Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-23
ESOTERIC BUDDHISM.

pecially that phase or outgrowth of Buda-
Through the efforts of Dr.. Mary J. Walker
about dozen people recently came to-
getbe1 at her parlor at the Tontine hotel |
and began their researches in the ancient |
oriental lore. Since then several new |
members have been added. Last Monday |
night, at the fourth meeting of the club,
Mrs. Nellie Brigham of New York was
present and made an address referring to |
whatever subject pertinent to the occasion
was presented her by the members. She
ia sort of inspirational speaker and claims |
that in her addresses on subjects of this
nature she. draws entirely on an inner
source for what she shall say and how it
shall be said.
One of the prominent members of the
branch of the cnlt in this city was seen
and explained theosophy briefly as fol-
lows: Theosophy is the study Of God in
nature and life, the study of the unseen
life. One point of view in the society in
this city is essentially that of investiga
tors and students, and not yet, at least, of
believers. We propose to found library
of the literature of this subject and to
hold meetings for discussing it. In the
east this science has progressed much fur
Their than here and it is from eastern
sources that we must be taught. They
have thought much more deeply there up
on the great questions of destiny than the
busy, commercial west has, and they have
progressed much further IN their conclu-
sions.
Buddhism is divided into two classes-es-
otoric, the real teachings of Buddha, which
was only made known to a few and which
ia now being brought to light and called
theosophy by its promulgators, and ex-
oteric, or the religion of Buddha, as it is
commonly practiced among the devotees in
Asia. The last consists of vast symbol
ism, which is in 80 many respects like that
of Romanism that many scholars have
sought to find some connection between
the two. 1t is claimed that there is a sect
or brotherhood in Thibet who have handed
down the inner teachings of the great
prophet of India and who have studied
and advanced along the line of thought
embodied and Swallowed forth in his doc
trines. The evidence of their being such
| sect is not established beyond dispute.
Mr.. Ksrmarker, senior in the divinity
school, native of Bombay, India, at one
of the meetings of the society in this city
said that nothing was known of this sect
until Olcott and Nine. Blavatski and other
modern apostles of this belief claimed to
have had revelation of it from some of
the priests.
The fundamental doctrines are those of
Brahmanism and Buddhism, which, robed
in exquisite imagery, is told in Sir Edwin
Arnold's "Light of Asia" We commonly
hold that there are three principles or ele
| ments-matter, mind and spirit. Accord
| ing to theosophical teachings there are
| seven-body, vitality, the astral body, the
/ ari,n al aou1 the h0man so0l the sniritua1
soul and pure spirit.
| None of these is fixedly separated from
another, nor can be briefly explained.
Vitality is the animal heat, life without
spirit or mentality. The astral body is an
ethereal duplicate of the body itself, in
visible to the human eye. At death the
astral body is disembod;ed for brief
space: and in abnormal conditions may be
visible as a ghost or specter. Still it is
not being any more than a word or q
thought The astral body never departs
turns to it. The animal soul is the soul
within animals and contains the germs of
the human SOUL The animal SOUL how
ever, is never changed nor ever by evolu-
| ton becomes the human soul. Both souls
exist in man. 1t is believed that if dog,
for example, should live true to dogs
best nature, after many transformations,
| OUT OI lilo R6ru5 u Ill dl1l1dl bOul y
human soul will come into being.
The human soul is not yet fully devel-
oped. eve are ancients of the earth and
in the morning of the times" To main
tain that the human soul in man is fully
developed, that man is the climax of the
order, ia to misunderstood mans place in
nature. The spiritual soul is in embryo
in man. the spirit is an exhaltation of man
above all wants and desires; it is Nirvsna.
No life or soul, the theosophists believe,
ever dies, but goes through transmigra-
tons and reincarnations. If the soul has
advanced or degenerated in life, at what
ever point it has reached at death, at that
point it will begin its next life. When
after icons of effort the soul has been e1-
halted and purified and becomes pure spirit
it returns to the universal SOUL whence it
is an emanation. Individuality is Lost.
Self consciousness becomes universal con-
seriousness. Nirvana has been gained.
This has led to the discussion whether
Nirvana does not mean annihilation. Can
there be state of high exhaltation, a free
dom from all cares or wants that is not an
initiation! Sir Edwin Arnold gives this
is to cease, say unto such they lie; if any
say Nirvana is to live, say unto such they
err"
What is the proof for these doctrines,
was asked! There is no proof for the
whole system of Christian theology other
than the faith of the believer The
strongest reason for believing in Chris
tianity is to be found in each mans OWL
soul. Those of us who have lived &C
, cordlng to the tenets of this religion have
arrived at state wherein they have had
glimpses of the truth of this religion
wherein they have felt personal con.
verse with God. The study of these
; great questions of destiny have
forced themselves on people in al
countries and in all ages. Somehow, what
ever the answer may have been, we feel
they have had no slight influence on hu
man development. God has not beer
) resting or idle, an absentee from any Of
the lands he has created. He has left his
finger prints and foot marks in India and
in China as we'll as in Palestine. Theosophy
has large literature, far larger than that
of Christianity. Those eastern people
, thought it no unworthy or useless thing
to ponder on these chief concerns of mar
with .tient earnestness." AS has beer
said of the Greek religion, sit may still
be6t us to track with fresh feet the ancient
mases, to renew the world-old desire, anc
to set no despairing limit to the knowledg,
or the hopes of man."
Theosophy has been revived by Madame
| OAH ooSAA NAA AAoA NAeoApAoo3 SSAoASA OASoo
and A. P. Sinnett working without any
connection with each other. Madame Bla
vatski has organized theosophical society
; with its headquarters in India. From
there Colonel Olcott is issuing magazine
in which he is publishing matter in refer
ence to this esoteric Buddhism. The prin
ciples of the society are: First, to form 6
nucleus of a universal brotherhood, with
out distinction of race, creed or color; sec
s ond, to promote the study of Aryan anc
other eastern literatures; and third, to in
vestigate unexplained laws of nature and
the psychical problems of man.
How much revelation has come to Col
onel Olcott. whether he is an impostor O.
has really found this Brotherhood in
Thibet, are questions that are not yet set
tied beyond dispute. What the theoso
phists of this CITY hope to do is to investi
gate the claims of this new yet ancient re.
ligion to sift it, and, if possible, get what
ever grains of truth there may be con
tanned in it.
YALE NEWS.