the nature of the soul by lucille cedercrans

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T H E N A T U R E O F T H E

b y L u c i l l e C e d e r c r a n s


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Bernadette Rosenstiel, D.C.

[email protected]

February 3, 2001

Revised September 19, 2003

Revised August 24, 2008

A special thanks to my teacher, Georgia Lambert.


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T H E N A T U R E O F T H E

Introductory

Thehumanfamilystandstodayuponthethresholdofanewexperience,thatofSoulconsciousness.Everyman,woman,andchildincarnateupontheplanetisbeingbroughtclosertothishappeningbytheforceofevolutionitself.Justasmanisdiffer-entiatedfromtheanimal,inthatheisaselfconscioushumanbeing,soshallhemakeyetanotheradvanceinawarenesstobecomeaSoul-conscioussonofGod.Nolongermusthewalkintheshadowofspiritualignorance,fortheLightofhisSoulismoving

uponhishorizon.

ThismovementoftheSoultowardexpressionwithinandthroughitslowercounter-partcanbeseenwithinthemassconsciousnessofthewholehumanfamily.Innoareaofthatmassisitstilled,butmovesconstantlytoproduceanawakeningofmantoItspresence. Men and women everywhere are becoming restless, dissatised and over-burdenedwiththeworldofmaterialvaluestheyhavecreatedforthemselves.Theyseeknewvalueswhichwillbringlastingpeacetotheirworld,littleknowingasyetthenatureofthatpeace.

InrecognitionofandcooperationwiththisactivityoftheSoul,anewthoughtformpresentationofTheWisdomhasbeencreatedandplacedinavailabilityforthosewhoseekit.Itcanbecontactedasanabstractionviatheactivityofmeditation,andmustthenbetranslatedintoaconcreteformbytheonewhomeditates.

Thisseriesofinstructionsisaninterpretationofthatnewthoughtform,andhasbeenwritteninanefforttoaidmaninsearchforhisSoul.

Forthosewhoseekauthoritybehindthewrittenword,thetruthofthistextmustbeprovenviaitsapplication.AformulatedconceptisofvalueonlyifitcanbeworkedoutasalivingtruthwithinthelifeandaffairsofHumanity.Thereforedonotlooktothesourceofthisteachingforitsauthenticity,buttotheapplicationofitwithinyourownlifeandaffairs.

Thisseriesofinstructionshasbeenbuiltupfromafoundationofcertainbasicconceptswhich can be briey outlined as follows:

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thedisplacementofenergieswithinthemanifestCosmos,directingareturnofeach ow of energy, from any given point, back to its Source in similar type, strength,andquality.Thuswhateveramanthinks,feels,ordoes,shallreturnagaintohimasthebalanceofenergydisplacedwithinhisownindividualsystem.Viathislawamanmeetswiththoseopportunitiesforgrowthwhichhehimselfhascreated,

andthusevolvesintheschoolofexperiencefrominstincttointellect,fromintellect,tointuitionandfromintuitiontoinspiration.ThusdoesknowledgeitselfbecomeWisdom,andtheSoulmasterItsownfateorkarma.Uponsuchmasterythein-carnatingconsciousnessisfreedfromthewheelofrebirthintoahigherfrequencyrangeofactivity.

C. THE PATH OF INITIATION

Thatafterthepersonalityhasreachedacertainplaceintheevolutionaryprocess,hisgrowthbecomesaconscious,self-initiatedactivity.IncooperationwiththePlan

ofEvolutiontheincarnatingentityinitiatesthoseexperienceswhichwillexpandtheawarenessofthepersonalselftoincludetheawarenessoftheSpiritualSoul.This expansion covers ve states of consciousness, sometimes referred to as the veinitiations. They are enumerated and explained as follows:

1. TheBirthofTheChrist.

HerethepersonalityhasawakenedtotheessentialtruthofhisBeing.Herec-ognizesthattruthashisspiritualidentityinnature,andisthereforeenabledtorelateastheChrist-ChildtohisFatherWhoisinHeaven.Heisbornagain

inChristconsciousness,andendeavorstolive,stand,andwalkintheLightoftheChrist,sharingthatLightwithallofhisassociates.Itisatthispointthatbrotherhood,forhim,becomesafactinnature.

2. TheBaptism

In this initiation the individual willingly undergoes a purication process.Throughself-initiateddisciplinarytrainingwhichusuallycoversaperiodofseveralincarnations,hesubjectshisemotionalnaturetotheDivineLawandenergy of Love. Thus he puries his lower desire nature, transmuting it intoaspiration to God via a xed ideal which he identies The Christ.

3. The Transguration or Illumination

This is the rst major initiation in which the whole consciousness becomes il-lumined,sotospeak,withtheLightofLogoicPurpose.Heundergoesagreatawakeningandbegins,withWisdom,toglimpsethecausebackofallthathe

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sees.Heiscognizantoftherealityunderlyingallformmanifestationandbeginstothinkintermsof,andtoworkwithenergy.

SuchaonedirectshislifeandaffairsfromtheleveloftheSoul,functioningintheworldasanaccepteddiscipleofTheChrist.

4. The Crucixion

This is the initiation in which the individual crucies that part of his being whichstands between himself and the full embodiment of his Spiritual ideal. He sacriceshis personality, ambition and desire to the One Life indwelling all forms. Hegiveshimselfcompletely,worksfor,andissubservienttothatLife.Afterreleasefrompersonaldesireandambition,hecomesbacktoworkintheworldasthosewho do have these two qualities, but with one difference: his motive is love ofHumanity,andallthathedoesisinservicetohisbrothers.

5. TheAscension

This initiation issoadvancedthatvery little canbe saidaboutit.It is free-dom from and mastery of the three planes of human endeavor: the physical,astral-emotionalandmental.Theindividualisreleasedfromthewheelofre-birth,andifhedoesincarnateagainitisonlyintimesofcrisisfortheguidanceofHumanity.

Man today is undergoing a difcult transition of which he knows little. As a race, he

is completing the rst initiation and approaching the second, uctuating between theemotionalaspectofhisnatureandthemental.Heislearningtoreacttolifeintelligentlyratherthanwithjusthisemotions.Ashebecomesmoreandmorepolarizedinthementalaspect,hecomesclosertotherevelationofhisownSoul.

Stillmandoeshavethefreedomofchoice,andshouldhedecidetocontinuealonghisselsh path of separativeness, he will undergo another period of dark ages in whichthe Spiritual Soul will be unrealized, and the completion of the rst initiation awaitingyetanotheropportunity.

ThiscourseofinstructioniswritteninanefforttoshowhowtheindividualaspirantanddiscipleintheworldcanhelpHumanitymaketherightchoice.Therearecertainsuggestionswhichcanbeofferedastothemannerinwhichthelessonsarestudied.First,letusconsidergroupconsciousness,forthiswilleventuateasmancomesintoarealizationofhimselfasaSoul,andtendstosubordinatehispersonalitytotheSoul.

Groupsofindividualitiescomeintoincarnationbecauseofalongperiodofassociation

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whichresultsinkarmicrelationships,andacertainaspectoftheDivinePlantoworkouttogether.

Thoseofyouwhoareattractedtothisteachingwoulddowelltoconsidertheserela-tionships.AllofthoseaboutyouareSoulswhoare,inapeculiarmanner,relatedtoyou

andtheworkingoutofthePlan.Asyouprogressinrealizationotherswillbedrawntoyou,andifyouprogressrightly,youandtheotherswillexperienceagroupconscious-nesswhosemotiveisService,andwhosegoalisthemanifestationoftheDivinePlan,asyouhavegraspeditforHumanity.

Afewwordsofwarningmaybeinsertedhereregardinggroups.Sinceyouarefunc-tioningatthistimeaspersonalitiesacertainamountoffrictionmayoccur,andunlesscarefullyhandled,thegroupwillnotsurviveassuch.LetDivineLoveguideyouinthisenterprise.RecognizeeachoneasaSoul,andthereforeasyourbrother.Letlovingkindnessdictateyourattitudeinallofyourrelationships,andgivetoeachthefree-

dom to express himself as he sees t. Set yourselves not up as judges, or as one abovetheother,butasbrothersonequalfooting,eachstrivingtoperfecthimselfinordertoservethemany.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson I

In the approach to an understanding of the Soul, consideration is rst given the basicconceptunderlyingallmanifestation.Anyappearanceinformisbuttheworkingout,orbreathingforth(touseanoccultterm)ofthethreePrinciplesofDeity.ThesethreePrincipleswhichhavebeenreferredtoastheHolyTrinity,andsymbolizedingeomet-ric form as the Triangle of manifestation, are the three Persons in One: God the Father,GodtheMotherorHolyGhost,andGodtheSon.

Theoccultstudentdivorcesthemfrompersonality,andconsidersthesethreebasic

Principlesasthatwhichcanbeseenastheunderlyingcauseofeveryappearanceinform. He denes them in several times in an effort to understand the inner meaningoftheouterworld.

They are considered rst from the perspective of polarity. The Father Aspect is seen asthePositivePole,theMotherAspectastheNegativePole,andtheSonAspectasthatwhichiscreatedbytheinterplayofenergybetweenthetwo.Thusthethreeprinciplesare enumerated as:

1. PositivePoleSpirit

2. MagneticFieldConsciousness 3. NegativePoleMatter

SpiritandMatterareseenasthetwopolaritiesofoneenergy,andconsciousnessasthemagnetic eld created by the resulting interplay of frequency between the two poles.

The next step in the occult approach to an understanding of Truth, or reality is:

1. PositivePoleDivineWill 2. MagneticFieldDivineLove

3. NegativePoleDivineIntelligence

WhenPositiveWillisimpresseduponNegativeIntelligence,theexpressionofLoveisborn.ThecontinuinginterplaybetweenWillandIntelligenceproducesanevolutionofthatLove,accordingtoaDivinePurposewhichisinherentintheIntelligence.Thusweseethemanifestworldaboutus,andbegintoglimpse(butarayasyet)theLightof its inner meaning. That Light is somewhat increased when we put all of our deni-

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tions together into a synthesis:

FatherAspect SonAspect MotherAspect PositivePole MagneticField NegativePole Spirit Consciousness Matter

DivineWill DivineLove DivineIntelligence Purpose Evolution Activity Monad Soul Man Soul is a term used to dene the consciousness aspect, the second Person in the HolyTrinity.TheevolutionofthatconsciousnessintotheexpressionofPerfectLoveresultsinTheChrist,full-grownSonofGod.

WedifferentiatetheSoul,then,astheinfantorchildSon,andtheChristastheadult,Son.WerecognizeTheChristasbothanover-shadowingandanindwellingPrinciple.

TheovershadowingconsciousnessofChrististhatwhichisnotimprisonedorlimitedto the form nature. Thus l and the Father are One. The indwelling Christ, is that DivinePatternpresentwithintheSoulwhichinsuresandguidesitsgrowthintoadulthood.

The combination or synthesis of Purpose, Evolution, and Activity which will nallymanifestasTheChrist.Inouterexpression,werefertoastheDivinePlan.

