The Secret Doctrine (book): Difference between revisions

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The First Volume of [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']] came off the Press on [[October 20]], 1888. The first printing of 500 copies were exhausted before date of publication. The Second Volume is out towards the end of the year.
The First Volume of '''The Secret Doctrine''' came off the Press on [[October 20]], 1888. The first printing of 500 copies were exhausted before date of publication. The Second Volume is out towards the end of the year.
 
== Writing ==
 
In May 1879, soon after moving to India, [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]] started designing a new book on [[Theosophy]] that would eventually become ''The Secret Doctrine''.
 
In January 1884 the Supplement to [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] published an advertising announcing that "a New Version of [[Isis Unveiled (book)|''Isis Unveiled'']]", which was to be published in monthly. Although Mme. Blavatsky had some written material to start the monthly installments, this never came to fruition in the way planned, due to ill-health, her [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky#Visiting Europe|travel to Europe]], and the [[Hodgson_Report#Coulomb_affair|Coulomb affair]].
 
In the fall of 1885, a few months after HPB moved to Wurzburg, Germany, she started working steadily on its writing. The [[Constance Wachtmeister|Countess Wachtmeister]] moved with HPB to help her in this endeavor. As the writing of the book developed with the help of [[Morya|Masters M.]] and [[Koot Hoomi|K.H.]], HPB realized it was much more than a rewriting of ''Isis Unveiled''. In a letter to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]] she said she felt that this could vindicate the [[Theosophical Society]] after the unfavorable [[Hodgson Report|Report]] that Hodgson made.<ref>A. Trevor Barker, ''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'' Letter No. CXVI, (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1973), 79.</ref>
 
In the spring of 1886 she sent a preliminary manuscript of the first volume to Adyar, where [[T. Subba Row]] was supposed to read it and contribute in what had to do with [[Hinduism|Hindu philosophy]]. However, he refused to do so. HPB moved to Ostende, Belgium, where she continued working on the book.
 
By the end of March 1887 she fell gravely ill with a kidney infection. She was not expected to live. [[Morya|Master M.]] came at night and asked her if she wanted to be freed from the body or live, amidst much suffering, or live and finish ''The Secret Doctrine''. She agreed on finishing the book. On [[May 1]], 1887, she moved to London where a group of earnest students would help her finish and publish her book.
 
The First Volume of ''The Secret Doctrine'' came off the Press on [[October 20]], 1888, while the Second Volume was out towards the end of the year.
 
== Online resources==
== Online resources==
===Articles and pamphlets===
===Articles and pamphlets===
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===Additional resoruces===
===Additional resoruces===
* ''Compilation of articles related to the'' [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-1.htm# First Fundamental Proposition], [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-2.htm# Second Fundamental Proposition], ''and'' [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-3.htm# Third Fundamental Proposition] at Philaletheians.co.uk
* ''Compilation of articles related to the'' [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-1.htm# First Fundamental Proposition], [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-2.htm# Second Fundamental Proposition], ''and'' [http://www.philaletheians.co.uk/SN-secret-doctrines-proposition-3.htm# Third Fundamental Proposition] at Philaletheians.co.uk
== Notes ==
<references/>


[[Category:Books|Secret Doctrine, The]]
[[Category:Books|Secret Doctrine, The]]

Revision as of 20:45, 24 February 2014

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The First Volume of The Secret Doctrine came off the Press on October 20, 1888. The first printing of 500 copies were exhausted before date of publication. The Second Volume is out towards the end of the year.

Writing

In May 1879, soon after moving to India, H. P. Blavatsky started designing a new book on Theosophy that would eventually become The Secret Doctrine.

In January 1884 the Supplement to The Theosophist published an advertising announcing that "a New Version of Isis Unveiled", which was to be published in monthly. Although Mme. Blavatsky had some written material to start the monthly installments, this never came to fruition in the way planned, due to ill-health, her travel to Europe, and the Coulomb affair.

In the fall of 1885, a few months after HPB moved to Wurzburg, Germany, she started working steadily on its writing. The Countess Wachtmeister moved with HPB to help her in this endeavor. As the writing of the book developed with the help of Masters M. and K.H., HPB realized it was much more than a rewriting of Isis Unveiled. In a letter to A. P. Sinnett she said she felt that this could vindicate the Theosophical Society after the unfavorable Report that Hodgson made.[1]

In the spring of 1886 she sent a preliminary manuscript of the first volume to Adyar, where T. Subba Row was supposed to read it and contribute in what had to do with Hindu philosophy. However, he refused to do so. HPB moved to Ostende, Belgium, where she continued working on the book.

By the end of March 1887 she fell gravely ill with a kidney infection. She was not expected to live. Master M. came at night and asked her if she wanted to be freed from the body or live, amidst much suffering, or live and finish The Secret Doctrine. She agreed on finishing the book. On May 1, 1887, she moved to London where a group of earnest students would help her finish and publish her book.

The First Volume of The Secret Doctrine came off the Press on October 20, 1888, while the Second Volume was out towards the end of the year.

Online resources

Articles and pamphlets

Books

Audio

Video

Additional resoruces

Notes

  1. A. Trevor Barker, The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett Letter No. CXVI, (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1973), 79.