First Edition copyright ©1932; Second Revised Edition copyright ©1979 by Theosophical University Press (print version also available). Electronic version ISBN 1-55700-048-4. All rights reserved. This edition may be downloaded for off-line viewing without charge. No part of this publication may be reproduced for commercial or other use in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission of Theosophical University Press. For ease of searching, no diacritical marks appear in this electronic version of the text.
NOTE: Each diagram in the book is a separate file in this same directory, with the same name as the file in which it appears with the addition of a lower-case letter (a, b, etc.). The diagrams show automatically online; for the diagram to appear when viewing a downloaded text file offline, the appropriate diagram files must also be downloaded.
PART ONE
Chapter 1. The Three Fundamental Propositions. The Self: Man's Inmost Link with the Unutterable. The Esoteric Philosophy: Taught in all the Ancient Religions.
Chapter 2. Where is Reality? Truth can be Known. Man's Composite Nature according to Different Systems: Threefold, Fourfold, Fivefold, or Sevenfold.
Chapter 3. The Doctrine of Maya; Objective Idealism the Basis of Morals: Rooted in the Spiritual Unity — the Divinity — of the All. The Self and the "Selves."
Chapter 4. From Primordial Point to Universe and Man. How does Manifestation Arise? Manvantara and Pralaya.
Chapter 5. The Esoteric Teachings and the Nebular Theory. Gods behind the Kosmos: Why Nature is Imperfect.
Chapter 6. The Dawn of Manifestation: Laya-centers. A Conscious Universe — Spiritually Purposive. Stoic Doctrine of the Intermingling of All Beings: "Laws of Nature." Philosophical Polytheism and the Doctrine of Hierarchies.
Chapter 7. Hierarchies: One of the Lost Keys of the Esoteric Philosophy. The Pythagorean Sacred Tetraktys. The Ladder of Life: The Legend of Padmapani.
Chapter 8. Traces of the Esoteric Philosophy in Genesis.
Chapter 9. Outline of Esoteric Cosmogony. Globes, Rounds and Races: Cosmic Time Periods.
Chapter 10. The Doctrine of Swabhava — Self-becoming — Characteristic Individuality. Man, Self-evolved, his own Creator. Monadologie of Leibniz contrasted with Teachings of the Esoteric Philosophy.
Chapter 11. The Cosmic Pilgrimage. From Unself-conscious God-spark to Fully Self-conscious God.
Chapter 12. Psychology: According to the Esoteric Philosophy. Immortality is Conditional: the Loss of the Soul.
Chapter 13. The Process of Evolution. Self, Ego, and Soul: "I Am" and "I am I."
Chapter 14. "Heavens" and "Hells": Teachings of the Esoteric Philosophy and of the Exoteric Religions.
Chapter 15. The Evolution of the "Absolute." Generalized Plan of Evolution on all Planes. Seven Keys to Wisdom and Future Initiations.
Chapter 16. Atma-vidya: How the One Becomes the Many. "Lost Souls" and "Soulless Beings." Man, a Composite Being: No Abiding Principle in Man.
Chapter 17. The Silent Watcher.
Chapter 18. The Spiritual-Psychological Hierarchy of Adepts. The Wondrous Being, the Buddhas, Nirmanakayas, Dhyan-chohans.
Chapter 19. The Seven Jewels and the Seven Stages of Initiation.
Chapter 20. The Higher Aspect of Human Psychology. Initiation and the Mysteries: Avataras, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas. Their Relation to Globes, Rounds, and Races.
Chapter 21. Initiations and the Ancient Mysteries. Root-races and Their Subdivisions. Globe Rounds. Planetary Rounds. Solar Kalpas: How Calculated. Racial Cataclysms.
Chapter 22. The Hierarchy of Compassion. The Incarnation of the Manasaputras.
Chapter 23. The Sun and the Planets. Their Role in the Evolutionary Drama.
PART TWO
Chapter 24. The Ten Stages of Being according to the Syrian System. Esoteric Method of Teaching: Paradoxes, Intuition.
Chapter 25. The Mysteries of Septenary Nature. Correspondences: Globes, Elements, Human Principles. The Seven Sacred Planets of the Ancients. Racial Time Periods and Catastrophes.
Chapter 26. The Microcosm, a Mirror of the Macrocosm. Elements, Principles, Manifestations of the One Life. Relativity: a Fundamental Conception of the Ancient Wisdom.
Chapter 27. The Two Fundamental Kosmical Hierarchies: Matter and Spirit-Consciousness. Chaos-Theos-Kosmos: Gods-Monads-Atoms.
Chapter 28. The Adventure of an Atom. Laya-centers: Sun, Comets, and Planets; Soul and Monad. The Keynote of Occultism.
Chapter 29. Space: the Boundless All. Infilled with Interlocking, Interpenetrating Universes. One Action, One Hierarchical Intelligence, One Course of Operation throughout Nature: One Organism, One Universal Life.
