
Transcriber's Note: The many inconsistently spelt words in this book (e.g. Samskrit/Sanskrit) have been retained as in the original.
ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY - OR - THE LESSER MYSTERIES. - BY - ANNIE BESANT.
FOREWORD.
ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY. - Chapter I. - THE HIDDEN SIDE OF RELIGIONS.
Chapter II. - THE HIDDEN SIDE OF CHRISTIANITY. - (a) The Testimony of the Scriptures.
CHAPTER III. - THE HIDDEN SIDE OF CHRISTIANITY(concluded). - (b) The Testimony of the Church.
Chapter IV. - THE HISTORICAL CHRIST.
THE HISTORICAL CHRIST, OR JESUS THE HEALER AND TEACHER.
Chapter V. - THE MYTHIC CHRIST.
Chapter VI. - THE MYSTIC CHRIST.
The work invites listeners into a quiet, contemplative journey through the hidden currents that run beneath the familiar stories of Christianity. Drawing on ancient sources such as Clement of Alexandria, it frames the quest for true knowledge as a process of clearing away the “weeds” that block the mind’s ear from receiving deeper insight. Rather than presenting a simple retelling, it offers a series of thoughtful prompts meant to stir inner reflection and awaken a sense of the Gnosis that early mystics guarded carefully. The tone is scholarly yet intimate, encouraging those with “ears to hear” to engage with ideas that have long been kept out of ordinary discourse.
In its first part, the author outlines what she calls the “Lesser Mysteries”—a set of subtle teachings that can be hinted at in print, while the more profound “Greater Mysteries” remain the preserve of direct teacher‑to‑student transmission. Listeners will encounter discussions of how true spiritual light is discovered not through external instruction but through quiet meditation that stills the lower mind. This exploration is offered to the few who feel a hunger for deeper meaning beyond the exoteric doctrines, promising a gentle yet rigorous path toward inner illumination.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (417K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Thierry Alberto, Erica Hills, Henry Craig, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-10-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1933
A fierce public speaker and restless reformer, she moved from radical politics in Britain to spiritual leadership and Indian nationalism. Her life crossed debates about women’s rights, secularism, education, and self-rule, making her one of the most striking campaigners of her age.
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