Esoteric Christianity

The purpose of this book is to offer readers a series of thoughts about deep truths underlying Christianity—truths that are either accepted too superficially or even outright denied. The generous desire to share with everyone what is most precious, to spread invaluable truths and to leave no one without the light of true knowledge—has resulted in indiscriminate zeal, which simplified Christianity to the point that its teachings took a form that both outrages the heart and is not accepted by reason. The commandment, "preach the Gospel to every creature," which can hardly be taken as a genuine commandment, was interpreted as a prohibition on passing on Gnosis to only a few; and it also pushed aside another, less widespread saying of the same great Teacher: "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not cast your pearls before swine."...

...Knowledge of spiritual truths can be acquired only from within—not from without; not from an external teacher, but only from the divine Spirit who has built his Temple within us. These truths are "spiritually discerned" by that divine Spirit dwelling within, by the "mind of Christ" of which the apostle speaks—and this inner light is poured out onto our lower reason...

...This is the path of Divine Wisdom, true Theosophy. Theosophy is not, as some think, a weak version of Hinduism or Buddhism, or Taoism, or any other particular religion; it is Esoteric Christianity, just as there is Esoteric Buddhism, and it belongs equally to every religion, exclusively to none. In it lies the source of guidance given in this book for those who seek the Light—the "true light" that enlightens every person who comes "into the world," even if most people have not yet opened their eyes to see it. Theosophy does not bring Light; it only says: "Open your eyes, and look—here is the Light!" For that is what we have heard. Theosophy calls only those who hunger to receive more than what external teachings can give them. For those who are fully satisfied with external teachings, it is not meant, for why force bread upon the one who is not hungry? And for those who are hungry, let it be bread, not stone.