped stick. So, in the continuous light of gas or electricity, a whirling disk of black and white rays shows grey; put out the lights, and let the darkness be rent by a lightning-flash, the disk hangs motionless, every black and white ray distinct. Which is the true observation? The eye in each case bears true witness to what it sees. The different conditions impose upon it different visions.

Other differences also arise, but these may serve as samples. Are, then, books relating to observations useless? They only become useless, even mischievous, when the theosophical student treats them as revelations or inspirations instead of as observations. Observation is the basis of scientific knowledge; the correction of earlier observations by later ones is the condition of scientific progress. The student of optics, when confronted with the black-and-white rayed disk, the grey disk, the whirling disk hanging motionless, does not conclude that the conflicting observations make observations useless. He searches for and finds the conditions of light, of the constitution of the eye, which explain the equally true though contradictory reports. He submits the observations to renewed experiment and to the scrutiny of reason, until from the contradictions emerges the many-sided truth.

What should be the attitude of the theosophical student to books of observations? To all such books you must take up the attitude of the scientific student, not of the believer. You must bring to bear upon them a bright intelligence, a keen mind, an eager intellect, a thoughtful and critical reason. You must not accept as final, observations made by other students, even though those students are using faculties which you yourselves have not as yet developed. You should accept them only for what they are—observations liable to modification, to correction, to reviewal. You should hold them with a light grasp, as hypotheses temporarily accepted until confirmed or negated by further observations, including your own. If they illuminate obscurities, if they conduce to sound morality, take them and use them; but never let them become fetters to your mind, gaolers of your thought. Study these books, but do not swallow them; understand them, but hold your judgment in suspense: these books are useful servants but dangerous masters; they are to be studied, not worshipped. Make your own opinions, do not borrow those of others; do not be in such a hurry to know that you accept other people’s knowledge, for ready-made opinions, like ready-made clothes, are neither well-fitting nor becoming.

There is a dangerous tendency in the Theosophical Society to make books of observations authoritative instead of using them as materials for study. We must not add to the number of blind believers who already exist, but to the number of sane and sober students, who patiently form their own opinions and educate their own faculties. Use your own judgment on every observation submitted to you; examine it as thoroughly as possible; criticise it as fully as you can. It is a poor service you do us when you turn students into popes, and, parrot-like, repeat as authoritative, statements that you do not know to be true. Moreover, blind belief is the road to equally blind scepticism: you place a student on a pedestal and loudly proclaim him to be a prophet, despite his protests; and then, when you find he has made some mistake, as he warned you was likely, you turn round, pull him down, and trample on him. You belabour him when you should belabour your own blindness, your own stupidity, your own anxiety to believe.

Is it not time that we should cease to be children, and begin to be men and women, realising the greatness of our opportunities and the smallness of our achievements? It is not time to offer to Truth the homage of study instead of that of blind credulity? Let us ever be ready to correct a mistaken impression or an imperfect observation, to walk with open eyes and mind alert, remembering that the best service to Truth is examination. Truth is a sun, shining by its own light; once seen, it cannot be rejected. “Let Truth and falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a fair encounter?”

TOPICAL INDEX
TO
THE CHANGING WORLD

BY
ANNIE BESANT

ARRANGED BY THE
CHICAGO LODGE, T.S.
FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS

Copyright 1910 by
THEOSOPHICAL BOOK CONCERN
26 Van Buren Street, CHICAGO

INDEX

• A
• Abbas Effendi, spiritual teacher and prophet, 150
• Adept, mark of, 231
• standard of, at Shamballah, 294, 295
• (see Masters of Wisdom, also Manu).
• Ākāshic records, contain original revelations, 321
• Age, signs of closing, 3
• in religion, 7-16
• in science, 16-21
• in art, 21-24
• in social conditions, 27-46
• transitional, 4, 5, 149, 150
• signs of opening, in religion, 54-63
• in science, 63-70
• in art, 70-74
• in social conditions, 75-102
• America, social conditions in, 34, 35, 36
• Ancient Wisdom, a great river, 285
• truths of, Theosophy, 183
• religion traced to universal, 190
• Angels, and Archangels, 137, 191, 271
• disappearance of the teaching, 271
• Archaeology (see comparative Mythology), 113, 188, 189
• Archangels (see Angels).
• Aristotle, 107
• Art, beauty a necessity, 21, 22
• in India, 21, 22
• imitative, not creative, 23
• new, created by new senses, 70, 77
• colour and sound, coloured sounds, 70, 72, 73
• reaches out by emotion, 73
• colour and emotion, sound and emotion, 70, 71, 72, 73
• and Theosophy in the coming civilization, 200, 201, 202
• restoration of, a necessity, 201
• is beauty, not common place, 202
• Artist, the, priest of the beautiful, 202
• Aryan Race, fifth root race, 3
• ideal type of, 116
• to develop mind, 118
• greatest development of mind, 118
• sub-races of, 137, 138, 212, 213
• fourth sub-race, emotional, 184
• fifth sub-race, 214, 215
• characteristics, 217, 218
• dominant note, 184
• selection of stock for and development of, 229, 230
• Astral aura (see Aura).
