Author Description

THE WORLD AS POWER POWER AS LIFE BY SIR JOHN WOODROFFE PUBLISHERS GANESH Co., MADRAS 1922 FOREWORD I TAKE the opportunity given by the publica tion of the second volume of this series to deal with a criticism on the first which affects all. I am therein described as an adherent of Shaktaism and as commending the acceptance of such doctrine,. to others. It is true that I think that this doctrine has been misunderstood and has been the subject on the whole of unjust judgments. I think also that it is, in its highest presentment, a grand and inspiring system by which I do not mean that it is the only one, or that it is without defect otherwise probably I should not have concerned myself with it. I desire however to say here that I do not write as an adherent of this, or any other philosophical system or religious sect whatever, but as a free-thinker and free-companion Neither Burgundian nor Armagnac. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. But, as I have said else where in describing Shakta teaching and VI Vedanta I write from that standpoint. Nor do I, pace my critic, make light of, and still less deny, the utility of Reason or its efficacy to give us the truth within the system of which it is a part. But the Truth as it lies beyond that system is directly realised as it is in Itself, that is beyond Mind not by Reason but by a Full Experience Samadhi which is not a sleep except to the gross world and is an awakening in the supersensible world. Those who talk in this fashion show want of knowledge of their own Scripture. There the highest praise is bestowed on reason. See for instance the Chapter on Vichara in the Yoga-Vashishtha. Moreover Vedanta does not accept the intuitionalismwhich discards intel lect. On the contrary the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says that the Self must be thought upon and deeply pondered Afantavyo, Nidhi dhyasitavyah. What else is the meaning of Jnana-Yoga Nor, notwithstanding my personal views of the Scripture, do I commend it to anyone. Wha