Chapter 30. The Interrelation of Gods, Monads, Atoms — a Key to the Doctrine of Evolution. Successive Emanations: Sheaths. Higher Beings Emanating and Clothing Themselves in Hosts of Lower Beings. Morality Based on the Structure of the Universe.
Chapter 31. The Building of the Kosmos. The Same Fundamental Law throughout Life and Being: an Endless Ladder of Progress. Analogical Processes of Kosmical and Psychological Development. The River of Life.
Chapter 32. Out of the Invisible into the Visible. From the Visible into the Invisible. The Magnum Opus.
Chapter 33. The Life-wave and the Seven Elements. The Esoteric Philosophy as Taught by the Stoics.
Chapter 34. The Spaces of Space. The Secret Doctrine, a Unifier: Universal Keys. Doctrines of the Void and of the Fullness Contrasted.
Chapter 35. Occultism and the Mystery Schools. Seven Degrees of Initiation: Man Becomes a God. Seven Kosmic Planes: our Planetary Chain of Seven Globes on the Four Lower Planes — the Passage of the Life-wave therethrough.
Chapter 36. Interpenetrating Spheres of Being. Lokas and Talas: Bipolar Kosmical Principles and Elements. The "Heresy of Separateness."
Chapter 37. The Framework of the Kosmos. Lokas and Talas: Principles and Elements, Worlds — Not States Merely. Space the Ultimate Reality.
Chapter 38. Degeneration and Closing of the Schools of the Mysteries. Neopythagorean and Neoplatonic Systems: Main Sources of Christian Theology. Esoteric and Exoteric Teachings: Symbolism.
Chapter 39. Theosophy and Occultism. Occultism: the Quintessence of Truth, Reality; a Complete Whole. Occultism and Moral Responsibility. Our Solar System: a Kosmic Atom, Egg of Brahma.
Chapter 40. Definitions of Deity: Atheism; Pantheism. Is there a Supreme Personal God? Kosmic Architects and Builders. Really to Know, One Must Become.
Chapter 41. The Doctrine of the Spheres. The Universal Solar System and Our Solar System. The Seven Sacred Planets: Why "Sacred"?
Chapter 42. The Doctrine of the Spheres in its Four Aspects. The Seven Sacred Planets and their Rectors: their Relation to our Earth-chain. The Circulations of the Kosmos: Outer Rounds and Inner Rounds; Sishtas. One Universal Basic Law: As Above, So Below. The Eye and the Heart Doctrines.
Chapter 43. Analogy: the Life of Man and the Life of a Planetary Chain. Occultism and Ethics: "Live the Life if Thou Wouldst Know the Doctrine.
Chapter 44. Principles of Thought and Study: can Occultism be Taught? Ancient Astrology a True Science. Our Earth-chain of Globes, the Seven Sacred Planets, and the Twelve Zodiacal Signs. Life-Atoms: the Building Blocks of the Universe.
Chapter 45. Physiology, Psychology, and Pneumatology of the Universe. Ten and Twelve Planes of the Universal Solar System: Intermediate Critical Planes. All Manifested Being a Graded Continuum of Interrelated, Interlocked Hierarchies: Each with its own Beginning and End. Sishtas and the Surplus of Life.
Chapter 46. The Chela Life. Seven and Ten Life-waves: the Course of the Monads around the Seven Globes; Laws of Acceleration on the Downward and of Retardation on the Upward Arc. Fifth and Sixth Rounders. The Sacred Word.
Chapter 47. Teacher and Pupil. Requisites of Chelaship.
Chapter 48. The Heart of the Universe. The Way to Peace, Bliss, Understanding, is Within. The Great Quest — Know Thyself — the Whole Secret of Initiation. Our Responsibility: Ethical Values and the Laws of the Universe; Harmony.
In 1924 Katherine Tingley inaugurated within the esoteric body of the Theosophical Society a series of studies in The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, with Gottfried de Purucker as lecturer. In spite of the fact that he had not studied under Mme. Blavatsky, as had several among those present, she knew of none better prepared than he to interpret this work "from the esoteric standpoint." Moreover, she felt assured that after she was gone he would be there to "carry on these lessons," which ultimately would be published "for later generations."
At the first meeting on January 4th, Katherine Tingley set the tone of the gatherings by appealing to all present to cast aside everything of a personal and limiting nature and "get more in harmony with our higher self — with that part that is eternal and that is trying to open the way for us." Those attending should enter, "as did the neophytes of ancient days, in the spirit of self-forgetfulness," remembering that these studies were not being held primarily to enlarge the intellectual understanding of the student, but rather as an "earnest spiritual effort" to open the heart to the higher consciousness and stimulate the intuition for service in the daily life. After the lectures Katherine Tingley spoke for a few minutes and usually called upon different ones for their comments, herself giving the closing remarks. The members then left as they had come, in silence, which to her had marvelous potency for inner growth.
