Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-29

clusion communing with disciples and ex-
planning The Truth to them daily. He has
no connection. association or sympathy
with the theosophists of this country or
Europe. He says that they misrepresent
the philosophy of India; that they know
nothing about it: that they are arrant hum
bugs and impostors and are either suffer
Ing from delusionS of their own or are pur-
posely attempting to delude and mislead the
public.
They say in their books he said, that
Mahatmas are mysterious. invisible beings
who are never seen and communicate only
with the chosen few on the astral plane,
which is all humbug, and either dishonest
or ignorant Misrepresentation. Spiritualism
Is humbuggery No spirit ever returns to
the world except as the soul of a newborn
child. The so-called clairvoyants are hum
bugs who make money deluding and de-
ceiving. people. principally women and
young boys"
1 asked the Mahatma about the famous
Fakirs Of India-those yellow-robed ascot
les who do such wonderful and mysterious
things that you have read about in the
tales OF travellers He replied that he was
not interested in the occult. but said that
any one who cares to spend the time and
make the effort can acquire similar mi
raculous powers by going into the forests
or the H1malayaS, sitting naked for three
years under the trees eating roots and
berries that grow there and concentrating
MS mind upon that subject. But while
such miraculous powers are genuine. he
said they are not to be encouraged. They
distract the mind of the people from The
Truth: they do not contribute to enlight-
eminent and are a detriment to those who
acquire them.
Where did you acquire your Wtsdom?"
1 asked.
II am Wisdom" replied the great master
with dignity.
How long did it take YOU to acquire
your knowledge?"
Countless ages. I have existed from the
beginning of Things. Each individual reaps
the crop that is sown by him In one life in
the next. If good predOminates he is born
In better condition. If evil predominates
he goes down to inferior position. That
Is the law, and it explains the apparent in
justice In some lives where good men are
overtaken with misfortune.
How do you know that yours is the true
philosophy Of life?''
1T Is very hard to teach owls even when
the suns rays are shining on their backs.
How can explain to an ignorant man the
subtleties of actual knowledge? Suppose
you were living In a dark room and found
your way into another room that was
trouble to distinguish between the light
and the darkness? l am The Light. There
fore l know" said the Mahatma impress
Sively.
Found No Wise Man Here.
1 asked if he had found any wise men in
America, and he replied sadly that he had
sought for them in vain. He went to Bos-
ton. because he had been told that the
center of American learning was there,
and when he arrived he inquired who
were the most learned among all the
scholars in that city. He was referred to
Prof James and Prof. Royce of Harvard
University. He drove out to Cambridge
and called on them. Prof. James was alb
sent, enjoying holiday. Prof. Royce. who
has the chair of oriental philosophy in the
faculty Of Harvard. received him cordially,
oI,.ty 0nlD tnI
the incidents of the interview. After a
brief conversation. he said that Prof Royce
acknowledged his ignorance and began to
inquire for The Light
l asked the Mahatma If enlightenment
contributed to the material prosperity Of
the Individual
The Ultimate Source.
Everything is possible to attain If the
proper efforts are used, but without such
efforts all claims to higher things are the
works Of defective egotisn and that is
most harmful to the stability of the mind. |
1 see in your western land that every one
wants to perform miracles without doing
to deserve such power. But you
must bear In mind that although you per-
form penance for the attainment of mortal
prosperity, which will meet you according
TO the degree of your penance, 1t Is
waste OF time. In the garden of Illusions
all things are arranged to ensnare visitors
You must soar above these illusions and
meet the Ultimate l.ource. when you will
be SO prosperous that you will bestow
prosperity II you will >cept the help of
high thinking, you will Jerome al. i'm
possibilities. Think what was with YOU
when you came into the world and what
Will accompany you when you depart from
IT, See how the mischievous desire for
riches and fame often compes people to do
things against their will. 1t makes them
slaves and entangles them like miserable
birds in the net of the Great Illusion. When |
see countless birds ensnared in this NET |
l want to release them.
ASK the business men who are occupied
with art, science and invention; ask the |
rich people who eating at decorated |
taDieS. and those sleeping on silken beds |
If they have happiness. They are sometimes
with what they have because they
cannot see beyond. but in their hearts they
know that they are quite miserable. ..iches, |
lame and the prosperity of the world will |
never satisfy you. No shadow ever sat |
lshed the pursuer. because the shadow is |
his own Stand firmly and ignore the shad- |
o t me cause OF all ignorance and dis
tress is the Ego in you. If this Ego is !
swept away, you are in Peace. The Ego |
IS yours; you are the owner, and If Won will |
change 1t to the side of Ultimate Source. 1t |
VIII be your slave and show Won the Wa
carrying the torch In its hand"
These words Of the Great Master mean |
mat an the sorrows of men, the troubles |
and misfortunes we encounter are purely |
mental, and are the creation of an un- |
trained mind
:, Sit down and close your eyes" he says, |
and notice how your mind wanders and |
where 1t goes. 1t rush to India in an |
or to Paris, around the world |
and In its incessant changing YOU can |
realize what restless thing 1t Is Now. If |
the mind can be controlled which is the |
object of Ioga. 1T be placed in accord |
with tne nigh superconsciousness. which |
KNOWS no anxiety and is all
How Is that power acquired?' 1 asked |
How can the vibrations of the mind be |
|
=, nat Is a secret which varies with the |
individual seeking The Light. 1t cannot he |
learned from books: only from a true teach
er like Mahatma Agumya Guru Parama-
hansa." |