INSIGHT Spring 2008 vol 49 no. 1 Editorial and selected articles from The Journal of The Theosophical Society in England   editorial archive	from the Spring 2008 issue: Compassion: The Basis of Peace & Understanding by Colin Price go to article

The SCOPE of THEOSOPHY From the National President As our membership continues to grow for the second year running I am prompted to suggest that the very wide appeal of Theosophy is due partly to its scope. Some idea of this scope is indicated by the many names which are used to describe it. These include Esoteric Science, Esoteric or Perennial Philosophy, Ancient or Ageless Wisdom, Wisdom Religion, Divine Wisdom etc. More specifically its scope can be considered under various subject headings which include the following: The concept of the One Life manifest in an almost infinitude of forms, the root of all nature, objective and subjective as everything else in the universe, all derived from the One Absolute Essence. Theosophy also provides a deep metaphysical answer to the question of origin. If there was a big bang what preceded it? Or is it a cyclic process? Theosophy gives us an understanding of man based upon a seven part analysis thus providing a deep basis for many other aspects of the teaching. It develops the concept of angels and non-human hierarchies of which man is also an integral part. In another aspect it explains how the immutable and unchanging character of the laws of nature which science has discovered is replicated throughout the laws which govern the spiritual realms. Theosophy shows how the elements of physical nature are part of a wider picture in which elemental spiritual energies and entities form an integrated whole. The concepts of Akasha and the Astral Light are introduced. The former is described as "the subtle super sensuous spiritual essence which pervades all space" while the Astral Light is part of the teaching on the Akashic records and the memory of all events that take place on the physical, psychic and mental realms. Another theme in Theosophy is rebirth or reincarnation, the suggestion that the spiritual essence in man is a persistent entity which attaches itself periodically to a succession of personalities which it projects into the objective world. It gives a whole new meaning to immortality. The combination of the ideas of the rebirth of a part of man's sevenfold nature with those of details of the after-death processes provides unique and convincing teaching for those who worry about what happens to them when they die. Many other subjects have fresh light thrown upon them by theosophical teachings and these include principally the nature of spiritualistic phenomena, evolution, spiritual devel¬opment and astrology. Although this has been a brief glance at the scope of Theosophy it does help to explain why an examination of the T. S. lecture programmes shows such a wide field and why it promotes interest and attracts members while still providing so much opportunity for interesting and fascinating discussions. Whatever draws people into the Theosophical Society initially it is but the beginning of a fascinating and fulfilling journey of discovery where credible answers are found to the many philosophical and spiritual questions which have never been addressed satisfactorily by the religions of the world. Colin Price Colin Price is National President of The Theosophical Society in England FUTURE DEADLINES We welcome short articles and letters to the Editor on the subject of the Ageless Wisdom and its relevance to the world today. The Editor reserves the right to edit materials for reasons of space and grammar. Please enclose a SAE and post to: 50 Gloucester Place, London Wl U 8EA. Or send your contributions by fax to: 020 7935 9543 or to our e-mail address		Search Insight Articles for (containing text): go to Advanced Text Search >> search all website articles The Insight journal is produced 4 times a year and is sent postfree to members of the Theosophical Society in England. Membership details. info@theosoc.org.uk
Selected articles from INSIGHT
Spring 2008 Vol 49 No 1 - from this issue ... Colin Price Compassion: The Basis of Peace & Understanding
Winter 2007 Vol 48 No 4 - from this issue ... Wayne Gatfield The Heroic Ideal & The Warrior Spirit
Autumn 2007 Vol 48 No 3 - from this issue ... Colin Price The Web of Karma
Summer 2007 Vol 48 No 2 - from this issue ... re-published H.P. Blavatsky What is Theosophy?
Spring 2007 Vol 48 No 1 - from this issue ... Caty Green Who is This 'I' ?
Winter 2006 Vol 47 No 4 - from this issue ... Negeen Sai Zinovieff Ancient Wisdom : Zoroaster
Autumn 2006 Vol 47 No 3 - from this issue ... John O'Rourke Hilma af Klint & the Theosophical Roots of Abstraction in Western Art
Summer 2006 Vol 47 No 2 - from this issue ... Tom Davis Universal Attunement - Doorway to Universal Wisdom
Spring 2006 Vol 47 No 1 - from this issue ... Terry Edwards Strange attractors: An Esoteric View Winter 2005 Vol 46 No 4 - from this issue ... Shirley Nicholson The Mystery of Consciousness. Autumn 2005 Vol 46 No 3 - from this issue ... Colin McCallien Esoteric English: The Wisdom in Everyday Speech Summer 2005 Vol 46 No 2 - from this issue ... Dr Radha Burnier The Way of Self-Knowledge Spring 2005 Vol 46 No 1 - from this issue ... H. P. Blavatsky The Mystery & Sacredness of Number Seven Winter 2004 Vol 45 No 4 - from this issue ... Muriel Daw Paramitas of Perfection (virtues enumerated in The Voice of the Silence) Autumn 2004 Vol 45 No 3 - from this issue ... Geoffrey Farthing Ascending the Heights ~ (previously unpublished) Geoffrey Farthing The Right Angle (writings on Masonry - comiled from the writings of H.P. Blavatsky) Summer 2004 Vol 45 No 2 Alan Wallace The Scientific Frontier of The Spirit (first appeared in the 2002 issue of Network magazine) Spring 2004 Vol 45 No 1 Geoffrey Farthing Truth Is One (first published in 'The Theosophist') November/December 2003 Vol 44 No 6 Playing God? The Genetic Engineering Debate (extract) September/October 2003 Vol 44 No 5 - from this issue ... John Danser Co-operation: A Fact of Nature July/August 2003 Vol 44 No 4 - from this issue ... Christine Lowe. The Grail Mirage. May/June 2003 Vol 44 No 3 - from this issue ... H.P. Blavatsky. The Real Meaning of the Christian Gospels. November/December 2001 Vol 42 No 6 - from this issue ... A Theosophical Labyrinth Painting, Spirituality & The Esoteric (Focus on Jean Delville) Membership articles & lectures Fossils and the Evolution of man George McNamara The Blavatsky Lecture 2003: JOYFUL GNOSIS Dr. Stephan Hoeller The Blavatsky Lecture 2002: THE HARVEST OF LIFE Alan Hughes The Blavatsky Lecture 2001 THEOSOPHY: ITS BENEFICENT POTENTIALITIES Geoffrey Farthing The Blavatsky Lecture 1999: THE SOULS IMPERATIVE Harold Tarn       For further information about Theosophy & the Theosophical Society in England, please contact us www.theosophical-society.org.uk