Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 71

FEBRUARY, 1884.)
BOOK NOTICES.
63
on the different temples, but in No. 5 he omits prints we have (on p. 108), “the Saka year 1734= the style of the era, which is Saka, while those A.D. 1612," where the figures ought to be $. 1634 preceding are in Samvat, and among other mis.' and A.D. 1712.
1983).
BOOK NOTICES. ESOTERIC BUDDHISM, by A. P. Sinnett, Author of the ning with man, like Hindu philosophers, analyses Occult World (London: Trübner & Co. 1883).
him and tabulates the analysis. His philosophy This book is not the study of a lifetime. The does not abandon the beaten tract. We find at the author candidly confesses that the information it
basis of it metempsychosis, the passing through contains, if the wild theories in it can be called heavens and hells, the evil of matter, and the information-which is very doubtful, has been methods of getting free from it. acquired within the last two years. The book There is a common creed at the basis of all may fairly be classed with those of Joseph Smith
Indian philosophies. From one root there are and Swedenborg. Like all prophets, Mr. Sinnett almost endless divergent ramifications; so that is nothing if not dogmatic, his ipse dixit is as- there is unity and at the same time endless vasumed to be enough: the oracle has spoken, let riety. One of these variations we have in this the world hear and believe. It strikes us that Esoteric Buddhism, but no more bizarre, no newer, the world would not have lost much if the arcana and no better, than the others. of occult wisdom had never been unclosed. When
Man, according to Mr. Sinnett, is a sevenfold men have anything worth telling, the world will compound, though the principles of his constitube grateful to those who confer the boon of tion, he affirms, are not yet fully developed. The making it known. Otherwise, the trespassers on elements are: the patience and good sense of thinking people
(1) Rápa, the body; (2) Prdna or jiva, Vitality; must not be surprised if they are roughly handled.
(3) Linga karira, Astral body; (4) Kama Rapa Mr. Sinnett in this work has treated men as if Animal soul; (5) Manas, Human soul; (6) Buddhi, they were knaves or fools; for only a person of Spiritual soul; and (7) Atma, Spirit. either of these classes could be supposed to accept Mr. Sinnett, having a knowledge of the correct his incredible statements. No doubt there are
and severely logical method of Western thought, credulous persons who will look upon the ravings
is aware that he will here be charged with the of Occult Buddhism as the highest wisdom, and
fallacy of illogical division. He therefore admits there may be knaves who will adopt this creed for that these principles could not, by the most skilful their own purposes.
professor of occult science, be exhibited as separate A wiser than Mr. Sinnett has, in an old Book and distinct. In this way, by a skilful manwhose statements have had a longer testing-time cuvre, he strives to place them beyond the scalpel than this latest of all crazes, said that “There is of the logician. The transcendental role suite nothing new under the sun.” Mr. Sinnett says him here. there is, and here we traverse his doctrine. Mil.
But here, as indeed all through his book, lions and millions of years are but short periods Esoteric Buddhism is not the great revelation in Mr. Sinnett's eyes. But ages of fabulous which Mr. Sinnett makes it out to be ; for the antiquity are no new thing to the writers of common creed of Hinduism proceeds on exactly mythology. The simplicity of Mr. Sinnett is in the same lines. The soul and body, according to one sense charming. He seems to think he has it, are composed of several principles. There are, got" a great revelation to make known, and, with for example, the (1) Parmatman and (2) Jfvatman. the proverbial generosity of an Englishman, he is This common creed believes in (1) an Exterior body unwilling to deprive others of the treat he has and (2) an Interior body. To these the Vodanta himself received. Hence the incredible myths of adds a third or causal body. The mental powers his Thibetan preceptor are paraded before an are also composite. They are :-Buddhi, or unsympathetic world. Possibility, probability or perception; Ahankdra, or self-consciousness ; proof are not needed. In the oracular form asser- Manas, or volition, to which again the Vedanta tion is great and prevails. As we have just said, adds a fourth division, viz. Chitta, or Reason. there is nothing new under the sun, so we make Thus we have man considered as a being who bold to say with regard to this "new revelation" may be analysed and looked on in seven different it is not on new lines. It is the old, old mytho. lights without the aid of occult light. It is true logy-it is a wild theory to explain the existence that the different systems of Oriental philosophy,
te world and of sin, and a still wilder theory such as the Nyâya, the Sankhya, the Yoga and the of the past and of the future. Mr. Sinnett, begin. I Védánta, have their own peculiarities. Take for