III. THE EXISTENCE AND IDEA OF GOD a. PRE-CHRISTIAN BRAHMA, THE WORLD IDEA RIG-VEDA, X, 129 (East Indian), 1500 B. C. Not-Being was not, Being was not then, What was the covering-where, in whose ward? Death was not, nor deathlessness then, Darkness there was, hidden in darkness, at first; Desire in the beginning came upon it, Which was the first seed of Thought. By sages tracing it with understanding in their hearts. Was their line stretched out across, Or was it below, or was it above? Sowers of seed there were, Powers there were, Potency beneath, Energy beyond. Who knows in sooth, who may declare here, Whence this creation was born, whence it was? The gods were later in the creating thereof; So who knows whence it arose? Whence this creation arose, Whether He made it or not, He who watches over it in the highest heaven PROOFS OF BUDDHA'S EXISTENCE ANONYMOUS, Fourth Century B. C. As men who see a city fitly planned Infer the greatness of its architect, So when the 'City of Good Law' is scanned As men who see the ocean rollers break Infer the greatness of th' encompassing sea, Of him, the Victor who allays all grief Who purged his heart of Tanha, seed of woe, Well may the men to whom he brings relief Cry, 'Great our Master, far his goodly precepts flow!' As men who see far-off Himalaya's snows Can judge the mountain-barrier's soaring height: Behold the 'Mount of Dharma' gleaming clear and white, Steadfast, unshaken, towering on high, In air serene, where ill and Karma die, Infer 'How great the Hero in whose word we trust!' As those who find some track of elephant Infer the vastness of his kingly form, So when they see the work of Bhagavant, 'How mighty,' cry they, 'was the Teacher of the Norm!' As men behold the jungle-folk afraid And know 'The King of beasts is surely near,' We judge ''Tis wisdom of the royal Sage they fear!' And when the earth rejoices fresh and green, Rejoice, 'His gracious words into their lives have passed.' Seeing the wide fields turned into a flood, 'Some mighty stream hath poured its waters here,' Men cry: so judge they of the Law how good In the wide ocean of its waters pure, Men gladly sniff the air, and cries resound, 'Here surely lived a Buddha, Lord of Righteousness!' For Egyptian and Babylonian and Greek see Section VIIIa. See also Sections II, III, V, VI, VIII, IX, XI, XII for Psalms. b. EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MEDIÆVAL THE END OF BEING SENECA, Fourth Century B. C. Translated by H. C. Leonard. The end of being is to find out God! Brings to achievement whatsoe'er He please. . He is all mind. His being infinite All that we see and all that we do not see. The Lord of heaven and earth, the God of Gods. What cares He for the bleeding sacrifice? Of consecrated hearts and lives devout. THE LOVE OF GOD BERNARD RASCAS From the Provençal Translated by William Cullen Bryant All things that are on earth shall wholly pass away, |