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328 does not satisfy the unwarranted expectations of a few Theosophists who are more sanguine than prudent.

In order to show the correctness of my assertions, I shall endeavour to point out how far the criticisms of Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Maitland are justified, and how far they are misdirected and erroneous.

For the sake of convenience, I shall arrange the remarks of Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Maitiand on "Esoteric Buddhism" with reference to the subjects to which they relate. That part of their criticism which refers to the views put forth by Mr. Sinnett regarding Purusha and Prakriti claims our attention first.

Mr. Maitland's first and most important objection against "Esoteric Buddhism" is, that its doctrine is distinctly atheistic, and that its statements regarding the nature and attributes of Parabrahma are inconsistent with each other. It is admitted, however, that a considerable number of the passages, quoted by the critic from Mr. Sinnett's writings are not atheistic in their tone; and that the existence of a universal spiritual principle prior to "any organized or derived entities," is distinctly postulated therein, under the same of Parabrahm, which is spoken of as "the motion, that animates Cosmic matter" and as "the energy of the universe." It is, I believe, an acknowledged canon of interpretation, that, when a large number of dispersed statements regarding a particular subject are to be found in any book, the author's views on that subject should be gathered from a careful comparison of all such statements, and a critical examination of the contexts in which they appear, and not from the literal meaning of particular words or phrases. When metaphysical or philosophical difficulties are involved in any subject, and the phraseology in which it has been discussed by various writers has been rendered extremely vague and uncertain by the different connotations attached to the words used, it becomes absolutely necessary to proceed according to this method. And this necessity is considerably enhanced in the case of "Esoteric Buddhism"