====== The Inner Life ====== == THE HERALD OF THE NEW AGE | FEBRUARY 1938 == ---- ==== AN INITIATION ==== NEVER do I cease to ponder over the great necessity of controlling the thoughts and emotions and the spoken word in these most important times. Let us not wait till a day of disaster and then have the remorse of thinking, “It might have been different.” If you do not willingly accomplish this control, one’s soul may see that something is done to impress the brain mind so that it forgets no more. Here is one way: I had crossed a deep ravine from which black dirt had been excavated to form the base of the Pyramid. As I dragged my body up this steep slope of about twenty-five feet, a Guide was at my side to encourage me. There could be no haste, for the dirt was soft and a mis-step would perhaps cause a slide to the bottom. Then we were in a basement room where great piles of refuse—the leftover material from the building were to be burned later. The adjoining room was an Initiation Hall. My Guide now was a Scandinavian of great strength and control. And because he was unmoved by suffering, he had been chosen for this special duty by the Brotherhood. Tenderly but firmly he held the willing Neophyte, while her body was crucified according to her needs. The Hall was in silence as we stood near a curtain from behind which a voice directed. Silently the room filled with those who had passed their Initiation (sublimated thoughts), and taking vacant chairs sat motionless during the ceremony. The soul of a young girl (a house-servant in earth life) stood near a table on which paraphernalia was laid. She was the Hand-Maiden. She took a pair of scissors and cut off my long hair (short hair in a sign of the human—all those whom I have seen in the heavenly world have long hair), for I was to remember to bring the fruit of these experiences to the human. Then she held before me a dagger, while the voice explained that this was to pierce the tongue. The time is so short and the brain-minds will not remember the power of the spoken word; they have been warned and warned many, many times to control their words and thoughts, but, alas, even the most perfect forget at times. I looked at this instrument with horror and struggled to keep self-control, so I would not need to be held during the ordeal; then I extended my tongue. But to my relief the Hand-Maiden said, “No—I will lay it on your tongue. Very few of your words are unkind.” Terrible sufferings are endured here—sometimes for three days. Then a voice filled the Hall, “This one is given a NEW NAME—I!” ————o———— ==== THERE MUST BE NO MORE WAR ==== THE POWER of thought has often been shown by mesmerists, and sometimes injuriously. It has long been known in medical practice that the patient’s will-power has much to do with recovery, especially in nervous and imaginary ailments. In recent years the more general acceptance of thought-transference as a fact has been due largely to radio. Nevertheless, people generally do not recognize the far-reaching power of thought. Just as the ether carries radio transmission to all parts of the world, so will it respond to concentrated thought. If assemblages of religious, mystical and similar societies were to unite for a few moments in silent concentration on the command: “There must be no war!” it surely would have enormous effect in preventing a general war in Europe. The people of Europe do not want war and therefore would be receptive of the influence, even when not mentally aware of these thought-waves coming to them. Although it is doubtless true that even rulers and leaders in Europe do not actually want war, but are only trying to gain national advantages by warlike talk, nevertheless some unexpected, inflated circumstance might arouse them to action, since the psychology for war has been manufactured, as was done previous to the World War. “There must be no war” should be the fiat in moments of concentration by all, individually and in groups, who believe in mental radio. Let it be a shibboleth (in Sanskrit, a mantra), a phrase used with power. If done extensively, it will have greater effect than we, of this materialistic age, can understand.—John M. Pryse. ---- {{ aninitiation193802_28.jpg |}} ---- {{ aninitiation193802_29.jpg |}} ---- //← [[from_beyond|previous]] // | [[:the_inner_life_vol._6|The Inner Life 1938]] | // [[let_us_have_love|next]] → //