editorial:young_and_old_souls
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| - | ==== EDITORIAL ==== | ||
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| + | ==== EDITORIAL ==== | ||
| === YOUNG AND OLD SOULS === | === YOUNG AND OLD SOULS === | ||
| - | WE HAVE had the question asked, what do we mean by | + | </ |
| - | young and old souls, and in this Editorial we will try to | + | |
| - | make it so clear that all will understand. | + | |
| - | As we look about us the observing ones cannot help but see | + | <WRAP justify> |
| - | that all people, | + | WE HAVE had the question asked, what do we mean by young and old souls, and in this Editorial we will try to make it so clear that all will understand. |
| - | in business | + | |
| - | different degrees of intelligence or of innate understanding, and | + | |
| - | therefore they must be in different stages of evolution or of | + | |
| - | soul growth. | + | |
| - | At first we may think that this difference is caused by education, | + | As we look about us the observing ones cannot help but see that all people, the men and women on the street, those we meet in business |
| - | or rather by the lack of it, in those not having much understanding. But we have all met men and women of very little education | + | |
| - | who impress us with their deep understanding of men and of the | + | |
| - | ways of life. Such we instinctively feel are wise souls, and we | + | |
| - | cannot help acknowledging | + | |
| - | other hand we have met those who have vast book knowledge and appear highly educated, but who know little | + | |
| - | what to do when confronted by problems calling for a practical | + | |
| - | use of their knowledge. | + | |
| - | Consideration | + | At first we may think that this difference is caused by education, or rather by the lack of it, in those not having much understanding. But we have all met men and women of very little education who impress us with their deep understanding of men and of the ways of life. Such we instinctively feel are wise souls, and we cannot help acknowledging and respecting them for it. On the other hand we have met those who have vast book knowledge and appear highly educated, but who know little of life itself and what to do when confronted by problems calling for a practical use of their knowledge. |
| - | from personal experience | + | |
| - | to what they could have learned in this one short life, and that | + | |
| - | they must have come here somehow in someway already possessed | + | |
| - | of such knowledge. This is confirmed by the child musical, | + | |
| - | artistic, mathematical | + | |
| - | born with their special | + | |
| - | at an early age when other children were learning | + | |
| - | This could only mean that their souls had gained this knowledge | + | Consideration of these facts, especially when they are gained from personal experience |
| - | and these powers before coming into this particular physical | + | |
| - | expression, and because | + | |
| - | could paint and draw, or have such an intimate acquaintance | + | |
| - | with mathematical problems, they must have gained | + | |
| - | in physical bodies in previous existences on earth. | + | |
| - | In other words, as souls they must have attended many terms | + | This could only mean that their souls had gained this knowledge and these powers before coming into this particular physical expression, and because they could play the piano or the violin, could paint and draw, or have such an intimate acquaintance with mathematical problems, |
| - | and had much instruction in this world’s school of life, in order | + | |
| - | to have gained such mastery in their particular lines of endeavor. | + | |
| - | The fact is evident that such mastery cannot be acquired in | + | In other words, as souls they must have attended |
| - | one short lifetime and must take many lives, | + | |
| - | such proficiency was with material instruments and problems, they | + | |
| - | could not have acquired it in the spiritual worlds where material | + | |
| - | things do not exist. | + | |
| - | This then would prove that man’s soul spends | + | The fact is evident |
| - | and mental expression, and it eventually learns what the physical | + | |
| - | world can not provide—true happiness, peace and soul contentment. That, it learns, after many, many ages, can be gained | + | |
| - | only by returning to the Father’s home in His Spiritual Consciousness, | + | |
| - | that appears in the outer so-called physical world is man’s creation and exists only in his mortal mind consciousness, | + | |
| - | Until he redeems all of these “separate” | + | This then would prove that man’s soul spends many lives—so-called—on earth learning the laws of life and mastering physical |
| - | and knows himself to be a soul and one with his Father in heaven, | + | |
| - | and sees only God’s goodness and perfection | + | |
| - | everyone, including himself, he must return again and again to | + | |
| - | physical | + | |
| - | power. | + | |
| - | SOUL growth is exactly like physical man’s growth | + | Until he redeems all of these “separate” |
| - | learn the facts and principles of life in the kindergarten | + | |
| - | as his mind unfolds | + | |
| - | up through the primary, grammar | + | |
| - | then through college and university; so does the soul begin as a | + | |
| - | babe in understanding and have to work its way up through | + | |
| - | similar stages of spiritual unfoldment. | + | |
| - | But while man’s | + | SOUL growth is exactly like physical |
| - | is able to learn about the various subjects | + | |
| - | and which as it is digested and assimilated is built into the mind’s | + | |
| - | consciousness, | + | |
| - | that elapses from its birth at the beginning of the race eons ago | + | |
| - | to the race’s consummation, | + | |
| - | millions, | + | |
| - | With the soul, each lifetime on earth would be but as a day | + | But while man’s mind gains from such schooling all that he is able to learn about the various subjects of human knowledge and which as it is digested |
| - | at school; | + | |
| - | learned in the daytime, so the soul, in its nighttime between incarnations when back in its spiritual home, digests what was | + | |
| - | learned on earth the previous lifetime and builds it into soul | + | |
| - | knowledge. | + | |
| - | It is difficult for the human mind to grasp the great difference | + | With the soul, each lifetime on earth would be but as a day at school; and as each night the mortal |
| - | there is between | + | |
| - | mind of Christ, and that it takes millions of years for the consciousness of the soul of a caveman to grow and unfold | + | |
| - | of this fact will help to account for the wide difference | + | |
| - | souls than others. | + | |
| - | It may be thought that as all souls were created at the same | + | It is difficult for the human mind to grasp the great difference there is between the mind of the prehistoric cave-man |
| - | time, as seemingly stated in Genesis, yet a little study will show that even at Adam’s time he was far in advance of others of the | + | |
| - | human race; also that if his sons got their wives from other | + | |
| - | families not as favored | + | |
| - | sons of God also took wives of the daughters | + | |
| - | much mixing | + | |
| - | of in-breeding, not to speak of the powerful influence | + | |
| - | remaining “savages” still on earth, all along up to the most advanced master minds of the world. | + | |
| - | Also it does not say in Genesis | + | It may be thought |
| - | at the same time, but that they were created | + | |
| - | which we now know covered eons of time. And it is easy to | + | |
| - | believe | + | |
| - | as all other things arrive | + | |
| - | of its consciousness and nature had arrived at the stage of ripeness, thus permitting it to come forth into life expression. And | + | |
| - | that “sixth day” evidently being the harvest time of creation, | + | |
| - | when the highest form of life then known life expression came to | + | |
| - | fruition, it is safe to assume that it was during that eon of | + | |
| - | perhaps many hundreds of thousands of years that all souls came | + | |
| - | into existence as full-fledged human entities, as contrasted | + | |
| - | animal entities, those on the next lower stage of evolution. | + | |
| - | Again, when we think of the terribly slow growth of the | + | Also it does not say in Genesis that all souls were created at the same time, but that they were created in the “sixth day,” which we now know covered eons of time. And it is easy to believe that each soul came to its birth during |
| - | soul, assuming | + | |
| - | ago, and considering | + | |
| - | climate | + | |
| - | souls are much wiser and seemingly older than others. | + | |
| - | Of course, even as we cannot determine | + | Again, when we think of the terribly slow growth |
| - | and understanding | + | |
| - | body, as most of us have been made to realize | + | |
| - | so-called age of the soul is not determined by when the soul was | + | |
| - | actually born; it is determined only by its education | + | |
| - | We will consider then what constitutes soul education and | + | |
| - | experience. | + | |
| - | That cannot | + | Of course, even as we cannot |
| - | has a clear realization | + | |
| - | ages in many countries and in all kinds of conditions. | + | |
| - | Realizing this it is then not difficult to look back, as it were, | + | That cannot |
| - | and see the many problems and difficulties that had to be overcome before your soul attained its present knowledge | + | |
| - | much lesser | + | |
| - | been trying to teach your mind this knowledge so that it may | + | |
| - | gain the understanding | + | |
| - | possesses. | + | |
| - | The only way the soul can learn, even as can the mind, is | + | Realizing this it is then not difficult to look back, as it were, and see the many problems and difficulties that had to be overcome before your soul attained its present knowledge and understanding |
| - | by experience. And so the soul had to be put through an infinite | + | |
| - | number | + | |
| - | to give you an idea of how slowly | + | |
| - | instance, not to kill, or to steal, or to get angry, or be jealous, or | + | |
| - | impatient, or unselfish—think, | + | |
| - | But these particular qualities are of a moral and spiritual nature, | + | The only way the soul can learn, even as can the mind, is by experience. And so the soul had to be put through |
| - | which evidence themselves | + | |
| - | qualities are in any degree developed | + | |
| - | countless experiences | + | |
| - | For the soul passes through three general stages of human embodiment—physical, mental or intellectual, and moral or spiritual, | + | |
| - | each requiring eons to bring it to its consummation. | + | |
| - | In this connection we cannot do better than to quote from | + | But these particular qualities are of a moral and spiritual nature, which evidence themselves only in older souls. Before such qualities are in any degree developed the soul has passed through countless experiences of purely physical and then of mental nature. For the soul passes |
| - | a very illuminating book, now out of print, “The Soul in Human | + | |
| - | Embodiments, | + | |
| - | must pass through | + | |
| - | growth. | + | |
| - | “THE EXPRESSIONS | + | In this connection we cannot do better than to quote from a very illuminating book, now out of print, “The Soul in Human Embodiments,” by Cora L. V. Richmond, showing how every soul must pass through |
| - | without intellectual or moral purpose, yet in reality | + | |
| - | purposes are there ready to come forth when the successive steps | + | |
| - | of victory over matter shall have made it possible. In each of | + | |
| - | these general | + | |
| - | in each degree many successive lines of embodiment. | + | |
| - | “The successive lines of the expression of one soul are really | + | “THE EXPRESSIONS |
| - | typified | + | |
| - | the state of physical growth; | + | |
| - | to conquer, and the physical surroundings seem to overcome whatever else may be enfolded there. | + | |
| - | “These first feeble | + | “The successive |
| - | many successive embodiments | + | |
| - | “You cannot find the lowest human expressions upon the earth | + | “These first feeble lines of expression are what occur in the many successive embodiments of the first stage of expression. |
| - | at the present time. But take the lowest human states as | + | |
| - | typical | + | |
| - | state upon the earth. With the exception of the first stages, there | + | |
| - | are manifested to your vision nearly all of the different stages | + | |
| - | upon the earth today, of what the soul experiences | + | |
| - | eons of its expression | + | |
| - | “The three stages or degrees of expression are primarily | + | “You cannot find the lowest |
| - | stamped upon the human race; but it is best to explain here that | + | |
| - | while the intellectual and moral possibilities are hinted | + | |
| - | primal nature of man, the expression | + | |
| - | in the infancy of human embodiments, to be excluded; as we discover in the states of races and individuals who seem to have no | + | |
| - | unfolded moral perception. This lack of mental and moral expression indicates that the first stages of expression do not include | + | |
| - | the moral problems; they have not yet been reached | + | |
| - | of human progress toward perfect | + | |
| - | first to be entered | + | |
| - | of the senses must come afterward. | + | |
| - | “The | + | “The |
| - | in the physical states | + | |
| - | of the moral and spiritual harvest | + | |
| - | slow, and the perceptible advancement | + | |
| - | “In this first stage of expression | + | “The embodiments follow one after another in rapid succession in the physical states |
| - | animal kingdom | + | |
| - | and his mental and moral nature | + | |
| - | mental | + | |
| - | the animals he has no blind instinct | + | |
| - | “Each culmination is the termination | + | “In this first stage of expression man seems inferior |
| - | embodiments | + | |
| - | direction; | + | |
| - | lines in the same series | + | |
| - | Then are given illustrations of the glutton, whose only happiness consists in the amount of food consumed; of the Epicurians, | + | “Each culmination is the termination |
| - | whose motto was “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you | + | |
| - | may die;” of the Bacchanalian feasts | + | |
| - | with stupor at the end of a banquet. Then how it was not many | + | |
| - | centuries ago since the evidence | + | |
| - | of the greatest amount of physical strength. Witness the feats | + | |
| - | of gladiators | + | |
| - | of ancient Greece and Rome. The prize ring is but a remnant | + | |
| - | those days. | + | |
| - | “The spirit | + | Then are given illustrations |
| - | the soul toward | + | |
| - | point that can possibly be attained in a given line. Those who | + | |
| - | have outgrown | + | |
| - | may safely conclude that in a past embodiment they expressed | + | |
| - | themselves to the fullest extent in that direction. Every step | + | |
| - | toward this culmination, | + | |
| - | of its fallacy. | + | |
| - | THE SECOND general degree or stage of expression | + | “The spirit |
| - | the intellect. Not at once does the mind assert its presence | + | |
| - | and begin to be a dominant force. It begins with the beginning | + | |
| - | of embodiments, and commences to manifest its power before | + | |
| - | physical | + | |
| - | to manifest before | + | |
| - | “The mental steps are not only more various, but they combine many and more intricate problems. The steps in the direction | + | THE SECOND general degree or stage of expression is that of the intellect. Not at once does the mind assert its presence |
| - | music, the one who struggles | + | |
| - | one embodiment, having little ability yet for which there is much | + | |
| - | desire, | + | |
| - | embodiments. | + | |
| - | “We would name Mozart as a genius because, untaught, in | + | “The mental steps are not only more various, but they combine many and more intricate problems. The steps in the direction |
| - | childhood he knew the principles | + | |
| - | at three years of age; not because his soul or spirit was any more | + | |
| - | potent than any other, but because he had taken the preceding | + | |
| - | steps in previous lives to that culmination. While another might | + | |
| - | be culminating | + | |
| - | was culminating in music. | + | |
| - | “When genius | + | “We would name Mozart as a genius |
| - | toward genius are steps of aspiration. The one who wishes to | + | |
| - | play, the one who wishes | + | |
| - | because | + | |
| - | “Genius, therefore, is the culmination of many steps toward | + | “When genius appears |
| - | perfection in one direction. Then wherever there is genius distinctly manifested, it is the final expression of the individual soul | + | |
| - | in that one direction. Each may know by the genius of the world | + | |
| - | what the culminations of all will be, or have been, for each soul | + | |
| - | must express itself as perfectly as any other in those directions. | + | |
| - | “States | + | “Genius, therefore, is the culmination |
| - | mistaken for something higher. It is well to draw the line distinctly | + | |
| - | such as victory through | + | |
| - | effort, can be called victory | + | |
| - | nothing of itself, but an expression of what life will not finally | + | |
| - | express; so the intellect is an expression | + | |
| - | finally | + | |
| - | “IN CONSIDERING the spiritual degree, the most complex | + | “States |
| - | stage of human expression, should be remembered that—as | + | |
| - | there is no partiality in the soul, so there is no partiality in experience. Each soul begins at the beginning | + | |
| - | passes | + | |
| - | the intellectual conquest | + | |
| - | enters upon the spiritual conquest, that of self, finally overcoming | + | |
| - | all its difficulties. The physical | + | |
| - | the physical nature, nor is the intellectual achievement a conquest | + | |
| - | over the intellect. They both but testify to the development of soul qualities and understanding gained from much experience in these stages. | + | |
| - | “The full strength of spirit is attained through struggle that | + | “IN CONSIDERING |
| - | must encompass all conditions of life. Not gigantic to the extent | + | |
| - | of overweening physical strength, but for the purpose | + | |
| - | as such strength | + | |
| - | all and to fail in all, until one can forward | + | |
| - | spirit until it conquers all states—not only sin, but the greatest | + | |
| - | all sins, self-righteousness, until pure selflessness, | + | |
| - | love, for one’s fellowman, is achieved and stands in sublime and | + | |
| - | exalted humility as the typical illustration of conquest over the | + | |
| - | earth. | + | |
| - | “All states between that and the lowest condition you can | + | “The full strength |
| - | picture are states | + | |
| - | through. The spirit begins its triumph where the intellect fails. | + | |
| - | Spiritual power is the beginning | + | |
| - | and in every individual. Whatever flows into man’s life from the | + | |
| - | divine changes his outer life expression. Constant listening | + | |
| - | to the voice of Love within himself gradually brings | + | |
| - | to an open state where it is always able to receive | + | |
| - | When man begins to show evidence of being guided entirely | + | “All states between |
| - | by an inner knowing, and radiates a kindliness and gentleness of | + | |
| - | Spirit, he proves himself to be an “old soul,” one that has learned | + | |
| - | most of the lessons | + | |
| - | help others; also that he is fitting into the Great Plan and into | + | |
| - | the part for which all the long past has been preparing him. | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | There are souls that are old in human knowledge, but who | + | |
| - | are still babes in spiritual knowledge. The truly old souls are | + | |
| - | those who have culminated in all lines of human endeavor, only | + | |
| - | to learn the futility | + | |
| - | and peace; and who therefore now have only one desire—to be | + | |
| - | selfless channels through which Divine Love can express, that It | + | |
| - | may help and bless all they contact. | + | |
| + | When man begins to show evidence of being guided entirely by an inner knowing, and radiates a kindliness and gentleness of Spirit, he proves himself to be an “old soul,” one that has learned most of the lessons of life, and knows he is here now solely to help others; also that he is fitting into the Great Plan and into the part for which all the long past has been preparing him. | ||
| + | There are souls that are old in human knowledge, but who are still babes in spiritual knowledge. The truly old souls are those who have culminated in all lines of human endeavor, only to learn the futility of them all so far as bringing soul satisfaction and peace; and who therefore now have only one desire—to be selfless channels through which Divine Love can express, that It may help and bless all they contact. | ||
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