The Denver Spiritual Community

THE HIDDEN TEACHINGS of the INITIATE MASTERS © 1957

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Chapter Sixteen

The Unrecognized Mystery of the Ages

"Ye Are the Temples of the Living God," and Ye are the Church of God, synonymous

The setting aside of the old interpretation of the Divine Law - not the Law itself - and accepting the new is most difficult for all but the few and indeed, only the few actually seek for the mystery hidden in the Word, or are willing to accept the Spirit hidden in the Word.

Much has been written of God's people. That there is a chosen people has been accepted, but given no further thought. It would shock the vast majority of present day people that acceptance of God's own in this respect would contradict one of the greatest errors of the day - the non-discrimination theory. The very fact that god chose one people above all others, hence, in common parlance, placed the rest on the outside, is the proof that God is a most discriminating being. He chose those who at the time were the most receptive, the apparently best prepared, the most willing to obey the Divine Law.

Despite all contradiction of those governed by self-interest, Divine Law itself is discriminatory, because it selects and accepts those most obedient. Even the Nazarene taught this when he told his disciples: "To you (the few) it is given to know the kingdom of heaven, to others it is not given."

The chosen ones, and this concerns more especially those comparatively few millions who have entered the Great Work seeking to become, not be made, Initiates. It concerns those who believe in the Law, and the fact that America, as first founded by those of ancient Aryan, Nordic, Anglo Saxon blood, is the be the last battle ground of man's freedom. And yet, neither God nor the Law is actually discriminatory. It offers each and every one the choice, the opportunity, to become prepared, to prove his worth, to provide, by his own efforts a place for himself in the New Order of the Ages. God and the Law would be unjust and undiscriminatory if it accepted the unprepared, the unwilling, the drone, and the disorderly, on the same basis as those who are anxious, and ready and willing to make every effort to live within the Law.

Those in the Great Work believe absolutely in the Divine Law and its functioning, and as Servants of the Most high in the sense that they seek to be obedient to the Law, and make of themselves all the Law demands; are taught without qualification, both the letter and the Spirit of the Law.

Whether men will or not, only the blind will not see the extraordinary speed with which the New Age is moving forward; The New Order wherein those obedient to the Law will become "God's chosen people." They are not chosen, in the literal sense, they are accepted because they have made themselves acceptable. They, the Neophytes in the Great Work are humble; they do not demand, do not want what they have not earned, and would not accept it if it were offered to them, because they know that it would not be theirs, and could not be retained by them.

In the Great Work are those of many creeds, many colors, many races. They do not infringe one upon the other because, accepting the Law as they must as Neophytes and candidates for the New order, they recognize - are conscious of the fact - that they are what they are for a reason and a purpose, and that they want to be, without infringing on the operation of the Law or upon the rights of others. He, who refuses to accept the Law as it is, is not a properly prepared candidate for the Mysteries (1) and would never be able to become an initiate until he changed his outlook and became willing to subject himself to the Law.
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(1) The Christian is the most secret and mysterious of all religions. Refer to Soul Consciousness, Philosophical Publishing Company.
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From the beginning of time, God has shown discrimination (2) in race, creed and color. He selected the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be His human instrumentalities, His witnesses - Messengers and Anointed, His chosen people, a chosen race - under the condition that they accepted His word and His Law. This is made clear in Deut. 7:6; 1 Peter 1:2 and 2:9 as well as in other places. America, the Land overshadowed with wings, was founded for the New Order of the New Ages and his chosen people.
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(2) The Word "discrimination" is not correctly expressive. It should be selective. That is a law, both Natural and Divine. The good farmer does not select, or choose, the inferior products for shipping and sales, but the most select. This is rank Discrimination, as the term is generally used. Correctly, it is the selection of the superior over the inferior. In all planes and spheres, the Law governs, but in that of mankind, man is given both Free Will and opportunity to become, make of himself one of the select. If he fails, then the operation of the Law will throw him into the discard, despite all his fellow men, however will intentioned, can do to prevent it.
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As a direct result of the more rapid functioning of the Divine Law, great changes are being brought about not alone in the sphere of human activity, but in the religious concepts of men. The ignorant, not understanding this, say there is no God, and make every effort to destroy faith in God and the certainty of the Divine Law. These changes and efforts are the clear indication that the time is now propitious for a restatement of the principles or Sacred precepts commonly known as religion, and to present a new presentation of the Fundamental Laws governing man in both the human and Spiritual realms of action.

The religious inculcations of the past century have been largely characterized by "faith" in dogmas and creeds, with little or no actual Spiritual concepts and applications, despite the fact that in previous ages or Cycles (and by the Nazarene), a Spiritual intent was clearly conveyed in practically everyone of his parables. The people, almost as a whole in so far as Spirituality was concerned, were as children; hence, the concepts of truth and its application in the life of man, had to pass through a period of childhood and early youth. Despite all the Nazarene tried to convey, those who followed him and authorized themselves to lead and teach, occupied themselves, with rare exceptions, in convincing mankind of the Messiahship of the Carpenter's son and the claim for his Divine Sonship with the Father (3) as circumstance of birth, instead of becoming by personal application.
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(3) Judgment of those so engaged in those early days should be withheld. It is entirely possible that none but the very few, those who stepped aside from the masses and became the Initiates during the passing centuries, were able to comprehend anything higher than what they were taught and that they required control by fear on the one hand, and promises, on the other. That many grave abuses resulted was no more than natural; they have continued to this day, and will continue as long as favors are for sale.
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With the gradual awakening now taking place, belief in dogma and creeds are no longer so generally acceptable, and not at all by those on the Path seeking Spiritual Consciousness. "Faith without works" is as dead. In fact, it was always so, though men did not recognize it. Faith is essential, even to those thoroughly awakened to the new concepts. Without faith, effort would not be made, and there would be no beginning of the development and demonstration of the possibilities inherent in men, in both the material and Spiritual realm.

This faith is as essential to the Neophyte seeking to become an Initiate as it is for those who desire to become part of the chosen ones of the New Order of the Ages, citizens by worth of the land overshadowed with wings. This New age will be characterized by the demonstration of power inherent in applied faith; the faith that executes ideals in harmony with the ever-active Divine Law and no man or men, however many or great, will be able to stay the rising tide. The mills have started to grind, and will, of a certainty, grind exceedingly fine.

The Immortalization of the Soul has been a cardinal doctrine of all the great Schools throughout the ages. To attain Immortality is really synonymous with salvation, but with a difference, and this difference is not so much in the words as in the concept. Salvation, or to "be saved" has been the theme of formal religious teachings, but unfortunately, it is to be "saved by, or at the expense of another," as a result of faith and confession, and not by means of effort, and a complete change of life in thought, desire, and act.

Properly, "to be saved" necessitates passing through the rebirth of the Spirit. That is both the Biblical and Arcane concept. It requires a "changing over," but the mass does not so understand it - believing that man is saved by acceptance of the inculcation, a confession of being a sinner, and a profession of faith.

This universal conception so firmly impressed upon the minds of the people en masse that they are unable to comprehend anything different relative to being "saved." The Great Work, the Mystery Schools, and the August Fraternity have consistently eschewed the word for countless centuries in the past; they speak of man's regeneration, not as "being saved," but as the Immortality of the Soul, however, is never taught, or thought of as a gift or blessing that is accomplished by mere faith or thrust upon any one, regardless of their desire or qualification for this ultimate attainment. It is not even an inevitable factor of man's existence. Only a positive goodness (however distasteful that word is because of its Universal misapplication) represented or displayed by love, kindness, affection, compassion, and other beatitudes of like nature, actively functioning in the lives of men, is indicative of their fitness for Immortalization of the Soul in the form of Soul Consciousness, Spiritualization or Individualization.

Going back no farther than the Essenes, to the time of the Gnostics and the Nazarene, it was seldom, if ever, that the term "salvation" was employed; even by those Jews who admitted the possibility of man's life after death, the term Immortality was used.

The Essenes taught that there was an "essence" in man which was Divine in its nature. This was deeply hidden, but by an active desire might by resurrected i.e., brought out from under by an active effort, through the process of change or transmutation of all the undesirable in thought, desire and act, this essence would be awakened and brought into manifestation; man becoming God-like, not God, would find Immortality or life beyond the physical. All of their efforts, that is, all they did, was with the intent of bringing this about. In Egypt this process was recognized, and when accomplished, was known as Initiation or passing through the Greater Mysteries. It is doubtful if the Essenes used these terms, as they not only simplified life, but all things pertaining thereto.

