H. P. Blavatsky's, “The Key to Theosophy”
GA 41b
H. P. Blavatsky
[adapted from the online text provided by the Theosophical Society, Pasadena
Preface
The purpose of this book is exactly expressed in its title, “THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY,” and needs but few words of explanation. It 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 need for such an exposition as the present has long been felt among those interested in the Theosophical Society and its work, and it is hoped that it will supply information, as free as possible from technicalities, to many whose attention has been awakened, but who, as yet, are merely puzzled and not convinced.
Some care has been taken in disentangling some part of what is true from what is false in Spiritualistic teachings as to the post-mortem life, and to showing the true nature of Spiritualistic phenomena. Previous explanations of a similar kind have drawn much wrath upon the writer's devoted head; the Spiritualists, like too many others, preferring to believe what is pleasant rather than what is true, and becoming very angry with anyone who destroys an agreeable delusion. For the past year Theosophy has been the target for every poisoned arrow of Spiritualism, as though the possessors of a half truth felt more antagonism to the possessors of the whole truth than those who had no share to boast of.
Very hearty thanks are due from the author to many Theosophists who have sent suggestions and questions, or have otherwise contributed help during the writing of this book. The work will be the more useful for their aid, and that will be their best reward. — H. P. B.
Rudolf Steiner's Translation into German
Der Schlüssel zur Theosophie: Vorrede
Der Zweck dieses Buches ist in dem Titel deutlich ausgesprochen: Schlüssel zur Theosophie, und er erfordert nur wenige Worte der Erklärung. Es ist nicht ein vollständiges oder erschöpfendes Handbuch der Theosophie, sondern nur ein Schlüssel, der die Türen für ein tieferes Studium öffnen soll. Er zieht breite Leitlinien der Weisheitreligion, und setzt ihre Grundlagen auseinander, begegnet gleichzeitig den verschiedenen Einwendungen des westlichen Durchschnittforschers und bestrebt sich, unbekannte Begriffe in einer so einfachen Form und so klaren Ausdrucksweise darzulegen als dies möglich erscheint. Es wäre zu viel verlangt, wenn man Theosophie ohne geistige Anstrengung von Seiten des Lesers vermitteln wollte, aber es steht zu hoffen, dass, was noch dunkel bleibt in Bezug auf den Gedanken, nicht auf die Sprache, sondern von der Tiefe, nicht von der Unklarheit herrührt. Für die geistig Trägen oder Stumpfen muss Theosophie ein Rätsel bleiben, denn in der Gedanken- und Geisteswelt kann ein jeder nur durch seine eigenen Anstrengungen weiterschreiten. Der Schriftsteller kann nicht für den Leser denken, noch wäre es für den Letzteren gut, wenn solches stellvertretendes Denken möglich wäre. Die Notwendigkeit einer solchen Erklärung wie die vorliegende ist unter denen lange gefühlt worden, welche an der Theosophischen Gesellschaft und ihrer Arbeit beteiligt sind, und es ist zu hoffen, dass die Sache, so frei als möglich von technischen Schwierigkeiten, eine genügende Aufklärung denen gibt, deren Aufmerksamkeit zwar vorhanden ist, die aber noch im Unklaren und noch nicht überzeugt sind.
Besondere Sorge ist darauf verwendet worden, einige Teile dessen zu entwirren, was wahr und was falsch an den spiritistischen Lehren von den Zuständen nach dem Tode ist, und die wahre Natur der spiritistischen Erscheinungen zu zeigen. Frühere Auseinandersetzungen dieser Art haben Groll gebracht über des Schreibers ergebenes Haupt; die Spiritisten ziehen wie so viele andere vor, das zu glauben, was ihnen gefällt, als was wahr ist und werden sehr ärgerlich, wenn irgend jemand eine angenehme Täuschung zerstört. In den letzten Jahren war Theosophie eine Zielscheibe für manchen Giftpfeil der Spiritisten, weil die Besitzer der halben Wahrheit mehr Gegnerschaft gegen die Besitzer der ganzen Wahrheit empfinden als diejenigen, welche sich gar keines Besitzes rühmen können.
Vielen Theosophen, die Anregungen und Fragen gegeben haben, sagt der Autor den herzlichsten Dank, und nicht weniger allen denen, die sonst irgendwie zu dem Buche beigetragen haben. Das Buch wird durch seine Hilfe an Brauchbarkeit gewonnen haben, und das wird sein bester Lohn sein.
London, 1889.
H.P.B.
Automated Retranslation
Preface
The purpose of this book is clearly stated in the title: Key to Theosophy, and it requires only a few words of explanation. It is not a complete or exhaustive manual of Theosophy, but only a key to open the doors for a deeper study. It draws broad guidelines of the religion of wisdom, and explains its fundamentals, while at the same time addressing the various objections of the average Western explorer and endeavoring to explain unfamiliar concepts in as simple a form and as clear a language as possible. It would be asking too much to teach Theosophy without any mental effort on the part of the reader, but it is to be hoped that what remains obscure in terms of thought, not of language, stems from depth, not from lack of clarity. For the mentally indolent or dull, Theosophy must remain a mystery, for in the world of thought and spirit, each one can only progress through his own efforts. The writer cannot think for the reader, nor would it be good for the latter if such vicarious thinking were possible. The necessity for an explanation such as the present one has been long felt among those who are interested in the Theosophical Society and its work, and it is hoped that the matter, as free as possible from technical difficulties, will give sufficient enlightenment to those whose attention is indeed present but who are still in the dark and not yet convinced.
Special care has been taken to unravel some parts of what is true and what is false about the spiritualist teachings on the afterlife, and to show the true nature of spiritualist phenomena. Former discussions of this kind have brought resentment upon the writer's devoted head; the spiritualists, like so many others, prefer to believe what they please to what is true, and become very angry when anyone destroys a pleasant delusion. In recent years, Theosophy has been the target of many a poisoned arrow from spiritualists, because those who possess only half the truth feel more hostility towards those who possess the whole truth than those who cannot boast of any possession at all.
The author extends his warmest thanks to the many Theosophists who have provided inspiration and questions, and no less to all those who have otherwise contributed to the book. The book will have gained in usefulness through their help, and that will be its best reward.
London, 1889.
H.P.B.