The Path - Revision history

SysopJ at 00:00, 25 November 2023

2023-11-25T00:00:10Z

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	The '''spiritual path''' is a major concept in many religious traditions. While often depicted as an ascent, the path ~~is in essence~~ a journey inward to discover the true self.		The '''spiritual path''' is a major concept in many religious traditions. While often depicted as an ascent, the path represents the setting for a journey inward to discover the true self.

	== Esoteric Philosophy==		== Esoteric Philosophy==

SysopJ at 23:43, 24 November 2023

2023-11-24T23:43:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:43, 24 November 2023
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			The '''spiritual path''' is a major concept in many religious traditions. While often depicted as an ascent, the path is in essence a journey inward to discover the true self.

			== Esoteric Philosophy==
	[[T. Subba Row]] wrote about this from the point of view of the [[Esoteric Philosophy]]:		[[T. Subba Row]] wrote about this from the point of view of the [[Esoteric Philosophy]]:

	<blockquote>This philosophy recognises two paths, both having the same end, a glorified immortality. The one is the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. . . . The other road is the precipitous path of occultism, through a series of initiations. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>This philosophy recognises two paths, both having the same end, a glorified immortality. The one is the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. . . . The other road is the precipitous path of occultism, through a series of initiations. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>

	== Religious path ==		=== Religious path ===

	[[T. Subba Row]] described this path as a gradual path of [[evolution]] as:		[[T. Subba Row]] described this path as a gradual path of [[evolution]] as:
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	<blockquote>This school recommended as the best path for all, a devotion to virtue, a gradual withdrawal from the grosser material concerns, a withdrawal of the life forces from the outward world and its interests, and the direction of these forces to the inner life of the soul, until the man is able to withdraw himself within himself, so to speak, and then, turning round to direct himself towards the logos and the spiritual life and away from the material plane; passing first into the astral life, and then into spiritual life, till at last the logos is reached, and he attains Nirvana.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>This school recommended as the best path for all, a devotion to virtue, a gradual withdrawal from the grosser material concerns, a withdrawal of the life forces from the outward world and its interests, and the direction of these forces to the inner life of the soul, until the man is able to withdraw himself within himself, so to speak, and then, turning round to direct himself towards the logos and the spiritual life and away from the material plane; passing first into the astral life, and then into spiritual life, till at last the logos is reached, and he attains Nirvana.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>

	== Occult path ==		=== Occult path ===

	[[T. Subba Row]] described the occult path as follows:		[[T. Subba Row]] described the occult path as follows:
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	<blockquote>It is therefore wiser not to seek the path of [[chelaship]]; if the man is fit for it, his [[Karma]] will lead him to it imperceptibly and infallibly; for the path of occultism seeks the chela and will not fail to find him, when the fit man presents himself.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>It is therefore wiser not to seek the path of [[chelaship]]; if the man is fit for it, his [[Karma]] will lead him to it imperceptibly and infallibly; for the path of occultism seeks the chela and will not fail to find him, when the fit man presents himself.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>

	== Spirituality vs Occultism ==		=== Spirituality vs Occultism ===

	The religious or spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:		The religious or spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:

	<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a "natural Magician." Meanwhile, those who possess neither of the requisite qualifications are strongly advised to limit themselves to purely spiritual development.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a "natural Magician." Meanwhile, those who possess neither of the requisite qualifications are strongly advised to limit themselves to purely spiritual development.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>

			=== "A road steep and thorny" ===
			[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Madame Blavatsky]] left an inspiring vision of the spiritual path:
			<blockquote>
			There ''is'' a road steep and thorny, beset with perils of every kind, but yet a road, and it leads to the very heart of the Universe: I can tell you how to find those who will show you the secret gateway that opens inward only, and closes fast behind the neophyte forevermore. There is no danger that dauntless courage cannot conquer; there is no trial that spotless purity cannot pass through; there is no difficulty that strong intellect cannot surmount. For those who win onwards there is reward past all telling—the power to bless and save humanity.<ref>First published in ''Lucifer'' 9 no.49 (September 1891): 4. Reprinted in ''Collected Writings'' vol. 13, p. 219; also found at [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v13/ph_004.htm Katinkahesselink.com]. </ref>
			</blockquote>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

SysopJ at 22:13, 24 November 2023

2023-11-24T22:13:54Z

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	~~{{Template:Article needs expansion}}~~
	~~<br>~~
	~~<br>~~
	~~<br>~~
	[[T. Subba Row]] wrote about this from the point of view of the [[Esoteric Philosophy]]:		[[T. Subba Row]] wrote about this from the point of view of the [[Esoteric Philosophy]]:

