Brahman
Knowledge of the Living Spirit
Life and Consciousness

SELECTIONS FROM THE KORAN

Introduction
Mohammed and Mohammedanism
Chapter I.----Entitled, the Preface
Chapter II.---Entitled, the Cow
Chapter III.--Entitled, the Family of Imran
Chapter IV.---Entitled, Women
Chapter V.----Entitled, the Table

LIFE OF BUDDHA

Introduction

CHAPTER I.--
The Birth
Living in the Palace
Disgust at Sorrow
Putting Away Desire
Leaving the City

CHAPTER II.--
The Return of Kandaka
Entering the Place of Austerities
The General Grief of the Palace
The Mission to Seek the Prince

CHAPTER III.--
Bimbisara Raga Invites the Prince
The Reply to Bimbisara Raga
Visit to Arada Udrarama
Defeats Mara
O-wei-san-pou-ti (Abhisambodhi)
Turning the Law-wheel

CHAPTER IV.--
Bimbisara Raga Becomes a Disciple
The Great Disciple Becomes a Hermit
Conversion of the "Supporter of the Orphans and Destitute"
Interview Between Father and Son
Receiving the Getavana Vihara
Escaping the Drunken Elephant and Devadatta
The Lady Amra Sees Buddha

CHAPTER V.--
By Spiritual Power Fixing His Term of Years
The Differences of the Likkhavis
Parinirvana
Mahaparinirvana
Praising Nirvana
Division of the Sariras

VEDIC HYMNS

Translation by F. Max Mueller.

INTRODUCTION

The Vedic Hymns are among the most interesting portions of Hindoo
literature. In form and spirit they resemble both the poems of the
Hebrew psalter and the lyrics of Pindar. They deal with the most
elemental religious conceptions and are full of the imagery of nature.
It would be absurd to deny to very many of them the possession of the
truest poetic inspiration. The scenery of the Himalayas, ice and snow,
storm and tempest, lend their majesty to the strains of the Vedic poet.
He describes the storm sweeping over the white-crested mountains till
the earth, like a hoary king, trembles with fear. The Maruts, or
storm-gods, are terrible, glorious, musical, riding on strong-hoofed,
never-wearying steeds. There is something Homeric, Pindaric in these
epithets. Yet Soma and Rudra are addressed, though they wield sharp
weapons; and sharp bolts, i.e., those of the lightning, are spoken of as
kind friends. "Deliver us," says the poet, "from the snare of Varuna,
and guard us, as kind-hearted gods." One of the most remarkable of these
hymns is that addressed to the Unknown God. The poet says: "In the
be