To the majority of Western minds, the terms Initiation, Mastership, Adeptship and Illumination, or Psychism, Yogism, Occultism, Mysticism and even spiritualism, are more or less synonymous, vague terms and thoroughly confusing.
It is important to students, as well as to those who are interested and may become students, that they have a clear and readily understandable definition of these terms. It is our purpose to present in unmistakable terminology the dangerous tendencies and the ruinous effects certain forms of Yogism, Psychism, Spiritualism and other forms of practice may have on the Western constitution. We will contrast these practices with forms of true development leading to Initiation, Soul Illumination and the NEW BIRTH as indicated in Sacred literature.
The terms Yoga and Yogi have come to us from India, and to the people of that country have a specific meaning. It is not generally known to the students in the Western world that in India there are two distinct systems of practice. The one class in times past represented the true Initiates or Adepts. These are now practically unknown, due to the degradation of that people. The other class, numerous in the Orient, represents a type of Yogism that deserves unflinching condemnation.
It is this class that is so active in America and has claimed, and continues to claim, so many victims who, as a result of the practices taught, become negatives and incurable neurotics. It can be stated as a BASIC FACT that NO form of Orientalism is wholly suitable to the Western mind and if consistently practiced, ALWAYS leads to negativism and ultimately to the unbalancing of the mentality and the shattering of the nervous system.
This statement is positive. It is based on forty-five years of experience in the Arcane and as a physician in almost all parts of the Occidental world. We are not here dealing with individuals or personalities, but with systems we have found to be most destructive to the Western type of mind and nervous system.
Many of the fakirs of the Orient called Yogi, have, through mental and physical practices, reached a state of negative mechanical development almost beyond comprehension. By negative mechanical development we have reference to that peculiar mental inertia which permits earth-bound disembodied beings to use these negatives at will. These classes are mostly specimens of filth; matted hair, dirty rags for bodily covering and persons that seldom, if ever, experience the cleansing effects of water.
Though constantly used as a medium by unknown forces, and appearing as occult masters, they never perform any useful labor or service. Their acts are of benefit to no living creature unless perhaps to the vermin infesting their bodies. They are wonder-workers, phenomena mongers, spiritless human machines often dominated by the disembodied. They live through the alms given them by the people; are feared by all who come in contact with them and who willingly give in order to avoid the curse that might otherwise be directed against them.
This class of Yogi is common throughout India. It is the curse of that country. They are the result of a negative Yoga practice. It is this type of Yogism that is taught in the Western world and is freely followed because it enables the deluded aspirant to produce PHENOMENA. It is destructive Yogism. In EVERY instance it brings harm to body, mind and Soul to all who are foolish enough to be misled.
He who follows this path develops into a mere machine, a plaything of disembodied spirits or of his own degraded imagination. He may master certain forces sufficiently to enable him to employ them in producing phenomena, but in turn he is enslaved by these forces and becomes an unthinking machine, controlled by forces which are themselves the result of destructive tendencies and practices.
Much of what is known in the Western world as Psychism comes under the same classification as Yogism. Anyone who is truly seeking and trying to attain to the highest must shun it . Those who are engaged in this type of misnamed development always follow procedures which bring about negative conditions of body and mind and are destructive to the truly spiritual, the Christos within. We recognize no exceptions.
It is impossible to become a Psychic (this term is actually a misnomer) without first becoming a negative; subject to foreign entities and to inimical forces surrounding those who practice Psychism. True development, seeking Regeneration or the NEW birth, is always POSITIVE.
Individuals who become psychics or victims to any form of negative practices are most often women of highly refined and sensitive natures. The more refined, the easier it is to become negative. Because of the practices followed, negatives are almost invariably physically delicate, possessed of a highly-strung nervous system emotional in temperament and lacking in self-control. Most of them have been deeply disappointed in life in one manner or another, and seek to find in psychic practices something that will help to fill the void in their lives. Strange as it may seem to the normally healthy and rational mind, the majority have been taught, believe, and are held by the great delusion that for a period of time they may be free from the body, leave it and travel in space and enjoy Elysian fields of bliss.
The psychic's attempt to leave the body is incited by the same motive that binds the opium-fiend to his drug - to satisfy an abnormal craving of an abnormal, ill, physical self. At each attempted astral trip, much nerve and brain energy is lost, and the entire system becomes more and more depleted.
