Interface administrators, Administrators (Semantic MediaWiki), Curators (Semantic MediaWiki), Editors (Semantic MediaWiki), Suppressors, Administrators, trusted
9,362
edits
Blavatsky H.P. - The Arya Samaj: Difference between revisions
Blavatsky H.P. - The Arya Samaj (view source)
Revision as of 09:19, 6 December 2024
, 6 December 2024no edit summary
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
{{Style P-Title|THE ÂRYA SAMÂJ}} | {{Style P-Title|THE ÂRYA SAMÂJ}} | ||
{{Style P-Subtitle|}}ALLIANCE OF THEOSOPHY WITH A VEDIC SOCIETY IN THE FAR ORIENT.}}<ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[This article was written by H.P.B. for the New York Echo, on June 2, 1878, as appears from Col. Olcott’s entry of that date in his Diaries. The Echo was a short lived publication started by Charles Sotheran, one of the original Founders of the T.S., and the files of which do not seem to be accessible, in spite of a wide-spread search. Col. Olcott’s Diaries also mention the fact that the first issue of this Journal came out May 3, 1878, or at least was received by him on that date. The actual date on which the present article appeared in print is snot definitely known, although it must have been sometime in June of 1878. Its text is copied from the cutting pasted in H.P.B.’s {{SB-page|v=8|p=143|text=Scrapbook, Vol. VIII, pp. 143-44}}, now in the Adyar Archives.—Compiler.]}}</ref> | |||
{{Style P-Subtitle|MADAME BLAVATSKY NARRATES THE HISTORY OF THE BRAHMO-SAMAJ AND THE ÂRYA-SAMÂJ.—THE CONFLICT OF FAITHS IN INDIA.—WHY THE THEOSOPHISTS NOW RECEIVE THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM A HINDU SECRET SOCIETY.}} | |||
{{Vertical space|}} | {{Vertical space|}} | ||
Christendom sends its missionaries to Heathendom at an expense of millions drained from the pockets of would-be pious folks, who court respectability. Thousands of homeless and penniless old men, women and children are allowed to starve for lack of funds, for the sake, perhaps, of one converted “heathen.” All the spare money of the charitable is absorbed by these dead-head travelling agents of the Christian Church. What is the result? Visit the prison cells of so-called Christian lands, crammed with delinquents who have been led on to felony by the weary path of starvation, and you will have the answer. Read in the daily papers the numerous accounts of executions, and you will find that modern Christianity offers, perhaps unintentionally but none the less surely, a premium for murder and other heinous crimes. Is anyone prepared to deny the assertion? Remember that, while many a respectable unbeliever dies in his bed with the comfortable assurance from his next of kin, and {{Page aside|380}} good friends in general, that he is going to hell, the red-handed criminal has but to believe at his eleventh hour that the blood of the Saviour can and will save him, to receive the guarantee of his spiritual adviser that he will find himself when launched into eternity in the bosom of Christ, in heaven, and playing upon the traditional harp. Why, then, should any Christian deny himself the pleasure and profit of robbing, or even murdering, his richer neighbor? And such a doctrine is being promulgated among the heathen at the cost of an annual expenditure of millions. | Christendom sends its missionaries to Heathendom at an expense of millions drained from the pockets of would-be pious folks, who court respectability. Thousands of homeless and penniless old men, women and children are allowed to starve for lack of funds, for the sake, perhaps, of one converted “heathen.” All the spare money of the charitable is absorbed by these dead-head travelling agents of the Christian Church. What is the result? Visit the prison cells of so-called Christian lands, crammed with delinquents who have been led on to felony by the weary path of starvation, and you will have the answer. Read in the daily papers the numerous accounts of executions, and you will find that modern Christianity offers, perhaps unintentionally but none the less surely, a premium for murder and other heinous crimes. Is anyone prepared to deny the assertion? Remember that, while many a respectable unbeliever dies in his bed with the comfortable assurance from his next of kin, and {{Page aside|380}} good friends in general, that he is going to hell, the red-handed criminal has but to believe at his eleventh hour that the blood of the Saviour can and will save him, to receive the guarantee of his spiritual adviser that he will find himself when launched into eternity in the bosom of Christ, in heaven, and playing upon the traditional harp. Why, then, should any Christian deny himself the pleasure and profit of robbing, or even murdering, his richer neighbor? And such a doctrine is being promulgated among the heathen at the cost of an annual expenditure of millions. | ||
