New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
EsoTERIC BUDDHISM.


.ho,,, xears ago the author of this remark
able book published an equally singular volume,
snt;tlad :. The Occult World" Its object was to
ess.rt the existence, in India and Thibet, OF a
,ec,liarIv Gifted fraternity of Adopts" who were
a,laoea n have mastered for themselves the most
hidden things of Nature. and who were put forward
=, The rcpostor,es of all trustworthy and important
nrcaua knowledge. The present work is intended TO
supplement and carry forward the teachings OF its
predecessor. 1t contains eptome of the doctrines
held by the Brothers" Adopts" Mahatmas'
u Arhats' as they appear to be almost Indiffer-
entity called Precisely why the author should have
designated his book "Esoterc Buddhism is not
clear for the reader is given TO understand that the
views set forth in it really rather those OF what
may be styled the fundamental world-religion than
Of Buddhism. The claim made upon the respectful
attention of the world for these strange and in some
respects startling doctrines. rests upon an assump
lion which, if accepted must certainly inspire conn
dence. For, to use Mr.. Sinnetps own WORDS the
esoteric doctrine is not presented to us as the IN
yention of any founder prophet Its testimony Is
based on no written scriptures Its views OF nature
have been evolved by the researches OF an immense
succoss,on of qualified for their task
nv the possession of spiritual functions and percep
lions of higher order than those belonging to Or
binary humanity. In the course OF ages the biocK
of knowledge thus accumulated, concerning the
prlgin of the world and of man. and the ultimate
destinics OF racecohcerning also the nature OIL
other worlds and of existence differing rom
those of our present life-checked and examined at
every point verified in all directions, and constant
" under examination throughout. has come to be
looked upon by its custodians as constituting the
absolute truth concerning spiritual things, the
actual state Of the facts regarding vast regions of
vital activity lying beyond this earthly exist
ence."
II In in fact claimed that all the statements made
concerning mans Whence and Whittier by the
Adeuts are tho result not of speculation but OF prac-
teal observation ana experiment by their fraternity
But 1t is not asserted that they possess any super
natural DO wers On the contrary, they explicitly
declare that all they know is derived from natural
science and law. They say that they have merely
cultivated their spiritual faculties and perceptions
to n degree unknown and almost incomprehensible
70 the Western world, and that by so doing they
have enabled themselves to penetrate the secrets OF
the universe and to attain to o full understanding
of perhaps all but primal causes. In the course of
his education the Adept Is said to become acquaint'
ed with natural laws which enable him to do
many surprising things but Mr. Snnstt says that the
acquisition of the power whose occasional exercise
awes the vulgar, Is merely an incident of adept
achievement of spiritual development" In bis
present work Mr.. Sinuett does not concern himself
70 adduce any further eyidsnce for the reality of
the Adept Brotherhood. He takes that for granted,
and proceeds to the development of the esoterc doc
trines The study of exoteric Buddhism affords little
clew to these secret teachings. The popular expos
tons of the Buddhist canon have resulted in puz-
cling the Western mind very thoroughly. The ESQ.,
teric doctrine of Nirvana especially has proved
stumbling block to Western scholarship. Professor
Max Miller it is true, has more than halfgrasped
tho real conception lying behind it, and has
refused to accept the theory Of annihlatlon. Pro-
fessor Rhys Davids, however, has persuaded him
self that the annihilation hypothesis is the only
tenable one, and consequently has failed to find
rational explanation of the strong hold Buddhism
has upon the minds of Its votaries. The esoteric'
doctriue clears up this and several other
mysteries. however. As a system of thought it
must be admitted to be both comprehensive and
elevated. No system known TO Western philosophy.
indeed. approaches it in sublimity, majesty and
consistency. 1t may without any exaggeration be
claimed for it that 1t is the only system which at all
satisfactorily accounts for some of the hardest
probiems that have taxed human ingenuity-such,
for example as the origin and purpose of Evil.
Esoteric Buddhism is tainted by no anthropo-
morphic fallacies, or belittled by any geocentrc-
vanities 1t posts the planet we nhabit as merely
one in cham of worlds through which human
evolution Is being accomplished. 1t asserts that
man has an lllmtable past as well as an ilmtable
future. 1t declares that his present life IL but one
link in long chain of existences through which he
has to mass, at each remove either rising or de.
scending according to the tenor OF his acts ia the
preceding stage of active fe 1t says that the des-
tiny of every individual is the result of balance
of his good and evil Deeds and that while the good
deeds are rewarded in temporary heaven called
Deyachan, the bad deeds must be explated In
the conditions OF the next succeeding incarna-
tion. This balances of good aud evil is called
Karma, aud il is the Fate of Buddhism. But tho
Occultists also teach that tho final destiny of man
kind cannot yet be determined that when that
stage of evolution has been reached IN which the
then living race can make intelligent choice be-
tween Spiritual aud merely Intellectual god the
final struggle will have to be fought out, and that
those only who at that time choose the higher
good will be able to pursue their development to
its normal end namely the evolution of a so far
beyond present Humanity as to seem to our unin-
structed vision almost divine The Adopts hold
further that the present intellectual development
of Europe and America all i'll wrong directions !;
that Spri.ualisD. the one reality and important
consideration, is being lost sight of; that the mod
ern type OIL clfiization ~ sciiuostiuciFc auu Iat
the modern abandonment Of Spirituality is endan-
cering the future existence of the races which hold
themselves to be tho heirs of all the ages in the
foremost files of time" This is startling doctrine
but it is necessary to the consistency Of Esoterc
Buddhism; for If these doctrines be true, II the
present stage OF human existence is incident
IN chain extending backward and for
ward for millions of years; If the highest
conception of modern civilization fails to give it
moro than a transtory value then indeed it must
be admitted that we are on the wrong track. and
that we need new charts aud fresh pilots. The con-
ceptions Of Aslatc Occultism indeed stupen-
dous. The Adopts find no limitations In the uni
verse. Beside man in bis topmost pride, 1t dis