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Esoteric Buddhism: Annotated & Enlarged
The ultimate destinies of our race - concerning also the nature of other worlds and states of existence differing from those of our present life - checked and examined at every pointy verified in all directions and constantly under examination throughout has come to be looked on by its custodians as constituting the absolute truth concerning spiritual things, the actual state of the facts regarding vast regions of vital activity lying beyond this earthly existence. European philosophy, whether concerned with religion or pure metaphysics, has so long been used to a sense of insecurity in speculations outrunning the limits of physical experiment, that absolute truth about spiritual things is hardly recognized any longer by prudent thinkers as a reasonable object of pursuit; but different habits of thought have been acquired in Asia. The secret doctrine which, to a considerable extent, I am now enabled to expound, is regarded not only by all its adherents but by vast numbers who have never expected to know more of it than that such a doctrine exists, as a mine of entirely trustworthy knowledge from which all religions and philosophies have derived whatever they possess of truth, and with which every religion must coincide if it claims to be a mode of expression for truth.. .
268 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2017
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About the author
Alfred Percy Sinnett
225 books12 followerssource: Wikipedia
A.P. Sinnett was an English author and Theosophist.
Sinnett's father died while he was young, by 1851 Sinnett is listed as a "Scholar - London University", living with his widowed mother Jane whose occupation is listed as "Periodical Literature", and his older sister Sophia age 22 who is a teacher. Jane's sister Sarah age 48 is also a teacher.[1]
Sinnett married his wife Patience in 1870, probably in the London area. He is listed in the 1871 England Census at age 31, as a Journalist, born in Middlesex. His wife Patience is 27, and her mother Clarissa Edenson a "Landowner", is living with them.
By 1879, Sinnett had moved to India where he was "... the Editor of The Pioneer, the leading English Daily of India..."[2] He relates in his book, The Occult World that: "...on the first occasion of my making Madame Blavatsky's acquaintance she became a guest at my home at Allahabad and remained there for six weeks..." [3]
In 1880 Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott visited the Sinnetts at their summer-home in Simla. The Mahatma letters, which generated the controversy that later helped lead to the split of the Theosophical Society, were mostly written to Sinnett or his wife, Patience. The letters started at this time when Sinnett asked Blavatsky whether if he wrote a letter to her Mahatmas, she could arrange to have it delivered.
By 1884, Sinnett was back in England, where that year Constance Wachtmeister states that she met Blavatsky at the home of the Sinnetts in London.[4]
Sinnett asked Charles Webster Leadbeater to come back to England to tutor his son Percy and George Arundale. Leadbeater agreed and brought with him one of his pupils Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa. Using "astral clairvoyance" Leadbeater assisted William Scott-Elliot to write his book The Story of Atlantis, for which Sinnett wrote the preface.
Sinnett was later President of the London Lodge of the Society.
By 1901, Sinnett is listed as an author. His son Percy is also listed as an author and born in India.[5]
A.P. Sinnett was an English author and Theosophist.
Sinnett's father died while he was young, by 1851 Sinnett is listed as a "Scholar - London University", living with his widowed mother Jane whose occupation is listed as "Periodical Literature", and his older sister Sophia age 22 who is a teacher. Jane's sister Sarah age 48 is also a teacher.[1]
Sinnett married his wife Patience in 1870, probably in the London area. He is listed in the 1871 England Census at age 31, as a Journalist, born in Middlesex. His wife Patience is 27, and her mother Clarissa Edenson a "Landowner", is living with them.
By 1879, Sinnett had moved to India where he was "... the Editor of The Pioneer, the leading English Daily of India..."[2] He relates in his book, The Occult World that: "...on the first occasion of my making Madame Blavatsky's acquaintance she became a guest at my home at Allahabad and remained there for six weeks..." [3]
In 1880 Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott visited the Sinnetts at their summer-home in Simla. The Mahatma letters, which generated the controversy that later helped lead to the split of the Theosophical Society, were mostly written to Sinnett or his wife, Patience. The letters started at this time when Sinnett asked Blavatsky whether if he wrote a letter to her Mahatmas, she could arrange to have it delivered.
By 1884, Sinnett was back in England, where that year Constance Wachtmeister states that she met Blavatsky at the home of the Sinnetts in London.[4]
Sinnett asked Charles Webster Leadbeater to come back to England to tutor his son Percy and George Arundale. Leadbeater agreed and brought with him one of his pupils Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa. Using "astral clairvoyance" Leadbeater assisted William Scott-Elliot to write his book The Story of Atlantis, for which Sinnett wrote the preface.
Sinnett was later President of the London Lodge of the Society.
By 1901, Sinnett is listed as an author. His son Percy is also listed as an author and born in India.[5]
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 15, 2016
This is definitely one of the best books on esoteric philosophy I've read. I especially found the chapters on the planetary chain of worlds fascinating, and how human evolution is tied to this chain. It allows us to more fully appreciate the vastness of the universe and the enormous time spans involved in the evolution of our souls. I wrote an blog post related to a quote in this book here: http://thesoulwanderers.blogspot.ca/2...
A.P. Sinnett writes in a very captivating way, and he provides us with so much information that goes to the cusp of human knowledge and intuition. He relates the Buddhist ideas from Masters he has studied with in the East and also shows how they relate to other philosophies, religion, and science. I also like how Sinnett isn't shy from saying how he thinks many other ideas are simply wrong! This book certainly brings to light many details about Buddhism not explained in popular "exoteric" accounts, making it much more understandable and relateable to other traditions such as Neoplatonism.
A.P. Sinnett writes in a very captivating way, and he provides us with so much information that goes to the cusp of human knowledge and intuition. He relates the Buddhist ideas from Masters he has studied with in the East and also shows how they relate to other philosophies, religion, and science. I also like how Sinnett isn't shy from saying how he thinks many other ideas are simply wrong! This book certainly brings to light many details about Buddhism not explained in popular "exoteric" accounts, making it much more understandable and relateable to other traditions such as Neoplatonism.
February 10, 2022
The knowledge he shares in this book came to him from his Guru and believes it to be a favor. The prodigious amount of information he got was more than he could have ever experimented and founded it. This Knowledge was always secretive and was carefully transferred to specific initiated students alone. But his masters did not mind his sharing this knowledge.
These initiated students later became Arhats or saints or Rishis. They are the ones who have exhausted their karma. You will never hear about these people. Esoteric Buddhism was the old school followed before Buddhism came into existence. Buddhism as we know now contains outer superficial moral teachings and an other branch of study which is completely hidden. These associations are highly sophisticated in spirituality. Out of all the associations in the world Tibetan Association currently holds highest level of expertise.
Some Sadhus of India claim their Guru to be the supreme of all but it is not the case. They do not know what is outside the conception of Guru’s teachings. They know not higher areas of dimensional experiences which they did not experience. To use the metaphor AP Sinnette compares a small row boat to that of an Ocean steamer.
Certain things cannot be expressed in words and certain craft cannot be taught it must be experience. Say a person who watched how to swim videos on youtube and claims himself an expert and tries to swim in a pond. He drowns! He flaps his hands and legs as learnt in the videos but there is more than just learning. You have to feel your body and believe that it will move in a certain way by doing certain maneuvers. The belief, the trust, the undoubting trust in yourself while doing it all come into play. Same with learning a bike. You feel your hands and figers heavy while handling them. You become out of balance. But once you learn you learn. Things like Astral Projection, Lucid Dreaming are learnt from doing them. There are certain things which I happened to realize automatically when performing LD’s like if the dream is fading I try to concentrate, focus and feel the surroundings. This is what I had learnt automatically. This cannot be learnt by others by my writing. It has to be felt.
The wisdom this book contains is the knowledge given by the Mahatmas in their letters to AP sinnett. Sinnet wrote these in his other book “The Occult World”. The Mahatmas were the Guru’s of Blavatsky. AP Sinnett explains about the various bodies present alongside with our physical body. They all operate on a more subtler level.
Definetely looking forward for a re-read.
These initiated students later became Arhats or saints or Rishis. They are the ones who have exhausted their karma. You will never hear about these people. Esoteric Buddhism was the old school followed before Buddhism came into existence. Buddhism as we know now contains outer superficial moral teachings and an other branch of study which is completely hidden. These associations are highly sophisticated in spirituality. Out of all the associations in the world Tibetan Association currently holds highest level of expertise.
