The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-01

NOT attain the Christ life. On the Other
hand such will be the case. Taking the
course of all souls they proceed to ex.
perience, to learn and to love until they
come to sympathize with their brother
in the Christ's way.
How many times shall we incarnate
before the lesson is learned2 All. that
is great question. There is not even
time in this life to develop peculiar
ideas essentially our own. A taste for
music is cultivated, but before the aim
is reached life departs; the artist lays
off the brush from his masterpiece and
dies before it is half finished. But even
these are small matters. Comp them
to the wisdom of the world, the pos
sibilities of the man. the thoughts of the
mind, all to be attained or developed and
the strength of our position is apparent.
Only for the soul and its development
does the universe exist. 1t is only by a
series of incarnations and by continued
adjustments, which Karma provides.
does not become perfect, and for this
reason is incarnation necessary. Some
say we must come back to earth 100
times. 1t may be 1000 times. The
bible says man has existed for 6000
years; biologists tell us he has existed
for many thousands of years; Theoso.
ply says man has lived on this globe
more than $4,000, 900,
t. know a thing we must ourselves
experience it. Evidence may convince
rs of truth, but in reality we are un-
able to prove its correctness. So with
reincarnation; it cannot be proven. OF
course we have the evidence
If the ages throughout which
the theory has been believed
But to my mind the strongest evidence
is to be found in the child. 1t is moth.
ing strange to hear child exclaim, 81
remember having seen this before" or
II have been here before" Tue child
remembers the visits to places and
scenes enjoyed while in former body,
because the child body is less dense
than the adult, and the facts are still
fresh on the child mind.
This is the best evidence know of. !
have met adults who claimed to remem-
her former life, and | believed them.
When we can place ourselves in the
child's position, with the mind calm and
the heart STILL we will be able to per-
ceive the secrets of the past. and the
realization of a former existence must
come to the mind. Then will come a
clear knowledge of spiritual things,
which is Theosophy, pure and simple.
do not mean that those who are able
10 remember things in former life are
above the ordinary level of mankind.
That attainment is within the reach of
all. There were, however, those above
us. The Christ, Buddha and others
we're far up in the sphere of the perfect
soul.
If you believe in evolution, and surely
no one in this house will attempt to
ieny its philosophy, you must admit
that there are possibilities above what
you are to day. The higher, the perfect.
must in the end be reached. In this
life each man struggles in his own way,
but all will eventually merge into the
perfe tied man in the great life. We
hold that this great life has always ex-
listed. 1t has taught the truths of
rheosophy and has directed Theosophists
in the search for truth. 1t offers the
world philosophy which can never
be controverted. Upon it Theosophy
offers the world reincarnation. You
IRE not obliged to take it if you do not
want it. 1t offers in evidence natural
philosophy, the analogy of nature and
the testimony of the child; and unless
you know more of the soul than science
ind religion, do not reject it, do not
deny. If you desire to understand life
IN its fullness, if instead of one short
again many times, if indeed this is a
great school for the soul, we are still
left the desire to De better and to be
happy.
1t it is true we are to come again we
cannot afford TO live as if we would
never reap and as if we would never
suffer from our sins. 1t behooves us all
to scatter seeds of goodness and to fol-
low the worthy pathway. Let us strive
10 expand our hearts that when we
come again other lives may be more in
union with our own; that our lives
may be more happy and more blessed.