• Astral body of next race, 53, 54
• organized under pressure of thought, 124
• activity of its sense organs, 125
• its senses and psychism, 125
• and the pituitary body, 125
• vibrations and emotions in, 167
• organization of, 170, 172, 173, 174
• and dreams, 175
• unifying with physical, 176
• false methods of organization, 177, 178
• organized by meditation and purity of life, 178, 179
• Astral colours (see Colours).
• Astral senses, 51, 53, 57, 58, 59
• effect of development, 60-63
• builders of new art, 70, 73
• methods of development (see astral body), 177-179
• Atlantean Race, the fourth, predominant traits, 114, 211
• source of the fifth root race, 115, 210
• fourth sub-race of, the Toltec, 115
• fifth sub-race of, the Semitic, 115, 230, 231
• new root race, 115, 211
• chosen from, 115, 211
• developed mind, 211
• Atlantis, continent of, 113
• Atom and science in the West, 17
• the chemical, our power of seeing, 64
• experiments in seeing (see Clairvoyance), 64, 65
• vibrations of, and consciousness of the Logos, 165
• physical, earlier and later observations compared, 330
• Atonement, vicarious, 148
• Aura, colours of the astral, 166
• colours of, and consciousness, 166
• vibrations of, and consciousness, 167, 168
• Australia, social condition in, 37-41
• Avatāra, description of, 133, 134, 135
• Aztecs (see Mythology), 113, 189
• B
• Bāb, messenger in Persia of coming Christ, 150
• Baptism, a sacrament (see Sacraments), 266, 267
• marked incoming of the Christ (see Christ), 306
• Beauty, a necessity, 21, 22
• human, finest type of, 116, 117
• what it means, 201
• theosophy teaches reverence for, 201
• in ancient Greece, 193, 203
• an essential part of utility, 224
• Besant, Annie, joined Society in 1887, 228
• facts re-communicated to her in 1895, 229
• referred to as temporary personality, 258
• her opponents, 259
• and H. P. B., 290
• her message to the T. S., 296
• Bhagavad-Gītā, referred to, 279
• quoted, 280, 282
• on scriptures and the enlightened man, 319
• Bibles, of the race, testimony of, 156, 157
• Birmingham, 201
• Blavatsky, H. P., practical proof of Brotherhood, 26, 27
• on socialism, 44
• and “The Secret Doctrine”, 209
• referred to, 26, 227
• disciple of Master M., 228
• and inner side of T. S., 234
• tribute to, on White Lotus Day, 1909, 282, 283, 284
• her return, 286, 287
• her endeavor frustrated, 288
• a messenger of the Masters, 290
• and Mrs. Besant, 290
• and errors in secret Doctrine, 328
• Bodies, evolution of, 49, 52, 54
• the instruments of higher consciousness, 155
• natural, triple differentiation, 162
• spiritual and natural, 163
• spiritual, 163
• physical, organization of, 169, 170
• subtle, organization of, 170
• mental, organization of, 171
• spiritual, organization of, 172
• signs of organization of astral (see Telepathy, also Dreams), 173
• astral, organization of, 170, 171, 172, 173
• unifying physical and astral, 176
• departments of man’s nature, 211
• of sixth sub-race, 222
• value of scientific way of dealing with (see Pituitary Body, also Astral), 268
• Body, human, of Jesus, 147
• Books, and the Theosophical Student, 318
• revealed, 321
• inspired, 327
• of observations, 328, 329, 330
• when useless or mischievous, 331
• Brotherhood, H. P. B.’s example of, 27
• showing itself, 45
• applied to social conditions, 75
• not equality, 75, 76, 77
• societies which recognize, 77
• and reincarnation, 78, 79, 80
• karma, 81
• religion, 83, 84, 85
• family and state, 78, 86, 87, 88
• and education, 82, 89
• capital punishment, 95
• economics, 97, 98, 99, 100
• politics, 101, 102
• of religions, 237
• mightiest thing in all the world, 242
• chosen by Masters as our mark, 243
• Bodhisattva, the supreme teacher, 137
• manifests in every sub-race, 137
• last manifestation as the Christ, 149
• will again appear, 149
• (see Hermes, Zarathustra, Orpheus)
• Buddha, Wisdom-Truth.
