Blavatsky writings

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HP Blavatsky working on Lucifer, 1888[1]

This is a source of links to Web-based resources for the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Sources for her letters are listed separately in Blavatsky correspondence.

Chronological listing of major writings

Published posthumously:

First edition of Volume 3, 1897. After the death of Madame Blavatsky, Annie Besant endeavored to compile the proposed third volume of the SD from the remaining manuscript pages. James Morgan Pryse

Collected Writings

The fifteen volumes of H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings (fourteen volumes and index) include almost all of her known writings from 1874-1891, excluding personal letters. It is available online at Katinka Hesselink's website The editor was Boris de Zirkoff. The first volume of her personal letters was edited by Dr. John Algeo and published by TPH in 2003 as part of the Collected Writings series.

The Secret Doctrine

HPB's masterwork, The Secret Doctrine, was published in 1888 in two volumes.

  • The Secret Doctrine Index. Prepared by John P. Van Mater. Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1997. Available at Theosophical University Press Online. This valuable study aid, 441 pages in length, indexes major subject terms; foreign-language terms with 1888 and modern spellings; and people and works mentioned in the SD.

The Secret Doctrine Commentaries

In 2010 the I.S.I.S. Foundation (TS Point Loma-Blavatskyhouse) in The Hague published The Secret Doctrine Commentaries. The Unpublished 1889 Instructions, transcribed and annotated by Michael Gomes.

Online version available at Blavatsky House. Another version available at ULT Phoenix website.

Wurzburg Manuscript

In 2014 the Eastern School Press in Colorado, USA, published The Secret Doctrine Wurzburg Manuscript. The 1885-1886 Version with the Stanzas of Dzyan and H.P.B.’s Accompanying Commentaries, transcribed by David Reigle. Available online at Eastern Tradition Research Institute

The Inner Group Teachings

In 1985 Point Loma Publications (San Diego, CA), published The Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky. To Her Personal Pupils, 1890-91, compiled by H. J. Spierenburg (Author). In 1995 a 2nd revised and enlarged edition was produced.

Isis Unveiled

Isis Unveiled was HPB's first major work, in which she discussed scientific theories and religious beliefs of the time. Some of the information presented is considered to be inaccurate compared to her masterwork The Secret Doctrine.

The Key to Theosophy

The Key to Theosophy is a basic work about the principles of Theosophy, in which HPB answers questions. It was written in 1889. Sources of audio and printed versions, both free and commercial offerings, are listed at KeytoTheosophy.Net.

The Voice of the Silence

The Voice of the Silence is a small volume that serves as a guide for those who wish to become disciples on the spiritual path.

Theosophical Glossary

HPB also worked on a glossary of Theosophical terminology, but did not live to complete it. The volume was published posthumously in 1892 after some editorial work by G. R. S. Mead, but the final result was regarded as unsatisfactory by many Theosophists. Boris de Zirkoff wrote an illuminating study of the glossary in "Who Played That Trick on H. P. B.? the Puzzle of 'The Theosophical Glossary.'".[2]

The Theosophist magazine

The Theosophist magazine was established by H.P. Blavatsky in 1879, and has been published continuously ever since. It is the flagship periodical of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

Lucifer magazine

Lucifer was a magazine founded by H. P. Blavatsky in 1887.

Travel accounts

  • The Durbar in Lahore. 1880-1881. Serially published in Russkiy Vestnik (Russian Messenger). In 1960-61 a translation was published in The Theosophist in eight parts. Boris de Zirkoff introduced that series: "The present English translation is based on a rough MSS. translation made many years ago by Miss Inga Sjostedt. It has been compared word for word with the original Russian text, worked over by the present writer [de Zirkoff], and thoroughly gone over and polished up by Mrs. Irene R. Ponsonby."
    • Digital version in 2009 by Mark Jaqua at Scribd.com. Per Mark Jaqua: "H.P. Blavatsky's "This is my transcription and scans. This is the only book of Blavatsky's that has never been published in book-form."
    • Russian edition is available in print-on-demand format.
  • The People of the Blue Mountains. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Press, 1930. This was compiled from a series of five monthly installments written for the Russian Messenger newspaper between December 1884 and April 1885). Mrs. A. J. Gouffe made the translation for the 1930 edition.[3]
    • Spanish translations, 1984, 2006.
    • No digital versions.
  • From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan. London: Theosophical Publishing Society; New York: The Path; Madras: Theosophical Society, Adyar, 1892, 1908. Other editions and printings:
    • Delhi: Indological Book House, 1892.
    • Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Pub. House, 1975, 1994.
    • Mr. Peters and the Goddess. Los Angeles, California: Philosophical Research Society, 1970s. Excerpt of The People of the Blue Mountains.
    • Digital versions available at Hathitrust, Internet Archive, and Project Gutenberg.
    • Numerous Russian editions and printings beginning in 1883; also Spanish translation, 2012.