The true Gnostic Fathers were a little more formal and specific they taught that man as man, a physical being, was of a few days and known no more. They also taught that within man there existed a part of the Divine essence, but they, like the early Aryans of primitive Christianity and the Greeks, called it the Christos, a part of God invested in them at the time of their birth. They taught that it was their Spiritual mission, aside from or in addition to, their natural life, to awaken this Christos within and bring it into Consciousness of its Divine inheritance. By doing this they would become conscious of their Sonship with the Father, an Immortalized being. This was possible only through efforts offered to Neophytes in the Egyptian Mysteries. These Neophytes were compelled to follow a strict ritual or die in the attempt. This also was the teachings of the Essenes and adopted by them.

If man did this, (Neophytes please not this with infinite care), they became the Church of God and the Christos dwelt in them during life. Death freed the Christos or immortalized Soul, that it might pass on to greater works. The Gnostic Fathers, who were Initiates, made no attempt to establish a formal church whereby those who became members were assured of "being saved," a place in heaven, an abode of bliss, whether they deserved it or not.

The Great Mystery, as hinted at in the beginning of this treatise, which apparently escaped all but the few throughout the centuries, is of a double nature: First, the Divinity in man was known to them, and called by them, the Christos, Second, equally important to those who are Neophytes and seeking the ultimate in Initiation, that those who lived the Life in thought, desire, and act, and by conscious efforts, awakened this Christos, Divine principle or essence, became the Church of God - each and every one so attaining, being an individual "church" with an inherent and awakened Christos officiating (directing) within "ye are (may become) the temples (church) of the Living God."

The conclusion of this Mystery is simplicity in itself, as illustrated by the acceptance of the Essenian and Gnostic Mystery Teachings with but a slight change/ i.e.., that man must be reborn of the Spirit, the Gnostic awakening of the Christos, and by Regeneration as a result of this Spiritual birth, by means of actual living, transmuting the evils inherent in the flesh of man, become the Temples of the Living God. There is not the slightest difference in the Ideas expressed. There is merely a change in terms; the Church of God with the indwelling Christos to the Temple of the Living God, and the assurance, given in words, by the Nazarene, that only those who accomplish this work could ever succeed in entering the Kingdom of God or heaven.

The conclusion to the Divine Drama of the human soul that is to continue to exist also was foreseen ages ago in the Prophesy that there would be a new land, i.e., a new place, a new existence for the individual Soul, where ultimately the Divine law would govern. That all those who accepted the Law and a result of obedience, would be reborn of the Spirit, awakening the Christos within, attain to Soul Consciousness; the becoming, through this Regeneration the Temple of the Living God. This promised Immortalization of all who obeyed the injunction of the Divine Law by attaining to Supreme Initiation.

The Gnostic Fathers were eliminated much after the fashion of the Russian Christians. Their vast libraries were destroyed; the word Christos was taboo under penalty of death, and was not again heard until the formal church was established, at which time it was but slightly changed into "Christ" and the subjoined to the doctrines of "justification by faith," the forgiveness of sin." The formal church entirely ignored Regeneration or rebirth, or the Attainment of Soul Consciousness, but offered salvation by intervention and redemption by faith, (4) instead of the Immortalization, , as commanded in the Greater Mysteries, Supreme Initiation, and by the Nazarene in his dictate: "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all other things will be added (given) unto you,:" and : "Unless ye are reborn of the Spirit...ye can in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven."
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(4) These statements are in no wise an accusation or a condemnation, but a mere recounting of facts readily verified by those sufficiently interested, and as a means to more easily point out the command of the Divine Law as it concerns humanity in the New Order of the ages.
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There is another phase to the Great Mystery, one which is possibly of even greater importance to the Novice than his own Spiritualization or Immortalization, and becoming conscious of the kingdom of heaven which, in the beginning, appears more or less nebulous to him. This has reference to his physical well-being in all respects of earth life: physical, mental, and economical.

It is necessary to time and again call attention to the fact that, from the very start the Spiritual self cannot benefit any more than the material self by the methods followed. The development of the inner and the outer must proceed hand in hand.

This was clearly recognized by the Master-Teacher, the Initiate Nazarene when, in promising to those who attained the kingdom of heaven, i.e., Spiritual Consciousness, he at the same time and by the same means, assured them that also all other good things would be added thereto or included.

This he could promise because he, like all Initiates, knew, that the means toward attaining Soul Consciousness or Immortalization, would develop and bring into manifestation and activity the inherent Biblical "talents"; the possibilities, together with the opportunity to awaken, activate, and direct, every faculty with which man is endowed by both nature and his birthright.

