Preface – (v-viii)
Before the Veil (x-xlv) Basic notions of ancient western philosophy, the importance of Platonism and its connection with Indian philosophy.
The conflict between Science and Religion: x
The importance of a certain sceptical and critical outlook: xi
Finding a middle way between ancient and modern and re-uniting science and religion: xii
A critique of materialism and a plea for spiritual freedom: xiv
Esoteric glossary (xxv-xlv)
Chapter 1 (Old Things with New Names) Magic, Sacred Mathematics and the Doctrine of Cycles
1-Concepts of Esoteric Evolution – The Myth of the Fall symbolizes an evolutionary process (p. 1)
2- Sacred Mathematics are key in understand the evolutionary process (8).
3- The ancient Hindus scientific knowledge (10).
4- The need to study the spiritual aspect of evolution (13)
5- Magic as a spiritual science (15)
6- The esoteric concept of cycles,the Great Year,the traditional Hindu concept of the Four Yugas, and evolution (31)
7- There is a primitive divine universal revelation that gradually became dispersed and hidden. (37)
Chapter 2 (Phenomena and Forces)– Spiritualistic phenomena, scientific investigation and occult explanations
1- Problems in dogmatism in religion and science with investigations of spiritualist phenomena. (p. 39)
2- W. Crookes investigations; the Katie King case. (44)
3- Accomplishments of ancient science; malleable glass; occult aspects of matter. (50)
4- The nature of forces or intelligences behind spiritualist phenomena and the dangers of spiritualism. (52)
5- Schopenhauer’s metaphysics comparable to ancient metaphysics. (55)
6- Scientific investigations on the nature of force and occult explanations of spiritualist phenomena; elementals and elementaries. (62)
7- Critique of spiritualist theory of actors in spiritualist apparitions being disembodied human spirits. Distinction between mediums and occultists.(68)
Chapter 3 (Blind Leaders of the Blind) – History of the reception of scientific discoveries and investigation of spiritual phenomena
1- Hindu Magical Feats – (p.73) The magical feats recorded in India cannot be faked or duplicated by western practitioners.
2- Science is hurt by avoiding the study of spiritualistic phenomena (75).
3- A critique of Positivism (75).
4- Scientific Innovations are often met with vigorous resistance; the history of the trustworthiness of human testimony as legal evidence; the value of science as understanding of facts and truth (83).
5- Many modern discoveries (in medicine notably) are based on a re-discovery of ancient accounts (88)
6- India is an important source of ancient wisdom and magical knowledge; creation myths of India, Egypt and Judea compared; the symbolism of the Lotus (90)
7- Giordano Bruno’s ancient perennial philosophy given modern empirical interpretations (93).
Chapter 4 – (Theories Respecting Psychic Phenomena) – Religious and Scientific views regarding spiritualistic phenomena; some ancients myths compared
1- The devil as cause of spiritualistic phenomena (Jules de Mirville) (p.99)
2- Material causes of spiritualistic phenomena (Jacques Babinet) (104)
3- Psychic causes of spiritualistic phenomena (Jean-Marc Antoine Thury) (109)
4- The nature of psychic force (113)
5- Various sceptical scientific theories regarding spiritualistic phenomena (116)
6- Roman Catholics consider the phenomena at Lourdes to be of divine cause (119)
7- Ancient myths reveal geological and anthropological truths (121)
Chapter 5 (On the Astral Light) Spirit force and matter, and its relation to creation and human evolution and the theory of the astral light in relation to practical magic and mesmerism
1-Fire and Light Symbolism Ancient and Modern illustrate Universal Force (p.125)
2- Water Symbolism Illustrates Primordial Substance (133)
