347
This does by no means show that the Dhyan Chohans can, like the so-called personal God, be charged with having created the iron-chain of causation which produces results, to some—pleasurable, to others—painful.
Mr. Maitland is not more fortunate in his next objection against the doctrine of Dhyan Chohans. Stated shortly, his argument comes to this: Esoteric Doctrine and Occultism are perfectly useless, since "the highest, or rather only, objects offered us for worship, are our own perishable selves—in an advanced stage of evolution, it is true, but a stage, which is so far from involving our perpetuation, so far from securing to us that 'gift of God which is eternal life'—that the attainment of it is but the prelude to inevitable extinction,—extinction not of mere existence of manifested being but or being itself." After reading the above, one feels inclined to drop the pen in despair! Evidently, Mr. Sinnett has written his book in vain for readers of his Vice-President's stamp! Is the idea, expressed above, that Nirvana, the final goal of man, is nothing but annihilation justified by the teachings of "Esoteric Buddhism?" For, it is stated on page 163:—"All that words can convey is that Nirvana is a sublime state of conscious rest in omniscience." Is the state of Nirvana which is attempted to be shadowed forth by Mr. Sinnett, in the above words, nothing but annihilation? If so, the sooner it is recognised that language has ceased to be the medium of communication between man and man,—the better. It is perfectly plain that Mr. Maitland has opened his critical volley on Mr. Sinnett's devoted head, without even taking the trouble to acquaint himself sufficiently with the subject of his criticism, and must, therefore, submit to the censure which such reckless conduct deservedly calls for.
Considering the cloudy mist which seems to surround the subject of Dhyan Chohans, it may not be out of place to subjoin a few observations thereon from the Hindu, or rather the Adwaita, stand-point—the latter being identical with Esoteric "Buddhism." I wish it, however, to be distinctly
