The material, physical man is attached to earth conditions by his senses. These senses are creative of desire. The desire seeks its satisfaction. Satisfaction creates conditions and man is bound by these conditions. To be attached to things or conditions is a limitation. Limitation is bondage. Bondage is slavery and inhibits the highest expression of life.

The fullness of life is unlimited; an expression of universality. To be unlimited and express universal life we must be free so as to be able to come into touch with the law which governs universal, unlimited life. It is permitted and possible for man to come into harmony with this law because the Creator, making man in his "likeness," gave him powers of creation.

The earthy or physical man is a slave, first of all to himself and then others. The spiritual man is a Master. On the physical plane, man, by his senses, is attached to persons, places possessions, conditions and passions. These attachments not only give him temporal joys, but also lingering sorrows. As man develops into a spiritual being, he frees himself from his slavish attention to his former attachments, unless they are of a nature capable of advancing him in the new life he has entered. No longer being a slave to these senses and their attachments, he is enabled to enjoy all of their actual benefits without degrading himself or lowering his spiritual status. He has learned the right use of all things, and refuses to be guilty of the abuse of anything.

The physical or sense man is like a child; he accepts things for what they appear to be. His desires are mostly based on what he sees, hears smells, tastes, or touches, and not on his needs. For example, he eats and drinks that he may enjoy, rather than for the purpose of strengthening and fortifying himself. So it is with all of his senses. He mistakes desire for requirements, and in gratifying desire, he satisfies the senses and forgets the spirit. In this manner the whole round of experience of the physical plane is pursued with eagerness to the end; man becomes surfeited and no linger eager for or able to respond to the call of the senses; this is naturally followed by dullness of spirit, indifference, extreme limitation and finally death.

When the light of truth and understanding begins to dawn on the darkened mind and the illusioned Soul, the awful dullness breaks, indifference gives way to the vision of the inner spirit, revealing that the senses are no more than the outer covering of inner needs, and when wisely satisfied, are the means toward a glorious end.

A new world then breaks upon the enraptured vision; a world rare, fair and beautiful, and, though beauteous, it is recognized as but a shallow image, though a jeweled gateway, into that other, the realm of the ideal.

As the sense of inner sight becomes illumined, quick to see and reflect the real world wherein all things are as symbols with a deep meaning, so does the sense of hearing convey to the Soul the reality back of sounds that fall upon the quickened ear, and the senses are tuned to seek for the inner meaning that the Soul may be ministered to and no longer be kept bound as a slave to the destructive desires and passions.

As it now is with seeing and hearing, so will it be with all the other senses; their functioning becomes a dignity; a blessed honor; serving the real one within, the Christisis.

This being within us, this Christos once illuminated, made free; untrammeled, made perfect; called variously the "child of God," the "higher self," the "Soul," the "matchless sprit," but by any name, and in any language, meaning the indivisible, changeless, absolute and only real, which, in the guise of spirit or soul, Deific child, Divine spark or eternal Fire, expresses or reveals infinity with the possibility of a glorious individualization of the human ego.

In the process of becoming enlightened and Illuminated, the Acolyte, if he continues active and faithful, will attain to Mastership; becoming himself unconquerable, but always going forth to conquer; at times apparently overcome by the weight of opposition and unrighteousness, always to rise again and renew his efforts to the final consummation.

The first arena of the conflict is within his own body and with his own desires. His first conquest must be over the senses as manifested by his desires. Unless he succeeds in controlling these and transforming their tendencies by means of transmutation, little real progress is possible.

The one important question the Acolyte must constantly meet within himself is: "Am I being faithful to my highest ideals; those ideals I have been able to vision in my most exalted moments when the heart was opened by some noble desire?"

If the Acolyte once becomes fully conscious that nothing is truly real or lasting except the Soul, he will have overcome much that would retard his progress. God as the Universal or cosmic soul, flows in, or through, all things. God is life and life exists in all animate things; life itself is good and the means toward Immortalization or Christification. Evil is the result of the misuse of life's forces and energies. Man's life is the universal life flowing through him. His God-given free Will permits him to either strengthen the divine link by the right direction of life, or to sever this connection by misdirection.

The Illuminated, Soul Conscious man is a reflection of the Father, a son of God. He bears the image upon his being and the Light within him is God enthroned. In the exalted and ennobled mind God plants the image of himself, i.e., the ideal as a pattern to be followed in the new found life. This new life must be rich in the full expression of the God-like character or it fails in its expression.

In the course of his progress it is necessary for the Acolyte to form a picture or an image of what he desires to be or become. It does not matter what he is interested in or what he desires to become; whether his inclinations are in the direction of becoming a successful businessman, architect and builder; and artist, musician, physician, lawyer, teacher or philosopher; the governing law is always the same. The ideal to be attained must be kept pictured before the mind's eye as a model to build by. If at all possible, it is desirable that the Acolyte choose some one as his exampler; one who has followed the Path and succeeded both in his efforts to become a success in his vocation and in his avocation.