• spiritual man, 118
• “The Enlightened”, 135
• one in every Root race, 135
• the, belongs to our race, 136
• Gautama, last manifestation, 136
• former manifestations in Aryan race, 136
• passed on, Son united with Father, 142
• Buddhi, qualities of, (see Christ), 241
• Buddhism, revived in Ceylon, 236
• Buddhists, their intellectual freedom, 319-320
• C
• Catholic Spirit, emotional temperament, 245
• definition of, 252
• its mind teachable, 253
• Catholic Spirit, easily lead along path of Occultism, 253
• and Mysticism, 253
• type of, responds to idea of Masters, 254
• and Occultism, 255-256
• the Leadbeater question, 257-258
• Chaldæa, 189
• Christ, the time of birth (see Rome), 4, 5
• “Jesus or Christ” (see Hibbert Journal), 10, 11, 147, 298, 299
• type of spiritual man, 118
• supreme teacher of fifth sub-race, 142, 143
• the Divine Power, the Spirit of God, 147
• signs of His coming, 148, 149
• looked for by occult world, 151
• shall we recognize Him, 151, 152, 153, 292
• characteristics of, 152, 153
• The Wisdom, 160
• words of, 222
• the Mystic, emblem of self-sacrifice, 238
• showed new type to fifth sub-race, 241
• will show qualities of Buddhi, 241
• His reception and treatment, 288
• “Christ in Modern Theology”, 299
• time of His coming, 291
• His powers, 303
• unfolding of in Man, 305
• and Jesus, relation between, 305
• view taken of Him by occultists, 305
• His incoming marked by Baptism (see Baptism), 306
• the, who is He?, 307
• the world teacher, 309
• not Jesus, founder of Christianity, 312
• not a unique manifestation, 313
• will again be manifest, 313
• Christos, office of, 143
• the anointed one, 144
• grade of initiation in Mysteries, 144, 307
• Christian life, mystic, 148
• Christians Commonwealth, 183
• Christianity, early days of, 145
• mysteries in, 145
• and comparative Mythology, 189
• keynote in, 193
• mystical, spreading, 236
• should give idea of self-sacrifice, 238
• how to preserve it, 239, 240
• and revealed Scriptures, 320
• Church, the early, and the Gnostics, 145
• the early, and the Mysteries, 263
• Anglican, referred to, 272
• Guilds of healing in, 273
• must ever give sacraments, 277
• Civilizations, of the past—perished, 27-28
• of men, a succession is observed, 184
• the coming prevailing mark spirituality, 184
• and Brotherhood, 185
• religion in coming, 184-185
• Clairvoyance, under hypnotism (see Röntgen rays), 67, 57, 58
• slight, seeing atom, 64
• Aura, 165-166
• Clairvoyant vision of sacrament, 269
• Clement of Alexandria (see St. Clement)
• Colour, new, given by new senses, 70
• new, to indicate higher emotions, 70
• Astral, seen by some painters (see Mortimer Menpes), 71
• and sound, coloured sounds, 73
• in Astral aura, 166
• each religion has its, 192
• Comparative Mythology (see Mythology)
• Conscience must be enlightened, 13
• and matter, development of, 52
• human, 69, 74
• and correspondences, 104
• evolution of, three stages, 106-107
• first dawn of, will to live, 109
• second, of emotions, 110
• third, power of mind, 110
• coming type of, 118
• mark of, in coming race, 119-120
• higher, and flesh and alcohol, 124
• unfoldment stimulated by meditation, 127, 176
• purity, 178
• of Logos, Great Beings in, 133
• the larger, 155
• and bodies, 155
• higher, evidence of, 156-157
• threefold division in man (see St. Paul), 159
• waking the, 159-162
• and form, relation between, 165
• of Logos and atomic vibrations, 165
• signs of unfolding, 172
• man dominated by, 184
• next principle to unfold, 184
• unfolding taught in every religion, 191
• and vibrations of matter,  325
• Correspondences, principle of, 104
• used by Mystics, 104
• science, 104
• Swedenborg, 104
• theory of, used to explain past and forecast future, 104-107
• and embryology, 106
• in evolutionary stages, 106
• Cortez, 189
• Coulomb Plot, 283
• Crime (see Penology)
• Cromwell, Oliver, and Charles I. (see Puritan Spirit), 246
• example of Puritan Mystic (see Reformation), 254
• D
• Damodar, tribute to, 286
• his return, 289
• Deduction in ancient philosophies, 107
• and the science of mathematics, 107
• characteristic of the Platonic method, 107
• explains past and forecasts the future, 108, 110
• used by Occult Science, 108
• later stages of evolution traced by, 111
• and reincarnation, 111
• Desire and will, 161
• determined by attractions outside (see Emotions), 161
• Devāpi, sketch of, 227
• Bodhisattva of the sixth race, 228
• Devas, 137
• drawn to altars of sacraments, 271
• Dreams, physical, 175
• show organization of Astral body, 175
• E
• Economics, conditions in England, 97, 98
• in Australia, 99
• and Brotherhood, 97, 98, 99, 100
• problems solved by whom (see Social Conditions) (see Supply and Demand), 100, 101
• Education, and morals, 12
• in the Old Testament, 14
