positively inaccurate and inconsistent statements of fact, falseness or exaggeration of sentiment, and confusion or illogic of argument and marshalling of ideas, that you may notice."

Suggestions for improvement were received in chronological order from: Pt. Gangânâth Jhâ, Professor of Samskrit, Muir Central College, Allahabad. Bâbu Govinda Dâs, of Benares (my elder brother). Dr. Hübbe-Schleiden, of Döhren bei Hannover, Germany. Dr. J. H. Stirling, of Edinburgh. Prof. J. E. McTaggart, of Trinity College, Cambridge. Pt. M. S. Tripathi, author of A Sketch of Vedanta Philosophy, of Nadiad. P. T. Shrînivâsa Iyengar, Esq., M.A., Principal Narsingh Row College, Vizagapatam. J. Scott, Esq., M.A., Principal, Bahauddin College, Junâgadh. Ayodhya Dâs, Esq., B.A., Barrister-at-Law, Gorakhpur.

Pt.

Sakhârâm G. Pandit, Branch Inspector, Theosophical Society, Benares. Pt. Bhavânî Shañkar, Branch Inspector, Theosophical Society, Benares. M. André Chevrillon, of Paris. B. Keightley, Esq., M.A., Barrister-at-Law, of London.

I gratefully record the names of these friends, personally known or not known, but most truly friends in the spirit and helpers in a common

cause.

But far more than to all these friends are this book and I under obligations to Mrs. Annie

Besant, who first saw the rough draft of the work in manuscript, encouraged me to persevere with it, then carefully went over every line of the printed proof-copy, suggested innumerable improvements, and finally saw it through the

press.

BHAGAVÂN DÂS.

Do Thou mend, Master, with Thy perfectness, Thy servant's imperfection, lest any earnest seeker after Truth be led astray by error of his. Subtile is that utter Truth, though all so simple, very difficult to set on bigb so it shall shine out strong and clear and steady, and very feeble for such purpose is the band that would now do so. Guide Thou that band aright.

CHAPTERI.

THE GREAT QUESTIONING.

येयम् प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये
अस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चान्ये |
एतद् विद्याम् ऽनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहम्
वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः ॥

Katha - Upanishat. I. i.

"The doubt that seizeth the beholders when a man passeth away, so that one sayeth, He still is,' and another, 'No, he is no more'-I would know the truth of this, taught by thee, O Death ! This is the third of the (three) boons (thou gavest)!"

This is the boon that Nachiketâ asked of Yama. And Yama shrank from the great task imposed on him and answered: "Even the Gods have suffered from this doubt, and very subtle