Cosmic Consciousness

n northern India in the township of Kapilavastu, in the year 556 B.C., acc

g that O Shaka Sama (signifying one born of wisdom and love)

rious mindedness and an insight into matters spiritual, which astonished a

t of his birth the young prince was able to speak, and that his

erpolated by a designing priesthood, we may yet conclude that a certain seriousness, and a deep sympathy with the sorro

ha was subject to meditation and that these

hat he must renounce his right to his father's kingdom and go into the jungle, becoming a hermit, and devoting his life to fasting, prayer and meditation, in order to fit himself for the work of preaching the "way of liberation," which

the superficialities of the wealthy and ostentatious court i

ound no sense of comfort or permanent satisfaction in his own immunity from want and sorrow. He pondered long upon the way to become f

given to those who would "find the way to God," and so to thi

gth being rewarded; and "there arose within him the eye to perceive the great and noble truths which had been handed down; the k

saviours of history, is, we believe, clue to the fact that no one individual may hope to rise so immeasurabl

ously stated, not because Illumination is purchasable at so terrible a price, but because his desire to know transce

ete and of such fullness, as that attained by Buddha, and no instan

hat any such number of persons are like unto Buddha, nor do we contend that this is any evide

ve, sooner or later, at the inevitable conclusion that all illum

no sorrow, and he persistently sought to inaugurate such systems of conduct and such a standard

cry, well knowing that the mind is the fertile field w

ind. If anyone speak or act from a corrupt mind, suffer

a doctrine of Buddha, albeit, he seems also to have sought to make clear to hi

st as far as identity is concerned, but this conception is not consistent with the most reliable report

n, it is inconceivable that the illumined ones should

ma told his disciples that he had alread

ssions; is released from

ory," said Lord Buddha

isciples after his physical dissolution, plainly indicating that far from bei

s of a pure life, Buddh

l rejoice in the next; in both worlds has he joy. He

age (rahan), Buddha is

nquered all his passions, and

e physical body. In other words, as we of this century under

eed, and these commandments are, as we have previously observed, the same that Moses laid down for t

write the ethical code which we now find submitted as the "Co

not, however, underst

in the sense that "G

y have had in mind the same fundamental idea which all those expressing cosmic consciousness have had, that of being a

ism, are an ethical and moral code for the MORTAL consciousness, rather t

mal whatever, from the m

shalt n

t violate the w

speak no word

nk wine, nor anythin

all anger, hatred a

in idle and vain talk, bu

ot covet thy n

, nor revenge, nor malice, nor the desi

follow the doctr

enter Nirvana-the rest of Buddha." But let it be understood that Gautama, the Lord Buddha, did not form

t Gautama, like Jesus, was an evolutionist, and not a revolutionist. He came "not to destroy, but to fulfill," and so Buddha paid no attention to the code of morals as it stood, but merely contented himsel

of the illusions of maya, even as the elephant is held in captivity by so w

ng of the commandments will not bring about mukti. Many a man follows the letter of the law, and escapes prison, but if he does this through fear of punishment, and

t about fifty years in preaching, in healing the sick, in conversing with exalted beings i

his disciples, a hope that they would realize that he still

nd after a moment's silent meditation, he addressed himself t

, do not believe that the Buddha has left you, and ceased to dwell among you. Do not t

Buddha assured his followers that he had already attained, did

any suggestion of expecting or desiring personal worship. This, the

or others the happiness he had gained for himself, and to this end he was eager to leave to his friends and disci

lf, is wholly unbelievable in the light of a study of comp

aimed his birthright of godhood, is not synonymous with

omes in time merged into actual worship, whereas the teacher, if he or she be truly illumined, seeks only to

lumination (entered into cosmic consciousness), were particularly evident i

eriousness

d compassion with t

ness for all

nothingness of cast

on that he was in

etism and illumina

ality-released from the "whee

where he was to pass out

tation. The intellectual powe

h desire to

tience, and insight into the hearts of all forms of life, ea