The ultimate question of those seeking to know the "riddle of the Universe" must be: "Where did it begin?" and the ultimate answer can only be: "It was, it is and it will be." The details must be in accord with one's UNDERSTANDING and KNOWLEDGE. The scientist may have minutely accurate information about the beginning from a material point of view. The theologian, with the Bible as his guide, may also have accurate information as to how the Earth was created. The two views will vary with the knowledge of the other's understanding. An agnostic scientist will have an understanding of science distinctly different from that of the religiously minded scientist.
Only when we ACCEPT the fact that we have a reason for being CAN WE FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION.
The foregoing also applies to "Who was the first Man?" We are trying to give you the background to both these questions so that YOU as an individual can reach your own conclusions.
In the scheme of existence, it is of little importance how far you can trace your ancestry. What IS important is: How far have the descendants traveled? The analogy of the childhood game, "Ring around the rosie," is often used. It is not important to the individual player how the ring originated for it had no meaning until he, or she, broke into it.
MAN CAN COOPERATE WITH THE LAW
Though Man has free Will, he is governed by Natural Law insofar as the physical is concerned and by Divine Law in regard to the Spiritual. So long as he has a physical body, physical laws of heredity, environment and cause and effect govern him. By conforming to these laws, he can use them to help him in his every effort. Instead of being a slave to his environment, he can, by utilizing Natural law, become a master of his environment.
Much is heard today of the effects of environment on those living in slum areas, but little is said of the effect of the people of these areas on the environment. Thus when garbage collectors strike, the area becomes a rat-infested horror. And yet, if each person in the area were to have cut down on waste (garbage is mostly good food that has been allowed to spoil), money would have been saved and the problem would have been lessened. To go further: If each person would have made an effort to package his garbage and then cooperated with his neighbors to rent a truck (with the money saved), each neighborhood could have mastered its own environmental problem by conforming to natural laws of health and order.
Every human being has a responsibility to himself, to others
and to God to obey Natural Law,(1) and he also has the ability
and right to make use of these laws to improve his position in
life. Water falling over a water-fall is conforming to the Natural
Law of Gravity. Man can use this waterfall to run turbines, dynamos
and many other inventions that can be used to make life fuller
and richer. Man was given dominion over "every living thing"
on this earth. All creatures are for his use and/or enjoyment
and every plant is his to use for food and healing. All these
are his so long as Man lives in harmony with the Law. The fact
that Man also has been given free Will accounts for all of his
problems as well as all of his progress.
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(1) "Natural law is concerned primarily with EVERYTHING in
nature. That includes man as a whole - body, mind, reason and
feeling. Every thought, desire, feeling and act directly affects
man in every aspect of his nature just as conditions of season
affect all forms of vegetation," THE GREAT WORK: ITS NEOPHYTES, this publisher.
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Example: a farmer may domesticate an animal to help him till the soil, increase the richness of that soil, provide him with food and clothes all in harmony with the law. He can use the ox to till his field, the cow to furnish milk, cheese, butter and casein, and the sheep to furnish wool and, in so doing, benefit both Man and beast.
The hunter will kill these animals in order to get their
hide for clothes and their flesh for food. Both men use what has
been given unto them, but one is in harmony with the Law while
the other is in opposition to it.
MAN CREATES HIS WORLD
Along with free Will, Man has been given or endowed with Reason, Discrimination, Observation, Perception and the POWER OF USING AND DIRECTING THE POWERS INHERENT IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS.
These powers give Man the ability to create for him-self the "Heaven on Earth" first in his imagination and then in actuality. Nothing that man can conceive in thought is denied him in fact, if he will make the effort. Whether his "Heaven" is on the plane of the physical or on the plane of the Spiritual OR BOTH - depends solely on his desires and efforts. This is clearly given in the Law; "NOTHING is impossible to him who Truly Wills."
Man is actually (or may be) more than a thinking animal. If viewed aside from his animal body and his carnal desires, his is a living, supernal Soul, individual and separate from all other entities. To develop (or unveil) this higher individuality is to create a Soul IMAGE, an ideal of what he desires to become and then to BECOME this ideal.
The first step in creating this ideal is accomplished by using the IMAGINATION to visualize the image just as an architect must be able to first image his house before he can begin construction. The first step in this "imaging" generally includes the "thinking" or "intellectual" mind.
The second step is to BRING INTO ACTION the desires expressed in the imaging. This "imaging" may be inspired by the mental thought process or by the Spiritual guidance from the All-Wise Spiritual "Mind."
Mental thought is manifested in the desire for material things and is generally fleeting. Thus the adult finds that the things that were all-important as a child lost their importance as he grew older. This does not mean that we should disregard this ability of mental reasoning, for it is this reasoning that gives us the VEHICLE for our Spiritual development, and the more perfectly we build this physical vehicle, the greater our capacity for the development of the Spiritual. This is not necessarily true of the Soul that is seeking to achieve Spiritual Consciousness with no thought of continued earthly existence, for here again, DESIRE governs and that which is of greatest urgency will take precedence. (The man who travels to a distant land to seek only fortune has little need to build a mansion in that land.)
This "bringing into being" that which we desire can only be accomplished, in harmony with Divine Law, if certain conditions exist. First, there must be a real love in the heart and in the Soul to bring about that which is desired. The thought gives actuality to the love manifested by intense feeling or a longing to bring about or bring into manifestation that which we desire. This longing will be so inspired that no sacrifice will be too great, no obstacle too vast.
The great love stories of all time (whether they involve a Woman or heroic accomplishment) bear witness to the intensity of the force motivating Man, when, working in accordance with the Law, he brings into operation the thought-image.
Intense concentration is the means by which this is made possible. This concentration, or centralization, is brought about by the great love or desire.
