Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-12
would be thrown off his balance. and the

would be thrown off his balance, and the
result would be deplorable.
However successful, danger would ba
growing proportionately with success. No
choice would soon remain but to go on,
ever crescendo, or to fall in this endless
struggle with prejudice and ignorance,
killed by your own weapons. In
common with many, you blame us for our
great secresy. Yet we know something
Of human nature, for the experience of
long centuries, aye, ages, has taught u.s.
And we know that so long as science has
anything to learn, and a shadow OF
religious dogmatism lingers in the hearts Of
the multitudss, the worlds prejudices
have to be conquered step by step, not at
q rush." This is the burden of several
letters on the same subject. The Brothers
will pay no attention to the clamors of
curiosity. Nor are they without power
ful reasons for withholding the knowledge
they are said to possess. For what would
be the effect upon mankind of the sudden
dissemination of secrets by which it would
become possible, not indeed for all, but for
many, to do things against which no ordi-
nary precautions would avail. Imagine
the consequence of putting indiscriminately
into all hands the control of natural force
which can be made to destroy life as in.
simultaneously and noiselessly as the
lightning which would enable bad men to
Cypress and injure their weak enemies ;
which would defy law and police, and facil.
itate the perpetration of the most appalling
crimes which in short would give to
Vice and Greed powers OF the most tre-
mendous character, and would render the
subversion of society, even in the most
civilized countries, comparatively easy.
Lord Lytton, whose knowledge Of occult
science was remarkable, has illustrated
this consideration forcibly in " Zanoni, "
where he represents Mejnour, the type OF
the Oriental Adept, answering Glyndon's
inquiry az to the reason for the secresy
which is the rule of the Fraternity.
"Suppose, answers the Sage, "we were
to impart all our knowledge to all man.
kind, Unfortunately, alike to the vicious
and the yirtuous, should we be benefactors
or scourges? Imagine the tyrant, the
sensualist, the evil and corrupted being
possessed Of these tremendous powers
would he not be demon let loose on
earth? Grant that the same privilege be
accorded also to the good; and In
what state would be society? Engaged
in Titan war-the good for ever on the
defensive, the bad for ever in the assault
In the present condition of the earth, evil
is more active principle than good, ano
the evil would prevail. 1t is for these rea
sons that we are not only solemnly bound
to administer our lore only to those who
will not mis4se and pervert it; but that
we place our ordeal in tests that purify the
passions and elevate the desires. This il
effect is identical with the argument o.
Koot Hoomi, and it is curious to note that
Lord Lytton has placed in Mejnour's mouth
a sentiment which would be endorsed by
any Hindu or Thibetan Occultist, namely
the assertion that in the present condition
of the world "evil is a more active princi
pie than good" This is in strict conformi
ty with Buddhist doctrine, according te
which we are now passing through th'
Kali Yog, or Black Age, during which the
evil elements are in the ascendent.
Allusion has been made to the connec
ton between the powers claimed fol
Adeptship and Asiatic religion, and II
seems proper to consider the subject some
what at this point. The sacred literature
of India contains mass Of information on
these topics, but Western critics and
translators have invariably approached
this branch of study full of prejudice and
misconception, and consequently have
represented what they have discovered as
puerile nonsense or incomprehensible mys
ticism. But there are comparatively few
Hindoos who do not know that Yog pidya,
or occult science, is still studied in theil
midst, and who cannot distinguish clearly
between Haiti Yog, the science which ls
attained by sort of physical gymnastics,
and Ragi Yog, which is the higher kind Of
occultism, and to be attained only through
intellectual discipline and cultivation
The former, or inferior of these kinds Of
occultism, has long been practiced by Ger.
tain classes of Fakirs. 1t leads to nothing
worth the trouble, and is in fact fit only
for the engagement Of feeble and narrow
intelligences. Both kinds, however, are
known to the Brahman and the Budd'
hist Priesthood, and, as in Ancient
Egypt, the Temples are throughout
India the principal schools of occult science.
1t appears that the religious connection
with Yod Vidya has resulted in the en-.
grating of much ceremoniaiism and mum.
merry upon the lower orders OF it, but the
central principles which are operated upon
are the same now that they were during
the vedantic period, and probably were
much earlier. It is held under the Budd'
hist creed that Rahatship, or Adeptship, as
we should call it, constitutes the ultimate
preparation for Nirvana, and that the
Rahat for Arhst) possesses the power te
proceed straight to the enjoyment of Bliss.
The religious canons and manuals, however,
only give detailed instructions for the &C
QUESTION of the Haiti Yog. The Ragi Yo9
can only be attained by submission to
many severe and rigorous conditions, and
it is affirmed that success in the pursuit
falls very rarely to the neophytes. An
Adept indeed is represented as a striking
illustration of natural selection and
of survival of the fittesS. He
has to pass through succession
of trials so difficult and prolonged
that only the most powerful and enduring
minds can satisfy the conditions. And il
is to be understood especially that the