Why not the Nazarene?

This is a natural question; one demanding an answer in the affirmative; but the Nazarene did not engage in business; was not compelled to meet the intrigues of business and all the evils now part of business. He was not involved in politics and compelled to face the viciousness which is a part of politics. He was not married and a man of family torn in many different directions by many various inclinations of the members of that family; loving each one of them and frequently called upon to make decisions where impartiality and justice could find little place.

The Nazarene stood singly and alone. He had but one aim in view. He was not in the maelstrom of unfriendly, vicious, and wholly partial intrigues. None of the problems of his daily, personal life were those of the modern Acolyte seeking individualized conscious, spiritualized attainment. He was an exampler and teacher of the Divine Law, the Way back to god, but had no experience, and could set no example, in the life and affairs of a modern "traveler down Jordan's road," where the ultra experienced "scribes, pharisees, thieves, robbers and murderers" are along the way and but few "good Samaritans" left to nurse the wounds a traveler on the Path is certain to receive.

The Acolyte is in need of a different kind of an exampler. It must be of one who, like himself, was of the multitude; one who was possibly as guilty as he in all the general evils and weaknesses; was involved in business, profession, politics and family matters like himself; one who though thus embroiled in the life and activities of the world, its evils and ills, nevertheless heard, and then listened to the "still small Voice within," and set forth on the journey to find that voice.

Having found such an one, he must be of clear vision, of impartial judgment, unprejudiced and keen in noting every detail. He must ask himself the question, and find the answer in the exampler's daily life and actions; how to meet the affairs of life; the viciousness of those with whom he must come in contact; how to be just and impartial in his family life, irrespective of the cost; what his behavior must be among his associates as well as among those who are seeking like himself and those who have attained.

He "must be in the world but not of the world." He must "render unto Ceasar the things that belong to Ceasar."

When in "Rome he must do as the Romans do," yet give no offense and commit no evil, and above all, he "must render unto God that which belongs to God." This is not an easy assignment for a weak, mortal man, yet it is one that every human Soul must ultimately accept, succeed in, or "pass on to be known no more."

The building of a character, condition or environment is very must like building a house. First of all we must be able to form an idea or a picture of the house we want. Unless we have such a picture in mind, we will not be able to draw the plans for the building. If we cannot formulate such plans as a building guide, how can it be possible to proceed with the building?

After the plans are formed, then the right kind of workmen must be engaged, ad the proper material selected.

You are the builder. Your mind is the architect and must first visualize and then draw plans. The master workman is your ideal aided by your desires. The materials for the building are your passions after they have been changed into and become emotions. Your building will be neither stronger nor more beautiful than the material you use in its construction, and the wisdom you display in its designing.

The Acolyte must constantly be conscious of the fact that he has the privilege of being one with the Universal builder and Creator; that he is one of His understudies, and if faithful, will be able to bring into activity all the faculties he possesses and which are a part of himself.

We are living in a world of double men. We fail to recognize this because most of all, or perhaps all of those we contact and associate with, live only according to the flesh; that is, a life of the senses, know nothng of the spiritual, and therefore unable to manifest the other side of themselves - the Soul.

Nevertheless, in the man that you meet and who appears to be all sense, there is hidden another being, a Soul being; dormant, it is true, but present nevertheless. In addition to this inner, hidden being, there is also resent the spirit which is God, because without this spirit, this live man could not move; for "in him [God, i.e., life] man moves and has his being."

We ourselves may be uncounscious of this condition because we likewise are living in the senses, and until we awaken the senses to a higher level we cannot be conscious of this other "man" within either ourselves or in others.

This condition ixists because in everything we do we are one-sided. We are material minded; the light of the spirit is as dead. We are unconscious of the brighter side of life, and see ourselves and others as "born to die," whereas we should look beyond and see greater life ahead.

To think, move and act, we must possess life, and that life is God. Since life is from god, it is good, but in directing it we frequently do evil, because our ignorance is a darkness that hides the right application from our material mind.

When correctly used the senses are good, otherwise they would never have been made a part of man. It is the misdirection, because of ignorance that causes evil or results in evil. "What God has cleansed call thou not unclean." Thus all that we possess was given to us in a pure state, but we have made it evil by the use we made of it.

Mind is the builder; it builds according to the degree of its light and consciousness. If there has been no awakening, then its judgment is that of the world; it sees things according to the flesh and that right evilly. As soon as there is even a beginning of the awakening, and but one thought above the mortal, the building on a higher plane may begin. If the incentive of that one desire is permitted to be active, it will give birth to other spiritual desires, and each such desire will be of a higher nature. As this progresses, the "hidden" man will begin to come to life and into action and as this continues, the Soul will shortly begin to awaken and then come into Consciousness.