• and religion, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 86
• social problems, 82, 86, 87, 88
• Brotherhood, 82-89
• in play, 88, 89
• religious, in peril in England, 238
• in India, influence, of Theos. Soc., 239
• Egypt, ancient, compared with Southern Mexico, 113
• Book of the Dead (see Comparative Mythology), 189
• religious keynote, knowledge, 193
• Emotions, colour and sound, 70, 71, 72
• art reaches out by, 73
• Wisdom-Love reflected as emotions, 109, 110
• fourth root-race (see Atlantean), 114
• root of, 161
• science of (see Science of Emotions by Bhagavān Dās), 167, 168
• dominant note of Keltic sub-race (see Aryan), 184
• Epistles, the, deal with an indwelling Spirit (see Christ, also St. Paul), 147, 304
• Esoteric Buddhism and the Masters, 328, 329
• Evolution, slow course of, 3
• of Divine germ, 48, 49
• of bodies and senses, 49
• of new race, 114, 115, 116
• of nervous system, 121
• higher, and environments, 121
• hastening, by meditation, 126, 127
• of consciousness into Divine Man, 191
• human not at the top of, 240
• goal of, a manifest Divine humanity, 304
• F
• Fairbairn, Doctor, on “Christ in Modern Theology”, 299
• issue not well taken, 300, 301
• G
• Garibaldi, referred to, 82
• Gautama Buddha (see Bodhisattva), 141
• Genius, 172
• Germany attained national unity, 81
• Glasgow, 201
• Gnosis, ancient (see Theosophy), 185
• Gnostics, necessary in Christian Church (see Origen), 145
• Gnostic, heresy, 306
• God, extra cosmic, 9
• immanent, 10
• spiritual knowledge of, how reached, 55
• “The kingdom of God is within you”, 55
• existence of, how demonstrated, 9, 55, 56, 57
• manifesting triple nature (Trinity), 159
• consciousness of, and vibration of atom, 165
• unity of, taught in every religion, 190
• in manifestation ever triple, 190
• vast family of, 191
• how we may help, to manifest, 294
• Gospels, the, deal with an historical person (see Christ), 147, 304
• Goths, 117, 214
• Grail (see Holy Grail).
• Greece, keynote of religion, beauty, 193
• ancient, beauty in, 203
• H
• Haeckel, 113
• Hebrew people, 211
• and the Founder of Christianity, 303
• Hermes, the Thrice Greatest (see Bodhisattva), 138
• Hibbert Journal, article “Jesus or Christ”, 10, 11, 298, 299
• “Christ in Modern Theology”, 299
• Hierarchies, recognized by Masons and by Theosophists, 77
• based on Brotherhood of Man, 78
• of superhuman beings, rank in, 132
• of spiritual intelligences, 191
• not known to Protestants, 271
• and apostolic succession, 272
• Hindūism, a text book of, 83, 84
• revived, 236
• its two great teachings, 193, 238
• and secular education, 238, 239
• sacraments numerous in, 262
• all great actions are sacramental, 274
• and the Veda (see Veda), 318
• in a nutshell, 319
• and freedom of intellect, 318, 319
• Historical sense in East and West contrasted, 139, 140
• Holy Grail, legend of, the Mysteries and Yoga, 275
• and the Ancient Path, 275
• inner meaning, 276
• connection with Christian Sacrament (see Sacraments), 277
• Humanity, submerged classes of, 28, 29, 30
• deterioration of physique, 32, 33
• stunted and deformed (see Social Conditions), 201
• Human nature changing, 43, 44, 80
• changed by thought, 81
• great ideals (see Mind), 82
• Hypnotism used by physicians (see Science), 67
• Hysteria, how produced (see Nervous System), 199
• I
• India, art in life of, 21, 22
• social conditions in, 28, 29
• Burmans, illustrate sense development, 50
• music of, 72
• the caste system, 79
• religion of, 83, 84
• Kashmir type of Aryan, 116, 117
• false method of developing consciousness, 177, 178
• the Yogi in, 199, 200
• a mighty past and a mighty future, 212
• White Lotus Day, memorial services in, 279
• Induction and science, 107
• limited to observed facts, 107
• Initiates and inner revelation, 276
• Initiations reflected in Mysteries, 143
• of the Hierarchy, 144
• Inspiration, what is it?, 322
• and revelation, 322, 324
• lower, within experience of many, 323
• and the Masters, 324
• in writing and speaking, 324
• and true mediumship, 324
• process of, simple, 325
• through companionship, 326
• through books, 326
• Inspirational reading and meditation, 326
• Inspired books, 327
• men and books and the Theosophical student, 327
• Intellectual growth, condition of, complete freedom, 301
• and spiritual unfolding, 303
• Intuition, above concrete mind, 290
• light of spirit within, 289, 290
• must be developed by Theosophists, 290
• Iranians, 213
• Ireland, people belong to fourth sub-race of Aryan, 212
• kept apart, 213
• Keltic race highly emotional, 184
• Italy obtained national unity, 81, 82
• J
• Jesus, mysteries of (see St. Clement), 146
• and Christ, 147
• divinity of, 304
• quoted, 304
• and Christ, relation between, 305
• to guard pure body for the Christ, 305
• stepped out of body, 306
• and Christ, view held in early Church, 307