3- Ether in Magic and Science (135)
4-Universal Substance/Force in Ancient Cosmologies (146)
5- Evolution in Ancient Myths (152)
Chapter 6 – (Psycho-Physical Phenomena) Paracelsian explanations of supernatural and psychic phenomena
1- Paracelsus as Scientific Pioneer (p. 163)
2- Mesmer as follower of Paracelsus (173)
3-Further History of Animal Magnetism (173)
4- Ancient and Modern Explanations of Animal Magnetism (178)
5- Psychometry (182)
6- Universal Ether and Astral Light (186)
7- Primordial Substances and Universal Solvent (189)
Chapter 7 (The Elements, Elementals, and Elementaries) Magnetism as Universal Force and source of Magic
1- Survey of Authors on Magnetism (p.206)
2- Universal Attraction (209)
3- Magnetism and Healing (215)
4- Ancient Theories of Spiritualism versus Modern
5- Alchemy and Perpetual Lamps (224)
6- Ancient and Modern explanations of Electro-Magnetic Power (232)
7- Ancient knowledge versus Modern (236)
8-Magnetism and the Theory of Force Correlation (242)
9-Universal Belief in Magic (247)
Chapter 8 – (Some Mysteries of Nature) – Spiritual Aspects of Cosmology, Astronomy, and Astrology
1- Modern Scientific Theories in Ancient Texts (p.253)
2- Astrology as a Science (259)
3- Solar Magnetism (270)
4- Cosmic Nature of Epidemics (274)
5- Cosmic Aspects of Universal Magnetism (p. 280)
6- Elementals and Universal Ether (284)
7- Buddhist Cosmology (288)
Chapter 9 (Cyclical Phenomena) –The evolution of the soul , the after-life and Spiritualism
1- Cycles and Human Evolution (293)
2- Esoteric interpretation of the Fall of Man and evolution (297)
3- The Ginza, the Book of Genesis and Human Evolution (303)
4- Elementals and Evolution (307)
5- The Evolution of the Human Soul (315)
6- Elementals, Nature of disembodied spirits, and spiritualism (320)
7- The Soul and the After-Life (327)
8- Psychometry, Theurgy, and Spiritualism (331)
Chapter 10 – (The Inner and Outer Man) The Body/Soul Relationship – Elementals, Spiritualism and Reincarnation
1- Mystery and Science (p. 336)
2- Metaphysics of the Soul (341)
3- Reincarnation and Transmigration (345)
4- Witchraft, spiritualism, and elementals (353)
5- Mediumship and Magic (366)
6- Epidemics of Spiritual Phenomena (369)
Chapter 11 – (Psychological and physical marvels) Esoteric Aspects of Embryology, the Will, and Imagination
1- Phenomena of Invulnerability (p.378)
2- The Mysteries of Embryology (384)
3- A Critique of the Despotism of Science and Scientific Methodology (403)
4- Strange Accounts of Ancient Science Validated by Modern Discoveries (411)
Chapter 12 – (The Impassable Chasm) The After-Life and Esoteric Aspects of Vampirism
1- Huxley and Tyndall on Modern Science (p. 417)
2- Instinct and Reason; Spiritualism and Materialism (422)
3- Eastern Magic (437)
4- Esoteric Aspects of Vampires (449)
Chapter 13 (Realities and Illusion) The After-Life: After-Death Revival and Alchemy
1- The coherence of magic and alchemy (p. 461)
2- Psychic Nature of Animals ( 467)
3- Eastern Magic (471)
4- Re-animation of the Dead (475)
5- Mediumship and Mediatorship (485)
6- Ancient and Modern Spiritualistic Phenomena (491)
7- Levitation (496)
8- Alchemy on the Elixir of Life, the Universal Solvent and the Philosopher’s Stone (502)
9- Ancient Science validated by Modern Discoveries (510)
Chapter 14–(Egyptian Wisdom) Egypt, Atlantis and Sacred Architecture
1- Advanced Technology of Egypt 520
2- The Near East, Ancient America and the Legend of Atlantis 545
3- Comparative Sacred Architecture
Chapter 15 – (India the cradle of the race) India, Atlantis and Eastern Magical Knowledge
1- The Secret Doctrine and Genesis (p. 575)
2- India, the Cradle of Civilisation (580)
3- Atlantis (591)
4- Asian Magical Knowledge (600)
5- Modern Spiritualism and Ancient Theory (607)
6- Accomplishments of Ancient India (618)