Theosophy, Besant and Leadbeater
High Ambition in Thought-Forms
Figure 20 presents ambition for place or power through a moving form with hooked extensions. The authors regard its clear orange colour as showing desire free from selfishness. Their explanation contrasts a wish to do useful work with the grasping, floating form assigned to selfish ambition.
Also known as Unselfish Ambition · Ambition for Service
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In the sources
Directed desire assigned an orange form
ReportedThe book connects figure 20's orange colour with ambition and its hooked extensions with desire. It claims that selfish motives would darken the clear hue.
Service distinguished from acquisition
ReportedThe explanation completes the motive as confidence in doing work for others' advantage. Figure 21 is then contrasted as a floating form showing acquisitiveness and the desire to grasp things for oneself.
Context & interpretation
The colour code and alleged thought-form are specific to Besant and Leadbeater's account, not validated psychological measurements. The distinction does not provide a method for judging another person's intentions from an image. The paired illustration preserves the authors' contrast between kinds of ambition rather than certifying either as an observed mental object.
Original passages
Source 1
Thought-Forms
the ambition for place or powerOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: High Ambition, printed p. 51
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0033
- Original scan leaf
- 32
- Recorded leaf number
- 33
- Current Reader position
- 33
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Source 2
Thought-Forms
he could do the work well and truly, and to the advantage of his fellow-menOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: High Ambition and Selfish Ambition, printed p. 52
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0021-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0021-E001-P0034
- Original scan leaf
- 33
- Recorded leaf number
- 34
- Current Reader position
- 34
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
- Location review
- Original scan location confirmed against the reviewed Reader mapping; the earlier recorded number is retained above.
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Intention to Know
The corkscrew-like form assigned to a listener’s determination to understand.
Same subject and traditionJealousy in Thought-Forms
The watchful, snake-like form that changes as jealousy becomes mixed with anger.
Same subject and traditionProtective Love in Thought-Forms
The wing-like form that Besant and Leadbeater associate with affection, peace and a wish to protect another person.
Same subject and traditionPure Affection in Thought-Forms
A revolving cloud used to picture quiet, unselfish affection in the book.