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in their manifestations or in their immediate causes, that they can never unravel the real mystery of the manifested Cosmos or of the human Spirit (7th principle); and that that all they can teach was long ago known to the Eastern Occultists. And probably there is another reason why the Spiritualists and the Theosophists of the West do not treat the teachings embodied in Mr. Sinnett's "Occult World" and "Esoteric Buddhism" with the serious attention that they deserve. Western nations are accustomed to look upon the Easterns as their inferiors in every respect. In their opinion, as it seems, muscular strength is always co-existent with intellectual power and spiritual insight; and European political ascendency means and includes intellectual and spiritual superiority. Hence they are too proud to admit that there are mystics in the East who know a good deal more about nature and her laws than all their scientists, philosophers, Spiritualists and religious teachers put together. The discovery of Mahatmas in the East is almost a nightmare to them; and they would feel very happy to get rid of it as soon as possible. Therefore instead of carefully examining the theories propounded in Mr. Sinnett's book, they are trying their best to ferret out a few facts and incidents which will enable them to disprove the existence of our Mahatmas, or render it extremely doubtful; or if both these courses be found impracticable, to show the Sadhus extremely inferior to themselves. Several prominent Spiritualists have already been giving absurd, superficial and one-sided accounts of the doctrines contained in Mr. Sinnett's book apparently with a view to allay the fears of orthodox Spiritualists, to soothe their own feelings and to vindicate the importance and incomparable grandeur of the "New Dispensation" ushered into the civilized and enlightened West by spirit-rapping and table-turning; while some other Spiritualists are probably consoling themselves with the idea that even if the Mahatmas should be proved to have an actual existence (outside of Madam Blavatsky) they cannot be anything more than spirits (Pisachas!), or, at best—strong physical mediums. Under such circumstances