This Christos, of which so much is constantly said, is a Spark or germinal seed of the Divine Nature. Those of the latter August Fraternity have named it the Divine Spark, not necessarily because that is a better and more descriptive term of this Divine seedling or Christos in man, but because the term Christos has been made taboo by the formal Churches of all denominations, engendering an antagonism in the hearts of many men difficult to eradicate.

In speaking directly to Neophytes seeking Soul Consciousness, it is best to continue the use of the term and to speak of the Divine Spark as Christos, the potential Christ to be awakened and developed into a Conscious state and becoming, always as a result of desire and self effort, the Individualized Soul.

This Divine Spark, brought into consciousness, becomes the "Light that lighteth all the world (of man's consciousness)." As soon as man is able to recognize this Light within his own being; and it is there alone he will find it: as he obeys its "still small Voice," he has actually entered the "Way" and continuation on the Path will ultimately lead him into Illumination, the "lightening up" of his "church" or "temple," It is then the Light, or God who always manifests through the Light, brought into being and activity man's desire and effort.

The Divine Light is latent in every person except the idiot, the profound criminal, the vicious killer, and all those who have actually become degenerate. All others have the capability and possibility of becoming a Great Center, in the Inmost Center or his being, for this pure, white Light is the Alchemist's description of the inner Center of the Temple of man's being.

This Light may be dim, or may reach the status of a dynamic nucleus of Fire - the Light of the Soul, symbolic of God, the source of Wisdom, which if found and adhered to will help the Neophyte or seeker become the Church of God of the Gnostics; the Temple of God of the Nazarene, and the Light of Illumination of the Philosophic, the Master Initiate.

The terms, all synonymic, signify that each and every individual, normal by nature and method of life, is capable of becoming a Center of Illuminating Light within himself, and an individual in his own right, subject only to the dictates of the Divine Law.

While Sacred Literature, especially the Bible, speaks of man being the Temple of the Living God, legend is no less articulate on this very important subject - it is strongly interwoven into Masonic ritualism, which builds greatly on the Temple of Solomon, wherein there is the Light symbolic of both God and the Immortalized Soul.

"Sol-o-mon" having reference to the Light or Spiritual Son - the Light on the Way. In this respect it is the Light of an exalted love coming into existence as the result of compassion, the forgiving spirit in man's heart, and the understanding in his Soul.

This love is the fuel to burn on the altar fire in his temple; the Flame unconsciously radiating its Light, wisdom, and warmth of love and good will "towards all men (brethren of the Light.)"

The Great Work, the August Fraternity of the past and up to the present, never played strongly on the theme of the existence of a heaven beyond the present plane awaiting the converts, nor of the hell that reserves its torments for the unregenerate. Neither does the New Interpretation do so, for the reason that, whether it is heaven of hell, it must have it beginning here, and whatever follows is a continuation tomorrow and the day following, irrespective of where the Soul may be.

These philosophies all deny the existence of a personal God possessed of a sense of hate or get-even-ness, or a desire for revenge, who would be little more than a super man. The Great Work, the New Dispensation, must be concerned and do its work in the ever-present now. It must recognized ant teach that heaven and hell are a state of consciousness resulting from a peace-filled or guilty conscience.

Consequences and results are not postponed to a future life in another sphere. They have their beginning in the immediate present and continue throughout all eternity, or until the soul attains to not only present, but also to Cosmic Consciousness. Man's conscience, his guilt complex, and not his god personality, is the Voice of god within the Soul. This voice is ever present and can never be separated from the conscience, nor is there any power in heaven or on earth that is capable of silencing it.

The Will, that is to say the Divine Law called into operation by God with the beginning of all existing things, is supreme in the Universe and operates directly or indirectly through the angelic, Hierarchic, and AEthereal forces and agencies in the Spiritual spheres or middle plane. The Divine will manifests its supremacy through the operation of Natural laws rather then by direct or personal control or interference.

This manner of manifestation of the Law, rather than though a specific personal control, has its necessary corollary in man's individual responsibility; he being held responsible for becoming an intelligent and willing channel for the functioning of the Divine Law - a coordination between Natural and Divine Law.

The degree of man's ascent toward the Divine Image, in which he was created, is determined by the extent of his understanding of these Laws, and their natural functioning. Much depends upon his ability and Will to live in harmony with these Laws, and to consciously and deliberately direct them for the improvement of himself and all others with whom he finds himself associated.

