RECORDED BY ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF "MAN: FRAGMENTS OF FORGOTTEN HISTORY."
(Copyrighted.)
THE JOURNEY.
The Master stood on a great ledge of rock extending far out over a precipice that seemed miles below. With his face lighted by the first rays of the coming day that shot across the peaks above him and with his hands clasped behind him he waited in silence for the coming of the pupil to whom he had signalled. A Brother lying on the grass not far removed from the natural platform upon which he stood, questioned kindly the possibility of so long a journey by so feeble a student — but the Master waited looking piercingly across the distance. His eyes gazed intently before him turning neither to the right nor to the left, and when in the far azure of the clouds he saw approaching the soul that had projected itself at his bidding, he impelled his thought to his Brother who instantly recognized the approaching visitant. The Soul gaining in velocity every moment was in the presence of the Master before the twinkling of an eye could be noted — and prostrate before him could only articulate: "Master! Master!"
A touch of the purified hand pacified the terrible emotions of the new comer, who in suppliant attitude awaited the command of the Beloved Guru. "Rise my child," came from the lips of the Teacher, who, when he was obeyed continued:
"Your progress is clogged by your indifference to duty. There can be no relations between us unless you disembody your desires and spiritualize every thought. Imprison the latter when they wander, and live to teach the lessons so often inculcated in your higher mind. Help your fellow-beings to better comprehend the capabilities of the inner, living Self.
By the known laws of attraction and repulsion illustrate to them the impossibility of a higher life on earth for any but clean souls. There can be no mutuality of thought between clean and unclean natures — and the only hope of advancement is by casting off the latter and enveloping the real self in the shelter of noble thoughts. Teach that it is matter that is illusionary — life that is a transitory vision — earthly vanities that blind the eyes of the world.
Try to speak of these secret things to the lowly and the burdened who are often endowed with a wisdom not to be found among the other and opposite classes. Tell them that the Spirit does have a real existence here in matter — does exercise absolute philanthropy, divine goodness — supreme self sacrifice; does know the power it possesses. Return to your duty refreshed. Let the sunlight now breaking over the hills and the mountains of Himavat radiate through your transparent spirit. Drink of the dew of the morning and feed upon the honey of wisdom that flows in upon your hungry Soul. Thus will you be strengthened to meet the conflict in the plain of action wherein you are constrained by your weakness to work. Thus will you escape from it and find in the mountain the repose and intuition for which you are yearning."
The Brother whose form had lain in repose on the grass now approached and looking intently at the disciple entranced with delight and gratitude — said in stronger tones than the Beloved Master:
"In the land where your body lies secure from an intrusion that would result in your absolute separation from it — the great conflict is about to be fought. All the preliminary preparations have been made. A people freed from many chains — fast sinking into a materialism only recognised absolutely when some momentary impulse to generosity moves them — is to rise or fall with this closing cycle. To such a Babe as you is revealed a fact not perceived by the best minds among them. Go back there to work! Obey the impulse to throw aside every barrier — to do away with subterfuges deemed best for the personality, and go the rugged way lone and alone. In the time of greatest need we will comfort you and send the comforter to those whose Karma leads them to do battle in the same field. To you the sustaining force of our Fraternity will be contributed so long as the battle is waged for the race: the conquered rescued from their low estate and the Light of the Logos offered to every one who walks in the night of earth — life without guide and compass." — Then there was silence.
The Beloved Master touching the speaker’s uplifted head said in softest accents: "Go now. If ye love me keep these commands."
THE LESSONS.
The path of Wisdom is the path of duty. They are not separate roads as many erroneously conclude. Men fail to associate wisdom with duty — they consider them as apart. The disciple performs the action (duty), and in so doing finds wisdom.
There is, in each incarnation, but one birth, one life, one death. It is folly to duplicate these by persistent regrets for the past — by present cowardice or fear of the future. There is no time — it is eternity’s Now that man mistakes for past, present and future.
The forging of earthly chains is the occupation of the indifferent, the awful duty of unloosing them through the sorrows of the heart is also their occupation. Both are foolish sacrifices.
As mortal conscience is within, so also is the evidence of the spirit’s omnipotence. The soul of man is a tangible proof to his bodily senses that he is immortal. The existence of soul is not susceptible of proof on any but its own plane.
Compromise in the service of the weak. The starving must have food suited to the limitations of the irritated system — but be thou firm in thine own place of duty.
Liberate thyself from evil actions by good actions. The man accustomed to actions cannot at once become a Muni; he must work out his action-impelling qualities, and thus he transforms them into higher energies.
Meditation is but a name to the bewildered; the word is not understood until it is translated by the hungry spirit.
Fight the unknown force within you — it is evil. The good that is in you is written without, and is apparent.
Inquire of the stranger the earthly road you seek, but ask your higher self for the torch that will light you on your way. In the silence of one’s own being, is lighted the candle of will and aspiration. No wind can put it out, no heat can melt it. The flame is of the spirit’s quality — pure and of even temperature.
There is no vacillation in the mind of the initiated. Half-knowledge is the pitfall of the student.
Do not run aimlessly about saying lo, here is the light — lo, there is the truth. The light that illuminates the Atma is kindled in the mountain heights. It is the symbol of divine truth.
Wait in the morning for inspiration, at noon for guidance, and in the evening for a full understanding of the road thou hast travelled.
Man’s higher nature is invisible or rather the Divine Principle is. The individual human soul is universal: a right comprehension of where there is difference and where identity between the 6th and 7th Principles in man will free the subject of much confusion and misapprehension.
There is real affiliation as well as an occult connection existing between the seven principles in man and the seven classes of minerals under the earth. There are truths connected with the properties of the latter which man may find out by learning the constitution of his own seven-fold nature.
The law of embodied principles is to follow magnets. Is this not also true of the higher nature? We draw to us the attention of the Mahatma by a purified heart and a right development of will. From his heights he sees the valleys below and reaches out to give to him who is straining every faculty to receive.
Agitation that comes from mortal qualities affects the physical body alone: this deep unrest is not felt by the Atma, for the Atma is Spirit or pure bliss. But the ocean of matter, which includes the Soul, feels these waves of trouble and thus is the soul bewildered, ignorantly imagining that the spirit is affected. Learn to know the distinction and to realize that the spirit is eternally unaffected.
Life is a compromise — hasten to acquit yourself of the debt contracted in a former life, and remove its oppressing influence in this sphere.
When you re-enter the world of mortals again, let it be without the three disqualifications for enlightenment, fear, passion and selfishness: the sea of rebirths is half crossed already by the man who has overcome these three drawbacks.
Meat for the thoughtless, wine for the weak, but devotion for him who has overcome the appetites.
To be lord of self is to be selfless, a condition of perfect tranquility.
Forget not this lesson — that every one is so placed in this world as to exhibit his worst qualities. The purpose of this life is to strengthen the weak places of the spiritual man. His external life is for this only, therefore, all are seen at a disadvantage.
A lesson in meekness may be learned of the little child. It has come so recently from its previous field of life that it walks with the air of a stranger in a strange country and as one who must be led.
The divine quality is charity. Whenever it has been attained, the remainder of the spirit’s work with the lower nature, is to acquire a contrite heart.
(To be continued.)
"Alas we reap what seed we sow; the hands that smite us are our own."