The transferring of thought into action depends upon developing the thought-imaging of the mind and Soul (personality) to its highest level
The Mystic reaches such a high plane of thought-imaging that, to all intent and purpose, he achieves his purpose of existing on a Spiritual plane, even though he is encumbered by the material problems of the flesh. This earth plane is, to the Mystic, merely a waiting place on the way to the actual Spiritual plane of existence, since he has no desire to return to an earthly existence. To the Soul desiring to make his Heaven on Earth, it would be nothing more than "day dreaming" since no material-physical accomplishments would come into being. The individual Soul strives to be Master of his environment. NOT be oblivious to it.
MAN'S NEED FOR BALANCE
Throughout all time, one of man's greatest weaknesses has been his one-sidedness, his lamentable lack of balance. Either he has been inclined to be grossly materialistic in his outlook, lacking any concept of Spiritual realities and the existence of God; or, conversely, he has held to the belief that the Spiritual self was all-important and that the material self should be given little or no consideration.
Only in rare instances could those be found who were far-sighted enough to recognize that the material and Spiritual were of EQUAL importance in this mundane world, and must have equal attention if man is to be at his best. These few adopted the MIDDLE COURSE and become truly MEN, and at the same time SPIRITUALLY CONSCIOUS.
Those who were so gifted, or became awakened to this concept, soon recognized that, while material considerations and material values have their place in human affairs and must receive full consideration, they should never take precedence over the Spiritual. They gave to each - the material and the Spiritual - the proper place in their lives, fulfilling the Biblical injunction: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you" ... and another, equally vital, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
In the order of their importance, BOTH THE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF MAN WERE GIVEN THEIR PROPER PLACE, IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT ONLY THROUGH SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND ATTAINMENT COULD MAN GAIN HIS HIGHEST ESTATE BOTH IN THE WORLD OF FACT AND OF SPIRIT. These few - the truly enlightened - developed both on the material and Spiritual planes - with proper regard for each.
This concept is at last receiving recognition, but as yet men are doing little about it; living, as they do, under the paralyzing influence of the idea: "It cannot happen here." In almost every newspaper and magazine, the headlines glaringly call attention to the fact that the present unfavorable conditions in all walks of life result from Man's having LOST HIS SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS. Some writers go further, stressing the fact that if Man is to save himself and retrieve his lost estate of peace and the right of the "Pursuit of happiness" in accordance with the Eternal law, he must RETURN TO these SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS.
One reason for the present abnormal and unfavorable conditions among men in our own nation is the phenomenal and almost incredible advance by material science. This has precipitated antagonism and conflict between the men who have taken time to keenly reason and analyze activities on the material plane in relation to the claims and promises made by what might will be termed "churchism." Religion has stood still while science advanced - hence the conflict.
Men, though possibly not wholly honest and moral themselves, are nevertheless able, with normally reasoning and analytical minds, to clearly define the difference between justice and hypocrisy. They distinguish the difference between a just God who set into operation absolute Laws and adheres to them, and a whimsical God who, because of a selfish request or prayer, would wantonly set aside the operation of His established Laws.
One of these scientists who, though not a churchman, DOES truly believe in God, gave utterance to a conclusion that is rapidly gaining ground and is shared by an increasingly large number of thinking men:
"While admittedly not a too honest or moral man, I can no longer accept the concept, doctrine or creed, that I may cheat, lie, steal, defame, be a libertine, degenerate, betray woman or commit any and every other crime during most or all of my life and then, at one fell stroke, by the utterance of a few words "I believe,' be absolved from all my sins, and what is still more unjust and dishonest, have someone else pay for all of my evil doings.
"If God is a JUST God, and I BELIEVE HE IS, if He gave us Laws to live by, and I KNOW He did, then He cannot annul those Laws in MY favor and at the expense of others, because I request it.
"I BELIEVE AND ACCEPT the Law: `As ye sow so shall ye reap' without qualification and I cannot subscribe to any doctrine or church that will not uphold this Law.
"To me, possibly the greatest of all evildoers is the hypocrite. The really evil, dishonest or degraded person becomes known by his acts and is shunned by honest, wholesome men and women. The hypocrite professes one thing and is shrewd enough to be accepted and believed by what he professes to be, not what he really is, and misleads countless trusting ones."
THE GREATEST OF ALL the Ancient Lawgivers, antedating JOHN by many centuries, was known as Hermes. His statement of the Law in respect to material and Spiritual things, and the balance between them, has never been improved upon, nor successfully contradicted:
As in the above, so in the below.
As in the below, so in the above.
As in the outer, so in the inner.
As in the inner, so in the outer
In other words:
As in the Spiritual, so in the material.
As in the material, so in the Spiritual.
The Laws are interchangeable and interrelated. That which affects the material, EQUALLY influences the Spiritual. That which is Spiritualized, likewise governs the material. Therefore Saint Paul's statement, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," and the Nazarene's teaching, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God (the Spiritual) and all other things (material) shall be added unto you." THIS IS THE LAW that governs and will continue to govern, whether it is accepted or not.
The Law of Hermes, together with the command: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's," brings to mind a principle too often overlooked: No GOOD thing of whatever nature, is forbidden those on the Path. Only those things which serve no good purpose and are detrimental to body, mind, and Soul or even in an economic sense, are prohibited.
MAN IS GOVERNED BY THE LAW
All things created by God, all things in creation, are governed by an INEXORABLE Law. MAN IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS LAW. If it is his desire to be healthy and strong, he must be obedient to the Laws governing health and strength. If it is his desire to be successful, he must apply in his activities the Laws governing health and strength. If it is his desire to be successful, he must apply in his activities the Laws governing success. If he seeks social prominence, he must obey the dictates governing culture. To be happy, he must be conscience-free and possessed of the things that make for happiness.
LASTLY, and most important, if he seeks the Soul's Consciousness, the KINGDOM OF GOD, he must obey the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS dictated by the DIVINE LAW. Even all this is NOT sufficient to enable him to BECOME God Conscious; to become REgenerated; to Immortalize himself, that he may be privileged to enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD, OR HEAVEN, as ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN.
There is one more MUST. The final and supreme requirement is that he REgenerate himself; that HE BE REBORN; BORN OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN HIMSELF, as he was born of the flesh from his mother's womb. TO THIS MUST, THERE IS NO EXCEPTION. For the son of man to BECOME the son of GOD, the Spirit of GOD WITHIN HIM must be awakened and brought into full consciousness, just as was the seed of his father brought into life in his mother's womb. This is clearly stated in the Laws handed down throughout the ages for Man's guidance.
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews."The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and OF the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,(2) by the WORD of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." - PETER 1:23.
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(2)This scripture emphasizes not the rebirth of the physical, which is vulnerable to sin, sickness, disease and death. It is directed rather to the AWAKENING of the Soul Spark from a dormant, potential state INTO an ACTIVE DYNAMIC STATE OF INDIVIDUALIZED CONSCIOUSNESS - REborn INVULNERABLE to sin, sickness, disease and death!
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TO BE REBORN of the Spirit is to have BECOME Spiritually Awakened or Soul Conscious. It is not the body that is reborn or rejuvenated, although this MAY, and SHOULD, be part of the REbirth. The prime requisite is the AWAKENING, bringing into Consciousness that part of God - FLAME of God - which was given, or DRAWN into the body at the moment of birth and is known as the DIVINE SPARK, or the CHRISTOS. This CHRISTOS, awakened and brought into Consciousness, is the Christ; the Immortal part of man.
The DIVINE IMMORTALIZING SPARK is deeply hidden within the carnal man as in a tomb. To awaken or bring about this Spiritual or REbirth requires that, just as the mother nurtured within her bosom and gave birth to the physical or carnal body, through which the Soul, as a DIVINE SPARK, must gain experience as a result of her desire for motherhood, so MUST Man become likewise conscious of the possibilities of a similar awakening and REbirth for the Soul, and imbued with the desire to learn and practice the Law that will enable him to make this possible. He must not only OBEY the Laws, but he must also be willing - aye, ANXIOUS - to make the necessary efforts to bring this Divine principle WITHIN himself into activity.
Like the mother that carried him and gave him birth, Man must pass through a period of gestation - THE PROCESS OF AWAKENING (JOHN'S baptism by water)-that this CHRISTOS, or DIVINE SPARK WITHIN, be brought into consciousness and manifestation. This is accomplished by travail, much after the pattern of the physical body; the correspondence between physical birth and Spiritual birth being perfect and both under a like law.
After this REbirth or Spiritual birth is finally accomplished, comes the unfoldment of God Consciousness; the knowledge that there is a Kingdom of Heaven WITHIN the individual, just as there is in the above; a Consciousness of Heaven right here on earth. DURING THE PROCESS, as a result of obedience to the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS, the carnal man will have been transmuted, changed, transformed, i.e., in common parlance, will have become "converted." This is not a mere acceptance of the new condition on faith alone, BUT AN ACTUAL CHANGE OR CONVERSION FROM ONE STATE, THE EARTHLY, INTO ANOTHER STATE, THE SPIRITUAL OR DIVINE. One who has Undergone this transition will no longer be chained to a purely physical, carnally controlled body. His earthly tabernacle will have, in truth, BECOME the Temple of God in the likeness, and after the manner of the Temple of Solomon wherein God dwelt because it had been REBUILT after the Divine Pattern.
The second or Spiritual birth has its beginning in the mind's awakening to the temporality of the things first accepted as real. Then follows recognition of the reality of things as yet unseen and unknown. This beginning is the Baptism by JOHN, resulting in the Consciousness of the CHRISTOS, dormant or "buried" within. The New Birth begins with desire fortified by faith and a willingness to obey the Laws given Man for this purpose.
Life, to be complete and in FULFILLMENT of the Law, is both
a circle(3) and a cycle. It has its beginning in the Soul's desire
to experience; to learn to know the difference between good and
evil; to descend from its heavenly (purely Spiritual) state into
the material, THERE TO WORK OUT ITS DESTINY by first entering
into mortality, and by its own efforts to change the mortal into
the Immortal, that having become earthborn, it may, by its own
efforts, become Spiritually reborn; the Son of Man changed into
a Son of God. -----------------------------------------------------
(3) Symbolized by the serpent with its tail in its mouth representing
ETERNITY, never ending, always existing. See MYSTERIES OF OSIRIS. this publisher.
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Once this journey is begun, it cannot end, the circle or cycle cannot be completed, the Soul cannot return into its former home until it has obeyed all laws laid down for its obedience and, in addition, by its awakening, has brought into Consciousness its own Divinity by being REborn in the Spirit, as it was born into the flesh.
THIS IS CLEARLY and unmistakably revealed in: "Except
a man be born of water (an awakening of the mind, becoming conscious
that carnal life is a VERY SMALL part of all life) and of THE
SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
There is no qualification to this edict. THIS MUST BE AN INDIVIDUAL
ACCOMPLISHMENT. THERE IS NO WAY OF ESCAPE, the individual MUST
do all this FOR himself. No man can save the Soul of another,
however much he may love him. He may, however, show another the
way.
Throughout the ages, men have constantly sought for a way or means to avoid obedience to FUNDAMENTAL LAWS, to side-step the edict that ONLY by means of REbirth or REgeneration can man again KNOW God, be "saved," or enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
THE PATTERN OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
The Reasons for Being are as limitless as Infinity Itself. The boundaries and limits of human desire and FULFILLMENT are in the domain of the expression of the Infinity. Man has within himself the potencies and faculties whereby he may humanize into being the great thought principle for his own good, so long as he harmonizes the process with the Higher Law. Inharmony is disastrous. Only when Man has vivified, through love, his thoughts is he ready to make them manifest.
The artist, ideally imbued with love of his art, first conceives the thought of the picture he wishes to bring into being and only then does he begin work on the painting itself. So long as he holds to his ideal, he will bring into existence the painting he has visualized. The technical perfection will be limited only by his technical ability, but the expression of his love will be evident, regardless of his technique. It has been said of many great artists (in this instance, portrait painters) that though their technique may be evident in the painting, their true artistry (love of art) is best shown by that which they express in the eyes of the subject, for herein is the Soul of the painting.
Many an artist has had ideal thought-images of what he wanted to paint and started to work, only to settle for less than his ideal, because of pressure, need for money or other circumstances. In so compromising, he allowed his environment or conditions to enslave him. The true artist, with love for his art, will starve, freeze and endure untold hardships - WILLINGLY - in order to bring forth his art in its full integrity and conception. The hardships were but steps along the way, as are the niches the mountain climber cuts into rock on his way to the summit.
STAGES OF PROGRESS
The basic desire of Man may be divided into five stages
of development and progression:
Physical needs: Food, warmth, shelter.
Security: An assurance that his physical needs will be provided
for. Development: An expansion of his well-being.
Perpetuation: A need to perpetuate his personality.
Awareness: An awakening to his Spiritual self.
Many people do not progress beyond the first, elemental stage of wanting to satisfy their physical needs. they make no effort to improve their position. They are the "spongers" who contribute nothing to society, but demand that society provide them with all the material comforts, which we hear condemned as being part of Capitalism. So long as society provides these people with the material things they pretend to scorn, just so long will they be without the need to advance beyond the first stage.
In this group are the criminal element. Since their only
desire is to satisfy their material needs, the MEANS to accomplishing
this is based on the lowest level of day-to-day existence. If
they have no food of their own, they will beg, borrow or steal
someone else's food. Here again, society is to blame for much
of this problem. Instead of fighting for what they have rightly
earned and insisting on a "day's work for a day's pay,"
society (possibly because of a feeling of guilt)(4) yields to
the ever-increasing demands of the "spongers." This
shame of society will continue as long as the individuals comprising
it, and society as a whole, do not acknowledge Divine Law - free
Will - and "Whatsoever a man soweth, that will he also reap."
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(4) When mankind in general does not LIVE wholly according to
DIVINE LAW it cannot be guided by the WISDOM and STRENGTH of DIVINE
LAW. It is governed instead therefor by the weaknesses and sins
of those who make no effort at all to understand or accept the
Law.
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The second stage of development is the desire for security, the desire for an assurance of provision for the material and physical needs of Man. Those who do not advance beyond this stage might be classed as the "plodders." They will willingly work to assure their future comforts. Their goal is generally to be able to have their own home and save enough money to be able to "retire" in their later years.
The third stage of progression is one of Development, an expansion of the basic needs. Here we find the "builders," those who show the beginnings of a desire to master their environment. To accomplish this, they utilize the "plodders." To the extent that the "builders" utilize the "plodders," they are responsible for the "plodders'" well-being. Thus, the owner of a business has a responsibility to see that "A laborer is worthy of his hire" as well as that the "Hire (pay) is worthy of the laborer." Here, again, is one of the evils of the day. Too often, management is more concerned with profits than with how the profits are attained. Instead of resisting unrealistic pay demands, management merely passes on the extra costs by increasing the price of the product. The higher prices bring about a demand for more pay, creating a merry-go-round, with everyone reaching for the "brass ring."
The fourth stage of development is the desire to perpetuate that which the "builder" has acquired. To do so, he is most apt to create a "family" (the dynasty previously discussed) to continue his name, his interests and his personality or ego. Here again, responsibility must increase along with the increase in influence. The first four stages of Man's development deal almost entirely with the material-physical. The fifth stage, that of AWARENESS, is one of Spirituality-a desire for Immortality of the personality (Soul).
It is easily understood that, during the early development of Man, little consideration was given to Individual Immortality, since life held little promise other than a struggle for survival. Even today, Man, having achieved the pinnacles of both material and physical luxuries, finds that these, in themselves, are not worth the effort UNLESS there is something more. As soon as he recognizes that there IS something more, Man can find and recognize his REASON FOR BEING.
Richmond's book, THE SOUL IN HUMAN EMBODIMENTS, presents a definition of the fifth stage of Man's development:
Each Soul begins at the beginning of experience here, and passes through physical conquest and the physical disappointment, through intellectual conquest and the intellectual disappointment, and enters upon the spiritual conquest and all its difficulties to finally overcome them.
We can then understand that, even though Man was created
physically perfect, the Soul DESCENDING to inhabit the body is
at its lowest point. Since the Soul is a Divine Spark, it MUST
strive for perfection and thus its evolution(5) MUST ever be upward.
In striving for AWARENESS and contact with the Infinite Intelligence,
the failures and struggles are unimportant so long as the spiral
of AWARENESS IS UPWARD.
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(5) "Natural evolution toward perfection and experience,
though mighty forces in themselves, are not potent to develop
the seeker spiritually. Development must be CONSCIOUSLY undertaken
and is possible only through the awakening of the inner consciousness
to something that is higher and more desirable than anything heretofore
known or experienced." THE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL. This publisher.
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In addition to the five basic stages of development here cited, there is the sixth - and OVERALL -desire, which governs upon reaching AWARENESS - that of the desire for Soul Consciousness, which is, of course, our ULTIMATE REASON FOR BEING, our final goal.
It would be as illogical to expect a "new Soul" to be a Conscious Soul as it would be to expect the physical being of which the new Soul is the Divine Spark, to be born a great artist. It is only by EXPERIENCE that the Soul can gain Consciousness, or the physical being BECOME a great artist.
It was not until Man found that he could not attain to the heights of his chosen art, or achieve full awareness of his REASON FOR BEING in one life span, that he started his search for Immortality. We are told in St. John 3:3, that "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." and again, in St. John 3:23, "And no man has ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven..."
These two statements are the key to understanding the reason for the Soul's RETURNING to earth, and for its original purpose in DESCENDING to Earth.
The Golden Rule is the ABSOLUTE Law which should govern the relationship between Man and Man. It is stated so simply that even a child should be able to understand the meaning and not err in its application to everyday affairs; to ALL the affairs of life:
"Therefore ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE would that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them...."MATT. 7:12.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." - LUKE 6:31.
This Law is ALL-INCLUSIVE. It states in vivid and inescapable
clearness, "ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE DO." It is both
readily comprehensible and immediately applicable. Whatsoever
I seek to accomplish, or seek to do, if others than myself are
concerned, I need only ask myself the question: WOULD I DESIRE
THAT ANY OTHER SHOULD DO TO ME THAT WHICH I AM ABOUT TO DO OR
ENGAGE IN?
The answer will be equally clear and unmistakable. It goes without
saying that I would NOT wish another do anything that would be
against my welfare, or prejudicial to my interests in any respect.
This FUNDAMENTAL Law is associated with another Law of equal importance to one who truly seeks to be a MAN prepared to stand before a just God. This is the familiar "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Every act, every deed, that man commits, every effort he makes, is ACTUALLY A SOWING and will have its DIRECT REaction both upon the doer or "sower" and all others concerned. It is a REaction that CANNOT be evaded by any means whatever, irrespective of one's belief, one way or another.
Another fundamental Law is also involved in this command: "Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you." This is the Law of Honesty, so seldom given a thought, yet so vital to our welfare:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - PHIL. 4.8.
THIS IS A COMPLETE DECALOGUE in itself; simple, straight-forward, readily understandable. All of the "virtues" or "beatitudes" mentioned are a part of honesty; a requisite under the Law, and a necessity in the fulfillment of "doing unto others."
This Law of "doing unto others" is a direct command - no less. From it we learn what we SHOULD DO TO AND FOR OTHERS, and that we can best promote our own best interests when we work in harmony with the Law. Its associate statement is POSITIVE in warning us WHAT WILL BE the result if we fail to comply with the Law. In any event, WE SHALL, UNFAILINGLY, REAP - BE REPAID - or HAVE RETURNED TO US - that which we have "sown" when we failed in "doing unto others as we would have them do unto us."
This command is an ABSOLUTE Law. It cannot be set aside; CANNOT BE EVADED BY ANY MEANS WHATEVER. It functions impartially and will continue to function whether we refuse to believe or, believing, refuse to obey.
This Law, like all Laws, is dual in its nature. Its duality is of supreme importance and must not for a moment be slighted or ignored. On the one hand it demands that we refrain from doing anything whatever that will work to the detriment or injury of another. On the other hand, it decrees that in all the affairs of life - whether in relation to business, society or politics - WE MUST REFUSE TO ALLOW ANYONE TO USURP OUR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, OR TAKE UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF US.
This is the Law of proper and EQUITABLE Exchange - the Law of "doing unto others as you would that they do unto you" - THE LAW OF JUSTICE.
Obedience to this second phase of the Law is NOT to be the spirit of ill-feeling, suspicion or abnormal self-guarding, but, rather, in the spirit of a wise, loving father who watches over his son, seeing to it that he commits no acts that would REact to his disadvantage in any respect whatever.
Facing facts squarely and honestly, how many of the millions who in all sincerity read the Bible, or attend religious services, have ever given real thought to the command DO UNTO OTHERS - all others - friend and foe alike - AS THEY WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO THEM?
Of all who have read or heard this Law, so simply stated, how many have ever for one day, aye, one hour, made a wholehearted effort to actually fulfill, or live within its decree?
HOW MANY OF ALL who profess to be Christians, and who staunchly claim to accept the Bible as their Book of Life and Salvation, continually and consistently bewail their own circumstances, position in life, failures and sorrows and not only blame, but DAMN others as the CAUSE of their worldly ills, though they, ALONE, are at fault?
How many of these WHO SET THEMSELVES UP IN JUDGMENT OVER THE ACTS OF OTHERS, have themselves honestly and sincerely tried, even for a day, to obey this Law, which is one of God's greatest commands? How many recognize that obedience to this Law is an absolute necessity if they are to become the "wheat" and there-by achieve their Soul's salvation?
If men obeyed this Law, then ST JOHN'S the Revelator's, heaven would be established on earth and Brotherhood would prevail. All the evils, the miseries and sorrows that beset mankind would be a thing of the past. So long as men disobey by ignoring this Law, then despite any faith they may have, any prayers they many voice - however sincere they may be - they will continue in sorrow, suffering, misery and failure as a penalty for their disobedience.
As it has been throughout uncounted centuries, so will it continue to be until men not only "think on these things," but awaken within themselves a desire sufficiently strong to impel them to live a more noble, honest, useful life, proving their sincerity by obedience to this Law.
The Law is crystal clear; the path equally so; straight-forward; the effort simple, but difficult. Attainment begins with self-control, self-effort, self-denial, self-cleansing from all that is unworthy and temporal. Such is the price of achievement; "the peace that passeth understanding," THE SUCCESS THAT CAN KNOW NO FAILURE.
Each person should devote at least one hour of his daily
life to a study and analysis of what he or she may become, realizing
that life on earth can be - and will be - a paradise, when men
are truly HONEST IN THEIR PROFESSION OF FAITH, and obey the Law.(1)
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(1) As pointed out in the text, THE COMPENDIUM OF OCCULT LAW, this publisher,
a material success, however desirable, is but one expression of
a DUAL LAW. It is unbalanced and, consequently temporal until
it is made POSITIVE when combined with the other expression of
the LAW - SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT - of the self, then the DOUBLE
LAW is fulfilled.
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Not only does the CHURCH OF ILLUMINATION(2) strongly advocate
this, but by its inculcations indicates clearly the means and
the method to be followed by those seeking to BECOME the Biblical
BRETHREN OF THE LIGHT, members of the NEW ORDER OF THE AGES, of
the Outer Court of the Church of Illumination or members of the
Inner Circle of the GREAT WORK.
