An ancient faith having all the certitude of religion and all the mystery of science. The modern Theosophist holds, with the Buddhists, that we live an incalculable number of times on this earth, in as many several bodies, because one life is not long enough for our complete spiritual development; that is, a single lifetime does not suffice for us to become as wise and good as we choose to wish to become. To be absolutely wise and good -- that is perfection; and the Theosophist is so keen-sighted as to have observed that everything desirous of improvement eventually attains perfection. Less competent observers are disposed to except cats, which seem neither wiser nor better than they were last year. The greatest and fattest of recent Theosophists was the late Madame Blavatsky, who had no cat.
Any system of philosophy or mysticism which proposes to attain intercourse with God and superior spirits, and consequent superhuman knowledge, by physical processes, as by the theurgic operations of some ancient Platonists, or by the chemical processes of the German fire philosophers; also, a direct, as distinguished from a revealed, knowledge of God, supposed to be attained by extraordinary illumination; especially, a direct insight into the processes of the divine mind, and the interior relations of the divine nature.
theosophy: the teachings or philosophy as taught by Madam Blavatsky and C.W. Leadbeater, Annie Beasant, and other adherents to the Theosophical teachings
A quasi-religious and philosophical system based on the dogmatic principles of the Theosophical Society, formed in 1875 by Madame Blavatsky. The paranormal claims of the Theosophical Society were formally investigated by the British Society for Psychical Research in 1885 and the controversial findings all but discounted the Theosophist movement. However, many students of the occult continued to accept the dogmatic principles and theosophy continued to have a dramatic influence over minds of the 20th century, most notably in the philosophical evolution of the Third Reich.
Spiritual movement founded by Madam Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott, noted for syncretism, world cycles, cosmic initiation, secret masters, evolution to other planets, 1875.
from the Greek theos -meaning god, and sophia-meaning wisdom. Loosely translated, it means divine wisdom. Theosophy is a religious philosophy with strong overtones of mysticism. (See mysticism.)
belief based on mystical insight into the nature of God and the soul
Quasi-religious and philosophical system of the Theosophical Society, founded in 1875 by Madame Blavatsky. Its paranormal claims were controversially and damningly reported upon by the Society for Psychical Research in 1885.
The word derives from the Greek theos, which means "divine" and sophia, which means "knowledge, wisdom." Under this generic name are grouped a variety of mystical doctrines whose goal is to know God through a deepening of inner life and to act upon the universe through supernatural means. Helena Petrovna Blavatski (1831-1891), the founder of Theosophy, published her 10-volume work, The Secret Doctrine, in 1888. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the founder of Anthroposophy, would subsequently spread the tenets of Theosophy.
A system of beliefs promulgated by Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Theosophy emphasizes the unity of spirit and matter, and embraces belief in reincarnation and spiritual evolution.
A school of thought founded by Helena P. Blavatsky. The term literally means "divine wisdom." The goals of Theosophy are to (1) form a universal brother-hood; (2) do comparative study of world religions, science, and philosophy; and, (3) investigate the psychic and spir- itual powers latent in man. Theosophy is the forerunner of much New Age thought.
In general, any school of thought claiming to have special insight into the nature of God; specifically, the religious and philosophical doctrines of the Theosophical Society, founded in 1875 in New York by Madame Helene Petrova Blavatsky based on Hindu and Buddhist notions, it taught the conscious development of paranormal abilities, and belief in reincarnation.
Theosophy, literally "wisdom of the divine" (in the Greek language), designates several bodies of ideas. Philosophers such as Emanuel Swedenborg and Jacob Boehme are commonly called theosophists. The word was revived in the nineteenth century by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky to designate her religious philosophy which holds that all religions are attempts by humanity to approach the absolute, and that each religion therefore has a portion of the truth.
