Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I
David Hume · en
The Indians have also a sect of philosophizers in the Brachmans[144]
who propose to themselves an independent life and abstain from all
things which have had life and from [Sidenote: p. 46.] meats prepared
by fire. They are content with fruits[145] but do not gather even
these, but live on those fallen on the earth and drink the water of the
river Tagabena.[146] But they spend their lives naked, saying that the
body has been made by God as a garment to the soul. They say that God
is light; not such light as one sees, nor like the sun and fire, but
that it is to them the Divine Word, not that which is articulated, but
that which comes from knowledge, whereby the hidden mysteries of nature
are seen by the wise. But this light which they say is (the) Word, the
God, they declare that they themselves as Brachmans alone know, because
they alone put away vain thinking which is the last tunic of the soul.
They scorn death; but are ever naming God in their own tongue, as we
have said above, and send up hymns to Him. But neither are there women
among them, nor do they beget children.[147] Those, however, who have
desired a life like theirs, after they [Sidenote: p. 47.] have crossed
over to the opposite bank of the river,[148] remain there always and
never return; but they also are called Brachmans. Yet they do not
pass their life in the same way; for there are women in the country,
from whom those dwelling there are begotten and beget. But they say
that this Word, which they style God, is corporeal, girt with the
body outside Himself, as if one should wear a garment of sheepskins;
but that the body which is worn, when taken off, appears visible to
the eye.[149] But the Brachmans declare that there is war in the body
worn by them [and they consider their body full of warring elements]
against which body as if arrayed against foes, they fight as we have
before made plain. And they say that all men are captives to their own
congenital enemies, to wit, the belly and genitals, greediness, wrath,
joy, grief, desire and the like. But that he alone goes to God who has
triumphed[150] over these. Wherefore the Brachmans make Dandamis, to
whom Alexander of Macedon paid a visit, divine[151] as one who had won
the war in the body. But they accuse Calanus of having impiously fallen
away from their philosophy. But the Brachmans putting away the body,
like [Sidenote: p. 48.] fish who have leaped from the water into pure
air, behold the Sun.[152]
22. _About the Druids among the Celts._