Reincarnation / by Annie Besant.

  • Annie Besant
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reincarnation / by Annie Besant. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Monads (to use a loose expression) that are now en- cased in them, and that are guiding their evolution, will pass on into human forms; but, at present, the animal is not ready for the reception of the Rlind- born Thinker, that we have viewed as the essentially Human Principle. This Thinker, being the Rein- carnating Ego, cannot then, when his human dwel- ling is falling into ruins, leave it to take up his abode in the as yet unready body of the brute; in that he- could find no harbourage, it is not yet furnished for his habitation. As he waited till the Races had evolved into the perfected human form ere he at first incarnated, because lower forms “were not ready,” so in the later hi.story of men he can only enter human forms, they alone presenting the con- ditions through which he can work. It is this fact which renders impossible the backward evolution taught in some exoteric religions; a man niay become degraded, may be morall}' worse than any brute, but he cannot turn backwards the wheel of time, nor make it revolve in contrary direction. He can no more rebecome an animal, than his body can reenter his mother’s womb; Nature opens doors in front of us, but those behind us swing to, and close w'ith a spring lock for which we may find no key. In the East, the mistaken idea that the human Ego can dwell within a brute shell, is very widely spread. The Ordhiances of Manu set out with great particu- larity the fate of various evil-doers. Thus: By detraction [of hi.s Guru] lie becomes an ass; a blamer becomes indeed a dog; one who appropriates his goods be- comes a worm; envious, be becomes an insect.* * Qt'dtnances of Bumell and Hopkins. I^ct. ii. 20i»
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