The Inner Life

IN THIS Department will be included teachings and truths for more advanced students, especially for those who have received the monthly lessons in the sixty-five issued Papers.

Some of our readers perhaps may not be able to grasp these truths, but we urge if so that they reserve them for future study and consideration, as they will contain matter of vital moment to the soul, when it is grown ready to receive and use it as intended.

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“MY FATHER worketh hitherto and I work.” So said our Great Exemplar—“The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” Let us in meditation ponder on how the Father works—“As above, so below.” In prayer and contemplation let us open ourselves wide to some perception of how the Father works. Let us imagine—image—how this may be. Pondering, dwelling, remaining in this awareness—the possibility of performing in miniature a similar creative function in our outer world of manifestation will dawn upon us. So we too may work together with the Father.

First let us begin with our own unregenerate nature, and then with our circumstances in home-life or in business. In these preparatory and purgative realms, let us create and outmanifest a miniature Kingdom of Heaven. Having been faithful over a few things, the door of opportunity will open whereby we may become rulers over many things, in the wider spheres of our community, our country and the world. But none may hope for the wider dominion who has not first laboured faithfully and prayerfully and to some extent begun to win the victory over his own composite nature, viz: his body, his emotions and his mind. Every student, no matter who he is, and indeed every master, no matter how high his attainment—must tread, or has already trodden the same path, and every step of this path without avoidance.

THE WAY OUT and WAY BEYOND Courses were prepared by their Writer with a deep insight born of the recognition that there was no safe, swift flight into an enduring Christ Consciousness. He recognized that many Students do suddenly and often rapidly gain transcendant glimpses of the worlds of Light, but that such glimpses can only be regained and safely retained when the outer instruments of body, emotions and mind are disciplined and attuned to that high vibration by obedience, training and self-control. Otherwise the instrument of the outer man is more liable than not to become arrogant, self-deluded, or even to fall by the way. The advancing Student today has reached the place where he may gain the expansion of Soul Consciousness in full awareness in his outer mind. But this is only possible and only actually happens when discipline and training have been faithfully undertaken and fruitfully accomplished.

The Disciple must unceasingly cleanse himself in all bodies of his manifestation—daily be alert to that which hinders the passage of pure Spirit—that which deflects pure wisdom through the devious channels of unconscious ignorance or imperfect judgment. He must recognize that it is easy to mistake a “zeal not according to knowledge” for the divine afflatus of Spirit.

He will learn that devotion and enthusiasm and zeal are not enough. He must KNOW HIMSELF, and detect in his personal make-up that which may misinterpret or distort or stain the white radiance of Infinite Truth. This is what is meant by surrender.

“Surprising is the result of an honest search for the hindrances to spiritual growth . . . Uproot in consciousness all impeding substances, be they great or small, thus making life a progress from glory to glory.”

There are many ways in which Inner Work may be and is already being accomplished, dependent on the extent to which the Disciple is coordinated with and obedient to the indwelling Christ. But right now there is, as never before, an urgent need that such workers, individually and collectively, should be “instant in prayer and meditation” for this trouble-wracked world.

As phases of the rapid change of alignment of forces on this earth present themselves, let the earnest Disciple first of all divest himself of all outer mind, opinions, or possible prejudices, laying these aside, as “the shoes from off his feet,” and so prepare to enter the Holy of Holies. Laying aside all vagrant thought or personal emotion of any kind, let him see himself as a radiating center of the Light which is the Life of men. Let him accept full-heartedly Jesus’ words “YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” Let him then turn towards the selected problem, knowing without a shadow of questioning that he, himself, is a beacon light shedding the Will, Wisdom and Love of God on the problem. Let him pour in all the vitality of his devotion, aspiration and love for humanity, knowing that where this Light of Truth enters there righteousness, justice and good will on earth are brought into manifestation and the phantoms of injustice, hatred, evil intent, vanish. Let him consider for a moment the power of mere physical light turned on in a dark room. Let him, by the use of his imagination, stir his faith and ardor in recognition of the stupendous power available when the light of Spiritual Wisdom is turned on a problem. Let him realize that in a flash of thought, unknown and unseen, he may stand in the counsel chambers of the great of this earth, at-one with God. He may uphold every effort towards the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. However, let him remember that true and potent power lies alone in selfless love and in complete Impersonality which means that momentarily, at least, he must cease from judgment of right and wrong. He must stand above the pairs of opposites and allow the Light of Truth to make its own adjustments in the affairs of men.

