The degree of genius exhibited in works of fiction by the most renowned novelists, largely depends upon and is proportionate to the intensity and interest felt by them in their days of childhood for nursery tales. Also, the older a man becomes, the stronger he clings to and the clearer he seems to see the events of his early childhood. The Greeks of the days of Pericles — they who euhemerized a whole pantheon of gods and goddesses, and from whom Phidias had immortalized the Olympian Jupiter and Athena Promachos, could have no other descendants but those they actually have — the Virgin and Saint worshipping Hellenes. Thus we may believe that the form of worship depends more on the respective idiosyncrasies of races than on their powers of reasoning; and that the natural sympathies or antipathies of the forefathers will always be reflected more or less in the future generations. For it is but names and forms that change, ideas remain the same; and the older a faith, the stronger it clings to the relics of its youth.

These study notes are about a Fellow of the Theosophical Society in Paris, who asserted that Theosophy is a doctrine without proof, without authority, and without prestige in its origin; who accused Brother Theosophists of teaching pseudo-Theosophy and preaching annihilation of the spiritual ego; who talked about the yugas like a blind man about colours; who invented apocryphal Codes in order to discredit Oriental Theosophy; who was not aware of the relation between the sacred sound and the ether of space, or that the Yajur-Veda is “black” when recited by whose accent is impure.

The main cause of pain lies in our perpetually seeking the permanent in the impermanent, and the trouble that comes upon us is always just the one we feel to be the hardest that could possibly happen, the one thing we feel we cannot possibly bear. Evil is often the result of anxiety, in anticipation of recognition and personal reward. The mission of the Theosophical Society is to rekindle the torch of truth by the formation of a fraternal union of mankind, the only soil in which the good seed can grow. To those who are keen to acquire psychic powers for private advantage we have nothing to say. Beware of quick and easy ways of acquiring psychic “gifts.” If in each of our branches we were able to establish a homeopathic dispensary, with the addition of mesmeric healing, we might contribute towards putting the science of medicine in this country on a sounder basis, and be the means of incalculable benefit to the people at large.

Modern Science and Religions dissemble Truth. Only the Theogony of the Ancient Wisdom-Religion may afford a rare glimpse of Truth. And then Nature will give up her secrets to those who seek Truth for her own sake. And to those who are devoted to Truth, who disregard personal benefit, and who persevere and teach. Verily, that which is justice is truth. As a thing is not just because God wills it, but God wills it because it is just, so there can be no Religion more true or just, than to know the things that are, no Religion higher than Truth. Neither can happiness exist where Truth is absent and where intellectual progress refuses to be subordinated to ethical growth. If bereft of Truth, the whole world will turn upside down. That is why Philaletheia is every true Theosophist’s god and dogma.

In ancient times man stood in a far simpler position and more in harmony with nature, than he does at present in “civilized” life. Human thought, when written, is to a great extent ambiguous. The written symbol, without a constant living oral tradition to infuse into it energy, vitality, and give it concrete value, is absolutely dead. Mystery is not unrevealed knowledge; it is revealed only to those of sufficient intellect, purity, and discretion, who are devoted to the spirit of truth wholeheartedly and with undivided love. In ancient times the written word was only the symbol, the oral instruction transmitted from master to pupil, was the true secret treasure. The western approach to the study of eastern Secret Philosophy requires an impartial mind that can proceed without bigotry but with discrimination, both analytically and synthetically, discern similarities, make comparisons, and draw conclusions as to the merit or demerit of the eastern lore of Occult Knowledge.