Zirkoff B. - Appendix (BCW vol.3)

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Appendix

by Boris de Zirkoff

H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writtings, vol. 3, page(s) 494-539

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494

NOTE ON THE TRANSLITERATION OF SANSKRIT

The system of diacritical marks used in the Bibliographies and the Index (with square brackets), as well as in the English translations of original French and Russian texts, does not strictly follow any one specific scholar, to the exclusion of all others. While adhering to a very large extent to Sir Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary, as for instance in the case of the Anusvâra, the transliteration adopted includes forms introduced by other Sanskrit scholars as well, being therefore of a selective nature.

It should also be noted that the diacritical mark for a long “a” was in the early days a circumflex, and therefore all of H.P.B.’s writings embody this sound in the form of “â.” No change has been made from this earlier notation to its more modern form of the “macron,” or line over the “a.” Such a change would have necessitated too many alterations, and almost certainly would have produced confusion; therefore the older usage has been adhered to throughout.

495

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

(WITH SELECTED BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES)

The material contained in the following pages is of necessity a selective one, and is intended to serve three purposes: (a) to give condensed information, not otherwise readily available, about the life and writings of some individuals mentioned by H. P. B. in the text, and who are practically unknown to the present-day student; (h) to give similar data about a few well-known scholars who are discussed at length by H. P. B., and whose writings she constantly quotes; and (c) to give full information regarding all works and periodicals quoted or referred to in the main text and in the Compiler's Notes, with or without biographical data of their authors. All such works are marked with an asterisk (*).

Abu’l-Faraj (or Bar-Hebraeus). A mapharian or catholicus of the Jacobite (Monophysite) Church who lived between 1226 and 1286, and wrote in Syriac and Arabic numerous treatises on theology, philosophy, science and history. He was the son of a physician of Jewish descent and was born at Malatiah on the upper Euphrates. He became in 1246 Jacobite bishop of Gubas, and in 1253 bishop of Aleppo. In 1264 he was promoted by the patriarch Ignatius III to be maphrian, the next rank below that of patriarch. His great historical work is the Syriac Chronicle, the first part of which is a history of secular events. Bar-Hebraeus made a compendium of it in Arabic under the title of al-Mukhtasar fi'd-Duwal (*Compendius History of the Dynasties). The second and third parts of his great work deal with the history of the Church.

Agrippa of Netesheim, Heinrich Cornelius (14867-1535). *De occulta philosophic. libri tres, Beringo Fratres, Lugduni, 1533.—Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Transl. by J. F., London, 1650.

*All the Year Round. Journal conducted by Charles Dickens, and published in London by Chapman Hall from 1859 to 1895.

Alphonso X, el Sabio (the “Learned” or “Wise”). King of Castile and Leon (1252-1284). A ruler of splendid intentions, whose ideas were ahead of his times, he met a great deal of opposition to his 496proposed reforms and died defeated and deserted at Seville. His fame rests largely on his scholarship, and he may be justly considered the father of Castillian prose. Under his patronage and his editorship, a number of vast works were undertaken, including the great legal code, Las Siete Partidas, which is a mine of curious information on Spanish life and customs of the time (ed. by Royal Acad, of Hist., Madrid, 1807). He was the founder of Spanish historiography in the vulgar tongue, and was responsible for one of the greatest collections of medieval poetry and music. His chief interest was in astronomy and astrology, and he is responsible for the erection of the so-called *Alphonsine Tables of planetary positions, produced at Toledo in 1252 in collaboration with a large number of astronomers. These were issued at the time as Tabulae astronomicae Alfonsi regis. Edited by J. Santritter. Joh. Hamman de Landoia dictus Hertzog. Venetiis, 1492, 4to; also Ven., 1521, 4to.

*An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time. Compiled from original authors. London, 1747-54. Contains 21 volumes. Another ed., 1736-65.

*Avesta (or Zend-Avesta). The Zend-Avesta. Transl. by James Dar- mesteter. Part I. The Vendidad. Part II. The Sirozahs, Yashts, and Nyayis. Part III (Transl. by L. H. Mills). The Yasna, Visparad, etc. Sacred Books of the East, Oxford.

Baryatinsky, Prince Vladimir. *Le Mystere d'Alexandre I. Paris, 1925; 2nd ed., 1929. Russian text publ. in St. Petersburg, 1912 and 1913.

Beal, Rev. Samuel (1825-1889). *A Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese. London: Trubner & Co., 1871.

