In our egotistical manner we human beings like to think we are able to create all our own thoughts without the help of outside influence. Although this thought may be ego-satisfying, it simply is not true. Not without good reason are we told in Scripture that "There is no new thing under the sun." All that was, is, and ever can be was created long ago by the Creator of all things. We have the ability to access the store house where all these things are held in readiness, but we cannot really originate a new creation.
This should not be a cause for despair, however, because the immensity of the creations of God far exceeds our ability to conceive of them. In other words, when God created the human mind, He also created a store house for all the things that this finite computer (the mind) might ever be able to conceive. You simply cannot use you mind to imagine or create something that God has not already anticipated and supplied - validating, therefore, the statement, "There is no new thing under the sun."
The mechanism used by man to create is one of retrieval or discovery rather than one of creation. However, if it makes man feel better to believe that he has actually been able to make something not heretofore in existence, who are we to burst his balloon? In truth, he can and frequently does bring to this world something that has not been here before. At least not in recorded history, since, of course, many valuable creations which are now lost. All these and many more are still available in God's great storehouse. Nothing ever is really lost. When man, for some reason or other, loses use of a previous discovery or creation, he only loses a copy of the original, in much the same way a computer word processor program brings up only a copy of a story to work on while it keeps the original safely locked on its hard disk.
So there you have it. We are not the unbridled creators we may have thought ourselves to be. But, on the other hand, we do have the ability and the permission to access the most immense storehouse of knowledge, wisdom, and creative structures ever conceived. And because this storehouse was conceived by an intelligence far beyond our own, this source of supply exceeds our imagination by many quantum leaps.
Accessing Universal Supply
Once we accept the concept that man does not really create but accesses a preexisting storehouse for his new ideas and discoveries, the question that comes to mind is, "How do we learn to access this source of supply?" The succinct answer is by learning to listen to the three "voices" within us.
We usually think of ourselves as one "I," but in actuality we are three. A true trinity in one. This was made clear in a magazine article published by the Great Work in the early part of this century. The article pointed out:
"In one sense, there are three ‘I's' in man. Consequently, there are, so to speak, three voices. It is hard for the beginner in the Higher Work to distinguish among them, and, therefore, he is often led astray. But, like the child who is just learning to walk, if he continues seek the truth and to try to distinguish the voices, he will succeed in determining which is the right voice; and, in time, the three voices become merged into one, and there results a unity.
"There are, accordingly, in man's nature three desires, or three centers of desire. One is the desire of the Soul -desire for that which is from the Father; one is the desire of the physical being, which has its center in the solar plexus; and the other is the desire of the mind - the mental, or the intellectual, center, which has its seat in the brain.
"The great difficulty is in distinguishing which voice is speaking and what instigates the speaking. Very often we believe the Voice of the Soul speaks when in reality it is the physical voice speaking at the behest of the physical, or the carnal, self.
"Each of the three voices has its work to attend to. The physical voice expresses itself when the physical self is really in need of something; the mental, or intellectual, voice directs the work allotted to the mind: and to the Voice of the Soul is given the mission of governing all the other voices and desires.
"To the Soul belongs the office of interpretation in harmony with the Divine Law, and the office of harmonizing all the desires and voices of man's being with the requirements of the Divine Law.
"The Great Work, so-called in Alchemy, is to unite the three voices so that they will work in harmony, and so that they will all actually be under the direction of the Voice of the Enlightened Conscience. This is the at-one-ment spoken of in the Scriptures."
What, you may ask, is the connection between these voices and the storehouse of creativity described previously? The voices are the vehicles that allow us to access this universal supply. From these three centers (voices) come the desires which give us the ability to draw upon the storehouse. Ideally, these three centers work in harmony and bring to each man and, through him, to all humanity everything that is good and beneficial from this inexhaustible source of supply. In actuality, this happens only occasionally and usually the drawing power is restricted to only one voice or at most two.
To understand why this is so we should first examine each of these three voices separately.
The most obvious is the voice of the mind. In the opinion of many it would seem that this is the only voice they acknowledge. This is what we think with and, unless we examine our desires carefully, we can convince ourselves that all we do and are comes from the mind. A moment of honest reflection will prove otherwise, however. How many of the things we do are done not because the mind tells us they are right or good but because of some internal desire over which we seem to have little control? The Bible tells us, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak," We might rephrase that for today by saying the mind is willing, but the desires of the body frequently overwhelm it.
Each person must ask himself how many times he has done something he knew was not for his best interest, but he couldn't seem to keep from doing it. The force motivating him is the voice of the body, the carnal self, which we are told by our Alchemist brothers has its seat in the abdominal brain or solar plexus (celiac plexus). From this center the body is able to transmit its demands to us. These demands are very strong because the body makes up by far the largest part of the human being. Many of these demands are just and good and need to be met. However, there are demands, even in the best of us, that are not for the ultimate best interest of the entire organism, and these need to be monitored and controlled. The worst of these can be injurious to the organism and require transmutation (Regeneration) before that can be allowed to be heard.
Some of the most common examples of the voice of the body would be:
* The desire to eat foods we know are not for our best interest.
* The desire to eat far more food than we need.
* An attraction toward someone who we know is not good for us but who stimulates our lust.
* The desire for revenge or vengeance. (This may be of the mind, but frequently, particularly when extremely strong, is more inclined to be of the emotional center.)
*Almost any desire that does not make good rational sense to the mind but which the person feels compelled to do anyway.
Obviously, this voice of the body (including the emotions) needs to be controlled if we are ever to find true peace and contentment. If we allow this voice to have its way, it will lead us down the path to ultimate ruin. As we give way to one of its unworthy demands, it will bring to us another and then another and so on. It is by nature insatiable; only the mind and the Soul centers have the ability to hold it in tight rein.
There should be no effort to mortify or to destroy the desires of this voice, however, because many of its demands are legitimate. In the words of the Nazarene, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." The body (Caesar) has its needs which must be met in the most rational and natural way possible if man is to fulfill his duty. But he must ever be on guard to see that, as so frequently happens, the body is not also given that which belongs to God.
No desire of the body is, in and of itself, inherently evil, but the abuse or misuse of these desires is what causes the evil. For instance, the body will tell us when it feels the need for sustenance by the sense of hunger. This is a proper use of the voice from the solar plexus. If the mind then sees that the necessary foods in the correct amounts are supplied, all is well and this true hunger will subside. However, if the person uses this hunger as the stepping stone to gluttony, it does become an abuse and something which calls for mental control.
We have alluded to the fact that the solar plexus is also the center for the emotions. Such it is. Although it would seem that the emotions would have their center in the brain and mind, this is not true. Of all the parts of the fourfold man(body, mind, spirit [the life animating force], and Soul) the mind is the most volatile. It is formed by the combination of the body, spirit, and Soul and vanishes as soon as these separate at the death of the physical form. The emotions, both good and bad, have been recorded on the Soul and to some degree have influenced the AEtheric Body (see Chapter Thirteen, "The AEtheric Body Revisited") so that both of these will be able to influence this personality when it returns for its next incarnation. The mind has no such afterlife and therefore would be a poor repository for those feelings that remain as an eternal part of the individual.
The mind may be compared to the working memory of the common office computer. Once the computer is turned on (birth), this memory comes to life. As long as the computer is on (our present incarnation), we are able to work with this memory and use it to do a wide variety of work. When the day is over (our transition) and the computer is turned off, everything in this working memory is instantly lost, never to be recovered. Only those parts which were printed on paper (the AEtheric Body) or those which were saved to a hard disk (the Soul) will be preserved.
This volatility of the human mind is well known and accepted by the scientific community. It is for this reason that so many scientists deny the possibility of an afterlife. They think all consciousness resides in the mind and, once that is lost, nothing is left but oblivion. They are not aware of the fact that man also has a Soul which is eternal even if the mind is not so. Life can indeed extend beyond this mortal sphere.
As pointed out earlier, when scientists designed the first computers, one of the primary requirements was to install some form of permanent method to store the working memory. Did they really think that a need so obvious to them would be ignored by God?
If the emotions do not reside in the mind and if the mind cannot initiate thoughts not previously created some where, what is its use? During this earthly life it is the go between for the body and the Soul. It alone allows these two to become compatible. It and it alone must take the incentive toward all action in the temporal world. The body is only an animal without the mind to tame and direct it. The Soul has the potential for all power and all knowledge, but without the awakened mind working with dedication and persistence to bring it into Consciousness, its great potential is of little use to its possessor.
The mind also has the ability to contact the agencies which have charge of the above-mentioned storehouse. From here it can bring to Earth as many of these wonders as it desires, assuming it is willing to make the necessary effort to bring them into realization.
For the mind to fulfill its greatest potential it must learn to work in conjunction with the Soul. These two working together have the power to control the desires of the body. Once this is accomplished, the three voices become one and the personality has become the individuality.
As this process advances, the mind can actually expand its center of operation to the soul Center. This procedure is described in the following excerpt from the article published by the Great Work early in this century:
"Not only does the intellect have a seat in the brain, but it has also a center in the Temple. None, however, except the Illuminated, know of this. With the unawakened, its functioning is in the brain, where the physical being holds sway. With the Awakened, however, the intellect changes its seat of government, moving to the center of the Temple wherein it issues its decrees in harmony with the Soul. In the Temple, the intellect becomes the Ark wherein the Law of the Father is kept. Here the mind is in perfect accord with the Soul. And this harmonious co-rulership of mind and Soul creates Heaven, the state of peace and contentment.
"In the brain of the unregenerate, or unawakened, nature, the lower, or the negative, sentiments rule, thereby causing darkness over the Soul, burying the Soul in darkness. But, with the awakening of the mind, with the changing of the thoughts and the desires, a gradual Illumination of Soul takes place. And, in proportion as the Soul is awakened and illuminated, the intellectual being is transformed and its ruling power transferred from the brain to the Throne of the Soul in the Temple. Ultimately, this leads to establishment of harmonious rulership of the three departments of man's nature. This becomes the center in which the three ‘I's' agree, the center in which the three voices blend as one. This is the unity of the trinity of man's being. This is the Trinity Alchemically interpreted."
Of all the voices of man perhaps the least understood is the Voice of the Soul. Because in most people it is the weakest of the three, this is certainly understandable. As much as we may dislike admitting it, the voices that counsel man usually have their strength in inverse proportion to their quality and goodness, the carnal body being the strongest, the mental desires next, and the Voice of the Soul (conscience) bringing up the rear.
The most common voice of the Soul, the one that most of us recognize, is called the Voice of Conscience. In the person who listens only to the voices of the body and mind this voice may be very still; in fact, it may not be able to "speak" at all. If a person is troubled by the conscience for misdeeds, it is a sign that at least some soul development has taken place and that the Voice of the Soul has not been completely buried.
As stated before, the mind plays a vital part in the awakening of the Soul. It is somewhat like the loving parent who bears and nurtures a great reincarnated soul. In its youth the soul must be guarded and fostered by the parent (mind), but as it (the Soul) gains strength, it can gradually assume more and more responsibility until the time comes when it can become the dominant factor and the parent(mind) can be guided by the child (Soul) until its (mind's) time has come to depart.
The use of the mind in the process of soul growth is described further in the next selection from the article from the Great Work cited above:
"The mind is required in the process of Soul-arising within the body. It is necessary to think thoughts of constructive power. Thus, in the mind are many faculties by means of which the Immortal Soul may be built. The mental faculties of man's nature fall into two divisions, constructive and destructive; or, perhaps more accurately expressed, they may be directed into two channels, constructive and destructive. Both types of operation or both tendencies, fundamentally, are necessary to a well-balance being. Were there no constructive faculties, man would be a ferocious animal, destroying everything within his reach. Were there no destructive faculties, man's nature would be too fine and ethereal for this world. Thus, he would not be equal to the conditions demanded of him in actual life.
"Constructiveness, ideality, sublimity, imitation, devotion to lofty aspirations, an exalted and masterful image making power, generosity, and the various expressions of human sympathy are faculties necessary for building a strong soul-ar nature. If these tendencies are very strong, the Great Work of Soul building, or of unifying the three-fold nature of man, is comparatively easy. If these faculties are weak, a determined, deliberate effort and struggle are necessary in order to overcome the inertia of carnal desires.
"These higher faculties are sometimes called semi-intellectual. The Living Fire works through them in order to change and refine and purify the distinctly intellectual faculties, which come in close touch with the physical being. The purpose is, ultimately, to manifest the Soul or the Image of God in the physical organism, which is the Temple of God."
Controlling the Voices
Once we have an understanding of these voices, we need the ability to control them. They are by nature difficult to bring into any form of order. One of the first things we must do is to determine which voice is attempting to guide us. The Alchemists referred to the process in their own unique manner.
