"Esoteric Christianity Or, The Lesser Mysteries" is a 1898 work by Annie Besant (1847-1933). Besant was a British theosophist, socialist, writer, activist, orator, and staunch advocate for Irish and Indian independence. She was a prolific author, writing more than three hundred books and pamphlets during her life. Within this volume, Besant explores the hidden teachings and ideas that underpin orthodox Christianity, examining Christ in terms of mythic...

First published in 1879, "Marriage - As It Was, As It Is, and As It Should Be" is a short pamphlet written by British writer and activist Annie Besant on the subject of marriage and women's marital rights. Within it Besant outlines the contemporary British marriage laws, which consider women to be merely property of their husbands, and offers suggestions as to how the law can be improved to furnish women with equal rights to men. Despite having been...

Few words are needed in sending this little book out into the world. It is the first of a series of Manuals designed to meet the public demand a simple exposition of Theosophical teachings. Some have complained that our literature is at once too abstruse, too technical, and too expensive for the ordinary reader, and it is our hope that the present series may succeed in supplying what is a very real want. Theosophy is not only for the learned, it is...

Our subject to-night consists of two words: psychism-spirituality. I am going to speak to you on the subjects denoted by these two words, because there is so much confusion about them in ordinary conversation, in ordinary literature, and out of that confusion much of harm arises. People think of one thing and use the name of the other, and so continually fall into blunders and mislead others with whom they talk. I want to-night to draw a sharp and...

Besant had found the economic side oflife lacking a spiritual dimension, so shesearched for a belief based on "Love". Shefound this in Theosophy, so she joinedthe Theosophical Society, a move thatdistanced her from Bradlaugh and otherformer activist co-workers. Her decisionto join the Theosophical Society met astorm of criticism from her formerassociates in London. To explain herchange of view, on August 4 and 11,1889, she delivered a lecture in the...

The object of this book is to suggest certain lines of thought as to the deep truths underlying Christianity, truths generally overlooked, and only too often denied. The generous wish to share with all what is precious, to spread broadcast priceless truths, to shut out none from the illumination of true knowledge, has resulted in a zeal without discretion that has vulgarized Christianity, and has presented its teachings in a form that often repels...

Sixteen years and a half have gone since Helena Petrovna Blavatsky passed away from this mortal world. Yet attacks are still made upon her veracity, upon her character, and good and sympathetic men still turn away from the Theosophical Society with: "Oh! I do not care to belong to it; it was founded by Mme. Blavatsky, who was convicted of fraud by the Psychical Research Society." The articles which defended her at the time have long been out of print,...

During the first and second Races of man this physical body was built up by the action of what are called nature-spirits, who made this outer clothing of man, the tabernacle of esh, as it is sometimes entitled. Out of the first Race evolved the second, and out of the second evolved the third. No break, nothing that would be called a new creation, but definite and sequential evolution. The materials used in these bodies had been worked up in previous...

The key to living spiritually in the modern world, says this classic writer, "depends upon one's attitude." The principles Besant set forth over 70 years ago are no different today. She shows that the value of the spiritual path is not in the goal but in the striving, and offers clear principles for those with the courage to try.

This scarce antiquarian book is a reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. Theosophy and Life's Deeper Problems contains...