The Voice of the Silence: Being Chosen Fragments from the "Book of the Golden Precepts"

by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

Book Overview

This edition of H.P.B.'s "Voice of the Silence" is a reproduction of the 1889 edition published by William Q. Judge, to which verse numbers have been added. Romanized Sanskrit terms have been updated... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0911500057
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Theosophical Univ Pr
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.3" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

The 2 Paths: Nirvana or Bodhisattva

This book was first published 1889 by H. P. Blavatsky (1831-1891). As stated it contains chosen fragments formulated so as to become a daily meditation book. A small book comprising 97 pages, 72 pages for the main body of the book and the remaining 25 pages being for the glossary. But for the eastern terminologies, this is an easy book to read and can be quickly read. This book is available as a PDF download via Google. Essentially this book deals with the two paths that one can choose to take on the path to higher spirituality, the path of Nirvana or the path of the Bodhisattva I.e. returning to help a suffering humanity, the latter being the superior of the two. I personally would recommend the movie 'The circle of iron', a martial arts/spiritual film by Bruce Lee. This movie reveals the path of the initiate and the choice to be made regarding Nirvana or the Bodhisattva path. Just a small tid bit, there are many levels beyond both these paths and the path of Nirvana is a downward spiral that draws on ones dharma; better to take the Bodhisattva/Christic path of sacrifice, depending if one is able. To that which spoke to me: "The "Soundless Voice," or the "Voice of the Silence." Literally perhaps this would read "Voice in the Spiritual Sound," as Nada is the equivalent word in Sanskrit, for the Sen-sar term." Pg 73 "Tanha - "the will to live," the fear of death and the love for life, that force or energy which causes the rebirths." Pg 78 and to the study of the ego: "Deva Egos" (The reincarnating ego) pg 29 which pointed the way to the book 'THE CAUSAL BODY AND THE EGO' by Arthur E. Powell. "Manas rupa. The first refers to the astral or personal Self; the second to the individuality or the reincarnating Ego whose consciousness on our plane or the lower Manas - has to be paralysed." Pg 77 "Antaskarana is the lower Manas, the Path of communication or communion between the personality and the higher Manas or human Soul. At death it is destroyed as a Path or medium of communication, and its remains survive in a form as the Kamarupa - the "Shell"." Pg 89

Dedicated to the Few.

After Madam Blavatsky reintroduced the esoteric, perennial, spiritual wisdom back into mainstream western consciousness, she realized that there were two very different types of seekers who would make use of such knowledge. There were those who would seek it for personal power and selfish benefit, and those who would seek it to attempt to educate and liberate all of humanity. The difference between these paths was transcendence of the personal ego to reach the realm of the Higher Self. This book was an attempt to see that her gift of esoteric knowledge would not be passed unquestioned and unchallenged to those who were not fit to receive it. The first thing that strikes the reader familiar with _Isis Unveiled_ and _The Secret Doctrine_ is the Buddhist emphasis of this volume. While it is based on the same archaic sources as the other works (some of which are pre-Buddhist in origin) it is the true Buddhist path of the heart that clearly shines through again and again. In fact, you have the admonishment: "But even ignorance is better than Head-learning, with no Soul-wisdom to illuminate and guide it." The Soul-wisdom is clearly present here on every page. This depth of understanding of the highest form of Buddhist thought is indeed remarkable for a book written in the 1880's by a westerner. In writing this book the Madam ensured that the spirit of true enlightenment would forever be welded to the Theosophical movement. This particular edition is a verbatim copy of the original of 1889. As carefully as Madam Blavatsky chose her words, it would be unthinkable to edit them to be more "accessible" to a modern audience. If the reader has difficulty with the technical Sanskrit terms there are detailed glossaries included for all three sections.

For true seekers

This book contains some high level lessons given to seekers who are really engaged in the path of truth and duty. H.P. Blavatsky had written this book from what she had learned by heart when she was studying in Himalayan places.The first lesson makes us understand Maya's illusory structure and dangers that it creates on our path. You should learn how to recognize them and deafeat them, then you'll begin to listen to the voice of silence which is the voice of your inner master. Second lesson teaches us about two different paths: heart one and eye one. Third and last lesson is about seven gates to Nirvana and describes us the weapons we should gather or create before fighting dangers we will encounter at each gate. But main lesson is that we should never give up. So if you think that your path is the one of duty for yourself but even more for mankind, this book is for you!

This book should come back into mainstream print.

Isabel Cooper-Oakley said of this book:"Now, inspeaking of the teaching that we have in the Theosophical Society there is one book, by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ................. " Why? Because she knew that it was only the few in the hurry and the press of the everyday life, it was only the few who would really stand aside from the stream of life and try to give some thought and some time to the soul within. She translated this book from one of those priceless treasures then in the possession of the Eastern teachers of Theosophy. It is called The Book of Golden Precepts, and from it she has gathered some few of the precepts which those who really desire to develop their spiritual life will take up and study. Dedicated as it is to the few, it is only the few who really find benefit in it. It is called The Voice of the Silence. The name is in itself paradoxical, but the name in itself is a volume of teaching. It is the Voice of the Silence because it is only when the Silence and the hush come over the material part of man's life that the real Voice of the Silence can speak. It is only when man will take a little time to still his worldly life, to still his worldly thoughts, that the true small Voice which really lives in the heart of every man may make itself heard. And therefore Helena Petrovna Blavatsky gave us this book, leaving it to the few who would listen in the Silence to the Voice that would speak, and she gave it to us as the guide, the prayer book, and the very basis of our daily life." [From Report of Proceedings and Documents of the 1893 Parliament of Religions, pages 174 to 176]..........................

Excellent.

Even D.T. Suzuki, famous Zen master, after reading this book said, "This is the true mahayana buddhism!" Great book.