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

~ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (Author)
Key Phrases: planetary chain, fourth race, divine dynasties, Dhyân Chohans, Ain Suph, Book of Enoch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This massive study is an astonishing document. Blavatsky synthesizes science and spirituality into an exhilarating journey of spiritual awareness. --The Book Reader (1988)

You dismiss H. P. Blavatsky rather too easily as 'hocus pocus.' Nobody ever affected the thought of so many able men and women by 'hocus pocus. The real source of her influence is to be found in The Secret Doctrine, a book on the religions of the world suggesting or disclosing an underlying unity between all great religions. It was a book which Maeterlinck said contained the most grandiose cosmogony in the world, and if you read it merely as a romantic compilation, it is one of the most exciting and stimulating books written for the last hundred years. It is paying a poor compliment to men like Yeats, Maeterlinck, and others, to men like Sir William Crookes, the greatest chemist of modern times, who was a member of her society, to Carter Blake, F.R.S., the anthropologist, and the scholars and scientists in many countries who read H. P. Blavatsky's books, to assume that they were attracted by 'hocus pocus.' If you are ever in the National Library, Kildare Street, and have a couple of hours to spare, you might dip into 'The Proem' to The Secret Doctrine, and you will understand the secret of the influence of that extraordinary woman on her contemporaries. --George W. Russell (AE), Irish poet and essayist

Product Description

Continuously in print for over 100 years, the SD remains today the most comprehensive sourcebook of the esoteric tradition, outlining the fundamental tenets of the Secret Doctrine of the Archaic Ages. Challenging, prophetic, and strikingly modern, it directly addresses the perennial questions: continuity of life after death, purpose of existence, good and evil, consciousness and substance, sexuality, karma, evolution, and human and planetary transformation. Based on the ancient Stanzas of Dzyan with corroborating testimony from over 1,200 sources, these volumes unfold the drama of cosmic and human evolution -- from the reawakening of the gods after a Night of the Universe to the ultimate reunion of cosmos with its divine source. Supplementary sections discuss relevant scientific issues as well as the mystery language of myths, symbols, and allegories, helping the reader decipher the often abstruse imagery of the world's sacred literature.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1571 pages
• Publisher: Theosophical Univ Pr (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557000026
• ISBN-13: 978-1557000026
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Theosophy
  #24 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth six stars, but complex and difficult., September 26, 2000

By	Dr Geo (Melbourne, Australia.) - See all my reviews

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.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "There is no religion higher than Truth.", April 13, 2002

By	OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the secret doctrine, December 20, 1999

By	William Foss (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

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.