The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

HALF-HOURS WITH FAMOUS MAHATMAS little man sat down to ruminate over lead piping, and solder at twopence a stick. During the summer of ’o7 I had little time to waste at number 60, and had almost forgotten about the Mahatma, who, so I had been told, had left England for America, when I received a card announcing his return, and asking me to be present at a general meeting. This I did, and as usual was more than bored. After business was over the Mahatma entered the room, all his sheep flocking round him to seek the turnips of his wisdom. On these occasions he would ask questions and select subjects upon which his disciples were supposed to write essays. One of these, I can still remember, was: “ How to help the helpless hands”; another was: ‘What is dis-satisfaction, and what is true satisfaction?” And the answer was: ‘‘ Love fixed on mortal things, without the knowledge of its source, increases vibration and creates dissatisfaction (‘mortal things’ is good]).” In his book, ‘‘ Sri Brahma Dhara,” which contains some of the most astonishing balderdash ever put in print, may be found his philosophy. This is a stewed-up hash of Yoga, Vedanta, and outrageous verbosity. ‘‘ Love,” he writes, “is the force of the magician Maya, and is the cause of all disorder” (it seems to be so even in his exalted position). ‘This force of love—in the state of circumgyration in the extended world— is the cause of all mental movements towards the feeling of easiness or uneasiness: but the mind enjoys eternal beatitude with perfect calmness, when the force of love is concentrated over the unlimited extension of silence” (‘silence’ is really choice !). 287