Theos-Talk Archives (August 1995 Message tl00082)

Are there any comments on making the following available in
answer to the above question? This service would be provided by
John Mead, I believe.

Information regarding books is available from the Olcott Library
located in Wheaton, Illinois or from this Pasadena, California
library on an estate called Deodars where you can join a
theosophical society operating under a different leadership and
organizational structure than the Adyar-affiliated group with
headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois.

OLCOTT@DUPAGELS.LIB.IL.US Olcott Library
DEODARS@AOL.COM Theosophical Library Pasadena

This e-mail address is also available for people with questions
regarding membership and the National Headquarters in Wheaton
houses the Olcott Library:

THEOS@NETCOM.COM Theosophical Society In America

Quest Books is a theosophical book store operated by The
Theosophical Society in America with locations in Ojai,
California; New York, NY; Wheaton, Illinois; Seattle, Washington
and (can someone help me with the others?) The Theosophical
Publishing House markets their titles in a wide variety of
bookstores.

There may be other e-mail addresses similar in importance to the
three above which are subscribers to theos-l which are not listed
at this time.

Many articles and 'electronic pamphlets' are available at
Theosophy Lodge Online by telneting to theosophy.org. TLO also
offers a sophisticated messaging system and live discussions,
both impromptu (by paging the hosts or other users) and
pre-arranged (every Wed. night at 10pm Eastern). The program of
live theosophical discussions on TLO is posted every month to
theos-news@vnet.net. This work is done in conjunction with a
theosophical society called The United Lodge of Theosophists.

Here are sources for more articles available through computer
networking: Furthermore, there are a number of articles on
theosophy available on the world wide web:

see URL: http://spirit.satelnet.org/Spirit/mysteries.html
(click on Theosophy keyword)

The theos-l archive also has some articles on theosophy, besides
containing the theos-l log-archive.

Theosophical archive: FTP to char.vnet.net
Login as anonymous
Password: your E-mail account
change directory to: /pub/theos-l
and get the file you want

> If you order by mail, publishers also charge postage. Also
prices do change. Here are the phone numbers of the publishers
in order to confirm prices and postage:

> The Theosophical Publishing House, Post Box 270
> Wheaton, Illinois 60187 1-800-669-9425
>
> The Theosophical University Press, Postoffice Bin C,
> Pasadena, Cal. 91109 - 7107 USA tel. (818) 798-3378
>
> Point Loma Publications, P.O. Box 6507
> San Diego, Calif. 92106 1-619-222-9609
>
> Impossible Dream Publications P.O. Box 1844
> Tucson, Arizona 85702. postage for the one book is $2.00.

It is possible to find many of the following titles on sale
through any of the publishing companies. Just because a company
publishes the book does not mean they are the only company to
sell the book. They each may have a different version of the
book or at times they may make available another publisher's work
in their own sale catalog. We do not recommend any one publisher
over any of the other publishers, so feel free to attempt to
purchase books from one or all of the companies listed and not
just the company listed with the books in the following lists.

Here are ideas from three different subscribers:

> I recommend the following 6 or so books:

> (1) An Introduction to Esoteric Principles by William Doss
McDavid Paper, $7.50

> This is an excellent introduction to HPB's teachings.
Available from The Theosophical Publishing House.

> (2) Deity, Cosmos and Man: An Outline of Esoteric Science by
Geoffrey A. Farthing. Paper, $15.00.

> Also a good introduction to Theosophy as presented by HPB and
the Masters.

> Availalbe from Point Loma Publications.

> (3) The Key to Theosophy with a Glossary by H.P. Blavatsky.
Paper, $10.00 An introduction to Theosophy in HPB's own words.

> The best edition in print is available from The Theosophical
University Press.

> (4) The Voice of the Silence translated by H.P. Blavatsky.
Paper, $5.00.

> Available from Theosophical University Press.

> Another good edition of The Voice of the Silence is the
centenary edition with a historical introduction published by The
Theosophical Publishing House. Paper, $5.95.

