The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21

RESISTANCE ana service TO all DelngS
OF the universe
Swami Abhayananda came to America
When young wOman-though she still
speaks English with an acceut-and lived
Tor many years in New York, where she
was initiated into her mysterious faith.
Ihls Imposing ceremony has, by the way,
never been performed in Europe For
some time she taught In New York, but
came TO Chicago two or three years ago,
where she continues 10 be at the head of
the order in this country She has quite
large following in the Western city, and
may be found at almost any hour in the
rooms of the Adwaita Society in Twenty
fourth street.
One cannot look at this nobly proper
toned French woman, with her fine,
strong, expressive face and distinctive
personality, and not be convinced of her
power; nor come to comprehend the sim
plicity of her life and environment with
out feeling that in espouslng poverty and
service she has in reality eliminated from
life half of its wearisome details.
Her iron-gray hair, for instance. franz
ing her face with its full pompadour,
need never give her an instants uneasi-
ness as to how she shall wear it nor con-
sumo any time In its arrangement; while
her costume gives that delightful freedom
from the mutability and exactions of fash
ions that goes with the adoption of any
simple uniform; besides which it is very
pretty, and-if one may judge from the
two this side the orient who have donned
it-universally becoming.
The robe is always of ochre hue signify
ing publication by fire. 1t is made in
something the form of a scant princess,
open all the way down, but held in place
by buttons and reaching to within two
or three inches of the floor, a convenient
walking length and quite effective with
tan shoes. If buttoned to the right it
signifies that one is a Brahman; other
wise it may indicate some other branch
of religion. In this country, of course
one must use such materials as are at
hand, and soft cashmeres and crepous
seem the most suitable. Hindu beads, also
of ochre, are worn on occasions and add
a certain air of mysticism TO the cos
tune.
One might conclude that the robe as a
whole was intended to stand for comfort,
but >instead 1t symbolzes universal love.
1t ts fitted loosely to the figure and is
girded with a sllken sash wound twice
around the waist to signify twice born.
One end of the sash is made into a bag,
signifying forestry; this was originally for
the convenience of the founders of the or
der, who dwell In forests and used it as
the receptacle for their scanty fare In
those days, however, the sash was proba-
bly, not made of silk, and certainly in these
days the monks, male and female, do not
take TO the woods, but live in comfortable
homes and are evidently sufficiently we'll
fed
My curiosity was piqued as to the ways
and means in which one who has taken the
VOWS of poverty manages that part of the
programme, since in this practical age food
and shelter are unfortunately not secured
without money and without price. l found
that the Swami breaches, teaches, holds
classes and mediations, etc, and the fol-
lowing of her cult contribute what they
choose to her support.
How is it, Swami Abhayananda?" ask
ed the worldly interviewer, that the idea
of equal rights came to percolate this an
Gent order? When were women first ad-
mtted TO its mystic rights?"
"Ah, madame" replied the Swami. 'qn
the world of the spirit there is no sex.
Members Of our order are neither men nor
women, but souls. Sex Is but a phenome-
non, mere wave upon the surface, while
the soul is the deep, quiet changeless
ocean that exists from century to century,
now in one form, now in another You
may be man in one incarnation and a
woman In Nhe next, according TO the ma
ture of your development The dudes, for
instance, who mark the degeneracy of this
generation, will be women in their next in
carnation, and women of a low order of
intelligence, too; while the strong, stall
wart, earnest woman of to-day, like Su-
san B. Anthony and Julia Ward Howe,
will be men and leaders of men, in their
pext stage Of development. Women as
such have never been recognized by this
order, but any human creature vino has
become dead to the world and desires 10
live after the spirit has been welcome TO
the brotherhood from its most ancient
days. There Is no distinction in the cos
tune. We are all monks and wear the
ochre robe"
Have many Indian women Joined the
order?"
Il believe not large number"
ness?"
I'VE at least attain peace and liberation.
Attaching ourselves to nothing we are
never forced to detach ourselves from any,
thIng; and the ordinary cares and strug-
giles Of human life do not touch u.s.
But one must live" was insisted
ooh, yes; but our life is so simple that
1t costs next to nothing. OF course by the
spirit of our religion we are Vegetarians"
Meat is then prohibited?"
We are forbidden nothing. There is not
a thou shalt not in our whole code. But
we could not take upon ourselves the VOW
of service TO all living beings, animals in
cIuded, and then use the latter as food"
DO you claim to preach Buddhism?"
Our order does not acknowledge race
sex or creed, or rather it is the eptome of
all races and creeds. You notice there back
of our altar pictures of the Christ. saints
of both the Episcopal and Catholic Church.
dark-hued prophets of the Orient, Buddha,
etc. Here 1 preach Jesus of Nazareth, as
he is the manifestation accepted in the
western world, and, indeed, the highest
OF all manifestations, but among the Mo-
hammedans I should teach the same sp;r-
hual truths with Mahomet as their expo
nent. Our faith is the synthesis of all re-
ligions, moralities and philosophers That
which exists is one, men call 1t various
ly.'"
what progress is the most ancient order
making in this most modern Of American
clties?"
The thought is growing rapidly The
women of New York were inclined to take
up the study Of Buddhistic philosophy as
a fad, but the women of Chicago have
gone into the subject earnestly, and are
more ready to accept 1t as religion"
The name of the Swams all terminate