The Ocean of Theosophy (book)

1893 edition

The Ocean of Theosophy by William Quan Judge is one of the best-written and most-read books about the basic tenets of Theosophy.

The need for a simple, concise statement of Theosophical teachings was met by Mr. Judge with publication of this book in 1893. It first appeared as a series of newspaper articles, in which the writer set forth all the major doctrines of the philosophy, dealing with questions that might naturally occur to the average reader. Years of experience in the use of the Ocean as a text in Theosophical study classes have proved it a provocative approach to the Theosophical philosophy as a whole.

Organization of the book

The simple and logical organization of this volume makes it easy for the reader to locate topics of interest.

Chapter I. Theosophy and the Masters

Chapter II. General Principles

Chapter III. The Earth Chain

Chapter IV. Septenary Constitution of Man

Chapter V. Body and Astral Body

Chapter VI. Kama—Desire

Chapter VII. Manas

Chapter VIII. Of Reincarnation

Chapter IX. Reincarnation Continued

Chapter X. Arguments Supporting Reincarnation

Chapter XI. Karma

Chapter XII. Kama Loka

Chaper XIII. Devachan

Chapter XIV. Cycles

Chapter XV. Differentiation of Species—Missing Links

Chapter XVI. Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena

Chapter XVII. Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism

Editions and translations

Numerous editions and printings of Judge's masterwork have been issued since 1893, and it has been continuously in print. This book has also been translated into Spanish, French, and several German editions.

• New York: The Path; London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1893. First edition.
• New York: The Path, 1893. Second edition. Four versions are available from Hathitrust.
• New York: Theosophical Publishing Company; London, Theosophical Book Company, 1898. "Tenth thousand." Available at Hathitrust and Internet Archive.
• Point Loma, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1900.
• New York: Elliott B. Page & Co., 1900. Available at Internet Archive.
• New York: Theosophical Society, 1904. "Thirteenth thousand." Available at Hathitrust and Google Books.
• New York Theosophical Publishing Society, 1910. "Fifteenth thousand." Available at Hathitrust.
• Los Angeles, CA: United Lodge of Theosophists, 1915. Available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archives, and Hathitrust.
• Los Angeles: United Lodge of Theosophists, 1922. Eleventh edition. Available at Hathitrust.
• Point Loma, CA: Aryan Theosophical Press, 1926. Point Loma Edition.
• Bombay, India, Theosophy Co. (India) Ltd. 1930. First Indian Edition.
• Los Angeles: Theosophy Company, 1932. Thirteenth edition.
• Los Angeles; Bombay, India: Theosophy Company, 1937. Fourteenth edition.
• Los Angeles, Theosophy Company, 1943. Fifteenth edition. Available at Hathitrust.
• Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1948.
• Los Angeles, The Theosophy Company, 1962. Seventeenth edition.
• Bombay: The Theosophy Company, 1969. Fourth Indian Edition.
• Los Angeles: Theosophy Company, 1971. Tenth edition.
• Los Angeles, CA: Theosophy Company, 1987.
• Kila, Montana: Kessinger, 1998.
• Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 2002.
• Rockville, MD: Wildside Press, 2007.

Selections from The Ocean of Theosophy have been frequently printed in periodicals, and also in this volume:

• The Scope of Reincarnation. Los Angeles, CA: Theosophy Co., 1987. 98 pages. Second edition.

Book reviews

In the July, 1903 issue of The Theosophical Quarterly:

Perhaps this book comes closer than any other to being the always desired and never attained treatise on Theosophy, to give to inquirers.

Study of The Ocean of Theosophy

In the 1930s, Theosophy magazine published a 36-part series called "Studies in the Ocean of Theosophy," and then in the 1980s published "Studies in the 'Glossary,'" a 14-part series correlating chapters of The Ocean to The Theosophical Glossary by H. P. Blavatsky.

In 2002, Ann Forsyth Dann published Wading into The Ocean as a companion into The Ocean of Theosophy. It serves equally well as a study aid for an individual or for a class. Nancy and David Reigle served as editors. The volume has page references for both the Theosophical University Press and The Theosophy Company editions of The Ocean of Theosophy, and an index.