> (5) Abridgement of The Secret Doctrine by H.P. Blavatsky.
Edited by Elizabeth Preston and Christmas Humphreys. Paper,
$8.95. A good introduction to H.P.B.'s best known work. The
essence of the S.D. in 250 pp.

> Available from The Theosophical Publishing House.

> (6) The Divine Plan by Geoffrey A. Barborka. Hardcover,
$24.95.

> Although not an introductory book, still this book is very
helpful to anyone who wants to understand the basic ideas and
concepts of the Secret Doctrine. This book by Barborka is a
commentary on the S.D. and also defines key Sanskrit words used
in the S.D. The index to the Divine Plan can be used like a
glossary to explain key Theosophical and Sanskrit terms used by
H.P.B.

> Available from The Theosophical Publishing House.

> I also recommend two biographical works on H.P. Blavatsky to
help round out one's understanding:

> (7) H.P.B.: The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena
Blavatsky by Sylvia Cranston. Paper, 18.95; Hardcover; $30.00.

> Available from The Theosophical University Press.

> (8) The Occult World of Madame Blavatsky compiled and edited by
Daniel H. Caldwell. $13.95, paper.

> Available from Impossible Dream Publications

> Also all titles listed above are available from one source:

> Wizards Bookshelf
> P.O. Box 6600
> San Diego, California 92166

> Call 1-619-258-0049 for price confirmation and postage.

> These recommendations have been compiled by Daniel H.
Caldwell.

Another suggested reading list is this one by Naftaly Ramramkar:

LOTS OF REFERNCES AND BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE.

HERE ARE A FEW OF THOSE

1. BASIC THEOSOPHY : GEOFFREY HODSON
2. SELF CULTURE / WAY OF SELF DISCOVERY : I.K. TAIMANI
3. SEEKING WISDOM : N. SRI RAM
4. KEY TO THEOSOPHY: H.P. BLAVATSKY
THERE ARE ALSO LOTS BASIC BOOKS BY BEASANT/ LEADBEATER.

THERE ALSO SOME BY JUDGE.

The next list is provided by Martin Euser.

1. The Key to Theosophy. H.P.Blavatsky.

 An excellent intro to Theosophy.

2. The ocean of Theosophy. W.Q. Judge.

 A concise intro to Theosophy.

3. Echoes of the Orient. W.Q. Judge. (3 volumes)

Contains many excellent magazine articles (vol. 1 ,2) and
comments & suggestions about esoteric teachings (vol.3)

4. Theosophy and Christianity. H.T. Edge

This is one manual out of twelve in a series of small booklets on
key teachings of Theosophy

5. Esoteric keys to the Christian Scriptures & the universal
mystery language of myth and symbol. H.T. Edge

6. Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy. G. de Purucker.

A good introduction to The Secret Doctrine (H.P.Blavatsky's
masterwork).

7. The Esoteric Tradition (2 volumes). G. de Purucker.

A thorough work on many theosophical teachings. Contains also
comments on science in the thirties.

8. Fountain-Source of Occultism. G. de Purucker.

An advanced book on esoteric topics.

9. The dialogues of G. de Purucker

Very diverse, but offers valuable insights on practical human
problems and also profound themes of Theosophy.

10. Man in evolution. G. de Purucker. (TUP)

A book that analyzes Theosophy in relation to science.

(The favored publisher for Purucker's books is Point Loma
Publications.)

11. Blavatsky Collected Writings series

12. The Mahatma Letters (compiled by A.T. Barker)

#1 and #2 of this list provide a good reference frame for
Theosophy. #3 gives many clear thoughts on a great variety of
spiritual topics. These provide an excellent background for the
other books, which are more or less put in order of degree of
difficulty. Also, it could be useful to order a catalogue from
the publishers mentioned in this list.

Martin Euser euser@xs4all.nl

Anyone is free to make a suggested reading list and many of the
new reading lists are included here as soon as they are received.