The Ancient Wisdom (An Outline of Theosophical Teachings)

The Ancient Wisdom is a book by Anni Besant published in 1897 as per the dedication in the Leader of the undated first pressing. In this book Besant introduces and explains the physical plain, astral plane, mental plain and other planes of existence. This book is intended to place in the hands of the general reader an epitome of Theosophical Teachings, Sufficently plain to serve the elementry student, and sufficiently full to lay a sound foundation for future knowledge. It is hoped that it may serve an introduction to the profounder works of H.P. Blavatsky, and be a convenient stepping stone to their study. Those who are even a bit aware of ancient wisdom know the illumination, the peace, the joy, the strength, its lessons have brought into their lives. This book may win som to con its teachings, and to prove for themselves their value, is the prayer with which it is sent forth into the world. Whom in the modern form of the ancient wisdom the name "Logos" or word has been given. The name is drawn form the greek philosophy, but perfectly expresses the acient idea.

Annie Besant nee Wood was born on 1st October 1847 and was Died on 20th September 1933. In 1867 Annie at the age of 20 got married Frank Besant, a clergyman and they had two children. Annies increasingly anti religious views led to their legal septer just saw the source from which a universe proceeds is a manifested divine being to action in 1873. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society as well as a wrtier and a close friend of Charles Bradlaugh and in 1877 they were prosecuted for publishing a book by birth controler Campaigner. The scandel made them famous, and Bradlaugh was subsequently elected M.P. For Northampton in 1880. Thereafter she became involved with union action, including the bloody Sunday demonstration and the London match girls strike of 1898. She was a leading speaker for both the Fabian Society and the Marxist Social Democratic Federation. She was also elected to the London School Board for tower hamlets, topping the poll,even though few women were qualified to vote at that time. She started the Central Hindu School in Benares as a chief means of achieving her objects.

THIS book is intended to place in the hands of the general reader an epitome of theosophical teachings, sufficiently plain to serve the elementary student, and sufficiently full to lay a sound foundation for further knowledge. It is hoped that it may serve as an intro duction to the profounder works of H. P. Blavatsky, and be a convenient stepping-stone to their study.
Those who have learned a little of the Ancient Wisdom know the illumination, the peace, the joy, the strength, its lessons have brought into their lives. That this book may win some to con its teachings, and to prove for themselves their value, is the prayer with which it is sent forth into the world.

RIGHT thought is necessary to right conduct, right understanding to right living, and the Divine Wis dom-whether called by its ancient Sanskrit name of Brahma Vidyâ, or its modern Greek name of Theosophia, Theosophy-comes to the world as at once an adequate philosophy and an all-embracing religion and ethic. It was once said of the Christian Scriptures by a devotee that they contained shallows in which a child could wade and depths in which a giant must swim. A similar statement might be made of Theosophy, for some of its teachings are so simple and so practical that any person of average intelligence can understand and follow them, while others are so lofty, so profound, that the ablest strains his intellect to contain them and sinks ex hausted in the effort.
In the present volume an attempt will be made to place Theosophy before the reader simply and clearly, in a way which shall convey its general principles and truths as forming a coherent conception of the universe, and shall give such detail as is necessary for the understanding of their relations to each other. An elementary text-book cannot pretend to give the fulness of knowledge that may be obtained from abstruser works, but it should leave the student with clear fundamental ideas on his subject, with much indeed to add by future study but with little to unlearn. Into the outline given by such a book the student should be able to paint the details of further research.