The Impersonal Life

by Joseph Sieber Benner

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
the_transmutation_of_evil

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
the_transmutation_of_evil [2026/08/10 09:12] – iamthe_transmutation_of_evil [2026/08/10 10:25] (current) – iam
Line 4: Line 4:
  
  
-THE TRANSMUTATION OF EVIL+<WRAP centeralign> 
 +==== THE TRANSMUTATION OF EVIL ==== 
 +</WRAP>
  
 +<WRAP justify>
 LOVE, the greatest power known to us, obliterates hatred by its very presence. Men continue to be cruel and bitter and revengeful, because the Brotherhood of Love is not yet strong enough in the human race to become dominant. Hatred yields itself up to its opposite, when love is made manifest, because its aims and efforts are futile; it cannot hurt or injure that spirit which is above pain or loss, therefore it becomes inactive, and the force which causes this passion changes its nature. LOVE, the greatest power known to us, obliterates hatred by its very presence. Men continue to be cruel and bitter and revengeful, because the Brotherhood of Love is not yet strong enough in the human race to become dominant. Hatred yields itself up to its opposite, when love is made manifest, because its aims and efforts are futile; it cannot hurt or injure that spirit which is above pain or loss, therefore it becomes inactive, and the force which causes this passion changes its nature.
  
Line 11: Line 14:
  
 As he develops, he finds himself encountering the powers and forces which assail him in common with the rest of the race; strong in his position as a soul of love, he is unhurt by hatred or evil, and can unite with others, equally well equipped, to influence the thought-substance of the world. When the pairs of opposites are blended, under the dominion of the love spirit, a great wave of new life and strength breaks in upon men, because the struggle has ceased, and instead of men’s souls being torn in opposite directions, they are uplifted towards the infinite Good by a greatly increased impulse. It is as though two hands, which had been plucking man’s soul into two parts, were suddenly placed together and used to uplift him. This effect cannot continue, while man is under the law of the pairs of opposites, crucified, unless the effort which caused it is continuous. Conditions immediately relapse into their normal state of friction and struggle when the effort is relaxed. None can essay this effort but those who are purified by the spiritual fire, firm in the body of spiritual love, secured in the consciousness of the Supreme. It is because few are fitted for this work that the race remains a prey to conflict and sin and cruelty. As he develops, he finds himself encountering the powers and forces which assail him in common with the rest of the race; strong in his position as a soul of love, he is unhurt by hatred or evil, and can unite with others, equally well equipped, to influence the thought-substance of the world. When the pairs of opposites are blended, under the dominion of the love spirit, a great wave of new life and strength breaks in upon men, because the struggle has ceased, and instead of men’s souls being torn in opposite directions, they are uplifted towards the infinite Good by a greatly increased impulse. It is as though two hands, which had been plucking man’s soul into two parts, were suddenly placed together and used to uplift him. This effect cannot continue, while man is under the law of the pairs of opposites, crucified, unless the effort which caused it is continuous. Conditions immediately relapse into their normal state of friction and struggle when the effort is relaxed. None can essay this effort but those who are purified by the spiritual fire, firm in the body of spiritual love, secured in the consciousness of the Supreme. It is because few are fitted for this work that the race remains a prey to conflict and sin and cruelty.
 +
 +<WRAP centeralign>* * * * *</WRAP>
  
 The Disciple is pledged now to live according to the law of love; the hardest life possible for the embodied spirit of man, for it means the entrance into the little army capable of accepting and transmuting evil. To fight this force is the task of the novice, in his own nature; he encounters it continually upon the battlefield of his being, from incarnation to incarnation. Being now self-restrained and enlightened, the disciple is able, in union with other disciples equally purified, to stand before the great and terrible force of evil, and lessen its baleful influence upon the race by influencing and changing its character. He enters, being now a part of the creative spirit of love, upon the task of the alchemist who transmutes and changes. The Disciple is pledged now to live according to the law of love; the hardest life possible for the embodied spirit of man, for it means the entrance into the little army capable of accepting and transmuting evil. To fight this force is the task of the novice, in his own nature; he encounters it continually upon the battlefield of his being, from incarnation to incarnation. Being now self-restrained and enlightened, the disciple is able, in union with other disciples equally purified, to stand before the great and terrible force of evil, and lessen its baleful influence upon the race by influencing and changing its character. He enters, being now a part of the creative spirit of love, upon the task of the alchemist who transmutes and changes.
Line 17: Line 22:
  
