Discuss: Excerpt from "The Masters & The Path"

[Svaha]

Fiat Rex by Nicholas Roerich
The Adept spends much of His time in projecting streams of influence, and while, so far as has been observed, these are most often on the higher mental level, or on the plane above that, it is probable that they may sometimes at least be etheric currents, and for the manipulation of these the possession of a physical body is undoubtedly an advantage. Again, most of the Masters whom I have seen have a few pupils or assistants who live with or near Them on the physical plane, and a physical body may be necessary for their sake. Of this we may be certain, that if an Adept chooses to take the trouble to maintain such a body, He has a good reason for it; for we know enough of Their methods of working to be fully aware that They always do everything in the best way, and by the means which involve the least expenditure of energy.

For those who wish to know more and to draw nearer, the Path is open. But the man who aspires to approach the Masters can reach Them only by making himself unselfish as They are unselfish, by learning to forget the personal self, and by devoting himself wholly to the service of humanity as They do. In her article on Occultism versus the Occult Arts Madame Blavatsky has expressed this necessity in characteristically vigorous language :

True Occultism or Theosophy is the great renunciation of self unconditionally and absolutely, in thought as in action. It is altruism, and it throws him who practises it out of the calculations of the ranks of the living altogether. Not for himself but for the world he lives, as soon as he has pledged himself to the work. Much is forgiven during the first years of probation. But no sooner is he accepted than his personality must disappear, and he has to become a mere beneficent force in Nature. . . . It is only when the power of the passions is dead altogether, and when they have been crushed and annihilated in the retort of an unflinching will; when not only all the lusts and longings of the flesh are dead, but also the recognition of the personal self is killed out and the astral has been reduced in consequence to a cipher, that the union with the Higher Self can take place. Then, when the astral reflects only the conquered man-- the still living, but no more the longing, selfish personality-- then the brilliant Augoeides, the divine Self, can vibrate in conscious harmony with both the poles of the human entity-- the man of matter purified, and the ever pure Spiritual Soul-- and stand in the presence of the Master-Self, the Christos of the mystic Gnostic, blended, merged into, and one with It for ever. . . . The aspirant has to choose absolutely between the life of the world and the life of Occultism. It is useless and vain to endeavour to unite the two, for no man can serve two masters and satisfy both.

The point of view of the Masters is so radically different from ours that it is difficult at first for us to grasp it. They have Their private affections just as we have, and assuredly They love some men more than others; but They will never allow such feelings as those to influence Their attitude in the very slightest degree when the work is in question. They will take much trouble over a man if They see in him the seeds of future greatness, if They think that he will prove a good investment for the amount of time and force spent upon him. There is no such possibility as the faintest thought of favouritism in the minds of these Great Ones. They consider simply and solely the work which has to be done, the work of evolution, and the value of the man in relation to it; and if we will fit ourselves to take part in that, our progress will be rapid.

Few people realize the magnitude of this undertaking, and therefore the seriousness of what they are asking when they want to be taken as pupils. The Adepts are dealing with the entire world in enormous comprehensive sweeps of power; They are influencing millions in their causal bodies or on the buddhic plane, and all the time steadily, though by almost imperceptible degrees, raising the higher bodies of the people on a wholesale scale. And yet the same Master who spends His life in doing that work will sometimes turn aside and pay personal attention to little details connected with one pupil.



Anyone who hears about the Masters and Their teaching, if he has any grasp at all of what it means and involves, must instantly be seized with a most intense desire to understand Them and enter Their service; the more he learns the more does he become filled with the wonder and beauty and glory of God' s plan, and the more anxious does he become to take part in the work. Once he has realized that God has a plan of evolution, he wants to be a fellow-labourer with God, and nothing else can possibly bring satisfaction.

~Excerpts From: "The Masters & The Path", written by Charles W. Leadbeater

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

I think that to invent such platitudes and to ascribe them to Buddha is not better than to practice channelling when the messages from the astral plane are received and ascribed to some authority as they cannot stand by themselves.