IT MAY be perceived that what we call the Earth, is but a great mass of consciousness, consisting of every phase of being, from the mineral state of consciousness, up through the animal and human, on into the etheric, astral and mental states.

Everyone who has done any thinking knows that what makes the mineral state is its slowed-down and very dense vibration; the animal a more quickened and forceful vibration; the human a higher and a “self conscious” vibration. While water, fire, air, the etheric, astral and mental states, all have their own distinctive vibration, each definitely in evidence on its own plane of consciousness.

Science has admitted that minerals have life, and their chemical reactions to each other indicate they have intelligence, which of course is evidence of consciousness. Therefore we can see that the consciousness that is in all the different kingdoms of matter that comprise our Mother Earth is inextricably interrelated; in fact, it is the same consciousness merely active on its different planes of expression—mineral, vegetable, animal, human, etc.

It can be likened to the consciousness of man, whose consciousness, as we have shown, is really the soul of man; but it acts by directing the life expression of the minerals in the bones and teeth; of the vegetable nature in the nails, hair, eyes and ligaments; and of the animal nature in the flesh and blood by directing the life expression of all of them through the human mind—the soul’s outer reflection.

Can we say that the soul of the Earth does not act in a similar manner? Let us show you how it must so act. First let us realize that the Earth, and all that is a part of it, is an entity, just as a man is an entity. That means the physical part of the Earth must be the body of that entity, and that the humanity upon it must be its brain. The soul of the entity must then direct the life expression of all the different elements in its body through the soul’s outer reflection, the mind of humanity.

Therefore, whatever is the dominant consciousness in the mind of humanity is bound to affect and influence the consciousness of the cells in different parts of the Earth’s body; even as the dominant consciousness in a man’s mind is bound to affect and influence the consciousness of the cells in the different organs of his body. “As a man thinks, so is he,” applies as well to what humanity as a whole thinks.

It is generally known by Truth students, metaphysicians, and by many doctors, that thinking untrue thoughts about life, one’s self, God and things in general, feeding those thoughts with fear, worries, anger, bitterness, hatred, jealousy, condemnation, etc., or, in other words, thoughts and feelings always centered around self, wholly regardless of others’ feelings, inevitably cause inharmony, sickness or disease of one kind or another in some part of the body, as well as in the general condition of the one so thinking.

In like manner must such thinking on the part of the bulk of humanity result in inharmony, sickness or disease in one form or another in some part of its body—the Earth.

There is no question but what our old Mother Earth has been very sick during the past quarter of a century. What with the great war of 1914-18, the numerous earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and now this great depression which she is feeling, it seems as if she has come down so low that the crisis of the disease has been reached. And nearly all her doctors fear for her recovery.

It is not difficult to trace in the different symptoms what the disease is, from which she is suffering. What was the great war but the breaking out in great festering sores of the bad blood caused by the poison of selfishness and greed eating its way into her most vital organs—the various nations. What are the earthquakes but the quakings of her soul at the evil thinking and actions of her humanity caused by its ungoverned selfishness? What are the volcanic eruptions but the poison of selfishness accumulating in enormous carbuncles and then bursting through earth’s nature trying to free itself of this poison? Are not tornadoes the forces of the unbridled passions of certain sections of humanity running amuck? And what is this depression but the soul’s giving up all hope of life—of recovery, apparently thinking the Spirit is about to depart because of such universal selfishness, and that Spiritual death must result?

But it remains to be seen what will be the outcome. Even as in the case of a man, sickness in humanity is caused by the battle between the forces of good and evil ever struggling for possession of the soul of the consciousness. And we know that good always prevails in the end.

Therefore those who have eyes to see, look not at the symptoms or what appears in the outer, except to determine how near the disease has run its course, knowing that the Life within is doing everything possible to throw off the impurities that have been befouling Its expression.

