e limitations of the body were transcended, and her soul's
capacities were in a measure set free for the moment. The experience was
unique, above and beyond the ordinary current of human life, and while the
vision or impression passed away, a permanent effect was produced upon her
mind. She had never heard the term 'cosmic consciousness,' and did not know
that the subject it covers is beginning to be discussed."

It must be noted that in these experiences, the idea most strongly felt was
the one of the "power and presence of God," and we are impressed with the
fact that, no matter how varied may be the _creeds_ of the world, as
founded by "saviours" and incarnations of God, there is a unity among all
races, as to the fact of a one supreme universal power, which is Aum, the
Absolute, and which must represent perfect love and perfect peace, since
all who have glimpsed their unity with this power, testify to a feeling of
happiness, peace and satisfaction, rare and exalted.

By comparing the experience of those who have attained this state of
liberation from illusion, through religious rites and ceremonies, or
"sacrifice to God," as it is not infrequently called, with the experience
of those who have recorded the phenomenon, apparently arriving at the goal
through intellectual and moral aspiration, we will find that the results
are almost identical, and the after-effects similar.

It has been said that those who attain liberation have invariably sought to
found a new system of worship, and this fact has given rise to the many
paths or methods of attainment which have been taught by various Illumined
Ones, both in the Orient and in the western world, supplementary as it were
to the main great religious systems.

We will take a short survey of a few of these systems in Japan and India in
comparatively modern times, or at least during the last two thousand years,
which is modern compared to the history of the Orient.

CHAPTER VI

EXAMPLES OF COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS, WHO HAVE FOUNDED NEW SYSTEMS OF RELIGION

The early religion of Japan, before the advent of Buddhism, was extremely
simple.

It consists of the postulate that there was but one God, _Kami_, from him
all things came, and to him all things shall return. As has been stated
previously, the chief injunction of Shintoism is: "Keep your body and your
mind clean, and trust _Kami_."

Shintoism literally translated, means "the way to God," and includes the
beli