The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-01-28
WHAT IS TIIEosoPHY !?

Il y y S~N~N
cnt day which give rise to this ques-
ton are, to q certain extent, all an.
swer to it. They represent that ele-
ment OF the human mind which recog-
nizes itself as q part OF Eternal Truth,
and seeks, by further knowledge, to
discoveries relation to the whole.
It is this knowledge -yearned for
and sought by mankind in all stages
Of it's history-that Theosophy is
offering to the world to-day; the
knowledge of the soul, it's nature, pos
sibilities, and Ultimate Attachments;
OF the universal its manifold parts
and differentiations; OF That which we
can only feel to be beyond knowledge,
the Source, Life, and Contamination
OF all things. SIT
The ground thus covered by Theoso-
ply embraces the whole range Of hui
man enquiry. It rewards the most
earnest searchings into the great Trim
ity OF Mystery by indicating the true
relation of the parts to the Whole,
and the lines along which this relation
is effected. II I'heosophy is worldwide
Ill it's application, it is wide also in
definition. The answer lies in the
inner consciousness of all who seek
it, in proportion to each mans
spiritual receptivity, will Theosophy
be to him in it's divinest significance.
AS a definition Of it's highest and most
abstract side, we may speak Of The
osophy as the recognition and con-
scious growth OF soul-life; the wisdom
that comes OF growth; the gradual un-
folding and realization OF the posi-
bilities of being.
1t is looking into the nature of the
Self, and reading, in that inner light,
of the mystery which fndsin the Self
the secret and spring of the universe.
Hence4the man who has realiz ed
the germs Of a supernal existence has
found the answer he seeks to the
question, 'What is Theosophy?'
He hasfound the beginnings of himself,
and Theosophy is the recognition OF
that Self in all it's boundless poten-
tialities. III
Such is the soul or ideal of Theoso.
phy,S which, to many minds, would be
void OF meaning. A subject is, to us,
what we have the power OF making it,
and those who limit the Universe to
their own narrow vision, and
Truth to the extent of their undevel-
oped intuition, will cling to the body
OF Theosophy and ignore the existence
OF it's soul. This body, or set OF doc
trines-Theosophy in its intellectual
aspect-has come to be regarded, by
many inquirers, as the whole extent
OF the subject. Aroused by the increas-
ing prominence of certain doctrines re-
| ]atins to the history of the Universe
| and Man, they have carnalized them
| into a creed, whose principles are SAID
| to undermine all rival religions, thus
| giving prominence to the form at the
expense of the ideal.
For the sectarian element enters, in
| no way, into the conception Of Tneo-
soohy.
1t claims to be.the underlying prin-
clple Of all religious systems, yet
everything that is inculcated in the
form of doctrine is subservient to, and
useful only as the means of expressing,
| the fundamental idea.
In attempting a more concrete def
milton OF 'Iheosophy we encounter a
philosophy so vast and harmonious
as to justify at once the conviction
that it's foundations are laid on Ever
lasting Truth.
| Among the central ideas, we notice
a fundamental law OF thought that,
OF Agreement IN Difference, or Unity
IN DETERMINATIONS coincident with
| this law-that by which it's operation
is effected-is the dual principle finvo-
luton and evolution. On these two
lines the whole philosophy unfolds it.
self. ltpostulates the existence OF one
all-pervading, eternal and only Reality
-Spirit-in which lies hidden the Uni
versal Ideal, or Fore-Thought OF all
things.
From an absolute and unutterable
Source, whose, profundity is impene-
trable even by the highest light of
consciousness, the Universal Thought
is projected through various planes OF
subjectivity, becoming, from the un-
manifested. or ideal prototypal Cause
! the manifested, objective effect on
| that plane where the ideal is realized
in matter. The subjective and OBJ
! jective planes are correlated, since the
unity Of Spirit must be manifested in
all stages OF it's evolution. As on the
highest plane, the nameless Cause and
it's Effect are blended in one unmani-
tested ideal, so, on the lowest, when
the ideal is brought down into visible
form, it beomes it's own effect: it real
ICES itself. 5.a.. 49,.
The secret, then, of the universe is
the manifestation of the Divine Mind
or Universal lf-Consciousness
through various grades OF objectivity.
Descending ultimately into gross mat
ter, it passes through every stage OF
material existence to it's highest devel-
opment in man. In him the Kosmos
recognizes it's browning effort; the life
stream (now conscious mind) has but
one stage further to ascend before it
realizes the goal towards which it has
been working. The full completion OF
- lsi <..1l =