Sad to contemplate, the psychic imagines that by this means she is attaining development of Soul and Illumination; whereas, each experience of attempted astral wandering robs her of the Regenerating Fire that is absolutely necessary to true refinement of the Soul which would ultimately result in Illumination. For one reason, if for no other - because it is self-destructive - negativism in any form, called by whatever term, is to be deplored.
Examining this problem still further, we find that nearly one hundred per cent of the psychics that claim to be able to leave the body and to be conscious while so doing, are neither more nor less than the dupes of their own imagination - the delusion of their senses.
This statement is clearly proven by the fact that not one out of a hundred is able to even sense either good or evil coming to them while on such an astral journey. Were it really true that they retained consciousness and could enter such a state they would be able to sense conditions through their contact with the Universal Æth.
By sniffing the air, the hunting dog finds the sent of the animal of which it is in search; and, through following the trail, is led to the game. In like manner through sensing the Universal Æth that would be connected with herself, the psychic would be enabled to comprehend the influences about her.
Records of investigation prove that this does not occur; consequently, there can be but one conclusion; psychics are the dupes of their own negative physical and mental conditions, resulting from their continued harmful practices which deplete them of their vitality and unbalances them; reason giving way to uncontrolled emotions.
The psychic is seldom, if ever, in good physical health. The nerves are on edge continually; fault-finding is a prominent characteristic, combined with the sincere belief that he, the psychic, alone is right. The emotions sway reason, rise, surge and sway judgment, and are without semblance of control. The sense of self-injury, hence of deep self-pity, is strong, causing an unbalanced judgment and soon a feeling, amounting to absolute certainty, that they alone are of a highly developed nature, far above the ordinary individual.
These persons who believe themselves psychic or of a highly developed state, nearly always display signs indicative of a lack of nerve energy, frequently to a degree of nervous breakdown. In plain truth, they are but victims of destructive negativism due to self-delusion, or the sapping of their vital forces by outside influences believed to be entities.
Opposite to the Yogism, psychism, or destructive negativism as taught and practiced in America and other Western countries, there is a system of development whose sole aim is the perfection of the whole (Biblically the "holy") being. Its first effort is the development of the physical body; the "medium" or "vehicle" for spiritual development. No man can reach Mastership unless he first gives full consideration to the actual needs of the body.
This form of psychism or Soul Science - Psyche actually meaning the Soul, not the mind - has in view the attainment of the Illumination - bringing Light to - the Soul, or attaining Soul Consciousness, i.e., Initiation.
The true Initiate has a stable nervous system. His emotions are controlled. His reasoning is sound. He does not consider himself abused. He is not a nagging, fault-finding, self-aggrandizing being and refrains from the common fault of bragging or pretending to extraordinary powers and abilities. He is decidedly not a chatterer. He accepts conditions as they are and proceeds to improve them.
He seeks to find the good in all things; comparing himself to the experienced and patient miner who picks out the grains of gold from tons of earth. He fully realizes that neither he nor any of humanity has reached perfection, hence charity is a human need. His judgment of others is tempered by a knowledge of his own as yet unmastered weaknesses.
He expresses kindness and toleration, because he knows that these others are passing through necessary experiences and a process of refinement. The truly Illuminated and highly developed Soul is never tyrannical, because he has at heart the welfare of all. He knows that every individual is a law unto himself and each one must work out his own destiny without interference by others.
To cultivate Psychic or Soul powers along negative paths, is a benefit to none. It is a detriment to all who come into contact with those who follow the negative path, because it is an unnatural state and leads to wrong conclusions concerning that which is, in its very nature, high and holy.
A wrong and misdirected development of the spiritual faculties is a curse of the worse kind, leading, as it does, the one concerned to imagine himself or herself on the road to Divinity; to all that is good and desirable; whereas, in reality, it is a path of self-delusion and finally self-destruction, mentally and spiritually.
No possible advantage could be gained even if it were possible to leave the body at will. The thought that it can be done and the effort made to do it, is destructive to every fibre of the moral and spiritual nature. The manifestation of anything unnatural or abnormal is to be shunned by every aspirant to Arcane knowledge and attainment.