• the Master, guide of Christian Church, 310
• still dwelling in human body, 310
• possibility of personal relation with, 310
• His work in the world, 312
• Judge, W. Q., secession, 283
• tribute to, on White Lotus Day, 1909, 285
• K
• Karma, and brotherhood, 81
• human nature, 81
• reincarnation, 81
• law of, inviolable sequence, 81
• law of, 221, 222
• paid in this life (see Dr. Pascal), 281
• belief in, 284
• Keltic, fourth sub-race of the Aryan root-race, 140
• Orpheus leader of (see Races, also Aryan), 140, 141
• Kings, Moru and Devāpi (see Masters of Wisdom), 227
• L
• Law, universal, 191, 192
• one eternal, taught by Christ and Buddha, 194
• natural law does not change, 198, 199
• Leadbeater, C. W. L., and the Catholic and Puritan spirit, 257
• a transitory personality, 258
• cause of great shaking of T. S., 260
• Lemuria, lost continent of, 113
• Lemurian, third root-race, characteristics of (see Races), 113
• Light of Asia, 279
• Lodge, Great, of the Masters, source of wisdom, 285
• the, its messengers, 296
• London, conditions of living in, 122, 123
• life contrasted with country life, 123
• Love, wisdom expresses itself as, 161
• M
• Mahdi, in Africa, 150
• Man, divine, 45, 46
• a spiritual intelligence, 48
• the real spiritual individuality of, 163
• dominated by consciousness, 184
• spiritual, mark of, 118, 119
• nature of, 211
• can achieve all things, 204
• is growing Godlike, 204
• constitution of, and sacraments, 264, 265
• body of, and Protestantism, 265
• the spiritual, will know spiritual men, 292
• God in, help the God to manifest, 294
• a spiritual being in whom Divine Spirit will unfold, 302
• spiritual nature to unfold along three lines, 302
• Manchester, 201
• Mantra, words of Power, 267, 268, 269
• and experiments of Tyndall, 267
• sound as used in, 267
• use of, in Greek Church, 268
• Manu, the thinker, 210
• evolves race, 210
• chooses type, 211
• guide of root-race, 229
• type of race, 229
• of fifth root-race, his work, 229, 230
• Masons, fraternity of, 77
• Masters of Wisdom, 180
• their teachings withdrawn, 148
• Brotherhood of Teachers, 187
• preside over human evolution, 192
• two related to Theos. Soc., 226, 227
• Kings, Moru and Devāpi, 227
• and their pupils, 256, 257
• quoted, “the standard of the adept”, 294, 295
• how to know a Master, 293
• their way of working in world, 311
• the uplift of their presence, 324
• and inspiration, 324
• The Secret Doctrine, 328, 329
• Esoteric Buddhism, 328, 329
• Matter appropriated by spirit, 164
• Deity manifest in, 164
• spirit master of, 165
• and spirit, relation between, 165
• power over, 68, 69, 168, 169
• vibrations of, and consciousness, 325
• Mazzini, 221
• Medicine, deadlock in, 19, 20, 21
• hypnotism and clairvoyance used by physicians, 67
• and vivisection (see Clairvoyance), 67
• power of mind in treatment of disease, 68
• Meditation, concentrated thinking, 58
• artificially awakens senses, 59, 60
• quickens evolution, 126, 127
• three stages of, 127
• stimulates unfolding consciousness, 127
• develops instrument used in unfolding consciousness, 176
• used for organization of finer bodies, 199
• and inspiration, 326
• Menpes, Mortimer, description of painting, 71
• Mexico, 189
• Mill, J. S., 240
• Miller, Dr., 238
• Mind, creates and restores, 68
• supremacy over matter, 68, 69
• characteristic of Teutonic sub-race (see Aryan), 118
• Moral Educational Congress, 238
• Moru, sketch of life, 227
• letter quoted, 227, 228
• Manu of sixth root-race, 228
• co-operates with Manu of fifth root-race, 233
• has begun His work, keynote brotherhood, 233, 234
• Music, the new, 72
• of India, 72
• Russia, 73
• every religion has note of its own, 192
• Myer’s book on Human Personality, 175
• Mysteries, Orphic, 140, 141
• Greek thought in, 143
• Christos, grade of, 143
• reflexions of initiations, 143, 144
• of Jesus (see St. Clement of Alexandria), 146
• of Kingdom of God, 146
• in early church, 263
• followed by legend of the Holy Grail, 275
• of Jesus took place of Yoga in Hindūism, 275
• Mysticism and Puritan and Catholic spirit, 253
• Mystic Puritan, example in Cromwell, 254
• Mythology, comparative, 8, 188, 189
• and dogmatic Christianity, 189
• comparative religion, 190
• N
• Nerves, sensory and motor, 169
• Nervous system, of fourth and fifth races compared, 52
• increase of nervous diseases, 53
• of sixth sub-race, 53, 222, 223
• evolved according to law, 60
• changing type unstable, 120
• greater tension causes madness (see Psychology), 121
• its finer evolution, conditions impossible, 121
• delicate type of, 121, 122
• in coming race, 121, 122, 123
• flesh food unsuited to finer type, 124
• of Chinese and Japanese compared with Aryan, 222, 223
• Nineveh, 189
• O
• Observation, basis of scientific knowledge, 331