SysopJ: /* Online resources */

2023-11-24T22:09:01Z

Online resources

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	*[[Meditation]]		*[[Meditation]]

	==~~Online~~ resources==		== Additional resources ==
	===Articles===		===Articles===
	*[http://hpb.narod.ru/OccultismSouthernIndiaTSB.html# The Occultism of Southern India] by T. Subba Row		*[http://hpb.narod.ru/OccultismSouthernIndiaTSB.html# The Occultism of Southern India] by T. Subba Row
	*[https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/path Path, The] in Theosophy World		*[https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/path Path, The] in Theosophy World
			*[https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/failure-path Failure on the Path] in Theosophy World

	===Audio===		===Audio===

SysopJ: /* Online resources */

2023-11-22T15:20:44Z

Online resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:20, 22 November 2023
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	===Articles===		===Articles===
	*[http://hpb.narod.ru/OccultismSouthernIndiaTSB.html# The Occultism of Southern India] by T. Subba Row		*[http://hpb.narod.ru/OccultismSouthernIndiaTSB.html# The Occultism of Southern India] by T. Subba Row
			*[https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/path Path, The] in Theosophy World

	===Audio===		===Audio===

Pablo Sender: /* Spirituality vs Occultism */

2023-04-05T16:23:12Z

Spirituality vs Occultism

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 5 April 2023
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	The religious or spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:		The religious or spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:

	<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a ~~“natural~~ Magician.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a "natural Magician." Meanwhile, those who possess neither of the requisite qualifications are strongly advised to limit themselves to purely spiritual development.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Pablo Sender: /* Spiritual vs Occult */

2023-04-05T16:04:21Z

Spiritual vs Occult

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 5 April 2023
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	<blockquote>It is therefore wiser not to seek the path of [[chelaship]]; if the man is fit for it, his [[Karma]] will lead him to it imperceptibly and infallibly; for the path of occultism seeks the chela and will not fail to find him, when the fit man presents himself.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>It is therefore wiser not to seek the path of [[chelaship]]; if the man is fit for it, his [[Karma]] will lead him to it imperceptibly and infallibly; for the path of occultism seeks the chela and will not fail to find him, when the fit man presents himself.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>

	== ~~Spiritual~~ vs ~~Occult~~ ==		== Spirituality vs Occultism ==

	The spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:		The religious or spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:

	<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a “natural Magician.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a “natural Magician.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>

Pablo Sender: /* Spiritual path */

2023-04-05T16:03:44Z

Spiritual path

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	<blockquote>This philosophy recognises two paths, both having the same end, a glorified immortality. The one is the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. . . . The other road is the precipitous path of occultism, through a series of initiations. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>This philosophy recognises two paths, both having the same end, a glorified immortality. The one is the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. . . . The other road is the precipitous path of occultism, through a series of initiations. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>

	== ~~Spiritual~~ path ==		== Religious path ==

	[[T. Subba Row]] described this gradual path of [[evolution]] as:		[[T. Subba Row]] described this path as a gradual path of [[evolution]] as:

	<blockquote>. . . the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. A natural, coherent, and sure growth of the [[soul]] is the result, a position of firm equilibrium is reached and maintained, which cannot be overthrown or shaken by any unexpected assault. It is the normal method followed by the vast mass of humanity, and this is the course [[Śaṅkarācārya\|Sankarâchârya]] recommended to all his [[Sanyāsī\|Sannyasis]] and successors.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>. . . the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. A natural, coherent, and sure growth of the [[soul]] is the result, a position of firm equilibrium is reached and maintained, which cannot be overthrown or shaken by any unexpected assault. It is the normal method followed by the vast mass of humanity, and this is the course [[Śaṅkarācārya\|Sankarâchârya]] recommended to all his [[Sanyāsī\|Sannyasis]] and successors.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>

Pablo Sender: Created page with "{{Template:Article needs expansion}}

T. Subba Row wrote about this from the point of view of the Esoteric Philosophy:
This philosophy recog..."

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[[T. Subba Row]] wrote about this from the point of view of the [[Esoteric Philosophy]]:

<blockquote>This philosophy recognises two paths, both having the same end, a glorified immortality. The one is the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. . . . The other road is the precipitous path of occultism, through a series of initiations. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>

== Spiritual path ==

[[T. Subba Row]] described this gradual path of [[evolution]] as:

