The Lessons comprising this course in Higher Soul Culture were first issued during the years 1907-08. They were prepared for Class Room study and constituted the instructions offered for the guidance of those interested in what is generally known as "The Great Work" of the Secret Schools.
By 1911 the demand for these instructions had so greatly increased tht it was decided to issue the Lessons in book form for more general distribution and study. The first edition was soon exhausted and was followed by a very special DeLuxe edition in 1917. This edition was again quickly absorbed and during recent years it has not been possible to obtain copies for students, much less for the private libraries of the lovers of literature of a constructive nature.
The present edition is a revision of the 1911 edition. Many changes have been made and we trust these will meet with the approval of all who are sincerely interested in spiritual philosophy.
One of the changes is in the addition of a sub-title. In all of the early editions the title was limited to the one descriptive word: Christisis.
Two years ago, the Grand Fraternity with jurisdiction over all of South America, decided to translate the book and make it available for Spanish speaking Neophytes. The most descriptive translation for Christisis was Christification, the process of becoming (the) or (a) Christisis. Because of the willing and avid acceptance of this term, it was decided to use it as a sub-title in the present edition.
There has been no change in the reason for the reissue of these lessons. If anything, the original intent is now more valid than it was in 1907–08. While at the time there were a considerable number of people who professed church affiliation, but sought something more than the letter of the text and found this only in esoteric philosophy, there are now literally millions of such seekers.
As a matter of fact, church men themselves sadly admit that
the number of non-church goers is well over one-third of the entire
population of the United States. A great majority of these have
forsaken the church entirely and depend upon a "Church at
Large"(1) for their study or spiritual inspiration, or have
resource to such texts as Christisis.
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(1) The Church of Illumination.
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The seekers interested in these instructions may be variously classified:
A. Those already mentioned who either still belong to one
of the more prominent church organizations, or who have entirely
withdrawn from formal church membership, but continue deeply interested
in a spiritual concept of the teachings of the Nazarene and seek
full knowledge of the esoteric teaching.
B. Those who believe that what we call Christification, or the
becoming of the Son of God, is possible here and now, and that
this achievement is the Soul's real purpose for incarnating in
an earthly body.
C. Those who are thoroughly honest at heart, et seek material
success in their chosen vocation; a success based on honest dealings
with their fellow man and in full accord with the Divine Law.
D. Those who feel that it is possible to be dually successful,
i.e., on both the material plane and in the spiritual sphere.
In the acceptance of these teachings and in their faithful application in daily life, the Acolyte will shortly prove to himself that, by entering the Path and awakening or Illumination the mind, he not only progresses in his efforts toward Soul Consciousness, but experiences success in both his economic and material life, because he has earned this success though effort.
It is conceded that the Acolyte is sincere in his belief that there is a God. Whether he knows this Bod as the Over Soul, the Cosmic Soul, or the Father, does not matter in the least.
These terms are all applicable to a Universal Creator. He must also believe that there is a Universal, a Cosmic, or a Divine Law, and that everything in creation, including man, is governed by this Law; therefore, nothing just happens. Whatever is, whatever occurs, is due to the action of this Law. It is a rebound, or a Reaction of the Law. If this is accepted as a truism, then it is equally true that the Law, therefore god, works in, and through, all things, seeing that all things are his creation.
Acknowledging these things as fundamental to all of God's earthly activities, the ultimate achievement of the Acolyte is effected by his material activity, whether he be a priest or politician, a farmer or a shepherd.
Each being is engaged in work necessary to the fulfillment of the Law, and he manifests the effort in which he is engaged. In reverse, if there is an attempt to circumvent the Law, the individual may gratify or benefit himself at the expense of others, but he will then be engaged in the works of the "devil," i.e., he is evil because he is destructively (perversely) engaged.
God being recognized as the life principle in everything possessing sentient life, he is in everything, and this includes every Acolyte, whether he be a politician or a priest.
In the Great Work of self-development, irrespective of the vocation, the fundamental basis of the effort must be religious, i.e., spiritual in its nature. If the work is to be successful, it must be based on exact knowledge; and exact knowledge in Law. Therefore, being obedient to the Law and working in the spirit, man's life will be one of Science-Religion; this is the process of Christification, the Becoming of Christisis.
Comprehending all this, the Acolyte will no linger have a "one day in seven" religious service or practice. He will have a living religion which requires service every day, and every waking moment. In his every activity he recognizes himself as engaged in worship, because he is endeavoring to fulfill the Laws of god; and that is religion; a religious worship of the highest order.
In the New Cycle man will be truly religious. He will live a scientific life; one of Law and Order. This is possible only by uniting the spiritual self to the material self; developing both simultaneously, one with the other, thereby establishing equilibrium; thus giving birth to the Christisis.
This will also be the wedding of the spiritual life of the East, whence cometh all Wisdom and Light as fo the rays of the sun that worms the earth and gives it life, to the material life or efforts of the mind of the west. It permits equal expression to both man and woman; unifying the two and establishing harmony; that state of being the Nazarene well termed as "heaven."
Sincerely Given,
R. Swinburne Clymer
Beverly Hall,
February 7, 1945