“Dr Hartmann’s ‘Magic,’ as compared with ‘Light on the Path,’ is a bulky tome; and in its closely-printed pages students of occultism will find hints, ‘practical’ and otherwise, likely to be of great service to them in the pursuit of their studies and researches. It was not the author’s ‘object, in composing this book, to write merely a code of Ethics, and thereby to increase the already existing enormous mountain of unread moral precepts, but to assist the student of occultism in studying the elements of which his own soul is composed, and to learn to know his own physical organism. I want to give an impulse to the study of a science which may be called the “anatomy and physiology of the Soul,” which investigates the elements of which the soul is composed, and the source from which man’s desires and emotions spring.’ Dr Hartmann’s compendium is ‘an attempt to show the way how man may become a co-operator of the Divine Power, whose product is Nature,’ and his pages, as described by himself, ‘constitute a book which may properly have the title of “Magic,” for if the readers succeed in practically following its teaching, they will be able to perform the greatest of all magical feats, the spiritual regeneration of Man.’ Dr Hartmann’s book has also gone into a third edition, and has developed from an insignificant pamphlet, ‘written originally for the purpose of demonstrating to a few inexperienced inquirers that the study of the occult side of nature was not identical with the vile practices of sorcery,’ into a compendious volume, comprising, we are willing to believe, the entire philosophic system of occultism. There are abundant evidences that the science of theosophy has made vast strides in public estimation of late years, and that those desirous of experimenting in this particular and in many respects fascinating, branch of ethics, have leaders whose teaching they can follow with satisfaction to themselves.”—Saturday Review.
Crown 8vo, Cloth, price 7s. 6d.
POSTHUMOUS HUMANITY; A Study of Phantoms. By ADOLPHE D’ASSIER, Member of the Bordeaux Academy of Sciences. Translated and Annotated by HENRY S. OLCOTT, President of the Theosophical Society. To which is added an Appendix shewing the Popular Beliefs current in India respecting the Post-mortem Vicissitudes of the Human Entity.
Truth says—“If you care for ghost stories, duly accredited, excellently told, and scientifically explained, you should read the translation by Colonel Olcott of M. Adolphe d’Assier’s ‘Posthumous Humanity,’ a study of phantoms. There is no dogmatism so dogged and offensive as that of the professed sceptic—of the scientific sceptic especially—who ex vi termini ought to keep the doors of his mind hospitably open; and it is refreshing, therefore, to find such scientists as Wallace, Crookes, and M. d’Assier, who is a Positivist, in the ranks of the Psychical Research host. For my own part, though I have attended the séance of a celebrated London medium, and there convinced myself beyond all doubt of his imposture, I no more think that the detection of a medium fraud disposes of the whole question of ghosts, &c., than that the detection of an atheist priest disposes of the whole question of Christianity. Whatever view you take of this controversy, however, I can promise you that you will find the book interesting at least if not convincing.”
Pott 8vo, Cloth, Limp, price 1s. 6d.
LIGHT ON THE PATH. A Treatise written for the Personal Use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern Wisdom, and who desire to enter within its influence. Written down by M. C., Fellow of the Theosophical Society. New Edition, with Notes, by the Author.
“So far as we can gather from the mystic language in which it is couched, ‘Light on the Path’ is intended to guide the footsteps of those who have discarded the forms of religion while retaining the moral principle to its fullest extent. It is in harmony with much that was said by Socrates and Plato, although the author does not use the phraseology of those philosophers, but rather the language of Buddhism, easily understood by esoteric Buddhists, but difficult to grasp by those without the pale. ‘Light on the Path’ may, we think, be said to be the only attempt in this language and in this century to put practical occultism into words; and it may be added, by way of further explanation, that the character of Gautama Buddha, as shown in Sir Edwin Arnold’s ‘Light of Asia,’ is the perfect type of the being who has reached the threshold of Divinity by this road. That it has reached a third edition speaks favourably for this multum in parvo of the science of occultism; and ‘M. C.’ may be expected to gather fresh laurels in future.”—Saturday Review.