DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0092
ON THE HINDOO RELIGION. lxxix
Thus far this bramhinical Confession of Faith. Its author has
scarcely noticed the amazing efficacy ascribed to religious abstrac-
tion, and the austerities practiced by anchorites, though the doc-
trine of the vedus evidently favours an ascetic life. Indeed,
retirement from the world and abstraction of mind, assisted by
bodily austerities, is considered as the direct way to final bea-
titude 5 yet it is not denied, but that a person who continues in a
secular state, may, by performing the duties of his religion, acce-
lerate his approach, either in this or some future birth, to divine
destiny. The yogee being thus exalted in the Hindoo system of
theology, arid in consequence honoured by his countrymen, it has
become very common to embrace the life of a religious men-
dicant ; to do which, indeed, among an idle, effeminate, and dis-
solute people, there are many inducements very different from
those of a religious nature: disappointments in life, disagreeable
domestic occurrences, wandering propensities, illicit connections,
and very often a wish to procure impunity in the commission of
flagrant crimes z, induce many to embrace such a life. Perhaps
there is not a single instance at present known, of a person's be-
coming an ascetic from the pure desire of absorption. In cases
where there is the greatest appearance of such a desire, the her-
mit possesses a motive no higher than that of exemption from
the troubles of mortal existence. I have given in this work an
account of nearly twenty orders of mendicants, (vol ii. p. 190,
&c.) the followers of different deities : these are the scourge of
the country, though the legitimate offspring of this baneful super-
stition. Nor need we now expect to see realized the description
of a yogee as laid down in the shastrii : this description never
was realized; those who have received the highest fame as yogees,
were as corrupt, perhaps, as the present wretched imitators of
these austerities. Many actions are attributed to them which
put human nature to the blush.
* I have noticed in vol. ii. p. 189 the fact, that many hordes of men-
dicants are armed, and live by public plunder ; but perhaps there are
quite as many secret robbers to be found in the garb of religious men-
dicants. Since tlfes fact has become more generally known, many hare
suffered the punishment of their crimes.
Thus far this bramhinical Confession of Faith. Its author has
scarcely noticed the amazing efficacy ascribed to religious abstrac-
tion, and the austerities practiced by anchorites, though the doc-
trine of the vedus evidently favours an ascetic life. Indeed,
retirement from the world and abstraction of mind, assisted by
bodily austerities, is considered as the direct way to final bea-
titude 5 yet it is not denied, but that a person who continues in a
secular state, may, by performing the duties of his religion, acce-
lerate his approach, either in this or some future birth, to divine
destiny. The yogee being thus exalted in the Hindoo system of
theology, arid in consequence honoured by his countrymen, it has
become very common to embrace the life of a religious men-
dicant ; to do which, indeed, among an idle, effeminate, and dis-
solute people, there are many inducements very different from
those of a religious nature: disappointments in life, disagreeable
domestic occurrences, wandering propensities, illicit connections,
and very often a wish to procure impunity in the commission of
flagrant crimes z, induce many to embrace such a life. Perhaps
there is not a single instance at present known, of a person's be-
coming an ascetic from the pure desire of absorption. In cases
where there is the greatest appearance of such a desire, the her-
mit possesses a motive no higher than that of exemption from
the troubles of mortal existence. I have given in this work an
account of nearly twenty orders of mendicants, (vol ii. p. 190,
&c.) the followers of different deities : these are the scourge of
the country, though the legitimate offspring of this baneful super-
stition. Nor need we now expect to see realized the description
of a yogee as laid down in the shastrii : this description never
was realized; those who have received the highest fame as yogees,
were as corrupt, perhaps, as the present wretched imitators of
these austerities. Many actions are attributed to them which
put human nature to the blush.
* I have noticed in vol. ii. p. 189 the fact, that many hordes of men-
dicants are armed, and live by public plunder ; but perhaps there are
quite as many secret robbers to be found in the garb of religious men-
dicants. Since tlfes fact has become more generally known, many hare
suffered the punishment of their crimes.