The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a disgruntled Theosophical Society member, Robert Crosbie (1849-1919). Crosbie wanted to focus exclusively on the literature left behind by H.P. Blavatsky and William Quan Judge. After Crosbie's death the movement gained momentum under the leadership of B.P. Wadia (1881-1958). After Wadia died the movement stayed stationary. Other related archives1849, 1909, 1919, H.P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Society, William Quan

Read more here: » United Lodge of Theosophists: Encyclopedia - United Lodge of Theosophists

Theosophists. A name by which many mystics at various periods of history have called themselves.

The Neo-Platonists of Alexandria were Theosophists; the Alchemists and Kabbalists during the medieval ages were likewise so called, also the Martinists, the Quietists, and other kinds of mystics, whether acting independently or incorporated in a brotherhood or society.

All real lovers of divine Wisdom and Truth had, and have, a right to the name, rather than those who, appropriating the qualification, live lives or perform actions opposed to the principles of Theosophy. As described by Brother Kenneth R. Mackenzie, the Theosophists of the past centuries - " entirely speculative, and founding no schools, have still exercised a silent influence upon philosophy; and, no doubt, when the time arrives, many ideas thus silently propounded may yet give new directions to human thought. One of the ways in which these doctrines have obtained not only authority, but power, has been among certain enthusiasts in the higher degrees of Masonry.

This power has, however, to a great degree died with the founders, and modern Freemasonry contains few traces of theosophic influence. However accurate and beautiful some of the ideas of Swedenborg, Pernetty, Paschalis, Saint Martin, Marconis, Ragon, and Chastanier may have been, they have but little direct influence on society."

This is true of the Theosophists of the last three centuries, but not of the later ones. For the Theosophists of the current century have already visibly impressed themselves on modern literature, and introduced the desire and craving for some philosophy in place of the blind dogmatic faith of yore, among the most intelligent portions of human-kind. Such is the difference between past and modern THEOSOPHY.

(See also: Theosophists, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Influenced by Madame Blavatsky, Annie Besant joined the Theosophical Society. Her aim was to found a universal brotherhood where race and creed don't matter, to encourage the study of literature and philosophy, and to investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the physical powers latent in man. She advocated a radical approach to religion, which emphasised that religion cannot be forced upon any one; that faith was a matter of personal belief.

Why did she choose to become a Theosophist? Annie Besant wrote: ''An imperious necessity forces me to speak the truth, as I see it... That one loyalty to truth I must keep stainless, whether friendships fail me or human ties be broken... I asked no other epitaph on my tomb but that 'she tried to follow truth'."

(See also: Annie Besant, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Justice Christmas Humphreys Q.C. (1901 - April 1983) lawyer, High Court judge, and founder of the Buddhist Society, London. He was also the author of books on Mahayana Buddhism. Humphreys founded the Buddhist Society in 1924. It is now one of the largest and oldest Buddhist organisations outside of Asia. The Society developed out of the London Buddhist Lodge, which had been established by Theosophists (Humphreys was himself originally a Theosophist). At the Society and at home, Humphreys hosted and fraternized with eminent spir ...

Read more here: » Christmas Humphreys: Encyclopedia - Christmas Humphreys

Annie Wood Besant (Clapham, London October 1, 1847 – India September 20, 1933) was a prominent Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator. Besant was divorced from her clergyman husband Frank Besant, younger brother of Walter Besant, and she had to leave both her children behind. She fought for the causes she thought were right, starting with freedom of thought, women's rights, secularism (she was a leading member of the National Secular Society alongside Charles Bradlaugh), birth control, Fabian socialism and wo ...

Including:

• Annie Besant - Selected Works

Read more here: » Annie Besant: Encyclopedia - Annie Besant

Benjamin Creme is the Theosophist founder of a new religious movement called Share International. He asserts that the second coming prophesized by many religions will come in the form of Maitreya. Maitreya is the name Buddhists use for the future Buddha, but Creme claims that Maitreya is actually the teacher that all religions point towards and hope for. In fact, Creme says that Maitreya is already here on the Earth, and making public appearances, most notably in front of a crowd of 6000 i ...

Including:

• Benjamin Creme - Teachings
• Benjamin Creme - Controversy

Read more here: » Benjamin Creme: Encyclopedia - Benjamin Creme

The Great Invocation is a prayer channelled in 1945 to English neo theosophist Alice A. Bailey, she claimed, from the spirit Master called Djwhal Khul also known as the Tibetan. From the point of Light within the Mind of God Let light stream forth into the minds of men. Let Light descend on Earth. From the point of Love within the Heart of God Let Love stream forth into the hearts of men. < ...

Read more here: » Great Invocation: Encyclopedia - Great Invocation

Walter Ernest Butler (1898-1978), was a working occultist and esoteric author in Britain. His first training in the mysteries was with Robert King, an archbishop in the Liberal Catholic Church, who trained him as a medium. While in India, he studied with Indian mystics and also came into contact with Theosophist mystic Annie Besant, who politely rejected his requests to study with her. He returned to England and joined Dion Fortune's Society of the Inner Light in 1925, where he continued to train and partici ...

Including:

• W. E. Butler - Sources

Read more here: » W. E. Butler: Encyclopedia - W. E. Butler

"Augoeides" can be translated as "luminous body." It appears that Porphyry used it and Thomas Taylor commented on it. The term is encountered in the literature of Neo-Platonic theurgy and was popularized in the 19th and 20th centuries by the Theosophists and the Golden Dawn. To quote Thomas Taylor's comment on Porphyry: "We are afterwards sent through ample Elysium, and a few of us possess the joyful plains: till a long period, when the revolving orb of time has perfected its circulation, frees the soul from its concrete stains, and l ...