But, in her eternal wisdom, Nature provides antidotes against moral as well as against mineral and vegetable poisons. There are people who do not content themselves with preaching grandiloquent discourses, they act. If such books as Higgins’ Anacalypsis, Inman’s Ancient and Pagan Christian Symbolism, and that extraordinary work of an anonymous English author—a Bishop, it is whispered—entitled Supernatural Religion, <ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Walter Richard Cassels, 1826 1907. Vide Vol. VI, pp. 430-31.]}}</ref> cannot awaken responsive echoes among the ignorant masses, who do not read books, other means can be, and are resorted to—means more effectual and which will bring fruit in the future, if hitherto prevented by the crushing hand of ecclesiastical and monarchical despotism. Those whom the written proofs of the fictitious character of Biblical authority cannot reach, may be saved by the spoken word. And this work of disseminating the truth among the more ignorant classes is being evidently prosecuted by an army of devoted scholars and teachers, simultaneously in India and America. | But, in her eternal wisdom, Nature provides antidotes against moral as well as against mineral and vegetable poisons. There are people who do not content themselves with preaching grandiloquent discourses, they act. If such books as Higgins’ Anacalypsis, Inman’s Ancient and Pagan Christian Symbolism, and that extraordinary work of an anonymous English author—a Bishop, it is whispered—entitled Supernatural Religion,<ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Walter Richard Cassels, 1826 1907. Vide Vol. VI, pp. 430-31.]}}</ref> cannot awaken responsive echoes among the ignorant masses, who do not read books, other means can be, and are resorted to—means more effectual and which will bring fruit in the future, if hitherto prevented by the crushing hand of ecclesiastical and monarchical despotism. Those whom the written proofs of the fictitious character of Biblical authority cannot reach, may be saved by the spoken word. And this work of disseminating the truth among the more ignorant classes is being evidently prosecuted by an army of devoted scholars and teachers, simultaneously in India and America. | ||
The Theosophical Society has been of late so much spoken about; such idle tales have been circulated about it—its members being sworn to secrecy and hitherto unable, even if willing, to proclaim the truth about it—that the public may be gratified to know, at least, about one portion of its work. This much, we are now permitted to do, and we embrace the opportunity with alacrity, for, unlike our antagonists, the Christians, we are disposed to declare open war and not resort to forgery, intrigue and Machiavellism {{Page aside|381}} to accomplish our ends. The Theosophical Society means, if it cannot rescue Christians from modern Christianity, at least to aid in saving the “heathen” from its influence. It is now in organized affiliation with the Ârya Samâj of India, its Western representative, and, so to say, under the order of its chiefs. A younger Society than the Brâhmo Samâj, it was instituted to save the Hindus from exoteric idolatries, Brahmanism and Christian missionaries. | The Theosophical Society has been of late so much spoken about; such idle tales have been circulated about it—its members being sworn to secrecy and hitherto unable, even if willing, to proclaim the truth about it—that the public may be gratified to know, at least, about one portion of its work. This much, we are now permitted to do, and we embrace the opportunity with alacrity, for, unlike our antagonists, the Christians, we are disposed to declare open war and not resort to forgery, intrigue and Machiavellism {{Page aside|381}} to accomplish our ends. The Theosophical Society means, if it cannot rescue Christians from modern Christianity, at least to aid in saving the “heathen” from its influence. It is now in organized affiliation with the Ârya Samâj of India, its Western representative, and, so to say, under the order of its chiefs. A younger Society than the Brâhmo Samâj, it was instituted to save the Hindus from exoteric idolatries, Brahmanism and Christian missionaries. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
Our Brother Hurrychund here describes those superior men whom we know as Adepts. He adds: | Our Brother Hurrychund here describes those superior men whom we know as Adepts. He adds: | ||
The ancient inhabitants of a place near Thibet, and adjoining a lake called Mansovara <ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Actually Mânasa-sarovara.—Compiler.]}}</ref>, were first called Devneggury (Devanagari) or godlike people. Their written characters were also called Devneggury or Balbadha letters. A portion of them migrated to the North and settled there, and afterwards spread towards the South, while others went to the West. All these emigrants styled themselves Aryans, or noble, pure, and good men, as they considered that a pure gift had been made to humanity from the “Pure Alone.” These lofty souls were the authors of the Vedas.” | The ancient inhabitants of a place near Thibet, and adjoining a lake called Mansovara<ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Actually Mânasa-sarovara.—Compiler.]}}</ref>, were first called Devneggury (Devanagari) or godlike people. Their written characters were also called Devneggury or Balbadha letters. A portion of them migrated to the North and settled there, and afterwards spread towards the South, while others went to the West. All these emigrants styled themselves Aryans, or noble, pure, and good men, as they considered that a pure gift had been made to humanity from the “Pure Alone.” These lofty souls were the authors of the Vedas.” | ||
{{Page aside|384}} | {{Page aside|384}} | ||