Customer Reviews

The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy (Volumes 1 and 2)

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This book was a startling and controversial spiritual landmark in 1888 when it first appeared. It covers cosmic, planetary, and human evolution, as well as science, religion, and mythology. It is based on the esoteric Stanzas of Dzyan, with reference data from over 1,200 sources. It was virtually the Bible for the early Theosophical Society, and has continued to be so even today in the 21st century. The work comprises three volumes: Cosmogenesis, Anthropogenesis and a further volume with index and bibliography adding immense value as a study tool. Cosmogenesis is the origin of the universe, while Anthropogenesis is the origin of humanity. In many countries around the world there are study groups dedicated to understanding this book. It is a compendium of nearly all religious and esoteric knowledge available at the time, but gathered psychically by the author. If you know about the life of the author (Blavatsky) the psychic guidance method seems the most plausible means of her obtaining the remarkable content for the Secret Doctrine.

The impact of this book is so great that it should be an essential for anyone into the spiritual growth areas of today. Aside from theosophy, the work in this book is the starting point for all New Age philosophies. It grew out of a social climate of spiritualist seances and psychic phenomena, generalising all that was known then and integrating it in spectacular fashion. Many of the intelligencia of the day were influenced by this work, and wrote books on many aspects of this. It also led a prolonged Western excursion into the Eastern mysteries and religions.

The book adds depth and insights to so many religions and philosophies, and yet follows the edict, "there is no religion higher than truth". For example, it adds to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Cabbala, Rosicrucianism, etc you name it! It also has a lot to say about the science of the late 19th century. Examples of modern New Age philosophies dependent either directly or indirectly on the Secret Doctrine are:- the Alice A Bailey schools including the University of the Seven Rays, Summit Lighthouse, the I AM movement, Steiner's Anthroposophy, Wicca, many yoga schools, healing energy techniques like Reiki, Shiatsu, etc. There is still much ambivalence even today about the Secret Doctrine and its writings and its esoteric traditions associated with the Himalayan Masters of Wisdom. The best way to resolve these issues is to read the book for yourself. It is a difficult book, even impossible for some students who may be surprised at how strange its language seems at times to those new to such things. But it was written not as a "suck it and see" book, but as a "live with me forever" book. I'm very pleased to recommend it to you.

This is one of the few books that humble me when I contemplate it. Rather, Madam Blavatsky's knowlege and intellect humbles me. Take just about any "newly rediscovered" esoteric topic of any worth and you will most probably find it explained in considerable detail in either this work or _Isis Unveiled_. I am dismayed that so few people, or biliographies, give credit to Madam Blavatsky, or to the Theosophical Society that she founded. I guess we are just too "quaint" and "old-fashion" for the "New Age."

There is just too much encyclopedic knowlege here to simply read through from scratch. You need to work up to it. Try a introductory text like _Ocean of Theosophy_ by William Q. Judge. However, do not be afraid to pick up either volume and simply "browse." I still do this after all these years- and I am still surprised and amazed at what I find.

One further thing, there has been a considerable amount of character assassination against Madam Blavatsky in the last few years. The authors that have penned these attacks have no understanding of the matters that they address. First of all, no one was a stronger critic of seances than Madam Blavatsky. Secondly, the Society has always held that one should never charge money for spiritual matters. As for the ad hominem attacks that she was grossly obese, well, this is the lowest form of slander and doesn't deserve comment. Simply take a look at any of the surviving photographs to see the truth.

Concerning attacks on Theosophical concepts such as the "seven races" and "seven globes", just keep in mind that the perenial philosophy holds that the highest part of what makes up a person pre-exists on a higher plane- and will return there after we cross over. Just remember the old gnostic concept of "seven heavens." Literalism is a mistake in theosophy, just as it has proven in fundamentalist Christianity.

It's hard to imagine that this very detailed book was written by an uneducated woman, obviously she had a lot of help. This work is a hundred years old and written during a time when sensational journalism was well practiced. However, this work is one of the most significant writings ever and contains munerous predictions later "discovered" by science. Eventually maybe science will "discover" all of it. The work is controversial, even today. Anyone who can comprehend this book in one reading is not of this earth. I started reading it almost thirty years ago and still reread it often, particularly for reference. It's great that this work is now on-line with a good search engine at blavatsky.net.

Not suggested for anyone with a short attention span. This is a massive accomplishment bringing the A to Z of occultism under one literary umbrella. An astonishing find.

Blavatsky was an incredible mystic and probably the best known Theosophist. The Secret Doctrine is such an incredible work. Although some parts may seem to be cryptic, Blavatsky gives so much information and insight into the occult world. It's not an easy read, but I find myself rereading chapters only to find a hidden nugget that I overlooked before. This is a compendium of vast esoteric knowledge and I am so grateful this scarce third volume has been made available.

