Theosophy:  An Introduction

Theosophy (Greek: theos, "God"; sophia, "wisdom") is generally considered to be a strain of Western mystical philosophy. Though theosophical thought is traced back to the Greek philosopher and mystic Pythagoras, it was more recently expounded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, who co-founded the Theosophical Society.

Helena P. Blavatsky was born in Ekaterinoslav, Russia in 1831, the daughter of a Russian colonel and a princess. In 1851 she went to London and met the legendary Master Morya, who began guiding her inner development and work for mankind. She made several trips through Asia and into Tibet to complete her training in occult powers. In 1875 she co-founded (with Colonel H. S. Olcott and W. Q. Judge) the Theosophical Society in New York, to "collect and diffuse a knowledge of the laws which govern the Universe." H. P. Blavatsky has written several books, which form the basis for contemporary theosophy, including Isis Unveiled (1877) and The Secret Doctrine (1888). In 1878, the founder moved the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society from New York to Adyar, India, where it is today. Theosophy is now studied throughout the world, with centers in many countries.

Theosophy is the study of the science of God, or "Divine Wisdom." It attempts to "gather the oldest of the tenets together and to make of them one harmonious and unbroken whole." The teachings are not those of any Eastern or Western religion, but rather the essence of all the world's spiritual teachings. The "Secret Doctrine" of theosophy is stated as being the synthesis of science, religion, and philosophy, and proposes to explain the fundamental unity in all religions and unite these findings with science.

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