Occult stories

  • Nightmare Tales. London: Theosophical Publishing Society; New York; The Path; Madras: Theosophical Society, 1892. Other editions and translations:

Organizational lectures, instructions, and reports

  • The Original Programme of The Theosophical Society. 1886. Available at Theosophy Northwest.
  • Madame Blavatsky's Esoteric Papers A Comprehensive Compilation of H. P. Blavatsky's Esoteric Papers. 1888-1891. Compiled by Daniel Caldwell. Portions are available at the Blavatsky Archives.

Pamphlets and articles

  • The Kabalah and the Kabalists. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1919. Adyar Pamphlet #105. Reprinted from "Kabalah and the Kabalists at the Close of the Nineteenth CenturyLucifer Vol X (May, 1892), 185-196. Available at Hathitrust and Canadian Theosophical Association.

Collections and compilations

  • Gems from the East: A Birthday Book of Precepts and Axioms. A Birthday Book of Precepts and Axioms, compiled by H.P.B. from Oriental literature. It was first published in 1890 by the Theosophical Publishing Society in London and New York in birthday book format, with illustrations by "F. W." The original edition is available at Hathitrust and a recent edition at Theosophical University Press Online. Many later editions were published as books of quotations, without the birthday book format or illustrations. [See also Sources of the Gems by Pavel Malakhov.]
  • Studies in Occultism: a Series of Reprints from the Writings of H.P. Blavatsky. Point Loma, California: Aryan Theosophical Press, 1910. Available at University Press Online. Six volumes reprinted from Lucifer, April 1888-January 1889. Contents: No. I. Practical occultism. Occultism versus the occult arts. The blessings of publicity -- No. II. Hypnotism. Black magic in science. Signs of the times -- No. III. Psychic and noetic action -- No. IV. Kosmic mind. The dual aspect of wisdom -- No. V. The esoteric character of the gospels -- No. VI. Astral bodies. Constitution of the inner man.
  • Other Writings from H.P. Blavatsky's Pen. Letters, articles, and E. S. instructions available at Blavatsky Archives. Some are not in the Collected writings.
  • A Modern Panarion: A Compilation of Forgotten Fragments 1874-1884. Edited and abridged by G.R.S. Mead, published in 1895. It is available at The Theosophy Company website and at the Blavatsky Archives.
  • Pamphlets by H. P. Blavatsky. A compilation of articles arranged by topics by the United Lodge of Theosophists. Available at Ultindia.org
  • Blavatsky Speaks. A compilation of articles arranged by topics available at Philaletheians.co.uk
  • Theosophical Literature by H. P. Blavatsky. A collection of books and articles available at the Theosophy Library Online
  • Dynamics of the Psychic World; comments by H. P. Blavatsky on magic, mediumship, psychism, and the power of the spirit.. Compiled with notes by Lina Psaltis. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972.

Notes

  1. This photo was taken by William Quan Judge using a Kodak camera in her home at No. 17 Lansdowne Road, London. The occasion was described in Volume 1 of Echoes from the Orient, Judge's collected writings on pages 259 and 262-263. Photo courtesy of Will Thackara at International Theosophical Society (Pasadena); restoration of photo by Pavel Malakhov.
  2. Boris de Zirkoff, "Who Played That Trick on H. P. B.?", Theosophia 24.113 (Winter, 1967-1968), 12.
  3. Library of Congress registration card. Records Series 16. Book Publishing. Theosophical Society in America Archives.