The Inner Life

MANY have learned from the Impersonal Lessons, from what was stated in the April Editorial, or from personal experience, that in the higher soul realm of Spirit at each Easter time many souls—all true followers of Christ—are called to attend and take part in a wonderful ceremony in which each goes through a Spiritual cleansing, receives Christ’s blessing, and is lifted to a higher stage of consciousness and ability to work in His Service.

In this article we give a few of the reports of experiences sent us by some of the dear ones who attended the ceremonies and who were privileged either to bring back the memory of them or to note and acknowledge the blessings received therefrom. Try to realize that these are inner, Spiritual experiences and what take place throughout all nature in the Springtime, but in the awakened soul of man it is the further growth or unfoldment of the inner consciousness, while in the lower kingdoms it is but a growth of forms, but in unawakened souls a development of the mind or outer consciousness.

Every awakened soul goes through an inner experience at Easter time, but the great majority are on a lower plane of consciousness from the one described. When a soul reaches the stage when one dedicates one’s life to Christ, and then proves his sincerity, he is called to attend this ceremony for the first time and receives the blessing of the Christ. After this, it is the great event of the year for all such souls. In time, when the knowledge to serve to encourage and strengthen the disciple, either a memory of the inner experience is vouchsafed or some definite evidence of it, as shown in the second report herewith. In the first, the blessing was received on Good Friday while attending the “Lord’s Supper,” with effects as noted in the outer; while in the third is brought back the actual words of blessing of the Master when He talked to the great gathering.

(1) I HAD been so sad all week, so conscious of my failings. They were crushing me like a great weight, and I felt that I had failed. I just asked God to lift me up a step higher to Him and to help me to do better in the year to come. I had no hopes of consciously bringing back any memory.

Good Friday morning came, and I went about my work. At 11 A. M. I turned on the radio to listen to Brahm’s Requiem. “How heavenly beautiful,” I thought. “I shall just stretch out on the couch and listen.”

It was the pure voice of a boy soprana, unspoiled as a bird-note. I lay there my whole being uplifted in prayer for forgiveness, tears on my lashes. When suddenly I seemed to be in a field of white flowers (lilies), drifting through them by the side of my brother. We went on happily to where great numbers of people were assembled. But I had eyes for only one, my Beloved—where was He? I wanted to throw myself into His arms and receive forgiveness.

Suddenly He was there, up above me, and mounting heavenward. And as a magnet draws steel to itself I was being drawn upward with Him—always, however, below Him. Up, up, we went. And then I found myself in a place of flowers. Mamma was there, her hair like a golden mist and her eyes so sweet and blue.

In the distance I saw a long table set with plates and goblets of pure gold. And together we approached it. There was a vacant seat, and I slipped into it like a culprit, feeling “What right have I to be here?” My Jesus sat at the head, so unapproachable. Why couldn’t I run to Him and speak with Him?

Our golden goblets were filled, and we all lifted them and drank. It was the Holy Sacrament. Then one by one we went to Him to receive His blessing. And I, the cry-baby that I am, could only cry into His lap, mourning inconsolably for all my misdeeds.

His arms went around me, and how tenderly He kissed my forehead. “Your sins are forgiven you,” He said; and then He addressed the multitude. I did not hear it in words, but the substance was that none, however sinful, need fear Him.

Then suddenly we were soaring through space, and I, having always longed to fly, thought ecstatically, “If this could only go on forever!” At last we reached a lofty mountain peak, where we were ushered into a Temple of Healing, I was told, and as I entered I touched one of the slabs. As I did so I heard a voice in my heart saying, “You have received your healing.”

When we were again outside, Jesus, with six Brothers on each side, all forming a straight line, commanded us to kneel, and as we did so, a thin veil like transparent gauze drifted over us. Then we arose, and each received a small golden wand, I should say about ten or eleven inches long. We were told that by this token we had taken on the Divine Power to heal, to cast out devils, and to raise the dead.

And now we were again on our winged flight back to earth, which as we approached it seemed without substance. I felt that its black vaporous density was crystallized thought. We encircled it, each being allotted his place. Then we were commanded to tap it with our golden wand, which we did in unison. “Again,” a voice commanded. We obeyed, repeating the procedure three times.

Then just below each of us, a blaze of light went out from our bodies, forming a shaft of radiance, upon which we descended. The horrible blackness, menacing, tomblike, was pierced by light, and I heard a voice say, “Arise, whenever you will, but always upon your own path of light.”

Then the scene changed. I saw a flock of sheep, and I thought, “Now I am one of the flock.” But the same voice answered and said, “Feed My Sheep.” And I knew that I had been made a shepherd.

That was all. I heard again that pure boy voice, and the last choral of the Requiem.

Easter is over, with its beautiful music and its great message to my soul, greater than any I have ever received. Perhaps the greater because it has brought a deeper insight into human frailties and a correspondingly deeper compassion, for I understand now, O how well, that “without the Holy Spirit we cannot call God Father,” and that to be able to do so is a supreme grace.

I was left for a little while in a place devoid of light and understanding. The memory of it makes me shudder. All day Saturday I walked about in a daze. I couldn’t speak. I was in complete darkness—the darkness of earth into which I had descended, after being in the Light of Christ. But I know why it all was—to awaken the compassion necessary to put forth supreme effort. For there were many people wandering about in that darkness, actually imprisoned in that horrible place.

“I shall descend into the uttermost parts of earth,” weren’t those His words? And He permitted me to be in it just long enough to know of its blackness. And when I returned the last vestige of self-righteousness had been eternally destroyed. I shall never forget it, never. Nor shall I ever stop sorrowing for those in the darkness, until the last one is redeemed. It was almost too terrible a vision.