It was in this atmosphere of reverence for truth and for the lightbringers of mankind that G. de Purucker elucidated the spiritual principles upon which the "secret doctrine" of the ages rests. Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy represents the stenographic record of those lectures given from 1924 to 1927, with periodic interruptions during Katherine Tingley's absence on lecture tours in the United States or Europe. In 1931 the transcripts were turned over to A. Trevor Barker for editing prior to publication in London, the quotations heading the chapters having been selected by Joseph H. Fussell, friend and colleague of the author.
What makes this book significant among the many expositions of The Secret Doctrine that have appeared since 1888? Not least, perhaps, is the inspired treatment of the vast evolutionary process that encompasses the rhythmic rebirth of worlds, of humans, and of every living being, for the purpose of bringing into actuality the fullness of godhood infolded within every god-spark. Propelled by ancient habit we too, in our cyclic descent into earthly life, follow the same cosmic routes traveled by all monads until, the lessons of planetary experience mastered, we graduate as self-evolved divinities. How the One becomes the many, how spirit irradiates every particle of matter, is the old story — now retold with a wondrous clarity so that the reader discovers he has at hand those key-teachings that will enable him to test for himself whether or not any religious or philosophic concept, ancient or modern, is in harmony with "that primeval spiritual and natural revelation" accorded the first thinking humans on earth. Throughout, like a golden sheen on the far horizon of time, he perceives the oneness of humanity's spiritual inheritance and our commonality of divine origin and goal. Further, there is wide scholarship here: not only are the terms from the Sanskrit, Hebrew, and other ancient literatures explained etymologically, but they are given richer interpretation in the light of Dr. de Purucker's knowledge of our early racial history and of the traditional lore and sacred scriptures of Orient and Occident.
For many, however, the greatest gift of all is his restorative trust in the dignity and nobility of man. We are indeed knights errant of eternity, bent on the ancient quest for a wisdom we know exists but which seems ever to elude our grasp. In being reminded of that quest, there is generated a devotion to truth and to the compassionate line of teachers — a devotion that has power to move the soul, to lead us life after life toward those encounters that will purify and strengthen the character and fit us better to serve humanity's cause.
The revision of this second edition has been undertaken with exceeding care and, while the few passages that pertained strictly to the esoteric nature of the sessions have been deleted as have some of the repetitions that are inevitable when a series of addresses is published almost verbatim, the lecture material has been left practically intact.
To have condensed and systematized the presentation would have foiled the intent of the author. Intangibly, yet step by step, he builds atmosphere as he touches on this teaching or that, carries the thought for a distance and then turns to another teaching, seemingly different, yet relevant to the larger picture he is unfolding. In a later chapter or two he may return to the earlier themes, develop them for a time, then again move on to other doctrines. Dr. de Purucker remarks more than once that in this he is deliberately following the ancient esoteric method of imparting sacred truths: repetition of the salient thought, but always with sufficient variation and enlargement of vision to draw the student on so that the mind will not set itself in molds. The mind that remains fluid is more responsive to intuition and the flow of light that may spontaneously illumine the soul when the inner nature is attuned.
It is of interest that the original edition of Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy published in 1932 did not include the first two lectures, but began with the third one. Their omission no doubt was inadvertent; but, providentially, a few years after the author's death Kirby Van Mater, archivist for the Society, turned up the two missing lectures among papers which presumably had been returned with other material to headquarters from the European centers to which Katherine Tingley had sent them in 1924, to be shared with "appreciative minds." The pertinent portions of these meetings are now incorporated as sections i and ii of chapter 1, preceding section iii which originally appeared as the first chapter of the 1932 edition. The present volume is enhanced by their inclusion, for they amplify and deepen Dr. de Purucker's interpretation of the three fundamental propositions with which H. P. Blavatsky opens her magnum opus and which "pervade the entire system of thought" she proceeds to outline.
We acknowledge with gratitude the efficient help of all in our printing and editorial departments, with a special word of commendation to Raymond Rugland for his meticulous care in resetting the entire book in a more readable typeface; to James T. Belderis for redrawing the many diagrams; and to William T. S. Thackara for maintaining excellence in every phase of the book's physical production; for the several proofreadings required, deep appreciation to Elsa-Brita Titchenell, Manuel Oderberg, Ingrid Van Mater, and A. Studley and Eloise Hart; likewise to John P. Van Mater, librarian, for assistance to Mrs. Titchenell and Mr. Oderberg in checking the numerous quotations and references from original sources. It goes without saying that the close cooperation of the editorial committee, A. Studley Hart, Ida P. Moffett, and Sarah Belle Dougherty (who also prepared the enlarged index), made the task of editing the text for publication incomparably lighter.
After a near half-century, Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy remains an excellent introductory study of theosophy for today's readers in search of the very truths that disciples of olden times, holding the fuel of devotion in their hands, sought to learn of sages and rishis.
GRACE F. KNOCHE April 27, 1979 Pasadena, CaliforniaTheosophical University Press, publishing and distributing theosophical literature since 1886: PO Box C, Pasadena, CA 91109-7107 USA; email: tupress@theosociety.org; voice: (626) 798-3378. Free printed catalog available on request; also online at TUP Catalog.