Beke, Charles Tilstone. English explorer of Abyssinia, b. at Stepney, Middlesex, Oct. 10, 1800; d. July 31, 1874. Educated at a private school in Hackney; entered upon a business career, 1820. After some travels and commercial pursuit, he entered Lincoln's Inn where he studied law. From early youth seriously interested in Biblical and archaeological research, his first work of importance, *Origines Biblicae; or, Researches in primeval History, being publ. by Allen & Co., London, in 1834 (xv, 336 pp.). His object was to establish the theory of the fundamental tripartite division of the languages of mankind, a literary effort for which the Univ, of Tübingen conferred on him the degree of doctor of philosophy. In 1840, Beke made his first journey into Abyssinia, to establish 497commercial relations and discover the sources of the Nile. From that time on, his life was devoted both to an intense study and exploration of African and Middle East countries, and to establishing commercial relations with Central Africa. Together with his wife, Beke travelled through Syria and Palestine, 1861-62, where he was particularly interested in establishing the true location of Mount Sinai. His conclusions were publ. posthumously by his widow. In addition to a great many scientific papers and essays, he also wrote *The Idol in Horeb. Evidence that the golden image at Mount Sinai was a Cone, and not a Calf (London: Tinsley Bros., 1871, vi, 155 pp.).

Berzelius, Jons Jakob. Swedish chemist, b. at Vàfversunda Sorgard, near Linkoping, Aug. 20 or 29, 1779; d. Aug. 7, 1848. Graduated as M.D. from Uppsala, 1802, and became assistant professor of botany and pharmacy at Stockholm. Full Professor, 1807. Taught chemistry in Carolinska medico-chirurgical Institute, 1815-32. Sec’y of Stockholm Academy of Science, 1818. Granted title of baron by Charles XIV, 1835. Berzelius’ early years were devoted to physiological chemistry. Later, to study of atomic theory and the composition of chemical compounds, especially in regard to oxygen. He developed his electro-chemical concepts in his Theory of Chemical Proportions and the Chemical Action of Electricity (1814), and was the chief founder of the “radicle” theory. He also extended Lavoisier’s effort to establish a convenient system of chemical nomenclature. Other works: Lehrbuch der Chemie, 1803-18; 5th ed., 1843-48.—Over 250 Memoirs in the Transactions of the Stockholm Academy.

Bibesco, Princess Martha (1887-?). *Katia. Transi, by Priscilla Bibesco. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1939, xix, 256 pp.

Boehme, Jakob (also Bohme and Behmen) (1575-1624). *Aurora, oder die Morgenrote im Aufgang, 1612.—The Aurora. Transi, by John Sparrow. Ed. by C. J. Barker and D. S. Hehner. London: John M. Watkins, 1914.

Boethius, Anicius Manlius Severinus (480-524). Philosopher and statesman, described as last of the Romans and first of the scholastics, a man of profound learning. Greatly influenced by NeoPlatonism and Stoicism, he also introduced Aristotle to the West, translating into Latin several of his works. Raised by Senator Q. Aur. Memmius Symmachus, he was made Consul by Theodoric, 498510. He was later accused of treason in attempting to restore Rome to liberty and the Senate to integrity. Notwithstanding his innocence, he was imprisoned at Ticinum (Pavia). It is there that he wrote his famous De Consolatione PhUosophiae (996), highly valued in medieval times. He was condemned to death in 524. In addition to the work above mentioned (best ed. being that of R. Peiper, Leipzig, 1871, which also includes his five theological tractates), Boethius wrote Commentaries on Aristotle and Porphyry.

*Book of Numbers or Chaldean Book of Numbers. Occult Treatise unavailable at the present time.

*Book of Sin-King, or The Heart Sutra; also Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra. One of the smallest and, with the Diamond Sutra, the most popular of the many Scriptures contained in the vast Prajnaparamita literature. Known in Japan as Shingyo. See D. Suzuki, Manual of Zen Buddhism (with Chinese text), 1935; and Dr. Edward Conze, Buddhist Wisdom Books (with Commentary), 1958.

*Book of the Dead. See Appendix to Volume X of the present Series, pp. 413-14, for comprehensive bibliographical data.

Britten, Mrs. Emma Hardinge (?-1899). *Modern American Spiritualism: a twenty years’ record of the communion between Earth and the World of Spirits, etc.; 3rd ed., New York, 1870. 8vo. See Appendix to Vol. I of the present Series, pp. 466-67, for biographical sketch.

Buck, Dr. Jirah Dewey. American physician and writer, b. at Fredonia, N. Y., November 20, 1838; d. in 1916 or 1917. Educated at Belvidere, III.; graduated at Cleveland Homeopathic College, 1864; married, 1865, Melissa M. Clough. Prof, of physiology at Cleveland Homeop. Coll., 1866-71. Settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in active practice of medicine. Became, 1880, Dean of Pulte Medical College in Cincinnati; and in 1890 President of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Dr. Buck was a 33° Mason and a lifelong student of occultism. He joined the Theosophical Society in the very early years of its existence. It is stated in The Path (Vol. VII, Jan. 1893, pp. 319-20) that at one time “as H.P.B. was just about to go on the steamer en route to India, she wrote him a friendly letter, using the top of a barrel for table, and telling him of her intended departure, and Dr. Buck then thought he would never see her. Later, in the year of her death, he sailed for London with Mrs. Buck and Annie Besant to make H. P. B.’s personal 499acquaintance. But while they were on the ocean H. P. B.’s body was deserted by its soul, and the travellers saw nothing on arrival but her empty room.”

