Light on the Path (book)

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Light on the Path is a perennial favorite of Theosophical literature written by Mabel Collins in 1885. Its subtitle is "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." The text provides rules that serve as rungs of a ladder in the progress of the spiritual life. These rules are accompanied by commentaries provided by the Master Hilarion.

Writing of the book

Involvement of Master Hilarion

Master Hilarion is said to served as a conduit in the writing of Light on the Path, as the rules came "not from the Master Hilarion but through him from the far distant past."[1] He further contributed the commentaries on the stanzas that are included in the published work. In an analysis by John Hamaker, Collins' book gives evidence of the influence of the fifth ray on the Theosophical Society. The fifth ray is identified with the human impulse toward learning that is manifested in organized science. Hilarion was "leader and teacher of the group of souls whose line of progress lies through the quality that is the fifth ray..."

In Light on the Path we catch a glimpse of the fifth ray... the presence of the spirit of science can clearly be discerned. The first thing we see is the presence of a well defined structure. We are impressed by the simplicity and economy of both its structure and its language. In this is a beautiful expression of the way of science, in as much as science truly is the art and specialty of creating forms of the stuff of the mind." [2]

Structure of the book

Annie Besant & C. W. Leadbeater discuss the origins and structure of Light on the Path in Talks on the Path of Occultism (Vol. III: Light on the Path):

The treatise falls naturally into certain divisions...

Fifteen of the short rules that you find in the first part of this book, and fifteen in the second part, are exceedingly old, and were written in the most ancient Sanskrit. To these short sentences which are used as a basis for the instruction of the disciple, the Chohan added other sentences, which now form part of the book, and are always to be read along with them, to supply complementary ideas without which the reader may be led astray. All the rules in both parts of the book, except the thirty short aphorisms, were written by the Chohan who gave it to Master Hilarion. The following table shows the fifteen short rules in Part I as they existed in the exceedingly ancient manuscripts; the number at the beginning of each is the original one, but the number at the end is that which appears in the modern book.

I. Kill out ambition. (1) II. Kill out desire of life. (2) III. Kill out desire of comfort. (3)

IV. Kill out all sense of separateness. (5) V. Kill out desire of sensation. (6) VI. Kill out the hinger for growth. (7)

VII. Desire only that which is within you. (9) VIII Desire only that which is beyond you. (10) IX. Desire only that which is unattainable. (11)

X. Desire power ardently. (13) XI. Desire peace fervently. (14) XII. Desire possessions above all. (15)

XIII. Seek out the way. (17) XIV. Seek the way by retreating within. (18) XV. Seek the way by advancing boldly without. (19)

It will be noticed from the above table (which covers only Part I of this book) that rules 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 21 are absent from the list. That is because they do not belong to the most ancient part of the book. Those rules and the preliminary and concluding comments are the portion added by the greater One who gave it to the Master. In addition there are notes, which were written by the Master Hilarion himself. The book as originally published in 1885 contained these three portions: the...

[3]

As we have it at present...

Publication history

  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." London: [George Redway?], 1885. First Edition
  • Light on the Path. Boston: Cupples, Upham and Company, 1886.
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." London: George Redway, 1888.
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "with notes and comments by the author. a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Boston: Occult Publishing Company, [<1894?].
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence. with notes and comments by the author." Chicago: Advanced Though Publiching Co., [>1903?]. With an introduction by Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson).
  • Light on the Path and Karma. Subtitle: "with notes and comments." London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1908.
  • Light on the Path and Karma. Subtitle: "written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom and who desire to enter within its influence." Adyar: Theosophical Publishing House, 1911 [2nd 1924; 3rd 1928]. With an introduction by C. W. Leadbeater.
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Chicago: Rajput Press, 1911. Introduction by C. Jinarajadasa.
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Krotona/Hollywood/Los Angeles: Theosophical Publishing House, 1919. Introduction by C. Jinarajadasa (credited as "C.J.").
  • Light on the Path and Karma. Subtitle: "with notes and comments." Chicago or Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Press, 1923 [additional edition 1944]. Introduction by C. Jinarajadasa.
  • Light on the Path and Karma. Subtitle: "with notes and comments." Philadelphia: David McKay Company, [1923?].
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom and who desire to enter within its influence, and an essay on karma." Adyar: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1943 [new (4th) Adyar edition; 5th 1945; 6th 1949; 7th 1951;8th 1953; 9th 1956; 10th 1958; 11th 1961; 12th 1963; 13th 1966; 14th 1968; 15th 1971; 16th 1972; 17th 1975; 18th 1981]. With an introduction by C. W. Leadbeater.
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Through the Gates of Gold. Subtitle: "a fragment of thought." Pasadena, Theosophical University Press, 1960 [additional editions: 1968, 1971, 1976].
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence, and an essay on karma." Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1970 [2nd 1974].
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Los Angeles: Theosophy Comnpany, 1975. Note: [reprinted verbatim from the original texts].

Published commentaries

Mabel Collins

Mabel Collins herself published several articles and books on Light on the Path.