Read more here: » Augoeides: Encyclopedia - Augoeides

Zurvan is the Persian god of infinite time, space and fate. The deity is traditionally represented as being nameless (the name Zurvan being an appellative title), without gender and passions, and neutral in regard to good and evil. However, in certain strains of Zoroastrianism, Zurvan is also the father of the good deity, Ahura Mazda, and the evil deity, Angra Mainyu. Some historians, as well as the theosophist Helena Blavatsky, believe that Zurvan was part of the original teachings of Zoroastrianism, while other histori ...

Including:

• Zurvan - Additional Reading

Read more here: » Zurvan: Encyclopedia - Zurvan

The term Higher Self generally refers to an eternal, conscious, and intelligent being. The term has been popularized by many involved in the new age and new religious movements. In particular, followers of Aleister Crowley refer to the Holy Guardian Angel and Theosophists refer to a variety of concepts derived from Neo-Platonism and Advaita Vedanta such as the Augoeides. Higher Self - Groups of Higher Selves. Non-participating Higher Selves: these are the ones who have not ventured out of their ...

Including:

• Higher Self - Groups of Higher Selves
• Higher Self - Comparison
• Higher Self - Summary

Read more here: » Higher Self: Encyclopedia - Higher Self

Baraqiel was the 9th Watcher of the 20 leaders of the 200 fallen angels that are mentioned in an ancient work called the Book of Enoch. The name means "lightning of God", which is fitting since it has been said that Baraqiel taught men astrology during the days of Jared or Yered. Some scholars believe that he is Sanat Kumara of theosophists such as Benjamin Creme and Madame Blavatsky; others believe that Sanat Kumara is Satan instead of Baraqiel. Other related archivesBenjamin Creme, Madame B

Read more here: » Baraqel: Encyclopedia - Baraqel

Besant Nagar is one of Chennai's most eilte neighborhoods, named after the famous lady theosophist Annie Besant, and adjoins the Theosophical Society. It is a posh residential neighborhood with a lot of expensive real estate. A number of eminent personalities reside in the area. The Theosophical society and Kalakshetra are situated in adjecent areas. Besant Nagar is home to the popular Elliot's beach. You will also find some of Chennai's best known restaurants in the area -- Ponnusamy, Lee's Chinese, Eden, Murugan Idly, Karaiku ...

Including:

• Besant Nagar - Links

Read more here: » Besant Nagar: Encyclopedia - Besant Nagar

Annie Besant

English born Theosophist, Indian educator and social reformer (1847-1933)

(See also: Annie Besant, Body Mind and Soul)

Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual. According to Theosophy, nature does not operate by chance. Every event, past or present, happens because of laws which are part of a Universal Paradigm. Theosophists hold that everything, living or not, is "impregnated" with Consciousness. This paradigm has been called variously God (nonpersonal), Law, Heaven, the Great Architect, Evolution, and Logos. The term used in this article is "paradigm." See also:

Theosophy, Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs, Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual, Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal, Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal, Theosophy - Karma, Theosophy - Universal brotherhood, Theosophy - Evolution, Theosophy - The Septenary, Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy, Theosophy - Music, Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy, Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia II - Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs

Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual. According to Theosophy, nature does not operate by chance. Every event, past or present, happens because of laws which are part of a Universal Paradigm. Theosophists hold that everything, living or not, is "impregnated" with Consciousness. This paradigm has been called variously God (nonpersonal), Law, Heaven, the Great Architect, Evolution, and Logos. The term used in this article is "paradigm." See also:

Theosophy, Theosophy - The three objects, Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs, Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual, Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal, Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal, Theosophy - Karma, Theosophy - Universal brotherhood, Theosophy - Evolution, Theosophy - The Septenary, Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy, Theosophy - Music, Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy, Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia II - Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs

Hume wanted to become a chela (student) of the Tibetan spiritual gurus. During the few years of his connection with the Theosophical Society Hume wrote three articles on Fragments of Occult Truth under the pseudonym "H. X." published in The Theosophist. These were written in response to questions from Mr. Terry, an Australian Theosophist. He also privately printed several Theosophical pamphlets titled Hints on Esoteric Theosophy. The later numbers of the Fragments, in answer to the same enquirer, were written by Mr. Sinnott and signed by him, as ...

See also:

Allan Octavian Hume, Allan Octavian Hume - Life and career, Allan Octavian Hume - Theosophy, Allan Octavian Hume - Contribution to ornithology, Allan Octavian Hume - Reference

Read more here: » Allan Octavian Hume: Encyclopedia II - Allan Octavian Hume - Theosophy

René Guénon dedicates a whole chapter of his 1923 book The Spiritist Fallacy to the concept of Reincarnation. According to him, there is no such concept in any traditional religion. He claims that reincarnation is instead a modern concept created by spiritist and theosophist authors, mainly Allan Kardec, apparently inspired by a fatally flawed understanding of the traditional concepts of transmigration and metempsychosis. Some may argue that transmigration of human souls ...

See also:

Metempsychosis, Metempsychosis - Controversy, Metempsychosis - Metempsychosis vs. Reincarnation

Read more here: » Metempsychosis: Encyclopedia II - Metempsychosis - Controversy

Séance. A word which has come to mean with Theosophists and Spiritualists a sitting with a medium for phenomena, the materialisation of "spirits" and other manifestations.

(See also: Séance, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

In the late nineteenth century, Theosophists adopted "meditation" to refer to various spiritual practices drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions. Thus the English word "meditation" does not exclusively translate any single term or concept from the sacred languages of Asia, such as the Sanskrit dhyana, samadhi, or pranayama. (Note that whereas in Eastern religions meditation is often a central part of religious or spirtual practice, in Christianity it tends to be a ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Overview