New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-28

A MESSAGE FROM 1.-THE BRooDING EAST"


occupying himself in advancing the public COM
nrebension of the objects of study comprised
under the general head OF oriental Theosophy. Mr.
Mohinl has come to the Unitcd States as the gu st
of Mr.. Arthur GebharJ, fins city, aud IL Is MS
purpose TO spend the winter here. and incidentally
to take advantage Of whatever opportunities ioi
the furtberance of his life work may occur.
Tn .be course of an extended conversation WIN
Mr. Moblni the following views and opinions "oro
elected. and are here set down In the oeiio'
that the readers Of rHE TRIBUNE Will be somewhat
interested in ideas which. apart from All coh'
sderaton of crediblity. are likely to have 'ne
recommendation of novelty for the majority WINE
thew represent a current of thought, stream OF
tendency. AS the Germans would say deserving
serious examination as q sign Of the times
Mr. Mohinl in effect said (: am n member OF the
Tbeosophical Society but do not like to call N.Y.
self Theosophlst because that seems TO imply the
10 session of absolute knowledge OF the truth,
whereas am merely a seeker. To understand my
position you must be acquainted with some OIL INC
beliefs hold 1t appears to me that the time Is
approaching when the East will be called upon
once to furnish religious ideal to the west
You know that all former spiritual ideals have
emanated from the Orient Christianity came
thence, and when Materialism and ecclesiastical
superstition and rtuallsm TO obscure its beauty
and destroy Its elevatIng influence. 1t was again
from the East that the revival of learning pro-
ceeded which opened the way for partial return
to "a hlgherid ideal.
consider that the relation between the Fast and
the West through the presence of the English IN
India is one of the most important factors IN the
future evolution of mankind. 1t is not tnat the
English have themselves recognized their oppor-
funites. On the contrary. they have been bind 10
them. But IT is not necessary that the bee who
fertizes a distant tract with the pollen he gathers
from the flowers in his quest for honey should real
ize what other purpose he IL subsorvIng THAI the
satisfaction of his instructive impulses. The Eng
l.sh in India have dcspIsed the ancient people they
govern there and hive spurle1 the lore OF the
Vcdas, but the industry and inpulstiveness OF
their scholars have been tee wing, whereon the
sacred seed has been borne and they have e 1t fall
here and there in situations favorable to germina-
ton
Once before a great material power conquered the
Fast only to ID the source OF It's subjugation
in the event The English poet Matthew Arnold.
has beautifully described that great triumph of
spirit over matter which resulted IN the birth OF the
present religion of Cbrlstendom. fou must not
think that because am an Oriental am hostile I"
Christianity. If what conceive to be my mis- Ion
has any ncance IL lies in the endeavor 10 help
forward the restoration of true Christianity to the
West. shall surprise You. however, when say that
true Chr sanity has ceased be prac ised or even
understood IN the West I'd that India alone con-
tai the DO " Of truth the study of which can bring
back the Western nations to the Path, and avert
from them tho natural consequences Ofthat Mat'rI-
allstIc career which they are at present pursuing
with sucd absorbed eagerness.
If Christianity has 50 faI failed to hold its own
against the Materiolist Science of the days. il faith
Is diminishing among the people, and a purely SEN
sua philosophy is taking its place; If as religion
declines the spectre of Socialism looms mp menac
1nply: il Is because the growth of egolsm among
the priesthood everywhere has made them mere
echoes of the worlds set-seekng, and has causeh
them to accept the worlds apologetic theory that
the teachings of CHRIST are incapable of practical
application.
Do not imagine. however. that regard Christ
rauity in sense entitled TO exclusive prefer
ence reverence 1t because hold that there is but
one Eternal Verify; and hat all religions are ex-
pressons of it. 1t is in India that the source and
fpuntain-head of the world creeds is co be found.
II Is there also that the greatest spiritual phIoso-
phy known 10 the human race Is enshrined IN
literature the conquest of which BY the West will be
NEW and greater Renaissance You nay say that the
old world as you call it. can evolve dominant
ideal for itself. | answer that 1t has never yet
shown It's capacity for such an evolution. Ii ma
owed all it's spiritual views to the Orient. audit mas
failed to derive from those gifts the benefit inber-
ent 10 them because it has procee led to carnalZe
its religion instead of seeking to purify its cal
nalliy You say that Christianity IL impracticable.
II is certainly true that you have never practlsed
it, Butt Is really only impIacticabe because you
have made it so What Is che influence which
operates most strongly against the adoption into
vour lives of the Gospel doctrines Is it not the
cultivation in all o. You of that masterful iudivld-
nal,sm which manlfests constantly through the
Inst Of possessionf "The Inst OF the eyes and
the pride of Iiiep your own sacred writer's put it
Whence springs the great diversity of conditoDs the
contemplatIou of which breeds Socialism, Is 1t not
the direct outgrowth of the passion of acqusltve-
ness' You people of the West cannot euloy life
unless You are perpetually increasing your pos
sesslops You surround yourselves with luxury
the steadily increasing artlhciaity OF when car
RES Won always furtner away from nature and
furtbcr AWAY also from the influence of Gospel
trutb. The Brotherhood of Man which jesus
Christ belle we'd in has become unthinkabe to you.
with vour mlhonaires at one end Of the social
scale and your tramps at the other. Yet there Is
one country IN the world where 1t is still not only
tbinkable but possible. aud that country Is lndi'
Do you know why this is sol 1t IS because the
venerable creeds of lndia-and Brahmanism and
Buddhism are essentially one rehglon-have Tor
aces Taught to a spiritually minded and receptive
neople. the ephemeral character OF lite the folly
and danger of concentrating tho energies upon
II the wisdom and necessity of holding 1t always
az temporary possession. the chief value
NJ which consists in the opportunities IL affords for
dong good. The two hundred and fifty million in
bab,tants of India were not conquered by the Eng
Iisb. They submit to the British rule chiefly
hocanse their reli non prevents them from looking
mon what you call liberty independence as a
snnrome neeessity Christianity is at one with the
Vedantic sacred canons IN teaching that THE
KINGDOM of Heaven Is within you" The conquest
wbb every hum IN being is born to essay Is not the
conquest of external circumstances or OF his fellow
:. ,o,,nr,aad IN the old Gree<