Theosophical Gnosis and Astral Hermeneutics

This chapter traces the subtle body concept through the writings of major second-generation theosophists, focusing on their reformulations of a mystical Christianity informed by subtle body yoga. It examines Annie Besant's mythological interpretations of the Bible, Charles Leadbeater's Kundalini experiences and his synthesis of Kabbalah, Hindu philosophy, and personal experience, and G. R. S. Mead's formulations across his books. The chapter ends with Mead's predictions about a future where sciences, parapsychology, and humanities unite to address questions about the subtle body's nature and function.

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Abstract

Abstract This chapter traces the subtle body concept through the writings of Blavatsky’s heirs, the major figures in the second generation of theosophy, zeroing in specifically on their reformulations of a mystical form of Christianity informed by the yoga of the subtle body. First, it examines the life and works of Annie Besant and her mythological subtle body interpretations of the Bible. Next, it moves on to Charles Leadbeater, his Kundalini experiences, and how these informed his own subtle body ideas drawn from Kabbalah, Hindu philosophy, and his own personal experience. Lastly, the chapter examines Blavatsky’s former secretary, G. R. S. Mead, and how the subtle body concept is formulated in his numerous books. It ends by looking at Mead’s prognostications about a future wherein the sciences, parapsychology, and humanities are brought together to answer questions about the nature and function of the subtle body.