Be certain that you realize what you are purchasing when you buy this item. This is NOT "The Secret Doctrine"; it is only the INDEX for those volumes. The other reviews had led me to believe this was "The Secret Doctrine" itself; but it is not. You must already have volumes 1 and/or 2 of "The Secret Doctrine" for this index to be of any use.

This is much more than just a book. It's part of the flame few of us carry every generation. This book is for special people, who can really understand it. The Theosophycal society had a very short life, and mainly because they didn't understand the words of their Master. And the ones that failed to understand were not the newcomers, but the most experienced theosophysts. Without someone to guide you, this book can be dangerous, the secrets of the unkown are not a game, remember that... it's your choice, but are you prepared to know the truth? Most likely you're not, and if you are not, be aware, it may seem like you are... This book is not for everyone...

Someone who cares for you

I really don't know why so many reviewers find this book 'difficult.' I suspect they probably find the King James Bible 'difficult' for similar reasons, the most obvious of which is that standards of education and more especially, literacy, have declined considerably since H.P. Blavatsky wrote her master-work. Another possible reason is that the 'secrets' Blavatsky revealed, just like the allegories of the New Testament, cannot be understood by the unaided intellect. If they could, we would all be filled with Wisdom and have no need to continually reincarnate on this sorely-troubled earth to learn the Eternal Verities.

It seems to me that to expect to grasp the great truths which have puzzled the greatest minds since time immemorial in a few short weeks or months, or by skimming the surface of books like the Secret Doctrine, is akin to attempting to scale Mount Everest when one has difficulty climbing the stairs to bed!

If one has absolutely no knowledge of the Ancient Mysteries, or worse, believes that real scholarship and science began with the Ancient Greeks and that the Ancients knew nothing that we do not know infinitely better, this book will make about as much sense as Shakespeare would to a troop of monkeys. Equally, if one has been spoon-fed upon the sound-bite 'mysticism' and 'new age' claptrap that passes for 'occultism' nowadays, it is not very surprising that the Secret Doctrine should seem a 'difficult', if not an entirely CLOSED book to the majority of its readers.

The fact is that it was NEVER intended for the majority, or even for the majority of 'occultists' and 'mystics'. The latter being those who wish to have their own fancies and fantasies confirmed, rather than learn the truths Blavatsky reveals in this book. Unfortunately, as I suggested above, the intellect alone cannot apprehend these truths without the aid of intuition; a fact insisted upon by every true Teacher from Buddha to Jesus, and before.

Now whether you choose to call intuition 'spiritual vision', 'inspiration' 'the eye of the soul', or anything else under the Sun, the fact remains that every great philosopher and spiritual teacher has said that unless we can learn to transcend our purely physical, earthly 'thinking', we shall never have any apprehension of the truth of anything, much less the nature of Man, or God, or the Universe. In the degree that we DO use these higher senses we will find the 'difficulties' of this book are largely of our own making and melt away like snow under the warming rays of the Sun of Wisdom.

Far be it from this writer to tell anyone what they should or should not read. But it will be clear to anyone with the slightest SINCERE interest in Truth and Wisdom that the Secret Doctrine was written for the few and not the many. If you are among the former you will not need me to tell you that this remarkable book bears the stamp of Holy Truth on every one of it's inspired pages. If you are NOT, you will dismiss it as bunkum and consign it to the rubbish heap of mystical literature which fills the bookshelves of stores around the world to overflowing.

As Blavatsky herself says in her preface: "The aim of this work...is...to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the basis of all religions; and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from which they all spring; finally, to show that the occult side of Nature has never been approached by the Science of modern civilisation."
As other reviewers, more capable and diligent than the writer, have covered the subjects Blavatsky discusses in some depth, I will not recapitulate their good efforts, except to say that after a lifetime of study and the acquisition of many hundreds of the best works on philosophy, science, mysticism and occultism, I know of no other book in existence that answers so clearly and completely the question of who Man is, whence he comes, whither he is going and what the purpose of Life is. Needless to add, the answer is not '42'; much as I both enjoy and admire the fiction of Douglas Adams!

For those who CAN see the Light that shines from the golden leaves of the Secret Doctrine this book will be a revelation that will open the door to a hitherto undreamed of world of truth, beauty and wonder; constituting an edifice of unbelievable grandeur and sublimity. Such will join the ranks of appreciative readers like Albert Einstein, who always kept a copy of the Secret Doctrine by his bedside. For those who find the book too 'difficult', or worse, will insist upon associating it with conspiracy theories of all kinds, there are plenty of 'colourful' books which may be more to their taste for the weird and fantastic!!!