<blockquote>. . . the steady natural path of progress through moral effort, and practise of the virtues. A natural, coherent, and sure growth of the [[soul]] is the result, a position of firm equilibrium is reached and maintained, which cannot be overthrown or shaken by any unexpected assault. It is the normal method followed by the vast mass of humanity, and this is the course [[Śaṅkarācārya|Sankarâchârya]] recommended to all his [[Sanyāsī|Sannyasis]] and successors.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 112-113.</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>This school recommended as the best path for all, a devotion to virtue, a gradual withdrawal from the grosser material concerns, a withdrawal of the life forces from the outward world and its interests, and the direction of these forces to the inner life of the soul, until the man is able to withdraw himself within himself, so to speak, and then, turning round to direct himself towards the logos and the spiritual life and away from the material plane; passing first into the astral life, and then into spiritual life, till at last the logos is reached, and he attains Nirvana.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>

== Occult path ==

[[T. Subba Row]] described the occult path as follows:

<blockquote>The other road is the precipitous path of [[occultism]], through a series of [[initiations]]. Only a few specially organised and peculiar natures are fit for this path. 
Occult progress, growth along this path, is effected by the [[adept]] directing through the [[chela]] various occult [[force]]s, which enable him to obtain prematurely, so to speak, a knowledge of his spiritual nature: and to obtain [[Siddhi|powers]] to which he is not morally entitled by degree of his progress. 
Under these circumstances it may happen that the chela loses his moral balance, and falls into the [[dugpa]] path.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 113.</ref></blockquote>

Because of its very nature, the [[chela]] must fulfill [[Chelaship#Rules for Chelaship|certain requirements]] if he is going to succeed:

<blockquote>But this path is eminently dangerous to those who do not hold the talisman which ensures safety; this talisman is a perfectly unselfish, self-forgetting, self-annihilating devotion to the religious good of mankind, a self-abnegation, which is not temporal, but must have no end for ever, and the object of which is the religious enlightenment of the human race. Without this talisman, though the progress of the chela may be very rapid for a time, a point will come when his upward advance will be arrested when real moral worth will tell; and the man who progressed along the slow and steady path may be first to merge himself in the light of the [[logos]].<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 113-114.</ref></blockquote>

Due to all these difficulties, the would-be disciple should let the path find him and not the opposite:

<blockquote>It is therefore wiser not to seek the path of [[chelaship]]; if the man is fit for it, his [[Karma]] will lead him to it imperceptibly and infallibly; for the path of occultism seeks the chela and will not fail to find him, when the fit man presents himself.<ref>Tallapragada Subba Row, ''Esoteric Writings of T. Subba Row'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 114.</ref></blockquote>

== Spiritual vs Occult ==

The spiritual path seeks to put aspirants in contact with their higher nature. This can be done by means of one's efforts and devotion, without needing the intervention of external agencies. The occult path, however, seeks something more--the mastery of the forces of nature, so that the aspirant eventually becomes a co-worker of nature. For this, the help of a [[Master of Wisdom]] is essential. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] wrote:

<blockquote>As to ecstasy, and such like kinds of self-illumination, this may be obtained by oneself and without any teacher or initiation, for ecstasy is reached by an inward command and control of Self over the physical Ego; as to obtaining mastery over the forces of Nature, this requires a long training, or the capacity of one born a “natural Magician.”<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XIV (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 54.</ref></blockquote>

== See also ==
*[[Practical Theosophy]]
*[[Service]]
*[[Meditation]]

==Online resources==
===Articles===
*[http://hpb.narod.ru/OccultismSouthernIndiaTSB.html# The Occultism of Southern India] by T. Subba Row

===Audio===
*[https://archive.org/download/1294_20191220/1294.mp3# Theosophy: The Road in the Pathless Land] by John Algeo
*[https://archive.org/download/1151_20191125/1151.mp3# The Path to the Masters of Wisdom] by Clara Codd
*[https://archive.org/download/1173_20191125/1173.mp3# Man's Pathway to Perfection] by Geoffrey Hodson
*[https://archive.org/download/1172_20191125/1172.mp3# From Man to Superman] by Geoffrey Hodson
*[https://archive.org/download/1232_20191205/1232.mp3# The Golden Stairs: The Ideal of Human Progression and Perfection] by Joy Mills

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Theosophical worldview]]

The Path - Revision history

SysopJ at 00:00, 25 November 2023

SysopJ at 23:43, 24 November 2023

SysopJ at 22:13, 24 November 2023

SysopJ: /* Online resources */

SysopJ: /* Online resources */

Pablo Sender: /* Spirituality vs Occultism */

Pablo Sender: /* Spiritual vs Occult */

Pablo Sender: /* Spiritual path */

Pablo Sender: Created page with "{{Template:Article needs expansion}} T. Subba Row wrote about this from the point of view of the Esoteric Philosophy: This philosophy recog..."

Pablo Sender: Created page with "{{Template:Article needs expansion}}

T. Subba Row wrote about this from the point of view of the Esoteric Philosophy:
This philosophy recog..."