Interface administrators, Administrators (Semantic MediaWiki), Curators (Semantic MediaWiki), Editors (Semantic MediaWiki), Suppressors, Administrators, trusted
17,004
edits
HPB-SB-14-79: Difference between revisions
Полный текст по скану
(незначительные правки) |
(Полный текст по скану) |
||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| continues = | | continues = | ||
| title = Theosophic Doctrines. | | title = Theosophic Doctrines. | ||
| hide = yes | |||
| subtitle = | | subtitle = | ||
| untitled = | | untitled = | ||
| author = Noel, Roden | | author = Noel, Roden | ||
| author signed = | | author signed = Roden Noel | ||
| source title = | | source title = Light | ||
| source details = | | source details = November18,1882 | ||
| publication date = | | publication date = 1882-11-18 | ||
| original date = | | original date = | ||
| notes = Blue curved strokes lie beside the opening and end of this article. Their writer has not been identified. <!-- HANDWRITING-ATTRIBUTION-RECHECK --> | |||
}} | }} | ||
... | {{Style P-Separator custom|width=100%|bottom=2px}} | ||
{{Style P-Separator custom|width=100%|top=0}} | |||
{{Style P-Title|THEOSOPHIC DOCTRINES.}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom}} | |||
C. C. M. has, in his turn, rather misunderstood ''me''. I did not mean to charge intentional inculcation of materialism, in the vulgar sense of the word, on the writer of the “Fragments”; but perhaps my language in the note cited by C. C. M. was ill-chosen. And I am quite ready to admit that in the passage concerning “the spirit drifting about like dead leaves,” I probably misunderstood him, the interpretation of C. C. M. being very likely the correct one; only I must add that, if so, for a writer who so scrupulously divides a man into distinct compartments, such language was very loose and misleading. | |||
But on the second point I suppose I should differ from C. C. M. as much as from the writer. For he characterises the statement that “thought, memory, and will are the energies of the brain” as “the enunciation of a physiological truism.” That it is so I have yet to learn. It is the doctrine, doubtless, of Moleschott, Maudsley, and Bain; but so far from its being “a physiological truism,” I should have said that this is just the most flagrant instance of physiological science obtruding beyond her province into the domain of psychology, and uttering a fatal untruth in so doing. Undoubtedly there is good scientific evidence that the motion of nervous molecules accompanies our present modes of thought and volition; but there is no possibility of going beyond this in the direction of materialism. And to my mind it is quite as materialistic to ascribe thought and will to a subtle ethereal body as to ascribe the same to the more palpable molecules we call brain. All these are, by the very definition of them, creatures of thought: thought is not their creature. Is that true or not? On it hangs, if not everything of value to us, yet a very great deal. | |||
What I charge on Occultism—and upon much of the so-called philosophy of Spiritualism itself—is unconscious materialism, none the less real and mischievous for not being avowed. Even if the writers regard matter as an “illusion,” yet if they also regard will, thought, memory, and personality as functions, or products of this illusion (''illusion, I wonder, of whom or what?'') then I must charge them with materialism. It does not signify, after all, what your metaphysical idea of matter may be, whether you call it illusion, or something evolved from an unconscious Absolute Principle, ''Pakriti'', or some other; the question is: Are personality, and personal functions, functions or results of matter, gross or subtle? These writers, unless I totally misunderstand them, reply in the affirmative. The true position is that matter, gross and subtle, is the product of personality and its functions. The inference from the former position is that, when all the bodies, gross and subtle, have disappeared, then thought and personality have gone with them—and that inference is drawn by these writers. This is only a subtler and more insidious materialism. “''Gross''” was, perhaps, a wrong word to apply. When our personality is perfected, then we shall no longer appear to possess bodies like those we now have. Bodies are the finite self-expression of Persons. The molecular motion of nerves or ether or any other subtle agent is, and can only be thought, will, perception, in us or in some persons. | |||
(For “''intentional'' self-identification” in the note to my last paper, read ''intuitional'', &c.) | |||
In dealing with physics, or physiology proper, of course, we are at liberty to use the language of the science, and to ignore idealism. Not so, however, when we mix up psychology, and philosophy, with these sciences; for then we misstate facts—we misrepresent truth, and mislead dangerously. Whatever Occultism may be, Idealism is no mere subtle curiosity of speculation. | |||
{{Style P-Signature custom|Roden Noel.}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|bottom=2px}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|top=0|bottom=2px}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|top=0|bottom=2px}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|top=0}} | |||
{{HPB-SB-item | {{HPB-SB-item | ||
| Line 35: | Line 59: | ||
| continues = | | continues = | ||
| title = Spiritualism in India. | | title = Spiritualism in India. | ||
| hide = yes | |||
| subtitle = | | subtitle = | ||
| untitled = | | untitled = | ||
| Line 40: | Line 65: | ||
| author signed = W. Eglinton | | author signed = W. Eglinton | ||
| source title = Light | | source title = Light | ||
| source details = | | source details = November18,1882; cover letter enclosing a letter signed Priya Lal Mallik, Colootollah Spiritualist Society, Calcutta, dated September25; enclosure year not printed | ||
| publication date = | | publication date = 1882-11-18 | ||
| original date = | | original date = | ||
| notes = Blue oblique strokes lie to the left of the heading and beside the end of the covering letter. Their writer has not been identified. <!-- HANDWRITING-ATTRIBUTION-RECHECK --> | |||
}} | }} | ||
... | {{Style P-Title|SPIRITUALISM IN INDIA.}} | ||
<center>''To the Editor of'' “Light.”</center> | |||
