THEOSOPHY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10669, 16 August 1920, Page 9

THEOSOPHY

••m'an's many lives ON EARTH." The second of tho series 0 f ■lectures on Theosophy was delivered by Ma : a: Banks last evening at tho Iheoßopbical Hall, Marion street, the subject being: "Man's Many Lives on Earth. ' Belief .in the immortality of man, implying that the soul existed beforo birth, and survives death,, was taught and widely accepted ia the. early centuries of Christendom, declared tho lecturer, and now it is' beiyg revived in Western thought, due, no doubt, to tho influx of Eastern idea*, for the East has ever proclaimed the truth of reincarnation, as it is' popularly termed. It does not mean the possible occupation of enimal forms by the human, soul; that is preposterous; for eternal progression is the law of life, meaning that better forms, and improved conditions, is the happy portion of the soul, iis he returns lite after life, to acquire material . out of which he weaves added faculty and wisdom in tho interim between lives.. Self-indul-gence in one life reaps limitations in tho next, whereas self-sacrificing effort now will win for the soul added opportunities for progress in_ the future.. Reincarnation is a necessity in order that the soul may fulfil in the .future the innumerable obligations he has incurred towards those around him, and also to resume his unfinished task, namely, to reproduce upon the canvas of his life the expression of perfect manhood, as yet but partially delineated in most cases. There are' great saints and sages, in the world, so it is reasonable to think that we aball require to return to reach, that standard at least, and, further, to attain tho highest level of soul growth possible on earth, the fervent aspiration of every eon of man.