PREFACE.

Few words are needed in sending this little book out into the world. It is the third of a series of Manuals designed to meet the public demand for a simple exposition of TheosophyDerived from the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'sophia' (wisdom), Theosophy is a system of esoteric philosophy and religion that seeks direct knowledge of the divine and the underlying nature of the universe. teachings. Some have complained that our literature is at once too abstruse difficult to understand, too technical, and too expensive for the ordinary reader, and it is our hope that the present series may succeed in supplying what is a very real want. Theosophy is not only for the learned; it is for all. Perhaps among those who in these little books catch their first glimpse of its teachings, there may be a few who will be led by them to penetrate more deeply into its philosophy, its science, and its religion, facing its abstruser problems with the student's zeal and the neophyte'sA beginner or a new convert; in a mystical context, it refers to one newly initiated into sacred mysteries. ardour. But these Manuals are not written for the eager student, whom no initial difficulties can daunt; they are written for the busy men and women of the work-a-day world, and seek to make plain some of the great truths that render life easier to bear and death easier to face. Written by servants of the MastersIn Theosophical belief, 'Masters' (or Mahatmas) are spiritually perfected beings who have finished their human evolution but remain in contact with humanity to guide its progress. who are the Elder BrothersA synonym for the 'Masters,' emphasizing their role as older, more experienced members of the human family who protect and teach their 'younger' siblings. of our race, they can have no other object than to serve our fellow-men.