Sleutel tot de Theosofie, De

Neither Buddha nor Christ ever wrote anything of themselves, but both spoke in allegories and customs “dark sayings,” as all true initiates did and will do for a long time to come. Both gospels, the Buddhist and the Christian, were preached with the same object. Both reformers were ardent philanthropists and real altruists—preaching self-sacrifice to the bitter end.
“Let the sins of the whole world fall upon me, that I may relieve the misery and suffering of man!” cries Buddha. “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” is the appeal to the poor and the destitute of the “Man of Sorrows,” who has no place to lay his head. The teachings of both are boundless love for humanity, mercy, forgiveness of wrongs, self-forgetfulness; they both show the same contempt for wealth, and make no distinction between mine and thine. Their wish was to give to the ignorant and misguided, for whom the burden of life was too heavy, sufficient hope and some suspicion of the truth to sustain them in their most difficult hours, without revealing to all the sacred mysteries of initiation. But the object of both reformers was frustrated, owing to the excessive zeal of their later followers.
Read history and think about it. At the time when the events related in the Gospels are said to have taken place, a similar intellectual ferment was taking place in the civilized world. The old gods were dying out. Once again the time had come for a spiritual reformation.
– Chapter V

Table of contents:
1. THEOSOPHY AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
The meaning of the name. The policy of the Theosophical Society. The Wisdom-religion in all ages esoteric. Theosophy is not Buddhism
2. EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC THEOSOPHY
What the modern Theosophical Society is not. Theosophists and members of the “TS”. The difference between Theosophy and Occultism. The difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism. Why does Theosophy find recognition?
3. THE TS'S METHOD OF OPERATION
The Aims of the Society. The Common Origin of Man. Our Other Aims. On the Sanctity of the Vow
4. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY TO THEOSOPHY
On self-improvement. The abstract and the concrete
5. THE FUNDAMENTAL TEACHINGS OF THEOSOPHY
About God and the Whole. Is Prayer Necessary? Prayer Kills Self-Confidence. About the Origin of the Human Soul. The Buddhist Teachings Regarding the Above
6. THEOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS CONCERNING NATURE AND MAN
The unity of all in all. Evolution and illusion. On the sevenfold composition of our planet. The sevenfold nature of man. The distinction between soul and spirit. The Greek teachings
7. ON THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS AFTER DEATH
The material and the spiritual man. On eternal reward and punishment; and on Nirvana. On the different "principles" in man
8. ON REINCARNATION OR REBIRTH
What is memory according to theosophical teaching? Why don't we remember our past lives? About individuality and personality. About reward and punishment of the ego
9. ON KAMA-LOKA AND DEVACHAN
On the fate of the lower "principles." Why theosophists do not believe in the return of pure "spirits." A few words about the Skandhas. On consciousness after death and after birth. What exactly is meant by annihilation? Certain words for certain things
10. ON THE NATURE OF OUR THINKING PRINCIPLE
The Mystery of the Ego. The Composite Nature of Manas. The Doctrine is Taught in the Gospel of John
11. ON THE MYSTERIES OF REINCARNATION
Periodic rebirths. What is karma? Who are those who know? The difference between faith and knowledge; or blind and reasonable faith. Does God have the right to forgive?
12. WHAT IS PRACTICAL THEOSOPHY?
Duty. The attitude of the TS towards political reforms. On self-sacrifice. On charity
Theosophy for the Masses. How Members Can Help the Society. What a Theosophist Should Not Do
13. ON THE MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNING THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Theosophy and Asceticism. Theosophy and Marriage. Theosophy and Education. Why is there so much prejudice against the TS? Is the Theosophical Society a money-making enterprise? The TS Staff
14. THE “THEOSOPHIC MAHATMAS”
Are They “Enlightened Spirits” or “Tormentors”? The Abuse of Sacred Names and Words

DECISION
The Future of the Theosophical Society
glossary
appendix
index