The Key to Theosophy

By H. P. Blavatsky

Dedicated by “H. P. B.” to all her Pupils that they may learn and teach in their turn.

Preface

Section 1: Theosophy and the Theosophical Society

a) The meaning of the name
b) The policy of the Theosophical Society
c) The Wisdom-Religion Esoteric in all Ages
d) Theosophy is not Buddhism

Section 2: Exoteric and Esoteric Theosophy

a) What the modern Theosophical Society is not
b) Theosophists and members of the “T. S.”
c) The difference between Theosophy and Occultism
d) The difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism
e) Why is Theosophy accepted?

Section 3: The working system of the T. S.

a) The Objects of the Society
b) The common origin of Man
c) Our other Objects
d) On the Sacredness of the Pledge

Section 4: The relations of the Theosophical Society to Theosophy

a) On Self-Improvement
b) The Abstract and the Concrete

Section 5: the fundamental teachings of Theosophy

a) On God and Prayer
b) Is it necessary to pray?
c) Prayer kills Self-Reliance
d) On the source of the Human Soul
e) The Buddhist Teachings on the above

Section 6: Theosophical teachings as to Nature and Man

a) The Unity of All in All
b) Evolution and Illusion
c) On the Septenary Constitution of our planet
d) The Septenary Nature of Man
e) The distinction between Soul and Spirit
f) The Greek teachings

Section 7: On the various post-mortem states

a) The Physical and the Spiritual Man
b) Our eternal Reward and Punishment: and on Nirvana
c) On the various “Principles” of Man

Section 8: On re-incarnation or rebirth

a) What is memory according to Theosophical teaching?
b) Why do we not remember our past lives?
c) On individuality and personality
d) On the reward and punishment of the Ego

Section 9: On the Kama-Loka and Devachan

a) On the fate of the lower “Principles”
b) Why Theosophists do not believe in the Return of Pure “Spirits”
c) A few words about the Skandhas
d) On post-mortem and post-natal Consciousness
e) What is meant by Annihilation
f) Definite Words for definite Things

Section 10: On the Nature of our Thinking Principle

a) The mystery of the Ego
b) The complex nature of Manas
c) The doctrine is taught in St. Paul’s Gospel
 

Section 11: On the Mysteries of re-incarnation

a) Periodical rebirths
b) What is Karma?
c) Who are those who Know?
d) The difference between Faith and Knowledge; or Blind and Reasoned Faith
e) Has God the right to forgive?

Section 12: What is Practical Theosophy?

a) Duty
b) The relations of the T. S. to Political Reforms
c) On self-sacrifice
d) On Charity
e) Theosophy for the Masses
f) How members can help the Society
g) What a Theosophist ought not to do

Section 13: On the misconceptions about the Theosophical Society

a) Theosophy and Asceticism
b) Theosophy and Marriage
c) Theosophy and Education
d) Why, then, is there so much prejudice against the T. S?
e) Is the Theosophical Society a money-making concern?
f) The working staff of the T. S.

Section 14: The “Theosophical Mahatmas”

a) Are they “Spirits of Light” or Goblins Damned”?
b) The abuse of sacred names and terms

Conclusion: The future of the Theosophical Society