< Spiritualism and Occult Science (continued from page 11-127) >
as in the ancient mysteries. But that no one will be admitted even as a neophyte until he has given such earnests of his purity, constancy, and courage, as prove him a worthy and fit subject for these cathartic preparations. And though what is chiefly heard of these “Brothers’’ of India and Thibet is their “adeptship,” their transcendental powers, we hold that these are merely incidental results of spiritual attainment, not to be pursued, or even prized for their own sake, or for any honour or advantages they can confer.
How Koot Hoomi would reply to the sceptical question, “where then are your electric telegraphs &e.?” it is not difficult to conjecture. The “Brothers” arc distinguished from modern men of science, or perhaps I should rather say they approximate to the best of these, by their indifference to “material progress.” They may have known all about electricity, but in their sublime disregard for material interests, and the conveniences of life, may well have declined to concern themselves with the lower practical applications of their discoveries. To our materialistic Western minds it seems incredible that there should exist a type and ideal of civilisation wholly different and opposed to our own. But men who are conversant with the soul and its powers care little about railways and telegraphs. And it is possible that if our own energies had not been so exclusively devoted to these things, we might not now find our experience so foreign to the conception of spiritual powers, or have our science represented by men to whom the very existence of soul has become more than doubtful.
17th June.
Installation of the Thakore of Wadhwan
...
Editor's notes
- ↑ Installation of the Thakore of Wadhwan by unknown author, Pioneer, The, June 19, 1881