"This process is referred to in Alchemy as ‘the fixing of the volatile,'" the article from the Great Work published early this century explained. "It includes an understanding of the voices so as to whether it has a right to speak or a right to make such a demand; and wisdom in regard to granting or refusing that which is called for by any particular department of being.
"Until man thoroughly understands his being and its requirements, his desires are like a volatile substance, or a liquid. They are now here, now there, now everywhere. There is no centering of the being. The Soul is not at rest, it is not at peace. The desires and longings are here, there, yonder, and everywhere. There is no fixedness of purpose, no settledness of conviction. Until the task of harmonizing and unifying the different calls and demands of the system has been accomplished, the volatile has not been fixed. But when man has awakened to the truth, and has learned to make a distinction between the shifting desires of his nature and the legitimate demands of his being, when he has learned to classify the voices and to use judgment and wisdom in satisfying their cry - then has he ‘fixed the volatile,' then has he reached ‘the at-one-ment.
"According to Alchemic terminology, the ‘I' of the Soul, the Voice of the Illumined Conscience, is a Living Fire. It is called the Living Fire because it cannot suffer death or destruction after having been once fully aroused. It is the only feature of man's composite nature that is eternal. It is in reality the soul, which, when fully awakened, has a Voice of its own; or, better, is a Voice of its own. It is no longer a sleeping creature; but, having been aroused to consciousness, it is an Illumination. It is the Light in the Sanctuary. It is the Voice of Wisdom. It is the John in the wilderness, preaching and teaching the truth. It is the righteous judge, warning the physical and the mortal being against all acts and thoughts of evil and error. It is the judge that judgeth all things."
Again, the Alchemical sciences refer to this Living Fire under various names, as: sulphur, the Fire of the Will, and Vital Energy.
The Vital Energy
"Indeed, it is all of these and even more," the article pointed out. "Fire of the Will is a fitting appellation; for, when both the mind and the Soul are awakened to the truth, this ‘I' or Fire of the Soul, becomes the soul's messenger, which executes its decree through the medium of Fire. If the mind or the will of the Soul's messenger, as Fire, burns and scorches, until the will is changed and the mind thinks in harmony with the Divine Law, it is the Fire of correction and reproof, the Fire of purification and refinement."
In truth, most men are indeed volatile. They have no foundation. Because of this, failure is common. They tend to give up as soon as things look bleak. Seldom do they realize that they are only being tested and that all worthy accomplishments must come through the overcoming of obstacles.
One of the first steps on the path is the creation of a stable interplay between the three voices within man. First, man must learn to distinguish among them and then learn to harness them for this ultimate benefit.
The way is not easy, but it is not difficult because many benefits accrue at each step of the way. This has been well outlined in the concluding section from the article of the Great Work cited earlier:
"Especially through the faculties known as hope, spirituality, veneration, and kindness does man become conscious of the soul and of the God within. Confidence in the Father is established through firmness of purpose. These qualities give determination and courage and persistency in ‘fighting the good fight.'
"The other faculties are more especially of the physical nature. They are more or less earthly and carnal and sensual. They must be transmuted, and must be made subject to the Soul-ar being. They are the Satan of the Scriptures; and, when they are transformed, Satan is said to be bound.
"‘Ye must be born again.' this was taught by the Master Jesus as the Supreme Law. Indeed it is true that the lower self, the lower tendencies and attributes of our nature, must be completely changed. Through the death of their carnal potency is born the potency of the Soul or the Divine Being.
"Man must be born of water and of the Spirit. Born of water is to become mentally awakened to the fact that physical existence, though absolutely necessary in order that man may advance still farther, is not all of life; and, with this awakening, or recognition, comes the desire to free himself of the tendencies of the carnal nature.
"The Spiritual Awakening, or being born of the Spirit, reaches its culmination when the Awakened Mind has succeeded in completely changing the thoughts and the desires from that which is carnal to that which is of the Soul.
"Thus man has three births: the birth into the physical body; birth into the world of an Awakened Mentality; and birth into the Soul-ar World, the only real and eternal existence.
"Thus is seen that the Trinity, Alchemically considered,
admits of many phases. Each phase of the Trinity finds its satisfaction
and logical culmination in an harmonious return to a Unity of
a higher order."
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