The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-05-17

Mrs. Annie Besant having lately re-
turned from India was interviewed in
London by a correspondent OF the Chris
titan World. Mrs. Besant, after Eve
months lecturing-tour in India, is once
more at the headquarters OF the Theoso-
phical society In London. The inter-
viewer found her dressed in the costume
of a high-caste Hindu lady.
May / ask, said the interviewer, "if
the Hindus are Theosophists5"
Some Of them are. OF course. and
speaking broadly Hinduism and 1'heoso-
ply have much in common Theosophy
has its roof in India. Hinduism is the
bestand eompletest exoteric presentment
of Philosophy"
Then is it true that you have become
a Hindu?"
Il was Hindu before went to India;
there is 40 change. had studied the
ancient Hindu sacred books under Mad
anne Blavatsky, and had learned to see
their inner meaning by her teachings,
and that of Others. Since Hinduism may
be regarded as a partial presentment OF
Theosophy, as in fact IN its ancient and
pure form, the exoteric religion which
hrst gave to our race ia symbolic form
Theos0phical religious truths, / call my
self a Hindu in religion. and have a
profound sympathy with those who hold
that ancient faith..''
DO ask ton much when want you
to explain what TheosopIiy really isl.
Not at all. Theosophy is the under
lying truth of all religions; it is mas.
of teachings. religious, philosophical
and scientific. 1t deals with the nature
of the universe and the nature of man.
Does it differ much from CIuistian-
ity?"
THE teaching OF Jesus is purely Theo
sophicaI; but remember. the dogmas o
Christianity do not come under thi,
head.o
Il understand you gavea large number
of lectures to thoughtful Hindus. What
was your object in doing SOP
Though India is degraded to-day. she
stands for the spiritual side OF humanity
The Hindu is essentially religious. Ever
when there is little spirituality, ever
when he performs rites whose spiritual
meaning he has forgotten, the mould re-
mains, the shell is there. 1t was part o
my mission to pour life into that mould
to show Hindus that Theosophical teach
ing is identical with their own Scrip
lures, and tends to make them more In
telligable to the ordinary reader
And what effect will this teaching
have upon Indian Development
We hope for great revival of Hindu
ism, a strengthening of the spiritua
side which must help to build mp India
and oppose the tendency to disintegra-
ton. We desire to turn the face of In
dams to India, and not to the west; te
persuade them to study their own litera
ture.-not TO forsake their own custom.
and way of looking at things"
"Then you oppose western civilization
in the east"
To considerable extent western In
fuenccis injurious. religiouslv and social
iy. 1t tends to divide classes. to encour-
age luxury. to accentuate the extreme.
of wealth and poverty, to exalt wealth
dis the great criterion OF a mans stand
ing The Indian way of living is ex-
tremely simple; simplicity of life isthreat
ened by the introduction of western
IDEAS
'You said a moment ago that you hai
much sympathy with the Indians. How
do you account for this?"
Mrs. Besant paused. "Yes, I felt il
complete rapport with the Hindus. Th'
real reason is that my past incarnation
have been in the east"
"As Theosophist. you must be veg
etarian?"
.Not necessarily. am one, for, if W.
want to use the body for SPECIAL pur
poses. we attune it to receive subtler vi
brations. Sometimes, when the body i
diseased, it is abnormally sensitive. es
pecially If the affection be neurotic. Nov
we desire that sensitiveness accompanie,
by health. In other words. the bod
must be the servant, not the MASTER
Condensed for the Literary Digest.
DR.. Pric as asseam Baking Powder
Woi Ida essir Highest Award.