Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-29
LITTLE CHANCE FOR US
Mahatma Agumya Guru Para
mahansa Sad at Our Outlook.
HIS PESSIMISM UNUSUAL
Incarnation of Krishna iDscourses on
Happiness.
TEACHES ONLY INTELLIGENT
Head Of the Yogis, Now Visiting in
New York, Says He Has Sought In
Vain for Wise Men in America.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

Special Correspondence of The Star anu the eneaSo
Record Herald.
NEW YORK. May %. 1907.
When I called upon the Mahatma Agumya
Guru Paramahansa the other evening with
| the old friend who brought him to Ne"
York from London the learned gentleman
was very sad He said that the atmosphere
had affected him, and during his contem-
plations he had looked into the future ana
had seen a wretched fate hanging over
this country He saw horrible disasters
great troubles, ruin to many rich people,
outbreaks of violence and blood flowing IN
the streets of our cities. He could not say
or at least he would not tell US, when this
direful prophecy would be fulfilled, but ex-
planned that this country has thus far peen
preserved by the good that Is being zone
by a compare lively few honest and phllah-
thropic members of our population.
1T is an absolute law of nature, salo
the Mahatma, that great injustice causes
the downfall of nations. and the calamltles
1 foresee in the United States are due 10
tbe dishonesty Injustice and the inhumanity
from which the unprotected people nave
suffered" "
NV friend. who has been intimately asso-
ciated with the Mahatma. who Is a constant
COMPANION and enjoys his complete conn-
dence tells me that he never heard MN
speak in that tone before. 1t was the hIst
pessimistc remark he has mace ABOUT lhe
United States.
After the introductions had been made
and the time of day had been passed, l
was advised that the Mahatma would
gracously answer any questions l might
desire to ask, and q most interesting con-
versation followed. which lasted far into the
night. The Great Master did not always
make himself clear. but that was my fault
or rather my misfortune; my lack OF intei,
ligence and my ignorance Of the profound
philosophy which ahsorbs his thoughts pre-
vented me from comprehending many
things that he said, but will try to make
thu clear to you.
Happiness and Evil.
/ first asked his idea of true happiness,
and he replied that before such question
could be answered inteligently 1t was
necessary to define happiness which does
not exist in material things. If 1t did. the
bed or the bureau in his room. the chair in
which he sat. or the snuffbox he held in his
hand would be happy. From that ne de-
duced the conclusion that happiness could
not exist in the human body. which Is ma
terial in substance. and he asked, Who is
the 1 that Is happy WHO owns the
body?"
consciousness above the body. and that is
divinity, which is all purity and all happl-
ness and Interchangeable. Perfect happiness
is a condition of superconsciousness above
material things and from that conscious
ness, the fountain of all knowledge Is flash
ed everything that moves the world all
great ideas; all inventions. And motive force
Is love-not the carnal passion, but love Tor
your fellow men, love for your work. love
for what you accomplish, love for what you
have"
How does evil happen to flow from this
fountain of good?" 1 asked.
And the Great Master explained that evil
existed in all material matter, but was
harmless unless released by intelligence,
ictn l.
Illustrated his thought by describing the
poppy-seed, which of itself Is perfectly
harmless. and If properly used will pro-
duce a beautiful flower: but. at the same
time may be converted into pltter' TERRI
BILE drug.
Pretension to Divinity.
asked the Mahatma's opinion Of Jesus
and His teachings.
He replied that Jesus was pure soul
and sincere teacher of good. but his quail
ties of mind and his intellect correspondent
to the people he was sent to teach-humble
fisher folk He was not a great thinker
or a great metaphysician. He had the
power to work miracles" said the Hindu.
(which is given only to those
teachers who go among the lgnorant masses
that cannot be convinced in any other way.
And Jesus was only the Son of God. While
l am God. l am the incarnation or krishna
l am from the beginning. This body that
y.
ing that I wear and has nothing to do with
the soul any more than this house has to
do with my existence. l leave TINS mouse
and pass into another at WILL SO the body
may be discarded ana the soul may pass
into another
IF you wise men of India have The
Light and know The Way so much better
than those Of the western world, now 40
YOU account for the fact that the people
of Christian nations are SO much better or
than the people of 1ndia?'
Through all ages said the Great
Teacher, India has preserved the philoso-
phy which is the source of all the happi-
ness and all the religions in the world
Those who comprehend such high phlloso-
ply unfortunately are few In NUMBER.
Precious things are always rare Spiritual
" India is very much in advance of the
western world, but in the past India mas
been very cruel and corrupt and un1ust
and Is now being punished. Fart OF that
punishment Is to be governed by an alien con-
oueror But pain, misery and suffering are
good for the soul, and today there is more
real happiness in India than in the United
States. because the people OF t nS nave
peasant of India sleeping on the ground
is nearer happiness than the mlllionaires or
the United States, because true happiness
comes only from within ana IS not Iouno III
material things.
Rules for Callers.
The Mahatma never leaves his room. He
has not been outside the house In which he
is stopping since his arrival, and probably
will not leave 1t until he leaves New York
He visits no one; he goes nowhere; those
who desire to see him must come where he
is, and visitors are always welcome. But
at the same time. they must observe GER
tain conditions which are explained upon
a slip of paper handed me as follows:
"Visitors to the Mahatma should pear IN
mind that he answers no questions relating
to material things and does not care for
conventional remarks about anything.
He never voluntarily offers any one a
lesson He never seeks a disciple. He Is
the source OF all wisdom. To those who
ask in all sincerity he always gives.
IF one wishes to become disciple or
truth and learn the method of mind con-
troll and happiness, then one must ask to be
taught and he will teach him. The three
conditions necessary to become a disciple
are:
81 Faith in the Mahatma.
Gag. Absolute secrecy regarding the les
son. 1t cannot be mentioned even to an
other disciple.
80 Absolute loyalty to the Mahatma in
defending his name against any attack or
criticism.
Failure in any of the above conditions