  • A Cry from Afar. Subtitle: "to students of Light on the Path." London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1905.
  • The Illumined Way. Subtitle: "a guide to neophytes being a sequel to Light on the Path." Chicago: The Yogi Publication Society, [1903]. The subject matter of this litle book first appeared in a leading English occult magazine, a number of years ago under the title of Comments on Light on the Path, running in the shape of a series of essays extending over a period of several months. [4]
  • Light on the Path. Subtitle: "a treatise written for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence." Pasadena, Theosophical University Press, 1960. The present edition of Light on the Path is a verbatim reprint of the 1888 edition (George Redway, London) in which later edition the Notes by the Author first appear. The Comments, which are not in the 1888 edition, are here taken directly from Lucifer, Volume I, 1887-8, where they were first published. Also in this volume we reprint verbatim the original edition (1887) of Through the Gates of Gold by the same Author, together with a commentary by William Q. Judge taken from his magazine, The Path, March, 1887. [5]
  • Light on the Path and Karma. Subtitle: "with notes and comments." Wheaton, IL, The Theosophical Press, 1944. Introduction by C. Jinarajadasa.
  • Our Glorious Future. Subtitle: "the interpretation of Light on the Path." Edinburgh: Theosophical Book Shop, 1917.

Annie Besant & C. W. Leadbeater

  • Talks on the Path of Occultism (Vol. III: Light on the Path). Subtitle: "a commentary on...Light on the Path." Adyar: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1926. Talks on the Path of Occultism give the guidance of Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater on the teachings contained in...Light on the Path. The two leaders spoke on many occasions on [this book]...and notes taken at such talks were gathered together, edited and revised by them, and published in [this volume].[6]

Lilian Edger

  • Gleanings from "Light on the Path". Subtitle: "four lectures delivered at the 33rd anniversary of The Theosophical Society held at Adyar, on Dec. 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 1908." Adyar: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1909.

Rohit Mehta

  • Seek Out the Way. Subtitle: "(studies in Light on the Path)." Adyar: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1955. [This] book has grown out of a series of talks given to a group of students at the Headquarters of the Theosophical Society in India at Banaras.[7]

Joy Mills

  • Entering on the Sacred Way. Subtitle: "a psychological commentary on Light on the Path." Series: "Wisdom Tradition Books; 2." Wheaton, IL, and Chennai: Oclott Institute of the Theosophical Society in America and The Theosophical Publishing House, 2000. Through the years many commentaries on [this book] have appeared, and the texts themselves have been published in numerous editions and in many languages. Why, then, it may be asked, another commentary on Light on the Path?...It is true that, for those who are determined to reach the summit of the mount of vision, no commentary is necessary; such individuals need no guide but their own pure hearts and strong wills....Nevertheless, yet another commentary may be useful as indicating that, as always, there are fellow-seekers in the foothills of the Himalayan ranges of Wisdom.[8]

Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson)

  • Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism. Chicago: The Yogi Publication Society, 1931 (Thirtieth Edition). Lessons I to IV, inclusive, consist of an analysis and explanation of the little occult manual known as "Light on the Path," and have been highly praised by lovers of that little book as well as advanced students in occultism. They are said to be superior to anything ever written along these lines....September 1, 1905[9]

Reviews

The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals has over 90 articles reviewing, extracted from, or commenting on Light on the Path. These are some examples of the book reviews:

  • Anonymous. "Review - Licht Auf Den Weg (Light on the Path) tr Baron von Hoffman". The Theosophist 6 (June, 1885), 222.
  • Anonymous. "Review - 'Light on the Path'". The Path 2.3 *(June, 1887), 94.
  • Anonymous. "Review - 'Light on the Path'". The Path 89.10 (January, 1895), 322.
  • Anonymous. "Review - 'Light on the Path', Adyar Edition". The Theosophical Quarterly 20 (1923), 284.
  • Anonymous. "Book Reviews - Light on the Path and Karma". Theosophy in New Zealand 10 (May, 1912), 67.
  • Ballard, S. D. "Review - 'Light on the Path' by Mabel Collins". The American Theosophist 58.9 (September, 1970), 279.
  • Bhashyacharya, Pandit N. "Review - 'Light on the Path in Sanscrit'". The Path 4.4 (July, 1889), 120.
  • Blumensaadt, Naomi. "Review - 'Inspirations from the Ancient Wisdom' At the Feet of the Master, Light on the Path, Voice of the Silence". Theosophy in Australia 65.3 (September, 2001), 96.

Online resources

Articles

Books

Audio

Video

Notes

  1. ↑ John Hamaker, "Theosophy and the Fifth Ray," The American Theosophist 46.8 (August, 1958), 151-152.
  2. ↑ John Hamaker, "Theosophy and the Fifth Ray," The American Theosophist 46.8 (August, 1958), 151-152.
  3. ↑ Annie Besant & C. W. Leadbeater, Talks on the Path of Occultism, Vol. III: Light on the Path (Adyar: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1926), 4-6.
  4. ↑ From the Publishers' [sic] Announcement.
  5. ↑ From p. vi.
  6. ↑ From the book jacket.
  7. ↑ From the Preface.
  8. ↑ Excerpted from the Preface.
  9. ↑ From the Publisher's Note.
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