34 



THE EEV. J. J. B. COLES, ON THEOSOPHY. 



evolution by every means in his power. So far as regards himself, 

 this evolution cannot be completed in one lifetime, and the 

 Theosophist therefore believes in Reincarnation. That part of man's 

 intelligent nature which reincarnates in successive personalities and 

 lives is called the Eeincarnating Ego. The spirit or monad has to 

 pass through all the stages of evolution, mineral, vegetable and 

 animal. In man, self-consciousness and moral responsibility are 

 attained, and the duty then at once arises to subordinate the 

 animal and passional part of the nature and to develop the spiritual, 

 so as to prepare for the next incarnation. At the change, which is 

 called death, the Eeincarnating Ego passes, not into any particular 

 place, like heaven or hell, but into a state of subjective consciousness 

 called Devachan, remaining thus for a longer or shorter period 

 according to the way in which the earth life has been passed. When 

 the time comes for it to take up another body the Ego again 

 incarnates, and this goes on till all experience has been gained, and 

 till by spiritual advancement the necessity for reincarnation ceases, 

 the ultimate destiny of the higher spiritual principle in man being 

 its conscious union with the Absolute, the Universal All. The whole 

 of this evolution and reincarnation are governed by law, for the 

 Theosophist does not believe in anything miraculous or supernatural. 

 This law is called Karma, and its meaning is that as a man sows so 

 shall he reap ; that every life depends on and has to work itself out 

 in accordance with what has been done in previous lives, and that 

 the whole Universe is one unbroken chain of cause and effect. It 

 is especially to be remembered that this holds good in the moral 

 and spiritual realms which are the reality, thought being the vital and 

 the moulding force. 



*' The great fundamental idea of Theosophy is universal brother- 

 hood, and this is based on the spiritual unity of man. The 

 Theosophical Society is the outward expression of Theosophy, and 

 the only pledge which is asked of its members is that they should 

 faithfully and loyally work, by thought and action, for the realization 

 of this brotherhood, which does not depend on race, sex^ creed, 

 caste, or colour, but on the imperishable spiritual unity of mankind." 



Theosophy teaches a profound Pantheism which recognises that 

 in manifestation intelligence is everywhere, guiding, moulding, 

 controlling matter. It holds that the devas of the Hindu and 

 the angels of the Christian have their places and work in the 

 Universe, but jealously guards from all limitations that source 

 of which the centre is everywhere and the circumference no- 

 where, in which the immeasurable universe is but as a grain of 

 sand, and which is yet the life of the spirit in man. 



In the matter of divine incarnation Theosophy teaches that 

 the Krishna of the Hindu, the Buddha of the Buddhist, the 



