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under many integuments may, being handled and learned, come to light and gleam forth. For so also lead turns white when you rub it..... So also scientific knowledge [gnosis], shedding its light and brightness on things, shows itself to be in truth the divine wisdom, the pure light, which illumines the men whose eyeball is clear, unto the sure vision and comprehension of truth."-Ibid. vol. xxiv. p. 127.
JAINISM, CHRISTIANITY & SCIENCE
It is thus clear that the real knowers who were familiar with the secret teaching knew it to be in agreement with the nature of things and completely scientific. Clement's contempt for anything which is not in agreement with the nature of things is evident from his opinion quoted above. The truth is hidden behind proper names- -the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost and the like. Those who have read them literally have therefore only misdirected themselves.
In the following pages we shall insist on retaining this scientific turn of mind throughout.
It may be mentioned that Jainism regards the world from what may be termed the standpoint of Realism; and Christianity takes the same view:
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The Epicureans, again, show still greater consistency in maintaining that all the senses are equally true in their testimony, and always so only in a different way. It is not our organs of sensation that are at fault, but our opinion. The senses only experience sensation, they do not exercise opinion; it is the soul that opines."— (Tertullianus) A.N.C L. vol. xv. p. 445.