Some Sadhus of India claim their Guru to be the supreme of all but it is not the case. They do not know what is outside the conception of Guru’s teachings. They know not higher areas of dimensional experiences which they did not experience. To use the metaphor AP Sinnette compares a small row boat to that of an Ocean steamer.
Certain things cannot be expressed in words and certain craft cannot be taught it must be experience. Say a person who watched how to swim videos on youtube and claims himself an expert and tries to swim in a pond. He drowns! He flaps his hands and legs as learnt in the videos but there is more than just learning. You have to feel your body and believe that it will move in a certain way by doing certain maneuvers. The belief, the trust, the undoubting trust in yourself while doing it all come into play. Same with learning a bike. You feel your hands and figers heavy while handling them. You become out of balance. But once you learn you learn. Things like Astral Projection, Lucid Dreaming are learnt from doing them. There are certain things which I happened to realize automatically when performing LD’s like if the dream is fading I try to concentrate, focus and feel the surroundings. This is what I had learnt automatically. This cannot be learnt by others by my writing. It has to be felt.
The wisdom this book contains is the knowledge given by the Mahatmas in their letters to AP sinnett. Sinnet wrote these in his other book “The Occult World”. The Mahatmas were the Guru’s of Blavatsky. AP Sinnett explains about the various bodies present alongside with our physical body. They all operate on a more subtler level.
Definetely looking forward for a re-read.
February 1, 2020
This was tough to read.
April 12, 2019
A Bit Dense
Written in the 19th century, the treatise on Buddhism is hard for latter day readers to stay focused on due to idiom and syntax of the day's language. Not for the initiate.
Written in the 19th century, the treatise on Buddhism is hard for latter day readers to stay focused on due to idiom and syntax of the day's language. Not for the initiate.
October 3, 2020
This was challenging to wrap my head around but is well worth the read
March 15, 2020
Not an easy read, but it has some thought provoking spiritual gems.
October 25, 2025
so horrid I could not get beyond a few pages
December 15, 2024
If you're masochistic like me and have read the 1,471-page unabridged Secret Doctrine in full, you will be aware of this Esoteric Buddhism book. First printed in 1883 in London, many consider these teachings as seminal to the Theosophical Society, mentioned in numerous follow-up publications as inarguably Sinnett's most famous work. Which means, as with any text in this category, you better get ready for a wall of unorthodox knowledge that requires a ton of blind acceptance on the reader's part.
Within pages, reality is already challenged, with Sinnett assuring us that he received this wisdom from "ascended masters," i.e. entities who have transcended average human limitations to reach spiritual planes to which the rest of us cannot access. It's not a surprising claim, as these beings are common sources used by various notable occultists, to the likes of Helena Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley, and Dion Fortune. Certainly, it's a tough proposal to swallow, and I am only half-willing to do so. Yet, I will also half defend it as a possibility, purely because the data is far beyond the ordinary.
So, what is the said data? Well, fundamentally (and predictably), it is about progressive karmic cycles regarding reincarnation and evolution on every level, from humans to prophets to cosmology, with each rotation adhering to the principle of seven steps. Personally, I react adversely to any schooling which breaks down the Universe into such specific yet unprovable categories because anyone can declare that. I can declare that. It has been declared incalculable times before and leaves minimal fluidity to harmonise diverse viewpoints. That said, and in fairness, Esoteric Buddhism does offer a handful of proposals that would patch up several plotholes in my own theories, so who am I to say?
Be that as it may, the problems outweigh the promises. A. P. Sinnett's wordy use of language is notoriously demanding to decipher, not only in terms of content but also in his unforgivable grammatical choices. Multiple sentences nearly brought me to tears as I begged for a full stop to breathe, but there was none in sight, and whenever I finally reached a pause, I'd completely forgotten where we'd started. Moreover, the line height of my edition was squashed far too tight, making every page a daunting task of finger sliding and squinting, further aggravating the already aggravated matter.
