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THE SECRET DOCTRINE, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's masterwork on the origin and evolution of the universe and humanity itself, is arguably the most famous, and perhaps the most influential, occult book ever written. Published since 1888 only in expensive, two-volume editions of some 1,400 pages, it has long eluded the grasp of modern readers until now. This single-volume edition, abridged and annotated by historian and Theosophical scholar Michael Gomes, places the ideas of THE SECRET DOCTRINE within reach of all who are curious. In particular, Gomes provides a critical sounding of the book's famous stanzas on the genesis of life and the cosmos mysterious passages that Blavatsky said originated from a primeval source and which form the heart of THE SECRET DOCTRINE. Gomes scrupulously scales down the book's key writings on symbolism to their essentials, and offers notes and a glossary to illuminate arcane references. His historical and literary introduction casts new light on some of the book's sources and on the career of its brilliant and elusive author, one of the most intriguing personages of the nineteenth century. At once compact and representative of the work as a whole, this new edition of THE SECRET DOCTRINE brings unprecedented accessibility to the key esoteric classic of the modern era.
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The epoch-making work known as The Secret Doctrine is the magnum opus of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The epoch-making work known as The Secret Doctrine is the magnum opus of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have studied this book and author as well as theosphy and comparative religions, philosophy, science of mind for over 20 years and the truth contained in H.P.Blavatsky's writings as well as intuitive knowledge have caused me great joy and massive yearning for additional lifetimes of study...I highly reccomend this book for serious students of lifes mysteries and higher learning.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Secret Doctrine is Madame Blavatsky's masterpiece and something of a succes de scandale. The book sold relatively poorly and yet its influence was profound in diverse areas of cultural endeavour in the Twentieth Century. Although the book never quite found a large audience or widespread acceptance luminaries such as Yeats, Eliot, Kandinsky and HP Lovecraft (to name but a few) all drew inspiration from it. Theosophy was one of those great ideas whose time never quite came, even though it did have an important (and often unacknowledged role) in issues as diverse as Indian independence, women's rights and the struggle for better social conditions. The book has long attracted controversy: allegations of plagiarism and implied racism are just two charges levelled at it. And yet, it is undoubtedly a spiritual classic with many influential admirers from Rudolf Steiner onwards. Many-if not nearly all- modern 'spiritual' movements begin with The Secret Doctrine.
In summary, the book is vast: It tells the story of the creation and evolution of universe in part one 'Cosmogenesis'; while part two details the spiritual evolution of mankind 'Anthropogenesis.' The book also expounds the idea that not only that all religions are one but also that they all contain esoteric wisdom which has either been suppressed or forgotten. Both parts of the book comprise of an extended commentary upon an ancient mystical text called the Book of Dyzan written in a hitherto unknown language: Senzar. The book draws heavily on Hindu and Buddhist cosmology and Blavatsky is one of the first western writers to do this. Out of a huge range of disparate sources from Greece, Eygpt, the Zohar etc. Blavatsky constructs a mythos so elaborate that one feels that she could have given JRR Tolkien a run for his money.
The Secret Doctrine is, in some respects, a feminist classic -whatever view you may hold about the text's veracity. Here is a woman, living in a still patriarchal age willing to take on all male authority figures: Darwin, the Church and assert that fundamentally they are all wrong (or at the very most only part right). How much of this book is meant to be taken as literally true is anyone's guess; however, you have to admire Blavatsky's chutzpah, whether you believe in ascended masters or not.
In summary, the book is vast: It tells the story of the creation and evolution of universe in part one 'Cosmogenesis'; while part two details the spiritual evolution of mankind 'Anthropogenesis.' The book also expounds the idea that not only that all religions are one but also that they all contain esoteric wisdom which has either been suppressed or forgotten. Both parts of the book comprise of an extended commentary upon an ancient mystical text called the Book of Dyzan written in a hitherto unknown language: Senzar. The book draws heavily on Hindu and Buddhist cosmology and Blavatsky is one of the first western writers to do this. Out of a huge range of disparate sources from Greece, Eygpt, the Zohar etc. Blavatsky constructs a mythos so elaborate that one feels that she could have given JRR Tolkien a run for his money.
The Secret Doctrine is, in some respects, a feminist classic -whatever view you may hold about the text's veracity. Here is a woman, living in a still patriarchal age willing to take on all male authority figures: Darwin, the Church and assert that fundamentally they are all wrong (or at the very most only part right). How much of this book is meant to be taken as literally true is anyone's guess; however, you have to admire Blavatsky's chutzpah, whether you believe in ascended masters or not.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
56 of 58 people found the following review helpful
The Secret Doctrine is No Secret
6 Oct 2009
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderfully thought-provoking book, but it is VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. Having a master's degree in theological studies, it still took me 6 months to get through each book and I was really pushing. I do not wish to discourage potential readers, but only want to be realistic. If anyone is looking to understand the basic ideas in The Secret Doctrine I would strongly suggest Goodricke-Clark's work entitled Madame Blavatsky. A little easier to read it groups particular sections of Blavatky's writings by topic (that is one of the downfall's of The Secret Doctrine-the arrangement of random material throughout).
I would certainly agree that this work is Blavatsky's crowning achievement, but not because it is "original." Rather, it is the way Blavatsky takes various western esoteric concepts and syncretises them into one work that is most ingenious. She takes the prevalent ideas in western esotericism (root races, planetary evolution, and phalic/solar origin of religion- for anyone looking for a historical background on these subjects I would suggest The Theosophical Enlightenment by Joscelyn Godwin) and merges them with Asian religious practices and terminiology in an attempt to defend religion against the growing threat of materialism. What comes out is a lengthy, unorganzied treatise on western esoteric concepts that is brilliant as a redactionary work.
I would certainly agree that this work is Blavatsky's crowning achievement, but not because it is "original." Rather, it is the way Blavatsky takes various western esoteric concepts and syncretises them into one work that is most ingenious. She takes the prevalent ideas in western esotericism (root races, planetary evolution, and phalic/solar origin of religion- for anyone looking for a historical background on these subjects I would suggest The Theosophical Enlightenment by Joscelyn Godwin) and merges them with Asian religious practices and terminiology in an attempt to defend religion against the growing threat of materialism. What comes out is a lengthy, unorganzied treatise on western esoteric concepts that is brilliant as a redactionary work.
105 of 121 people found the following review helpful
truly the first step to understanding the cocmos and man
19 Jan 1999
Format:Paperback
I have studied this book and author as well as theosphy and comparative religions, philosophy, science of mind for over 20 years and the truth contained in H.P.Blavatsky's writings as well as intuitive knowledge have caused me great joy and massive yearning for additional lifetimes of study...I highly reccomend this book for serious students of lifes mysteries and higher learning.
35 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Foundation of Western New Thought
2 Oct 2008
Format:Paperback
First, this is not an easy book to read, but it's importance in the study of metaphysics makes it well worth the effort. I am a practicing metaphysican and have been a student of metaphysics, theosphy and comparative religions for over 20 years and am just beginning to realize the truth contained in this and others of H.P.Blavatsky's books.
This book is on my recommended list the serious student of metaphysics and esoteric knowledge. It has been an integral part of the foundation of the Western new age/new thought movements.
This book is on my recommended list the serious student of metaphysics and esoteric knowledge. It has been an integral part of the foundation of the Western new age/new thought movements.
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