Text: Theosophy is a philosophic attitude embracing both a scientific and a religious approach to an understanding of man and the universe, and carrying within it the germ of its own expansion, since it holds as basic that the mind of man is evolving. Thus it regards no conclusion as final but allows for the continuous introduction of new knowledge and dyanmic insights into the arena of the mind's activity. Theosophy postulates an "omni-present, eternal, boundless and immutable substance-principle" as the fundamental Reality underlying all manifested existence. This is indefinable in finite terms andtherefore incomprehensible to the finite intellect. Yet it is not unknowable in terms of direct experience, since all things, including man, partake of its nature. Man is defined as "that being in the universe ... in whim highest spirit and lowest matter" (considered two poles of the same reality) "are joined together by intelligence". In him universal spirit is focused through a psycho-spiritual organism, in appropriate mento-emotional and physical vehicels, from which action can take place in the phenomenal world. The spiritual point is seen as capable of infinite expansion, not in terms of physical space, but in terms of self-realization, which may be conceived of as the space of consciousness. In the theosophical view, all life emanates from a supreme Source and ultimately returns to that Source. This going forth and return constitutes the field of involution and evolution, wherein life finds its way into densest matter in the mineral kingdom and works its way pward through aeons of time in each of the other kingdoms of nature, finally reaching self-consciousness in the human kingdom. This brings individual responsibility for obedience toa law, called karma, under which man must meet and learn to deal with the consequences of his own actions and, eventually, come to full self-knowledge and self-direction. Theosophy regards complete fulfillment of the human estate as far in the future for the vast majority of mankind. It suggests, however, that within each individual is infinite potential foro development andthat there is an age-old path, astaught in all the religions, by which man may achieve mastery over himself andenter into the next, the superhuman, stage of evolution. The lives of the great Teachers and Seers of all ages ­ Jesus, Buddha, Sri Krishna, among others ­have given testimony to this possibility. Theosophy sees the process of involution and evolution asguided by Intelligences which are the product of previous cycles, and holds as a necessary corollary that those humans who achieve superhumanity by the end ofthe present cycle will assist in the development of future cycles. The universe is therefore regarded as a field of action for intelligent forces which man observes as the operation of natural laws. Considered as a corollary growing out of the concept of cyclic unfoldment is the doctrine of reincarnation, or the successive embodiment ofthe human entity in physical form with the accompanying emotional, mental, and psychic respnses to experience. SInce all life constantly renews itself through periods of activity and rest, this must hold true for the individual as well as for the universe. The perceptive individual therefore finds in the process a boundless field for exploration and opportunity for endless growth. Theosophy is of ancient origin and emerged in modern times with the establishment of The Theosophical Society, in New York City, in 1875. The founders ofthe Society were Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891), Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907), William QUan Judge (1851-1896), and others. The Society maintains an open platform, based on the freedom of each individual to seek truth for himself. The objectives ofthe organization include the recognition ofthe brotherhood of humanity; the encouragement of the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science; and the investigation of the laws governing man and nature. The movement has attracted a considreable following, and today branches exist in more than 50 countries. International headquarters were established at Adyar, Madras, India, in 1882 and continue to be maintained there. Headquarters of The Theosophical Society in America are located at Wheaton, Illinois.

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