In passing, I would just like to point out that there are several editions of the Secret Doctrine in print as well as abridgements of it. I'm sure I don't need to add that where different editions of an author's work exist it is generally best to obtain the one that THEY themselves wrote and approved. In this case that is the edition published by the Theosophical University Press of Pasadena, USA. This is a photographic facsimile of the first two-volume edition of 1888 bound into one volume and verbatim with it. A three-volume edition (considerably 'edited' by Annie Besant and other leading 'lights' of the Theosophical Society, was published after Blavatsky's death. This is to be avoided, as are the many abridgements and 'improvements' which have appeared in recent years.

Let me end this rather inadequate review with a quotation from the book itself:
"I have here made only a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the string that ties them" (Secret Doctrine, I, xivi). In thus quoting the French essayist, Michel de Montaigne, Blavatsky not only displays the humility which is ever the hallmark of the true Sage (in stark contrast to her many detractors and calumniators, both past and present!), but also demonstrates that the 'flowers' in question are not new. On the contrary, they are the scattered efflorescence of the ANCIENT Wisdom which she gathered together for the very first time in ages for the benefit of the few who are able to appreciate it. May YOU who reads this be such an one and discover the treasures hidden within the pages of this most remarkable of books.

These volumes are a great testament in spiritual literature. They expound on the mysteries of the universe and man--their nature and evolution. All this gives rise to explaining how spiritual laws function. She says in the preface that the truths contained in the volumes are the essence of all world religions; her job being one of rescuing these truths from "degradation." Blavatsky was an early leader of the theosophist movement. In this work, she goes stanza by stanza using the "occult" (spiritual) teachings of the book of Dzyan. Of course, what makes these volumes come to life is her commentaries. As one current spiritual writer has already noted, she was a prophet of the current trend toward the emerging spirituality which is lighting up our planet. Well-travelled and well-connected with diversity, Blavatsky identifies the basic tenet of spiritual literature: we are all one! This is definitely for the intrepid. Anyway, go HB! Phillip Paris, Orlando, Florida, USA; parispg@aol.com

Although I do not question the importance of HP Blavatsky's magnum opus, "The Secret Doctrine", in illuminating the basic tenets of theosophy, I do wish the readers of this book to keep in mind that one cannot and should not take everyhing HPB declares as incontrovertible truth.

One problematic idea in this book is the issue of "root races".

I do believe that HPB largely meant to define "root races" in sociological rather than biological terms. As Katinka Hesselink states in her article, "Race, Sub-race and Sociological interpretation" : "H.P. Blavatsky uses the word race in a variety of connotations. Sometimes it means the present day humanity, sometimes a 'sub-race' of mankind. When she means present day humanity she does not say humanity, because she was of the opinion that humanity goes through a variety of stages (called rounds), which take tremendous amounts of time...The people of America and Western Europe are clearly the wealthiest and the most intellectually active at this time in history. Blavatsky therefore distinguishes them from other people by calling 'us' a sub-race of the fifth rootrace. This seems to me more a sociological distinction than a physical one.."

The problem with the "root race" theory begins when HPB seems to imply that "root race" also has a biological component as well as a sociological one. This seems to have led HPB to declare that certain "races" (and here she seems to mean biological) of people are inferior to others and, therefore, opens a pandora's box of bigotry and discrimination as well as many twisted interpretations of her theory. Hitler is a terrifying example of how this theory has been misused. It well known that he kept a copy of "The Secret Doctrine" by his bedside and relied on it to develop his dangerously inaccurate version of HPB's theory.

One of the basic tenets of theosophy, however, is to "to form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour." The truth of this tenet is that EVERY human being has a soul that is progressing towards enlightenment via many lifetimes of learning. There can not, therefore, be anyone "superior" or "inferior" to anyone else. There are only people at different stages of the same path to wisdom. The idea of "inferior biological races" should be vehemently opposed by a truly "enlightened" person.

Another problematic issue is the origin of the ideas contained in "The Secret Doctrine". The brilliant and world renowned Kabbalah scholar, Gershom Scholem in "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism" states: "There can be little doubt in my opinion that the famous stanzas of the mysterious "Book Dyzan' on which ..The Secret Doctrine is based owe something, both in title and content, to the pompous pages of the Zoharic writing called 'Sifra Di-Tseniutha'...The solemn and magniloquent style of these pages may well have impressed her suceptible mind...The 'Book Dzyan' is..nothing but an occultist hypostasy of the Zohairic title..."

I write these paragraphs not to discourage you from reading "The Secret Doctrine" but to encouarge you to read it with a discriminating mind and eye. HPB and many of the later theosophists mix many truths with even more inaccuracies. (In the case of Alice Bailey, these inaccuracies include her vile anti-semitism and biological racism.) Keep in mind the basic tenet that I quoted above: "A Universal Brotherhood of Humanity".