It is when that great event takes place that the outer mind learns to know equally from without or within that its consciousness is in and of the Father, and likewise is in and of the Christ, and that the Christ Consciousness is now its only consciousness; thus proving Jesus’ words that “Then ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.”

THERE ARE, of course, different and definite stages of the pupil’s awakening, unfolding and uniting the consciousness of the outer mind with that of the Soul, or Christ within, and then with the Father. The first is the long period following the becoming aware of the Loving Christ within, of learning to know His Voice, to wait upon Him and to do His Will,—this being the stage of the Aspirant. The second is the learning to see and know Him everywhere, in everything, and especially in one’s fellowmen, with the growing urge to serve Him in them wherever there is a need,—this being the stage of Disciple on Probation; when he comes under the observation of a Brother in Christ and is inspired and taught by Him, most often without the Disciple’s conscious knowledge. The third is where the pupil is finally given the work to do for which he has been fitted and all his past life has been a preparation,—this last being the stage of Accepted Discipleship; where the soul, and to a certain extent, the outer man, have proven themselves to be selfless enough to be entrusted with the Christ knowledge and powers, when he is admitted into the Christ Brotherhood, and the human mind becomes an outer channel through which what is planned by the Brotherhood in Heaven is thus done on earth.

In the course of time, through long and selfless service, the full crucifixion of self is accomplished, when with Jesus the pupil can say, “It is finished,” and “gives up the ghost” of all sense of separation. Then the flesh-body can no longer hold him, for that thought-form is released and wiped out of consciousness. Then he disappears from the world and ascends unto Christ, to be with Him consciously evermore.

This does not mean, however, that before this exalted stage is reached pupils have not been consciously or unconsciously members of other Brotherhoods in the Inner Realms; for they naturally have come up in spirit through many classes and grades, called Orders and Lodges, but which are all states of consciousness through which they have unfolded. And many of the Lodges have degrees