True Arcane or Soul development properly and whole-somely directed will benefit not only he who follows the Path to the new or second birth, but everyone else as well. He who seeks Mastership should constantly have in mind that the aim is Soul Illumination and Soul Consciousness, the awakening of the Christos and bringing Him into manifestation.
Yogism in every one of its phases is anti-Christos; in the ultimate, Anti-Christ. Few Westerners who follow this delusion ever give it a thought, possibly because their attention has not been called to it.
Clear vision, generally called Clairvoyance, attained by a few, has sometimes, been mistaken for what the possessor thinks is the ability to "leave the body." This error is understandable because the one having the ability of clear seeing has been able, and is able, to see things beyond the ken of physical sight.
The aspirant should always have in mind and vision the desire for the truth only; for a clear understanding of himself and his goal, and never for a moment permit himself to become negative or fall asleep during any exercise, as herein lies the danger of becoming possessed.
He should seek a clear insight of life and its purpose and learn to appreciate the fact that the powers and forces of the Soul may be wisely directed and to many good purposes without taking the risk of venturing into dangerous and unprofitable avenues of activity.
In the Western world, the abnormal development and use of psychic forces receive different designations; but, in every instance, it is the same delusory, destructive practice and must be carefully avoided. In every case, it is some feature of negative Yogism, and can never lead to the harmonious building of body, mind and Soul.
The system of training practiced by the true aspirant will give him the identical power over the forces of nature that Yogism promises, and in addition, it also instills the desirable qualities of the Soul - love, kindness, forgiveness, a keen sense of justice, understanding of truth, intuition and the ability to live a practical, useful life, one full of good works and kindly deeds.
The chief characteristic of true development is that it encourages a practical, creative life, usefulness and good works, positive virtues and constructive powers. It honors the creator, and the laborer. It preaches activity and guards against listless, aimless habits of life. It exalts worthy pursuits and occupations.
Its ideal is to make man a man; woman a woman. Its aim is to create of them helpers of humanity - not through a means that weakens, or shifts the load from the shoulders on which it has been placed, but by pointing out the way to self-help. It inculcates the tenet that strength comes through overcoming obstacles of every type and nature.
The efforts and struggles of every-day life are the price the sincere aspirant WILLINGLY pays for attainment and achievement in both natural and spiritual activities. The true aspirant, like the real Initiate, never makes definite claims to Illumination or Soul Consciousness. He never displays his powers; rather, he hides from his "left hand the kindly deeds of the right" and strictly observes the truth of the statement: "he who talks does not know; he who knows does not talk," and certainly he does not prostitute or commercialize his spiritual possessions.
Further contrast is to be noted between the two paths or types of development in the fact that negative practices exalt and exult the personality, the outer self, the perishable part of man's nature. It perpetuates its life by advertising itself in one manner or another; by the manner of clothing worn, a display of one thing or another, of setting the self up above others. The negative Yogi, psychic, or call him what you wish, is AN EXHIBITIONIST, because he also is an egotist.
True, positive, practical efforts in spiritual development give birth to humility, and develop the individuality, the inner self, the Christos, the "child" that has as yet not attained to having been "born again." Its whole aim is the development of the soul with all its potential possibilities.
Positive methods of development do not ignore the personality, but advocate positively the need for its transmutation into an individuality. The personality, the human self, must first humbly serve and then be changed into the individuality, while the individuality, the Immortal self, the "mortal having put on Immortality," considers itself merely as an instrument in doing the Will of Him who is still greater.
These items indicate the main points of difference between the Ancient Egyptian Priesthood and its practice of development and Initiation, and as at present taught by the Arcane schools of legitimate birth, and the negative systems, the greater number of which had their birth in India, including various forms of Yogism, which brought with them much of the degradation attached to them in the place of their birth.
The original school of Arcane science and Initiation had its beginning thousands of years prior to the Egyptian Priesthood and therefore before the time of the Nazarene. During all ages this school has functioned true to its nature. The Neophytes who entered the schools during the might of Egypt were required to remain mentally and physically strong, hence were forced to perform menial (useful) labor in the fields and gardens under the jurisdiction of the Priesthood by Divine right and the concession of the kings. Labor by them was considered essential to the welfare of the newly-entered aspirant, even though of royal birth.
By means of natural labor, the physical body received the exercise required for its proper functioning and development. Following the noviceship, the Neophyte entered into the course of training required for the development of the innate spiritual forces and the awakening of the Christos.