Herethenisthebasicformulauponwhichthewholeofoccultstudyisproducedandfromwhichitproceeds.Establishthekeyformulaclearlyinyourmind,learningtoreduceanyappearanceinformbacktoitsessentialrealityviathebasicsymbolofits

cause.Lateryouwillcometounderstandcauseandeffectaccordingtothemanifestingrelationshipoftheeffecttoitscause.Thismayseemsomewhatabstractandmeaning-lessnow,however,ifyouwillapplythekeygivenintheaboveinformationitsmeaningwillgraduallyclarify.

For example, the three basic principles can be further translated into:

1.Power 2.Light 3.Form 1.Cause 2.Meaning 3.Effect

TheSoulisacreatedconsciousness,andyetitcanbetracedbacktotheessentialtriangleofcause,meaningthatGodisconsciouslyawareofHimselfandHiscreation.ThusmaniscreatedintheImageandLikenessofGod.HeiswithintheImage,growingintothatLikeness,hencethecreativeprocess,insofarasappearanceisconcerned,isnotyetcomplete.

WeseetheSoulofourPlanetaryLogosasonevastbodyofconsciousnessmanifesting

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in myriad forms. Those general forms which we recognize are differentiated into vekingdoms in nature, namely: the mineral, vegetable, animal, human, and Spiritual.Each kingdom in nature is one identied Being, or Soul, contained within the Logoicawareness.

TheSoul,orLife,ofthehumankingdomiscomposedofthesumtotalofconsciouslyidentied human beings contained within its ring-pass-not. We see the Soul of human-itythenasoneSoulmanifestingwithinitsmanyvehicles.

Becauseofthedifferentiationoftheform,andtheapparentdifferenceintheevolutionof the Soul itself, it is difcult for the beginner to grasp this concept of Oneness. EachSoul is but an individualized expression of the Over Soul, and all are consciously, orunconsciously,workingtowardonepurposeofevolutionandexpression.Eachformconveysadegreeofdevelopedanddevelopingconsciousness,plusSoulexpression.

The appearance of the many can be explained in the following manner: An individu-alized Soul is likened unto an atom in the body of the One Soul, which has acquiredconsciousawarenessofitself.ItisnotinthebeginningconsciousofthatLifeinwhichitlives,moves,andhasitsbeing,butbecauseofitsinherentcharacteristics,itissweptinto incarnation to develop its awareness, thus aiding the evolution of the One Life. AllofthistimethecentraldirectingWillandtheIntelligenceareawareofthenewbirth,aid-ingitinitslongperiodofgrowth,untilit,too,becomesconsciousofthatLifeofwhichitisbutanindividualizedexpression,color,ortone.

Thepurposeofevolution,insofarasmansmindhasbeenabletocomprehend,isat-

one-ment,completewithindividuality.

The Soul of a human being, that is, the sum total of his consciousness, is dened inthree major classications, as follows:

1. TheSpiritualSoulonitsownplane.Thisisthataspectoftheindividualizeden-titywhichisnotyetincarnateinform.Itslifeandaffairsaremaintainedabovethefrequencyrangeofthebrainconsciousness,untilsuchtimeasthepersonahasevolvedtopermitItsincarnation.TheDivinePurposeoftheindividualizedexpression, that is, Its relationship to the One Life, is maintained here in what isoftenreferredtoasthesuperconsciou,anddirecteddownwardasthemotivat-ingimpulseforspiritualgrowth.TheessenceoftheexperiencegainedduringeachlifetimeisabsorbedintotheSpiritualSoulasWisdom-thatWisdomwhichwillbenecessarytotheworkingoutofitsPurposewhenatlastitdescendsintoincarnation.TheSpiritualSoulrelatesmantoGod.

2. ThehumanSoulinthethreeplanesofhumanendeavor.Thisisthataspectofthe

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individualized entity which has incarnated and identied with form. It thinks ofitselfasI,functionswithinandthroughthebrainasthepersona,andevolvesvia its experience with form into an identication with its Spiritual counterpart.AttheheightofitsgrowthitmergeswiththeSpiritualSoul,incarnatesagainintoahumanvehicle,andmasterstheformnature.Atthispointthepersona

hasbeenabsorbedbytheSpiritualSoul,andthelifeinformisaconsciousSoulincarnate.ThustheFifthKingdom(Heaven)isbroughttoearth.ThehumanSoulrelatesmantohumanity.

3. TheanimalSoul.Thisisthataspectoftheindividualizedentitywhichliesbelowthe threshold of awareness, still identied completely with the form nature. Itproducestheinstinctualreactionsofmanwhichresultintheloweranimalna-tureexpressedthroughtheemotionalandphysicalvehicles.Thisaspecthastobe absorbed into, and transmuted by the human, and nally the Spiritual Soul.TheanimalSoulrelatesmantotheanimalKingdom.

ItmightbeaddedherethatthereissomethingoftheSoularlifeofthemineralandveg-etablekingdomsexpressingwithinman,aswellastheabove,andthusallkingdomsinnaturemeetandmanifestwithinhumanity.ThisisapointtobekeptinmindforitlaterleadstoanunderstandingoftheparthumanityplaysintheevolutionofLogoicconsciousness.

Iwouldliketotakethisopportunitytoexplainsomethingtotheearneststudentinregardtohisunderstandingoftheteaching.AllteachersofTheWisdomrealizethedif-culty presented, particularly to the beginner, in grasping the concept of Truth which is

projected.Heisconfrontedwithabewilderingarrayofnew,andtohim,meaninglesstermswithanswerstothereasonforhisbeing,whichhehasneverreallyexpectedtond. If he is not very careful at this stage, he is liable to become so confused as to whatisTruth,thathemaydelayhisowngrowthunnecessarilylong.

First,examineverycarefullyyourmotives.Forwhatandwhyareyouseeking?Whatwillyoudowiththisteachingonceyouhavegraspedit?Doyouhavethebettermentof mankind in mind, or do you seek self glorication?

Remember,theconsciousSoulisapartoftheWhole.HisdesireistheevolutionofthatLifeinwhichhelives,moves,andhashisbeing.AnyactivityinwhichtheSpiritualSoulisengagedisinservicetohisbrothers.

If there is anyone who seeks attainment for the glorication of the separated self, itwouldbebetterifhedroppedoutifhewaiteduntilsuchtimeashismotivesbecamerightlyoriented.Hewill,ashelearnsthroughpainfulexperiencestheemptinessoftheillusionabouthim,theinevitabilityofchange,thedissatisfactionwhenalongsought

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goal is nally reached, the inability to nd fulllment. All of these painful experiencesnally cause man to seek fulllment in service. His motives become pure, and he is atlastreadytobeginhislongclimbupthemountofinitiation.

Thispathofinitiationisstrewnwithmanyobstacles,constitutingthebasernatureof

man himself. He must be willing to see himself as he is, to nd and overcome thosenegativequalitieswithinhisowninstrumentwhichhavebeenacquiredintheworldofillusion,andarerevealedintheLightoftheSoul.Ittakesgreatcouragetomeet,see,and overcome that which constitutes the separated self. It takes courage to sacricethatpartofoneselfwhichseparateshimfromtheSoul,andthatcourageisbornofrightmotive.

Thestudentwhodoesnotconsiderthesethings,whoisnothonestwithhimself,butcon-tinues to seek from the selsh purposes of the little will, only brings great suffering uponhimself.Thekeynoteoftheaccepteddiscipleisharm-less-ness.Seetoitthatyoucultivate

thisqualityifyouwouldescapethepitfallswhichencompasssomany.

Therearecertainrulesofprocedurewhichwillaidthestudentwhoishonestwithhimself,andwhosincerelyaspirestolearnforthesakeofothers.Theyarelistedandexplained as follows:

1. Achieve and maintain exibility of consciousness. This is more commonly knownasanopenmind,initisanattitudeofthegreatestimportancetotheaspirant.

Itisimpossibletoknowallthereistoknowaboutanyonesubject.Alltruthis

relativetoamanandhispresentstageofconsciousness.Wheneverhethinkshehasarrivedatfullandexactknowledgeaboutanyonesubject,hehasbecomecrystallizedinhisthinking,therebyclosingthedooruponWisdom.Getthefeelof a vast eld of knowledge, which man has not even touched, lying back of allthingsconsideredfactual.

2. AcceptasTruthonlythatwhichyoucomprehendwithboththeheartandmind.Thereiswithinthebasicstructureoftheinner,subjectiveman(thecombinedheadandheart)abuilt-inintuitiveresponsemechanismwhichhasbeenplacedtherebytheSoul.Thisisnotthebuilt-inemotionalresponsemechanism,butratherahighercorrespondenceofthat,whichisresponsiblefortheinnerguid-anceknownandexperiencedbymany.It,doesnotspeaktoyouineithervoiceorformulatedthought,butproducesaresponseofinstantaneousinnerknowingwhichsupersedesthought.

Donotthenbeblindinyouracceptance,acceptingasfactastatementwhichcomesfromso-calledauthority.Youcanandwilldeveloptheintuitiveresponse

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toTruthwhichwillguideyoualongthepathofLight.

3. Donotlookatthatwhichyoucannotacceptasafalsity.Remember,thatforanotheritmightbethegreatestofTruth.Simplyallowthatwhichyoudonotcomprehendandcannotaccepttopass.Donotmakeanissueofit.Wait,and

lateryouwillseeitintheLightofyourownSoul,recognizingitsplaceintheschemeofthings.

4. Become receptive to the transference of concepts. This is difcult at rst, yet ex-tremelyimportant.Remember,awordoragroupingofwordsisnottheconceptitisattemptingtoconvey.Itisadoorthroughwhichtheaspirantmaypassintogreaterunderstanding.

AllTruth losessomethingof itselfas it takeson theouterwrappingsofde-scription.Nonetheless,itcanbecontactedasabstractconceptifthemindisnot

imprisonedwithin,orcaughtupintheglamourofitsouterform.VeryoftenastudentisliterallybewitchedbythevehiclesinwhichTruthmakesitsappear-ance,andasaresulthelearnsandrepeatsvolumesofwordswhichholdlittle,ifany,meaningtohim.

Attempttointuittheworldofmeaningtosensethedepthandfullnessofthatmeaningandtograspinrealizationsomeunderstandingofit.Thiswillstimulateintogreateractivitytheintuitivefaculty,andyouwillgraduallybecomereceptivetothetransferenceofconcepts.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 2

Consciousness,thatbeingwhichiscapableofawarenessinanystage,wecallSoul,anddene it as animal, human, or Spiritual, according to Its degree of developed aware-ness.Thenatureofconsciousness,whetheritbethatofananimal,man,oraSpiritualSoulincarnate,isessentiallydivine,sinceitsonlyparentisGod.

Thisconceptisessential;inherentdivinitymustbegrasped,notonlyasanabstraction,butasafact innature,byeverystudentwhowouldbecomeinitiateintheWisdom.Thus,rightandwrong,goodandevil,anyappearanceofthepairsofoppositesmust

beunderstoodandresolvedintoharmonywithinthemindoftheseriousstudent.Thisiswisdom,anditspracticalapplicationintheworldofaffairsistheself-appointedtaskofeverydiscipleofTheChrist.Weattaintosuchwisdomviaastudyof,andmeditationupon,TheNatureoftheSoulasItmanifestsItselfinform.Thus,weturnourattentionagaintothebasictri-angleofmanifestationinordertoarriveattheessentialimpulses,characteristicsandattributesoftheSoul.

1. FatherAspect PositivePole DivineWill

2. SonAspect MagneticField ConsciousnessorSoul,DivineLove3. MotherAspect NegativePole DivineIntelligence

These three principles of Deity are also referred to as:

1. TheFirstLogos1. TheSecondLogos2. TheThirdLogos

TheFirstLogos,ortheFirstAspectofDeity,isthePositivePole,becauseHisNature

is Positive to all else. Here is the rst impulse which initiated creation and the lastimpulse which brings it to its nal conclusion during any one cycle.

TheThirdLogos,ortheThirdAspectofDeity,istheNegativePolebecauseHisNatureisindirectoppositiontothatoftheFirstLogos.Heisnegativeto(canbeimpressedby)themotivatingWillImpulse.

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TheSecondLogosorSecondAspectofDeitypartakesofbothDivineWillandDi-vineIntelligence,sinceHeisthecreatedresultofboth.HisnatureiscomposedofthePositiveandNegativeAspect,plusDivineLoveorPureReason,whichisHispeculiarquality.

TheSecondLogos,orSonAspect,isthesumtotalofallthatisinexpressionatanygiventime.Herethen,inHishigheraspect,isourGod,andinHislowestaspectourselves,consciousness,Soul,SonofGodinmanifestation.

ItistheDivineNatureofthatSonorSoulthatweareapproachinginourmindsinanefforttoarriveatWisdomthroughunderstanding.Wedothisthroughanalogy.WhataretheinherentaspectswithintheSoulwhichareanalogoustotheSoninHishigheststate?Howdotheseaspectsworkoutintheconsciousnessofthepersona?

First,astheDivineWillImpulse,themotivatingImpulsebackofallmanifestation.This

DivineWillImpulsemovesconstantlywithintheSoul,producingviaitsimpactuponintelligencethecharacteristicofintelligentwillwithinaman.SuchwillisessentiallyDivinesinceitisthesoundingLogoicWordmeaningIWilltoBe.

TheconstantsoundorvibrationofWilluponIntelligencewithinconsciousnessresultsinaprogressionofexperiencewhichevolvestheconsciousnesstohear,to respond,and to grow in awareness of its essential meaning. Thus we nd man demonstratingtheWilltolive,toprogress,toprosper.

Secondly,astheImpulseofDivineLoveemanatingfromtheHeartofGod(Christ)to

impactupontheheartofman(Soul).WhatisDivineLoveorPureReasonbutperfectconsciousness?Thus,manisconsciousofBeing.HissoundgoesforthastheIAmanditisessentiallyDivine,sinceitisthewordoftheSonorChrist,theSecondPersonin the Holy Trinity. Thus is produced within man the characteristic of identication,i.e.,theexpressionorassertionofthatdegreeofSon,Soul,orLovewhichisrealized.

Thirdly,astheImpulseofDivineIntelligenceconstantlyimpactingupontheconscious-nesstoproducemanifestationorintelligentactivity.HeresoundingwithintheSon,orSoul, is the inherent word of the Mother, the Third Person in the Holy Trinity: I cre-ate.Thus,formsarebuiltthroughwhichtheconsciousnessexperiencesandevolvesthePositiveandNegativepolaritiesofHisBeing.HisactivityisessentiallyDivinebecauseitisaninherentcharacteristicbestoweduponHimbytheIntelligenceofGod.HemustcreatehemustactinaccordancewithHisinherentwill,andHisdegreeofidentication with Christ.

ThesynthesisoftheabovethreemanifesttheattributesoftheSoul,whichwillbeex-plained and claried in a later lesson.

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Whatisamanthen,whenobservedfromtheperspectiveofreality?Heisthesynthesisofthethree-foldwordofGodsoundingintimeandspace

1. IWilltoBe 2. Iam

3. Icreate

orChrist,asitistranslatedbyChristianity,orBuddhaasitistranslatedbyBud-dhism,etc.

FromthemomentofthebirthofanindividualSoul,aselfconsciousunitwithinthegreaterconsciousnessoftheSecondLogos,theprocessofhumanevolutionbegins.ThenewbirthofawarenessissweptintoactivitybytheDivineImpulsesoftheWill,IntelligenceandLovewhichareinherentwithinit.These,workingundertheDivineLaws of Evolution, Reincarnation, and Karma, build the rst cycle of vehicles for the

incarnatingSoul,withlittleattentionbeinggiventhebuildingprocessbytheconscious-nessitself.Inthebeginning,theprocessautomaticallyproceedsaccordingtoDivineLaw,andtheinherentPlan.

Later,however,whentheSpiritualSoulhasevolvedacertaindegreeofWisdom(awak-ened,viaitsexperiencewithform,toitsessentialReality,anditsDivineNature),ittakes a more specic part in the building process.

Itobservesthegrowthofthepersona(thataspectofitsconsciousnesswhichisimpris-oned within and identied with the form) and determines what further experiences

underDivineLawareneeded.Then,consciouslymanipulatingDivineWillandIntel-ligence,theSpiritualSoulcreatesthevehiclesofincarnation.

Thisisanimportantconcept,tobearinmind.TheSouldoesnotseekoutavehiclealreadycreatedandthenincarnateintoit,butratherHebuildsthepersonavehiclesviaameditationprocess.

An aside note may be inserted here for later meditation and reection:

TheSpiritualSoulisindeepmeditationthroughoutthewholeofItsincarnatingcycle.

IncooperationwiththeindividualSoulsofthepersonalityparentsconcerned(deter-minedbyevolutionarydevelopmentandkarma)theSpiritualSoulproceedswiththeprocessofcreationfromHisownplaneofaffairs.Procreationisthen,buttheeffectofacauseinitiatedonSpiritualSoullevels.

Suchinformationmaybesomewhatstartlingtothebeginnerontheoccultpath,there-

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fore,itissuggestedforallthosetowhomtheseconceptsarenew,proceedslowlyandwithoutintensityofmind.Donotattempttoeitheracceptorrejecttheinformationatthistime,noreventounderstanditinitsentirety.Theaboveconceptscarryimplicationswhich, when later comprehended, will ood the mind with Light.

Muchdependsuponyourapproach.Toogreatastimulationmaybringthatforwhichyour consciousness is not yet ready. On the other hand, too great a struggle to grasptheinnermeaningofesotericconceptsmayresultinanunconsciousrepulsionofthatmeaning.

Considerthetextthen,withtheeasebornofdetachment,i.e.,Itmayormaynotbetrue.I shall observe and in so doing permit clarication of my mind.

TheSpiritualSoul,whenitisbuildingitsvehicleofincarnation,formsitaccordingtotheneededexperience,colorsitwiththenecessaryqualitiestodraw,underthelawof

attraction,theneededlessons,andsogrowsrichinWisdom.Eachsucceedingformorvehicle is capable of greater Spiritual expression, until nally the Spiritual Soul buildsavehicleofsuchhighvibratoryfrequency,thatitcancarrythesumtotalofHisdevel-oped Spiritual consciousness, and so manifest perfection in form. This nal incarnationfreesHimfromthewheelofre-birth.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 3

WehavestatedthusfarthattheDivineimpulsesofWill,Love,andIntelligenceimpact-ingupontheincarnateconsciousnessproducethreeinherentcharacteristicswithintheevolvingpersona.ThesecharacteristicsthemselvesareevolvedwithinandwiththepersonauntiltheyareexpressedasasynthesisofSoul-plannedactivity.Thusistheevolutionofthemanconcludedinthehumansense,andtheconsciousSoulincarnatedintoform.

Itisduringthisstageofpersonalitygrowththattheprocessofcharacterbuildingis

emphasizedasthepathofreturnfortheSonofGod.TheconsciousIbeginstoglimpseandtobuildanidealofhisDivinePrototype,theSpiritualSoul,andendeavorstore-buildhisinstrument,toexpandhisconsciousness,andtofashionhislifeandaffairsaccordingtothatideal.Inthebeginninghisvisionwillbedistortedandincompleteduetothelackofclarityinhismind.Itwillalsobecloudedwithmanyglamoursinaccordancewiththeemotionalcontentofhisfeelingnature,butinmostcasesitwillsufce to stimulate him into a new effort of conscious growth.

Littlerealizingtheimportanceoftheevolutionarystepheistaking,thisoneapproachesthepathofinitiation,whereonhewillinitiatehisownSpiritualdevelopmentwith

whateveraidhemayinvokethroughtheinvocativestrengthofhisownefforts.

Ishouldliketoseeminglydigressforafewmomentsforthepurposeofbringingyourattentiontobearupontheideaofinvocativestrength.

Manyofyouwhoareattractedtothisseriesofinstructionarealreadysomewhatac-quainted with the concept of invocation and evocation. However, we shall dene theterms used, for the sake of clarity, and proceed with our subject from that denition.

InvocationisthecallingdownintoactiveplayofthatDeitywhichovershadowsan

individualoragroupofindividuals.Thatwhichisinvokedmayappearinoneofmanyforms,suchasanidea,anexperience,orinthecaseofaneedyhumanity,evenastheincarnationofaninitiateconsciousness.Thus,DivineInterventionisbroughtintobe-ingviathemagneticpulloftheinvocativecenter,whichisactingasapositivepoleofmagneticattractionwithinthethreeworldsofhumanendeavor.

EvocationisacallingforthintoexpressionofthatDivinePotentialwhichislatentwithin

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themanifestform.Thus,theindwellingChrist,thatDivineSparkorSeedwithinthecon-sciousnessofthemass,canbeattractedintoexpressionviathemagneticpullbrought,tobearuponitbyaconsciousSonofGodlivingwithinthebodyofhumanity.

Invocativestrengthisdevelopedwithintheaspirantviahisself-initiatedeffortsto-

wardSpiritualgrowth,andhisexpressionofthatgrowth.Godhelpme,willmeetwithsuccessinaccordancewiththeprovensincerityofitsspeaker.Ifsuchanappealismadeviaaction,thenwilltheaidbeforthcomingfromwhateverleveltheaspiranthasbeenabletoreach.

Character building is the rst and, it might be added, the most important, processusedinthedevelopmentofinvocativestrength.TheevolvingpersonaisattemptingtobecomeSoul-infused.HeattractsthatSoulinfusion(DivineIntervention)viahisefforttoembodyhisidealoftheSoul.EachsuccessfulexpressionofaSoulqualityes-tablishes him more denitely as a positive pole of Spiritual magnetic attraction within

hisenvironment.

SuchSpiritualmagnetismworksintwodirections.Itattractsthatwhichisaboveit,infrequencydownintomanifestation,andthatwhichisoccludedorimprisonedwithinthe form nature upward and outward into manifestation. Thus, the OvershadowingChristisbroughtdownintoincarnationandtheIndwellingChristisbroughtuptobemergedwithItsDivinePrototype.

At,alaterdateanactualtechniquecanbegiventhoseofyouwhoqualify,forthepur-poseofutilizingthisinformationtothebettermentofhumanityandtheworkingout

ofthePlan.Inthemeantime,attempttounderstanditsinnermeaningandtorelateyourselvestoit.

Astheaspirantactuallytakeshisplaceuponthepathofinitiation,thecharacterbuild-ingprocessisenteredintoasasciencewhichutilizescertaintechniquesbaseduponaknowledgeofthecharacteristicsofaSoul-infusedpersona.Thevisionthenbecomesmore clear, more denite, and more possible of embodiment. It is no longer distortedand clouded, a vague dream of self-glorication, but a vision of radiant beauty whichisbasedupontherealtruthoftheSoulofhumanity.What,theaspiranthimselfcanandwillattainto,allofhumanitycanandwillreach,andhencehisvisionnolongerincludesjusthimself,butbecomestheDivinePlanwhichincludeseveryman,woman,andchildupontheplanet.

ThecharacteristicsoftheSoul-infusedpersonaarethemanifestationofDivineWill,DivineLove,andDivineIntelligencewithinandthroughtheformnature.

Thus,weseethatthedisciplinesexercisedbytheaspirantduringthisperiodofgrowth

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aresomewhatdifferent fromthoseof theaveragemanwho isattemptingtobuildcharacter.

Theaveragemanpatternshisdisciplinesafterthemoralandethicalstandardsofthesocietyandcivilizationinwhichhelives.This,however,isnotenoughfortheaspirant.

Hemaintainstheethicalandmoralcodeofhissociety,plusthatcodewhichisbasedupontheSpiritualstandardsofhisSoul.Hedoesnot,killaphysicalbodysimplybe-causesuchisthelawofhisbrothers,hegoesevenfurther.Heisharmlessinthought,word,anddeed,becausethat,istheDivineLawwhichhisSoulrecognizesandobeys.Hisdisciplinesthen,arethepositiveactsofembodimentofaSpiritualideal,whichhehimself has constructed in his response to the Overshadowing Spiritual Soul.

BeforewegointoacomprehensivestudyofthecharacteristicsoftheSoul-infusedper-sona,Ishouldliketoinsert,basicinstructionuponthesubjectofmeditation.Thiswillgivethestudentatechniquewithwhichhemayrealizeandembodytheinformation

giveninthefollowinglessons.

MeditationisatechnicalprocesswherebySoulcontactisrealizedandSoulinfusionachieved.ItissafelycarriedoutasadailypracticeonlyafterthepersonahasdedicatedhisvehiclestotheSoul.Ifthereareanyofyou,whohavenotanddonotmakesuchdedication,donotproceedanyfurtherwiththisinstruction,foritcouldbedisastroustoyou.AtthispointyouareenteringtheupwardwaywhichleadstheerrantsonintotheprovinceofhisFather.YouwillbeinvokingintoyourvehiclesthehigherfrequencyofSpiritualenergies,whichcanbesafelywieldedonlyforthebettermentofhumanity.DeliberatemisuseofaSpiritualenergyorpowerbringsquickretribution(karma)to

theuser,andhencetheprotectionofthemassesisinsuredbyDivineLaw.

The rst step in any well ordered meditation is that of alignment. Alignment is theestablishment of a path-of-least-resistance for the ow of energy between any twogivenpoints.Inthiscase,thealignmentistobebetweenthepersona,focussedinthephysicalbrain,andtheSpiritualSoulinItsownsphere.

The persona is composed of three aspects: the physical or dense body, the emotional-feel-ing nature, and the mind. The objective of the rst stage of alignment is to render thephysicalbodyandtheemotionalnaturequiescentandundercompletementalcontrol.This is brought about in a two-fold manner, as follows:

1. Thetwoloweraspectsoftheinstrumentmustberelaxed.Whereverthereistension,therethemindisheldaprisoner.Anemotion,particularlyofanega-tivenature,willproduceaphysicaltension,whichholdstheattentionofthemindfastenedtothebodyandtheproblem,withoutfreedomtoseek,recognizeorcreateasolution.Anyattempttostrainorliftthemindfromitsprisonwill

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onlyservetostrengthenitshold,therefore,theprocessmustbethatofrelaxedalignmentwhichresultsinafreeingofthemind.Thisisaccomplishedinthefollowing manner:

a. Becomephysicallyrelaxedandcomfortable.Makethebodyascomfortable

aspossibleinasittingposition.Beginningwiththefeet,relaxeachmuscle,tendon, and nally cell of the entire body. Speak to the separate parts, tellingthemtorelax.Knowthatthenervoussystemcarriesthemessagetothemandthattheywillobey.

b. Becomeemotionallycalmandserene.Speaktotheemotions,tellingthemtorelax,tobecomeatpeace.Leteachemotionbecomequiescentuntilthereisanoticeableserenitypervadingthefeelingnature.

2. Establishapointoffocus.Whenthephysicalbodyandtheemotionalnature

areatpeace,thepersonalityconsciousnesswillnaturallyfocusinthemind.Themind,whichisnolongerheldaprisonertotheloweraspects,naturallyfocusesitsattentionintheworldofmind.Itdoesnotleavethebody,butitcanbecomeattentivetotheSoul.Itispoisedandalert.Thisisfacilitatedinthefollowingmanner:

a. Establishadeep,easy,rhythmicbreath,thatwhichseemsnaturalandcom-fortable.

b. Takingsevendeepbreaths,thestudentletshisconsciousattentioncometo

apointoffocuswithintheforehead.Donotcreateapointoftensionhere.Simplysettleeasilyintheforeheadandrealizethatyouareanintegratedpersonalityfocussedinyourmentalnature.

Thenextstepistoalignyourself(thefocussedconsciousness)withtheSoulviathemind.Inthepast,beginnershavemadethemistakeoftryingtoohard.Letuseliminatethatmistakenow.DonottrytoplacethelocalityoftheSoul.Itiseverywhereequallypresent,andtoplaceit,beforeunderstanding,onlylimitsyourthinking.Instead,alignyourselfwiththeSoulbyturningyourattentiontotheconceptofaSoul.Spendafewmomentsinsilent,contemplationofbeingalignedwithyourHigherSelfviatheme-diumofmentalsubstance.

YouarenowreadytoenterintocommunicationwiththeSoul,tocontactitviaaseed-thought.Themindisgivenathoughtwhichquickensitsvibratoryfrequencyinsuchamannerastospanthedistanceinawarenessbetweenthepersonafocussedinthe mental nature and the Overshadowing Soul.

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Let your rst seed-thought be that of dedication.

I,thepersonality,dedicatemyconsciousnessandmybodiestotheSoul.

Thisservestoidentifyandbridgethetwostatesofawarenessintimeandspace.

Theseed-thoughtisthendropped.Thewordsarenolongerspoken.Thisisthemostdifcult stage of the entire meditation for beginners and for many of their, seniors. Thetendency of the mind to repetition swings the student into the habit of afrmation,andthisisthepolaroppositeoftheconditionrequiredforSoulcontact.Justsolongasthemindisspeaking,itisclosedtocommunionwiththeSoul.Itmustbecomequiet,attentive,alert.

Theseed-thoughtisdroppedaswords.Theenergyofthethoughtremainsasalineofcontact(abridgeinmentalsubstance)andneedsnorepetition.

Themindisstill,attentive,receptive.Whenthemomentofabsolutesilencehascome,theSoulmakesitselfknown.

Ishouldhereliketoinsertafewwordsofwarning.CastoutallpreconceivedideasyoumayhaveformulatedastowhatSoulcontactis.Youhaveprobablyheardstoriesof various phenomena experienced during meditation. Some of the common ones are:light,communicationintheformofwords,pictures,etc.Thisisallwellandgoodandmaybetrueofthepersonsconcerned,butitisnotacriterion.

Each individualexperienceshis contactinanindividualmanner.Someneverseelight,neverseepictures,neverhearorsensewords.Allofthesephenomenaareformsdictatedbythepersonality,nottheSoul.Thepurest,formofSoulcommunicationisinstantaneousknowing.Anythingelseisameans,notthegoal.

Acceptthatwhichresultsfromyourmeditationasthebestmethodsuitedtoyourdevelopment,anddonotcovetanothersway.Thisismostimportant.

3. The meditation form is concluded via what we dene as the descent, in the fol-lowing manner:

a. Turntheattentiontothementalnature,andknowittobeimpulsedbytheDivineWillImpulse;

b. Turntheattentiontotheemotionalnatureandknowittobecleansedandpuried by the energy of Divine Love;

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c. Turntheattentiontothephysicalbrainandnervoussystemandknowthemtobegalvanizedintorightaction.

SpendafewmomentsradiatingDivineLovetohumanity.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 4

Thecharacteristicsofthe Soul-infusedpersonaarebasically threetypesof energywhichareavailabletotheindividual,orthegroup,forexpressioninthethreeworldsofhumanendeavor.TheseenergiesintheirfreestatearethepotentialsoftheDivinePlan,andinexpressiontheyarethemanifestationofthatPlaninthelifeandaffairsofhumanity.

TheperfectmanifestationofthePlanisobviouslytheresultofanappropriationofaDi-vinepotentialofenergy,anditsdirectionintoappearanceinaccordancewithitsDivine

Intent.Toappropriateenergyforanyotherreasonisanactoftheerrantsonandcarriesaretaliation,sotospeak,fromthePlanitself.

Thisisanimportantconcepttograsp.TheDivinePlanisalwaysinmanifestation,re-gardlessofouterappearance.Thatmanifestationmaybeabecoming,oraperfection,butitisalwaysthere,movingwithintheappearancetorestoreorderoutofchaos;workingoutthroughtheappearanceintotheLightofDay.War,forexample,istheDivinePlan,asabecoming,foritmusteventuallyteachmantheerrorofhisviolence,whileworldunityandpeacewouldbetheDivinePlaninaphaseofperfectexpression.

DivineEnergy,then,operatesaccordingtoitsownlaws,whichareinvokedthemomentitismovedfromapotentialintoanactualexpression.EachenergyisimpressedwithaDivineIntent,whichwhenviolated,resultsinamanifestationofanegativeeffectinthelifeandaffairsofitsviolator.Thesuccessionofnegativeeffectsinthelifeandaf-fairsofanindividualwilleventuallyawakenwithinhimaneedtolearntherightuseofenergy.Thisphaseoftheevolutionaryprocesswecallthepathofexperience,foritproceedsviathetrialanderrormethods,withlittleconsciouseffortmadetowardSpiritualdevelopment.

TheSoul-infusedpersonaisattemptingtoappropriateenergyandtodirectitinto

manifestation according to its Divine Intent. This activity we dene as service to thePlan, and those who are engaged in the activity we dene as disciples.

TherearemanystagesofdiscipleshipfromthatoftheprobationeruptoandbeyondthatoftheaccepteddiscipleworkingfromwithinoneoranotheroftheHierarchicalashrams. The path of initiation is actually the path of discipleship which leads nallyto the Overshadowing Christ.

Pleasebeartheaboveconceptsinmindasweproceedwithastudyofthecharacteris-

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ticswhichconstitute,forthebeginner,theidealoftheSoul.Asyouenvisionthatidealwithgreaterclarity,suchconceptswillholdrealmeaningforyou.

AstheenergyofDivineWillimpactsupontheconsciousnessofabeginneronthepath, we see it manifesting within his mind as the Will to Good. This is the rst major

stephetakesinhisre-orientationtotheSoul.Hislittlewill,whichhasheretoforebeenconcernedwiththeaffairsoftheseparatedpersona,isalignedwiththeWillofGod,ashebeginstothinkintermsofthebettermentofhumanity.Thus,thegoodofthemanybecomesthemotivatingimpulseunderlyingallofhisactivity.Heismovedbythatimpulsetoexpressgoodwilltowardhisfriends,relatives,andassociates,sobrother-hoodbecomes,forhim,afactinnature.

Asthisoneenvisionstheideal,thatidealbeginstoincludetherightuseofWillenergy.Hebegins to think in terms of the three component parts of this rst aspect of Deity.

1. Purpose 2. Power 3. Will

Hiswillisderivedthen,forthePurposeandPowerofGod.HebeginstoglimpseaDivinePurpose(Intent)workingoutthrougheverysituationheseesmanifestingabouthim.HeknowsthatthePowerofGodtomanifestthegood,thetrue,andthebeautiful,isinherentwithinthatunderlyingpurpose,andsoheseizesuponit,ashisown.HemakeshimselfreceptivetoDivineIntent(notmywill,Father,butThine)andviaanacceptanceofit,invokesthePowerofGodintomanifestation.

Inthisway,thebeginneronthepathbecomestheprobationerdisciple,andbeginstocontributehisenergiestotheforcesofLightupontheplanet.HeservestheDivinePurposewhichunderliesallmanifestation.

Thisresultsinanattitudewhichisquitedifferentfromthatoftheaveragereformerintheworld.Ratherthanattemptingtostampoutso-calledevilviainhibition,theprobationercallsforththeDivinePurposefromwithintheformtomanifestthegood,thetrue,andthebeautiful.

Anegativesituationisnotseen,then,assomethingwhichmustbestopped.Itisseenasaresultofmisuseofavailableenergy,asignoranceofDivineIntent,and,assuch,itisrecognizedasavehicleofmanifestationfortheDivinePlan.

TheprobationergroundsthePlan(aidsitsmanifestation)byrecognizingitsexistencewithintheform,andcallingitforthintoappearanceintheLightofday.

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Thedisciplelooksupondisease,hunger,war,etc.,asnecessaryvehiclesthroughwhichtheWillofGodismakingitselfknown.HowelseisamanortheworldofmentoknowtheGreaterPurpose?

Theillsofthebodiesbecomesecondaryfactors,importantonlyintheirdisclosure

oftheillsoftheconsciousness.Thebodycannot,mustnot,behealedtocoverasickandSpirituallyignorantconsciousness.Insuchcases,thediseasegoesinwardtolatereruptwithgreaterviolenceandpain.Suchaneruptionmaybedelayedforanentireincarnation,onlytobringthesoulbackintoacrippledandpain-riddenvehicleforwhichthereisnoknowncure.

How,then,canwebeofserviceinaworldwhichischaracteristicallypainful?Howcanhealth,peace,andgoodwillbemademanifestinthelifeandaffairsofhumanityinthefaceofsuchodds?

The answer is not so difcult, nor so hidden as it would appear. It remains only for theaspirantsintheworldtobecomedisciples,toarriveatthoseattitudeswhichintheirsum-totalconstitutediscipleship.

WeliketothinkofourGodasakindandbenevolentFather,yetwedonotrecognizetheWisdomofHisways.

Ifamanbesick,ifaworldbeatwar,letusthenrecognizeaDivinePurposeunderlyingthecondition.Letusacceptthesickness,andthewar,asbeingavehiclethroughwhichtheconsciousnessinvolvedispresentedwithanopportunityforSpiritualgrowth.Let

usservebybecomingreceptivetoGodsWill,toDivinePurpose,inanyevent,andbycalling it forth from within the event to grow and bloom as a ower of Truth. The beautyand fragrance of the ower will then dispel the sickness and the wrong relationshipmanifestingbetweenbrothers.

Atthispoint,Ishouldliketopresentyouwithaservicetechniquewhichcanbeutilizedbyanyaspiranttodiscipleshiptogreatadvantage.

Whenyouarepresentedwithaconditionofnegativity,whetherinyourownlifeorthe life of a brother, carry out the following technique:

A. Establish your own alignment with:

1. yourSoul, 2. TheChrist, 3. TheFather.

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B. RecognizingthatthemanifestingconditionisaresultoftheworkingoutofDivineLaw and Order, become receptive to the Divine Purpose which is inherent in thisparticularsituation.

C. UponrecognitionofPurpose,whetherindetailoringenerality,callitforthfrom

withinwhateverlimitationisitsprison,asamanifestingreality.Seeittakerootwithintheconsciousnessaspect,growthere,andbloomasTruth.

D. Then,andonlythen,seetheradianceofTruthdispellingthedarknesscastbytheshadowof ignorance.SeethatradiantLightemergefromtheconsciousnessandshineforththroughtheformnature,transmutingasitdoestheouterformintoatrue reection of inner reality.

E. Speak the words:

MaytheDivinePlanmanifestDivineadjustmentwithinthisconditioninDivineLawandOrder.

Sound the OM, and turn your attention elsewhere.

DivineWillmanifestsalsoasperseverance,whichisaneededassetinthelifeofanydisciple.Thebeginnermustlearntoworkwithoutalwaysnotingimmediateresultsin the world of form, and this is often difcult. He is so enthusiastic; he has sensed thevision,andgraspedabitoftheDivinePlanforhumanity.Veryoftenhefeelsasenseofurgency,aneedforhaste.InhisattemptstomanifestthePlanashehasseenit,he

meets with seeming failure, not once, but many times. Often he does not realize thatthereisnorealfailure,butthatoutofthatwhichappearsassuch,successisonestepcloser.

In his rst attempts to serve he makes many mistakes, and in viewing these, he feelsacertainself-disgust,aninadequacytomeettheneedofthetimes.Heforgetsthatallthroughthisperiodoflearning,heisbeingwatched,andtrained,andaidedwhereverpossible.Hewillpassoutofthisperiodofprobationershipasaskilledworker,oneofthetrustedanddependabledisciplesuponwhomtheHierarchybuildsitshopeforhumanity.

Thereisanotherfactortobeconsideredhere,andthatisthelawofcauseandeffect.Causeoriginatesintheinnerworldofthought,andeffectisthemanifestationofthatthought in form. We nd that every situation is an effect of a state of consciousness, andthattosuccessfullychangethesituationwemustworkwiththeconsciousnessaspectwhichisitscause.Therefore,thediscipleworksfromabove,downward.Heextendshisawarenessintotheworldofmind,andoftheemotions,aswellastheworldof

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form.HehassensedsomethingoftheDivinePlan.Hethenworkstoestablishastateofconsciousnesswithinthementalsphere,aconditionwithintheastralemotionalsphere,andintelligentactivityinthephysical.

Veryoftentherewillbeaperiodofapparentchaosmanifestingintheworldofformas

aresultofhisefforts,andthebeginneroftenbecomesdiscouraged,thewisedisciplerealizesthatoftenchangewillmanifestinjustthismanneraskarmaisprecipitatedandadjusted.Hecontinueshiswork,maintainingstrengthinthecalmassuranceofhisSoulthatalliswell.Heperseveresuntilhisgoalisrealized.

During the coming week use the following seed-thought in your meditation exercise:

IamreceptivetothePurpose,PowerandWillofGod,asitissteppeddowntomefrom mySoul.IservethatPurpose,AcceptItsPower,anddotheWillofGod.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 5

InourconsiderationofthecharacteristicofDivineWill,wemustbearinmindthatitisbasicallyanenergyexpressionofDivinity.GodexpressesinthisSolarsystemviasevenrayenergies,whichareinthemselvessevensubsidiaryfrequenciesoftheCosmicRayofDivineLove-Wisdom.

Inordertomoreclearlyunderstandthissubjectofenergyexpression,itisnecessarytoconsideragainthetwopolaritiesofthebasicTrinity.

Positive Negative Spirit Matter

In Lesson One it is stated Spirit and Matter we see as the two polarities of one energy.

Spiritismattervibratingatitshighestfrequency;matterisSpiritvibratingatitslow-est frequency. These two polarities, plus the consciousness aspect or magnetic eldcreated by the interplay of frequency between them, we dene as the basic cause ofallmanifestation.

Thethreeaspectsinacosmicsense,manifestasthreefrequenciesofenergywhicharedened as the Cosmic rays of:

1. DivineWill&Power 2. DivineLove-Wisdom 3. DivineIntelligence

These in turn are differentiated into four minor frequencies which are dened as theCosmicraysofattribute.

4. Harmony5. Cosmic Denition or equation 6. Ideation

7. Divine Law and Order

ASolarsystemembodiesoneofthemajorrays(DivineLove-Wisdominourcase)anddifferentiatesitagainintosevensubsidiaryfrequencieswhicharethesevensub-raysoftheembodiedCosmicray.

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Our Solar Logos is then in a process of embodying the second aspect, Divine Love, ortheconsciousnessofaCosmicHeavenlyMan.

CosmicLoveisthelessonwhichHeislearning,CosmicConsciousnessthegoaltowardwhichHeisevolving,andtheperfectexpressionofWisdomorPureReasonwithin

Hislifeandaffairs,thegoalHehassetforHimself.

APlanetaryLogosembodiesoneofthesevenSolarrays(inourcaseDivineIntelligence)andagaindifferentiatesitintosevensubsidiaryfrequencieswhichbecomethesevenplanetaryrays.

Our Planetary Logos makes His approach to Cosmic Love or Cosmic ConsciousnessviatheembodimentofDivineIntelligence.HeattemptstoarriveatandexpressCos-micLovethroughIntelligentActivityanditssevensubsidiaryfrequencies.HeisstillattemptingtoembodyCosmicConsciousness,remember,asistheSolarLifeofwhich

Heisapart,butindirectly,viatheexpressionofaDivinecharacteristicinherentintheconsciousnessaspectoftheSolarLogos.Thatcharacteristicisnotthebasicthirdormatteraspect,butrathertheDivineIntelligencetheSoninheritsfromtheMother.

All Life within the Planetary body is conditioned by:

1. CosmicLoveviaitsthirdSolarsubsidiary,DivineIntelligence, 2. AndseveralofthesevenPlanetarysubsidiaries.

The Major Planetary Rays are dened for further clarity as:

1. TheWilltoKnowLoveinithighestaspect, 2. TheLoveofWisdom, 3. TheIntelligentapplicationofMindinLove,

and the minor four as:

4. Thebalancingofthepairsofoppositestoproduceharmonyoutofdiscord, 5. ApplicationofIntelligenceinConcreteknowledgeandscience, 6. DevotiontoanIdeal,

7. Order through ceremony and sacrice.

Thesevenrays,whetherCosmic,SolarorPlanetary,alwaysmaintaintheirbasicnaturesinceoriginalImpressionofDivineIntentismaintained.TheyareonlysteppeddowninfrequencybytheCosmic,Solar,orPlanetaryconsciousnessappropriatingthem.

To carry this correspondence even further, we nd the Soul of humanity in a process

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ofembodyingthethirdSolarRayofDivineIntelligence,whileanindividualSoulmaybefoundonanyoneofthePlanetaryseven.

TheraysofthepersonaareinturnsubsidiarytotheSoulray.

Synthesisistheliftinginfrequencyofanysubsidiarysevenintoitsoriginalexpression.

EXAMPLE

1. IntheSolarLife,synthesisistheliftingoftheSolarSevenintoCosmicLove.

2. InthePlanetaryLife,synthesisistheliftingofthePlanetarySevenintoaSolarexpressionofIntelligentLove.

3. Intheindividualhumansense,synthesisistheliftingofthepersonalityrays

intoanexpressionoftheSoulray.

Weseeeveryappearanceinformasbutacombinationofcertainrayenergies,know-ingthattheso-calledsolidformisbuttheslowestrateoffrequencyoftheenergiesinvolved.Thisappearanceistheappearanceofthematteraspect,thenegativepoleofmanifestation,whileSpiritisbutthehighestrateoffrequencyofthesameenergiesinvolved.Between these two is the magnetic eld, the Soul or consciousness aspect, which is foundoccupyingeveryrangeoffrequencybetweenSpiritandmatter.

It is realized that the above information is highly technical and will be difcult for

some;however,itisnotonlynecessarytoyouasfoundationaloccultknowledge,butitholdsilluminationforthosewhoseintuitionsareawakeninginaSpiritualsense.Learnit, as you would learn any other text, and then reect upon its inner meaning. Do notbe concerned if that meaning, and Spiritual signicance, is not readily apparent, for itwillrevealitselfinduetime.

Theabovetechnicalinformationcanserveinonesensenow,however.Itcandispeltheglamourofimportancewhichmanyoccultstudentstendtobuildaroundthemselves.Once it is understood that our Solar Logos, that Life in which our Planetary LogoslivesandmovesandhasHisbeing,isevolvingtowardCosmicConsciousness,theindividualwillnotmakethemistakeofthinkinghehasattainedtothesamestate.Hewilltakehisproperplace,eliminatingtheswelledsenseofego,andworktowardtheachievementofhisownevolutionarygoal.

Thisisimportantandpossiblyoneofthehardestexperiencesoftheoccultpath.Ifitreducesmaninhisowneyes,itexpandsGodatthesametime,andgivestheindividualatruersenseofproportion.

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WhenthehumanbeingbeginstoglimpsethevisionofhisSoul,andtobeimpressedby the Wisdom of his Soul, his rst reaction is egotistical. He thinks of himself asdifferentfromtherestofhumanity,andlittlerealizingtheerrorofhisway,becomesmoredangerouslyseparativethanwhenhewasapersonawithoutthoughtofSoul.Theantidoteisabsorptionofafewoccultfacts,plustherealizationthatwhatishap-

peningtohimisasnaturalasanyprocessofgrowth.Heisnotdifferent,norunique,aboveorbelowhisbrothers.Heissimplyenteringintoanexperiencewhicheveryman,woman,andchildupontheplaneteitherhasalready,isnow,orwillinduecourseoftime,sharewithhim.

Ifyouhavebeenusingtheseedthoughtgiveninthelastlessonasaregularmeditationexercise,youhaveinvokedintoyourinstrumentfromSoullevelsagreaterimpactofWillenergythanheretofore.

Letusnowobservethenaturaleffectsofsuchanimpactuponeachofthethreeaspects

ofthepersona.

Themomentsuchenergyimpactsuponthementalbody,itstirstheconsciousnessthereintowardsomekindofdrive.Theindividualhasavailedhimselfofmoremotivepower,sotospeak,whichactivatesthemotivesalreadypresent.Thus,spiritualambi-tion,whichisthedriveforSpiritualattainmentasaseparatedpersona,stirsitsheadand the aspirant begins to think in terms of a position of power, of wide inuence.Insteadofservingthosewhomheisdedicatedtoserve,orrespondingtotheirneedsnaturally,heisconsciousonlyofhimselfandhisneedtosatisfyhisego.HewantstobesomebodyinaSpiritualsense.

AtthesametimetherealmentalimpulsetobeofservicetotheDivinePlan,todisci-plinethepersona,toevolveasamemberofthehumanfamily,isactivatedtoo,andthepairsofoppositesmakeanappearancewithinthemindnaturetoberesolvedintoharmony.

The conict between the two motives will produce confusion, discord, ups and downsinthethought-life,untiltheyareresolvedviarededicationandasaneattitudetowardthem.

The aspirant and probationer disciple realizes rst that motive is an evolving part of hisconsciousness.Ifhehadattainedpurityofmotive,hewouldnotbewhereheisnow.

Heaccepts,then,thefactthatviatheprocessofevolutionhehasembodiedthepairsofopposites,andthathehasnowenteredthatstageofgrowthanddevelopmentwhereinhewillresolvethemwithinhimself,graduallytransmutingtheoneintoanexpansionoftheother.

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Whilehedoesnotfeedthewrongmotivesofwhichhebecomesconsciouslyaware,hedoesnotindulgeinguiltbecauseofthem.Theyarethere.Theyareindicativeofhisplaceintheevolutionaryscheme,andoftheworkahead.Hedevelopsasenseofhumor,laughsathimselfandhisfaults,andforgesaheadtopromulgatethegood,thetrueandthebeautiful.

ThisisrightuseofWillenergyonmentallevelsanditresultsinDivineStrength.Themanistemperedtoendurethepathofinitiationanditsrevelationofhisbasernature.

AstheWillenergypassesfromthementalintotheemotionalnature,itproducesthesame type of conict there; desire versus aspiration. It activates the so-called good andbad,veryoftenproducingemotionaldisturbance.TheaspirantsimplywillstoLove.He oods his emotional nature with Love via the direction of his thought, and calmsthetroubledwaters.Heassumesthesameattitudetowardtheemotionalsituationashedoestowardthemental,bringingtherealityofhisSoulintobeingwithinthisaspect

ofhisnature.Thus,hebecomesaharmonizingagentintheworldofaffairs.

On the physical plane he simply puts into action his reoriented thoughts and feelings.HerealizesthathisWillisthesteppeddownenergyofGodimpressedwithaDivineIntent.ThewieldingofDivineIntentproducesorderwithinhislifeandaffairs.

Duringtheperiodofhisprobationershipasadisciple,theindividualusesWillenergyin the following manner:

1. ToseekoutandknowtheDivinePlanasitisheldinfocusbytheChrist.This

hedoesviameditation,studyandobservation.

2. To render his instrument t for service to the Divine Plan. This he does viaSoul-imposeddisciplinarytrainingwhichinvolvestheinvocationofDivineWillImpulseintohisowninnernature.

3. ToembodytothebestofhisabilitythatdegreeofSoulqualitywhichhecantouchwithhisheartandmind.Thishedoesviaaspiration.

4. To initiate a dened service activity on mental, emotional, and physical levels whichbears no hope of tangible return or obvious results. In other words, let him nd a servicewhichisperformedfrombehindthescenes,tonooneelsesknowledge.

Duringthecomingweekcontinuewiththesameseedthought,notingtheeffectsoftheimpactofWillenergyinyourlifeandaffairs.Determineviaanobservationofyourdailyactivitythewaysinwhichyoucanputsuchenergyintorightuse.Asanassignment,bringabriefwrittenstatementofsuchdiscoveriestoyournextclass.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 6

We have dened the consciousness aspect as the magnetic eld created by the interplayoffrequencybetweenPositiveSpiritandNegativeMatter.HereisthecreatedSon,theLove-WisdomaspectoftheDivineExpression.

ThereisagreatmysteryunderlyingthesetermsusedassynonymoustodescribethesecondLogos.

What is the magnetic eld? It is the essential area of activity resulting from a ow of

forcealternatingbetweenthetwopoles.Forceinthisinstanceisconstitutedofthevari-ous frequencies that the One energy takes as it plays between Its positive and negativepolarity.

Theessentialareaofactivityisconsciousness,orSoul.Thisistheconsciousthinking,feeling,creatingentity.ThisistheGodofourmanifestCosmosbeyondwhichthehigh-est developed minds in our Solar system cannot go. About Him it has been said: Andhavingpervadedtheuniversewithafragmentofmyself,Iremain.

Our Christian Bible states, God created man in the Image and Likeness of Himself.

The essential area of activity, the magnetic eld of consciousness is the Image of God.It is the rst (counting from above) manifestation of God that mans mind can attainto,andthisonlyintheorythusfar.Andyet,manisnotonlycreatedintheImage,butheisapartofit. The beginner often has difculty with this concept of himself as Consciousness, forwhatisit?Itis,insofarasheisconcerned,anintangiblesomethinghecannotsee,hear,taste,smell,ortouch.Consciousnesstohimisformless,andyetoutofitemergesallofthe forms that are. He cannot conne it, limit it, or pin it down to a specic; therefore,

comprehensionofhimselfasaconsciousnessseemsimpossible.

To further confuse the issue, a teacher cannot limit it to a specic, but can only explainwhatitisnot.Itisnotthebody,theemotions,northemind;itisthatwhichcreatesandusesthem.Theteachercanonlysay,Youareaconsciousness.Youwerebeforetheformofyourbody,youarenowwithinthatform,andyouwillbelongafteritisgone.

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Hereistheoldproblemofidentity,whichcharacterizestheoccultist,beginnerandadept.

Thebeginnercanhelphimselftobegintoknow,byfollowingaverysimplemeditationexercise as follows:

1. Turnattentiontothephysicalbodyandrealizethatyouarenotyourbody.

2. Turnattentiontotheemotionalnatureandrealizethatyouarenotyouremotions.

3. Turnattentiontothemind,andrealizethatyouarenotyourthoughts.

4. Focustheattentionintheajnaandmeditateforthreeminutesonthefol-lowing seed thought:

Havingpervadedthisbody,emotionsandmindwithafragmentofmyself,

Iremain.

The next step in the knowing process is to try to understand why the occultist denesconsciousnessasDivineLove-Wisdom.Hereisanothermysteryalmostmoreoverpow-ering than that of consciousness itself. Divine Love is a concept which dees Logic andReason,yetthesetwoarebornwithinit.

SomeschoolshavegonesofarastosayGodisLove.WesayGodisLove,Godisconsciousness,fortheyareoneandthesame.Wegofurtherandsaythatmanisade-veloping,growingconsciousness,thereforeheisadevelopinggrowingLove.

Fromabovedownward,wemayputityetanotherway.

1. DivineLoveistheconsciousnessofGodsBeing.

2. DivineLoveistheconsciousnessofChrist,theadultson.

3. DivineLoveisthegrowingconsciousnessofthehumanSoul,thechildson.

DivineLoveisnottheLaw,ItisthemanipulatoroftheLaw.ItisPureReason,ThatwhichIs.

Regardlessofraymakeup,predominantcharacteristicsorenvironingcircumstances,everymansessentialnatureisLove.Thisalone,whenallelsefails,willreachhimandthisistheconceptthateveryoccultistisendeavoringtoembody,regardlessofthepathormethodhemaybetakingatthemoment.

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This simple, yet so difcult concept, is the golden key to initiation. The key whichopens every door in the awareness to every eld of knowledge until nally the world ofmeaningitselfisentered,andknowninitstotality.Ifyouwouldlearn,wouldbecomewise,thengiveyourattentiontoLove,forLovecreatedallknowledge.Itlieswithinandbehindeverythingthatis.

Thusfar,wehavetalkedinabstractions,yetitremainstobringtheconceptdowntothehereandnow,torelateitasoneoftheDivinecharacteristicsoftheSoul-infusedpersona.

IntheSoul-infusedpersona,DivineLove-Wisdommanifestsasquality,thequalityofhisrelationships;thatwhichdeterminestheactivityresultingfromanytwoormorebeingrelated.

Wherethequalityofa relationshipischaracterizedbyDivineLove,thereisperfect

understanding,andwherethereisperfectunderstanding,thereisperfectapplicationofknowledge.Wisdomistheabilitytoputconcreteknowledgeintointelligentactivity,theknowinghowtoapplythatwhichyouknowtothehighestgoodofallconcerned.

DivineLove-Wisdominthisstageofdevelopment,weunderstandasdescribingaDivineRelationshipinwhichthereisDivineunderstandingresultinginDivineActivity.

ThemanisinrightrelationshipwithHisGod,ThePlan,hisbrothers,andhimselfThushisactivityisinservicetoThePlan.

This manifests and predominates rst in the astral-emotional nature, the vehicle throughwhichthefeelingaspectofconsciousnessisdeveloped.Thisenergybodyisagreattransmitterofforcewhichcanbe,andoftenis,ofadestructivenature.WhentheLoveaspectishighlydevelopedhowever,theastralbodyisaninstrumentofhealing,trans-mutation,andthePowerfactorintheworkofmanifestation.InthisstageitconstitutesthedesirebodyoftheSoul,andthroughthePowerofRightDesireorAspiration,itattractsallthatisneededfortheDivinework.

Divine Love manifests rst in the consciousness of the beginner on the path, as rightaspiration.Hehasbecome,overalongperiodoftimeonthepathofexperience,dis-contentedwiththekindoflifeheisliving.HelongsforsomethingelsetogivePurposetohislife,andnotknowingwhatthatsomethingelsemightbe,isdrivenfromplacetoplace,fromreligiontoreligion,fromphilosophytophilosophyinsearchofTruth.

AtlastherecognizesthatTruthisgreaterthanhe,oranyoneelseasapersonality,forherealizesthatthepersonaofitselfiswithoutaPurpose.HeseesTruth,then,ashisownHigherSelf,hisChrist-SelfinReality,andtothatheaspires.

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Heendeavorstoseethevisionofhimselfashereallyis,andinsodoing,hebecomesaware of the Ideal. He glimpses a vision of the ideal, at rst distorted by the clouds inhisownmental-emotionalaura,later,clearandbeautiful.

Afterhavingseenthevision(ifonlyinpart),hethensetsouttoembodyit,tobecome

thatinmanifestation.Heundergoesaperiodofself-imposeddisciplineinwhichhefashionshisthought-life,hisemotions,andhisphysicalactionstoportraytheidealhehasfound.

Inthismanner,theinstrumentisliterallyrebuilt.Theinnerthought-lifegraduallyunder-goesatransformationwhicheliminatesnegativityandthenonessentials,tobuildinthosethought-patternswhichcharacterizetheSoul-infusedpersona.TheemotionallifeassumesanattitudeofserenityandradiatoryLove,whilethephysicalbodyfromthecellularstruc-turetothewholevehicleitselfisgalvanizedintorightaction.

Duringthisrebuildingprocess,theaspirantendeavorstopracticeharmlessness.Heliftsthevibratoryfrequencyofhisbodiesviaastrictdisciplinarytraining,whichhastodolargelywithhisattitudetowardothers,andsobecomesharmlessinthought,word,and deed. Only then is he ready for initiation.

In reorienting his affairs to the life of the Soul, the aspirant nds Divine Love-Wisdommanifesting next as a recognition of others as Souls. This is the rst step toward the at-tainmentofthecommongoalofman;themanifestationofbrotherhood.Herecognizesrst, those of his immediate group, as his brothers in Christ, and gradually all of the con-notationsofHisrelationshipsseepintohisconsciousness.Heexperiencesthegreatestof

allgifts,therichnessandfullnessoftheLoveofGodinman.

One of the most important steps taken toward this goal is the attitude of detachment.AsaneffectofDivineLove,itisactuallyanattachmenttotheSoulofalllifewhichresultsinadetachmentfromtheform.

Asstatedpreviously,discipleswhoarethrowntogetherinthelifeofthepersonality,towork out some aspect of the Plan, often meet with great difculty. There are differencesinpersonalityreactions,differencesinopinion,intype,andmethodofwork,andinraymakeup.Thiscausesfrictionwheretheattentionisfocussedintheworldofform.

The aspirant learns rst that his brother is a Soul, and therefore they are both a partof the One Life. He then learns to attach importance only to the Oneness of the Soul,and to attach no importance to the differences of the persona. This is at rst difcult,sincetheaspiranthasbeenconcernedwiththeaffairsofthepersonaoveraperiodofmanylifetimes.Itnecessitatesaplacingofvaluesupontheconstantrealities,ratherthanchangingconditions;anattainmentofrightperspective.

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Thisismosteasilyfacilitatedwhentheaspirantcanlifthisfocalpointofattentionabovethearea where old thought-forms can inuence him. His task is to stand steady in the Light ofthatTruthwhichheisattemptingtoembody.Hebeginstoactuallytakeuphisresidenceinthehead,thatplacewherehepracticeshisdailymeditations.

Hereitispossibleforhimtoabstainfromcriticisminthought,wordanddeed.Hegoesevenfurtherandrecognizesneithervicenorvirtueinthepersona.Thus,hisfocalpointofattentionisshiftedbeyondthemasktothereality,andTruthcommunicatesitselftohim.Heisneitherattractednorrepelledbythepersona,butisat-onewiththeSoul,thusrightrelationshipontheplaneofthepersonalityisthenaturalmanifestation,andthe disciple nds that he is free to work in harmony with any and everyone.

Duringthecomingweek,pleaseutilizethefollowingseedthoughtinyourdailymedi-tation exercise:

IstandreceptivetothatLovewhichismySoul,andTruthismadeknowntome.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 7

DivineLove-Wisdom,whichisthebasicenergyandthebasicLawofourSolarsystem,isactuallytheveryessenceofconsciousnessitself,andisusuallyfoundpredominatingsomewhere in the disciples equipment. Even those disciples who work along rst or thirdray lines of force do so in an approach to the nal embodiment of Love.

Themajorconceptinregardtothesecondray,andonewhichisverylittleunderstooduntilafteracertaininitiation,isitsrelationshiptothereasoningprocess.Theintellectwhichweattributeasafacultyofamansintelligentmind,isinactualityafaculty

ofconsciousnessitself,whichwieldsthewillandtheintelligentsubstanceavailabletoit,toproduceorderoutofchaos.Accordingtothedegreeofdevelopedawareness(consciousnessofLove)willbedeterminedtheabilityofamantothink.Thisdevel-opedawarenessofLoveisactuallyapresencewhichunderliesandmoveswithinthemind.

Theindividualminditself,oramansmentalbody,iscreatedoutofWillandintel-ligent substance, by a focal point of self-identication within the consciousness of thePlanetaryLogos.ThefocalpointofindividualitygrowsinitsawarenessofselfasLove,throughexperience,graduallybuildingamentalbodycapableofcomprehendingthat

GreaterLifeofwhichitisonlyapart.Lovethen,producescomprehension.Itistheenergywhichrelatesmanyexperiencesin such a way as to produce a pattern, an evolution, and nally intelligent, productivethought.

Afteramanconsciouslyentersthepathofinitiation,hebecomesmoreapparentlyintel-ligent,becauseheisbecomingmoreawareofLove.Thatso-calledintelligencegrowsuntil it becomes Wisdom and hence we dene Love-Wisdom in its highest aspect asPureReason.Suchreasonisallcomprehensive,orallknowing,becauseitisinstanta-

neous.Itsupersedesthereasoningprocessoftheaverageman,whichseesandcanonlyrelatethentotheformaspect,becauseitgoesbeyondtheformtothetriadalrealityorcauseofformtorelateallfactorsintooneharmoniouswhole.Nothingisleftout,buteverythingisincludedthroughthePowerofLovetoperceiveandtorelate.Thus,wesayPerfectLoveproducesperfectunderstanding.

Iftheprobationerwouldlearnmore,ifhewouldperceivethePlan,andrelatehimselfto

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it, let him so x his attention on Love, not as an emotion, but as reason and as conscious-ness,soastoliterallyinvokeitintohisownmind.Inthisway,hewillattractallofthevariouspartsofthePlanintohismindwheretheycanbeperceived,andrelatedintothatassemblanceofthoughtwhichproducesthevision,speakinginoccultterms.

Love nds its source, insofar as humanity is concerned, in the Planetary Heart Center,knownastheSpiritualHierarchy.

ItseeksitspointofentryintotheindividualmanviahisSoul,topassunnoticed,andunap-propriated(inmostcases)throughthemindintothefeelingnature(theastral-emotionalbody) where it is reected into the brain consciousness as emotion.

The alignment then, with Love, or the Heart of God, for most men is as follows:

1. TheSpiritualHierarchy

2. TheindividualSoul

3. Thementalbody

4. Theastral-emotionalbody(feelingaspectofconsciousness)

5. ThebrainconsciousnessSeldomisthisenergyutilizedbythemanintheregionofpure(higher)mind,where

thoughtiscreated,butitpassesunimpededthroughthisareatoimpactuponthefeel-ing aspect of consciousness, where it is interpreted as an emotion. It is then reectedintothelowermind,inwhichthebrainconsciousnessfunctions,tobeevaluatedasaseriesofthoughts,whichareinrealitylittlemorethanemotionsgivenforminmentalsubstance.Thus,anaveragemaninterpretsexperienceaccordingtoitsimpactupontheLoveenergywithinhisownemotionalnature.

Littlewonderthen,thathumanitysreactionstoitsownlivingnessareoft-timessoir-rational, so unreasonable. Little wonder that its affairs do not reect Light. The LightofreasonhasbeenshadowedbythecloudsofSpiritualignorancewhichdwellinthatareabetweenhigherMindwherepurethoughtispossible,andthebrain,theareawhereamansemotionsveilTruth.

Donotforgetthatthebrainisnotthecreatorofthought,butrathertheinstrument,andinmanycasesthevictimofthought.Ifsuchthought-formsasimpactuponamansbrainarelargelyemotionalincontentorso-calledreason,thensowillhisreactionstolifebeemotional.Ifhelivesinhissolarplexuscenter,hisouterlifewillportraythefogs

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whicharecharacteristicofthisplacewhere(inoccultterms)wateristransmutedintosteam.Themanwholivesherecannotseeclearly,forhisvisionisdistortedbyfog.

There is much for the aspirant to understand in the above. If it seems difcult, that isbecausethe informationis intendedtoarousetheSpiritualintuition.Dwellupon it

then,andcometoknowwhytheemotionsarelikeneduntofog.

Theseriousstudentwhostudiesandmeditatesuponthislessonwillseetheobviouspathwhichliesbeforehim.

Firsthemustlifthimselfupintohisheadwherehewilltakeupresidenceandliveconsciously.Justhowconsciousistheaverageindividual?Justhowoftendoyouknowwhyyoudowhatyoudo?Isnottheso-callednormalhumanbeinglargelycaughtupinamazeofactivityseldomproducedorevenaidedbyhisownconsciousthought?Doyouknowwhatathoughtis,freeofemotion?Thefeelingaspectofconsciousness

iscapableoffunctioninginthemindtoo,asabstractintuition,ratherthanemotion.Thisisaconceptwellworththinkingon.

Poisedinthehead,andendeavoringtoliveinthemind,theprobationerwillthenreal-izehisalignmentwiththeHeartofGod.

Thealignmentisaverticalone.Hewillthinkupward,bereceptivetoLoveasitreacheshimfromtheHierarchyviahisSoulandmind.Thenasitpassesintothemind(astheenergyofSoulconsciousness)hewillappropriateitforthePurposeofknowingTruth.IfheisconfusedastowhatTruth,hewillseekoutthetruthofanysituationwithwhichhe

isconcerned,butfromafocusinhisheadviatheenergyofLove.

EndeavortothinkintermsofLoveinthemindmanytimesaday.Consciouslyanddeliberatelyavailyourselvesofitonmentallevelsbyreasoningwithit.Letallap-proachestounderstanding,allthinkingprocesses,bewithLove.

Thenextstepistomanifestapositiveexpressionofitintheemotionalnature.SweepthisaspectofyourselfwithLove,many,manytimesaday.

Inthestudentsapproachtoanunderstandingofthisparticularenergy,heexaminesitfromtheperspectivewhichseesthepairsofoppositesastheyaremademanifestby the second ray. Thus, he comes to understand in illumining ashes of perceptionhisowninnerpsyche,andthis,ofcourse,renderslovingunderstandingofanothersproblemspossible.

Graspthisconceptclearly,thatregardlessoftheindividualsownraymakeup,hisparticularlifeproblemwillsomehowbeinvolvedwiththeenergyofLove.Nomatter

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whetherreconditeorapparent,clearreevaluationofthepsychewillrevealthistobeso.

ConsiderthepolaroppositeofLove,asitismanifestedwithinthehumannature.Whatisthatpolaropposite?Itoftencomesasashocktothesecondrayprobationertorealize

thattheoppositeofLoveishate.Negativesecondraymanifestsashateinitsvarioustonesandcolors.ThenormalLoveaspectoftheindividualiseitherturnedinwardto-wardhimself,whichautomaticallyexcludesothersfromitsexpression,orinextremecasesitischokedoffcompletelyandtheindividualhatesevenhimself.

Since Love is the energy which perceives and relates, we nd that its negative mani-festationsnegateanddistortthereasoningfacultyoftheconsciousnesssothatrightuse of even the lower mind is impossible. Such a one experiences extreme difculty inlearning.Heisnotlackinginbasicintelligence,buthisconsciousnessisunabletoproperlyrelatedatainmentalsubstanceinsuchawayastoproduceknowledge.Heiswithoutthe

necessaryqualityofLovetousehismindproperly.

Whenachildisunloved,whenhisnaturalexpressionofLoveisnegatedbytheenviron-ment,hisnormalreasoningfacultyishampered,andforhimtheeducationalprocessbecomesaseriousproblem.Iftheadultswhoareprimarilyconcernedwiththegrowthanddevelopmentofsuchachildcouldbutrealizethislack,eitherwithinhimselforhisenvironment,asolutionofhisproblemscouldbereadilyfound.

Thepracticalapplicationoftechnique,whetherinthecaseofthechild,anadultbrother,ortheprobationerhimself,issimple.SinceLoveistheenergyofconsciousnessitself,

everypersonisendowedwithit,eitherasapotentialorasanactualexpression.ThatwhichweinterpretasgoodisbasicallyanexpressionofaneffectofLove.Hence,thereisgoodwithinallmen,andthereistheabilitytolearnTruthregardlessofouterap-pearances.

Thatgood,orlove,isattractedoutwardintoexpressionfromwithineverypersonthedisciple contacts. This is one of his major service activities and it qualies all of hisrelationships.

Recognitionofthebasicgood,callittheInnerChrist,orwhatyouwill,ofeveryman,woman,andchildtheindividualcontacts,andaconsciousefforttodrawthatgoodforthintomanifestation,isthedutyofonewhoclaimsoraspirestodiscipleship.

Thiscanonlybeaccomplishedthroughapositiverecognition,andasilentproclama-tionofthatgoodorLove.Noamountofcriticism,ofinterferenceintoanotherslifeandaffairswillevokeLovefromhim.LoveevokesLove.Thus,thewayofthediscipleisclearlyenunciated.

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Duringthecomingweekcontinuetousethesameseedthoughtinyourdailymeditation.Asanassignment,pleasebringawrittenexplanationoftheeffectsyourmeditationsonLoveareproducingwithinyourconsciousnessanditslifeandaffairs.

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Nature of the Soul

Lesson 8

The third Divine characteristic of the soul-infused persona is dened as IntelligentActivity.It isanenergyexpressioninheritedfromthemotheraspect,andhastodowiththeverynatureofsubstance.

Substanceisnotonlyintelligent,butinitsessenceit isintelligenceitself.Ithastwocharacteristicswhichareofmajorimportancetothestudentduringthisphaseofhisdevelopment. Since it is the negative pole of all manifestation, in its free or rst stateitiscompletelynegative,quiescent,impressionable.Itistheninert.Themoment

itis impressedwithaDivine Intent (theWill aspect),it becomeactive.Thesetwocharacteristics,thatofinertiaandofactivity,makepossibleitsformbuildingnature.

Thus,weseeintelligence,substance,orthemotheraspect,asitisinitself.Whenitis acted upon by the Will, as in the rst Trinity or Cause, its basic inertia controls itsexcitationtocreateonlytheformscarriedintheDivineIntentoftheWill,andthusanorderedCosmoscomesintoBeing.

The Son aspect of the rst Trinity inherits not only the Will and Intelligence of Hisparents,butthecharacteristicsofboth.TheabilitiestodirecttheWill,andtoactintel-

ligentlyareHis,andthusoutofHimself,He,inturncreates.

Man,adescendantofGodinthelonglineofdescendants,inheritsinlesserdegree,thesesamecharacteristicswhichhavetobedevelopedandperfectedinthecourseofhisevolution.

Heisconstitutedof(1)aPositivePole,whichistheSpirit,theMotivatingWillaspect,(2)aNegativePolewhichisMatter,theIntelligenceaspect,and(3)aconsciousness.SincehisSpiritisderivedfromtheFather,andhisSubstancefromtheMother,theyarenotessentiallyhis,thoughhepartakesofthem.Heisessentiallytheconsciousnessor

magnetic eld which resides within the frequency ranges between the two poles. Assuch, he inherits within himself the characteristics of the Father: Purpose, Power andWill, and the characteristics of the Mother: Inertia, Activity, and Creativity. As a con-sciousnessheevolvestomanipulatebothSpiritandMatter,orWillandIntelligence.Thus, nally he can state, in full awareness: I and the Father are One.

IntelligentActivitythen,fromtheperspectiveoftheSpiritualSoul,istheabilityofthe

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consciousness to control the motion of substance, to x and maintain it in a desiredorbit.Thisleadstoinitiationandadeptship.

Thetrainingprocesswhichleadstosuchattainmentisenteredintoconsciously,whentheordinaryforcesofevolutionhavebroughtamantothatplacewhereheseesintel-

ligentactivityastheworkingoutofGodsPlanonearth,andseekstotakeapartinit.Then,theevolutionaryprocessisspeededup,andheliveswithgreaterrapidity,duetoaneverexpandingconsciousness,througheachphaseoftheeternalmoment.Whatwouldhavetakenmanyincarnationstoachieveinconsciousness,onlytakesone,andhencehisso-calledsuddentransformation.Intelligentactivitythenspeedsuptheentireprocessofgrowthanddevelopment,soamanmaysenseagoalorideal,expandhisconsciousnesstoembodythatideal,andrealizeitsmanifestationwithinhislifeandaffairsinoneshortlifetime.

HereisthatDivineActivityofthePlanwhich,oncerealizedandaccepted,becomes

analogoustotheLawofGracetaughttothemassbyChristianity.

TheimpactofDivineIntelligenceuponaprobationerdiscipleresultsinthreemajoreffectswithinhisconsciousnessandinstrument.

1. The rst manifestation is that of apparent chaos. This is the result of an activationofoldforms,plusamentalawakening.Theindividualhasbeenundergoingaseriesofexperienceswhich,inonesense,arenotseen.Theyarefeltinpleasureandpain,happinessandsorrow,lossandgain.Veryoftentheseexperiencesappear tobeunrelated,andwithoutmeaning.Thenoneday the individual

awakenstothefactsoflife.Herealizesthateverythinghehasundergonehasbeen for a denite purpose. He sees a pattern and realizes the Soul as its moti-vatingcause.

Hebeginstotakeamental(notethedifferencebetweenmentalandemotional)interestinwhatisgoingonwithinandwithouthimself,aswellasothers.

At the same time he is recipient of a ow of Divine Energies pouring down from theSoulthroughthevariousaspectsofthepersona.Aswehavealreadydiscovered,thisenergyactivatesthedesirableaswellastheundesirable,causingagrowthofallthatlieswithinthetotalstateofconsciousness.

Asitpassesthroughthementalaspect,thoughtsofself,aswellasthoughtsofservice,expandandgrowoutintomanifestation.Thementalbodyisactivatedandtheindi-vidualbecomesawareofhisownthought-life.

Astheenergiespassthroughtheemotionalnature,alldesireremainingisfannedinto

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a ame to rise in conict with the newly awakened aspiration. Very often the studentisamazedtodiscoverwithinhi

the nature of the soul by lucille cedercrans

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