Show Occultism a certain school of philosophy WITH which seems to be rapidly gaining ground the regular methods of scientific scientific scientific investigation are falling into dis dis- repute The reaction against materialism materialism material material- ism is setting in with a vengeance Some are beginning to distrust the latest and most improved methods of investigation they are weary of patient research in the material world and dissatisfied dISsatisfied dissatisfied dis dIS- satisfied with its meagre results They turn their eyes to the East for inspiration inspiration I tion and think the they have discovered in inthe inthe inthe the Brahmin philosophy at least a glimmer of the dawn The essence of this venerable philosophy philosophy philosophy philo philo- sophy seems to be a belief that the soul may by the introspective study of self free itself from all material influences and cross at a single bound and for forever ver the barrier between the known and the unknown that it may by the exercise of ofa a latent power all its own realize its every desire Fascinating thought For centuries the human mind tOlled toiled among the musty tombs of a dead and buried civilization to discover the truth that had so long lain hidden Then it turned to the existing world and years of patient study have revealed many of the laws governing the material universe The march of material science during the last three centuries has been one continual triumph but in the midst of its achievements a mysterious weariness weariness weariness ness seems to settle upon it Men who for half a time life-time have toiled patiently over their microscope lift their weary eyes and turn them longingly upon pon this new light Every new story that comes from the East is more wonderful than the last Only a little while ago we were astounded by stories of the annihilation annihilation annihilation lation of time and space by the wondrous occultism of ot the adepts of India and now we hear of gorgeous gorgeous tropical plants pl springing up in a few seconds before the eyes of the astonished skeptics of the banishment of darkness and the disappearance in an instant of great boulders hundreds of tons in weight Here are problems for science Think of a skeptical German philosopher who has h s doubted the miracles of the New Testament and scoffed at the words Let there be light and there was light finding the very miracle performed by the simple feat of a man mortal like himself But even eyen allowing that all these marvelous marvelous marvelous mar mar- tales are true the new philosophy does not offer us an unmixed good Suppose that after two thousand years t of struggling humanity should find at last that it is on the wrong track In Inthis Inthis Int this case there is only one conclusion conclusion possible that there is no constant upward upward upward up up- ward tendency of the human mind that there is no unerring guide that since mankind has been going wrong for two thousand years even if it gets on the thes s right track now it may at any time I make another mistake S There is something provokingly illusive illusive illusive sive about this new doctrine We are ate assured by European enthusiasts who q have visited India that they have come into contact with minds that can at will tap all the well-springs well of knowledge and yet these wonderful personages seem to have not the least least- desire to emancipate their less fortunate brethren From Mount Olympus' Olympus snowy height The gods look down on human life Below contending armies armies fight All undisturbed they watch the strife We can believe this of heathen ten deities but but it is hard to believe that mortal men can lack the human attributes attributes attributes to the extent of letting half the world toil in darkness while they hold the keys to all mysteries Therefore we ve are inclined to cling to the good we have attained through so many maIlY ages of struggle and sacrifice and to demand u. u that the apostles of the II old new philosophy philosophy philosophy philo philo- sophy at least prove its universality r before we accept it In other words we believe in the solidarity of the human race and we distrust all philosophy philosophy philo- philo l sophy that does not include all human hur hu- hu r man manity t |