| Before considering further how devotion to | | | | symbols of thought. In another sense |
| duty helps us in our spiritual progress, let | | | | everything in the universe may be looked upon |
| me place before you in a brief compass | | | | as a symbol. The whole universe is a symbol, |
| another aspect of what we in India mean by | | | | and God is the essence behind. This kind of |
| Karma. In every religion there are three | | | | symbology is not simply the creation of man; |
| parts: philosophy, mythology, and ritual. | | | | it is not that certain people belonging to a |
| Philosophy of course is the essence of every | | | | religion sit down together and think out |
| religion; mythology explains and illustrates | | | | certain symbols, and bring them into |
| it by means of the more or less legendary | | | | existence out of their own minds. |
| lives of great men, stories and fables of | | | | |
| wonderful things, and so on; ritual gives to | | | | The symbols of religion have a natural |
| that philosophy a still more concrete form, | | | | growth. Otherwise,why is it that certain |
| so that every one may grasp it -- ritual is | | | | symbols are associated with certain ideas in |
| in fact concretised philosophy. This ritual | | | | the mind of almost every one? Certain symbols |
| is Karma; it is necessary in every religion, | | | | are universally prevalent. Many of you may |
| because most of us cannot understand abstract | | | | think that the cross first came into |
| spiritual things until we grow much | | | | existence as a symbol in connection with the |
| spiritually. | | | | Christian religion,but as a matter of fact it |
| | | | existed before Christianity was, before Moses |
| It is easy for men to think that they can | | | | was born, before the Vedas were given out, |
| understand anything; but when it comes to | | | | before there was any human record of human |
| practical experience, they find that abstract | | | | things. The cross may be found to have been |
| ideas are often very hard to comprehend. | | | | in existence among the Aztecs and the |
| Therefore symbols are of great help, and we | | | | Phoenicians; every race seems to have had the |
| cannot dispense with the symbolical method of | | | | cross. Again, the symbol of the crucified |
| putting things before us. From time | | | | Savior, of a man crucified upon a cross, |
| immemmorial symbols have been used by all | | | | appears to have been known to almost every |
| kinds of religions. In one sense we cannot | | | | nation. The circle has been a great symbol |
| think but in symbols; words themselves are | | | | throughout the world. |