Auld lang syne. Second series : $b My Indian friendsMüller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)
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Auld lang syne. Second series : $b My Indian friends
Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)
India; Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max), 1823-1900 -- Friends and associates
Ideas like these, very beautiful when clothed in the beautiful language
of ancient India, seemed never to be absent from the mind of my friend,
though modified by the Christian atmosphere in which he had learnt to
breathe. He too would have been happiest in the forest, on the banks of
the Ganges—a stone for his couch, the deer for his friends, wild fruits
for his food, lost in his God, who was more to him than a mere Jehovah,
more also than the Brahman of the multitude. He might have called him
Brahman, hidden under the features, or under the Pratîka (_persona_) of
a father. He himself, however, had soared higher and discovered the true
Brahman in himself, and with all these exalted ideas he had found rest
and happiness in the humble faith of a Christian. With him Christianity
would have been perfectly compatible with Indian philosophy,
particularly the Vedânta, if only properly understood. Men such as Dr.
Henry More were Christian Platonists at Cambridge; why then should there
be no Christian Vedântists, such as Nehemiah Goreh was in the beginning
of his career? Later in life the bold eagle became tired, his pinions
faltered, and he yearned for his nest. He is at rest now from all his
doubts and earthly troubles. His name is known to few only, and will
soon be forgotten altogether, like the names of many who were martyrs to
their convictions on earth. He had the true courage of his convictions,
and in my memory he will always retain his place very near to Stanley,
Colenso, and a few others who shall remain unnamed. If he changed later
in life, I feel sure that he changed honestly, and that he was as true
in his ecstatic adorations (Upâsanâ) as he had been in his philosophy
(G_ñ_âna).
Keshub Chunder Sen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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