Occult Glossary: A Comendium of Oriental and Theosophical ...

OCCULT GLOSSARY

 Modern theosophical writings contain numerous terms and concepts drawn from the sacred literatures of antiquity, most of which are not found in modern dictionaries. Others have entered the vernacular with such a diversity of meanings they are in danger of losing their clarity and usefulness. Like the term occult, which simply means "hidden" (as when a star is "occulted" by a moon, planet, or star), their philosophical depth has bee obscured by layers of popular connotation. A succinct and reliable guide to this specialized terminology is required. In print since 1933, the Occult Glossary fills this need. Defining some 300 terms most frequently found in the field of metaphysics, it serves also as a fine introduction to theosophy. A scholar of Occidental and Oriental languages and philosophies, Dr. de Purucker was well qualified to elucidate these terms, and to explain the spiritual import of such themes as karma, reincarnation, planetary and solar cycles, universal brotherhood, and man's evolutionary pilgrimage.

"Genuine occultism, divorced from ethics, is simply unthinkable because impossible. There is no genuine occultism which does not include the loftiest ethics that the moral sense of mankind can comprehend. Occultism means the study of the hid things of Being, the science of life or universal nature. [It] embraces not merely the physical, physiological, psychological, and spiritual portions of man's being, but has an equal and indeed a perhaps wider range in the studies dealing with the structure and operations as well as the origin and destiny of the kosmos."

G. de Purucker was born on January 15, 1874 at Suffern, New York, son of an Anglican minister who for some years served as chaplain of the American Church in Geneva, Switzerland. He received his early education at the Coll?ge de Gen?ve and under private tutors. In preparation for the ministry he specialized in Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and the writings of the early Church Fathers. However, subsequent reading in Eastern philosophies and Sanskrit literature led him to the study of the broad field of theosophy with its comprehension of all religions, philosophies, and sciences. Dr. de Purucker was head of the Theosophical Society from 1929 until his passing in Covina, California, on September 27, 1942.

by the same author

The Dialogues of G. de Purucker The Esoteric Tradition Fountain-Source of Occultism The Four Sacred Seasons Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy Golden Precepts of Esotericism Man in Evolution Messages to Conventions The Path of Compassion Questions We All Ask The Story of Jesus Studies in Occult Philosophy Wind of the Spirit

Occult Glossary

A COMPENDIUM OF ORIENTAL AND THEOSOPHICAL TERMS

G. de PURUCKER

THEOSOPHICAL UNIVERSITY PRESS

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

Theosophical University Press post office box c

Pasadena, California 91109-7107

2011

Second and Revised Edition Copyright ? 1996 by Theosophical University Press

First Edition published by Rider & Co., London, 1933

All rights reserved. This PDF eBook may be downloaded free of charge for personal use. Except for brief excerpts, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial or other use without

the prior permission of Theosophical University Press.

PDF eBook ISBN 978-1-55700-214-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Purucker, G. de (Gottfried), 1874-1942.

Occult glossary : a compendium of Oriental and theosophical terms /

G. de Purucker. -- 2nd & rev. ed.

p.

cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 1-55700-050-6 (cloth : alk. paper)

ISBN 1-55700-051-4 (paper : alk. paper)

1. Theosophy -- Dictionaries. I. Title.

BP527.P8 1996 299.93403 -- dc20

96-41435 CIP

This PDF eBook produced at Theosophical University Press Pasadena, California

Publisher's Note

Every branch of study has its own special terminology, and the esoteric philosophies are no exception. This compendium not only clarifies the significance of the terms most frequently found in such literature, but o?ers a comprehensive outline of the scope and principles underlying an age-old tradition respecting the constitution of man and the universe in which he lives.

This Second and Revised Edition is faithful to the original 1933 edition. Changes include modernizing capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, and amending a few foreign terms (with appreciation to Dr. Bruce C. Hall and Mr. David Reigle for their respective contributions). The index has also been enlarged.

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