"Under the Stars of the East," she answered me, "the true eternal
Lights of the World."
After I was awake, a text in the Gospels was vividly brought to my mind:—"There was no room for then in the Inn." What is this Inn, I wondered, all the rooms of which are haunted, and in which the Christ cannot be born? And this open country under the eastern night,—is it not the same in which they were "abiding," to whom that Birth was first angelically announced?
—Atcham, Nov. 5, 1885
————— ** The solution of the enigma was afterwards recognised in an instruction, also imparted in sleep, in which it was said, "If Occultism were all, and held the key of heaven, there would be no need of Christ." (Ed.)
XXII. An Eastern Apologue
The following was read by me during sleep, in an old book printed in archaic type. As with many other things similarly read by me, I do not know whether it is to be found in any book:—
"After Buddha had been ten years in retirement, certain sages sent their disciples to him, asking him,—'What dost thou claim to be, Gotama?'
"Buddha answered them, 'I claim to be nothing.'
"Ten years afterwards they sent again to him, asking the same question, and again Buddha answered:—'I claim to be nothing.'
"Then after yet another ten years had passed, they sent a third time, asking, 'What dost thou claim to be, Gotama?'