A Textbook of Theosophy

By Charles W Leadbeater

Theosophy is a technique from the 1600s that showed quite a bit of interest in esoteric circles of the twentieth century. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the end of world, life and humanity. From investigation of those topics theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.

We often speak of Theosophy as not in itself a religion, but the truth, which lies behind all religions alike.

As a philosophy, it explains to us that the solar system is a carefully ordered mechanism, a manifestation of a magnificent life, of which man is but a small part. Nevertheless, it takes up that small part, which immediately concerns us, and treats it exhaustively under three heads — present, past and future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abp. Wynn Wagner
• Release date: May 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452413877

Charles W Leadbeater

Charles Webster Leadbeater was born in February 1854, in Cheshire, England. During his life, he claimed to have been born in 1847, but there is a fairly good body of evidence to say the correct year was 1854. His father — Charles — moved the family to London in 1861 because of a job with the railroad. An uncle — W. W. Capes — got young Charles interested in the priesthood. He was ordained to the clergy by the Bishop of Winchester in 1979. He met Helena P. Blavatsky in 1884. The well-known mystic got him interest in the occult side of religion. Father Leadbeater was so enamored by Madam Blavatsky that he became her disciple, mov-ing to Adyar, India shortly after meeting her. He renounced his priesthood and took up studies under Blavatsky. In the early part of the twentieth century, he and James I. Wedgwood founded the Liberal Catholic Church. Their intent was to nourish esoteric liturgies, separate from the Anglican and Roman Rites of the church catholic.

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