Page:Philosophical Review Volume 9.djvu/116

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THE PHILOSOPHICAL REVIEW.
[Vol. IX.

a manifestation of God, who is both immanent and transcendent. God is present in all things which are not unlawful. Thus there are ethical distinctions, although a consistent monism compels a reference of evil to God, But evil is only a lesser good, a following of a lower impulse in the presence of a higher, and as such is relative. God is not therefore responsible for good or evil, which are alike due to Maya, the creative energy of God, the process of evolution, that is, to nature. What then is the standard of right conduct? It is found in each man's position in society as given by nature. Not conscience, but the customs of the caste in which Nature has placed him, determines his duty. But does this not destroy morality? No, for to live according to heredity and nature, not automatically, but intelligently, is the highest morality. To resist nature is to fail, while to follow nature is to be free, if one does it as a son of God, and not as a slave. Duty, however, was not final to the Gita; the end is spiritual. Our imperfections are due to our being subject to the sensuous. We must, therefore, master the senses and control the mind, and this can be done only by spiritualizing the sensuous and realizing God in all we see and hear. This spiritual climax, this 'God-vision' can be realized only through love, the love of God, which is the key to this high spiritual life, this living in God, which is the highest end of life.

A. W. Crawford.