How to study the Secret Doctrine / introduction into theosophy
The Secret Doctrine is - still after a century - one of the most popular books in the theosophical literature. Yet everybody who tries reading it for the first time has issues. Luckily there's a document that helps newbies wade their way through it:
The "Secret Doctrine" and its Study
Being extracts from the notes of personal teachings given by H.P. Blavatsky. to private pupils during the years 1888 to 1891, included in a large MSS volume left to me by my father, who was one of the pupils. -- P.G.B. Bowen
Of course that is still only a start.
I personally also recommend the so called third volume of the Secret Doctrine - most of it anyhow. I read it before I dived into the Secret Doctrine myself - it has lives of initiates and all kinds of other things that help you get into the theosophical mindset as it were. Most of the content in there is also in Volume 12 of the Blavatsky Collected Writings - which is also well worth reading. Those new to theosophy should ignore the Esoteric Instructions that are also contained in both volumes, those really are too difficult to understand. They require that one has a basic understanding of The Secret Doctrine itself.
The "Secret Doctrine" and its Study
Being extracts from the notes of personal teachings given by H.P. Blavatsky. to private pupils during the years 1888 to 1891, included in a large MSS volume left to me by my father, who was one of the pupils. -- P.G.B. Bowen
Of course that is still only a start.
I personally also recommend the so called third volume of the Secret Doctrine - most of it anyhow. I read it before I dived into the Secret Doctrine myself - it has lives of initiates and all kinds of other things that help you get into the theosophical mindset as it were. Most of the content in there is also in Volume 12 of the Blavatsky Collected Writings - which is also well worth reading. Those new to theosophy should ignore the Esoteric Instructions that are also contained in both volumes, those really are too difficult to understand. They require that one has a basic understanding of The Secret Doctrine itself.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Katinka Hesselink on
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Isn't that what I said? To be precise - most of the content of the third volume of the SD is in Volume 12 of the Blavatsky Collected Writings. The overlap isn't precise. For the scholar volume 12 should be preferred, because of Boris de Zirkoff's notes and index. But for many Volume 3 of the Secret Doctrine is inspiring and interesting enough.
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An Invitation to The Secret Doctrine is one of a few books that is based on the Bowen Notes, and the extracts of The Secret Doctrine it recommends. Very good introduction.
Abridgements are also always good for newbies.
Once you get beyond the abridgements to the real thing, and the notes, I think in most cases the Collected Writings version of the Secret Doctrine is probably the best version to buy. It would have notes and all that.
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Permalink Reply by steel styl on
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Just read the books and don´t worry about what one may or may not understand, keep reading and all questions will be answered...
p.s.
bear in mind from whom these works are.....
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