The Law that abides and changes not, ages long,
The Eternal and Nature-Born—these things be strong?”
—The Bacche. Euripides (translated by Gilbert Murray).
[6] “The elements of faith, like the flowers, appear to have their roots in eternity.”—Chang-Ming (a Chinese monk).
[7] “Were it possible for a Yogi and a Rahat from India, a Greek philosopher from one of the schools holding the power of intuition, an ascetic from the wilds of Syria or the mountains of Egypt, a heretic from the school at Alexandria, a monk from one of the monasteries of Europe, a schoolman of the Middle Ages, and a modern German metaphysician of the school of Schelling to meet together, and were it possible for them to forget their sectarian subtleties and nice distinctions, they would find that there was a vast mass of speculation about the main principles of which they were agreed. They would be of one mind relative to the four following propositions: (1) That there is an objective potency of intellect; (2) That this potency can be rendered subjective by concentrated thought, ascetic exercises, or determined effort; (3) That this potency can only be acquired by the initiated; (4) That the initiated may enlarge this potency to a limitless extent. As to the efficient cause of the potency, there would be a difference of opinion; some would ascribe it to intuition alone, while others would attribute it to an alliance with higher spirits or with God; but of its existence there would be no doubt.”—Eastern Monachism. Spence Hardy.
“For now I know, by what within me stirs,
That I shall teach compassion unto men
And be a speechless world’s interpreter.”
—The Light of Asia. Sir Edwin Arnold.