Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-08
ABOUT THEOSOPHY
Karma and ReincarnatiOn Dis
cussed.
The Principles of the Mystic Cult
Discussed.
Reincarnation Universal Principle In
Religions-The Claim Made for
the Qualities Of The
OsOphy.


aroused lately in this city in Theosophy.
In view Of this fact the HERALD has &C.
cured from DR.. Allen Grifiths, leader
in the sect on this coast, the following
article on the subject:
Karma is Sanscrit word and means
action in its larger sense, but as gener-
ally used relates to the law of cause and
effect which connects the many success
sive lives of each individual on this
earth. The PHILOSOPHERS and religions
of all times, and the writings of all sages
of whatever age, when properly in
terpreted proclaim reincarnation the
natural order of human evolution on
this planet. It is only when dead letter
constructions are placed upon them and
when interpretations and changes have
been made by priestcraft, actuated by
ignorance or selfish interests, that wise
teachings of both past and present times
have been prostituted to serve purely
personal ends, resulting in meaningless
ceremonies, blighting bigotry and dead
ening dogmatiam. The Christian and
all bibles OF every time and people teach
Karma and reincarnation. "What a man
sows that shall he also reap" was
taught not only by Jesus, but by many
another sage ages before him. Jesus
but restAted q law recognized in the
pantheon Of every people.
Karma is the adjuster of inharmony.
Its sway is over all nature, and it's exer-
else on the plane of human existence
operates as reincarnation, or repeated
earth lives.
Theosophy advances the assertion
that man is his own creator, for if he is
not the product of the thought and &C.
tion of his previous lives as harmoni.
GUS factor in the universal scheme of
evolution, he is the one exception in
that scheme and, therefore, outside ma
ture and the law. The consideration of
man as an exceptional case in nature
has opened the door for influx of all the
irrational conceptions now entertained
by modern forms of religion, and made
conditions whereby those monstrous
fallacies, personal God and vicarious
atonement, find temporary Judgement
in certain religious systems, and form
the basis upon which has risen super
structure of error. These, fallacies by
pandering to ignorance, bigotry and
tyranny, have caused more suffering,
misery and bloodshed, than all other
causes combined. The conception of .
personal God, q God subject to whim
and caprice, to emotions of pleasure and
passion; capable of planning universe
and powerful enough to project the
scheme and yet go ignorant and lacking
in foresight as to fail to complete
it, or to prepare for emergencies liable
to arise, and which did arise; who, when
an unexpected crisis arose, was 90
lamentably deficient in resources that
by his own confession he was forced to
concoct plan of vicarious atonement,
is ridiculous. This preposterous plan
of vicarious atonement is man.
made. 1t has no basis in reason
or common sense, and is a prostitution
of the philosophic principle that man
has to sacrifice his lower to his higher
nature if he would attain conscious I'M
mortality. This false idea is unjust
alike to God and His creatures, for its
logical result can but produce race of
dependent weaklings. 1t is monstrous
conception of a more monstrous god,
and unworthy consideration by rational
beings. Yet these two dogmas are the
corner stones of the principal religious
systems admitted as essential and ele-
waiting factors of present-day boasted
civilization; while in fact, they are huge
fallacies and positive evils, and the ,di-
rect cause OF current crime and the in
tense selfishness of our time. To The
osophist they are repuisive and rejected
in toto, 1t is believed that the cultiva-
ton of such conceptions cannot produce
other than debaeement of the moral
and spiritual nature of all who seri-
ously entertain them. The idea of vi
carious atonement is rooted in a rank
.fallacy, and is most atr0cious miscon-
ception of Deity and manifestation of
utter ignorance of mans place in ma
ture. his relation to the law, himself
and his fellows. Furthermore, lives
lived according to it cannot but produce
accentuation of present states of indi-
vidualism and cowardice, resulting in
still more abject stages of moral decrep-
itude, intellectual slavery and spiritual
depravity. Present states of turpitude
are only natural results of attempts to
live this lie, and they will grow steadily
worse unless the manhood of the race
rises against and combats it.
Vicarious atonement, when analysed,
simply means that man may commit
the most atrocious deed and escape the
consequences merely by q change o1
mind, often brought about by fear OF
punishment which his conscience tells
him is merited, while an innocent
other suffers for him; the real culprit,
meanwhile, parading streets OF pearl,
twanging golden harps, famed by
heavenly breezes, and partaking oi
angel dainties surrounded by host oi
saints. Thus we have the sneak-thiel
and the martyr, the red-handed
murderer and the man who gave
his life for another, resting side by side
/. feasting share and share alike at the
table Of the redeemed. This is picture
presented to rational minds as just anc
true. It is somewhat sensational, high
" colored, requiring vivid Imagination
to conceive Of, and some there are who
accept it. But critically considered, II
is exceedingly fantastic, entirely IRA
national, utterly unjust, debasing anc
ahominable in every particular. Only
blind belief, bigotry, fanaticism,. or i'm
mature intellection can conceive it as
true portrayal of truth. Ane
vet how strange! The very
ones who most connoentIy
delude themselves by belief IN 1t, arr
thew who most fear to leave this vale o
tears and enter the heavenly home
themselves; whose lamentations ar.
ioudest and longest when their beloved
.depart for the abodes of rest who wea
the somber trappings OF woe and parad
fhsir crief before the world in cheer.
qoolors Of Grape, ell because tnear neases
f+ sa6 a IN e y IN III 3st AZ 8