salvation , , , The panaceas the world knows of, the so-called religions for the guidance of humanity, do not go a long way towards solving the problem. As time goes on the founder is thrown into the background of time and obscurity, religion loses its glamour, and there takes place a mental revolt against the old order of things and a demand is created for something more sensibly substantial and practical . . . I don't believe in external renunciation; for the West particularly it is impractical and inadvisable. Renunciation should be mental. One should live in the world, perform all legitimate duties and yet feel mentally detached from everything; one should be in the world, but not of the world."

To Paul Brunton, 1930:

"I shall change the history of the whole world . . .

“As Jesus came to impart spirituality to a materialistic age, so have I come to impart a spiritual push to present-day mankind. There is always a fixed time for such divine workings, and when the hour is ripe I shall reveal my true nature to the entire world. The great teachers of religion—Jesus, Buddha, Muhammed and Zoroaster—do not differ in their essential doctrines. All these prophets came from God. The chief commandments run through all their teachings like a golden thread. These divine ones came out into public when their help was most needed, when spirituality was at its lowest ebb and materialism was apparently everywhere victorious. Such a time we are fast approaching at present. The whole world is now enmeshed in sensual desires, in racial selfishness and money worship. God is forsaken. True religion is abused; man seeks life and the priests usually give him a stone. God, therefore, must send his true prophet among men once again to establish true worship and to awaken people out of their materialistic stupor. I but follow in the line of those earlier prophets; this is my mission. God has given me a mandate."

"The prophets lay down certain rules and regulations to help the masses lead better lives and to incline them towards God. Gradually these rules become the tenets of an organized religion, but the idealistic spirit and motive force which prevail during the founder's life-time, disappear gradually after his death. That is why organizations cannot bring spiritual truth nearer and why true religion is always a personal concern. Religious organizations become like archaeological departments trying to resuscitate the past. Therefore I shall not attempt to establish any new religion, cult or organization. But I shall rejuvenate the religious thought of all peoples, instil a higher understanding of life into them.