The very rites and ceremonies of religion that are binding on the Soul that is still unliberated, become useless when the Soul has gained liberation, for then the Soul no longer can be held by anything. -from "Yoga" Anne Besant was one of the most popular and beloved voices of theosophy, the occult philosophy of the early 20th century that sought to find the underlying universal truths in all religions. Here she turns her theosophical eye on the traditions and beliefs of Hinduism, using the precepts of theosophy as a guide to understanding the obscurer meanings of Hindu sacred writings. Originally delivered as a series of lectures in 1893, and published in book form the next year, this is an illuminating exploration of Hinduism-and the fundamental essence of all religious expression-from a perspective almost forgotten today. British social reformer and writer ANNIE BESANT (1847-1933) was an early public advocate of birth control and women's health care, as well as an active proponent of theosophy. Among her books are The Ancient Wisdom (1897), Death and After (1901), and Occult Chemistry (1919).