• Occultism and the Catholic spirit, 253
• in the church, 263
• Occultist, possibility of, in Catholic type, 254, 255
• not found in Puritan type, 255
• must be willing to learn by experience, 256
• develops faculties in doing Master’s will, 256, 257
• and the mantra, 267
• records of revelations accessible to him only, 321
• Olcott, Col. H. S., referred to as founder of T. S., 228
• the President Founder, tribute to, 282
• Old Testament in education, 14
• Origen’s writings, 145, 146, 147
• Orpheus, leader of fourth sub-race (see Bodhisattva), 140, 141
• P
• Parsīs, 213
• Pascal, Doctor, tribute to, 281
• Path, the, 275, 276, 277
• Penology, criminal population, 33, 34
• criminals and their treatment, 89-91
• habitual criminals, 92
• probation system, 94, 95
• capital punishment, 95, 96
• criminal of lopsided development, 91
• prison labor, 92, 93
• Periods, the present a transitional, 4, 5
• related to Mighty Beings, 133, 134
• four great world, 133
• Persia, keynote of religion purity, 193
• Persians, 212
• Philosophy, Hindū, and the Vedas, 318
• Pituitary Body, use of, development of, 125
• affected by flesh and alcohol, 125, 126, 197, 198
• connecting link between grosser and finer senses, 51, 196
• Plato, his philosophy, 107
• Politics, liberty and the franchise, 101
• class legislation in England, 101
• liberty, 101, 102
• freedom and self-control, 102
• Protestant, knows nothing of hierarchy, 271
• Protestantism, its attitude towards physical body, 265
• and materialism, 265
• recognizes two sacraments only, 272
• Psychic, low grade of intelligence in undeveloped, 115
• qualities developed before lower mind, 230
• Psychism, powers of, where found, 114
• higher, how produced (see Astral Body), 125
• Psychology, new, the, 18, 19
• range of possibilities (see Nervous System), 69, 70
• soul in relation to spirit (see Soul), 160
• Purānas, 226, 227
• Puritan Spirit and intellectual temperament, 245
• value of, 245, 246
• in reign of Charles First and Cromwell, 246
• Charles Second, 246
• description of, 247, 248
• outburst of, necessary, 248
• and intellectual development of man, 249
• growth of, and loss of the spiritual, 250, 251
• in Theosophical Society, 251, 252
• and lofty form of Mysticism, 253, 254
• Occultism, 255-257
• the Leadbeater question, 257, 258
• R
• Races, root and sub, 1, 2
• religion of, 235
• and senses, 49, 50
• choice of new, 210
• fourth and sixth, closely interlinked, 213
• Lemurian, dominant characteristics of, 113
• Atlantean (see also Atlantean), 113
• passion and lower psychism of, 114
• characteristics of Semitic sub-race, 115, 230
• highest civilization in Toltec, 115, 230
• Aryan (see also Aryan), 3
• source of, 229, 230
• second sub, Hermes leader of, 138
• third sub, Zarathustra leader of, 140
• fourth sub, Orpheus leader of, 140, 141
• interlinked with sixth sub, 213
• reached its zenith, 214
• fifth sub, the Christ leader of, 142, 143
• characteristics of, 151, 152
• sixth sub, physical characteristics, 53, 222
• mental and emotional characteristics, 152, 154, 232
• general characteristics, 215, 216, 217
• interlinked with fourth sub, 213
• candidature for, 222
• the coming, source of, 215
• type of, 117-119
• body of, 120-121
• consciousness of, 119-120
• preparation for, 127-130
• religion and civilization of, 130, 131
• candidature for, 215
• Reason, irrational or enlightened, 13
• unstable condition of, 120
• and madness, 121
• the pure and compassionate, the Wisdom, the Christ in man, 160
• the pure and compassionate, shows itself in lower world as love, 161
• Reflexion, principle of, 108, 109, 110
• of the Great Will, 109
• Wisdom Love, 110
• Creative Spirit, 110
• the law of, and correspondences, 110
• Reformation, the, 250
• reaction from the (see Puritan Spirit, also Cromwell), 263
• the, and Occult mantras, 268
• Reincarnation and brotherhood, 78-80
• karma, 81
• necessary to theory of reflexions, 111, 112
• and unfolding consciousness, 191
• the fact widely accepted, 237
• belief in, 284
• Religion, difficulties of, in the west, 6-9
• and education, 12-16, 86, 238, 239
• brotherhood, 83, 237
• a search after God, 55
• in India (see also India), 83, 84
• universal text book of, 85, 86
• great teachers of, their spiritual qualities, 118
• coming race builder of a universal, 130
• founders of, 187
• and disciples, 263
• source of great spiritual impulses, 187, 188
• comparative (see Ancient Wisdom), 190
• doctrines taught by every, 190-192
• each, has its note and colour, 192
• in Egypt, India, Persia, Greece, Rome, 193
• each sub-race has a special, 235
• of the future, 235-236
• Christian Church broadening, 236
• mystical Christianity spreading, 237
• problem of, 265
• Protestantism and the body, 265
• spirituality and the lower world, 266
• all recognize a great world teacher, 308, 309
