Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine. Volume I. September 1887-February 1888.Various
Religion
Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine. Volume I. September 1887-February 1888.
Various
Theosophy -- Periodicals
_International Brotherhood._—When a Mussulman and a Christian swear
mutual friendship, and pledge themselves to be brothers, their two
formulas differ somewhat. The Moslem says: “Thy mother shall be my
mother, my father thy father, my sister thy hand maid, and thou
shalt be my brother.” To which the Christian answers: “Thy mother
and sister shall be my hand-maidens, thy wife shall be my wife, and
my wife shall be thy dear sister.”—_Amen._
_Brave as a Lion._—The highest compliment—in appearance—paid to
one’s courage; a comparison with a bad-smelling wild-beast—in
reality. The recognition, also, of the superiority of animal over
human bravery, considered as a virtue.
_A Sheep._—A weak, silly fellow, figuratively, an insulting,
contemptuous epithet among laymen; but one quite flattering among
churchmen, who apply it to “the people of God” and the members of
their congregations, comparing them to _sheep_ under the guidance of
the lamb.
_The Code of Honour._—In France—to seduce a wife and kill her
husband. There, offended honour can feel satisfied only with blood;
here, a wound inflicted upon the offender’s pocket suffices.
_The Duel as a Point of Honour._—The duel being an institution of
Christendom and civilization, neither the old Spartans, nor yet the
Greeks or Romans knew of it, as they were only uncivilized
heathens.—(_See Schopenhauer._)
_Forgive and Forget._—“We should freely forgive, but forget rarely,”
says Colton. “I will not be revenged, and this I owe to my enemy;
but I will _remember_, and this I owe to myself.” This is real
practical wisdom. It stands between the ferocious “Eye for eye, and
tooth for tooth” of the Mosaic Law, and the command to turn the left
cheek to the enemy when he has smitten you on the right. Is not the
latter a direct encouraging of sin?
_Practical Wisdom._—On the tree of silence hangs the fruit of peace.
The secret thou wouldst not tell to thine enemy, tell it not to thy
friend.—(_Arabic._)
_Civilised Life._—Crowded, noisy and full of vital power, is modern
Society to the eye of matter; but there is no more still and silent,
empty and dreary desert than that same Society to the spiritual eye
of the Seer. Its right hand freely and lavishly bestows ephemeral
but costly pleasures, while the left grasps greedily the leavings
and often grudges the necessities of show. All our social life is
the result and consequence of that unseen, yet ever present autocrat
and despot, called _Selfishness_ and _Egotism_. The strongest will
becomes impotent before the voice and authority of _Self_.
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LUCIFER
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VOL. 1. LONDON, NOVEMBER 15TH, 1887. NO. 3.
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“LET EVERY MAN PROVE HIS OWN WORK.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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