The weekly Tuesday/Wednesday study classes run from October to June inclusive with a different programme during the summer.
Tuesday & Wednesday meetings
The 7-8:30 pm weekly study class on “The Ocean of Theosophy” and “The Way of The Bodhisattva” now takes place on Tuesdays online, and on Wednesdays at the Lodge, from 3rd and 4th October 2023. The study material for Tuesdays and Wednesdays is identical.
If you live in or near London, please consider attending the in-person Wednesday class, no pre-registration is necessary. If joining the Tuesday online group for the first time, email [email protected] after reading the Guide to Online Meetings.
The page titled “the Aim of the Meetings” provides a short introduction to the study methods, it will help you get the most from the sessions.
February study schedule for Tuesdays/Wednesdays at 7 pm
March study schedule for Tuesdays/Wednesdays at 7 pm
Tip! This PDF contains links to most of the texts, so consider saving it on your device.
On Wednesdays there is also an 8.30-9.30 pm study class exploring Vol. 2 (Anthropogenesis) of “The Secret Doctrine.” This can be attended at the Lodge and online. To join online for the first time, please follow the directions above.
For details of all the Lodge’s other
January-March 2024 meetings click here.
Study texts
In the 7 pm meeting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays we are studying “The Way of the Bodhisattva” by Shantideva and “The Ocean of Theosophy” by William Q. Judge.
From 8.30 pm on Wednesdays we take up Volume 2 of “The Secret Doctrine.” You are welcome to attend one or both classes, they are all free, the “Secret Doctrine” class is at a more advanced level.
In April 2022 we started the study of “The Ocean of Theosophy“, and as of October 2023 we are beginning the fourth chapter. The Prefaces (linked here) by Judge, Robert Crosbie and B. P. Wadia (in the Indian edition) are a valuable introduction to the study.
The texts for all these meetings are linked inside the Wednesday 7 pm “Study Schedule” PDFs above. The study season runs from October to June annually.
When attending these study meetings, students are asked to read the week’s selections before the meeting and encouraged to make notes and raise questions and points to discuss during the meeting (and afterwards if joining on Skype, the conversations sometimes continue “forum” style).
Texts for the 7 pm meetings
“The Way of the Bodhisattva” has been studied in the 7 pm meetings from 17 May 2023. It is available from Abe Books and other sellers. Due to copyright restrictions we are not able to upload a PDF of “The Way of the Bodhisattva” to the site but we have hard copies available for purchase (please email if interested) and we also ensure that online attendees can access the relevant text each week on Skype.
Click here for the explanatory handout, “Unison of Two Main Streams of Mahayana Buddhism.”
“The Ocean of Theosophy“2 (PDF) makes much of “The Secret Doctrine” clear, and thus easily understood. Topics include: the sevenfold nature of man, reincarnation, karma, psychism, small and great cycles, the after-death states and the existence of the Mahatmas, those who are advanced on the evolutionary cycle.
Click here for a handout of additional references on the Earth Chain, the subject of Chapter 3 of “The Ocean.”
After each chapter of “The Ocean” we will study the corresponding chapter in “Answers to Questions”:
“Answers to Questions on The Ocean of Theosophy” (PDF) gives answers by Robert Crosbie (the founder of the United Lodge of Theosophists) to many questions asked by Theosophical students about each chapter of Judge’s text. His clear explanations are a delight, they are most insightful and informative, making it an excellent companion to “The Ocean of Theosophy.”
Text for the 8:30 pm meetings
“The Secret Doctrine“ (PDF) by H. P. Blavatsky is one of the most valuable and important of Theosophical texts and gives the most complete description of the occult philosophy of all the Theosophical books. It contains detailed descriptions of Theosophical concepts, the level of study is more advanced.
From late December 2023 to early January 2024, we will be making use of this compilation in these meetings: Who or What is Manu?
Useful charts for weekly classes
1. The Evolution of Consciousness (SD 1:200 diagram; macrocosmic) jpg
2. The Seven principles of Man with their consciousness (microcosmic) jpg
4. Anthropogenesis (the Beginning of Life on Earth) jpg (low res) or PDF format (high res)
Some students’ work on the SD 1:200 diagram (no. 1 above)
5. Chart of the Modern Geological Eras & Theosophical Cycles
An attempt to correlate the geological eras and cycles as given in the Secret Doctrine etc.
It shows the Rounds, Races, Manus and “Lighting up of Manas” and is thus best studied in conjunction with the references given in it.
Other popular handouts are shown in the right hand sidebar on this page; the complete list of them all is on the “Current Handouts” page.
Books
The PDFs of the study books are on this page, hard copies available from the Lodge at affordable rates, ordering details in the Price List; call or email to place an order.
Programme
The weekly study classes run continuously from year to year, starting in early October until the end of June when we stop for a summer break.
Timing & punctuality
The Skype / phone call will be made 5 to 10 minutes before, please be ready to join on time, we start the meetings punctually.
If attending in person please arrive in good time, we open 30 minutes before the meetings, you are also invited to look at the books for sale on the mezzanine landing. We keep a period of quiet in the library for 5 to 10 minutes before the meetings to prepare for them.
If you’re not currently in the Tuesday Skype group and would like to join it, please contact us by email 24 hours beforehand. There is no ticketing but we’ll need to add you to the group’s list.
All enquirers are welcome to participate in the meetings, you do not need to have prior knowledge of the philosophy.
You may also be interested in these resources & activities
- the Aim of the Meetings
- the weekly Sunday 7 pm talks and study groups,
- the Correspondence Course,
- the online Thursday Q&A online meetings twice a month for general questions on the philosophy and for those on the Course, and
- the Audio Library.
- The Ocean by William Q. Judge provides an excellent overview of the esoteric philosophy and is a very accessible book for those new to Theosophy.
It is also suitable for experienced students as Robert Crosbie wrote: "the simplicity of the terms used… should not mislead the reader into thinking that the work is an elementary one, for behind and within every statement there is a depth of meaning."
The book was the inspiration behind the Correspondence Course offered by the Lodge, which is partly based around it.
- The Ocean by William Q. Judge provides an excellent overview of the esoteric philosophy and is a very accessible book for those new to Theosophy.
It is also suitable for experienced students as Robert Crosbie wrote: “the simplicity of the terms used… should not mislead the reader into thinking that the work is an elementary one, for behind and within every statement there is a depth of meaning.”
The book was the inspiration behind the Correspondence Course offered by the Lodge, which is partly based around it.