• draw together in the Supreme Teacher, 312
• Revelation and the Self, 319
• Buddhist, 319
• authoritative nature of, in Christian and Muhammadan faiths, 320
• defined, 320
• source, 320
• method of recording, 320
• attitude of Theosophical student toward, 321
• must be affirmed by the Spirit within, 322
• Roberts, Dr. (see Hibbert Journal), 298, 299
• view not sound and why, 299, 300, 301
• Rome, closing age of, 4, 5
• social conditions, 27
• mighty, 214
• religious note of, law, 193
• Roman, type of, and Goth, 117
• Roman Catholic Church and higher criticism, 7
• Ireland, 214
• the mystic spirit in, 236
• attitude toward Theosophy, 263
• use of mantra in, 268, 269
• Sacrament of Holy Orders in, 272
• use of sacramental oil, 273-274
• reference to its Priesthood, 263
• Röntgen rays (see Clairvoyance), 67
• S
• Sacraments, found in all great religions, 262
• their object, 262, 266
• in Hindūism, 262, 274
• Roman Catholic Church, 263
• definition of, 264
• and constitution of man, 264, 265
• Baptism, 266, 267
• Holy Communion, 269
• transubstantiation explained, 269, 270
• from material standpoint, 270, 271
• and materialism, 271
• and Apostolic Succession, 272
• Confirmation, 273
• Penance, 273
• Matrimony, 273
• Extreme Unction, 273
• and daily life, 274
• must be given by church, 277
• Sacrifice and discipleship (see Self-sacrifice), 179, 180
• Saint, where found, definition of, 274
• his Master and himself as disciple, 311
• Saint Clement of Alexandria, writings, 145
• “Mysteries of Jesus”, 146
• St. Paul, writings on the Mystic Christ, 147
• nature of man, 157, 158
• soul, 160
• definition of man, 162
• birth of Divine Spirit in the Soul, 304, 305
• Schuré, writings on mystical idea in Wagner (see Grail), 275
• Science, in west, 17, 18
• and ether, etheric sight, 63, 64, 65
• chemistry founded on direct observation, 66
• bounds of, extended, 66
• hypnotism and clairvoyance used by physicians, 67
• direct vision and vivisection, 67
• geology and evolution, 106
• and principle of correspondences, 104, 105, 106
• induction and deduction, 107, 108, 110, 112
• deduction and reincarnation, 111
• in coming civilization, 194, 195
• and Theosophy in coming civilization, 195, 196
• Science of the Emotions, by Bhagavān Dās, 168
• Scientific observation, 17, 18, 63, 331
• progress depends on correct observation, 331
• Scriptures, authoritative, back of all great religions, 318
• and the enlightened man, 319
• revealed, in Christianity, 320
• Secret Doctrine, The, by H. P. Blavatsky, 209
• possibility of errors in, 328
• record of teachings of Masters, 328, 329
• Self-sacrifice, keynote in Christianity, 193
• and social redemption, 203
• the basis of the coming civilization, 204
• religion and civilization, 205
• Senses, evolution of, in races, 49, 50, 51
• new organs of, in sixth sub-race, 51, 53, 57, 58
• artificially awakened by meditation, 59, 178, 179
• astral, effect of development, 60-63
• new, builders of new art, 70, 73
• Sex-inferiority (see Woman Labor), 11
• Sheffield, description of, 200
• Sir William Crookes, on vibrations, 63
• Social conditions, present, intolerable, 26
• contrast of luxury and misery, 27
• submerged classes, 28, 29, 30
• physique, its deterioration, 32, 33, 201
• multiplication of criminal population, 33, 34
• in America, 34, 35, 36
• Australia, 37-41
• unemployed, 39, 40
• trades unions in Melbourne, 41
• competition replaced by co-operation, 42
• woman labor, 29, 30, 31, 99, 100
• Socialism, H. P. B. on, 44
• Society and Theosophy, in coming civilization, 203
• its redemption through self-sacrifice, 203
• Soul, difference in age, the caste system, 79
• the old and the young, 79, 80, 89, 90
• lopsided development, 91
• the young, its treatment, 92, 93
• in relation to spirit, 160, 161
• represented by three attributes, 161, 162
• in temporary body, changed, 163
• Sound, the music of the future, 72
• and colour and emotion (see Senses, Vibration, Mantra, Tyndall), 73
• Spirit only can know Him, 55
• God in innermost depths of, 56
• architect of human body, 74
• higher qualities of, for coming race, 119
• of the Christ, develop in yourselves, 154
• definition of, 159
• triple nature of, 159
• in relation to soul, 158-160
• spiritual body, 163
• becoming master of matter, 164
• and matter, relation between, 165
• in man unfolds along three great lines, 302
• Spiritual realities belong to spiritual life, 54
• qualities of Great Teachers, 118, 119
• type of humanity, mark Brotherhood, 119
• body relatively permanent, 163
• and memories of past, 163
• greatness and the Theosophical Soc., 291
• work of the spiritual teacher, 302
• teacher sheds illumination, not control intellect, 303
• Spirituality mark of coming civilization, 184
• Subba Rao, tribute to, 287
• Submerged classes (see Social Conditions).
