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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
in the lives of mystics, and Prof. James mentions some in his “Varieties of Religious Experience.” Beyond the reach of speech, it cannot be expressed in words ; it is a state on the emotional side of consciousness, and must be felt to be realized.
It remains to be said that from time immemorial an interesting controversy has been going on in respect of the practical merit and worth of the Jnana and Bhakti methods of Self-realization. The subject has been discussed in the instructive little pamphlet, entitled the "Fourth Book of Practical Vedanta," by Pt. G. K. Sastri. The book is, however, not likely to interest many persons, as it does not deal with the subject philosophically. A similar intellectual controversy, it seems, prevailed amongst the several sects and schools of practical religion in the Holy Land. “Can any good come out of Nazareth ? "--was the common expression of ridicule and contempt with which the followers of the path of knowledge (J nâna) were wont to look down upon the devotees of Bhakti (Love). This did not mean that the Jews were actually foolish enough to think that the little village of Nazareth was too insignificant to be the birth-place of a World-Teacher. It is sheer prejudice which has led some of us to ascribe such crass. ignorance to the Semitic race. As a matter of fact, the custodians of the wisdom of the Kabbala were intellectual men and could not be credited with the belief that greatness depended upon geographical limits, or the dimensions of towns and villages.
" The name Nazir," says Dr. Paul Carus, " has nothing to do with the village of Nazareth. Etymologically, the word means a devotee.
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