[Kerry James Goodhew]

Hi Svaha, I like this piece very much!
Regards
KJG

[Jack Donaldson]

I was thinking of this upon returning home from work, and walking from the car to my door. It concerned thoughts of people who aspired to learn magic, and my thoughts upon their very act of doing magic everyday. We engage in magic every single day. So the writings you posted are similar to my own, in that the true wealth of knowledge is within striving to be unselfish, harmless, and helpful with caring a potent ingredient. Money is a mere tool, I use it out of necessity, but toil for money is not what I am about. The person stating money is evil, something which is an inanimate object, must be incapable of quelling or transmuting whatever energies abide within it.

I've lived a manner wherein a list of victims do not exist upon the path of life I took, but the dark astral energies are another matter. I knew not these energies caused dreadful effects; then I began to slowly intuit; to this point of knowing they are harmful; and choosing helpful astral energies. I have a strong intuition now, upon the urgency of developing a mental body, but little knowledge toward attaining this aim.

[Tony]

Kind regards

In every Theosophical lodge and meeting group I have attended, I am disappointed to report that, as yet, in over 20 years, I have yet to meet folk (both Theosophists and not) that discuss, refer to or indeed directly talk about the Masters (aka Adepts). I find this an ever puzzling issue, as without them - the Theosophical Society would not have become founded; and this forum would not, now exist... The overall impression I get from meeting people in such places is that "they'd rather not talk about that"...
I personally have very good reason to perceive the existence of the Masters; am I alone on this forum in such good reason?

[Vincent]

"I personally have very good reason to perceive the existence of the Masters; am I alone on this forum in such good reason?"

Well, have you perceived the existence of the masters?

I believe it only stands to reason that there are adept individuals among us. Although, there is an old saying in response to the students question;

Where are the masters?

The masters are chopping wood, and carrying water...

[Svaha]

Thank you for writing Tony. Although there has been a perceived lack of discussion regarding the Masters in your twenty years of study, perhaps this could serve as an appropriate forum for this very purpose!

You are not alone in perceiving the existence of the Masters. One made their presence very known to me in a very profound way. That is why I have become actively involved here.

[Janeth]

Re: "Reply by Tony Jackson 4 hours ago" - Hello Mr. Jackson, welcome!!-☺ I just wanted to say no, you are not alone on this forum in such good reason!! -☺ I do not need to see them with physical eyes to know they exist!! ☺

[Nabil Naser]

I am always amazed by Konstantin words, he appears on a higher level somehow.
Share more my friend

Some like to think that they reincarnated into this life leaving masters behind them to watch over them.
The best and only thing a master can do is to teach you about free will.
You are on your own

Those who reincarnate are rarely aware of the memory of physical form.
They think that they learned, but discover something missing. They don't feel whole enough to ascend.
They come back, when possible.
Babies, naive to all, except their DNA

[Janeth]

Thanks much for a lovely and inspiring forum, Svaha!! ☺ Interesting I find this forum today..☺ Just last week I was reading a small book "I Am" by Master Count of Saint Germain..Love reading it-☺ I have always been fascinated by his works and what I have heard and read about him-☺..Most probably you have heard of "The Violet Flame" (am translating the title from Spanish-"La llama Violeta"), Svaha? if you have, if/when you can spare a moment, do you think you could please post something abut it? Just an idea-☺ Who knows.., maybe you have done so already and am not aware?-☺ Thx!!-☺

[Svaha]

You are most welcome Janeth! I have the third book of the I Am Discourses. Interesting also to note that the typeface is in violet ink. ;-)

THE Comte De St. Germain, Saint Germain, aka Sanctus Germanus meaning, "Holy Brother" is also known by the name Lord Rakoczi. As a Mahachohan of the 7th ray, his offering to humanity to invoke the process of transmutation is a great gift. He did offer a book in his human life as well called, "The Most Holy Trinosophia" which I have read.

