We will now give our reasons for thinking so.
The learned Thomas Maurice tells us that:
The Indians had, in remote ages, in their system of theology, the sidereal ladder of seven gates, which described, in a symbolical manner, the ascending and descending of the souls of men.[45:1]
We are also informed by Origen that:
This descent (i. e., the descent of souls from heaven to enter into some body), was described in a symbolical manner, by a ladder which was represented as reaching from heaven to earth, and divided into seven stages, at each of which was figured a gate; the eighth gate was at the top of the ladder, which belonged to the sphere of the celestial firmament.[45:2]
That souls dwell in the Galaxy was a thought familiar to the Pythagoreans, who gave it on their master's word, that the souls that crowd there, descend and appear to men as dreams.[45:3]
The fancy of the Manicheans also transferred pure souls to this column of light, whence they could come down to earth and again return.[45:4]
Paintings representing a scene of this kind may be seen in works of art illustrative of Indian Mythology.
Maurice speaks of one, in which he says: