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The Key to Theosophy by H.P. Blavatsky

Compiled by Daniel H. Caldwell and published by Blavatsky Study Center
.

Key to Theosophy

1889
HPB answers questions about basic Theosophy, the inner constitution of a human being, life after death, reincarnation, karma, the practical life, etc.  A good introduction for inquirers. 

Brief Description of
The Key to Theosophy

TUP Online
Edition of
The Key

Table of Contents

TUP Edition of Glossary
to 2nd 1890 ed. of The Key

ULT Online
Version of The Key

ULT Edition of Glossary to 2nd 1890 ed. of The  Key

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Table of Contents
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Theosophy Trust
Online PDF Version
of The Key

The Key
on CD-ROM

Verbatim Reprint
of first 1889 edition of The Key with HPB's 60-page glossary added.   Includes index.
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Photographic Facsimile
of the 1889 ed. of the Key
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Theosophy Company

Photographic Facsimile
of 2nd 1890 edition of The Key.
Includes HPB's 60-page glossary
which she added to 2nd ed.
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The Key to Theosophy:
An Abridgement
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". . . 'THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY' . . . is not a complete or exhaustive text-book of Theosophy, but only a key to unlock the door that leads to the deeper study. It traces the broad outlines of the Wisdom Religion, and explains its fundamental principles; meeting, at the same time, the various objections raised by the average Western enquirer, and endeavouring to present unfamiliar concepts in a form as simple and in language as clear as possible. That it should succeed in making Theosophy intelligible without mental effort on the part of the reader, would be too much to expect; but it is hoped that the obscurity still left is of the thought not of the language, is due to depth not to confusion. To the mentally lazy or obtuse, Theosophy must remain a riddle; for in the world mental as in the world spiritual each man must progress by his own efforts. The writer cannot do the reader's thinking for him, nor would the latter be any the better off if such vicarious thought were possible."  The Key to Theosophy, Preface.

"At the solemn moment of death every man, even when death is sudden, sees the whole of his past life marshalled before him, in its minutest details. For one short instant the personal becomes one with the individual and all-knowing Ego. But this instant is enough to show to him the whole chain of causes which have been at work during his life. He sees and now understands himself as he is, unadorned by flattery or self-deception. He reads his life, remaining as a spectator looking down into the arena he is quitting; he feels and knows the justice of all the suffering that has overtaken him." The Key to Theosophy, Section 9.