Page:A Collection of Esoteric Writings.djvu/54

 "THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRIT."

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The book bearing the above title, and professing to expound "the philosophy of spirit" contained in the Bhagavatgita, has already been introduced to the readers of the "" by the review that appeared in the December number, and the author's reply thereto published in the copy of March. Considering the importance of the issues raised by the author's publication, and the two articles above referred to, I persuade myself that I shall be justified in sifting, with some minuteness, the conclusions arrived at by the author regarding the authorship and philosophy of the Bhagavatgita and its esoteric basis or foundation. As the author has not merely published his own speculations regarding the subjects dealt with in that ancient work, but informs the public that his speculations are in perfect accordance with the ancient philosophy of Vyasa, I believe I have a right, as a Hindu, to object to the position taken by him, if, in my humble opinion, his views should be at variance with those of the orthodox pundits and the initiates of ancient Aryavarta, as much as with those of modern India. And I hope the learned gentleman will be good enough to excuse me, if, in this article, I may be under the painful necessity of dwelling longer on what I conceive to be the defects of his work than on its merits. Though the author does not seem to be a Spiritualist in the sense in which that term is used by the so-called modern professors of that name, still he has attempted to give a philosophical shape to their crude notions about "disembodied spirits"; and any intelligent and profitable discussion of the real points of difference between Theosophy and Spiritualism is only possible with writers like Mr. Oxley.

In this article I shall first examine the author's theory about the real origin of sacred writings in general and of the Bhagavatgita in particular, and next, in his remarks, scattered throughout the book, about what he calls the Astro-Masonic basis of the said treatise, and his views about some of the doctrines therein explained.