IN RE ADWAITA PHILOSOPHY.
Will the Editor satisfy us by moving the assertion that "matter is as eternal and indestructible as spirit?" The assertion was made in the Editor's note to a correspondent's letter on 'Karma' (vide page 89 of the Theosophist for January 1883). You should bear in mind that we are speaking of matter and spirit beyond the present developed form, or in the stage of perfect Laya*[1] according to Patanjali's second and third Sutras, or, from the stand-point of the Esoteric Theosophy. Could you kindly explain what is meant by Satta Samanya (सत्तासामान्य) and Parampadam (परमपदम्) of the Aryan adepts, Nirvana of the Buddhas, and the Philosopher's stone of the votaries of other occult philosophies? As far as we understand the Aryan Theosophy, when the Mahapralaya takes place, matter is absorbed by, or dissolved into, Mahat-tattwam (महत् तत्त्वम) and the same again into Prakriti, and the Prakiti finally into Pûrûsha or Parampadam.
In the same way of the components of the mysterious letter Om (अ) A (अ) is dissolved into U (उ) and the raja part of U (उ) into M (म्) You will thus see that matter and force can both be layed (or dissolved) ultimately into the Spirit which alone remains as "True," and should be called Eternal—which term neither matter nor force deserve—being liable to evolution from, and dissolution into, Spirit—or the Absolute. As you are well acquainted with the doctrines of the Adwaita Vedanta, it is needless to write more on this subject.
We would, however, call your attention to page 99 of the same number of the Theosophist, and entreat yon to remove our doubt by establishing scientifically a certain point. Who was it that died as stated in the article "Can the Double murder?" According to our belief man exists in a three-fold way; 1st, externally; 2nd, internally; and 3rd, spiritually.
- ↑ * Laya, or a state of absolute dissolution, annihilation of all substance.—Ed.