Dr. Buck was the center around whom the Cincinnati Branch of the T. S. coalesced; he worked indefatigably in the cause of Theosophy and served for a number of years on the Executive Committee of the American Section. He was a valued contributor to the pages of The Path, The Theosophist, and Lucifer magazines. In outer appearance, he was a man over six feet tall, of light complexion and hair. His mind was analytical and used to concentrated work. Among his many books, the following should be mentioned:

The Nature and Aim of Theosophy, 1887.—A Study of Man and the Way to Health, 1888.—Mystic Masonry, 1896.—The Genius of Freemasonry, 1908.—Constructive Psychology, 1909.—The Lost Word Found, 1909.—The Soul and Sex in Education, 1909.—Modern World Movements, 1913.

Bunsen, Christian Karl Josias, Freiherr von (1791-1860). *Egypt's Place in Universal History. Engl, transl. by C. H. Cottrell. London, 1848-67, Five Vols. German orig. entitled: Aegyptens Stelle in der Weltgeschichte. Hamburg: Gotha, 1845-57. 8vo.

Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1821-1890). British consul, explorer and Orientalist, prolific writer, celebrated translator of the so- called “Arabian Nights” (The Thousand Nights and a Night, 16 vols. privately printed, 1885-88). Married to Isabel Arundell who wrote a Life of her husband (1893). It would appear from H. P. B.’s Diaries (entry of Oct. 12, 1878) that Capt. Burton became a Fellow of the T. S. in Great Britain.

Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-1886). *“Empiricism and Dogmatism in the Domain of Mediumship,” in Russkiy Vestnik, April, 1881. See Vol. I of present Series, pp. 448-49, for biographical data.

Cahagnet, Louis-Alphonse (1805-85). French artisan of no formal education; occupied himself by making chairs. Remarkable man endowed with a great gift of developing lucidity in somnambulic subjects, and a close student of animal magnetism. Greatly interested in mystical thought and the latent powers of man, long before the inception of the Theosophical Movement. Never claimed to be anything more than a mere student. Considering his general background, and his poor circumstances, his literary output was 500prodigious. He was the author of the foDowing works: Guide du magnétiseur, ou procédés magnétiques, etc., Paris, 1849, pp. 63.— Magnétisme. Arcanes de la vie future dévoilée, etc., Paris: Germer- Baillière, 1848-54, 3 vols.; 3rd ed., 1896.—Sanctuaire du spiritualisme, etc., Paris, 1850, pp. 382.— Lumière des morts, Paris, 1851, pp. 322.—Du Traitement des maladies, etc., Paris: G. Baillière, 1851, pp. 212.—Magie magnétique, etc., Paris: Germer-Baillière, 1854, pp. 528; 2nd ed., 1858; 3rd ed., 1895.—*Révélations d9outretombe, etc., Paris, 1856, pp. 383.—Études sur U homme, Argenteuil, 1858, pp. 80.—Méditations d’un penseur, etc., Paris, 1860, 2 vols.— Encyclopédie magnétique spiritualiste, etc., Paris, 1854-62, 7 vols.—Thérapeutique du magnétisme, etc., Paris, 1883, pp. 439.—A number of smaller tracts. In all of the works mentioned above, Cahagnet treats at great length on magnetic conditions of the human body, methods of magnetizing it, results obtained with sen· sitives and somnambules, and also on medicinal herbs and their relation to various diseases. It is obvious from these facts that Cahagnet drew most likely upon a source of inner knowledge he was able to tap.

One of the works mentioned by H. P. B., namely, *The Celestial Telegraphy with the sub-title of “The Secrets of the Life to Come revealed through Magnetism,” exists in Engl, transi. (London, George Peirce, 1850).

Further data concerning this very remarkable student may be had by consulting the work entitled: La Vie et les oeuvres philosophiques d’Alphonse Cahagnet, produced by his disciples and friends, the “Étudiants Swedenborgiens libres,” Paris, 1898, pp. 59, 8vo.

Calmeil, Juste-Louis (1798-1895). *De la Folle considérée sous le point de vue philosophique, etc. Paris, 1845. See Vol. I, p. 363, for further data.

Carpenter, Mary (1807-1877). *The Last Days in England of the Rajah Rammohum Roy. Ed. by M. C., 1866; 2nd ed., 1915, 8vo.

Censorinus (3rd century A.D.). See Vol. VII, p. 364, for data.

*Ceremonies et coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde, représentées par des figures dessinées de la main de Bernard Picart, etc. No author, but ed. by J.-Fr. Bernard and others. Many contributors. Amsterdam: J-Fr. Bernard, 1723-43, 11 vols, fol.; new ed., Paris: Prudhomme, 1807-09, 12 vols. fol.

Chaney, W. H. American astrologer, b. near Augusta, Maine, Jan. 13, 1821. He was a Government surveyor, district attorney in 501Iowa and Maine, and a newspaper editor. Being very proficient in mathematics, he specialized in Primary Directions and worked out Ephemerides for a number of years prior to his time. He wrote a Primer of Astrology, now a collector’s item, largely forgotten by present-day students.