Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-29
INDIAN RESEARCH AND PHLOSO
PLY.

PLY.
Tho history and philosophy of In
dia, though imperfect, cannot be
traced without recalling wildly our
own Christian associations. Ponctra-
ting into tho fragmentary mysteries
Of the ancient Vedas, ono feels as
though conversing with the perplexod
sagcs Of three thousand years ago.
That tho philosophical systems of In
dia arc ancient there can be no qucs-
tion, though the claims Of their learn
ed men to an antiquity reaching far
beyond tho utmost stretch of histori-
cal chronology are, Of course, prepos-
ferrous. There seems to he little
doubt, however, that they themselves
arc ignorant Of tho age Of many OF
their philosophical documents. For
many Of tho arts in which they excel
they know no origin lator than in
structions professedly received from
the gods. One of their astronomical
works they claim to have been pro-
duced 2, l64 $50 years ago. The time
of tho establishment Of their social
system of castles is yet unknown.-
Themselves bcing in such ignorance
and believing such claims, we cannot
wonder that their heads have become
perplexed, and that oil present ac,ivi.
ty is forgotten, and progress noglec.
ted: in reverence for tho hoary re-
mains Of antiquity.
Their philosophy is within itself a
wonder as indicating tho hidden
germs Of truth, and a civilization,
mental power and acuteness that
Greece herself has mover excelled.
Spiritual, moral, mental, and physical
science were all investigated fearless
ly and intermingIod in the philoso-
phical creeds Of those times. They
recognized Being, ono, supreme,
eternal, tho emanatory cause. From
Him oil things proceed; into Him all
are to return. Theirs is also Trini-
tartan Theology, pr ssenting from the
samo source Creator, Consorvator
and Destroyer. Their physical doc
trines present the theory of atoms
aggregated according to certain nu-
mcrical proportions, TO constitute the
world. Their logic had reached such
development as to leave little for the
Hindoo pupil to learn from Zeno o,
Aristotle. Perfect happiness for the
haman soul is to be attained by re-
turn to tho Ono Eternal Substance
and this return attained by an entire
mental abstraction, and a perfect ap
atby and Indifference towards al
earthly and existing things. These
theories indicate that there may once
have been the possessio n of truth, bu,
} it had become useless fer any purpose
of satisfying the human rnind. Th.
J quantity, character and acuteness o
their philosophical writings are th'
iudices of continued thought ant
, great mental research, tho cravings o
tho soul after tho knowledge Of th
: Divine strangely set forth in the mon
, uments Of tho labor of ages, which
} held abstraction as tho means Of ut.
f tanning to Il supreme felicity consist
, ing in q state Of perfect rep6se ant
t virtual nonontity.
8 Before tho Christian philosophy
: these doctrines, enshriusd in the hoar.
Q drapery Of antiquity, are beginning t.
fade away. Sablimities unming'e'
with deception or extravaganza CLAIM
r the attention of men. Divine com
munion is still promised, not. with
loss of activity and entity, bat cor
j. tinued indiv naturalization Of incroasin
force aud nobility, ind on inspiratio
9 from the contemplation of the inefH;
= bic attributes of Deity that inspiri'
l. the duties and charities Of daily III
10 until the soul returns to the God ths
o gave it, not to bs God, but bring itse
u 70 bs like God.-Aethod;st Home Jou
aoL& ......'