In its secular sense, a disciple is one who attends upon a teacher in order to learn, but as used in theosophical texts discipleship implies, in a certain manner, a commitment to the Ancient Wisdom and Self-Culture leading, possibly, to becoming a pupil of the MAHATMA.

The subject of Initiation is one that has a great fascination for thinkers of all schools of thought, and even those who remain sceptical and critical would like to believe that this ultimate attainment is possible. To those who do not believe that such a goal is possible this book is offered for what it may be worth as a formulation of an interesting hypothesis.

Initiation is not the fulfilling of a personal, spiritual ambition, the attainment of a height of greatness, or the coming into possession of extraordinary powers which one can imagine will be wielded for the benefit of mankind, but may in fact be for the pleasure in wielding such forces.