(2) I MUST tell you that a great change came over me on the Monday following Easter Sunday. It was as though a great load had suddenly been lifted from my shoulders. Before I have been working in more or less of a confused, over-anxious state; but now the way seems so clear, so simple. And I am more relaxed. While financial conditions seemingly are getting tighter, and I must bear more of the worldly burden, yet inside me a great peace and confidence rules. I will have less time for actual study in the future, but I am finding that I am now able to apply the things I have learned during the past two years of study. And many enlightening experiences are happening, small but quite significant to me.

(3) I AM enclosing the marvelous Easter Message I was privileged to hear from the lips of our beloved Lord and Master on Easter morning. It is so beautiful that I want you to have it with its original vibrations of Perfect Love.

After His speech there was music and then I with others was taken on to the platform and touched with the Rod of Initiation on the forehead, solar plexus, small of back, and back of neck. I had been told to prepare for my fourth initiation, and now have this sign on my forehead (on the spiritual body, of course—a cross with four dots above it).

BELOVED disciples, I greet and bless you, ye who have served Me, and ye who have but lately found Me and are waiting upon Me. All I welcome and hold in My Love.

Know that I am with you always, even more than I was on earth; for always have I lived deep within your hearts, waiting to come forth and manifest Myself in your outer lives. Ye, My dear ones gathered here tonight, have all heard and obeyed My call of Love, and have become My followers and disciples, and I count on you all to help bring forth My Kingdom on earth.

This will require unremitting effort on the part of every disciple, but it is the glorious task that I assign to you, My beloved Children of Light. Ye have heard the call of Love, and are now sending Its Light to the uttermost parts of the earth, bringing harmony, peace and loving understanding to the minds of men.

My saints and apostles, My disciples and servers from all over the world are gathered here around Me on this sacred night of nights to hear My Message of Love. So these words of Love and Truth I give unto you, that ye in your turn may give unto others still asleep.

My Peace I bestow on you, so that ye may spread Peace all about you, calming troubled hearts and easing overburdened souls. My Understanding now floods your consciousness to broaden and enlarge it, and make you aware of the real issues of life, that many more may be pointed the path that leads to the Kingdom of our Father God.

My dear ones gathered here tonight, I tell you that I require of you greater efforts than ever before, for the tribulations long foretold are at hand. Ye must help one another and prepare your younger brethren to withstand and overcome everything that assails, through a conscious knowing of the truth of God’s Love and ever presence. If ye have true Love and trust in Him in your hearts, and true compassion for all your brothers, nothing in the outer world can touch you, and I will enable you to lift others into that same consciousness of safety and protection. Through you, My band of conscious workers, many will be brought into the full light of Truth these last days, and knowing the Truth of God they will be saved from all harm.

Remember always that Love is the sacred talisman; it opens all doors and removes all obstacles, and leads you into conscious union with your Father in Heaven. Love breaks down all barriers of self, enables you to see through all personality, and brings the soul back into oneness with Me.

My Voice sounds throughout the world tonight, and all who have ears open to Love will hear and be freed of some qualities of self that have hindered their search for the Kingdom. My Love enfolds and embraces all with warm tenderness, and My blessing makes you into one great host of Light to illumine and quicken the children of earth.

Blessed are ye who have heard My Call and answered it by giving up all to follow Me. Blessed are ye who give My teaching fearlessly to an unbelieving world. Blessed are ye who toil tirelessly in My vineyard among those who are wandering in darkness. Blessed also are ye who help from the higher world of spirit by watching over, inspiring and strengthening your younger brothers in their need.

All must strive unceasingly to awaken My children of earth from their dreams of self and separateness, for in Me are all One, and only as I within each lead will they find their way out of the darkness into the Light of true understanding.

They are your brothers, all cells of My Body of Christ, one and inseparable, but of varying degrees of unfoldment. Throughout the ages I have been growing, cleansing and purifying them by the power of My Love, bringing them to where Its Light can shine through even the densest and most material indeed; as more and more cells are lighted the more the body of humanity responds to My Love, and the more men lose themselves in Me. But only as ye serve thus in selfless Love—for only through you, My disciples, can I work—can I lift up their consciousness; as ye carry to them the Light of My Love do ye fan into a flame the Light in them.

Time matters not to Me, Who am ageless, tireless, ever present, overshadowing and stimulating all growth and unfoldment. My part is to bring all humanity through Love back to My Father’s House. All here tonight are My beloved helpers, My channels of light, My trusted children of the New Day that is now dawning, during which day the human consciousness will be merged into My Christ Consciousness and all men will be as one, working with Me in selfless, impersonal Love.

Then shall all dwell in the Kingdom of God that shall have descended to earth, where the power of My Love and the glory of serving Me will inspire, sustain and suffice forever and ever.

To this end have I called you, that ye may learn the wonders of My Love, may understand the beauty of My Service, and the Glory that awaits every Brother in Christ. Ye are called to be radiant, living centers of My Light. Ye are My Blessed Ones who now understand and who live only to serve Me in your brothers.

May this new vision live and be supreme in your minds and hearts, make you fearless, and give you courage and ever renewing strength to do My work on earth to the fullness of the ability I have given you.

I bless you one and all. I give you of My Love, of My Wisdom and My Power, to be used to this Divine End. My Spirit enfolds you and My Light within you will lead you onward to the Holy Goal I have set for you. Blessed are ye who always follow It, for ye will be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father, in Whose Name I bless you, My beloved Disciples.

My Peace I leave with you.