DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1233#0007
ISIBLE Al
some cases of close metaphysical reasoning. But
dogmatism meets us with a story which is on
the face of it manifestly impossible, while
speculation moves chiefly along entirely
materialistic lines, and endeavours to arrive at
a satisfactory result by ignoring half of the
phenomena for which we have to account.
Neither dogmatism nor speculation approaches
the problem from a practical point of view, as
a matter which can be studied and investigated
like any other science.
Theosophy comes forward with a theory based
upon entirely different foundations. While in
no way depreciating the knowledge to be gained
either by study of the ancient scriptures or by
philosophical reasoning, it nevertheless regards
the constitution and the evolution of man as
matters, not of speculation, but of simple investi-
gation—not of vague theory, but of definite fact.
Its statement is perfectly clear; the past, the
present, and the future of man may be examined
at first-hand by all who will take the trouble to
qualify themselves for the study. When so
examined, they prove to be parts of a magnificent
scheme, coherent and readily comprehensible—
a scheme which, while it agrees with and explains
much of the old religious teaching, is yet in no
way dependent on it, since it can be verified at
every step by the use of the inner faculties which,
some cases of close metaphysical reasoning. But
dogmatism meets us with a story which is on
the face of it manifestly impossible, while
speculation moves chiefly along entirely
materialistic lines, and endeavours to arrive at
a satisfactory result by ignoring half of the
phenomena for which we have to account.
Neither dogmatism nor speculation approaches
the problem from a practical point of view, as
a matter which can be studied and investigated
like any other science.
Theosophy comes forward with a theory based
upon entirely different foundations. While in
no way depreciating the knowledge to be gained
either by study of the ancient scriptures or by
philosophical reasoning, it nevertheless regards
the constitution and the evolution of man as
matters, not of speculation, but of simple investi-
gation—not of vague theory, but of definite fact.
Its statement is perfectly clear; the past, the
present, and the future of man may be examined
at first-hand by all who will take the trouble to
qualify themselves for the study. When so
examined, they prove to be parts of a magnificent
scheme, coherent and readily comprehensible—
a scheme which, while it agrees with and explains
much of the old religious teaching, is yet in no
way dependent on it, since it can be verified at
every step by the use of the inner faculties which,