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The '''Fragments of Occult Truth''' is a series of articles published in [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] in the early 1880's. | The '''Fragments of Occult Truth''' is a series of articles published in [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] in the early 1880's. [[Allan Octavian Hume]] and [[Alfred Percy Sinnett]] wrote the articles based upon teachings they received from [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]] and the [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|letters]] written by Mahatmas [[Koot Hoomi|K.H.]] and [[Morya|M.]] These articles are replies to letters written by Australian Theosophist [[William H. Terry]] about the [[Spiritualism|Spiritualistic]] phenomena and the [[Occultism|occult]] explanation of them. | ||
== History and authorship == | == History and authorship == | ||
The first three "Fragments" were written by A. O. Hume, without signing them, and published in [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] on October 1881, March 1882, and September 1882. | The first three "Fragments" were written by A. O. Hume, without signing them, and published in [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] on October 1881, March 1882, and September 1882. To verify Hume as the author, we can turn to the correspondence of H. P. Blavatsky with A. P. Sinnett. She wrote to him in August 1882, while reviewing materials that had been submitted for the September 1882 issue of The Theosophist. She refers to the third "Fragment" as being the work of Hume.<ref>H. P. Blavatsky letter to A. P. Sinnett. August 1, 1882. Barker’s transcription published as letter 6 in [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']], 8–9.</ref> | ||
The first article in the series marks the first time that the [[Principle#Seven principles in human beings|seven-fold constitution of human beings]] was publicly taught in [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature. The information came from teachings that Hume and Sinnett were receiving from the [[Mahatmas]], as well as conversations with [[H. P. Blavatsky]], who stayed as a guest of Hume in Simla for a couple of months at the time. In 1895 [[G. R. S. Mead]] wrongly assigned them to Mme. Blavatsky, publishing them in the book ''A Modern Panarion''. | The first article in the series marks the first time that the [[Principle#Seven principles in human beings|seven-fold constitution of human beings]] was publicly taught in [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature. The information came from teachings that Hume and Sinnett were receiving from the [[Mahatmas]], as well as conversations with [[H. P. Blavatsky]], who stayed as a guest of Hume in Simla for a couple of months at the time. In 1895 [[G. R. S. Mead]] wrongly assigned them to Mme. Blavatsky, publishing them in the book ''A Modern Panarion''. | ||
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On March 1883, following the sixth installment of the Fragments, there is an '''[https://theosophy.wiki/w/images/5/5f/Appendix_to_Devachan.pdf "Appendix to 'Devachan'"]''' consisting of five notes (from A to E) without stating the author. In '''[[Mahatma Letter No. 104#Page 17|Letter 104]]''' (Barker No. 25) KH writes, "Hence — my orders to a chela to reproduce in an Appendix to your article extracts from this letter and explanations calculated to disabuse the reader,.." Much of the Appendix is verbatim from this letter. | On March 1883, following the sixth installment of the Fragments, there is an '''[https://theosophy.wiki/w/images/5/5f/Appendix_to_Devachan.pdf "Appendix to 'Devachan'"]''' consisting of five notes (from A to E) without stating the author. In '''[[Mahatma Letter No. 104#Page 17|Letter 104]]''' (Barker No. 25) KH writes, "Hence — my orders to a chela to reproduce in an Appendix to your article extracts from this letter and explanations calculated to disabuse the reader,.." Much of the Appendix is verbatim from this letter. | ||
On May 1883 (p. 202) [[Franz Hartmann]] wrote the article '''[https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Hartmann_on_Devachan.pdf "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)"]''' and on July of that year | On May 1883 (p. 202) [[Franz Hartmann]] wrote the article '''[https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Hartmann_on_Devachan.pdf "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)"]''' and on July of that year there was an anonymous article '''[https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Karma_Appendix_to_Fragments.pdf "Karma (An Appendix to Fragments of Occult Truth)"]''' which has been assigned to Mme. Blavatsky. | ||
== Series summary == | == Series summary == | ||
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* [[Mahatma Letter No. 104#Page 17|Letter 104]] (Barker No. 25), page 17. | * [[Mahatma Letter No. 104#Page 17|Letter 104]] (Barker No. 25), page 17. | ||
* [https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Hartmann_on_Devachan.pdf "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)"] by Franz Hartmann. ''The Theosophist'' 4 no. 8 (May, 1883), 202. | * [https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Hartmann_on_Devachan.pdf "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)"] by Franz Hartmann. ''The Theosophist'' 4 no. 8 (May, 1883), 202. | ||
* [https://theosophy.wiki/en/File:Karma_Appendix_to_Fragments.pdf "Karma (An Appendix to Fragments of Occult Truth)"]. Ascribed to H. P. Blavatsky. ''The Theosophist'' 4 no. 10 (July, 1883), page 252. | |||
* H. P. Blavatsky letter to A. P. Sinnett. August 1, 1882. Barker’s transcription published as letter 6 in [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']], 8–9. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 18:04, 20 June 2022
The Fragments of Occult Truth is a series of articles published in The Theosophist in the early 1880's. Allan Octavian Hume and Alfred Percy Sinnett wrote the articles based upon teachings they received from H. P. Blavatsky and the letters written by Mahatmas K.H. and M. These articles are replies to letters written by Australian Theosophist William H. Terry about the Spiritualistic phenomena and the occult explanation of them.
History and authorship
The first three "Fragments" were written by A. O. Hume, without signing them, and published in The Theosophist on October 1881, March 1882, and September 1882. To verify Hume as the author, we can turn to the correspondence of H. P. Blavatsky with A. P. Sinnett. She wrote to him in August 1882, while reviewing materials that had been submitted for the September 1882 issue of The Theosophist. She refers to the third "Fragment" as being the work of Hume.[1]
The first article in the series marks the first time that the seven-fold constitution of human beings was publicly taught in Theosophical literature. The information came from teachings that Hume and Sinnett were receiving from the Mahatmas, as well as conversations with H. P. Blavatsky, who stayed as a guest of Hume in Simla for a couple of months at the time. In 1895 G. R. S. Mead wrongly assigned them to Mme. Blavatsky, publishing them in the book A Modern Panarion.
On November 1882 an article entitled "Occult Fragments and the Book of Khiu-Te" was written by "N.D.K.---, F.T.S.", commenting upon the teachings of the first "Fragment". This has been assigned by some to Mme. Blavatsky, but "N.D.K." refers to N. D. Khandalavala.
The later installments of the "Fragments" were written by Mr. Sinnett and signed by him as "A Lay-Chela" (authorized by Mahatma K.H. in Letter 68 (Barker No. 16)). They were published in The Theosophist on October and November 1882, and March, April, and May 1883. Most of the information in these articles was later used by A. P. Sinnett in his book Esoteric Buddhism.
On March 1883, following the sixth installment of the Fragments, there is an "Appendix to 'Devachan'" consisting of five notes (from A to E) without stating the author. In Letter 104 (Barker No. 25) KH writes, "Hence — my orders to a chela to reproduce in an Appendix to your article extracts from this letter and explanations calculated to disabuse the reader,.." Much of the Appendix is verbatim from this letter.
On May 1883 (p. 202) Franz Hartmann wrote the article "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)" and on July of that year there was an anonymous article "Karma (An Appendix to Fragments of Occult Truth)" which has been assigned to Mme. Blavatsky.
Series summary
| Article | Title (linked to PDF) | Author | Month, year | Volume, issue number | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fragments of Occult Truth | A. O. Hume | October, 1881 | Vol. 3 No. 1 (No. 25) | 17-22 |
| 2 | Fragments of Occult Truth | A. O. Hume | March, 1882 | Vol. 3 No. 6 (No. 30) | 157-160 |
| 3 | Fragments of Occult Truth | A. O. Hume | September, 1882 | Vol. 3 No. 12 (No. 36) | 307-314 |
| 4 | The Evolution of Man | A. P. Sinnett | October, 1882 | Vol. 4 No. 1 (No. 37) | 2-5 |
| 5 | The Evolution of Man - continued | A. P. Sinnett | November, 1882 | Vol. 4 No. 2 (No. 38) | 46-48 |
| 6 | Devachan | A. P. Sinnett | March, 1883 | Vol. 4 No. 6 (No. 42) | 131-135 |
| 7 | The Human Life Wave | A. P. Sinnett | April, 1883 | Vol. 4 No. 7 (No. 43) | 161-164 |
| 8 | The Progress of Humanity | A. P. Sinnett | May, 1883 | Vol. 4 No. 8 (No. 44) | 194-195 |
Other digital versions
Related materials
- Appendix to Devachan The Theosophist 4 no. 6 (March, 1883), 135-137. Signed as "N.D.K.---, F.T.S.", who was probably N. D. Khandalavala.
- "Occult Fragments and the Book of Khiu-Te" The Theosophist 4 no. 2 (November, 1882), 28.
- Letter 68 (Barker No. 16), page 34.
- Letter 104 (Barker No. 25), page 17.
- "Devachan (Explanations of Fragments of Occult Truth)" by Franz Hartmann. The Theosophist 4 no. 8 (May, 1883), 202.
- "Karma (An Appendix to Fragments of Occult Truth)". Ascribed to H. P. Blavatsky. The Theosophist 4 no. 10 (July, 1883), page 252.
- H. P. Blavatsky letter to A. P. Sinnett. August 1, 1882. Barker’s transcription published as letter 6 in The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett, 8–9.
Notes
- ↑ H. P. Blavatsky letter to A. P. Sinnett. August 1, 1882. Barker’s transcription published as letter 6 in The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett, 8–9.