• Sun Myths, 141
• Superstition, definition, 249
• illustrated by Indian story, 249, 250
• in religious reformations, 250
• Supply and demand in America, 34-37, 41
• Melbourne, 41
• Swedenborg, 104
• T
• Telepathy and organization of the Astral body, 173
• how developed (see Senses), 173, 174
• Theosophy, name, 183
• what is it? Whence does it come?, 185, 186, 187
• its work in religion, 188
• and comparative mythology, 189
• religion, 190
• work of, in coming civilization, in religion, 194
• science, 195
• and Yoga of the East, 199, 200
• work of, in coming civilization, in art, 200, 201, 202
• society, 203
• its ideals in education must spread, 238
• influence on education in India, 239
• ideals rejected by men, 242
• must teach relationship of disciple to Teacher, 312
• Theosophical Society, considers causes rather than effects, 25
• teaching of, its advantage, 48, 209
• its members at different stages, 225
• drawn into swifter evolution, 225
• two masters related to, 226
• founders of, 227
• inner purpose of, 228
• brotherhood, only binding principle, 233, 234
• and scientific men, 232
• corner-stone of future religion, 234
• first work of, vitalising Religions, 235, 236
• checked skepticism in India, 239
• problem, how to preserve religion while letting dogmatism go, 239-240
• personality and principle in, 225, 243, 258
• nucleus of sixth root-race, beginning of sixth sub-race, 225, 242
• members not leaders of present race, 242
• shakings in, their use, 243, 260, 287, 295
• duties of, in respect to sacramental rites, 277, 278
• not bound by its officers, 244
• reasons for staying in, 258, 261, 295
• possibility of its death, 261
• Theosophical movement not confined to, 285
• its great difficulty, 287, 288
• immediate work, 288, 289
• members of must develop intuition, 290
• must recognize spiritual greatness, 291
• would hardly welcome a Master, 294
• the John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Christ, 295
• Mrs. Besant’s message to, 296
• should use books of observation as materials for study only, 332
• Theos. student should prepare to verify teachings, 317
• his attitude towards theoretical study, 317
• must discriminate between books he reads, 318
• his attitude towards books of observations, 328
• Thought and the treatment of diseases, 68
• human nature changed by, 81, 82
• and organization of the Astral body (see Mind), 124
• forms, 255
• Thought-image first, then its materialization, 46
• Transition periods, birth of Christ, (see Rome), 4, 5
• the present, 4, 149-150
• Transubstantiation (see Sacraments), 269, 270
• Trinity (see God), illustrated by organic chemistry, 270
• Truth, a sun, 332
• examination of, is best service, 333
• Tyndall, experiments of (see Mantra), 267
• Type, ideal, of the Aryan, 116
• of future nations, that of family, 46
• in mind of Logos, 116
• Roman, 117
• chosen by Manu, 115, 211
• intellectual, its work, 117, 118
• of coming race, 117, 119
• of spiritual man, 118, 119
• with delicate, highly developed nerves, 120-122
• of bodies of coming race, 222
• of new Teacher a new departure, 240
• next, new and strange, 240, 241
• Types, seven great human, 116
• reproduce themselves, 117
• V
• Veda, meaning of word, 318
• supreme authority of, 318
• held high place in early days of Buddhism, 319
• Vegetarianism, flesh food unsuited to coming race, 124
• and Pituitary Body, 125, 126
• pure body needed for unfolding consciousness, 178
• Vibrations, sound, in words of power (see Mantra), 267
• effect of, on consciousness of bodies, 168, 169
• of atoms and consciousness of Logos, 165
• Vicarious atonement, 148
• Vivisection, a fatal road, 19, 20
• done away with by direct vision, 67
• W
• White Lotus Day 1909, memorial services in India, 279
• all over the world, 280
• Will, self determined, 161
• and desire, 161
• highest characteristic of Spirit, 302
• must be developed from above, 302
• Wisdom, the, the Christ in man (see Ancient Wisdom), 160
• expresses itself as love, 161
• Woman, in labor market, 99, 100
• Woman labor, (see social conditions), 29, 30, 31
• Worlds, and human evolution, 191
• Y
• Yoga, false methods of developing consciousness (see Meditation), 177, 178
• Theosophy brings Yoga of East, 199, 200
• the Mysteries and legend of Holy Grail (see Holy Grail), 275
• Yogi, the Indian, 199, 200
• Z
• Zarathustra or Zoroaster, leader of third sub-race (see Bodhisattva), 140