NOTE.—The whole of this letter should be carefully studied, and in particular the point that Karma brings its attacks just on the point or persons where or by whom stress has been laid on phenomena. It may be accepted as almost axiomatic by our members, that if any group or single person has paid too undue attention to phenomena, to astralism, psychism, or whatever it is called, there will develop the next trouble or attack upon the Society. It has been authoritatively stated by one of the great Beings who are behind this movement, that _it must prosper by moral worth and philosophy, and not by phenomena_. Let us well beware then. Phenomena, powers—or _siddhis_ as the Hindu say—are only incidental. Our real object is to spread Universal Brotherhood, in which task we necessarily explain phenomena, but the Society is not a _Hall for Occultism_, and that has also been asserted by an adept in India in reply to letters written him by certain well-known Englishmen who desired to establish a Branch then which should control all literature and phenomena. There are no secrets to be given out to any select persons, for no one receives a secret inaccessible to the rest, _until he has acquired the right to it_, and the proper sense to know when and to whom it is to be given out.—[ED.] WHAT IS THE UDGITHA? JAMESTOWN, April 16th, 1886. DEAR BROTHER:—Will you kindly explain, through THE PATH, what is to be understood by the _Udgitha_, or hymn of praise to Brahm? With best wishes for the success of your enterprise, I remain, Fraternally yours, L. J. This is a vital question. It may have arisen from the peculiarity of the word inquired about, or it may be that our brother really knows the importance of the point. We refer him to the article upon OM in the April number. Om is the Udgitha, and OM has been explained in that article. Read between the lines; and read also the “Upanishad Notes” in this month’s PATH. In the _Maitrayana-Brahmana-Upanishad_, (Pr. VI), it is said: “The Udgitha, called Pranava, the leader, the bright, the sleepless, free from old age and death, three footed, (waking, dream, and deep sleep), consisting of three letters and likewise to be known as fivefold, is placed in the cave of the heart.” This is the Self. Not the mere body or the faculties of the brain, but the Highest Self. And that must be meditated on, or worshipped, with a constant meditation. _Hymn of praise_, then, means that we accept the existence of that Self and aspire to or adore Him. Therefore, it is said again, in the same Upanishad: