“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are reported in your newspapers.”
Having never before travelled beyond our homes, we were struck dumb with wonder at his manner. No matter how trivial the topic, he could quote science, comment on the Vedas, or recite quatrains from Persian poets. Since we possessed no real knowledge of science, the Vedas, or Persian literature, our admiration for him only grew. My kinsman, a theosophist, became convinced that our fellow passenger was inspired by some strange magnetism, occult power, or astral body. He listened with devotional rapture even to the most common place remarks and secretly noted down his words. I suspect our extraordinary companion noticed this and was quietly pleased. When the train reached the junction, we gathered in the waiting room to await our connection. It was 10 p.m., and as the train was expected to be delayed owing to some fault in the lines, I spread my bed on the table and prepared to sleep. But just then, the extraordinary man began spinning a tale, and of course, I could not close my eyes all night. (307 words)
[Extracted with edits from Rabindranath Tagore's “The Hungry Stones"]
Understanding "Theosophist" in the Context
The question asks for the meaning of the word "theosophist" as used in the provided passage from Rabindranath Tagore's "The Hungry Stones". To understand its meaning, we need to look at how the narrator describes his kinsman and his beliefs.
Analyzing the Kinsman's Beliefs
The passage states:
- The kinsman "a theosophist, became convinced that our fellow passenger was inspired by some strange magnetism, occult power, or astral body."
- He listened "with devotional rapture even to the most common place remarks".
- He "secretly noted down his words."
These descriptions indicate that the kinsman holds beliefs that go beyond ordinary, empirical understanding. He is fascinated by unseen forces, spiritual energy, and possesses a deep, almost religious, devotion to the extraordinary passenger's words. This suggests a focus on spiritual or hidden truths rather than skepticism or material explanations.
Exploring the Options
Let's consider the given options:
- Skeptic: Someone who doubts accepted opinions or is slow to believe. This is the opposite of the kinsman's rapt attention and conviction.
- Mystic: A person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or direct apprehension of the divine or a spiritual truth. Mystics often believe in hidden powers, spiritual insights, and unseen realities.
- Agnostic: A person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God, often believing that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable. This implies uncertainty, unlike the kinsman's conviction.
- Materialist: A person who believes that only matter exists and that the mind and consciousness are physical phenomena. This is contrary to the kinsman's belief in "occult power" and "astral body".
Connecting Context to Definition
Based on the kinsman's fascination with "magnetism, occult power, or astral body" and his "devotional rapture", the term "theosophist" aligns most closely with the definition of a Mystic. Theosophy itself is a spiritual movement that explores divine mysteries and seeks wisdom from hidden spiritual sources, often involving concepts like karma, reincarnation, and spiritual evolution, which are characteristic of mystical traditions.
Similar Questions
- The term "poor dumb millions" refer to-
- The word "Communalism" in the above passage refers to-
- In the context of the passage, the term 'incognisant' most likely means:
- The word "Boorish" mean:
- Who is 'knacker'?
Important Questions from Verbal
- The term "poor dumb millions" refer to-
- The word "Communalism" in the above passage refers to-
- In the context of the passage, the term 'incognisant' most likely means:
- The word "Boorish" mean:
- Who is 'knacker'?
