Forlong - Rivers of Life

Introductory Chapter.
but after some weeding out it was bound up as it is, along with various floating
manuscripts, telling of Christ, his life, and sayings, in the fourth century A.C., and
called “The Christian Bible.”
The Brahmanical Bible, the Vedas or “Books of Truth,” are said to be written
by God in the person of Brahma, the form in which Brahm executes his purposes of
creation and providence. Unlike the Christian Bible, the Vedas do not command
proselytism, nor allude to all being damned who do not know and acknowledge it, its
gods, dogmas, and ceremonies. There is but one great and Almighty God, Brahm,
or AUM, or OM, in the Hindoo faith, whose name is rarely, and then only very
reverently whispered, as among the Jews. He is male and female, and the female
energy, Maiya, Queen of Heaven, is more heard of than the Almighty. This is probably
true of all faiths to the present day. I read in the Home News of January
1873, that Dr. Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, rebuked one of his clergy, but very
mildly, for carrying a banner, on which was emblazoned the name of “the Queen of
Heaven;” he remarked, that “though he was glad to see a revival of reverence,
devotion, and piety, it must not be forgotten that there was a limit beyond which
they must not go in imitating the practice of the thirteenth century.”
In Hindooism, BRAHM manifests himself early in a Trinity.
As a Creator, in BRAHMA.
As Religion and Truth, in VISHNOO.
As Matter or Passion, in Roodra, afterwards called SIVA, who was no
doubt Rood or Ra, the Sun or Fertiliser.
There are consorts or wives of these energies of God, having distinct names,
though never creating in connection with the male energy. They are often called the
Arks or abodes of the male deities.
After them in heavenly order follow Devas—archangel and angels—too often
worshipped by the ignorant; even Christians churches invoke Gabriel. They are a
long list, emanating from Dyaus, Indra, Sun, Fire, &c. These deities take a deep
interest, and are ever interfering in the affairs of men; not from them, however, does
man spring, nor, though with female energies, does aught spring. The New Testament
writer, borrowing no doubt from the Eastern tale, correctly says of them, “they
neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
The Zendavesta and Tripitaka, I may here briefly say, inculcate a good life and
a reasonable belief in the One Holy, Eternal and Almighty Spirit, though parts of the
latter, relating to metaphysics, speak of Nihilism, which is, however, at utter variance
with the life and doctrines of both its priests and people, as I can attest, after
seven years’ residence and close observation in a land of the purest Boodhism in the
world; I look upon such as a serious blot on any faith, though it does not, I think,
lead to immoral or careless living, as some Christians fancy. The Old Testament Jews
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