< Page:A Collection of Esoteric Writings.djvu
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(whether for friendly purposes, or otherwise, he knows himself best;) for neither the words "absorbed by," or "dissolved into," can mean annihilated. Why should he then use against his own argument the term "Laya," since if he once calls himself an Adwaitee, he must know the doctrine, and therefore understand the various senses in which such specific terms are used. Thus, we shall feel grateful to our learned correspondent if he can quote to us a few authorities in support of his statement about the dissolution of Mahat-tatwa*[1] and Prakriti at the time of Mahapralaya. We shall then be able to see what the Aryan philosophers really meant by such an assertion.

In reference to the real meaning of Satta Samanya and Parampada†[2] of the Aryan Adepts, Nirvana of the Buddhas and the "Philosopher's stone," their meanings are identical in both the Aryan and Arhat secret doctrines. Satta Samanya sometimes means latent spirit. It also means "Guna Samyapadhi," or the undifferentiated condition of Satwaguna, Rajaguna and Tamaguna‡[3]. As to Parampada and Nirvana, both mean the same thing. From an objective point of view it is the condition of Pnrusha-Prakriti as above described; from the subjective—it is a state of perfect uuconsciousness resulting as bare Chidakasam.

If the Swami is desirous to learn more about the "Philosopher's stone" of "the votaries Of other Occult Philosophies," then we may refer him to our foot-notes to the articles "Gleanings from Eliphas Levi," published in the January number of the Theosophist, and other sundry articles. If the "other Occult Philosophies" are worthy of their name, then the doctrines taught in them must not differ save in the names given to identical things. Truth is but one, and of two different versions one must be necessarily false. We are not prepared to accept the interpretation given of the world Aum, since the above interpretation is not quite consistent with the doctrines of the Adwaitee Vedanta philosophy. We shall feel grateful, nevertheless, if the learned Swami can refer us to any great Adwaitee philosopher as an authority in support of his explanation.

No less puzzling are his curious ideas about our supposed meaning and views about the potentialities and nature of the human double.

  1. ↑
    • Mahat-tatwa corresponds to the spiritual Light, or the Sephira of the Jewish Kabalists.—Ed.
  2. ↑ † Literally—the most sacred places, means Nirvana or the condition of Moksha—Ed.
  3. ↑ ‡ Satwaguna—the quality of passivity, or absence of any cause of disturbance; Rajaguna—the quality of activity, or that which induces to action; Tamguna—the quality of ignorance, inactivity of mental and spiritual faculties atisiug from that ignorance.—Ed.
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