Theosophy and Life's Deeper Problems: Being the Four Convention Lectures Delivered in Bombay at the Fortieth Anniversary of the Theosophical Society, December, 1915Besant, Annie
Religion
Theosophy and Life's Deeper Problems: Being the Four Convention Lectures Delivered in Bombay at the Fortieth Anniversary of the Theosophical Society, December, 1915
Besant, Annie
Theosophy
As you grow more and more in stature, your growth becomes more rapid.
And at last, a time comes, when you say: "I have had enough of this;
I no longer care for power--it ends in disappointment; I no longer
care for wealth--it is a burden rather than a joy; I no longer care
for the things that break in the enjoyment; I no longer care for the
things that perish in the using." And then there sets in the discontent
with the transitory goods of this world; there sets in that which is
called Vairāgya--dispassion. The objects no longer attract; and then
the man that has this Divine discontent within him begins to seek for
the permanent, begins to look for that which will satisfy; and there
is nothing that can satisfy the Divine Spirit in man save God Himself,
the Illimitable Life and Love. And so, as an English poet wrote--an
old-fashioned poet:
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
Let me, He said, pour on him all I can;
Let the world's riches which extended lie
Contract into a span. Then strength first made its way,
Then beauty followed, wealth and power and pleasure.
At last, when all was gone, God made a stay.
Perceiving that at last of all his treasure
Rest in the bottom lay.
For if I should, said He,
Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature,
So both should losers be. Then let him keep the rest,
But keep them in repining restlessness.
Let him be rich and weary, that at last,
If goodness move him not, yet restlessness
Shall toss him to my breast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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