And they also know that Life is now being aided by certain faculties of the soul of humanity or certain Groups of powerful Spiritual Workers—that are now able consciously to co-operate with the Life within, and that will soon rid the consciousness, which means the whole earth body, forever, of all hindering influences.

WE CONTINUE to receive questions regarding the significance of the Right Hand Turn. We are asked what events should mark this change of direction and how one may know if he has satisfactorily made that change.

Some do not realize that dates marking the beginning or ending of an epoch, or a time-period, may not be accompanied by dramatic outward events such as are chronicled by the press. We must remember that Spring blooms into Summer. Summer ripens into Autumn. And while actual dates mark each change-over, yet the passage from one season to another is gradual in its accomplishment.

However, every alert and clear-minded Student has no doubt already noted many signs of the times taking place rapidly in his own life and nature, as also in the world around him during the past weeks. From our own observation, we trace definite happenings in the affairs of individuals and of the greater affairs of this planet, that show clear signs of the quickening change that is in process. We would refer our correspondents to the Editorial which appeared in the September issue of the INNER LIFE Magazine, entitled “Choose Ye,” as it was written to lift thought from any watching for dramatic outer happenings to the necessary preparation of the heart.

We share with our readers the following comment from a spiritually enlightened observer:—

“In the article in the September issue, “The Right Hand Turn,” there is given a very sane explanation of the date of October, 1938. Too many have believed that at that date great startling things would happen—just as they expected would occur on September 16, 1936. While outwardly nothing very startling happened in 1936, all the same we entered on that date into a new cycle.

Do not let us forget that the spiritual consciousness of the ‘Earth Spirit’ was raised on that date at midnight; the consequences of which will be felt only by the mass of humanity in due time. The Elect are working with that influx of power now. And in time it may prove to be true that humanity passed an important sign post in October, 1938. The time between October, 1938 and June, 1942, will be a time of Illumination for those who respond to the increased vibration, but it will also be for undoing of many. According to the Elder Brothers of the Rose-Cross, by 1942 the New Order of Things should be established.

My personal viewpoint is: Why should we worry about dates? All true Initiates know the time is close at hand. What difference does it make, ten years more or less? The point is, to be ready to face the ‘Big Parade’ at any time, if necessary tomorrow morning, and to be ready, when necessary, to help clear up the wreckage, and usher in the New Order of Things—the Theocratic State, the Christian Commonwealth.” —W. A.

COME to Me, My children. Hear My Voice calling you to Come to Me be blessed and healed. My arms are outstretched to receive you and enfold you in My loving clasp. All that you go through is Mine, your sorrows, your bereavements, your sicknesses, your joys also, for your lives are Mine, and all that is, comes from Me and goes back to My heart to be melted in My love.

You and I are one, we were one in the beginning and the end is Me, You cannot forsake Me, for where could you turn and not find Me? We are united for ever in one everlasting Spirit of Love.

Give up all strife, all hatred, for when you fight you are only struggling against Me, and you cannot get away from Me, My dear ones, as you and I are joined forever. The world is torn to bits and you wrestled one against another, although you do not understand that you are at war only with yourselves, because if you had perfect harmony within, there would be only perfect love without. The world is but what you are in your heart, and if your hearts were filled with brotherly love, how could you fight that which is within you?

My children, the time is near when human beings will have to learn My law which is pure Love, when you will open your arms to all those you meet, when you will clasp them to your heart remembering that it is but yourselves that you are embracing. Would that you could learn without suffering! My Voice calls you out of the wilderness of the material world where there is only separation, into My Spiritual plane where there is only Unity, Harmony and Love. That is the keynote of the future. Ask yourselves if you are treading the path of fraternal love, and if you do then you are one of Mine, and the Kingdom of My Father is wide open to receive you. That is the only criterion by which I recognize My lambs. All the rest is vain.

Look deep within your own hearts, seek the motives of your actions, and if you act with tenderness and compassion, if your heart is soft, then will you see Me in all those whom you contact. I am in each one of you, why don’t you search Me there, for there you will find Me more truly than elsewhere. If you clamor for illumination, if you desire spiritual growth, then love all beings and through them come to Me, as I have been waiting to receive you throughout all eternity. I bless you My children—I love you all as you should love each other! —M. de B.