Thoughts on the Metaphysics of TheosophyCalcutta Central Press Company, 1883 - 115 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Absolute according Adept aggregates animals Anthropomorphic Aryavarta Atheism Atoms become Brahma cause cognize Cohesion Colonel Olcott Comtism conceive conception Concrete Universe consequently constituents continue corpuscles Corpuscular Correlation Cosmic Forces Cosmos Doctrine dynamic emanations entity Essence Ether Evolution evolved exis experiences finite Force and Matter Force of Gravitation Fragments of Science Gravitation heat Hence Herbert Spencer hypothesis Ibid inert infinite series Infinite Space Infinity of Space influence knowledge manifestations Mass Material Universe Matter and Force Matter is Force metaphysical mind Moksha Molecules monistic moving in Space Mystery Nature non-existence occult ordinary Theist pervade phenomena Philosophy physical body Planets potential energy Potential Force Pre-Cosmic Period Primordial Substance Principles of Science produced Professor Jevons Professor Tyndall psychic radiated says Professor scientific scientists shewn soul Spencer stellar systems substance of Matter tence Theory Theosophy things tion truth ultimate particles ultimate units units of Matter Unseen Universe waves whole
Popular passages
Page 82 - EARTH, ocean, air, beloved brotherhood ! If our great Mother has imbued my soul With aught of natural piety to feel Your love, and recompense the boon with mine ; If dewy morn, and odorous noon, and even, With sunset and its gorgeous ministers, And solemn midnight's tingling silentness ; If autumn's hollow sighs in the sere wood, And winter robing with pure snow and crowns Of starry ice the grey grass and bare boughs...
Page 53 - None of the processes of nature, since the time when nature began, have produced the slightest difference in the properties of any molecule. We are therefore unable to ascribe either the existence of the molecules or the identity of their properties to the operation of any of the causes which we call natural.
Page 82 - Of starry ice the grey grass and bare boughs — If Spring's voluptuous pantings when she breathes Her first sweet kisses — have been dear to me ; If no bright bird, insect, or gentle beast, . I consciously have injured, but still loved And cherished these my kindred ; — then forgive This boast, beloved brethren, and withdraw No portion of your wonted favour now ! Mother of this unfathomable world, Favour my solemn song! for I have loved Thee ever, and thee only...
Page 35 - It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. For while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them, confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.
Page 30 - All that we know about motion is that it is a name for certain changes in the relations of our visual, tactile, and muscular sensations; and all that we know about matter is that it is the hypothetical substance of physical phenomena — the assumption of the existence of which is as pure a piece of metaphysical speculation as is that of the existence of the substance of mind.
Page 36 - I have noticed during years of self-observation that it is not in hours of clearness and vigor that this doctrine commends itself to my mind ; that in the presence of stronger and healthier thought it ever dissolves and disappears, as offering no solution of the mystery in which we dwell, and of which we form a part.
Page 28 - And however verbally intelligible may be the proposition that pressure and tension everywhere co-exist, yet we cannot truly represent to ourselves one ultimate unit of matter as drawing another while resisting it.
Page 81 - Strip it naked and you stand face to face with the notion that not alone the more ignoble forms of animalcular or animal life, not alone the nobler forms of the horse and lion, not alone the exquisite and wonderful mechanism of the human body, but that the human mind itself — emotion, intellect, will, and all their phenomena — were once latent in a fiery cloud.
Page 28 - ... what force is; but finds, on the contrary, that the more he thinks about it, the more he is baffled. Similarly, though analysis of mental actions may finally bring him down to sensations as the original materials out of which all thought is woven, he is none the forwarder; for he cannot in the least comprehend sensation — cannot even conceive how sensation is possible.
Page 34 - ... in Leyden jars and sold over counters : but the natural sense of man, in all times, if he will honestly apply his sense, proclaims it to be a living thing, — ah, an unspeakable, godlike thing; towards which the best attitude for us, after never so much science, is awe, devout prostration and humility of soul; worship if not in words, then in silence.