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THE CHOSEN IDEAL
The next thing to be considered is what we know as Ishta-Nishtha. One who aspires to be a Bhakta must know that "so many opinions are so many ways." He must know that all the various sects of the various religions are the various manifestations of the glory of the same Lord. "They call You by so many names; they divide You, as it were, by different names, yet in each one of these is to be found Your omnipotence. . . You reach the worshipper through all of these; neither is there any special time so long as the soul has intense love for You. You are so easy of approach; it is my misfortune that I cannot love You." Not only this, the Bhakta must take care not to hate, nor even to criticise, those radiant sons of light who are the founders of various sects; he must not even hear them spoken ill of. Very few, indeed, are those who are at once the possessors of an extensive sympathy and power of appreciation, as well as an intensity of love. We find as a rule that liberal and sympathetic sects lose the intensity of religious feeling, and in their hands, religion is apt to degenerate into a kind of politicosocial club life. On the other hand, intensely narrow sectaries, whilst displaying a very commendable love for their own ideals, are seen to have acquired every particle of that love by hating every one who is not