The dispensation of the I AM teachings were offered to allow for humankind to re-cognize the unity principle. To dissolve the illusion of separation between divinity and self-hood. To no longer see God as other, or far apart from the human being. The more human beings make the effort to contemplate the electronic substratum and their roles within the unified field of consciousness, the more effective they will be in conscious co-creation. Certainly this Holy Brother's teachings are important and should be included in the online forums of the Theosophical community. I will find a good passage in the book I have and offer it in the forums as well.

[Janeth]

Yeeessss!!-☺ Do tell us more, Svaha, do please keep telling us!! -☺ THE Comte De St. Germain, Saint Germain was also an alchemist, but of course you know that, right?!-☺ Am just mentioning it for others who may not know about it, especially TC visitors and/or TC members unfamiliar with the Masters and the enigmatic Comte De St. Germain; hearsay has it he was seen in one part of Europe at one time; 500 years went by and was seen again in another city looking the same!-☺ It is my understanding there is a particular method to be used in practicing "The Violet Flame"--Have you heard of it, Svaha? It would be lovely to have someone knowledgeable on it to help us learn about it...Thx again!! ☺

[Tony]

Kind regards

I would earnestly like to believe I may have found a forum, upon which great minds can discuss, in equality, their varied opinions and experiences of Higher Nature. Elsewhere I have found forums that appear similar to this one can be populated by all manner of folk, some blessed with vision, foresight and genuine profound development - and alas, some seemingly filled with purpose only to put down others or argue their opinion over that of their fellow members. The Human Race is frequently, a mixed bag.
My good reason to perceive the existence of the Masters lies in an extraordinary, continual, real life experience of many years now with someone that is in daily, if not perpetual contact with a Teacher.
I have had some fortune with career opportunities; I was a partner in a specialist esoteric bookshop for some years. I thus had a varied choice of titles to study. I looked at the many and various 'Channelled' books, many allegedly carrying the words of 'Masters', some even alleging to be of extraterrestrial origin, I also had fortune to see early, rare first editions of Theosophical works from the reserves of one of the largest collections of esoteric libraries in Europe. I have been fortunate.
In my humble opinion, I personally found some 'recent' book titles did indeed carry inspiration and a noticeable (and to me significant) eloquence of expressed thought and I accept it is at least conceivable that they genuinely have some connection to one or another Adept. Yet I do also believe that by far the majority of channelled titles are not actually from any Adept, but more likely the Higher Selves of the writers. There are other titles that clearly are of neither heritage.
Geoffrey Hodson’s “Light of the Sanctuary” struck a chord in me, he frequently referred to experiences whereby he was in the presence of an Adept (there was no name requirement). The impressions described and detailed accounts were closely similar to those impressions and accounts I get related from someone I know that as aforesaid, has virtually perpetual contact with a Teacher. This only reaffirms my belief that GH genuinely did have such contact.
I find that so many (awakening) people feel an inclination to accept the existence of the Masters without question, perhaps as a result of appropriate study of available literature. Yet sometimes these same folk are themselves, so close to such direct contact and yet don’t quite realize it.
When visiting a sacred place, where conjoined thoughtforms of people have built, over time, a high ‘vibration’ of sanctity and peace, at such a place one can consciously and deliberately empower a strong thought of service to Life. Perhaps the thought can be of compassion or aspiration to a noble ideal – and this can be sent out to areas of the World where such thoughts are in short supply. If one does this with wholehearted pure intention to do good service; I am sure you will attract the attention of the Adepts.
If such an act of service ‘feels right’ within you, if it feels like a kind of ‘inner calling’, then in my opinion, you are, really not so far removed from such contact.
I feel this vibration whenever I see any of Nicholas Roerich’s paintings; it is like a feeling of knowing ‘this is right’, to me, his images are effused with higher thought. However I believe it was his partner Helena that actually had the ‘closer contact’ in their case.