{{Style S-Small capitals|Sir}},—I shall be glad if you will give insertion to the enclosed letter, written by a Hindu Spiritualist. During my residence in Calcutta I became acquainted with many intelligent natives, the writer amongst the number, and the interest caused by my visit led them to start a society of their own. Since March last they have been trying to obtain manifestations, but with varying results. Their persistence is to be commended, and it will be a favour to me if any of my friends or those interested in propagating Spiritualism abroad as well as at home, will correspond with the writer, or send the Society such books upon the subject as may be instructive. India is a splendid field for Spiritualism, and, as my correspondent shews, they prefer its simple faith to the impenetrable mysteries of Occultism. | |||
Any interest taken by our European friends in propagating Spiritualism in India must have a beneficial effect upon the natives, and from this one society many others may spring up all over the country.—Yours, &c., | |||
{{Style P-Signature custom|W. Eglinton.}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom}} | |||
I beg to inform you that your kind note of July 23rd last has been thankfully received by us with much delight. We deem it a high favour that amidst your numerous engagements you were good enough to remember your poor friends in Calcutta and to snatch a few moments for writing to them. We cannot, however, sufficiently thank you for the very warm interest you take in our society, and are more than ever obliged to you for your most encouraging assurance that you will ask Mr. Meugens when he will return to this country to favour us with his advice. I need scarcely say that that gentleman will add not a little to the great obligations we already owe you, and that we will be ever thankful to him, and will ever remember him as one of our well-wishers and benefactors. | |||
We read with great pleasure your contributions to “Light.” Your dissent from the theosophical explanation of the psychical manifestations has much interested us. If the existence of the soul be accepted, it is agreeable to common sense that a soul free from material body has greater facility to exercise its will-power than one fettered in crude matter. The assertion of the Theosophists that 90 per cent. of the Spiritual phenomena are produced by “spooks and elementals,” is something beyond our ordinary comprehension. Their explanations of well-authenticated communications and materialisations are not satisfactory. The account of your adventure with Koot Hoomi created almost a sensation here. We prefer your explanation of it by the theory of ''double'' to that of the Theosophists. The contributions of “M. A. (Oxon.)” to “Light” are very learned and instructive. He says in one place that Spirits of the lowest order cast antagonistic influences over circles to retard manifestations. Can it be one of the causes of our failures? | |||
We were very happy to learn that the members of the new Society for Psychic Researches had come to good results in their investigations in “Thought-reading.” As the Society contains eminent persons, we may hope to see them do full justice to what they have taken up in their hands, and thus further the cause of Spiritualism. We eagerly await the fruits of their labour. | |||
Since I wrote to you last the state of things has not much improved with us. We conduct the weekly séances according to your early advices, and other hints which we get from the writings of many contributors to “Light.” Mr. Farmer, in his lecture before the members of C.A.S., strongly advised them to have the séance-room well ventilated and sufficiently lighted. We therefore do not now sit in closely shut-up rooms, but as we get enough of diffused light from outside to see one another, we keep no extra light in the room, preferring the other hypothesis, viz., ether in rest facilitates the operations of the Spirits. | |||
Will you kindly explain in your next the meaning of the phrase “negative and positive elements in the arrangement of sitters in a circle,” as we have no distinct notion of it? | |||
We think that it would be well if we had with us what may be called a regular guide-book for conducting séances properly. We do not know whether any such book is extant, nor can we hope to get such a book here at Calcutta. | |||
Will it be convenient for you (if a book of this nature is available) to drop a few lines to Mr. E. A. Pittis, 9, Dowgate-hill, Cannon-street, London, asking him to buy and send a copy of the book to Messrs. Bisso, Nauth, Law, and Co., 2, Larkin’s-lane, Calcutta, who will have made the necessary arrangements with him? To prevent having two copies of the same work, I add a list of books of our very small library:—(1) Kardec’s “Spirit-Book and Medium’s Book”; (2) Crookes’s “Phenomena of Spiritualism”; (3) Zöllner’s “Transcendental Physics”; (4) Harrison’s “Spirits before our Eyes”; (5) James’s “Mesmerism”; (6) Heidenhain’s “Animal Magnetism”; (7) Wilson’s “How to Magnetise”; (8) a set of “Psychic Notes.” | |||
We indeed learnt with regret of the late troubles in Egypt, but never doubted the ultimate triumph of British arms. We are glad that Arabi is a prisoner now and the war is virtually over. | |||
{{Style P-Signature custom|1=<div style="display:table; margin-left:auto; text-align:left;">Trusting that you are in good health,<br><span style="display:inline-block; padding-left:3em;">I remain yours sincerely,</span><br><span style="display:inline-block; padding-left:8em;">{{Style S-Small capitals|Priya Lal Mallik.}}</span></div>|1 style=plain}} | |||
{{Style P-Signature custom|1=<div style="display:table; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;">The Colootollah Spiritualist Society,<br><span style="display:inline-block; padding-left:3em;">57, Sovaram Bysak’s-lane, Calcutta.</span><br><span style="display:inline-block; padding-left:6em;">September 25th.</span></div>|1 style=plain|align=left}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|bottom=2px}} | |||
{{Style P-Separator custom|top=0}} | |||
{{HPB-SB-footer-footnotes}} | {{HPB-SB-footer-footnotes}} | ||
{{HPB-SB-footer-sources}} | |||
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
Light v.02 n.98 1882-11-18.pdf|page=9|Light, v. 2, No. 98, November 18, 1882, pp. 521, 523 | |||
</gallery> | |||