The Voice of the Silence

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 to modern IAST standards, except for three deviations meant to aid in proper pronunciation. The Voice of the Silence represents a collection of fragments from an ancient and unknown text called "The Book of the Golden Precepts". It outlines the two paths of spiritual enlightenment: the first, the path of spiritual selfishness, where the goal is one's own escape from suffering; and the second, the path of spiritual altruism, where the goal is to give oneself wholly to uplifting all of humanity. This second path is called the path of the Bodhisattva and is modeled on the Buddha's teachings. It is to encourage the few true mystics in this world to adopt this path of unselfish and unceasing service to humanity that the Voice of the Silence was written. Those interested in such a path will find all they need to start their journey in this little book. "Undoubtedly Madame Blavatsky had in some way been initiated into the deeper side of Mahayana teaching and then gave out what she deemed wise to the Western world..." (Eastern Buddhist, old series, 5:377) "Here is the real Mahayana Buddhism." (The Middle Way, August 1965, p. 90.) — D.T. Suzuki, Zen Buddhist "I believe that this book has strongly influenced many sincere seekers and aspirants to the wisdom and compassion of the Bodhisattva Path." — H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama