The true life begins in kindly feeling and sympathy and generosity, all attributes of love; together with a keen desire to know the truth. Unless there is such a desire, man will not seek for the truth; will never know the truth, and be unable to live as the truth dictates. The beginning of all that is eternal, whether of earth or heaven, is in desire and feeling, irrespective of the form in which these are expressed.

Desire, taking the place of love, for the unholy pleasure of the flesh (the carnal self) will cause us to do those things which gratify the unhallowed love of the flesh and therein is death. Love of the truth (justice, right and Light) will lead us into the way of finding the Light which is the life. Love is therefore at the foundation of all things.

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shuteth up his bowels of compassion (having no compassion in the heart) from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not (alone) love in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and in truth." _I John 3:17-18.

Here is a positive Law to be followed. That which comes out of the mouth, words, counts for nothing. The help we give in the right attitude alone is recognized by the Law. If we say we love our fellow man and help him not in time of actual need, we are liars, and the truth is not known to us. Nevertheless, though we make no confession of loving either our friends or our enemies, but help them as best we can when such help is needed by them, then do we express our love - the Will of God in us - and we know God and are known to Him.

Only by our feelings inducing action, do we prove that we have the love of God in our hearts and are truly willing to obey the Divine Law. This is true religion; it is obedience to the Christic spirit within; it is the path to the Divinity of the soul to all that is eternal. Through such service as this did the Master-Teacher become the Son of God and, by his becoming, he indicated to others how they also might come into this inheritance through their love and service in the cause of humanity. He who does so love, has God within himself.

"God in me and I in you. By obedience to the Divine Law man attains unto Christhood, becomes the Son of God. "Love is God; and everyone that loveth is begotten (the second birth) of God and knoweth God." This statement is without qualification. He who loveth his fellow man and doeth accordingly, comes into a knowledge of God; possessed of the Christic power within himself; is, in truth, "the temple of the living God."

"No man hath beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abideth in us." -_I John 4:12

The flesh cannot behold the person of the Father. The flesh can see the understand only that which belongs to the Flesh. But if man obeys the Divine Law, if he thinks, desires, and acts in harmony with the Law; if he deliberately puts forth every possible efforts to develop the Spiritual essence within himself, the Christos or Divine Spark then gradually will grow into Soul Consciousness. The personality will be transmuted into the Individuality and, through the Light that is within himself, he will be able to behold the light (the fire) of God. This is Illumination. The Father and the Son meet and co-mingle on the altar erected to God within the temple. In such manner to son of man becomes the Son of God.

"If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother (any man) , he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love god whom he hath not seen." I John 4:20.

All true growth begins through faith in god and his laws, and the application of these laws in the acts of life. Therefore, the man who truly desires to become Illuminated, to be a conscious Son of god, a dynamic Christos, must commence his labors on the Plane of being were on he finds himself at his awakening to the desire for the higher plane of life. His first duty is, naturally, to himself.

It is only by making changes within the self that he can learn to know the way, and be able to demonstrate it to others. Such an Aspirant will be faithful to the work he finds confronting him, irrespective of its nature. If but a laborer in the fields - the most exalted of all human endeavor though not so recognized - he will perform his duty well and with patience and bring forth food that others may live.

While thus in the performance of his labor, he will be preparing himself for the greater work and, when ready, then the way will be opened for him. "Seek ye first the kingdom" is the eternal Law and this "kingdom" is not found by idleness and the bemoaning of one's fate, or seeking to be "saved" by others.

Only the faithful merit the reward.

As the Law reveals itself to man, he must endeavor to obey it. With each attempt, greater power will accumulate to do greater works, until man becomes master of his talents and can do that which he previously thought impossible.

Man, once accepting the Law, will also become aware that after all, it is not so difficult to feel kindly toward his erring fellow man even though he be hated by him; for he will recognize that his is the result of ignorance of the Law as it concerns his welfare. He knows full well that he who gives place to hate in his heart and feeling, will of a surety be punished - bring punishment upon himself, by reaping in exchange sorrow, sickness, and failure in the things he feels most necessary to his welfare and happiness. Pity and charity must take the place of any resentment he may have felt.

Say what you will, think what you will, deny what you will, refuse to believe what you will, Love is the Law. This is the eternal, unchangeable, Divine Fiat. Through the diversified attributes of love man must render the service required of him by this Law and, as a result, or Reaction, become that which he was destined to be.

Man is unable to feel love or any of its attributes in his heart until he first becomes conscious of sympathy and compassion for all mankind. There must be a complete lack of distinction of race; a recognition the Divine Creator created the various races for an express purpose; one not to be interfered with intermarriage; each race having its own distinctive sphere of action, that the Creative Law and individual destiny be fulfilled.

There is no other path except through the feelings in the heart whereby the ultimate aim may be achieved. Neither creed not doctrine, neither ritual nor form, however sublime, can accomplish the Work, hence none of these things were ever imposed upon the Neophytes in the Great Work, the August Fraternity, each one being permitted to prove the truth to himself.

Only as a result of his thought and his desires which induce actions harmonizing with the Dictates of the Divine Law, can man attain to the highest inherent qualities in him during the present life and for the future, and nowhere is there greater opportunity than among his fellow men. This was clearly recognized by the Nazarene as illustrated by his saying: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

God is not personally (figuratively speaking) in need of our service; but his creation, our brethren, do require our kindly service, guidance and ministration. If we freed those who are hungry, but incapable of obtaining food, then we have done this unto God. It may be true that, under the Divine Law, they have brought their misfortune upon themselves, but this fact is in nowise an excuse for our neglect or indifference. We have not the right to judge, not being set up in the judgment seat. On the other hand, if we, under a foolish misconception of the Law, feed and clothe those who are able-bodied and thus competent to procure their own needs, we are not doing His Will, but farther weaken those who might be strong if thrown upon their own responsibility.

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil." _Matt. 5:38-39.

To demand "an eye for an eye," is to seek vengeance - to do to others as they do unto you. It means that we would return to them in kind. If they slander and defame us, we would slander and defame them. If others hate us, we would resent it and likewise hate them. If they wrong or injure us, we would cause loss to them and thus make "confusion more confounded." This is not the Divine Law. There is no virtue in returning blow for blow, unless one seeks to establish hatred amongst men.

The Law commands that we should give unto others, not that which they would give us, but that which we would have from them.

Man may not concern himself with the acts of another, except in defense of himself, his family, his interests, or the performance of civil duties. Irrespective of what another does, or may not do, it is his duty to do only that which is right.

Consider, in the ultimate, man's acts actually do not concern others unless they be to their determent; but concern only himself; nor do the deeds of others have the power to injure him permanently. If there is a wrong, and he reacts in like manner, he will have accomplished nothing more than to have revenged himself, and he will find himself the loser. Man should always bear in mind the question and admonition: "What is that (what others do that does not concern you) to you? Follow thou me." ) Obey the Divine Law and both protection and compensation are certain.

The Master-Teacher continually made an effort to impress upon his disciples the desirability of not resisting evil in a revengeful manner. "Vengeance is mine, I (the Law) will repay, saith the Lord." this is not to imply that God punishes the evil doer, not that He ever visits vengeance upon his foolish children, but that His Law, the Divine Law, being just and absolute, unbiased, impartial and continuously operating, by its Reactions punishes or blesses according to the deed. As true prayer is, of itself, its own answer, so is the deed its own punishment or reward. Evil gives birth to greater evil. Kindliness kindles greater kindness in human hearts; therefore, in goodness alone is found power.

Irrespective of centuries upon centuries of erroneous interpretations of the Divine Law, god punishes no one, though uncivilized, untaught, malicious men may need to be controlled by the fear that He does. Man alone, as a result of the Reactionary action of his own deeds, either punishes or blesses himself.

When aught comes to man which is considered evil, it may be accounted for as the result of an act long past, of the recent past, or an investment which, because it is due to the act of another, will ultimately bring him benefit and blessing.

All men are therefore instruments of the Divine Law in the rendering of judgement and this is recognized in the statements: "The innocent must suffer with - and as the result of - the guilty." And "Bread cast upon the waters will return after many days." As the just man, through his works, is the bearer of blessings, first to others, then in Reaction to himself; so is the evilly inclined man, both the bringer of evil to himself and the dispenser of evil to others. - some guilty, some innocent. The Law is one in operation, dual in nature.

The Nazarene inculcated the truth that he who has not taken up the cross by renouncing all evil, irrespective of how desirable or profitable it may appear to be, has not renounced all and cannot be his disciple. _Luke 14:27.

Interpreted, this indicates that no one is truly qualified to enter the Path leading to soul Consciousness, Initiation or Mastership - Anointing - unless he is prepared to give up, eliminate by means of transmutation or substitution, all the unworthy desires of the flesh in the welfare of the Divinity hidden within, the Christos that is to become the Christ. No one who is unwilling to obey, to exchange the carnal, grossly material life for the more desirable, exalted and blessed life, is either a disciple, an Aspirant, or prepared to enter the Path.

