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Light on the Path & Through the Gates of Gold
Mabel Collins offers her views on reality and the world around us in this superb collection of three of her most popular works: Light on the Path, Through the Gates of Gold and The Illumined Way.
Each of these works offers an inspirational account of both of the tenets of theosophy, and the outlook its members had upon the world. The first part of Light on the Path is comprised of a a series of rules, which briefly cover the behaviors which adherents to spiritualism promoted by the theosophic society should follow.
The second part of the book is more of a simple, instructional guide to the study of the occult. Collins discusses how a person should prepare and undertake their personal study of the supernatural; according to Collins, the laws of 'super-nature' govern the Earth, its atmosphere, and the wider universe.
Through the Gates of Gold and The Illumined Way further expound on these topics further, detailing how seekers of spiritual insight and occult knowledge may progress. The Illumined Way quotes Light on the Path frequently, building on and clarifying the earlier text.
A celebrated scholar and author in the theosophist movement, Mabel Collins wrote some forty-six separate works, most of them concerning topics of interest to the theosophic and occultist movements of the early 20th century. She was a devotee to theosophism for decades, and became one of the movement's most distinguished members in London after publishing Light on the Path in 1884.
Collins advocated further studies of the arcane and occult, so as to further the knowledge of the theosophic society. She contributed and co-edited the magazine Lucifer, which was among the most successful periodicals of the occult to appear in the late 19th century. Here the progress of the movement, and major subjects of occult interest, were published regularly to eager audiences: in short, theosophy became fashionable.
Mabel Collins was also rumored to have been the lover of Jack the Ripper. She is said to have discovered five bloodstained ties belonging to Robert Donston Stephenson; a suspect in the police hunt for the notorious serial killer. However, subsequent evidence has eliminated Stephenson from the list of potential murderers.
Each of these works offers an inspirational account of both of the tenets of theosophy, and the outlook its members had upon the world. The first part of Light on the Path is comprised of a a series of rules, which briefly cover the behaviors which adherents to spiritualism promoted by the theosophic society should follow.
The second part of the book is more of a simple, instructional guide to the study of the occult. Collins discusses how a person should prepare and undertake their personal study of the supernatural; according to Collins, the laws of 'super-nature' govern the Earth, its atmosphere, and the wider universe.
Through the Gates of Gold and The Illumined Way further expound on these topics further, detailing how seekers of spiritual insight and occult knowledge may progress. The Illumined Way quotes Light on the Path frequently, building on and clarifying the earlier text.
A celebrated scholar and author in the theosophist movement, Mabel Collins wrote some forty-six separate works, most of them concerning topics of interest to the theosophic and occultist movements of the early 20th century. She was a devotee to theosophism for decades, and became one of the movement's most distinguished members in London after publishing Light on the Path in 1884.
Collins advocated further studies of the arcane and occult, so as to further the knowledge of the theosophic society. She contributed and co-edited the magazine Lucifer, which was among the most successful periodicals of the occult to appear in the late 19th century. Here the progress of the movement, and major subjects of occult interest, were published regularly to eager audiences: in short, theosophy became fashionable.
Mabel Collins was also rumored to have been the lover of Jack the Ripper. She is said to have discovered five bloodstained ties belonging to Robert Donston Stephenson; a suspect in the police hunt for the notorious serial killer. However, subsequent evidence has eliminated Stephenson from the list of potential murderers.
- GenresTheosophySpirituality
130 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1888
59 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Mabel Collins
250 books22 followersMabel Collins was born in St Peter Port, Guernsey. She was a writer of popular occult novels, a fashion writer and an anti-vivisection campaigner. According to Vittoria Cremers, as related by Aleister Crowley, Collins was at one time being romantically pursued by both Cremers and alleged occultist Robert D'Onston Stephenson. Cremers claimed that during this time she found five bload-soaked ties in a trunk under Stephenson's bed, corresponding to the five murders committed in Whitechapel by Jack the Ripper. Stephenson is no longer a candidate as being Jack the Ripper due to the efforts of competent, modern researchers. However, Stephenson was a rival with Cremers for Collins' affections, and this account cannot be independently confirmed
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2015
I think it is inspirational. It is said to be from the same source as HPB's stanzas of _Dzyan_ and _The_Voice_of_The_Silence_ of which the source of the latter is _The_Book_of_The_Golden_Precepts_ (part of _Dzyan_ or related.) HPB knew Collins,= but may not have publicized that their books were from the same source. The Panchen Lama is said to have these secret books of which the exoteric version is _Kalachakra_Tantra_.
Read
July 14, 2013Dnf therefore no rating. Confusing for the sake of it? It seems to me this could have been wrapped up in ten pages, and for the benefit of all.
November 3, 2024
These two books stand as two opposites.
In the first she wrote:
6. Kill out desire for sensation
In the second she wrote:
It is sensation we desire, else we would with one accord taste of the deep waters of oblivion, and the human race would become extinct.
Destroy the sensation which makes them wish to persevere in the experiment of living, and there is nothing left.
Thus it is clear that the philosopher who refuses to feel, leaves himself no place to retreat to.... He can only deny himself his heritage of life, which is... the right of sensation.
If he chooses to sacrifice that which MAKES HIM MAN, he must be content with mere idleness of consciousness.
Desire MUST BE GRATIFIED in physical life...
In the first she wrote:
Seal in the heart the source of evil and expunge it. ... Only the strong can kill it out.
In the second, she wrote:
First it makes the vital MISTAKE of distinguishing between good and evil. Nature KNOWS NO such distinction.... We forget them forever.
In the first she wrote:
6. Kill out desire for sensation
In the second she wrote:
It is sensation we desire, else we would with one accord taste of the deep waters of oblivion, and the human race would become extinct.
Destroy the sensation which makes them wish to persevere in the experiment of living, and there is nothing left.
Thus it is clear that the philosopher who refuses to feel, leaves himself no place to retreat to.... He can only deny himself his heritage of life, which is... the right of sensation.
If he chooses to sacrifice that which MAKES HIM MAN, he must be content with mere idleness of consciousness.
Desire MUST BE GRATIFIED in physical life...
In the first she wrote:
Seal in the heart the source of evil and expunge it. ... Only the strong can kill it out.
In the second, she wrote:
First it makes the vital MISTAKE of distinguishing between good and evil. Nature KNOWS NO such distinction.... We forget them forever.
April 19, 2016
Great read for an open mind
I would recommended this book only to someone that is able to look at everything fully and interpret it well
I would recommended this book only to someone that is able to look at everything fully and interpret it well
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews