Page:A Collection of Esoteric Writings.djvu/143

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is Purusha beyond the Prakriti, or in other words, Akshara. Latent spirit is never referred to as Maha Iswara. Please read the verse quoted below, which distinctly states that Maha Iswara is the spirit beyond Prakriti when the latter is layed.*[1]

Void is a fictitious name to the Aryan Rishis, who knew the omnipresence of the soul, and that void they destroyed by filling it up. Moreover, there is no void in nature, vide the maxim "Nature hates vacuum." At present we desist to answer your other points, till we have your reply to this. As the subject is very serious and important, we entreat you to discuss the points calmly and dispassionately; without this mood of mind, one cannot penetrate into the esoteric philosophy of India. Your present opinions are not esoteric, they are rather exoteric.

SWAMI OF ALMORA.

Almora, 22nd April 1883.

Editor's Note.—We sincerely regret that such should be the opinion of the Swami of Almora. But since we know neither himself, nor the religion or school of philosophy he belongs to, we may perhaps repeat with him, "It does not, however, matter much" whether he agrees with us or not, for practical (esoteric and initiated) Vedantists have found our opinions correct and in perfect harmony with their own. There are nearly as many interpretations of the esoteric meaning of certain words we have

  1. * We beg to be explained the hidden meaning of this really incomprehensible sentence. "Latent spirit is never referred to as Maha Iswara," (a term we, at any rate, never used,) while the Sanskrit verse "states that Maha Iswara is the spirit beyond Prakriti, when the latter is layed." Now does the learned Swami mean to say that the spirit beyond differentiated matter is active? It cannot mean anything else, for otherwise the two assumptions would contradict each other most absurdly and would be suicidal; and if he does mean that which he says—viz., that Maha Iswara (if the latter is identified here with Parabrahma), the spirit beyond" Prakriti becomes active since it is called Maha Iswara, which it would not be were it latent—then, we are sorry to say to the learned Paramahansa that he does not know what he is talking about. He is no Esoteric Adwaitee and—we close the discussion as becoming quite useless.—Ed.
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