7rcTIX1xP

Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism424
the logical conclusion of certain theories starting from a certain premise.
Then metaphysics sprang into existence in response to the needs of men’s
minds. Metaphysics is the name given to the science of the inquiry into the
“reality” of things—the reality as compared with the “seeming”—the seen,
as compared with the unseen—the subjective as distinguished from the
objective—an inquiry into the Absolute, in fact. Metaphysics tried to find
“the thing in itself,” while Theology contented itself with assuming a Deity
(usually a personal God), and attempting to reason out the attributes, nature,
etc., of that Deity, and the relation of the Universe to that Deity, who was
assumed to be its Creator. Later on, came the material or physical scientists,
who attempted to explain the Riddle of the Universe upon a purely physical
or material basis. The theologians, metaphysicians, and physical scientists
of the Western world have fought each other’s theories vigorously, and
for a time were very far from each other. The Oriental thinkers, however,
saw in theology, metaphysics, and science only varying phases of the same
subject, and so the friction was avoided. In passing, however, let us say
that the advanced theologians are fast coming to an understanding with
the advanced metaphysicians, and the advanced scientists are meeting
the other two on many points. They eventually will agree in the main, the
principal points of difference now being mere words—they are searching
after the same Thing, and must eventually meet.
The theologian; the metaphysician; the philosopher; the scientist; each
assumed the necessity of there being “something underneath” Life and the
Universe. Their minds could not get away from that idea—they found it a
logical necessity—something forced upon them by their Intellect. Some
thought that this “something” was an extra-universal thing—a something
outside of Life and the Universe, and which “created” it. Others thought that
the “something” was the “Reality” of Life and the Universe, as distinguished
from the appearance or partial-reality, but which was not apart from the
Universe, but the soul or moving spirit within and of it. The theologians
called it God; the metaphysicians called it Mind, Reality, Actuality, Truth, and