This system of development leading to final Initiation also aimed at the development of the mind that it might become capable of clear thinking, clear reasoning and accurate analysis; following this, through careful direction of the POSITIVE mental faculties, the Neophyte developed the interior, spiritual alter-self, the Soul.
When the student had finally, by persistent, conscious, positive effort, grown into Individualization or become Soul Illuminated by means of inner development, his life of usefulness began. Frequently he became a teacher or physician, of service to all in need. His was always a positive, active, practical, natural, constructive life. He had become a man in the true sense of that word, a FREE MAN, slave neither to men, his own passions, nor the forces of nature. This training was exemplified in the NEW or RE-BIRTH.
Contrasting the actual efforts of the true Arcane
schools and their teachings with the doctrines and practices that
have, in part, or in whole, emanated from India and the vast Orient,
including those supposedly brought here from that land by fakirs
of American birth, Tibet(1), all are negative in character and
those who attempt to follow them become as negative and Neurotic
as are the millions of India.
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(1) Tibet, the land of mystery! Also the country of supposedly
great Initiate teachers. A land of mystery it truly is; also a
land of general ignorance. Those who have been honest and sincere,
unbiased and unprejudiced and have made every possible investigation,
have been utterly unable to find a single Initiate; not one who
had attained to Cosmic Consciousness.
Moreover, investigation has further shown that of all those who claim to have been in Tibet and received their Initiation in that land of mystery, possibly no two have ever been near that country and certainly never received Arcane (Occult) training and Initiation there. Even if they had, such instructions and training would be decidedly less useful to the Western mind than it is to those who actually live there.
What have the people of Tibet done for themselves by means
of their supposedly great knowledge? What has the priesthood of
Tibet done for the people? What, in either a material or spiritual
sense, has Tibet accomplished that the Western people would want?
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We are not to condemn anything that is good or constructive, irrespective of its source. We freely admit there is much that is beautiful in the philosophies emanating from India and the Orient, but there is nothing in these philosophies that is of practical or actual spiritual value to the Western world. Moreover, they ignore the most vital theme of all - that having to do with the Christos.
To summarize: There are two entirely separate paths which may be followed by those who are no longer satisfied with materialism on the one side, and dogma, on the other. On the one hand are the Arcane schools and the Æth Priesthood, or priesthood of Light, legitimate heir of the Priesthood of Egypt and its Initiation. Herein is inculcated a positive doctrine of manhood and womanhood; of attained individuality; of good works and kindly service to humanity.
On the other hand, the inculcation of negation; the certainty of becoming the plaything, instead of the master, of fate and the dark forces; indifferent to the welfare of others; slaves, weaklings and devotees without minds of their own; in bondage through fear; ignoring the benefit of useful labor and the practical affairs of life; exalting the personality above the Soul.
The cultivation of the qualities and powers belonging to Mastership are impossible while shirking the practical demands of life and ignoring every-day affairs. The TRUE MAN, AND IT REQUIRES TRUE MEN TO BECOME INITIATE MASTERS, ignores no little thing that is either useful or necessary to natural living.
It is likewise to be emphasized that qualities and powers belonging to Mastership are not developed by devoting one's entire attention to spiritual activities. The eye looking at one object or in one direction will soon find the vision beclouded and see as "through a glass darkly."
Man's duties are many and varied and all of them must have their proper attention. "Thou hast been faithful to a few things, I will make thee master over many," (St. Matt. - 25:21) is in itself indicative that the Master has overcome many things and hence is above not one thing, but over many things.
The attainment of Initiation or Mastership is by no means an assurance against what are generally termed annoyances and difficulties. Frequently, the contrary is true. These are accepted as so many steps along the way. They are necessarily a part of life.
As shoulders become broader, burdens may become heavier. Strength, also power, is gained by overcoming. The faculties adapted to the overcoming of adversity would quickly become inert and man less a man if there were nothing more to overcome.
The Initiate Master welcomes the problems of life, both favorable and unfavorable, recognizing them AS OPPORTUNITIES TO STILL GREATER GAIN. His training has taught him to view conditions and circumstances differently than most men do. He accepts conditions as they appear; meeting them as man should and turning disadvantages to benefits. He lives in a world of action; reconizes action as opportunity, and advances himself by his efforts.