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A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga846
the day. From the early days of written or legendary history, Metempsychosis
has been the accepted belief of many of the most intelligent of the race. It
is found underlying the magnificent civilization of ancient Egypt, and from
thence it traveled to the Western world being held as the highest truth by
such teachers as Pythagoras, Empedocles, Plato, Virgil and Ovid. Plato’s
Dialogues are full of this teaching. The Hindus have always held to it. The
Persians, inspired by their learned Magi, accepted it implicitly. The ancient
Druids, and Priests of Gaul, as well as the ancient inhabitants of Germany,
held to it. Traces of it may be found in the remains of the Aztec, Peruvian
and Mexican civilizations.
The Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, the Roman Mysteries, and the
Inner Doctrines of the Cabbala of the Hebrews all taught the Truths of
Metempsychosis. The early Christian Fathers; the Gnostic and Manichaeans
and other sects of the Early Christian people, all held to the doctrine. The
modern German philosophers have treated it with the greatest respect, if
indeed they did not at least partially accept it. Many modern writers have
considered it gravely, and with respect. The following quotations will give
an idea of “how the wind is blowing” in the West:
“Of all the theories respecting the origin of the soul, Metempsychosis
seems to me the most plausible and therefore the one most likely to throw
light on the question of a life to come.”—Frederick H. Hedge.
“It would be curious if we should find science and philosophy taking up
again the old theory of metempsychosis, remodelling’ it to suit our present
modes of religious and scientific thought, and launching it again on the wide
ocean of human belief. But stranger things have happened in the history of
human opinions.”—James Freeman Clarke.
“If we could legitimately determine any question of belief by the number
of its adherents, the——would apply to metempsychosis more fitly than to
any other. I think it is quite as likely to be revived and to come to the front
as any rival theory.”—Prof. Wm. Knight.