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

[Janeth]

Thank you for a most interesting post, Mr. Jackson. Am thinking.., thinking of..

>"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."<---Will you please share with us the titles of the books you talk about?

>"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."<---Will you please considering sharing with us names of sacred places?

Thanking you in advance,
J.

[Tony]

Kind regards

I used the word 'recent' in a broad sense I suppose :o) , my bookshop experience was in the '90s. There was a title: “Twin Souls & Soulmates” By Azena & Claire Heartsong with words alleged to come from St Germain; I would expect some truth to that having read the book. There was another title 'God I Am' by Peter Erbe - this was an extraordinary book that although quite hard reading - it was extremely profound; I believe this was from Mr Erbe's Higher Self, I highly recommend it. There were / are many titles channelled 'otherwise', in my opinion, too numerous to mention any one in particular.
'Sacred Places' - these will be present in every country of the globe; local cultural and tribal meditation locations, old churches, Cathedrals, Lourdes in France, Callanish in Scotland, Knock in Ireland...

[Janeth]

Good, sunny, beautiful Saturday afternoon Svaha-, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to cite something from "DISCOURSE VI" of "I AM" THE OPEN DOOR". Most probably you are familiar with it, but am thinking other TC-members and/or TC visitors world wide may not, and maybe will appreciate it..?- -- Please feel free to ask me to remove if you like -as the originator of this forum/thread it should be your prerogative and you shouldn't be afraid of being threatened with being banned-

"DISCURSE VI

Goddess of Mercy: Quan Yin

Dear children, I have so much wanted to talk to you for so long. I have so much Love for your all that I wish that I could take you in My Arms. O, to show you the Beauty and let you feel the Joy, the tranquil Peace that passeth all human understanding, of the Ascended State. For, you see, Here one is free of all earthly cares. Growth goes on, however. Growth always goes on. For, you see, growth is the Eternal Attribute of All Life. When something ceases to grow it is no longer in phase, no longer in Harmony with Life, and so Life begins to leave it behind, and the Light becomes dimmer and dimmer until that thing or condition that no longer grows no longer has sufficient Light to sustain it--and it ceases to exist. Though, that need not be. Ah, how many tears Man would be saved if he would realize that--for, you see, even though We would give you chance after chance to learn, to benefit from your experience, if you refuse to see that in all your experience is a lesson, a Divine Plan for your growth and well being, well, then there is nothing that We can do for you, for you are masters of your own fates, and we can not interfere with the choices that you make. We can only Love you and pour forth the great Light of Divine Understanding and Wisdom from Our Realm may Illuminate your path and lead you to Victory; and that the Understanding Love We have for you may you also have for your fellows, for no one labors alone. All that labor in their growth are eased as they seek to ease the pain and the sorrow and travail of others. Remember, "in that ye have done it unto the least of My little ones, ye have done it also unto Me." And, you know, sometimes it is so easy to do a small thing that may mean so much to another--even just a pat on the shoulder.
Do not feel that by showing Mercy you may be interfering with Justice for I assure you, dear children, Justice is inexorable; and Divine Justice can no more be stopped from coming forth than can the Sun after rain; though, be careful that in your human understanding of Mercy you do not allow yourself to become drawn by sympathy into the working of that Justice which Divine Law is bringing into effect in the life of the one you would help. For that would not be Mercy, but foolishness. Nothing would be gained by your own suffering, when really the suffering of the one you would help is almost invariably caused by transgression of, or blindness to some point of Law; and suffering is the only way that the individual God-self can make the individual human consciousness come to that Realization. And so you see, sometimes it is the greatest Mercy to stand aside, and with All the Love of Your Heart, Bless that one and enfold him in the Mantle of Compassion. And so, remember the difference between sympathy and Compassion; sympathy comes from human weakness and failure to understand the Law, Compassion comes from God and is Divine, and that Compassion in Action is Mercy..." (end of quote). "I AM" The Open Door - Saint Germain - Discourses by The Ascended Masters as given to Peter Mt. Shasta - Pearl Publishing, P.O. Box 1290, Mt. Shasta, Ca. 96067 - ISBN 0-9619770-5-1

[Arthur E Gregory]

Thanks Svaha for posting the lovely "triptych" by Nicholas Roerich.. a triptych as you know is an ancient Christian art forum with panels for an altar but it is also found in Buddhism as a portable altar..


I also liked the words defining occultism and theosophy:

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.

In the Baha'i Faith this is also called evanescence:

Advise one another with utmost consideration, watch daily your words and deeds; thus from the very beginning you may characterize yourselves with Divine Ideals. The divine ideals are humility, submissiveness, annihilation of self, perfect evanescence, charity and loving-kindness.

~~~ Abdul-Baha quoted in Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 213

and the following:

EVANESCENCE or Humility. That is to say, man must become evanescent in God. Must forget his own selfish conditions that he may thus arise to the station of sacrifice. It should be to such a degree that if he sleep, it should not be for pleasure, but to rest the body in order to do better, to speak better, to explain more beautifully, to serve the servants of God and to prove the truths.

~~~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 384

[Vincent]

"Advise one another with utmost consideration, watch daily your words and deeds; thus from the very beginning you may characterize yourselves with Divine Ideals. The divine ideals are humility, submissiveness, annihilation of self, perfect evanescence, charity and loving-kindness."

~~~ Abdul-Baha quoted in Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 213

Did anyone in the Bahai community make use of evanescence as a means of transportation, as Jesus and his disciples had done?

[Arthur E Gregory]

Vincent,

Thanks for your question.. .. Transportation was pretty much the same in the Holy Land from the time of Jesus until motorcars came along anyway.. Caravans.. horseback and riding donkeys... and by foot of course.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23986645@N07/2281310096/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23986645@N07/2384847146/

[Vincent]

Jesus appeared before them in the upper room, and they did not know how he arrived.

Philip was caught up by the spirit of god after baptising the Ethiopian, and he was found later on the streets of a nearby city.

Paul tells a story of a man who was caught up to the third heaven, and the man did not know whether he was taken to heaven in his body or his mind had left his body...

Jesus said that he was sent from place to place not by his own power, but it was god who sent him. Further he said that one must be reborn of spirit to enter into the kingdom of god, which is to come and go like the wind does.

Some today are calling this, relocation or transrelocation. Terminology is a big stumbling block, and always has been. Jesus tried to tell them but no one could understand him. Thomas finally understood when he witnessed Jesus appear and then touched his body, proving that he was not a ghost.

Go with god...

[Arthur E Gregory]

Amazing stuff there Vincent! Thanks for your post.

- Art

[Arthur E Gregory]

Actually Vincent I didn't really understand your question.. as far as I know there have been no miraculous transports among Baha'is while on this earth.. Years ago in th emiddle east only arduous means of travel through the deserts and mountain passes with plenty of sacrifice.. little food and usually on foot. If they were not evanescent before they would be from the travel..

- Art

[Vincent]

Well, the little girl's story seems authentic, with the multiple witnesses. Stories from older persons may be more difficult to accept but there are some very interesting accounts.

Take a look at these:

[Arthur E Gregory]

Vincent,

I think it's possible ordinary people can at times experience psychic or paranormal powers.. You've cited a few cases above.. Someone apparentky able to transport themselves around or a person who met their older self.. or the "miracle" of the little girl you cited above.

People have reported Saints levitating and walking on water in both Buddhist and Christian traditions..

An issue arises I think when too much emphasis is placed on these events.. In Yoga tradition there are Siddhis mentioned and when some Yogis become fixated on them and try to cultivate them they are losing sight of their spiritual goals.

I know some Christians who believe in miracles and such and it becomes so important to their faith.. If they place more emphasis say on miracles than the importance of developing spiritually it can be problematic..

From my experience some Baha'is will acknowledge that unusual things can happen but they don't place a lot of emphasis on them.. A miracle is most important to the persons it directly involves.. after that it can become a distraction for some people and lead some to an unhealthy attachment or worse a focus on developing supernatural powers at the expense of developing qualities such as "the renunciation of self unconditionally and absolutely, in thought as in action".

Just some of my thoughts to share with you..

- Art

[Vincent]

Well, if you study what Jesus actually taught, it was the performance of miracles. He said that those who believe him would do the things he did and greater things would they do.

Miracles are simply the fruit of loving God and neighbor. God really is like a father in his response. If you could convince your own father to do something for you, you are fully able to persuade God our father to provide a miracle.

I know it seems so simple, but that is the way it is. We should ask him in the love and respect we have for him to help us with the love we have for others.

According to Jesus the whole of scripture and the lives of the prophets offer no more than that...

We need not seek miracles from others, but we do need to perform some for others...