62 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
be produced, why is not a harvest possible from seed 
ground into flour ? And if you mean by non-existence 
the absence of the seed, I would answer, that non- 
existence can produce no variety; but the works of 
nature are distinguished by an endless variety, and 
therefore your proposition is confuted. From hence 
it is plain, seeing existence cannot arise from non- 
existence as a cause, that the first cause must be 
sought for elsewhere. 
“ Goutumu now engages the Yedantees, some of 
whom maintain that Brumhu is the only cause of all 
things ; others that the universe is a form of Brumhu ; 
and others that the universe is a deception proceeding 
from Brumhu; thus excluding every assisting and 
efficient cause, Brumhu excepted. Goutumu, in op- 
position to these ideas, says, that an assisting cause 
must be acknowledged ; for, unless there were such an 
assisting cause, we should not see so many changes 
and fluctuations in the affairs of the universe. The 
Vedantee says this must be attributed to the will of 
God. Goutumu replies, you then admit a something 
in addition to God, that is his will ; and this involves 
a contradiction of your own opinion, and establishes 
two causes. If you could admit, for the sake of argu- 
ment, these two causes, then I would urge that these 
changes arise only from religion and irreligion ; and to 
affirm that the degrees of religion and irreligion in the 
world are appointed by the will of God, would be to 
attach an unchanging destiny to these things, which 
cannot be admitted. It must therefore be concluded 
that the fruits of human actions are the causes of the 
