Best H.P. Blavatsky Books

HPB Books - theosophical inspiration

The still popular and fascinating Madame Blavatsky

Blavatsky's public life was spent doing two things: writing and organizing the Theosophical Society. This article introduces her books: The Secret Doctrine, Isis Unveiled, The Key to Theosophy, The Voice of the Silence, Caves and Jungles of Hindustan, the Blavatsky Collected Writings and her Collected Letters.

The Key to Theosophy - Madame's introduction to her spiritual path

This is not Blavatsky's most popular book, but perhaps it should be. It's her most 'normal' book. The Key to Theosophy is an introduction into Blavatsky's teachings, organized in a Q&A format.

I started out studying theosophy by reading this book. All the theosophical basics are in here.

Unfortunately, it's a bit difficult to find a version that's complete. It doesn't help that Amazon dumps almost all versions into one. 

I root for the Theosophical University Press edition of the Key to Theosophy. The TUP has a reputation to uphold for fascimile reprints, so don't let the modern cover fool you. This is probably the best edition out there if you want to know precisely what Blavatsky wrote.

This version for kindle is likely to be complete, for the simple reason that it's likely based on the online versions.

The Quest publication version is definitely NOT the book as Blavatsky wrote it. In their quest for modern theosophy, they have 'cleaned up' almost all classic theosophical books they publish. That means all controversial statements have been quietly deleted. Only the Collected Writings series is exempt from this trend.

The Voice of the Silence

One of those books you can study by reading a line a night and then sleeping on it.

This devotional book is Blavatsky talking Buddhism: she was an avowed Buddhist and had taken the Five Precepts. In this book she hardly writes about metaphysics or science. Instead the spiritual path towards enlightenment is her subject.

The Secret Doctrine

Mme Blavatsky's most famous work

This book has a great reputation: difficult, but also inspiring. Some people put it down after a quick glance. Others continue studying it for the rest of their lives. Whichever it is - it's still a best seller after more than a century.

The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy
It unites science and religion in a unique synthesis. Changed my life and my world view completely. Contains many of the themes of the modern New Age ...

Introduction to the Secret Doctrine by Blavatsky
The Secret Doctrine by H.P. Blavatsky is at once notoriously difficult to read, and a century old best seller. On this page I will refer you to other pages ...

H.P. Blavatsky on The Secret DoctrineThe Secret Doctrine Commentaries: the Unpublished 1889 Instructions

Some books are eagerly awaited by only a select group. This book is one of them. That doesn't diminish their worth to their audience though: in this case theosophists who study The Secret Doctrine by H.P. Blavatsky seriously.

See my full review of The Secret Doctrine Commentaries: the Unpublished 1889 Instructions, transcribed and annotated by Michael Gomes.

Isis Unveiled - Blavatsky's first book

This is Blavatsky's first book. In some ways it's her best: in this book she stays pretty close to the world of her contemporaries. This means that many of the themes of her time (which are still relevant) are addressed in this book.

For instance I recently wanted to look up what Blavatsky had said about the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Where did she deal with that topic? You guessed it: Isis Unveiled.

This version of Isis Unveiled has the added advantage of being part of the Collected Writings set: it has notes by Boris de Zirkoff, an extensive index and a historical introduction.

From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan

Blavatsky's fictional and esoteric account of India. Delightful and inspiring. And for theosophists it's also full of ideas about occultism.

(Free on Kindle)

Blavatsky Collected Writings and Books
The best series of occult and spiritual literature ever. This lens contains links to all Blavatsky's books and articles. Read The Secret Doctrine, Isis...

The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky, Volume One
This book caused a storm in theosophical circles: how dare they publish letters that many serious theosophists thought were NOT written by H.P. Blavatsky? We...

H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky
Blavatsky is a monumental figure in the history of religion - East AND West. This book tracks her life, the many controversies around her, her ideas, and her...

The Mahatmas and their letters
Blavatsky's teachers are called 'Mahatmas' or adepts in theosophical literature. Joy Mills has written a book about the Mahatma Letters that is really the book to read for the serious study of those letters.

Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom: A Commentary on The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett
The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett is one of the books that is central to theosophical literature. I read, and reread it a lot, in the early years of my...

Henk Spierenburg 'Blavatsky Commentaries'
Spierenburg was among the most knowledgeable theosophists of the late 20th century. His books make it easier to get an idea about Blavatsky's thought about Christianity, Vedanta, Astrology and Buddhism, among other things. He also collected the surviving Inner Group Teachings.