m RELIGIOUS SECTS 



The style of the whole Bjjeic is of this kind : straggling allusions to the de* 

 ceits of 3/rtyr7, to the errors of other sects, and the superiority of their own, 

 being strung together with very little method : it will not, however, be neces- 

 sary to analyse any more of the passages, and they will become clear by refer- 

 ence to the general view of the system, with which we shall be furnished from 

 the Suk^k Nidhdn : it may be sufficient here to observe, that the doctrines of 

 KaUr^ are said to be conveyed in four-fold language, or that of Mdi/d, Atrnd^ 

 Man or intellect, and the Vedas, 



Ramaini the Qtu..'— {Mat/as^ account of the first being, and of herself) What is his 

 vcolour, form, and shape ; what other person has beheld hhn; the OmJcdra did not witness his 

 beginning, how then can I explain it ; can you say from what root he sprang ; he is neither 

 the stars, nor sun, nor moon ; he has neither father, nor mother : he is neither water, nor 

 earth, nor fire, nor air : what name or description can I give of him : to him is neither day 

 nor night, nor family nor caste ; he resides on the summit of space ; a spark of his substance 

 was once manifest, of which emanation I was the bride; the bride of that being, who needs 

 no other. 



Sabda the 56th.-~To Ali and Rama we owe our existence, and should, therefore, 

 shew similar tenderness to all that live : of what avail'is it to shave your head, prostrate 

 yourself on the ground, or immerse your body in the stream ; whilst you shed blood you 

 call yourself pure, and boast of virtues that you never display : of what benefit is cleaning 

 your "mouth, counting your beads, performing ablution, and bowing yourself in temples, when, 

 •whilst you mutter your prayers, or joui-ney to Mecca and Medina, deceitfulness is in your 

 lieart. The Hindu fasts every eleventh day, the Musselman during the Ramazan. Who 

 formed the remaining months and days that you should venerate but one. If the Creator 

 dwell in Tabernacles, whose residence is the universe ? who has beheld Rama seated amongst 

 images, or found him at the shrine to which the Pilgrim has directed his steps ? The city 

 of Hara is to the east, that of Ali to the west; but explore your own heart, for there 

 are both Rama and Karim. Who talks of the lies of the Veds and Tehs ; those who un- 

 derstand not their essence. Behold but one in all things, it is the second that leads you 

 astray Every man and woman that has ever been born is of the same nature with yourself. 



