Self-Realisation

The Human Journey: Quest for Self-Transformation is a lecture given by Joy Mills at the Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society in England, 27 May 1978. The following article is a lightly edited version of the booklet that was produced from this lecture.

In a letter, Dorothy Bell shares thoughts on the power of a theosophical worldview to unravel a universal problem.

At the recent South Indian Theosophical Conference held at Adyar during the Easter week-end, the three words c ' Beliefs," Work " and " Wisdom " figured both in the titles in the program and in the speeches. When the word belief" is used, it is apt to assume in some minds a connotation which sets it in contradistinction to reason; because belief in matters of religion, at least in the past, has been treated as not open to question.

In the world of many people, each is different in many different ways – internal and external.  Some people seem more intellectually oriented, focussed on thoughts and reasoning, others more creative, focussed on and sensitive to feelings.  Yet others are action oriented, the direction…

Imagine you are standing on one side of a river and you want to reach a spot on the other side. You dive in and start swimming but you have forgotten to take the river’s current into account. You step up your efforts but no matter how hard you try you cannot quite overcome the currents. When you…

Alexander Pope said: “The proper study of mankind is man.” The teachings of Theosophy enable us to follow Pope’s advice with fullness and completeness, for Theosophy teaches not only about the physical, material person, but also of the emotions, intellect and spiritual nature. Some of the…

Radha Burnier, President of the Parent Theosophical Society, gave the following talk, previously published in The Theosophist, at the Adyar Lodge, Madras/Chennai, in February 1994. Krishnaji was a mystery. I think that no one who came into contact with him really knew him as he was; there were depths to him which none seemed to touch.

A touch of the purified hand pacified the terrible emotions of the new comer, who in suppliant attitude awaited the command of the Beloved Guru. "Rise my child," came from the lips of the Teacher; who, when he was obeyed continued:

Even among those who recognize the spiritual nature of humanity and the possibility of our knowing directly the Reality, which is hidden within the universe and ourselves, there are two schools of thought with regard to the methods by which this knowledge may be obtained. According to one, our spiritual progress depends entirely upon the grace of God, or Kripā, as it is called in Sanskrit.

One of the most baffling problems of spiritual life is to sustain one’s interest and enthusiasm in the midst of endless difficulties and the severest trials. It is the routine and the monotony of everyday existence that sap one’s vitality and strength. The lives of most human beings are made up of small events and incidents—what one might call the trivialities of existence.

And first let the student clearly realize that he cannot see things spiritual with the eyes of the flesh, and that in studying even the Body he must use the eyes of the Spiritual Intelligence, else will he fail and his study will be fruitless. For growth is from within outwards, and always the inner remains the more perfect.

Paradox would seem to be the natural language of occultism. Nay more, it would seem to penetrate deep into the heart of things, and thus to be inseparable from any attempt to put into words the truth, the reality which underlies the outward shows of life. And the paradox is one not in words only, but in action, in the very conduct of life. The paradoxes of occultism must be lived, not uttered only.