Theosophical Study Paper No 03

Author(s): Theosophical Society in Australia
Publisher: Theosophical Society in Australia

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THE THEOSOPHIC LIFE
Annie Besant
(Originally published in The Theosophist, March 1909).
There are certain ways of looking at life that seem to grow naturally out of our theosophical studies; and I would fain inspire my readers with fresh energy and determination amid the trials of the moment to carry out in everyday life the doctrines we so continually study. For if Theosophy be not a science of life, if the Theosophist, by the Divine Wisdom that he studies, does not become wise for the helping of all around him, then his life is really worse than the ordinary life. For where the inspiration is greater, then not to rise is to fall lower than the ordinary man. There is a great truth in that parable where it is said that the man who did not use his talent was worthy of heaviest punishment, and he who knew and did not act should be beaten with many stripes, whereas those who did not know and did not act should only be beaten with a few. Now the Theosophist cannot pretend that he does not know. On every side knowledge pours in on him. With these advantages of knowing, our doing ought to be better than doing of the majority around us, and unless we can justify Theosophy in life, the less we profess ourselves to be Theosophists the better.
Now what are the main points in life on which brighter light shines out from the knowledge that we strive to acquire? I will not pause on Brotherhood, for in every association of thoughtful men Brotherhood is an axiom, whether or not it is practised; and with regard to that First Object-to be a nucleus of Brotherhood-our chief work ought to lie in helping, so far as we can, everything that makes for Brotherhood, and thus realising that it must
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