THE EQUINOX else in the world but helping humanity. She takes no no- tice whatever of the question of progress through other planets. Geocentricity is a very pathetic and amusingly childish characteristic of the older schools. They are always talking about the ten thousand worlds, but it is only a figure of speech. They do not believe in them as actual realities. It is one of the regular Oriental tricks to exaggerate all sorts of things in order to impress other people with one’s knowledge, and then to forget altogether to weld this particular piece of information on to the wheel of the Law. Consequently, all Blavatsky’s talk about the sublimity of the Nirmanakaya body is no more than the speech of a politician who is thank- ing a famous general for having done some of his dirty work for him. 39. The Shangna robe, ’tis true, can purchase light eter- nal. The Shangna robe alone gives the Nirvana of destruc- tion; it stops rebirth, but O Lanoo, it also kills compassion. No longer can the perfect Buddhas, who don the Dharma- kéya glory, help man’s salvation. Alas! shall SELVES be sacrificed to Self; mankind, unto the weal of Units? The sum of misery is diminished only in a minute degree by the attainment of a Pratyeka-Buddha. The tremendous energy acquired is used to accomplish the miracle of de- struction. If the keystone of an arch is taken away the other stones are not promoted to a higher place. They fall. [A Pratyéka-Buddha is one who attains emancipation for him- self alone.—Ep.] (“Nirvana of destruction”! Nirvana means ‘cessation.’ What messy English!) 56