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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
of mind on a false and inadequate object. For devotion creates the worst form of prejudice in the mind, being nothing other than the constant strengthening of belief, in every possible way, in the existence and power of its object. The replacing of the true Ideal with a false and inadequate notion being thus a necessary element of the mystic's devotion, it is not surprising that his mind should stick to it with all the tenacity of prejudiced bigotry it is capable of, and shut itself out from the truth. Moreover, concentration can be of use only when it is on a subject, as distinguished from a purely imaginary personification, since the former presents an unlimited field for investigation while the latter has but a few details to offer which can be mastered in no time.
Having installed the mythological personalisation in their hearts as a being, the devotees had no other alternative left but to invest it with the power to shape the destinies of all beings, now left, by the force of logic, as mere puppets in the hands of their supposed creator. Hence, the god of the devotee became the author of both good and evil. But Zarathushtra clearly saw the difficulty of ascribing the creation of evil to bis idol of devotion, and not being able to lay his finger on the root of the trouble, in consequence of his mystical inclinations, created his spiritual twins, to the less holy of whom he transferred the responsibility and blame for evil. Perhaps he was not unaware of the trouble arising from the splitting up of the creative function, but he was unable to escape from the dilemma which the school of devotional inystics has created for itself, and readily accepted the idea of the twins, since it
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