The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-07
OUTLINES HIS CONCEPTION
r:ECTuRER FROM INDIA EXPLAINS
THE PHILOSOPHICAL IDEA OF
GOD,

In the series Of lectures that g.
is giving to Minneapolis
one Of the most interest
ing is on 1.-THE Philosophical Coneep'
tion of Cod
Three solutions, tho lecturer says, are
offered to the question. "ls there any
mos mos q Of the worlds'' Religion tells US
Of God, the maker and ruler OF all
things. He is the ALLOWING Father
ever ready to help men. Unfortunately
This HIGHER conception is marred by
lower one of God as the nGod of tribe
or a. nation, who could be angry and
appeased and might be Jealous. Pray
ers are then offered suggesting to HIM
whom to help and bless, as tho He did
not know what was best for all, and
was not pouring His blessings on an
men irrespective of nation or deserts.
Even today the British empire seems to
clam a God whose special business it is
to watch over this dominion and all re-
ligious nations pray to their God for
victory for them rather than for the
other nation.
The second solution, Of philosophy,
Mr.. Jinarajadasa says, is the absolute
spirit, an omnipresent power whose
inanimate. God is not personal God,
but spirit pervading all things. But
this conception: appealing only to the
intellect, lacks the element Of the reli-
gious view Of person, a. Father, ever
at hand to help US, to whom we could
turn for comfort in time Of trouble.
Science offers the third solution, that
Of law. Science tells us nothing of a
personal Creator or an absolute spirit,
but she tells us of immutable laws in
the universe which we can learn to use
to promote human welfare.
The theosophical conception, accord
ing to Mr.. Jinarsjadasa, includes all
that is best in the three views and lacks
their unsatisfactory elements. Theos-
ophy tells us Of consciousness, present
at every point in space, including
within Him all other consciousness.
He manifests Himself in all life, vege-
table, animal, human. The la WIS Of
nature, of science are the expressions of
ganic. He is directing the universe and
it's activities in accordance with a plan
of evolution, and science in her discov-
cries is revealing to us that plan. He
works thru His ministers, hierarchies of
intelligences who carry out His will in
every department Of nature. He is
present everywhere, equally conscious
and active and always pouring strength
and love to every living creature. II
we are not conscious of this love it is
because we have shut the windows of
our soul. There is no need to ask Him
anything for ourselves, or for others
for He knows these needs, tho by
prayer with the right spirit and motive
we can contribute our tiny mite OF
force carrying love and blessing to flow
with this great stream of God that il
pouring necessarily, not alone upo1
those for whom we pray, but upon TIT
whole universe.
The evil in the world, he says. i
due to the breaking Of Gods laws
which are immutable and which neithe
punish nor pardon. Evil or pain result
in laws broken, if not in this life, thel
certainly in former lives. God is no
ie onr q eV aed + De a9G
divine plan that man shall learn t
understand the material, moral an,
spiritual laws that are His will, and t
live in harmony with them.