 When he is bidden to enter on this task, he finds himself in his own place, from which he cannot be cast down, save by his own fault. And so severely has he been tested, that fault in him is not looked for. But because fault or failure are always possible, each takes the vow not to swerve or falter though the one next him should be cast down or removed far from him. When he is bidden to enter on this task, he finds himself in his own place, from which he cannot be cast down, save by his own fault. And so severely has he been tested, that fault in him is not looked for. But because fault or failure are always possible, each takes the vow not to swerve or falter though the one next him should be cast down or removed far from him.
 +
 +<WRAP centeralign>* * * * *</WRAP>
  
 In the splendour of the Love Feast all things in the Place of Learning, even when others see blood red and fire colour, have the whiteness of the white lily to the selfless one. It is only possible to be aware of this whiteness when the heart has opened itself, not only to those who give joy and pleasure, but also to the great sad outside world which but to think of causes pain and weariness. No one who has ever seen this whiteness can rest again in the sloth of indifference. It is seen only in the intensity of the Love Feast, when the man gives out from himself to the whole world without reservation or possibility of withdrawal. In the splendour of the Love Feast all things in the Place of Learning, even when others see blood red and fire colour, have the whiteness of the white lily to the selfless one. It is only possible to be aware of this whiteness when the heart has opened itself, not only to those who give joy and pleasure, but also to the great sad outside world which but to think of causes pain and weariness. No one who has ever seen this whiteness can rest again in the sloth of indifference. It is seen only in the intensity of the Love Feast, when the man gives out from himself to the whole world without reservation or possibility of withdrawal.
Line 22: Line 29:
 At the Feast of Union, which follows immediately, the Hall looks glorious with colour. To those who have successfully passed through the ordeals of consecration and sacrifice, the whiteness, seen for a long awe-inspiring moment, yields to clouds of glorious colour. Flaming jewels flash on the walls, amethyst and sapphire; a carpet of growing pansies and violets appears upon the ground. And all the shapes of men, standing close together in that mystic space, breathe the litany together in a mere whisper, yet in perfect unison. At the Feast of Union, which follows immediately, the Hall looks glorious with colour. To those who have successfully passed through the ordeals of consecration and sacrifice, the whiteness, seen for a long awe-inspiring moment, yields to clouds of glorious colour. Flaming jewels flash on the walls, amethyst and sapphire; a carpet of growing pansies and violets appears upon the ground. And all the shapes of men, standing close together in that mystic space, breathe the litany together in a mere whisper, yet in perfect unison.
  
-LITANY+<WRAP centeralign> 
 +=== LITANY === 
 +</WRAP>
  
 I — There is no more any parting of the ways. I — There is no more any parting of the ways.
-II — All the different paths are become but the one path. +\\ II — All the different paths are become but the one path. 
-III — I am but a part. +\\ III — I am but a part. 
-IV — I am but one stone in the Great Temple. +\\ IV — I am but one stone in the Great Temple. 
-V — I am a soldier in the army, and from the one who is next me I cannot swerve by ever so small a fraction; I remain, therefore, immovably associated with my fellow soldiers.+\\ V — I am a soldier in the army, and from the one who is next me I cannot swerve by ever so small a fraction; I remain, therefore, immovably associated with my fellow soldiers.
  
 From When the Sun Moves Northward, by Mabel Collins. From When the Sun Moves Northward, by Mabel Collins.
-* On Sale by Sun Publishing Co. $1.65 postpaid. 
  
-WASHINGTON CONGRESS OF THE I. N. T. A.+<WRAP centeralign> 
 +————o———— 
 +=== WASHINGTON CONGRESS OF THE I. N. T. A. === 
 +</WRAP>
  
 THE 1938 Congress of the International New Thought Alliance will be held at the Hotel Raleigh, Twelfth and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C., on October 23-27, 1938. Speakers of international note will take part including James A. Edgerton, Elizabeth Towne, Emmet Fox, Brown Landone, James B. Shafer. For full particulars write to Miss Leota Feathers, Secretary I. N. T. A., Room 700, American Building, 1317 F. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. THE 1938 Congress of the International New Thought Alliance will be held at the Hotel Raleigh, Twelfth and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C., on October 23-27, 1938. Speakers of international note will take part including James A. Edgerton, Elizabeth Towne, Emmet Fox, Brown Landone, James B. Shafer. For full particulars write to Miss Leota Feathers, Secretary I. N. T. A., Room 700, American Building, 1317 F. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
 +</WRAP>
 ---- ----
  
the_transmutation_of_evil.1786353120.txt.gz · Last modified: by iam
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: Public Domain