Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/198

essential to understand a higher philosophy. Even to-day those great thinkers of Europe whose reasoning has led to ideas similar to those of the Hindus are not approved of by the European piety.

European thinkers have now begun to realize that the practices which they censure as idolatry do not differ in nature from their own practices.

They also feel that God did not reveal Himself specially to any particular tribe to the exclusion of the rest.

The theology of the Bible, and specially diabolism, has fallen into disrepute. The conception of God is much enlarged, the personal idea of God is being gradually abandoned, the conception of soul, as something peculiar to a man which other animals do not have, is regarded as an antiquated idea.

The effect on the West is noticeable also in its acceptance of items from Hindu philosophy. Buddhism and Buddhistic philosophy are making headway in Europe and America. There are in the West some believers in the Vedanta philosophy also. Hindu sacred books and great religious teachers in India have acquired a certain amount of religious veneration in the West.

Knowledge of Sanskrit and of psychological and linguistic affinities has made the occidental peoples realize that the Hindus are of the same branch of the Caucasian race as they are; and they have realized what they owe to India.

The influence of the Hindus has been much less on the West than that of the West on the Hindus. The reason for such a state of things is not difficult to see.

First, Europeans are politically dominant in the world; and the ideas whether right or wrong, and the customs whether wholesome or injurious of the dominant race prevail.