This is an unusual and captivating book, since it reconstitutes an inaccessible source (the Book of Dzyan) from the convoluted prose of Madame Blavatsky's original "Secret Doctrine", and does so in the form of a poem. This in itself makes it perhaps closer to a commentary on Blavatsky's work than anything else, and if it were to do nothing else it would be very valuable for that purpose alone. Yet it is so much more. It gives us an inspired vision of the creation and of our purposes on earth. Putting Blavatsky's ideas into verse that is readable and accessible helps the reader to get the message, and the poetry signals that this is a text that is itself a metaphor, not a literal document. Metaphor is so much more helpful when thinking in terms of the spiritual journey.

Some aspects of what it says, as readers will notice, would be familiar to those who have studied Hinduism and Buddhism, and in some ways that also makes the text more accessible. Yet it is also a unique and unusual vision.

Not many people are going to be able to penetrate the 1500 pages of Madame Blavatsky's 'Secret Doctrine' without getting lost, and this poem is an ideal way of making the ideas more readily available. Many people, like me, will have heard about Theosophy and wondered what it might be about, because it was a powerful movement in Europe and the US in the 1890s and beyond, with an upsurge of interest after the First World War. Yet years ago, when I was trying to find out more about the movement, I can recall not being able to find out anything much because there was not much guidance available; so I gave up. This book, therefore, will appeal to both researchers and to those who are interested in exploring esoteric and gnostic beliefs for their own inspiration.

My only (very slight) criticism is of the title, which may confuse readers at first. If it were called something like "The Secret Doctrine of Theosophy Made Plain" then even a casual browser could see at a glance what it has to offer us, so generously.

Allan Hunter, author: 'The Six Archetypes of Love' and 'Stories We need to Know"

[....]