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Invisible Worlds: Annie Besant on Psychic and Spiritual Development
"To investigate the unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in humanity" is one object of the Theosophical Society. Annie Besant (1847-1933), outspoken feminist, political activist, and early president of the TS, thought that psychic and spiritual development should be available to everyone, not just a chosen few. In her many books and articles providing guidelines, her goal was not to help students develop supernormal powers, but to help them increase consciousness in order to receive instruction from the ascended Masters. Besant believed this work had positively changed her life and wanted others to enjoy the same benefit. Although penned a century ago, Besant's wisdom on the subject is still germane. Her prose is clear and inspiring, and Kurt Leland's introduction and notes are well-informed. He helpfully divides Besant's writings into four parts -- Occultism Light and Dark, Higher Life Training, the Investigation of Different Worlds, and the Science of the Superphysical.
- GenresTheosophy
475 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2013
15 people want to read
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July 5, 2015
The Theosophical Society [TS] continues to exist, almost 150 years after its founding. Many like to credit the organization with, directly or indirectly, planting the seeds that flowered with the popularization in the West of New Age, New Thought, Ascended Masters, psychic channeling, and Eastern religious thought (Hinduism, Buddhism, Zen, Hare Krishna, Yoga, meditation). In that sense theosophy has helped to transform the spiritual and religious beliefs and mindset of millions of people. But, the Society itself, since its founding, has experienced division, controversy and stagnation. A book such as this, containing the writings of Annie Besant (1847-1933), a social activist and esotericist, who served four terms as president of TS, provides an overview of the society itself as well as its main teachings which have endured.
The organization’s three aims and ideals are admirable: 1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color. 2. To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science. 3. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man. Other than believing in the aims and ideals there are no requirements for membership. The third ideal is really what most theosophical literature and study material is all about and this book has a good sampling of it. Besant was a very astute and intelligent woman, a true genius, and her writings and lectures reflect those attributes.
I am no stranger to most theosophical concepts, as my list of books will attest, and did not get much new information from this compilation. But it did provide an excellent comprehensive review of what the TS represented for the serious student of metaphysics at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, and how it has evolved into the 21st. Besant set the bar very high for novices. It seems that only the purest of the pure could hope to have any hope of making progress on the winding path to higher consciousness. And she warns repeatedly about the dangers of skipping over the basics, making shortcuts that could enmesh the aspirant in illusory confusion and darkness.
Except for her English compatriot Alice Bailey (1880-1949), Annie Besant, was probably the most prominent esotericist who sincerely attempted to reconcile biblical and Christian doctrines and themes with theosophical philosophy and spiritual wisdom. There are many biblical references in these articles which shed light on universalistic religious interpretations, bridging the religious East and West. The book includes an appendix of over fifty pages of Kurt Leland’s clarifying notes which by itself makes the book a valuable reference resource. The index is also an excellent resource to assist the student to consolidate scattered references into a coherence.
The organization’s three aims and ideals are admirable: 1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color. 2. To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science. 3. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man. Other than believing in the aims and ideals there are no requirements for membership. The third ideal is really what most theosophical literature and study material is all about and this book has a good sampling of it. Besant was a very astute and intelligent woman, a true genius, and her writings and lectures reflect those attributes.
I am no stranger to most theosophical concepts, as my list of books will attest, and did not get much new information from this compilation. But it did provide an excellent comprehensive review of what the TS represented for the serious student of metaphysics at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, and how it has evolved into the 21st. Besant set the bar very high for novices. It seems that only the purest of the pure could hope to have any hope of making progress on the winding path to higher consciousness. And she warns repeatedly about the dangers of skipping over the basics, making shortcuts that could enmesh the aspirant in illusory confusion and darkness.
Except for her English compatriot Alice Bailey (1880-1949), Annie Besant, was probably the most prominent esotericist who sincerely attempted to reconcile biblical and Christian doctrines and themes with theosophical philosophy and spiritual wisdom. There are many biblical references in these articles which shed light on universalistic religious interpretations, bridging the religious East and West. The book includes an appendix of over fifty pages of Kurt Leland’s clarifying notes which by itself makes the book a valuable reference resource. The index is also an excellent resource to assist the student to consolidate scattered references into a coherence.
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