Even worse was a suspicion I later confirmed through external reports: a Western man will never be the authority on Eastern mysticism. Indeed, how much of this book can be considered authentic Buddhism is frequently debated away from its favour. Instead, it seems to be a promotional tool, exploiting the sacred Buddhist title to mould curious minds into a Theosophical shape. Now, that's not to say that the material isn't fascinating. It's fascinating! But it's more to say that Esoteric Buddhism is manipulative, speculative, and, most annoying of all, unnecessarily complex to appear deeper than it actually is.
THIS BOOK IS PART OF THE GREATER LAMB PROPHECY STUDIES, book 2 out in 2026!
Within pages, reality is already challenged, with Sinnett assuring us that he received this wisdom from "ascended masters," i.e. entities who have transcended average human limitations to reach spiritual planes to which the rest of us cannot access. It's not a surprising claim, as these beings are common sources used by various notable occultists, to the likes of Helena Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley, and Dion Fortune. Certainly, it's a tough proposal to swallow, and I am only half-willing to do so. Yet, I will also half defend it as a possibility, purely because the data is far beyond the ordinary.
So, what is the said data? Well, fundamentally (and predictably), it is about progressive karmic cycles regarding reincarnation and evolution on every level, from humans to prophets to cosmology, with each rotation adhering to the principle of seven steps. Personally, I react adversely to any schooling which breaks down the Universe into such specific yet unprovable categories because anyone can declare that. I can declare that. It has been declared incalculable times before and leaves minimal fluidity to harmonise diverse viewpoints. That said, and in fairness, Esoteric Buddhism does offer a handful of proposals that would patch up several plotholes in my own theories, so who am I to say?
Be that as it may, the problems outweigh the promises. A. P. Sinnett's wordy use of language is notoriously demanding to decipher, not only in terms of content but also in his unforgivable grammatical choices. Multiple sentences nearly brought me to tears as I begged for a full stop to breathe, but there was none in sight, and whenever I finally reached a pause, I'd completely forgotten where we'd started. Moreover, the line height of my edition was squashed far too tight, making every page a daunting task of finger sliding and squinting, further aggravating the already aggravated matter.
Even worse was a suspicion I later confirmed through external reports: a Western man will never be the authority on Eastern mysticism. Indeed, how much of this book can be considered authentic Buddhism is frequently debated away from its favour. Instead, it seems to be a promotional tool, exploiting the sacred Buddhist title to mould curious minds into a Theosophical shape. Now, that's not to say that the material isn't fascinating. It's fascinating! But it's more to say that Esoteric Buddhism is manipulative, speculative, and, most annoying of all, unnecessarily complex to appear deeper than it actually is.
THIS BOOK IS PART OF THE GREATER LAMB PROPHECY STUDIES, book 2 out in 2026!
June 13, 2021
The last chapter, Sinnett discusses Esotericism in conjunction with Buddhism, but this text is largely esoteric science and he leaves the last chapter for an examination of Buddhist ideals.
Written in 1884, a few of the discussed philosophies are outdated. As more become initiates, we have updated information imparted onto us by recent clairvoyants. The seers of the 20th century added and clarified many of the old terms expressed in this book. Specifically about qualifications and content of Kama Loka, Devachan and the Buddhist perspective regarding rebirths of a no-soul.
As a student of esoteric science, this was a relatively easy read. It may be a good introduction to Occultism because it presents a nice combination of ideas known through pop-culture as well as more deeply hidden ideas. Many of the terms and ideas are discussed with more detail by Rudolph Steiner. (Planetary evolution, the formation of spirit, reincarnation, the five Epochs, Atlantis and Lemuria).
Written in 1884, a few of the discussed philosophies are outdated. As more become initiates, we have updated information imparted onto us by recent clairvoyants. The seers of the 20th century added and clarified many of the old terms expressed in this book. Specifically about qualifications and content of Kama Loka, Devachan and the Buddhist perspective regarding rebirths of a no-soul.
As a student of esoteric science, this was a relatively easy read. It may be a good introduction to Occultism because it presents a nice combination of ideas known through pop-culture as well as more deeply hidden ideas. Many of the terms and ideas are discussed with more detail by Rudolph Steiner. (Planetary evolution, the formation of spirit, reincarnation, the five Epochs, Atlantis and Lemuria).
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews