Initiation The Perfecting of Man : Annie Besant [ First Edition , Theosophy ]
$125
Out of stock
Description
Well preserved first edition of Initiation The Perfecting of Man by Theosophy leader Annie Besant with two sets of original advertisements.
Besant, Annie. Initiation The Perfecting Of Man. The Theosophical Publishing Society : London. The “Theosophist” Office : Madras, Adyar. 1912. First edition.
THERE is a Path which leads to that which is known as Initiation, and through Initiation to the Perfecting of Man; a Path which is recognized in all the great religions, and the chief features of which are described in similar terms in every one of the great faiths of the world.
This original text from Theosophical Society President Annie Besant consisting of a description of the mystical unity behind world religions and the path to awakening the individual to higher realities. Comparing Hinduism, Christianity, and Sufi Islam, Besant places Theosophy’s own interest in Ascended Masters in the context of Yogic studies and the possibility of union with divinity. Written in some rather direct ways both for and to occultists, Initiation also sees Besant introduce notions of a shared Christ Consciousness to Theosophy as well as the society’s growing interest in a coming world teacher. Interestingly this book was released the same year the father of Jiddu Krisnamurti sued Besant over his son’s controversial adoption by the Theosophical Society as part of the group’s belief that the then-17-year-old Krisnamurti was effectively a messianic figure.
8vo, 131pp + 6 ads. Yellow cloth boards. Corners and spine ends bumped. Small flecking to spine title. Minor rubbing along joints. Partial bubbling of front pastedown fore edge with light separation. Pastedowns and endpapers toned. Half-title and title pages foxed with minor margin foxing on some subsequent pages. Small fold with tear to top margin pgs 125-27. Includes six pages of Theosophical Publishing advertisements following the text broken into separately paginated sections of four and two pages respectively. Good condition.
If you liked this copy of Initiation you might also like this first edition Theosophy book by Annie Besant owned and signed by author Helen Campbell and another early Theosophist.