Man is capable of recognizing the actual Fatherhood of God and his own Sonship only in proportion to his willingness to live in accord with the Divine Purpose for which he is here, and by his efforts to exemplify the Law.

Although the will of god is supreme in the Universe, its activity is manifested by the operation of impersonal and impartial but absolute Law, and by a system of Hierarchal ministry rather than by a personal control.

The Divine Law of justice manifests in the absolute operation of the principle of cause and effect. Thus, reward and punishment do not depend on an angry or revengeful God, but are the natural consequences resulting from the reaction of the forces set in motion by individuals, singly or collectively.

All things having been created by God and all human powers endowed by him, they are, in themselves, good (desirable and constructive) but, through ignorance and perverted disposition, man may misuse his inherent powers and thus bringing upon him sorrow, suffering and failure.

Having been made in the image of God and potentially an epitome of the Universe, it is intended that man, through the process of gaining salvation- becoming regenerated, should cultivate his inherent qualities to the degree of Illuminating the Soul, becoming an Individualized Immortal being, a Son of God.

Honored with the privilege of the right of choice, it is possible for man, through persistent wrong (non-constructive) thinking, carnal desires, and degrading acts, to so diffuse and disintegrate his forces of the Soul that Individualization is no longer possible and Immortality therefore unattainable.

The cyclic wave of progress of the New Order of the Age demands the interpretation of the constructive side of the Law. All men, who seek to become conversant with the Law, may learn how the Nazarene and other Anointed Messengers and Initiates became world leaders and teachers, and ultimately Sons of God. They reached a high degree of Spiritual development because of personal effort, and were thereby able to apply the Divine principles in their life.

The spirit hovering over the New Order demands a full exposition of these Laws and a verification in individual consciousness of the Christic interpretation embraced in the assurance: "Ye are (may become) the temples of the living God," not by belief, or as a result of faith alone, but by effort.

The Christic, oft called Manistic, Interpretations of the Biblical narratives are a counterpart of age old Arcane, Esoteric and Occult teachings. The terminology alone is different.

These interpretations encourage freedom of individual conscience as a result of the personal application of the Law to all of man's activities. The Law proclaims itself to be equally a science and a spiritual philosophy, and rests its claim on the fact that it is engaged in interpreting the Spirit of God and His wisdom in transmuting the negation in human experience by interpreting experiences in the light of reason, love and justice; indicating at the same time how to avoid like errors in the future.

The Law further bases its claim as a science on the fact that it builds always on the orderly arrangement of fundamental, applicable knowledge relative to the laws of Cause and Effect - Action and its Reaction, in human experience.

The Law governs the creative power of thought and desire in the direction of action; governing attainment and conditions essential for the accomplishment of any selected achievement; the methods to be pursued, and full knowledge of the principles underlying the transmutation of the undesirable part of all men, into the constructive on the physical plane - and the exalting on the Spiritual.

Such accomplishments are based on exact science and the procedure as a whole is not nearly as difficult as would at first appear. In fact, the ease or difficulties are dependent entirely on the keenness of the desire of the one undertaking to follow the Great Work.

As a philosophy, the Law endeavors to trace first principles in the realm of the mind as a creative force, and the Soul as the receiver and director. Its incentive is to lift the veil, anciently called the "Veil of Isis," that hides from the untrained and unseeing eye the vital connection existing between a given cause and its resulting effect. It clears the vision to permit clear insight into what is really worth striving for in a fullness of life, and a solution of what one's ultimate aim and end of human, temporal existence may be in one phase (in one incarnation) of that existence.

It is not the criterion of any one single philosopher to be capable of comprehending all knowledge, but rather to seek wisdom so as to know all that is of vital interest and importance to that individual. Such knowledge constitutes a practical philosophy, otherwise it is neither more nor less than a theory.

When the individual has succeeded in establishing in his reason and mental vision a reasonably satisfactory and workable (applicable) philosophy of action, he is then free to direct all of his efforts and energy in that direction; his centering of effort and forces being no longer distracted and made inert by doubts, fears, and uncertainties; his strength and vitality no longer being depleted by unnecessary exaltations of Spirit; his interests and attention not divided. Such a philosophy is satisfying, conferring as it does, peace and poise of mind, and the certainty of the result of action.
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