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(2) In all its functions the Church of Illumination attempts to
illustrate by word and action the philosophic, esoteric, spiritual
and occult interpretation of what is generally termed sacred literature,
of which the BIBLE is a part. -----------------------------------------------------
THE LAW OF HONESTY
Honesty, as discussed above, is important in man's ultimate freedom in body, mind and Soul. Bearing in mind Shakespeare's immortal statement: To thine own self be true, and it follows as the night the day, thou canst not be false to any man, were Man wholly honest, he WOULD "do unto others as they should do unto him," and be most careful to sow only such "seeds" as would reproduce "wheat" (life) instead of "chaff" (death).
HEBREWS is emphatic and most clear in pointing out that everyone should be WILLING and anxious to live HONESTLY in ALL THINGS; in EVERY RESPECT. This embraces being FIRST OF ALL honest with one's self in EVERY way: in thought, desire and action; then to be equally so in dealing with others. Again reminding one's self of Shakespeare,s saying, if one were honest with himself, it would follow that he could NOT be dishonest with his fellowman.
There is yet much more in these few words from HEBREWS. In them is included the entire secret of Man's peace and happiness; hence his heavenly state. Being honest in all things, so far as humanly possible, ASSURES ONE A CLEAN, FREE CONSCIENCE, and there can be neither peace nor happiness, nor a STATE OF HEAVEN, WHERE CONSCIENCE IS ILL AT EASE.
"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." - HEBREWS 13:18.
CORINTHIANS is equally clear on the same subject, using only different words; commanding, as it does, that we should be honest in both the sight of the Lord and the sight of Man. If we are honest in the "sight" of the Lord, it follows that we must also be honest with ourselves and with OUR OWN SOUL; which again would assure us of peace OR THE STATE OF HEAVEN KNOWN AS PEACE.
Let all men strive to be honest with each other, and peace
would shortly reign on earth. Moreover, according to Revelation
and John's vision, HEAVEN WOULD COME DOWN TO EARTH AND THE LORD
WOULD BE AND ABIDE WITH HIS HONEST CHILDREN. Herein is the secret
of PEACE ON EARTH and the BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
"Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men." - 2 COR. 13:7.
CORNITHIANS IMPLIES that though men might be reprobates - not living within the Law in ALL things - they should at least BE HONEST. It follows that if they began to live honestly they would shortly free themselves from other evils and no longer remain reprobates; freedom of person and of conscience would naturally follow.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - PHIL.4:8.
PHILIPPIANS is far more inclusive, embracing, in a few words, almost the entire Decalogue of what is good, beautiful and desirable in human relations. "Whatsoever things are HONEST" - therefore, whatsoever things are pure, undefiled, exalted - all that is lovely, beautiful, desirable, ennobling and elevating - all such are to be encouraged in our thinking and living. "Whatsoever things are of good report" - this rules out all gossip - all tale-bearing - all slanderous and malicious reports concerning our neighbor. It demands of us that we protect our neighbor's honor (until such time as he is proven dishonorable), and that we conduct ourselves as honorable men, being clean and pure of thought, up-right in action, honest and straightforward in our dealings with all men.
The Law of Honesty embraces every phase and facet of human behavior. If man obeys the Law of Honesty to the best of his ability, his compliance will help him to fulfill the destiny for which he came to earth. To countenance any evasion of this Law of Honesty is to be forced to pay a penalty. If Man is not honest, HE IS CONSCIOUS OF HIS DISHONEST ACTS, AND THIS KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT PERMIT A FREE, or GOOD CONSCIENCE; HENCE HE CANNOT BE AT PEACE; or KNOW THE STATE OF PEACE THAT IS HEAVEN.
Does there live a strictly morally and Spiritually honest Man in mind and thought who would contract a debt, and who, having a real friend, would ask that friend, in addition to paying his own indebtedness, to ALSO PAY HIS DEBTS FOR HIM? Is this not exactly what almost all of humanity has been taught it may do, and IS doing today?
For example, a man cheats his fellow man in some manner and then at the end of day, prays God to forgive him, though there is not the slightest intention on his part to make retribution; only to commit the same wrong the following day and all the days following. Men ask, and continue to ask God to do that for them which they would not request of their fellow man when face to face.
If men were honest in heart, as the Law requires and commands them to be, then, being conscious of the sins of the day, they would pray in sincerity and humility for forgiveness of their transgressions and inhumanities to their fellow men, WOULD BE WILLING TO COMPENSATE FOR WRONGS COMMITTED and would plan to do so as quickly and fully as possible. Such a prayer would be far different from that almost universally voiced which seeks absolution without any intent of repayment or readjustment and would be in harmony with the Law. It would be the prayer of a penitent; not of a beggar or of dishonest design. Here is an example:
Father, I come to thee in sincerity and humbleness of heart; being conscious of my weakness and transgressions. I, oh Father, offer no excuses, nor request forgiveness for my guilt, but pray Thee to be given strength that I may be able to repay all that of which I am guilty.
I pray Thee, of Father, for Wisdom and understanding, enabling me to foresee errors, and for the strength to more and more resist all that which is not good in Thy sight, that I may become perfect as Thou hast commanded.
I pray thee, of Father, to forgive to the full extent permitted by Thy Law all those who have sinned because of some act on my part, and to hold me, and not them, responsible for such evils and for their payment to the last farthing.
Bless, oh Father, those who have loved me, those who have been kind to me, and those who have helped me. Show me the LIGHT that I may see clearly to enable me to repay all that I am indebted to Thee, Thy Laws and my fellow men. Amen.
THE LAW OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is included in - is part and parcel - of the Law of Honesty. If a Man is honest, he would feel dishonored if someone else were to offer to pay for his "sins," i.e., his debts. A Man, being a Man, and honest of Conscience, FEELS responsible for each and every error of which he has been guilty, and is willing, and ready to do all in his power to repay and to correct his errors.
The FEELING of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is his BADGE OF HONOR. It is a sense that however much he may have been in the wrong, in whatever manner, he is PERFECTLY WILLING TO HIMSELF PAY FOR ALL THAT OF WHICH HE HAS BEEN GUILTY, AND FOR THE GUILT OF OTHERS TO THE EXTENT HE MISLED THEM.
In the consideration of honesty in intent and act, the problem of profit in business naturally enters. It is not dishonest for a man in business to reap a profit for his efforts; just as the worker is paid his wages in exchange for his efforts.
It is equally true that in many instances the profits may be far greater than compensation for the efforts make, or the ability to plan successfully. Were this not true, then great enterprises and the employment of men, with good wages, would be impossible.
To give practical application to this aspect of the Law, it is only necessary to cite and example: That of Henry Ford. If the profits had not been such on his invention as to compensate him for his achievement AND IN ADDITION, sufficient to manufacture two automobiles for each one sold, hundreds of thousands of men and their families would not be employed at high wages and only the rich would be able to own an automobile.
The profits on sales served two purposes: They provided excellent positions for many men, and reasonable prices for those who desired the automobile. The question of honesty in profits is a relative one. The prime consideration is NOT HOW GREAT THE PROFITS, BUT IN WHAT MANNER ARE THESE PROFITS USED? This Law of compensation, INCREASE and profits is fully exemplified in the Parable of the Talents.
Undeniably, there are many "lords" - employers
- whose forebears were both humanitarian and illustrious, who
today use their increase, profits, compensation, for unholy purposes.
On the other hand, there are millions of "servants,"
who do not fulfill their contract to do what they should, when
they should, as they should and as much as they should and who
use their unearned compensation for other than constructive purposes.
The same workers, during prosperous periods, failed to "set
their house" in order, and, almost at the first day of unemployment
and curtailment of income, permit themselves to become public
charges without feeling any sense of guilt.
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(3)Under DIVINE LAW it is not possible to "get something
for nothing." No true MAN in good health with or without
ability of any kind could willingly accept this form of "welfare"
without a feeling of dishonesty or cheating. -----------------------------------------------------
THE SOUL'S PROGRESSION
The Soul, in complying with Divine Law, is in an ever-upward spiral, that is, in an ascending progression. This does not mean that effort (and vigilance) is not required to maintain this upward spiral. Even the Master Jesus, speaking through Paul, reminded Man to "...take heed lest ye fall."
Every living thing must make continuous effort if it is to survive and, by so doing, become stronger, thus fulfilling each to its own, the upward spiral. An example of this is seen in insects, which when threatened with DDT and other chemicals become resistant to them in order to survive. So man, in his evolution, is first forced by nature to struggle for existence and, in so doing, sets the stage for his future. Natural law (survival of the fittest) and the Law of Attraction (desire) dictate his return, until the subconscious Spiritual takes over his direction. Heredity and Law of Cause and Effect then gave way to the superior Laws, governing the Soul's return.
The advanced (awakened) Soul then CONSCIOUSLY governs the conditions and environment for its return, WITHIN Natural and Divine Law - Desire and Effort being the Key.
Thus, a family having great affection and strong family ties, desiring to be together, would, REGARDLESS OF THE DEGREE OF CONSCIOUSNESS of the individual members, be drawn together under the laws of Heredity and Evolution, but subject to stronger desire and effort.
A child may love his parents very much, and want to be with them always; but, the parents may be of a stronger mind not to have any more children. The stronger desire would govern and the child would be subject to the Law of Attraction upon its return.
The Law of Attraction also explains the genius. One may wonder how a child of eight can be a violin virtuoso or a concert pianist? The answer is that the "child" has finally achieved his goal, set in a previous incarnation, and even though he had not attained to a state of Spiritual Consciousness, the Law of Attraction would draw him to an environment suitable to continue his desire to be a great artist. Whatever degree of artistic attainment he had reached would, so long as the desire remained, be carried over from incarnation to incarnation. This is true of ANY great and continued desire, whether good or evil.
This same "Law of Attraction" functions in drawing the individual with POTENTIAL for genius to an environment which may seem to be TOTALLY AT ODDS with his artistic goal, thus requiring greater effort and strength to achieve it. Such trial by fire tempers the steel of resolve and desire, refines the talent of genius and results in the creation of masterpieces of art, music and literature of great Spiritual impact and meaning as the legacy and illustration of Man's latent potential, if he so WILLS.
The Man whose desire is to be wealthy would be governed by the same Law as the Man who desires Spiritual Consciousness. To the extent that they desire to achieve a goal and work toward that goal, they must be successful.
Those seeking Spiritual Consciousness
have the help of the Hierarchies as soon as they become aware
of the existence of these Hierarchies(4) and comply with the Divine
Law in contacting them.
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(4)The Hierarchic forces above us in realm and knowledge have
much to do with the affairs of men. These are conscious powers,
intermediaries between GOD and man, and can be contacted consciously
by the pure in heart seeking their help.
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We may compare this to the person who has access to a set of the Britannica or any other comprehensive set of reference books. By seeking answers, available in these books, the individual is able to accomplish far more than he could otherwise. The Hierarchies are the Spiritual encyclopedia. To the degree that the individual is conscious of their existence and is willing to earn the right to contact them (or has earned it), to that extent is he able to contact the Super Intelligence. Solomon was aware of this when he asked, above all, for "Wisdom" and received the right to contact the Hierarchies for All-Wisdom.
GALATIANS 6:7, summarizes what is commonly known as the Legend of the Sower: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." In the Great Work, this is known as the LAW OF COMPENSATION.
Natural Law, to insure a balance, insures that for EVERY ACTION, THERE IS A REACTION. This is also known as CAUSE AND EFFECT.
Call it what you will, the Law of Compensation relates to every thought, desire and effort (good or bad) of every human being. Every ACTION, whatever its nature, must cause REaction. Many of today's problems are the result of an unawareness or a disbelief of this Law. Man has cheated, stolen, lied, been guilty of every known crime and sin because he has felt he could "get away with it," and then has wondered why he has so many troubles, ills and hardships.
Throughout history, Man has tried to evade punishment for wrongdoing and yet expects and demands a "fair day's wages for a fair day's work." When we are willing to accept the Divine Law of Compensation, we will be more mindful of our every act, our every thought and our every desire.
The dishonest Man will try to find a way to avoid payment of debts. The honest Man will make every effort to live within the Law and be willing to accept reward or punishment in accord with his efforts. Science has proven and accepted the Law of Action and REaction. Man must eventually accept and DESIRE to comply with the Law of Compensation - the sowing and reaping.
With the exception of Man, all things are in harmony with the Law of Compensation. An animal is instinctively aware of the fact that to exist, it must eat and in order to eat, it must make some effort. Man alone, having been given free Will, may choose between following the Law and rejecting it. This free Will allows Man to become a co-Creator with God, or to lose that privilege and become the Biblical "chaff" to be destroyed.
This same free Will allows new Souls - "residing" in the Heavenly or Spiritual Spheres, having had no other than Spiritual existence - to descend to earth, take on human form and gain experience, knowing all of the emotions, trials and joys of the human being.
In descending to earth and taking on human bodies, these Souls become completely responsible for every act committed while in this realm of existence.
Regardless of what effort Man makes, his "reaping" must be according to his "sowing." He can plant weeds (evil acts) and reap evil in return, or he can sow useful plants (good acts) and be rewarded accordingly. The wise man, having planted weeds and seen the results, can plow them under (transmute evil into good) so they serve as soil conditioners.
The same garden that will grow weeds, will grow vegetables. The choice is with the gardener. But his choice ends with the sowing. Having planted weeds, he has no choice but to harvest weeds. Throughout our life, we must strive to keep our garden free from weeds. But when they do appear, they must be plowed under (transmuted) for the eventual improvement of our garden.
As Man gradually fulfills his destiny, he becomes fully familiar with the Divine Law and is willing, even anxious, to live within that Law. In doing so, he gradually attains to all that is real and lasting. It will not - and this is a point that bears repeating - be necessary for him to deny himself good thing because both the Natural Law and the Law that controls the physical are aspects of the Divine Law.
According to the Divine Law, Man's first duty is to himself and to those whose responsibility he has assumed; then, this having been accomplished, to the welfare of others - not doing for them what they can and should do for themselves, but in showing them the way. No man can save another, but he can show another how to save himself. Faith is essential as an urge to effort, but ultimate Salvation is possible only by proper sowing, by obedience and fulfillment of the Law.
Man's one aim - his REASON for BEING - should be to fulfill his destiny; to bring into manifestation his potentialities and possibilities; to make full use of all his "talents: to the benefit of himself and humanity. This is a Divine Demand if Man wishes to continue to live, to be of the "wheat" and not of the "chaff" to be destroyed. This is made clear in God's, or the Divine Law's statement: "And now the sons of man have become as the Son's of God..."
It has been truly said, "What is man but a god afraid?" Man's life, because it has been governed largely by ignorance, guilt, fear and the resulting weaknesses, has been limited on all planes of existence. This has been impressed upon his inner consciousness to such a degree that he believes therefore, that all that may or has happened to him, is predestined by the hand of GOD - instead of his own!
Thus through continued ignorance of (or unwilling-ness to obey) God's Laws, Divine Plans and promises, man has permitted and nurtured his limitations - particularly his physical duration on earth.
The much-used Biblical "three score and ten" (Psalms 90:10) in reference to Man's life span is man-made, in that it was the average age to be expected by man after he refused to live under the Laws of health as given in the Old Testament and the Christic Teachings given in the New Testament. Living under Divine Law and the Laws of health as given to Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Solomon, Methuselah and many others, many men lived HUNDREDS of years. (Genesis, Chap. Five)
When Man refused to follow these Laws, he set his own life-span by the degree in which he disregarded these Laws and gradually PROGRAMMED his progeny to EXPECT old age and aging. Thus, Man has come to expect, AND IMPRESS UPON HIS GENES, a change of life around the forties, a gradual loss of hair and teeth after middle age, a diminution of sexual activity at almost any time after maturity and to look forward to retirement (actually a preparation for dying) as soon as he could earn enough money to do so. In programming the mind, consciously or unconsciously, he accepts and prepares for departing this realm far before what should be his normal span of life. This programming is fostered upon him by parents, friends, reading material, advertising and nearly all contacts in life.
What then, IS Man's "normal span of life?"
There IS no "normal span of life" for those who live under the Divine Laws of health and behavior. The men of old, Adam, Abraham, Moses and Solomon set their own time of transition by their DESIRE and the GOALS they had set to accomplish.
If we wish to illustrate this in terms of reincarnation, we would say that the Conscious or partly Conscious Soul, returning to its Heavenly Abode, may plan its future stay on earth. This might be influenced by its Goal in Life, the desire to be with loved ones, friends or relatives and willingness to abide by the Divine Laws or health and behavior. The ACTUAL span of life, upon returning to earth, will be decided by the INTENTNESS and STRENGTH of the Soul's DESIRE and the various influences such as the departure of loved ones and fulfillment of projected plans.
The actual "control" of life's processes may be seen when one sees the "miracles" of healing where a person has recovered from a wasting disease and the body has regained its healthy appearance; in the healing an renewal of flesh after serious injury and in the return to a zest in life in one who has found a new, all-important interest in life. Certainly if Man can Master his Destiny (REASON FOR BEING) he must also be able to Master his body.
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." -Psalms 90:12
Throughout the pages of the present text the term THE GREAT WORK has been used time and again and many who will read the book and are not familiar with ARCANE philosophy, instructions and guidance will question what this term applies to and includes.
The various terms used so frequently have a common objective in view: THE AWAKENING OF THE HIDDEN, LATENT SPIRITUAL SELF WITHIN MAN THAT BY BRINGING THIS ABOUT MAN MAY BECOME SPIRITUALLY CONSCIOUS, THE "GOD" SPOKEN OF BY ST. JOHN AND THE "SON OF GOD" MENTIONED BY THE FATHER OF MANKIND.
Those sufficiently interested may request a descriptive monograph. Address: