Vol 4 Page 573

“ESOTERIC BUDDHISM”

[The Theosophist, Vol. IV, No. 10, July, 1883, p. 253]

Mr. A. P. Sinnett, F.T.S., author of The Occult World, has in the press of Messrs. Trübner and Co. a new volume of Asiatic Esotericism, to which he gives the above title, and which is destined to create a much wider interest than his other work. Its great novelty consists in its being an exposition of certain tenets of the secret doctrine of Tibetan Buddhism—that of the Arhats which, as our readers know, is but another name for the “World Religion” or Occult Doctrine underlying all the ancient faiths of mankind. It

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is the key alike to the veiled language of the Parsee, Hindu, Buddhist, Babylonian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Grecian, Roman, and all other Scriptures. He who masters it perfectly will comprehend the essence of whatsoever religion has been evolved by humanity as the vehicle for its highest spiritual concepts. It would be exaggeration to say that the reader of Mr. Sinnett’s two books may count upon finding anything more than a glimpse at this Wisdom Religion, for he is but a beginner in this branch of study. Yet, at the same time, it must be conceded that he has, under especially favouring circumstances, been able to get a clearer insight into some portions of this occult philosophy, and permitted to express it in plainer terms than any other author of modern times. The world-wide circulation of The Occult World—of which three editions have been sold already—is at once an evidence of the general interest now felt in these subjects, and a guarantee of the success which awaits the new, and more important, volume.

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