man and one woman who shall first achieve this
consciousness and realization is barely possible, but the preponderance of
evidence is for a more general awakening to the light of Illumination.

"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in the twinkling of an
eye," said St. Paul.

The prophecy of "the woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under
her feet," is not of _a_ woman, but of Woman, in the light of a race of men
who have attained cosmic consciousness.

Nothing more is needed to make a heaven of earth, than that the great light
and love that comes of Illumination, shall become dominant.

It will solve all problems, because problems arise only because we are
groping in the dark. The elimination of selfishness; of condemnation; of
fear and anger, and doubt, must have far greater power for universal
happiness and well-being than all the systems which theology or science or
politics could devise. Indeed, all these systems are sporadic and empirical
attempts to express the vague dawning of Illumination.

In the fullness of its light, the need for systems will have passed away.

CHAPTER I

THE NEW BIRTH: WHAT IT IS: INSTANCES DESCRIBED

The chief difference between the religions and the philosophies of the
Orient and those of the Occident, lies in the fact that the Oriental
systems, methods, and practices, emphasize the assumption that the goal of
these efforts, is attainable at any moment, as it were.

That is, Oriental religion--speaking in the broad sense--teaches that the
disciple need not wait for the experience called death to liberate the
Self, the _atman_, from the enchantment or delusion, the _maya_, of the
external world. Indeed, the Oriental devotee well knows that physical
death, _mrityu_, is not a guarantee of liberation; does not necessarily
bring with it immortality.

He well recognizes that physical death is but a procedure in existence.
Death does not of itself, change the condition of _maya_, in which the
disciple is bound until such a time, as he has earned liberation--_mukti_,
which condition may be defined as immunity from further incarnation.

Immortality is our rightful heritage but it must be claimed,--yea, it must
be _earned_.

It is a mistake to imagine that death makes man immortal. Immortality is
an attribute of the gods. But since all souls possess a spark of the divine
essence of Brahman (The Absolute), _mukti_ may be attained by earnest
seeking, and