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Symbolism
protection is the second reason. The third reason is permanency. If anything is expressed in ordinary language, after a certain time we are liable to forget it, but if it is in the form of a picture, we can remember it longer. The fourth reason is that the effect produced by the symbol is more intense than the impression made by ordinary language.
These are the four reasons for mystical words and symbols. All ancient nations used them; Romans, Egyptians and Greeks used them. The Hindus, Persians and Egyptians are noted for their use of symbols. The Rosicrucian, Masons and other secret societies used them. No doubt later on they forgot their real meaning. The Hindus from time immemorial have been using the symbolic syllable Om which is now interpreted by some to mean the creative, procreative and destructive principles. They even think that the pronunciation of this syllable has a very mystical effect on the occult powers of a man. But the true meaning has been lost sight of by the Hindus, although it is still preserved by my community-the Jaina community.
In the same manner the cross or Swastika is misinterpreted by the so-called western expounders of our ancient philosophy. The original idea was very high, but later on the people thought the cross represented only the combination of the male and the female principles. While we are on the physical plane and our propensities are on the material line we think it is necessary to unite these principles for our spiritual growth. On the higher plane the soul is sexless and, therefore, those who wish to rise higher than the physical plane must get rid of the idea of sex.
I shall now explain the meaning of the Jaina Swastika by illustrations.
These two lines, A-B and C-D (the horizontal and vertical) without anything else would be the Greek cross. We add four other lines as represented in the illustration. Then we add three
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