Non-resistance to evil is the refusal to fight it, but instead, one should replace it; substitute something better in its place, permitting it to die of its own accord. If we give evil recognition, for example, an evil thought or desire, and fight it, it then assumes ever greater proportions and importance, becoming more active and one may become impotent to overcome it. If we recognize it for what it is, and substitute something more to our benefit, the evil will be replaced. This is the method of substitution; the process of transmutation; it is obedience to the command: "Resist not evil."

"Y have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you: Love your enemies and pray for them which...persecute you....for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. _Matt 5:43-48.

The father, Creator of all, does not withhold the sunshine from some of his children because they disobey his word, permitting it to shine only upon those who are just and obey his Law. He refuses his blessings to none who will accept them. God does not send afflictions upon any one, but men continually punishing themselves by the Reaction of their disobedience, and the infliction of their won penalty is sufficient.

The awakening man, he who is trying to comprehend the Law and to obey the command to become like unto the Father - seeking the way to Divine Illumination and Sonship - must imitate the Father as nearly as lies within his power.

For this reason, the Aspirant who is sincerely seeking "the Way, the Truth and the Life," (1) will not resist evil in the manner generally understood; he will pray (wish well) for those who persecute him, though he will not slavishly permit them to work injustice upon him, defraud him, violate his honor or exploit his children. Justice without bias, without hatred, and without revenge, will be his desire and effort.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) "Be ye merciful even as your Father is merciful." To be prototypic of the Father (the personification of all that is good - desirable), we must embody and exercise the same traits; and in doing so, we naturally must show mercy to all men, friend and foe alike. Those who hate us, do so because they feel they have a good reason and know of no better way by which to protect themselves. They are ignorant of the Divine Law and its action and, as a result, slaves to their carnal, mortal selves. "Judge not and ye shall not be judged; and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned." _Luke 6:37.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

If men have kindly feelings only for those who are agreeable, but not for others, they are no better than those with evil intent in their hearts, for even these have love for those in whom they have interest.

If a man foolishly permits himself to feel hate for those he considers his enemies, his feelings will not induce them to either reform or to change their nature; but if he ignores the evil committed against him and sends out love, it will counteract the evil and ultimately work seeming miracles.

The greatest command in its direct effect on man is "Be thou at peace with all men." think of no man otherwise than you would have him think of you. The next greatest command is: "Be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect." If man cannot be perfect, he can do the next best thing, He can try to be as perfect as possible and, in so trying, he will ultimately become perfect. Man must become conscious that by birth, all men are brethren, the sons of men who may become the Sons of god: they must break peace with no man.

Man is responsible only for himself and for those for whom he has assumed responsibility. As for himself, within him there is one sitting in judgment upon him as there is in every man. No other man has a right to sit in judgment on his actions unless he gives him the right to do so by a defiance of the Law as it concerns others and their rights and privileges.

Unless appointed to do so, man has not the slightest right to judge his fellowmen for their actions. No man knows the motive, the incentive, the urging or irresistible driving force compelling other men to do what we think we would not do. It is ours to forgive, not to judge, and it were will for all men to have in mind Buddha's admonition: "To know all is to forgive all," Man's action is between god and himself, unless he interferes with the rights, privileges, and liberties of others (and protective measures are necessary); then it must be left to properly appointed authorities to sit in judgment, and judgment is then between God and themselves.

It is every man's duty, demanded by the Divine Law, to watch his own thoughts, desires, and deeds. The Divine Law takes full cognizance of the mental and Spiritual attitude of other. Each one is compelled by the Law to deal directly with the Law and not through the medium of another, unless, as already stated, because of gross defiance of rights, or in emergencies, corrective or restraining steps become necessary.

When a man disobeys this injunction and judges his fellow men, that judgment is written against him by the Divine Law, identically in the same manner as are all other misdeeds, and, in the same spirit of judgment as he judges others, he shall in like manner be judged. For this reason, if for no other, it is the height of wisdom to heed the admonition of the Nazarene and carefully avoid sitting in judgment, lest one be judged in like manner.

The Master-Teacher was most careful to enjoin all men to forgive one another that their trespasses be forgiven them, not their debts paid. This same admonition is repeated time and again throughout the gospels and was a cardinal doctrine with the Essenes, as the ancient manuscripts reveal. There is another and a very deep reason for this. Every man's opinion concerning his fellow men is, consciously or unconsciously, the result of what that man himself really is. One man is convinced that if he is given to lewd thoughts, it cannot be different with others. This thought pattern governs the whole line of man's thinking; the Master-Teacher was fully aware of this and that the passing of a man's judgment upon another was likewise upon himself. Tolstoi, the great Philosopher, was wise in his command to men to bethink themselves before speaking or acting.

The gospels have another command along this same subject:

"Speak no evil one of another, brethren. He that speakest evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speakest evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speakest evil of the Law and judgeth the Law; but if thou judge the Law, thou are not a doer of the Law, but a judge. There is only one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy; who are thou that (presume) judgest another." _James 4:11-12.

The Divine Law was called into operation before men were created, and is the eternal judge and guardian of all men. All men are equally bound under the Law. The Law, being all-embracing in its action, judges unbiasedly every man's thoughts and desires as it does his acts. No man can stay its actions, evade it, compromise with it, or usurp it that he may employ it against his brethren, however evil they may be. "Vengeance (impartial judgement) is mine,' saith the Lord.

"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord...with respect of person.

"For if there come unto your assembly an man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment:

"And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; and say of the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

"Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath no God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

"But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seat?

"Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called?

"If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

"But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law of transgressors.

"For whosoever shall keep the law, and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all.

"(Man may be poor, honorable, virtuous, hard-working and keep all the commandments, yet if he judge another, even the rich man, he is as guilty as the man who gained his possessions by the exploitation of women and children. Sin is son. It is an attempted defiance of the Divine Law.)

"For he that said, do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now it thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the Law.

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."_James 2:1-13.

Neither god nor the Law is a respecter of person. God does not care - to use man's phraseology - one way or the other, whether men wear rings of gold, or if his clothing be of coarse or fine material; these things belong to the personality and, if honestly secured, are man's right.

A man may be poor in this world's goods; if he entertains angelic guests - clean thoughts, exalted desires - and tries to do good works; if his efforts are directed along the avenue indicated to him by his birth on the earth plane; if he is engaged in transmuting the gross personality into the individuality and the consciousness of his Immortality - then this man is acceptable to God and protected by the Law.

Though this man may be possessed of much wealth honestly gained, bedecked with jewels and wear the most fashionable apparel; though his intellect be mighty and he be not guilty of judging any nor of exploiting any of God's children, yet if his thoughts be solely of the world and without a care as to his Divine inheritance, that man is not within the Law.

Much gold, precious jewels, and fine raiment, are not evil in themselves, not are they condemned, either by God or the Divine Law. It is only when the effort to obtain these things usurps the time and the thought which should be devoted to divine activity, that they come under the condemnation of the Law as of evil import.

The rich man whose wealth is honestly gained has no less a chance to enter the kingdom of heaven that has the poor man.

Being poor is in not wise a pass to heavenly favors as it may easily cause one to be envious of the possessions of another and, to be envious of the worldly goods of the dishonestly rich, is to break one - and therefore all - of the commandments. Each man irrespective of his accumulations, must employ his talents his knowledge, faculties and possessions) in the services of his God (the development of his own Soul and in serving others) and according as he does this, so shall it be unto him.

"Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven"_Matt. 5:20.

Of what does the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees consist? The scribes and Pharisees were devoted adherent of the synagogues and were faithful attendants at the services. They dressed well; they glorified the personality; they upheld the moral, written law. But believing that this was all that was necessary, they made no effort to Spiritualize the Law, to bring it into manifestation through its application to the Divine spark with in themselves, and thereby attain Consciousness of Soul.

These were the men of old; they knew nothing of god nor of the Soul, because the personality, belonging to the earth plane, cannot recognize that which is of God. The men of the present day are like the Scribes and the Pharisees denying the kingdom of God. Instead of serving God with words and fine phrases and faithful attendance upon wordy services, man must serve god in his thoughts, desires and acts, and in helpfulness to the less fortunate, and those who actually cannot help themselves - practical compassion being the highest form of prayer. Instead of fine clothing and golden trinkets, man must clothe himself with clean linen (cleanliness of person), kindly deeds and godly acts, and, through these, build the temple not made with hands.

Instead of glorifying the personality, man must change, transmute, refine the personality into the Individuality, thereby glorifying God. Man must study, comprehend, and apply the Divine Law and through the conscious, deliberate and sane application of the Spirit of the principles involved, he will gain Soul Consciousness, Illumination of the Individuality and thus become the Son of God - the son of man glorified.

All of these things have been foreshadowing the present cycle, the New Order of the Ages; these are the things that men must do, if they seek to escape the Reaction of the Law and their elimination, and become instead the "select" or "elect" of the New Dispensation; partakers of all that is reality, eschewing illusion.
|Top|