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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
enabled us to observe that short of perfect concentration it cannot even lead to knowledge. And, since perfect concentration is not possible on a subject which is involved in obscurity of thought, it follows that devotion is not the path to salvation. It must not, however, be forgotten that devotion is not to be altogether rejected as a useless pursuit, since it inculcates the principle of humility in the soul, at least for the time being, and also because it tends to keep it in the path of rectitude which leads to a re-birth in heaven. The difference between the schools of philosophy and devotion may, therefore, be said to lie in the fact that while the former enables the soul to attain Nirvana, the latter cannot aspire higher than to secure for it a residence in one of the heavens after death, when it is not a begging of favours, but the love of a bhakta. Christianity, Islam and certain sects of the Hindus are all mostly devotional in their nature, while Jainism, Vedanta, Buddhisin and the remaining five schools of Hindu philosophy are or aim at being philosophical. We have already dealt with most of these religions, and propose to deal with Islam before closing this chapter. The ideal of happiness each lays down for its follower has also been subjected to investigation, and has been seen to be nothing short of becoming God, which every soul already is in essence. There is no creed which does not teach it directly or indirectly, though in the devotional schools of religion the teaching is to be found with difficulty, and lies buried beneath myth and allegory. Even the religions of the philosophical type, with the
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