The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-17

rectly spoken of as heredity, since it
is really the continuance of the mind
and higher principles which in each
new personality receive as an inherl-
lance from those preceding the boon
or burden of their deserts. But this
is not the limit of theosophy's division
of the composite man, which goes much
body and soul From the theosophic
standpoint, the body is not ''prinol-
pie" but merely temporary house
of clay" infused by life principle,
which is universal, ineXtinguisha bic
and which, upon the death of the body,
simply goes out again to the general
life-wave for entrance into and vivi
fication of other forms. And the body
las we see and know it. is but an in
sensate, powerIess clod, all its appar
ient sensations and impulses having
their origin. perception and direction in
higher, intangible principles, and man
ifesting through. the astral form
form upon and in conformity to which
the physical body is moulded. The
principles acting through the astral
medium are kaml and manas. The
former is the animal SOUL inlpeller
of sensuous desires and energy, a po
tent power for debasement if uncon-
trolled. Manas (Which signifies mind
lis susceptible of subdivision into the
|rectiou in life. the dominating force in
material matters during mundane ex-
istence and is properly known as the
human soul Yielding to the seduc-
Itions and influences of the animal soul
lit may altogether lose its hold upon
the higher principles, and at the end
of a life of evil, drop-with the person
atty to which it belongs-out of the
chain of evolutionary re-incarnation.
The higher" rnanas, with the atnlic
ray of pure spirit from the divine
source. and the connecting link, or
bond, between them, known as Buddli
(wisdon), constitute the spiritual soul
or "atma-ma nasic triad"-the true
individuality, which passes through
but us "birthless and deathless and
changeless forever" This spiritual
soul is the lever conscious seer and
knower," and directs the selection by
the human soul, in proportion to its
karmic deserts, of the Aeshy bodies in
which the stages Of its pilgrimage shall
he made.
This necessarily condensed skeleton
of the theosophic belief, of course, is
! far from exhaustive and leaves much
that for clear understanding should be
greatly amplified.
1t is enough. however, to give. an idea
of the main features of the new-old
wisdom religion, for the exposition of
which so much is being done today all
over the world.
Three printing establishments solely
| for the production of their own litera-
ture. are maintained by the theosoph-
| lists in New York, London and Bombay
They have seen fit also to adopt some
| of the Christian methods of diffusing
! ideas, through Sunday schools, which
they call lotus circles in nearly all
| the large cities; through seventy day
schools in Ceylon and India; through
a propaganda department" which
| has a very large staff of widely scatter
ed and very active workers; through a
correspondence department. which
started first here in New York. and
| finds abundant occupation in aiding
| students of the esoteric knowledge,
which underlirles all that has been re-
capitulated and is infinitely more alb
| struse; through League of Theo-
OF charity AND at the same time scat
! tiers the good seed of a truly helpful
| philosophy, and in various other ways
commencing themselves to local en-
! deavor among the branches" which,
although they have d central organiza-
| ton, are entirely autonomous in all the
! fields of action. Loan libraries, classes
/ for study of the secret doctrine and
weekly meetings for discussion of tileo-
sophie topics are common in all the
! branches. Great as the theosophic
movement seems to be, it promises to
become very much greater in the near
| future.