East West 1946

East-West

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East-WestVolume 18-1

July-August, 1946

The Form of God By "SIVA"

High Tension and Health By LILLIAN R. CARQUE

Self-Sacrifice of Evil By NICHOLAS ROERICH

Again - The Dragon's Teeth By ROBERT M. MacIVER

The Saint Who Ate -Yet Didn't Eat By PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA

Is Faith Enough By Paramhansa Yogananda

Quotes News Comments Symposium

Spheres of Science Poems Books India

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The Form of God

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The Form of God

By "Siva"

While instructing Western students, Paramhansa Yogananda has often said thatsince God is in creation, as well as beyond it, He can be worshipped as the DivineFather, Mother, Friend, or through reverence for His consciousness as it shinesthrough some great avatar, such as Jesus, Krishna or Buddha. This article showsthat Eastern students are receiving from their teachers the same message of unityand tolerance.

True Reality and the Paramatma are one. Though unqualified, He is yet qualified; though Formless, Heyet possesses a Form. Similarly though qualified, He is yet unqualified; and though possessing a FormHe is yet Formless. Nothing can be said about Him and yet all that is said refers to Him. Of course,whatever is said does not describe Him fully. That which is perfect can in no way be described. Yet theParamatma is not imperfect in any state; therefore, even an incomplete description of Him becomes adescription of the perfect, inasmuch as even His Parts are perfect or equal to the whole. Seers, saints anddevotees worshipped this very Paramatma through various sentiments.

The Supreme God, the embodiment of Sat (Truth), Chit (Knowledge) and Ananda (Bliss) isthe Supreme Reality. Though beyond the scriptures, He is yet full of the scriptures; though beyond theuniverse, He yet permeates the universe. He pervades all, and all is pervaded by Him, viz., the whole ofthis creation, moving as well as motionless, rests on Him. The same Supreme Lord, who is consolidatedknowledge and bliss, manifests Himself variously as Brahma, Mahadeva, Mahavishnu (Preservation),Makasakti (Power), the Lord of Saketa (Sri Rama), the abode of infinite bliss, and as the Lord of Goloka--Sri Krishna, the ocean of ambrosial Beauty. All these various forms are true and eternal. Althoughappearing as many they are essentially one for all time.

The Devotee's Choice

The aspirant or devotee adopts for his worship, as something essential, one of these--or any other Form

of the Lord according to his taste or sentiment; and it is quite fitting that he does so. It is not possible toworship God through many Forms at one and the same time. To compose and concentrate the restlessmind, it is necessary to worship only one Form, Through worship of many Forms the fickleness andchangeability of the mind are liable to increase.

That is why a wise guru who possesses Divine vision, takes note of the disciple's aptitude, attainments,qualifications and the results likely to be achieved by him, instructs the latter in one particular form ofworship, and gives him a suitable mantra (sacred formula) through which he may worship the object ofhis devotion.

The Form of God

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At the same time he tells the disciple that the God into whose worship he has been initiated is the onlyGod, and that it is the same God who is worshipped through various Names and Forms by differentpeople in different climes and different ages.

Circumscribing God

None of these Forms is different in essence from the God you are worshipping, and when there is nodifference, the question of superiority and inferiority in relation to them cannot arise. Go onworshipping the Form you have adopted but do not hate the Forms which are worshipped by others norregard them as inferior in any way. If you do so, you will be hating your own God and lowering Him inyour estimation, inasmuch as it is the same God the object of your worship--who is being worshippedby others through other Forms.

Should you take it into your head that the Forms worshipped by others, are different from your God, youwill be circumscribing and thereby belittling your own Form and reducing Him to the position of oneamong many Gods. He will no longer remain the Supreme One but will be reduced to the position of aninferior God, like the regional gods. Through such a "small" and "finite" God, you cannot hope to reachthe Infinite. Thus, through your own fault you will be deprived of the vision of the Supreme Creator.

Therefore, cultivate exclusive devotion to the object of your worship, but at the same time honor otherForms as well, regarding them to be so many manifestations of your own God. True exclusiveness ofdevotion lies in regarding the other Forms as so many different manifestations of the God you worship.To do otherwise is to admit another God which is nothing short of infidelity on the Part of a devotee. TheShastras proclaim that all the different Names belong to the same God. It has been regarded as a spiritualcrime to make any distinction between the Names of Siva and Vishnu. "Vishnu is the very heart of Sivaand Siva the heart of Vishnu", is a famous declaration of the Shastras. When it is a crime to make anydistinction between even Siva and Vishnu, the so-called devotees of Vishnu cannot perpetrate a greatercrime against God than to recognize essential differences among the conceptions of Vishnu, Hari, Rama,Krishna, and Narayana and thus create a sense of distinction in the minds of aspirants among theeternally true and pure Forms and Names of the same God.

In all humility, and with great emphasis, "Siva" requests all to shake off such a belief and not to reposefaith in the words of a preacher who may try to beguile them and create doubt in their minds. Go onchanting with utmost faith and reverence the Names of God regarding them all to be Names of the sameGod. Your spiritual welfare will thus be assured.

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High Tension and Health By LILLIAN R

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High Tension and Health By LILLIAN R. CARQUE

All nature's children literally "take no thought for the morrow." They must trusta higher power; man alone often refuses to trust. Did you ever see flowersfume, fret, sigh and begrudge each other's place in the sun? Serenely andunobtrusively, they slowly open their souls to the sun and air. Seeminglywithout effort, they unfold their pure and bewitching charms of beauty, grace,of lingering fragrance and delicate colors. No anxious care bends their heads;sweet harmony always prevails. The birds in the air, too, are never "nervous."Majestically they wing heavenward to lofty altitudes; they fly far above the lowlevel of human anxiety, caroling their songs of praise.

Equanimity or Tension.?

A chief characteristic of the present day social and commercial world is its hightension. Everybody seems keyed-up to the last notch. People are living at afierce pace, and the pressure gauge of life registers dangerously near thebursting point. High arterial tension is intimately connected with numerousserious bodily ailments and certain grave physical catastrophes.

One specialist defined high blood pressure types as "the antithesis of the child."Refraining as they do from play or sports, the child in them dies early. Theymust learn to acquire more of the free play spirit, and the sportive hilaritywhich characterizes the games and pranks of children. Such a person's mentalhorizon is often narrowed within the range of a single objective, and this aim ispursued with grim desperation. Yet the resulting state of continuous tensionmay prevent the realization of that aim; and if high blood pressure is present itmay prove to be just as fatal a combination as gasoline and lighted matches.

Another heart specialist prescribed a "sense of leisure" as indispensable to heartpatients who want to live. He had no reference to idleness, but to untensedliving.

All those who attain a ripe old age free from heart disease have one virtue in



common, and that is equanimity --a habit of taking things for what they arereally worth. They do not worry, grieve or become excited more than areasonable conception of life warrants. Had many an inmate in our asylumsknown how to relax and to play, he would be enjoying mental health today. Itis a fundamental concept of all mental experts that wholesome sanity ismaintained by a well-balanced life where constructive work is intermingledwith satisfying and recreating play.

The ripple of the clear mountain stream; the majestic fragrance of the rose; thebeauty in the fiery colors of other flowers; the nerve-tonic of a walk by theseaside or a hike in the mountains; the free-gliding movements of the skier orskater; participation in song or dance and games; creative work in some art orcraft; a social hour with friends--all serve to break the spell of those enemies ofhuman happiness.

The cells of your body may refuse to select sufficient amounts of certainneeded elements from the blood--silicon for example. Can your mental andemotional outlook be at fault?

As wealth and power are the Principal goals of unenlightened human ambition,many consider the time not spent in their pursuit to be lost. Yet the finaldenouement culminating the career of many a great man in public life has beendirectly traced to an unsatisfied, overweening ambition. The coup de grace mayfollow as a fatal heart block, or stoppage, when an intense prolonged emotion--unmitigated by intervals of rest and recreation-finally reaches a climax ofsufficient intensity to paralyze the nerve control.

The Suggestible Stomach

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Thus all joyous emotions that arenot foolishly excessive help to vitalize and improve the organs and all of thevarious vital processes upon which physical integrity, health and efficiencydepend. Have you not observed the notoriously good digestion enjoyed bystomach sufferers on a holiday?



Foods ingested on such occasions with more or less impunity, wouldprofoundly disturb their digestion at other times. For when the Mind iscarefree, when good cheer, faith and hope dominate the mental attitude andnervous system, the Stomach glands do their best work and pour forth Copiousand abundant juices, strong in digestive power. The stomach is probably

the most suggestible organ in the whole body, exceedingly susceptible to theslightest changes in the mental state.

Selectivity in Cells

The average nutritionist does not generally attribute the qualities of mind andlife to the mineral kingdom, but modern science is rapidly moving forward tothis point of view. Some of the more daring among scientific minds haveexpressed the opinion that the desire and will, emotions and feelings, awarenessor consciousness of the mineral atoms differ only in degree from those of men.Indeed those latent states of consciousness prevailing in minerals harmonizewith similar spiritual, mental, emotional-as well as will--impulses inherent inindividuals harboring analogous thoughts or feelings.

That is why the cells pick from the blood certain chemical elements in greaterproportion than other chemical elements. Thus there is greater cell selectivity ofsilicon from the blood in the presence of mental attitudes that are lighthearted,credulous, cheerful, playful, optimistic, laughter-loving, carefree, nonchalant,unconcerned and sometimes heedless. People in whom silicon is present inabundance are invariably charitable, kind, good tempered and almost larks indisposition.

Silicon insulator of nerve sheaths, prevents a too rapid radiation of bodily heatand electricity. The skin and the walls of all cells contain an appreciableamount of silicon; it gives the glossy finish to hair and the protective coveringto nails, teeth, bones, nerves, also feathers and claws. In the vegetable kingdom,silicon is combined with cellulose and forms the skin of fruits and vegetablesand the outer coats of cereals, to diminish the leakage of vital electricity sealed



in foods. In peeling fruit and in demineralizing whole grains, we lose most ofthe silicon.

Many diseases of the blood and nervous system can be traced to a lack ofsilicon. It is often not so much a lack of silicon in the diet, or failure toconsume silicon-rich foods, but rather a lack of assimilative power for thiselement. The cells are powerless to attract it, because the necessary spiritualthought-color rate of vibration and kindred brain pulsations high in thecerebrum are lacking. First and preeminently one should therefore cultivate anattitude as carefree as that of an innocent child. For laughter and light-heartedness are renowned as potent, though ludicrous, therapeutic weapons inbreaking up the nervous tension of those melancholic subjects of chronic fear.

Therapeutic Laughter

Laughter carries with it an irresistible propensity to dissipate those oppressiveclouds of care, which darken the mental horizon. It helps the afflicted one tosee the whimsical side of life, to view with not a little ridicule his own smallmisfortunes, weaknesses and foibles, as well as to overcome his critical attitudetoward others by viewing other people's eccentricities with a modicum of goodhumor. It enables the sufferer to grasp the absurdity of ludicrous, incongruoussituations, to make sport of them by catching and appreciating their wittyaspects.

Many chronic complainers and semi-invalids have been relieved of allsymptoms and pain by learning to see the humorous side of themselves, withouta welling-up and over of thoughts of self-pity, and without becoming filled withweariness and with a sense of their own futility. The moment we laugh offbitterness and wounded vanity, we put aside our pride and dignity and nolonger feel hurt or revengeful.

Hearty laughter is conducive to deeper oxygenation of the blood. It is an easier,pleasanter and more natural way of insuring a copious supply of oxygen, and iswithout the irksomeness of conscious effort, which accompanies breathing and



other exercises taken to produce the same effects. Laughter empties the lungsand refills them with fresh air, accelerating the circulation and strengthening theheart. The raising and lowering excursions of the diaphragm, caused bylaughter, act strongly upon the heart and lungs. The lungs are expanded andthoroughly ventilated; the heart is stimulated and invigorated.

Laughter exercises the muscles of the face, neck, chest and abdomen, andaffects favorably the glands, blood vessels and nerves connected with themuscles involved; and laughter is a potent tonic in releasing those hormones ofthe glandular system that increase bodily vitality, impelling all life's processesto proceed at an accelerated pace.

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Self-Sacrifice Of Evil

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Even Villains Sacrifice To Their Ideal

By NICHOLAS ROERICH

Every step of constructive good calls forth also special attention from the darkforces. We have often noticed that in daily life the dark forces turn out to beeven better organized than the forces striving toward Light-this is verydeplorable. At the time when those who consider themselves servitors of theGood shamefully permit themselves every kind of destructive disunion, thespiteful entities act very unitedly and are well organized. This is a very sadspectacle. but yet one may observe it rather often, beginning from small everyday questions up to affairs of the State. And the energy which is beingdeveloped by the dark forces sometimes even leads them to a peculiar form ofself-sacrifice.

No doubt every one can recall a great many instances when an evil-doer, aslanderer, a traitor, began to act even to his own disadvantage, and yet, in thename of enacted evil, he could no longer stop himself. He was ready to put hisreputation at stake, he was ready to challenge the powerful enemy, he wasready to face ridicule--only to continue the evil sowing, which he had oncecommenced.

Limitations of Evil

The psychological reasons for such an apparently abnormal manifestation, asthe self-sacrifice of evil, are difficult to formulate. Of course, first of all, theyhave their roots in the limitation of evil. Evil, after all, is always ignorant insomething or other, and can never reach a high state of consciousness. Themethods of evil are in the majority of cases rather primitive, and sooner or laterthis circumstance must come to light; which is by no means a self-consolationfor those who have been subjected to the attacks of evil. It will be but theconfirmation of the immutable law of limitation, and thus of the



impracticability of evil.

But if one can speak of a self-sacrifice of evil, which even risks its owndestruction in order to commit a crime or some evil then how much bettershould the forces of good be organized in order not to abase their neighbors andbrother-warriors! It would seem that all fellow-travelers should automaticallybe considered desirable friends. People very easily pronounce such words as"friendship," "amity" and "cooperation." But all this in its very essence is easilysubjected to the influence of evil.

Dangerous Praise

By way of self-consolation, it is said that this is not the fault of the seekers forgood, but that of the zealous soldiers of evil, who, as if by their resourcefulness,with much ingenuity, sever the knot of cooperation. And when giving suchpraises to evil, people do not realize at all what a disgraceful weakness theyattribute to the potentiality of Good. For the acknowledgement of the power ofevil is already the best praise.

Verily, the acknowledgement of the power and ingenuity of evil already initself contains the potentiality of disintegration and demeaning of Good. Insteadof trying in a fit of fear and cowardice to vindicate oneself through declaringthe power of evil, would it not be better to think how easily and naturally allgood strivings may be applied for self-defense?

And the problem is not only in the self-defense of Good. Every good is alreadyin itself active and fills the immeasurably far-off space. If evil strikes andinfests the atmosphere, then Good is a true healer and renewer of injuredtissues.

Heroes sacrifice themselves in pursuit of their ideals-but so do villains!During times of world chaos the followers of evil sometimes appear tosacrifice more to gain their ends than the divided, disputative followersof Good.



It would also seem quite natural that constructive Good should be especiallysharpened and vigilant in the moments of the so-called Armageddon-at thehour of attack of the dark forces. Yet we see that at this hour, which is soimportant because of its consequences, the good forces become permeated withunbefitting timidity, leaving the field of action to the forces of darkness.

Allies of Evil

It is sad to see how not only the forces of darkness themselves but also theirgreyish allies-lies and slander-sow weeds without ,any resistance from the sideof those who yet consider themselves the guardians of Truth and Good It isdeplorable to see how these deserters into the camp of darkness, without evenpondering over the consequences, join the malicious sowers. It is strange, but atthat moment their feelings of responsibility for the committed evil becomecompletely atrophied. In their repulsive convulsions, these volunteers of evil donot even care for their position, nor rank, nor age only to sow theirdestructive seeds. It is incomprehensible that the experience of age, not tospeak of the responsibility of education, does not stop the liars and slanderers.And these voluntary allies of evil shamelessly continue to list themselves in theranks of esteemed and honored men.

Besides, the liar will not even go to the trouble of basing his cunning deviceson facts, but on the contrary will by every conceivable way hasten to evadesuch connections. Whenever confronted with facts, he even falls into a state ofphysical convulsion and trembles, seeing that his malicious machinations are indanger of becoming disclosed. Perhaps, sometimes, the liar himself does notbelieve in his innermost self, his own slander and its obvious untruthfulness,but some inexpressible process compels him to slide down the incline. Andthen his formulas of definition become especially rich and before them thetimid hints of the defenders of Truth often become pale. Fortunately, there aremany who at least can find the courage to say: "Do not speak of what you donot know! " For if to some one the measures of Good are not clear, then at leasta clean, sound adherence to facts should be the primary condition of humanstandards.



Sins of Omission

It is also regrettable to observe another variety of volunteers of evil, who oftendo not even support a lie in words, but who silently rejoice. They do not eventry to warn the slanderer of the consequences of his lie. On the contrary, bytheir quiet smiles they encourage the doers of evil. Thus, between the consciousforces of darkness and warriors of active Good, there is a legion of volunteersof evil, who, in most widely varying degrees, secretly assist and back theinfection of the atmosphere.

The discipline of spirit, the inherent consciousness of responsibility which isinseparable from human existence, do not worry these malicious evil-doers.One can give them no other name, for they travel without any chosen path, andin their ignorant licentiousness are ready to join in any destructive infection.

All these qualities are neither national, nor are they subject to otherclassifications. These manifestations are purely "all-human," and prove oncemore that the often forgotten ethics of living are necessary first of all-beginningfrom the first days of education.

Heroic Examples

Pondering over the self-sacrifice of the forces of darkness, symptoms of whichpeople see so often, they should sooner or later think of the practicability of thesame active self-sacrifice on the part of the Good. The examples of wonderfulheroes are, it would seem, sufficiently real. It would also seem that-not forabstract and hazy, unreal problems, but for a true constructiveness these greatsouls labored here on our earth, affirming their thoughts and words by dailyincessant actions.

The history of the self-sacrifice of Good is indeed beautiful, and by far morecomplete than casual and conventional encyclopedias have yet had time torecord. Becoming saturated with these telling examples, people--and mainly the



younger generation--can so easily turn away from even the unconscious supportof evil, as well as from closest cooperation in malicious destruction. It is anold-known truth that children in their first years usually respond easily to Good.

Shameful Facts

It is also usually true that the sad examples of the family awaken in the child'ssoul for the first time a leaning toward evil, and then, later on, activeparticipation in it. But now if in the whole world the tension reaches its climax,if even the cosmic forces respond to these destructive infections, then it isindeed high time to become ashamed that the activity of evil has reached astage of self-sacrifice. For the very definition of "self-sacrifice" in connectionwith evil should awaken, even in very ignorant people, the desire for similaraction in the name of constructive Good.

Evil's connection with self-sacrifice is indeed a serious reproach to humanity!After the terrific effects of the atomic bombs it became very fashionable todeclare that atomic energy will be used solely for "beneficial" purposes. Let itbe so! Nevertheless, in the memory of mankind forever will remain a shamefulrecollection that the highest energy was first brought to the Earth fordestruction.

Everybody is fully aware that those billions of dollars would never have beenspent for educational and beneficial purposes! But will it not turn once againinto the self sacrifice of evil? -Jins helping to construct Temples?

Maynard Hipley, in his Principles of Electricity, says: "Several eminentphysicists are now specializing on the problem of how to liberate and controlintra-atomic energy for man's uses- or abuses.

"Bearing in mind the present intellectual, moral and economic status of our'leaders of thought' and remembering that one pound of common soil containsintra-atomic energy equal in destructive power to more than a million tons ofdynamite, let us hope that the secret of releasing and controlling intra-atomic



energy will not be discovered in our day and age."

Indeed, let us hope that eventually out of the greatest evil will come the highestGood.

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Again -- The Dragon's Teeth

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Post-War Note on the Fruits of Intolerance

By ROBERT M. MacIVER

There was a French philosopher and sociologist who said: "All I owe to you, Iowe to myself. What I do for you, I do for myself. What I do against you, I doagainst myself." These words contain the core of the lesson we must seek tolearn.

The greatest peril of modern society is the exclusiveness of group againstgroup, in which the stronger groups shut out the weaker from sharing thebenefits and opportunities of the commonwealth, in which the stronger growproud and hard and intolerant and prejudiced, depriving their commonhumanity, in which the weaker groups grow bitter and frustrated. So that on allsides rancor increases, and the energies of men are turned from creativeness todestructiveness, from cooperation and gain to universal loss. And theconsummation of this evil thing is here before our eyes, the final inhumanity ofman to man.

Let us ask ourselves; What have the intolerant gained from their intolerance?What have the persecutors reaped after the persecution? They have gained themost terrible of all retributions, such ruin upon ruin as has never been visited ona country since civilization began. What they did against all groups but theirown, they did against themselves. The same law holds, though it may wait itstime, though the persecutors may triumph for a season. Hatred breeds hatred asfear breeds fear. Men sow the dragon's teeth, and the dragons at last arise anddevour them.

Our Spotted Record



But let us not look only at Europe, where the dragons have finished their job.Let us look at ourselves. We, too, as a people, as men and women, are guilty.We, too, practice the exclusiveness of the grout); we, too, discriminate,discriminate grossly; we, too, reject difference and deny it equal rights. We,too, sow the dragon seed.

Even when we fight against its fruits we are fostering their growth. The evil iswidespread among us. In every part of this land there is prejudice and strongintolerance, and on the other side there is frustration and there is fear. TheJewish people suffer much from it. The Negro suffers grievously. Many othergroups suffer in varying degree. There is perilous indoctrination, there ispernicious propaganda. It is not confined to the rabble of Silver Shirts andCough-linists and their kind. It flourishes in the most respectable quarters.

Sometimes it is soft and insidious and whispering, sometimes it is loud-voiced.

Complacent "Respectability"

Can we bring home to them, to the respectable, to the complacent, the lesson ofEurope? Can we teach them that they, too, in their respectability and in theirpride, are guilty? Can we teach them to see something that touches themselves?Can we ever teach them to say as they look on the ravagers of Europe, what agood Scottish divine said when he saw a criminal led to the scaffold, "There,but for the grace of God, go I? "

We should seek to make this an object-lesson in a great campaign. There arestrong forces on our side, too. The anti-discrimination law of New York state isa splendid achievement.* Similar laws are in effect in a number of states, andare being considered in others. But we must attack on other fronts as well. InEurope, a spirit of intolerance and discrimination brought destruction upon itsperpetrators. Yet even as we fought to burn away the evil growth of hatredthere, we continued to sow the seeds of hatred here and still do! In theseexcerpts from a speech by Robert MacIver, a Columbia University Professor,(reported in NOW) the query is put: "Can we bring home the lesson of Europe?



"

Above all, we must attack on the educational front. In the last resort we musttrust to social education, and we must muster our forces to reform oureducation everywhere to this end, in the school and in the home and in thechurch and in the exclusive club. We should and we can maintain a greatcontinuous educational assault upon the forces of darkness.

There is urgent need for it. We have never tried it. Now is the time. There isanother and even harder victory to win, a victory of the mind not of the sword.For this fight we have never yet formed our ranks.

We shall be fighting for the truth, for the brotherhood of man, for the well-being and the unity of our land. If we keep these banners before us we shallconquer in the end.

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THE BHAGAVAD GITA

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THE BHAGAVAD GITA

The Saint Who Ate -- Yet Didn't Eat

Chapter III, Stanza 27

Literal Translation:

The attributes (gunas) of primordial Nature (Prakriti)perform all activities. A man with his soul delusivelyidentified with egotism, thinks he is the doer of all actions.

Interpretation:

The delusion-drunk egotist deems himself as the doer of allactions. He knows not that all activities are instigated bythe attributes of primordial Prakriti.

God created Nature. It manifests the attributes of Godcamouflaged by delusion. Man is the product of invisibleGod and visible Nature; therefore he is dual: the immanent,hidden, pure, spiritual soul and the exterior physical manequipped with the specific brain, mind, life and moodsgoverned by the attributes of Nature. The variety ofcreation-animals without free will and man with freechoice, and yet limited by Nature or mass Karma-showsthat various differing attributes of Nature have created

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


animal and human nature-brutish and human behaviorisms.These have created fixed habits which govern man,animals and plants. The average man lives sixty years. Aman's birth, growth, marriage, procreative and mentallycreative aspirations, his specific brain and mind and life,are different from the behaviorism of a dog that barks andwags its tail and lives from twelve to twenty-four years, ora redwood tree which stands still, only occasionallyswaying with the wind, and may live as long as sixthousand years.

So man dwells on the apparent differences between himselfand the rest of creation, and forgets that his activity andthat of all other manifestations come from a commonsource. As the body-identified Ego, man forgets that thesoul working through Nature's attributes is the real doer.

The above does not mean that man has no free will. In fact,by disengaging his mind from the senses, man can identifyhimself with his soul and know that It, rather than the Ego,is the real performer of all actions. For man's soul has beenendowed with free will, even as the animal soul has beenallotted only the guidance of instinct.

Nature Modified by Karma

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


An awakened soul realizes that all his human qualities arecreated by God and governed by the confining attributes ofNature, an thus refuses to let his body-engrossed Ego deemitself as the doer of all actions. It is also true that a man, byexercise of free will wrongly or rightly creates specifickarma, which modifies the influence of mass orenvironmental karma ordained by Nature. By good karmaor actions approved by Nature (natural living) and theperfect God, man ascends toward perfection and liberation;by evil action he descends and becomes trapped in themeshes of material desires.

Of course, the body-bound ego-tist cannot ascend because,devoid of true wisdom, he deems himself the doer of allactions and thus creates more entangling human desires.Hence the Gita, in the above stanza, points out that eachdevotee should analyze himself and find out whether he isliving according to the upward evolutional influence ofNature, or the higher Divine soul impulses, or only by hishuman nature, distorted by prenatal and postnatal effects ofevil actions manifesting through his habits, moods andinclinations. When the sunshine of wisdom breaks upon thedark egotist, he realizes that the soul is the performer of alltrue actions, and not his fanciful individuality.

Two Influences

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


The human machine has many parts--cerebrum,cerebellum, spinal plexuses--they are all instigators ofdifferent forms of activity. The nose, eyes, ears are external- instruments, while the brain is the vehicle of thoughts andinner faculties. Mind has a hundred functions andintelligence has six: jealousy, fear, hate, greed, anger,attraction, repulsion, egotism, delusion, pain, pleasure,shame, sense of delicacy, envy, pride, repentance, worry,pity, delusion, illusion, memory, contentment, hope, desire,etc., - belong to the mental clan. While calmness, life-control, self-control, power to refrain from evil impulsesand power to act according to good inclinations areattributes of wisdom.

When man is influenced by the attributes of mind, he issusceptible to pleasure and pain, heat and cold. But whenguided by the intuitive perception of the soul, he findshimself swirling no more in the eddies of psychologicalrelativities but safe on the shore of eternal Bliss. In otherwords, the egotist, conceiving himself as the doer ofactions, makes a tragedy out of the drama of life. But bydeep meditation he may awaken and suddenly realize thathe has been assigned, by the Cosmic Director, a specifichuman part to be played on the stage of time. Having

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


become a wise man, he is happy to play out his joyous ordoleful, superior or inferior, part just to please God, and nothis ego, which once falsely imagined itself as the doer ofall actions.

The soul, mind, body, brain, senses, the world, the Cosmos--all are creations of Spirit, and so the wise man, notconceiving himself as the architect of his good or baddestiny, does not laugh or cry or disturb himself with theups and downs of dualities as the ego-intoxicated worldlyman does. An egotist is never satisfied, whether he is rich,poor, healthy or king of the world. A divine man is happyin a cell or in a king's palace.

The helpless kitten, being dependent on the mother cat, isstill contented when transferred from a king's palace to thecoal bin, for the latter might be a safer place. So, the Yogisurrendered to God does not mind being a King or adestitute individual, according to Divine ordinance.

Krishna and the Cheese

When Krishna was among his devotees in Brindaban, India,he resided on the other side of the river Jamuna. HisGopinis (shepherdesses) devotees often fed him with freshcurds, which he eagerly relished. Once the banks of the

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


river were flooded. Boats were swept away. The devoteesof Krishna, laden with their offerings, could not get to theirMaster. As they hesitated there, they saw the great sageByasa sitting near the riverbank, his face gleaming, withKrishna-intoxicated eyes. Realizing him to be a man ofmiracles, the Gopinis approached him and requested hishelp in reaching their Master.

"You want to give cheese to MY Guru Krishna, but whatabout poor me?" he asked. So they set the offering beforeByasa. And he ate and ate, until the devotees began toworry. There seemed scarcely enough left for the LordKrishna.

After he was filled with cheese, Byasa cried, "Jamuna, if Idid not eat anything, divide and part." The Gopinis were indespair, for this strange request sounded facetious under thecircumstances. But, to their increasing astonishment, theriver obeyed. Still not understanding Byasa's paradoxicalexclamation, the Gopinis crossed along the path betweenthe two walls of water, which crumbled and closed afterthem.

But they did not find Krishna coming to greet them as usualexpectant of the cheese. He was soundly sleeping!

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


They wakened him, but he looked at the cheese withoutinterest. "Master, what is the matter today?'' they asked."Do you not crave curds today?"

Krishna smiled sleepily and replied, "0 that fellow Byasa,on the other side of the river, has already fed me too muchcheese."

Then the Gopinis understood that Byasa, while eating thecheese, was conscious only of his all-pervading GuruKrishna, as the one who ate, and not of his individual ego.

Spirit Permeates Actions

If all souls could feel God in all their actions even as Byasadid, they would be free from all mass and individual effectsof actions (karma), for they would perform all activitieswhile guided by divine wisdom, and not by reincarnatingdesires of egoism. To understand this stanza of theBhagavad Gita one must live it in every-day life bythinking of God during the commencement, performance,and end of all actions. Ego-consciousness is the root causeof all human sorrows. Performing all actions with God -consciousness neutralizes all inner and outer calamities.

In reality, the true Self in man, being the Image of Perfect

THE BHAGAVAD GITA


Spirit, is beyond actions and all effects even as Spirit isbeyond all karma even though the active universe evolvedout of It. All activities of Nature evolve out of God and yetHe is not attached to them; hence He does not suffer fromeffects of actions. A perfect man being made in the imageof God behaves like Him and does not stiffer from Karma,while an ignorant man identifies his soul with the good andevil attributes in actions. Such a man deems himself thebody-bound ego--the doer of all actions-and thus becomesenmeshed in the webs of karma.

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Is Faith Enough

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1FaithEnough.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:22 PM]

Is Faith Enough?

By PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA

Steps Toward the Attaining of the Consciousness

Which was in Christ Jesus

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God.For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say untothis mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into thesea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe thatthose things which he saith shall come to pass; he shallhave whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you whatthings soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that yereceive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye standpraying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that yourFather also which is in heaven may forgive you yourtrespasses, But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Fatherwhich is in heaven forgive your trespasses." -Mark 11:22-26.

And then Jesus reminded his disciples of the limitlesspowers of will and faith-when guided by

Intuitive communion with God. "Find God within you bymeditation and ecstasy, for verily I say unto you, thatwhosoever has God communion can, by his will power

Is Faith Enough


create vibrations so potent that even a mountain might beuprooted and cast into the sea. Those who have suchcommunion can never doubt that the almighty power ofGod resides in their hearts. And so the devotee who reallycommunes with God knows that whatever he wishes willbe fulfilled-will materialize -and whatever he says willcome to pass."

However, Jesus made it clear that such gifts are given toman only after he has experienced God communion, andhas changed his status from that of a deluded man to that ofdivine sonhood. Even then, the devotee must take care tobelieve - to be certain - that whatever he desires as heprays, is even then coming to him through the almightypower of God-then he shall receive it.

Cleansing Mind and Heart

Furthermore, one must have a cleansed mind and a lovingheart when seeking to commune with God. It is not fittingto pray-or to meditate-with hatred in one's Consciousness.If one forgives anyone who has offended him, then theomniscient Father, the Cosmic Consciousness which ispresent, though invisible, and which enfolds the devotee ashe prays, will also forgive the petitioner's spiritual offenses.But if the omniscient Father finds an unforgiving attitude

Is Faith Enough


toward those who have offended His child, then He,likewise, may withhold forgiveness for that child's ownspiritual sins.

Thus Jesus spoke of the law of cause and effect whichgoverns all our actions; but he said that the law of conductshould not be tempered by justice alone, but by forgivenessand love. The wise devotee must heed Jesus' plea. Don't tryto give punishment to a person who has offended you--evenif you are sure that he justly merits it. Try to forgive himbecause he is your brother, made in the image of God. You,too, are responsible for many offenses toward God andman. But if your omniscient Father finds that you, as one ofHis sons, forgive an offending brother, then He will relaxthe inscrutable law of cause and effect which governs allhuman actions, and will forgive some of your spiritualoffenses, even as you forgave your errant brother.

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Quotes

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Quotes

The highest compact we can make with our fellow is, letthere be truth between us two forevermore. It is sublime tofeel and say of another, I need never meet, or speak, orwrite to him; we need not reinforce ourselves, or sendtokens of remembrance; I rely on him as on myself; if hedid not thus or thus, I know it was right.-Emerson.

For The Week By PARAMHANSAYOGANANDA

July 7th. Divine Mother, help me to cut through the silkenthreads of false sense pleasures and spread the wings of mysoul in repeated efforts to reach Thee.

July 14th. Through daily meditation I shall prepare for thatbright morning when I first behold my longed-for spiritualflower of Realization.

July 21st. Even one good habit, formed today and practicedevery day, will hasten my progress on the spiritual path.

Quotes


July 28th. Let me become an example of spiritual health,Heavenly Father, that my presence may strengthen thosewho are spiritually weak.

August 4th. In me is the seat of all knowledge; and as theInner light increases I shall find it--and finding it, I shallfind Thee.

August 11th. As I work for Thee each day this week,Beloved Lord, I shall give each little task my full attention,that I may complete them proficiently, one by one.

August 18th. My thoughts are mental magnets which drawunto themselves the people and objects with which they areattuned.

Quotes


August 25th. Through difficult daily lessons my DivineMother is teaching me that material habits attract materialthings, while spiritual habits attract spiritual things.

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INDIAN Citizenship

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1News.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:23 PM]

INDIAN Citizenship

In an open letter to the committee on immigration of the U.S. Senate, 52prominent America's urged that hearings be held on two bills, passed by thehouse last year, to Permit Filipinos and natives of India to become Americancitizens. Signers of the open letter include: Van Wyck Brooks, Donald OgdenStewart, Monsignor John Montgomery Cooper, Dr. Bela Schick, Bishop HenryW. Hobson and Robert W. Kenny. The open letter, in addition to requestinghearings on the two bills, voices support for the elimination of all racialProvisions in the immigration and naturalization laws.

SRF MINISTER

Dr. M. W. Lewis, formerly of Boston, Massachusetts, is now a full-fledgedminister of the Self-Realization Fellowship. Paramhansa Yogananda is happyto announce that Dr. Lewis--who was one of the first Americans to become hisstudent and friend - has now moved to our California Headquarters and isgiving his full time to the work of the organization. At present, Reverend M.W. Lewis is conducting meetings at the Golden Lotus Hermitage in Encinitas.

Concerning Education

Few People realize that 62 percent of the world's population cannot read. Dr.Frank Lauback has estimated that 70 percent of China, 88 percent of India 90Percent of the Moslem world, 95 percent of the East Indies and 98 'percent ofAfghanistan, Iran, Irak, Turkestan and Arabia are illiterate.

* Progress! Because of a resolution passed by the N. Y. State Legislature,existing school curricula in that state will be reoriented and revised so thatintercultural education is fully integrated into school work and activity on everygrade level, and in every subject area; understanding and appreciation of the

INDIAN Citizenship

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contributions of minority groups will be fostered, and the scientific facts andhistorical factors in regard to the various divisions of the human race will betaught.

Ignorance-Barrier to Progress: When representatives of the League ofWomen Voters in a Southern City asked a hundred women picked atrandom on the main streets of the city, "What do you know aboutDumbarton Oaks?" half replied they had never heard of it; one thought itwas some new kind of breakfast food but was not certain; another said, "amovie actress I guess."

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EAST-WEST Comments

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1Comments.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:23 PM]

EAST-WEST Comments

Mme. Galli-Curci sent me a copy of East-West containingreview of my book and pictures on inside back cover. Thisis a swell display and I thank you for the nice analysis youmade, also for the beautiful tribute by ParamhansaYogananda.--C. E. LeMassena.

"Kindly send to the above address your magazine for oneyear. If you have a copy of the April 1944. I would greatlyappreciate having it. Read it in the Public Library and wasgreatly impressed with it."-L. L.

"This is the best magazine published in this world.--G. H.D

"I have found the most striking and enlighteninginterpretations of the Bhagavad Gita in the East-WestMagazine. I spend all my time with these magazines, as Iwould with my dearest friends. . . . I sincerely believe thatthe interpretations by Paramhansa Yogananda are aboveanything that I have ever read before. Accept my gratitudefor all that you have done for me.-M. D.

Your touch seems so full of depth. East-West is veryrevealing and leads to the higher plane of thought, and Ilike to see it unravel before my very eyes. Inclosed is one

EAST-WEST Comments


dollar for the renewal of my subscription. -B. S.

I am finding the magazines just what I wanted. They aremy only outside contact with "one who knows." I neededthe food suggestions to help with my problems in disciplineand I am getting far more than you can possibly realizefrom many articles. They are a mass of seed-stimulatingideas.-T. N.

Thank you for the lovely letter of January 22nd and theextra copy of the quarterly magazine. I appreciate it verymuch and I do enjoy the articles and interpretations. Thereis something about the little magazine that is verysatisfying.-C. K.

Prayer Conquers Space

When you need peace, solace, inspiration, relief from pain,disease fear, the solution to a problem, or greater success inyour periods of mediation, tune with us. ParamhansaYogananda's meditation period for such work is from 9-11A.M. (PST). Group meditations are held in the Mt.Washington Estates Chapel every week-day morning at8:15 and evening at 7:30 (PST). Saturday there is a specialsilence period from 8-10 P.M. Written requests for

EAST-WEST Comments


assistance through prayer receive the attention OfP2rarrhansa;i and also that of disciples and advancedstudents.

Let us know if you are successful in receiving help withyour problems through attunement with us. You are alsowelcome to write or wire us for assistance through prayer.(Address: Prayer Council, Self-Realization Fellowship,3880 San Rafael Ave., Los Angeles 31, Calif.)

I think I am improving all the time. I do not have to get upat night but once or twice so I get good rest. My hands andfeet swell up some but not so often. I thank you for yourhelp and enclosed please find a love offering.-F. L. R.

. . I was at an Encinitas meeting and I asked Paramhansajito help me with my throat, which was bothering me. It wasgreatly relieved.-M. S,

The night before I went for this examination I asked God asI meditated that he would show the doctor what was wrong.I have been treated for everything under the sun for so longand I've had to take sleeping pills as I couldn't sleep. Sincethe correction has started I am resting well. So I ameternally grateful that the doctor found the trouble and thatI am going to be healed without surgery. I have been told

EAST-WEST Comments


by people who know that surgery is almost always used incases like this. I am glad that it is no worse and I thank youall for your prayers and help.-Mrs. M. L. C.

I thank you very much for your kind help and cooperation.There is much improvement in my material and spiritualconditions since I began to use your Horn of Plenty Bank.-Mr, J. E.

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Symposium On

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Symposium On

Rules for Self-Improvement

Get thy spindle and distaff ready. God will send the flax.-Old English Proverb.

Not what I have, but what I do, is my kingdom.-Carlyle.

To teach is to learn twice. -Joubert.

Of all the duties, the principal one is to acquire the knowledge of the Supreme Soul; it is the first of allsciences for it alone confers on man immortality.-Manu.

By self-resolve alone can one enter the Path of the Inner Life. -Pravaka.

The wise aim at perfection. The foolish aim at wealth.-Ali ibn abu Talib,

He who knows himself, knows his God.-Koranic Verse.

The great man is not a mere receptacle. What he first says, as a result of his experience, he afterwardfollows up. The great man is catholic-minded, and not one-sided. The common man is the reverse.-Confucius.

Faults in a superior man are like eclipses of the sun or moon: when he is guilty of a trespass men all seeit; and when he is himself again, all look up to him.-Tsze-kung.

Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself; thus self-protected and attentive wilt thou livehappily.-Dhammapada.

According to the Proverb, the best things are the most difficult. -Plutarch.

Perseverance is more prevailing than violence- and many things which cannot be overcome when theyare together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.-Plutarch.

The things we have determined wholeheartedly to do are not fulfilled merely by desire, but throughpainful toil.-Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

I have heard the saying: He who fit-ids instructors for himself comes to the supreme domination; he whosays that others are riot equal to himself comes to ruin.-The Analects CCS 1.

The disciple Kung-tu said: "All are equally men, but some are great men and some are little men. How isthis?"

Mencius replied: "Those who follow that part of themselves which is great are great men; those whofollow that part which is little are little men.-Mencius CCS II.

Do not keep perniciously to your own ideas. Do not study to be uniform. Be scrupulous, yet gentle. Belarge-minded like space, whose four terminating points are illimitable and form no particular enclosures.Hold all things in your love.-Kwang-tzu.

Symposium On

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Want of harmony in the outer life rises from the want of it in one's inner self; strive to beharmonious.-The Shu King.

He whose mind inclines not toward zeal, exertion, perseverance and struggle, he has not become freefrom spiritual barrenness. -Ketokhila Sutta (Buddhism).

Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one rascal less in theworld.-Carlyle.

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Spheres of Science

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1ScienceSpheres.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:24 PM]

Spheres of Science

SCIENCE OF THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL

In a radio talk which he gave during an intermission in a Philharmonic concertDr. Ernest A. Hooton, Harvard's iconoclastic anthropologist, pleaded for "ascience of the individual man that will teach us our physical and mentalcapacities and limitations early in life, so that we can profit from thatknowledge."

"Every single person is born with an unique combination in details ofanatomical structure, peculiarities of physiological function, variations inmental capacity, and assorted temperamental traits," says Hooton. This mass ofinherited potentialities is then developed or stunted by all of life's experiencesfrom infancy to maturity-food, housing, parental care, family life, climate,human associates, formal education. The individual is an organic unit, withaspects of his total personality all mixed up. None of these can be understoodwithout a knowledge of the whole person and of his background. "At presentwe learn separately about human psychology or physiology or the structure ofthe family, but nothing about the whole individual self," is Hooton's way ofputting it.

A science of the total man would give each individual early in life a completeinventory of his unique self so that he could correct as far as possible, hispersonal weaknesses, capitalize his strong points, and seek a place in humanactivity that he is fitted to fill. Hooton maintains that "such a science can bepromised to you today, if you will only demand it as your right, as thecornerstone of your education."

In the individual we are first concerned with anatomical structure of body build.

Spheres of Science


Here Hooton holds up for admiration the work of William H. Sheldon, who hasdevised a satisfactory scheme for classifying all varieties of the humanphysique. Peculiarities of the body and its general form often reflect invisibletraits that are far more important than skin, bone, muscle, cartilage, or otherstructural features. We are beginning to learn that the physiology of theindividual also varies rather closely with his body type.

Rating temperament

In this field, again, William H. Sheldon has devised a scheme of temperamentalrating which will serve for the present and which is related to varieties of bodybuild. Thus the extreme of physique represented by the tall, narrow, skinnyperson is associated with a cluster of some twenty trait tendencies including"love of privacy," "emotional restraint," "hypersensitivity to pain," "need ofsolitude when troubled," etc. Hooton says that close enough relationships canbe established between physique and personality traits so that eventually bodybuild may be used as a shortcut to personality analysis. In fact, he maintainsthat if physical, mental and temperamental characteristics are known it ispossible to predict within certain limits fitness for various tasks, ability inperformance under different conditions-in short, the quality of behavior.

Heredity imposes certain limitations upon change and improvement of thepersonality, so that "human brass cannot be transformed into gold," yet Hootonis certain that "most persons can be built up to a higher level of competenceand self-sufficiency if they are studied individually and properly trained beforethey are warped and hardened by mistakes in education and bad environment."But 11 we must catch our subjects young." -W. K. in N. Y. Times.

Tomorrow's World

* Hikers will be able to purify water (without adding odor or changing taste)through use of filter .125 of an inch thick. Canteen is filled with water,chlorinating pellets dropped in to kill bacteria, and filter placed in position.

Spheres of Science


When canteen is raised for a drink water flows through filter, activated carbonin filter removes unpleasant taste while fibrous felt surrounding it holds backforeign matter. One filter will purify 2 1/2 gallons of chlorinated water.

* Workmen who need hands free to use tools in dark corners may wearFingalyte, a tiny electric torch worn like a finger ring; derives current throughinsulated cable from battery clipped to belt.

* Eggs roasted at high temperatures (look and taste like hardboiled) can be keptindefinitely without refrigeration. Boston egg dealers have developed nickel-inslot machine which delivers roasted egg.

* We have mentioned revolving windows (E-W, Jan. '46); another idea is glassstrips arranged a la venetian blinds. Will not raise or lower but may be angledto admit air; closed tightly to exclude cold and rain. Lower louvers may beopaqued for privacy.

* Motor oil now being tested is claimed to be "ever-enduring." Will cost morebut replacement will be negligible since screening occasionally will clear outany sludge.

* Classrooms may obtain new multiple microscope which permits 10 persons toview slide, simultaneously.

* Some women will be strutting about in coats of Ordinary sheep pelts, whichhave been transformed by a new plasticizing process so that they are almostindistinishable from luxury furs such as beaver and nutria.

Trackless trolley, already in use in about 5o U. S. cities, is being improved andnow resembles roomy, ultra-modern bus. Is slated to supersede street car,where regular bus does not do so, since it is faster (can weave in and out oftraffic), more comfortable, quiet, and cheaper, it costs $100,000 a mile, to builddouble track street car rails, only $7,000 a mile to install trackless trolleyoverhead wires.

Spheres of Science


Health Front

Buttercup Juice. The growth of pneumonia, streptococci, tb, anthrax andseveral other germs can be stopped by juice pressed from buttercup leaves,sterns and, blossoms, or by steam distillate of juice. Anemone juice givessimilar results! Present problem is separating poisonous from antigermsubstances.

Retrieving Swallowed Objects: An alnico magnet (an alloy) is strong enoughto lift 100 times its weight. Will attract iron and steel objects. Can be passedinto stomach attached to rubber tube which has bulb at outer end. Whenstomach is filled with air, any collapsed portion is lifted and foreign bodyfreed, and attracted to magnet. Said to be much simpler and quicker than oldmethod involving use of flexible forceps.

How Cold Germs Spread: Now science has measured the velocity of a cough!It has been charted at more than 245 miles per hour as it leaves the throat.

Aspirin Changed- For the minority who cannot use the common aspirin tabletWithout ill results, Prof. K. P. Link (U. of Wisconsin) has ladded a minuteamount of vitamin K to counteract harmful action.

Muscles Relieved and strengthened: A syntheric chemical, Neostigraine, hasfor some years been used successfully to relieve fatigue and, muscle weakness.Used in infantile paralysis it was found to relax muscle spasm, relieve pain,increase strength and muscular coordination. Dr. H, Kabat (of U. S. PublicHealth Service) inferred from these previous experiences of his that it might beeffective when nerves and muscles failed- to function. When tried on 53patients (such varying Cases as: muscle spasm-, contracture; joint weakness;pain and muscular weakness persisting too long after sprain. fracture or chronicinfection, paralytic stroke; Bell's palsy or facial Paralysis a-MCI the spastictype of cerebral palsy, rheurmatoid arthritis; bursitis (of shoulder) it was foundthat: "Improvement in range of motion, relief from pain and increase instrength and endurance may occur rapidly",

Spheres of Science


Skin Storage: "Skin-banks" to which volunteers donate (as they have done toblood-banks) may be established in, future, now that human skin stored 3weeks has been used successfully in grafts on badly burned servicemen.

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God Fulfills Himself

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God Fulfills Himself(To Kipling)

By Frances Beard Smith

Revered you were for years, famed poet sage,

Authoritative voice for your past age.

Your truth was true for Britain's empire day,

But Cosmic law decrees a higher way

When man shall see in any color face

That something deeper far than speech or race.

Applied new science, factories and speed

Are now the Orient's compelling need.

Perspective, insight, greater wisdom-poise,

Could bring to us, the West, undreamed of joys.

When shall we all be wise enough to see

Each race has some superiority?

A single purpose Life's vast pattern shows

For cactus, lotus, hyacinth and rose.

All men on this evolving earth today

God Fulfills Himself

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Are traveling along the self-same way.

To allied airmen flying with the sun

The East met West and twain became as one.

Oh! God, whose life blood flows in every vein,

Enlarge perceptions here on this earth plane.

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Did You Read It

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1Books.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:25 PM]

Did You Read It?

(This postcript to the Book Review Department will serve as a reminder of oldbooks worth rereading, as well as those which the reader may have missed atthe time of publication.)

BROTHERHOOD THROUGH RELIGION

(By Paul N. Elbin, Ph. D. Dorrance & Co., Philadelphia. 1944. $1.75.)

E. Stanley Jones states the theme of this worthwhile book in his brief foreword.Pointing out that educators and religious leaders alike now realize thatbrotherhood "is no longer a subject for moralizing-it is now an issue of life anddeath for civilization," he continues, "What the idealists have been saying isnow turning out to be literally true: humanity is one. Down underneath culturaldifferences is one basic humanity . . . . . The differences lie in the culture not inthe basic humanity. There is one blood in all men. The four types of blood runthrough all races. There is one brain in humanity. The raw brain material ofhumanity is the same, and given an equal stimulus or incentive will come outthe same."

In the Preface, the author himself states it thus: "The brotherhood of man is thecreed of all mature religion. Without the practice of brotherhood, peace is onlya truce. The clear call of the hour therefore, is for religion-religion dropping itsweight of debatable dogma, selfish sectarianism, and escapist ritual; religionproclaiming anew to all the people of the world their brotherhood under God."

It may be unnecessary to add any comments, since those two quotationsdescribe the subject matter. Yet, there are innumerable ways of handling suchmaterial, and sometimes the results are noble but dull. Be assured, that is notthe case in Paul Elbin's little book. His style is simple, but vital, and his pointsare reinforced by the liberal use of equally interesting quotations.

Evolution of Beliefs

Did You Read It


First he traces the evolution through which a man's personal beliefs may pass ina lifetime from partisan politics, tribal patriotism and religious sectarianism toliberalism, internationalism and belief in the underlying unity of religion. "Thegood of humanity, the human family, is superior to the good of a political party,a nation, or a religious sect. When a man lets one of these lesser loyaltiesinterfere with the major loyalty-love of God and man-he is not a good partisan,or a good patriot, or a good sectarian. It is all a matter of proportion orrelativity. Small things are good when they fit into large purposes. They mustbe destroyed when they conflict with large purposes."

Just as a man's patriotic ideals evolve, so his religious concepts may changefrom childhood's belief in a superman God, to sectarianism, to atheism,agnosticism, and finally-if he matures religiously-to full faith in a God of loveand brotherhood. Of course, every one does not reach this final stage, for, "Tomature religiously is often the most difficult part of growing, up. . . . Onereason is that many never give serious thought to their religion. Adults who donot study the Bible and religious questions under alert teachers, who are notinterested in religious topics, may be good home-makers, good citizens,contented and happy-but they are potential atheists! The lag between theirgeneral maturity and their religious naivete may suddenly cease. Religiously,the most critical time in life is when a growing mind confronts the religion ofchildhood and declares, 'This is no longer adequate.' When a childish religionmust be transferred to maturity, a complete transformation is required-just as itis required in the realms of amusement, companionship, reading, work, etc. Thefoolish are those who go just far enough in their religious maturity to discoverthe inadequacy of their childish conception of faith . . . . . Really, atheists arefools. They are people who are stuck midway between infancy and maturity.They are examples of arrested development."

Those who do progress find that God is love, is Spirit. He is manifested withinman, and as "the Good" in humanity, as law in the universe, as life in all nature.This conception gives an unshakeable faith, and: "Such a believer will not bedisturbed if someone calls his faith by such a term as Christian pantheism. Hisfaith has brought him such satisfaction that whether this or that is God or is

Did You Read It


only a manifestation of God, or whether one can distinguish today between theacts of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, finds him only mildly interested. In theuniverse of the believer God is both Father and Mother, and all men andwomen are brothers and sisters . . . . . A religious person has a lifetime job (1)cultivating his own Best Self, (2) trusting the God in others, and (3) findingGod in every cranny of the universe."

Descriptive Chapter Heads

The chapters which follow (almost two-thirds of the book) are of equal interest,but too varied in contents to describe here. However, even the chapter headingsgive some idea of the subjects. In The Case For Religion, Elbin speaks forreligion "at its highest," and of the enemies which have tried to strike it down.Many of these have been leaders in the churches themselves, for no churchhistory is free of embarrassing instances of persecution, intolerance and denialof brotherhood, running all the way from prejudice to murder, and: "Thedifference between massacre and prejudice is only one of degree, let usremember."

Religion For The World of Tomorrow should start today, with each personbringing God's kingdom into his own heart, realizing that the religion of love isfor all, and that all forms of bigotry and greed (these are described) which standin the way of brotherhood must be outgrown. The Lost Gospel has been veiledby petty divisions, often created to advance individual aims. Churches have lostsight of the heart of it, the gospel which Jesus announced: God is Father; allpeoples are members of His family. The author mentions ways in whichscience, art ven business--can help in its recovery.

In the chapter Pride and Prejudice the history of these two evils is traced andtheir conflict with idealistic religious tenets described. "The twin curses ofmankind today are pride and prejudice. Pride is an expression of selfishness.Alexander Pope called it 'the never-failing vice of fools.' Prejudice is anexpression of ignorance. When we develop a prejudice, we are guilty of 'pre-judging' before the facts are gathered . . . . . For ourselves, we have little except

Did You Read It


pride; for others, nothing but prejudice." The facts and figures quoted leave thereader' no excuse for harboring any remnants of religious or racial pride!

Problems arising from these twin sins are enlarged upon in the closingchapters: Jew and Christian Conscience and the Negro, Democracy andBrotherhood. There are so many changes to be made, so many injustices to beeradicated, so many narrow outlooks to be broadened and yet, there are signs ofincreasing unity too. These signs feed that little flame of hope in the heart ofevery individual who, as Paul Elbin does, longs "fervently for the day when Ican belong to a church known simply and accurately as 'The Church of HumanBrotherhood.' To that church today belong in spirit many Christians and manyJews, many white people and many so-called colored people. It is a churchdevoted not to the peculiarities of sect but to the great common aspirations ofall mankind."-Reviewed by Virginia Scott,

Note on Religious Freedom

"I detailed to him what I had found out about the return of religion to Russia-the reopening of the churches, the reestablishment of relations with theMoscow Patriarchate by foreign Orthodox churches, the printing of the Bibleafter 27 years, the training of the priests in seminaries (even though the study ofthe Soviet Constitution and the organization of the socialist state must be partof the curriculum) the freedom of all sects to worship as they pleased. Thesedifferent religions, included to my surprise, twenty-two million Moslems as wellas Lutherans, Baptists, Buddhists, Old Believers, Seventh-day Adventists,Armenian Christians, Shamanists from Mongolia, Animists from the Tunga,Jews, Catholics . . . . .

"Fedya laughed. 'You know more about the U-S-S-R than we do.' But when Irepeated the question whether he didn't fear the Marx dictum, "Religion is theopium of the people" he shrugged his shoulders -'There is no danger in religionnow,' he said. "That slogan was true under the Czar, when a reactionary churchdominated our political life, then priests hid rifles in their church basements

Did You Read It


with which to overthrow our Revolutionary plans. Today as you saw in theplay, priests fight loyally for our Government .....

"The church cannot interfere with our communist education that still gives thechildren the scientific explanation of the universe ......... -From I Saw TheRussian People, by Ella Winter.

Men still sit at little desks remote from God or life and rack their inadequatebrains to meet fancied difficulties and state unnecessary perfections. They seekGod by logic, ignoring the marginal errors that creep into every syllogism.Their conceit blinds them to the limitations upon their thinking. They weavespider-like webs of muddle and disputation across the path by which men cometo God. It would not matter very much if it were not that simpler souls arecaught in these webs. Every great religious system in the world is choked bysuch webs.-H. G. Wells.

Return to Index


MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS IN INDIA

http://www.mysticalportal.net/18-1India.htm[3/1/2013 12:46:27 PM]


Part II

AUSTRIAN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

The second book we recommend concerns a mother and daughter who firstwent to India as sympathetic visitors, and later returned so that the daughtercould marry an Indian she had known in England. This time the mother is theauthor.

Indians themselves - Hindus, Muslims and Parsis---urged Hilda Wernher towrite a book on India. That fact attests her capabilities better than pages ofcommendation from any reviewer. As one of the author's friends-a Maharaniwho was disturbed by the written trash which has accumulated regarding India-said, "No Western man can write on India, because he doesn't get to knowIndian life from the inside. And that he can't." (For in many parts of Indiawomen still keep purdah, hence family life which, with religion, is the verycenter of an Indian's existence cannot be studied.) She did say that someWestern women have produced good books, but felt that they, too, were usuallyinterested only in superficialities-the glamorous, strange (to them) world ofprocessions, jewels and elephants.

To the Maharani's query, "Why are Westerners only out for externals?" HildaWernher replied, "They are thrilled by ceremonial and display, not realizing theHindu religion that stands behind them. That's why they describe India 'fromoutside,' so to say. Elephants, but not what the elephant means." Themisunderstandings between Orientals and Occidentals who seem to judgewholly by externals, she blames upon a lack in the educational system. "Howcan a Westerner, having never learned about the cultural background of India,not knowing what a peacock or a lotus-flower or a cow means in this country -and why! - understand what's going on?"

At last, after many refusals, Hilda Wernher did give us a picture of Indian life.



But she chose to ignore politics and statistics, and to let the intimate, day-to-day incidents of her life among Hindus and Muslims illustrate the reasonsbehind some of the conditions noted by more pretentious authors. The result isa heart-warming record, calling forth-from anyone who is at all drawn towardIndia--loving sympathy and, at times, awed respect

Mixed Marriages

This biographical account begins with the day Hilda Wernher found herself asomewhat baffled third party on her daughter's honeymoon. Forty-eight hoursafter landing in India, Mary Ann married Rashid -a Muslim scientist whom shehad known in Europe. Since he had just finished a year's accumulated leavethere and had to return at once to the Laboratory of which he was head, andsince he would be away at work all day and there were no other Europeansaround, she was persuaded to accompany them because Rashid pleaded, "MaryAnn would be too lonely without you, Mother. Life in India is not easy."

Even her decision to stay at a hotel in Akbarabad was soon overruled by thetwo honeymooners. Mary Ann, with an innate understanding of the Indianviewpoint, put aside her arguments by exclaiming, "Oh, you incorrigiblyWestern soul! What am I to do with such a mother! An Easterner wants all hisfolks around him, the closer the better. You are the first and only mother he hasknown in his life. Moreover, he is afraid that people might say you stay awayfrom us because you dislike him." So began her life in an Indian bungalow,staffed with Hindu and Muslim servants; meeting the new in-laws-including anaunt who kept purdah; learning the social rules and prohibitions of not one buttwo groups.

From Mary Ann's life with Rashid, and from other mixed marriages mentioned,one learns much about the dangers, and the delightful possibilities, inherent insuch marriages. This particular match proved idyllic (as did the marriagebetween Shivan and Kitty in the book reviewed previously), but it is only fairto note that the people concerned were above the average in education and inknowledge of each other's cultures. Rashid-with a string of degrees, a



reputation as a scientist, a knowledge of European customs and beliefs, and anardent desire to free his people from useless and harmful customs and bringthem some of the scientific benefits of the West. Hilda Wernher-a cosmopolitewho had loved India before, who had taught her daughter to look behind racial,religious or class background in choosing her friends, and was now seeing herput those teachings into practice in an unexpectedly personal way. Mary Annherself-yes, above all, Mary Ann-who, as a child had played at being a veiledEastern princess; who had a fervent love for India and her people, and whoseoccasional faux pas were minor ones since she usually knew intuitively how torespond to any unexpected situation if there is any basic rule by which to judgethe feasibility of mixed marriages, it must be the one which emerges here: If aWestern girl is to make a success of marriage in India or China, it is notenough to love an Indian or Chinese; she must love the country itself, for itself,and understand, or want to understand. its customs and spiritual beliefs,Ethnically such marriages are perfectly normal and failures are frequent onlybecause so often mental and cultural backgrounds are not on a par. As theauthor points out, often a Hindu student while in England falls in love with amiddle class girl who thinks of India as a fairytale land. If she is suddenlythrust into the midst of a family whose ways differ from those she has known,she mistakenly jumps to the conclusion that those ways are "inferior" andshows her disgust and contempt openly-never realizing that the Indian familyfinds many of her ways abhorrent and feels disgraced by her inharmoniouspresence.

Adoption by India

But Indians are quick to respond to love and courtesy, and they accepted MaryAnn and her mother, gave them love in return, assistance in the new way oflife, and tolerance in respect to their occasional social errors, since theirintentions were so good. One joins them in adoring Mary Ann who adoptedsaris, omitted none of the little courtesies through which respect is shown toguests; conformed to the customs Of the country at every crisis, even when herneighbors had cause to feel she might fail them through lack of understanding-such as the time a large cobra which lived in the compound was seen on their



front lawn, and she had to decide whether the mali should kill it, or it should bespared and fed in accordance with custom.

It is a great temptation to quote the incident in full since it shows why thepeople accepted, loved and even reverenced Mary Ann, and respected hermother. But the book is full of incidents equally tempting to a reviewer. Yet,lifted from the day by day account of their lives, some of the poignancy mightbe lost. Hilda Wernher's style does not call attention to itself. Seemingly, shegives a simple account of the things which she saw, felt, and witnessed; butsoon you "know" the people she knew and rejoice or suffer with them. That iswhy the dreadful tragedy which later struck the household has such an impactupon the reader. It is so gripping that you must read it for yourself, as well asthe incidents which followed in this unusual life with her "Indian Family,"experiences which show so many facets of the Indian character, the reason andemotion behind so many actions and situations which might seem strange toUS.

Dangerous Generalities

Even though it is fallacious to say, "Indians are this or this or this," still, certaingeneral traits do reappear again and again in the characters. Taking these as acriterion, one could say that Indians are very sensitive, often over-sensitive andinclined to fancy slights; that they are jealous of favor shown or praise given toothers; that they are suspicious of other groups (Hindus of Muslims, etc.); andthat they do not always say what they mean. But that they are equally sensitivewhere the feelings of others are concerned, having an intuitive knowledge ofone's emotions at any given moment and of the kindest response they can makeunder the circumstances; that no one can equal them in the courtesy shown toguests, regardless of the wealth or importance of the guests; that they tenderlove and respect to their elders; that they do not crave solitude and privacy, butwish to be surrounded by friends and loved ones; etc. etc. Yet, any singlestatement could probably be disputed upon authoritative grounds. (Forexample, if a religiously inclined student from America should tour India,visiting ashrams and schools., meeting yogis, swamis and renunciates of



various faiths, be would be certain to report that Indians do crave solitude, thatsilence and solitude are important in fostering the spirit of contemplation that isan inherent part of the Indian character!)

Hilda Wernher's contacts were not confined to family, friends and servantseither. She met royalty, business men, scientists, merchants, outcastes, lepers,women in purdah women doctors, those who were militant workers for socialreform, young intellectuals, government officials, etc. She learned of theprogress being made against caste restrictions in other parts of India, but shealso discovered, through several personal experiences, how difficult it is to takethe firs step toward breaking them down f one happens to live in a conservativecommunity.

Eastern Hospitality

All her experiences with Easter hospitality were pleasant. With Rashid andMary Ann she visited high caste Brahmans who could not eat with them butprepared delicious meals (though they could never again use the vessels orgoblets used by the Muslim guests, nor even wash the things in their ownhouse) and the host served them himself as an added courtesy. They noted thatonce, at a dinner especially prepared for a few select guests, rustic friends froma village were accorded a warm welcome when they appeared unexpectedly,the meal was delayed until they had caught up on previous courses, and thehost "was not a shade more polite to the Ministers and ourselves than to therather coarse, intruding youngsters."

She remarks that few Western hosts or hostesses could rise to the occasion withsuch perfect tact, and adds, "Every Oriental I have met would behave like that.The guest is sacred. Rashid, tired and wanting to rest, will smile at visitors atevery time of day or night, minister to their comforts, take them about, and soon. Mrs. Ram Chandra, Lavanyia or any other lady will cheerfully prepare afull meal for an unexpected visitor exactly thirty minutes after the family mealis over, even if she wants to go out or to rest. And an Indian meal is not aWestern one! To begin with, there are no leftovers in the house, owing to the



tropical climate and the Hindu fastidiousness. When the family and servantshave eaten, what remains goes to the sweeper. The next meal must be preparedanew. In addition to this, our makeshifts of cold luncheons would never satisfyeither Indian guest or host. Cold food is no food at all-or good only forWesterners, who are crazy anyway, poor things!

"So the unexpected guest, loved or unloved, much thought of or despised, isserved a complete meal the preparation of which takes hours. Suppose an hourafter he leaves there is another unexpected guest? Another meal is prepared,uncomplainingly, cheerfully."

When hospitality is extended to the poor the same rules of courtesy prevail.During certain festivals, and also at times sacred to individual families, the dayis marked by feeding the poor. "This is a very beautiful custom, in India as wellas in other oriental lands. Whether funeral or wedding, funeral pyre or birth,one feeds the poor; according to wealth and status one does so in tens, hundredsor thousands." When such an occasion arose for this Indian family, Hilda sawhuge cauldrons set up in the yard by the caterer and his staff, and was asked toinspect all the supplies. Because they were feeding Muslim poor that day, theseincluded two legs of mutton "of superior size and quality." When shecommented on the fact that this was finer meat than they ever had on their owntable, and asked where it could be gotten, she was told, "You cannot get it inthe ordinary way, Mother. The best animals are reserved for such occasions.Why do you voice astonishment? Was not 'grand' the word you used? What isgrand in it? Do not quests always get the best, especially guests on suchoccasions?" This reminded her of experiences in other parts of the world whereguests were not only seated according to protocol but fed according to rank too.

Those Peculiar Customs

Whose customs are peculiar? After reading this book you may hesitate toanswer. Westerners say Hindus are unclean because they eat with their fingersand often live in smelly surroundings, near open sewers, etc. Hindus sayWesterners are unclean because they use utensils which others before them



have used, and which may not have been properly cleaned (whereas a Hindualways sees that his hands are clean), don't bathe more than on

East West 1946

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Transcript of East West 1946