The Campbell Theosophical Research Library
http://www.austheos.org.au/campbell.htm
An Educational Resource of The
Theosophical Society in Australia
Throughout her
voluminous writings, Madame Blavatsky made clear that what we today call
Theosophy is indeed a vast, timeless tradition whose beginnings are lost in the
mists of ancient times. She also referred to it as the “Wisdom-Tradition” and
“Wisdom-Religion”, the word “wisdom” in both expressions being prominent. When
she attempted to expound the core propositions of this tradition she suggested
three which could be summed up as: the undivided oneness of all existence, the
cyclic nature of all universal processes and the fundamental identity between
the individual consciousness and the universal reality.
Indological
studies cover a vast area and continue to probe the teachings of traditions such
as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, among others. The different schools of
thought existing within such traditions also address, from their own specific
points of view, the principles enunciated above, which deal with an
understanding of the ground of being, the universe and the human condition. In
her major work, The Secret Doctrine, Madame Blavatsky seeks to
substantiate many of its key ideas by quoting from traditional Indological works, like the Upanishads and the Puranas.
Not
surprisingly, although Gnosticism involves a plethora of groups and sects, some
belonging to the early period of the Christian tradition, some others existing
prior to that, the teachings of some of its main representatives also mirror a
concern and exploration of the human, universal and transcendental dimensions of
reality. Aspects of these teachings seem to be also present in passages of the
canonical Gospels as well as in the epistles of Paul.
The Campbell
Theosophical Research Library is well equipped to help students and researchers
in their studies of the above fields as its collection includes representative
works in their areas as well as an extensive collection of theosophical works
that relate to those areas. Perhaps the Library can be seen as a space in which
these different traditions can be in dialogue with each other. This idea is
central to the work of the Theosophical Society from its very beginning, in New
York, in 1875, and its original eclecticism is not only alive but has become
almost urgent in a world in which deaf traditions are attempting to annihilate
each other.
We present in this issue a list of some of our recent acquisitions and donations received, while expressing our gratitude to our donors. We also recommend to our readers visiting at www.austheos.org.au/campbell.htm two of our unique services: Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals and Links to Theosophical Texts Online. They contain immense resources for research and study while attesting to the eclectic nature of the Theosophical Society and its work.
With cordial regards, Pedro Oliveira
The
Esoteric Papers of Madame Blavatsky,
compiled by Daniel H. Caldwell
Kessinger
Publishing, USA, 2004.
pp. x, 673.
Provides facsimiles of many of the original esoteric papers issued by Madame Blavatsky following the formation of the Esoteric Section of the TS in 1888. Some of the documents reproduced in this volume have never been reprinted since first issued.
The
Universe in a Single Atom – The Convergence of Science and
Spirituality
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Morgan Road Books, New York, 2005, pp. 216.
The
opening quote in the book – “In each atom of the realms of the universe, there
exist vast oceans of world systems” (The Great Flower Ornament, an
ancient Buddhist scripture) – provides the keynote for the Dalai Lama’s
reflections on the common ground between science and spirituality. Contents
include Encounter with Science; Emptiness, Relativity, and Quantum Physics; the
Big Bang and the Buddhist Beginningless Universe;
Evolution, Karma, and the World of Sentience; Toward a Science of Consciousness;
Science, Spirituality, and Humanity, among others.
Understanding
Islam
by Frithjof Schuon, Mandala Books, Unwin Paperbacks,
T.
S. Eliot described the author of this concise and important book as the most
impressive writer in the field of comparative religion that he had encountered.
Schuon makes his intent clear: “What we really have in
mind in this as in previous works is the scientia sacra or philosophia perennis, that universal gnosis which always has existed
and always will exist.” Chapter titles are: Islam, The Quram, The Prophet and The Way.
The
Koran Interpreted
by A. J. Arberry, George Allen & Unwin,
According
to the author, the orthodox Muslim view is that the Koran is untranslatable. The
rhetoric and rhythm of the Arabic of the Koran are so characteristic, so
powerful, so highly emotive, that any version
whatsoever is bound in the nature of things to be but a poor copy of the
glittering splendour of the original. In his version an attempt is made to
imitate, however imperfectly, those rhetorical and rhythmical patterns which are
the glory and the sublimity of the Koran.
The
Tibetan Book of the Dead – The Great Liberation by
Hearing in the Intermediate States
composed by Padmasambhava, revealed by Terton Karma Lingpa, translated by
Gyurme Dorje, edited by
Graham Coleman with Thupten Jinpa, with introductory commentary by His Holiness the
Dalai Lama, Viking, 2005, pp. xlix, 535.
According
to the editor of the present volume, the Tibetan Book of the Dead
includes one of the most detailed and compelling descriptions of the after-death
state in world literature. This edition presents the entire original work and
includes a translation which had the close support and participation of the
contemporary masters and lineage holders of this tradition.
G.
R. S. Mead and The Gnostic Quest
Western Esoteric Masters Series, Edited and Introduced by Clare Goodrick-Clarke & Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
North Atlantic Books,
This volume combines a substantial biographical essay on Mead, one of the prominent experts on Gnosticism in the early period of the Theosophical Movement, with an annotated anthology of his most important writings.
This Newsletter is published in March, June, September and November. Editor: Pedro Oliveira