Theosophy-Its Teaching by Prof. J. A. L. Derby

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 12, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 31.

Theosophy—Its Teaching

By Prof. J. A. L. Derby

[Editor's Note.—The following is taken from a chapter in a pamphlet entitled "Modern Mysteries: Their Moral Aspect." In the previous portion of the chapter, Professor Derby quotes as to the meaning of theosophy and its workings from "The Rationale of Mesmerism," by the president of the Simla Theosophical Society, Simla, India. It certainly is not the doctrine of the Christ.]

THE word "theosophy" is derived from two Greek words, one signifying God, the other, wisdom. Its root meaning is, therefore, "wisdom concerning God." Its practical definition nowadays is, "wisdom-religion." The word was coined by Ammonius Saccas, an eclectic philosopher of the third century, who was likewise the originator of the Neoplatonist system of speculation, which was nothing more nor less than the theosophy of those times.

Illumination

The method pursued by teachers of the occult, whether in ancient days or modern, in gaining this sublime wisdom, does not appeal to modern methods of exact science. In fact, it is exactly the reverse. Science of to-day examines a multitude of particulars, and from these, reasons to the general laws involved. For instance, it observes that everywhere objects fall. It thence infers the law of gravitation. It observes a multitude of facts concerning the revolutions of the planets, and deduces from them the laws of Kepler,—that planets move in ellipses, etc. But theosophists from Ammonius down have pretended to a short cut in all these things, which consists in a sort of spiritual illumination, a transcendental intuition, a species of revelation,—not a revelation as from a higher Being, but as of the development and unfolding of an inward faculty higher than reason. They often refer to this faculty as the "sixth sense." The ecstatic laudation of this exalted state of mind is something quite unappreciable by us poor groundlings, who are doomed to drudge along in the ancient quarry of knowledge. Listen:

"Purified and perfected [he, the theosophist], begins to practise supernatural faculties. He finds himself able to pass through material obstacles, walls, ramparts, etc. He is able to throw his phantasmal appearance into many places at once. . . . He can leave this world, and even reach the heaven of Brahma himself. . . . He acquires the power of hearing the sounds of the unseen world as distinctly as those of the phenomenal world—more distinctly in point of fact. . . . He is able to read the most secret thoughts of others, and to tell their characters." ("Esoteric Buddhism," page 47.)

In this condition of mind the adept sees the inner principles and process of the universe at work. Not his to infer by laborious inductions what these are. Indeed, with his godlike acquirement he may, to some extent, be a director of these universal forces, etc., etc. To ordinary mortals this is quite dazing.

Mahatmas

When we begin to search for some person that has experienced this mysterious efflorescence of intellect, we are told that we shall have to betake ourselves to certain rock-hewn caves in the mountain fastnesses of Tibet, in Central Asia. There, hidden away from the eyes of the profane, reside the living representatives of the highest spiritual perfection. They are called Mahatmas, or Arahats, also Arhats. We have been unable to distinguish them from what Gautama (after the Buddha) called the Tathagata.

It will be impossible, in this brief article, to make explanations; we can only sketch an outline of the vast system of speculation which goes by the name "theosophy."

To become a Mahatma often requires long, long years of rigid training, having first entered the sacred order of theosophists through initiation, for in this respect they resemble other secret societies. But the thirty-third degree Mason is but a neophyte, as regards the benefits of his high condition, when compared with a Mahatma.

One of the experiences through which the cheda, or disciple, has to pass, seems to be an extended period of suspended animation. We begin to surmise that we have heard of things like this performed by the common fakirs of India, to say nothing of the "sacred brotherhood."

One of the things which "intuition" reveals to the adept in occultism (a name which theosophy claims exclusive right to) is that the whole universe, especially our own solar system, is advancing, and has been for ages inconceivable, to perfection through evolution. Darwin caught a very limited view of the truth; nevertheless what he did see is true, says theosophy. But instead of being confined to one planet and one life, man has to evolute through seven planets, with at least eight hundred incarnations on each planet. Indeed, it is not impossible that, before the individual monad reaches perfection, it may have to pass through fifty or a hundred million incarnations. If you escape under fifty-six hundred, you may consider yourself very fortunate.

Karma

But why must one be incarnated so many times? — Karma — inevitable Karma. What is Karma? — It is the law of cause and effect in morals. If you do not progress spiritually in one life, you will probably be born a woman or a slave or bow-legged next time. If you never develop any spirituality (which please do not confuse with virtue or goodness), you will, ultimately, go to Avichi, or Avitchi — a place of annihilation — tho even from there you may escape, if I have interpreted the doctrine aright — when in the eons of the remote future, after this system has reached perfection, another manvantara, or evolution of worlds, begins. Fact is, there is not much likelihood that any one will ever go to Avichi.

Devachan

At death? — O, you go to dreamland! Everybody goes there and dreams and dreams and dreams for ages — blissful dreams — no nightmares. This place is called "Devachan." Karma does not work here. It lies dormant till the dreaming soul in Devachan is drawn into a "psychic vortex," and born into life again on earth.

Kama-Loka

No, not everybody at death; for, on second thought, suicides and untimely deaths leave the soul to wander shivering in Kama-loka, for the time natural life would have continued. Kama-loka is where spooks come from. Spirit mediums connect their telepathic telephones with that place, and get the daily news therefrom, by means of table rappings, planchette, trance speaking, and the like.

There is another queer freak in Kama-loka. It is the "astral" body, which demands a word of explication.

The Seven Principles

Man, according to this wisdom-religion, has, or is composed of, seven principles; the body, vitality, the astral body, the animal soul, the human soul, the spiritual soul, and, finally, spirit. Now this astral body is the cocoon of the other principles above it. At death the four higher principles of all persons, except suicides and prematures, escape this shell and go to Devachan, but this astral shell still hovers about the grave of the dead man. It is not alive; it dissolves when the body goes back to the elements. But sometimes it comes in contact with a spirit medium, and this person’s four souls glide into it for a while and galvanize it into life, as an electric battery sometimes galvanizes a dead frog. Some lingering desires reflected from this astral shell manifest themselves through the medium.

There is still another sort of creatures in kama-loka — beings of such suspicious character that even the elect brotherhood of Mahatmas have not dared to vouch for them. These are called "elementals." They also work through mediums. There is a tendency to ascribe to them the more eccentric phenomena of spiritism, especially many of the immoralities and physical manifestations, such as dancing tables. At least there seems to be no good to say of these elementals.

Theosophy and Spiritism

Well, reader, no doubt you have heard enough. This, and much more, is theosophy.

Strip away the fiction of the Mahatmas, divest their boasted "illumination" of its gloss of fine words, cast out the maze of speculation, and what have you left? — Spiritism pure and simple. Not a thing attested of the "enlightened" can not be du-