Five Years of Theosophy

Five Years Of Theosophy, by
Various, Edited

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Edited by George Robert Snow Mead
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Title: Five Years Of Theosophy
Author: Various
Release Date: December 18, 2004 [eBook #14378]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE
YEARS OF THEOSOPHY***
E-text prepared by an anonymous Project Gutenberg contributor

FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY
Mystical, Philosophical, Theosophical, Historical and Scientific Essays

Selected from "The Theosophist"
Edited by George Robert Snow Mead

CONTENTS
Mystical
The "Elixir of Life" Is the Desire to "Live" Selfish? Contemplation
Chelas and Lay Chelas Ancient Opinions upon Psychic Bodies The
Nilgiri Sannyasis Witchcraft on the Nilgiris Shamanism and Witchcraft
Amongst the Kolarian Tribes Mahatmas and Chelas The Brahmanical
Thread Reading in a Sealed Envelope The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac
The Sishal and Bhukailas Yogis
Philosophical
True and False Personality Chastity Zorastrianism on the Septenary
Constitution of Man Brahmanism on the Sevenfold Principle in Man
The Septenary Principle in Esotericism Personal and Impersonal God
Prakriti and Parusha Morality and Pantheism Occult Study Some
Inquiries Suggested by Mr. Sinnett's "Esoteric Buddhism" Sakya
Muni's Place in History Inscriptions Discovered by General A.
Cunningham Discrimination of Spirit and Not-Spirit Was Writing
Known Before Panini?
Theosophical
What is Theosophy? How a "Chela" Found His "Guru" The Sages of
the Himavat The Himalayan Brothers--Do They Exist? Interview With
a Mahatma The Secret Doctrine
Historical
The Puranas on the Dynasty of the Moryas and on Koothoomi The
Theory of Cycles

Scientific
Odorigen and Jiva Introversion of Mental Vision "Precipitation" "How
Shall We Sleep?" Transmigration of the Life Atoms "OM" and its
Practical Significance

FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY
Mystical

The "Elixir of Life" From a Chela's* Diary. By G---M---, F.T.S.
"And Enoch walked with the Elohim, and the Elohim took him."
--Genesis
Introduction
[The curious information-for whatsoever else the world may think of it,
it will doubtless be acknowledged to be that--contained in the article
that follows, merits a few words of introduction. The details given in it
on the subject of what has always been considered as one of the darkest
and most strictly guarded of the mysteries of the initiation into
occultism--from the days of the Rishis until those of the Theosophical
Society--came to the knowledge of the author in a way that would seem
to the ordinary run of Europeans strange and supernatural. He himself,
however, we may assure the reader, is a most thorough disbeliever in
the Supernatural, though he has learned too much to limit the
capabilities of the natural as some do. Further, he has to make the
following confession of his own belief. It will be apparent, from a
careful perusal of the facts, that if the matter be really as stated therein,
the author cannot himself be an adept of high grade, as the article in
such a case would never have been written. Nor does he pretend to be
one. He is, or rather was, for a few years an humble Chela. Hence, the
converse must consequently be also true, that as regards the higher
stages of the mystery he can have no personal experience, but speaks of

it only as a close observer left to his own surmises--and no more. He
may, therefore, boldly state that during, and notwithstanding, his
unfortunately rather too short stay with some adepts, he has by actual
experiment and observation verified some of the less transcendental or
incipient parts of the "Course." And, though it will be impossible for
him to give positive testimony as to what lies beyond, he may yet
mention that all his own course of study, training and experience, long,
severe and dangerous as it has often been, leads him to the conviction
that everything is really as stated, save some details purposely veiled.
For causes which cannot be explained to the public, he himself may he
unable or unwilling to use the secret he has gained access to. Still he is
permitted by one to whom all his reverential affection and gratitude are
due--his last guru--to divulge for the benefit of Science and Man, and
specially for the good of those who are courageous enough to
personally make the experiment, the following astounding particulars
of the occult methods for prolonging life to a period far beyond the
common.--G.M.]
--------- * A. Chela is the pupil and disciple of an initiated Guru or
Master.--Ed. ---------
Probably one of the first considerations which move the
worldly-minded at present to solicit initiation into Theosophy is the
belief,