By and through the senses come attachments, but even though many of these are evil, it is neither wise nor desirable to destroy the senses because of them. These senses are essential to man's welfare, but they must first be brought under control and then refined. Once these senses have become under control and then exalted, they serve a useful purpose and are necessary in the building of the "temple not made with hands." With the senses as with everything else we possess, there is a right use as well as a wrong use and however near, dear or holy a thing may be, it is subject to abuse and to misuse because of our carnal nature. Even love, that most heavenly of all of man's possessions is subject to this same Law and may be degrading instead of uplifting.

Does the Acolyte love father, mother, brother, sister, some friend, or perhaps a more personal love such as sweetheart, wife or children? It is well, but there is a proviso: that this love be not based on the sense of possession or selfishness. The love should be of the Soul, perhaps personal but not selfish.

Man must recognize that each Soul is an individual entity and must be left free in its expression. Man has no right to exercise any arbitrary control over others; the moment this is done freedom ceases; equality is no linger recognized and one becomes the slave of the other. Each and every person is on a different plane of development. For this reason the expression of no two people can possibly be alike, and true love and liberty is in non-interference so long as the Law is obeyed.

The Acolyte must not seek pleasure for pleasure's sake, but for the benefit that may follow. He must not become beholden to anything that may be given away or taken from him, because this would leave him bereft. He should follow the advice of one who was wise of old: "Set your affections on things above," for there alone are the treasures which neither moth nor rust can destroy; which thieves cannot steal and the vicious cannot claim as their own.

Pleasures are forbidden to no man, but no man may become a slave to them lest they lead him astray, and by betraying, destroy. Learn to enjoy all things that are beneficial; be enslaved by none and you will gain the mastery, first over yourself, then over all other things.

After the senses have become refined by the awakening conscious mind, after judgment has been exalted, a wise choice is possible, for then all things giving joy without bringing sorrow in their wake, are permissible, and they bring much greater and deeper pleasure for the reason that they are rightly understood and valued for what they represent, rather than for the illusions they formerly kept alive in the thoughts and the desires.

The basic command to all seeking knowledge of themselves and others as they are and for what they might be, is:

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you."

This is not quoting scripture aa an arbitrary authority, but as a statement of a Law. If this command and promise (it is both), had been made by any enlightened man, it would be just as true, just as vital and just as certain of fulfillment.

This command sets forth the positive pronouncement that if the mind becomes awakened, the Soul brought into consciousness, then by the accomplishment of these things, the Christisis is born within man, he enters the "kingdom of heaven [or God]," and all things of value shall then be his; having become, by his own effort, the master of his destiny, the "Captain of his Soul."

Is the glory of the sunrise less beautiful because it is not only the dawn of a new day, but the symbol of a perpetual day of light? Is the world less attractive to us when we recognize it as a vast schoolroom where the Soul must learn life*s lessons by effort and bitter experience, and where alone can be brought about the unity of the Soul wothin with that of the Greater Soul, the Cosmic Soul, above and around us?

Acolyte, open your mind to the truth. Let it awaken to the reality that illusions may be dispelled. Hypothetically speaking, God gave you a perfect body; he permitted a pure Soul to enter that body and at the same time, at the moment that physical consciousness took place, the mind was enthroned in that house of clay, harboring a part of god. God the eternal gave this Mind free Will. It was then that "the serpent entered the garden," and the demands of the flesh became intensified. They became so much stronger and so much more frequent, and so much more easily understood than the gentle requests of the Soul. As a consequence, the demands of the flesh, without consideration of the consequences, would be so much more frequently complied with and as a result, the mortal man would pile up mountains of sins (illusions) while the Soul would have but few opportunities to "lay up treasures in heaven."

While this is true and admittedly paints a dark picture to the seeking Soul, it is equally true that it was ordained by the Law that the "body should be of but a few days and many ills," and then pass on into the limbo of forgotten things. The Soul, possessing an innate, though unconscious knowledge of God and his kingdom, would not die as does the body, but be capable of returning time and again to the "field of operation." Through its repeated experience and the knowledge gained, it finally becomes strong and wise enough to overcome the desires and commands of the body and bring about the transmutation of all evils into the Light of the Soul and regain its pristine estate, its knowledge of "the kingdom of heaven," and its divine right to return once more to its former home, bringing with it "all other things," that is, Wisdom, Cosmic Consciousness, and all that belongs to it as the inheritance of a Son of God.

The sincere Acolyte must free the Soul from the carnal senses and their illusions. He must bring the Soul into the Divine Light and partake of that Light; take of the oil of this Divine Lamp to fill the Lamp of his own so that its Light may guide him. Let him practice thinking of the One who is all and seek conscious union with Him. Let his desires be of the highest, noblest and most exalted, and if the heart be sincere, then gradually, slowly, almost unconsciously, he will find that his thoughts, speech and inclinations will accord with the new Law. His awakening consciousness will bring to the mind certainty that the Soul is in truth coming into the Christic Consciousness; that Christification is progressing favorably.
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