The Andrea Lectures (AMORC)

me mum ucriides

m e A M M O uctofie$ Raymund Andrea Grand Master Emeritus of Great Britain

© 1991 Grand Lodge of the English Language Jurisdiction, AMORC, Inc.

First Paperbound Edition, 1991 Copyright 1991 By Grand Lodge of the English Language Jurisdiction, AMORC, Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK . . . Raymund Andrea

July 21, 1882 - July 22, 1975 This special edition of the lectures of Raymund Andrea is a transcription of original conclave lectures tape recorded in Frater Andrea's home in Bristol, England, from 1954 to 1968 by Past Grand Master Robert E. Daniels and has been used by the Las Vegas Pronaos members as supplementary study material. Las Vegas Pronaos has generously donated this material to the Grand Lodge of the English Language Jurisdiction, AMORC, for the benefit of its members. Frater Andrea said about himself, "You will find me in my books." Most students of the Order know him through his currently published works, The Technique of the Master. The Technique of the Disciple, and The Mvstic Path. In reviewing The Andrea Lectures, the student will discover the practical, yet mystical, impact of Andrea's presentation and recognize him as an exponent of the highest ideals of the Rosicrucian Order. Our Grand Lodge is pleased to share this generally unavailable work with students of mysticism and to contribute to the dissemination of the wisdom and practical insight of one of the greatest Rosicrucian philosophers, contemplatives, and mystics of our time.

LECTURES PRESENTED BY RAYMUND ANDREA

GRAND MASTER EMERITUS OF SREAT BRITAIN

HUMILITY - 1954

..THE WAY OF THE HEART - 1955

....THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST - 195S

2 2 .... HONORABLE SKEPTICS - 1SE7

3 1 .... THE ESOTERIC ASPECT OF CHAPTERS - 1558

3 9 .... THE WORDS OF A MASTER - 195S

4 7 .... THE CONFLICT DF OPPOSITES - 1960

5 5 .... LIVERPOOL ADDRESS - 1964

8 1 .... THE CHAPTER'S PURPOSE - 1965

S 3 .... JAKDE BOEHME - 1966

7 5 .... A CONCLAVE - 1968

8 3 .... A LETTER FROM A MEMBER - 1963

8 9 .... THOMAS A KEMPIS

97. .. ..ROSICRUCIAN CODE NUMBER

10

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1354

Our

members will be familiar with the excellent Rosicrucisn

Code of L i f e t which

is

gravity and dignity all may

be

an

given

in

the

Manual*

has

a

its own, and while some of its rules

ideal to be aimed at, rather than an easy daily

achievement,

yet to have the Code

only

en

prove

constantly

master

I want to quote one of these rules to you. great

in

mind

can

inspiration and promote a silent molding of

the character after the pattern of the

all

It

utterances

Rosicrucian.

It is simple,

as

are, but of far reaching importance.

Here then is Rule Number Eleven of the Code;

"Flaunt

nor

y our attainment

not

boast

of

You may be a your Rosicruc i an knowledge a R * _ the brotherhood, osicrucian as a member of but as a Rosie ruci an in know ledge and the greatest a nd

highest am ong

power,

us is

but a

child of the s tudi es and unw orthy of Rosicrucisn recogniti o n . a Master, but

Proclaim

yourself,

BS a Rosicruc ian

not as

student

and

ever a student eterna1l y ."

The teaching of this rule is clearly humility

in

sense,

It would be a

and

here

Is

an

application

of it.

mistake,

after having taken a few grades of

to

b

set

our

the

reel

teachings,

price upon ourselves* because we are conscious of

possessing a body of unusual instruction which seems to mark us out very definitely from those

around

us, whatever

personal value and attainments of the latter may be.

the

We may

find complacence in the thought that we now stand apart from others

because

we

have embarked upon a course of esoteric

training which promises initiations into knowledge and power

which

will

fellow men.

confer

upon

us

distinct

Yet nothing will so mark

advantages over our a

m a n ’s

inferiority

rather than superiority in even entertaining this thought of an

esoteric

triumph over others*

The world is always with

us, and we have much to do to adjust come

in

to

to

it.

But

when

we

the Inner Place and look at ourselves from the

Btandpoint of higher planes, humility is the only thing that profits us and helps us to see ourselves right

perspective.

And

if

there

and

is

anything

particular rule I have quoted drives home, pected

others

it is

in

a

that this the

unex­

conciseness with which it emphasizes the simple fact

that,

whether we ©re early in the grades or well advanced in

them,

we have nothing to boast of regarding the knowledge we

have obtained through our study of them.

This rule demands much from us, more or our

temperament

and

particular

mental

think it will prove more searching to grades

less

background,

those

than to those in the advanced ones.

tion is that having, through several years meditation

and

active

according

in

the

to

but I early

For the assump­ of

thought

end

work and become assured of personal

participation in the aura of the Order throughout the world, we shall share too in the mind and light of the master minds who inspire it, and that consciousness hes its own power silent enforcement of such a rule as this one.

of

I do not say

we cannot then make mistakes or fail of our ideals, but I do say

we

shall

be

acutely

conscious them.

of I

our mistakes and

failures,

and hasten to redeem

am

sure

member's

sound mental development and wide sympathies would

feel disposed,

on reaching the deeply esoteric

for

of

instance,

test

for

new

instruction,

the ninth grade to regard his standing in

the knowledge of the Brotherhood as personal

the

its

right

anything but a

usage

and

feel

responsibility in his Bttitude towards others.

supreme a special

I

Feel, t he re for e, that

this

those in the earlier grades. they

had

Why?

Because,

For one

thing,

not yet been tried by the inner Fire of ascension

of consciousness* grades

rule has special meaning For

That

is

precisely

why

have lost interest and fallen out.

some

in

these

They were, after

all, but on the neophyte psth and so found,

in their estima­

tion, nothing very startling or profound in

their

studies*

They had not yet passed more interior thresholds of instruc­ tion

nor

entered

into their testing vibration.

But those

who have so passed some of these thresholds and awakened wider vibrational ence

the

fire.

areas of consciousness,

inevitably experi­

reactions of that advancement.

They are tried by

What does that mean?

the man

is

himself

unknowingly

stimulated

to

to

It means that everything within increased

his

tension.

own trial,

He

brings

and if he has not

that mental stability and sympathy I mentioned, then one the

first

rule.

to

things

he is prone to do is to sin against this

He will arrogate

to

himself

knowledges

and

power

which he does not possess and are far beyond his reach. admiration

of

The

and applause of others will mean far more to him

than healing a bruised heart or a tormented mind.

I believe the reaction to that even

if

swift

and

unrelenting,

at the time invisible and unknown for the judge is

the man himself, that,

is

simple

and he cannot escape his own

as

this rule appears,

sentence.

So

there is underlying it,

in respect for it, or in indifference to it, the hidden fire of esoteric teaching pointing to e the

true

path

or

student's

ascension

his decline and fall from it.

speak of punishment, but there is far more subtle from

o n e ’s

conscious

I do not resulting

and willful failure in the things of

the inner life than in ones failure to reach a goal in dane we

things, have,

in

on

for,

in

the

other,

mun­

the one case, we betray the knowledge circumstances

quite

control may have proved too difficult for us.

beyond

our

Now

e

word

receive.

on

cannot

Concurrences famous

have

overlooked.

the

monographs you

thought

That

is

in them c o n s i s t i n g of q u o t a t i o n s

thinkers

of

the

as R o s i cruci a n s , but

known

of

There is one outstanding feature of the monographs

which you

of

chsracteristic

b

and

meditation,

the

o p e ni n g

from the works

past, not only those who were

all whose

of

them, men

names

are

of

profound

foremost in the

world of literature as instructors Bnd benefactors of

their

fellow men.

The

significance

of

this err ay of great names is, that we

recogni ze and acknowledge upon

t h o u g h t , that

the

world's

great

We

claim

them

as

our

pioneers

% p r 1* vi• 1ege

the

of

with

the

added

archives

of

the

these pregna nt quotations we have a stream

In

of potent thought, actively

many

de epe r and more esoteric knowledge which

has been vouch saf ed to us from the secret Brotherhood.

of

own because we belong to

We have the same ideal s in view but

them.

of

pi a tform of instruction and bene-

this

faction we sta nd side by si de with those nations,

heritage

stimulate

inspiration our

minds

and

counsel

and

calculated

inviting

us

to

to think

empyreally and so prepare oursel ves for such mission in life as the cosmic powers may decree for future

cycle, for

the

us

essence

very

in of

this

We are ever students,

in

a

all our esoteric

training in the grades is that of preparation. rule.

or

wh ich means now and

Remember the in

future

cycles.

The

very first quotation in the first mandamus monograph is

a most apt one from Francis Bacon.

It is, in a way, a

com­

ment upon the rule we have considered, for it chows how dif­ ferent students view their studies, their manner of approach to

them,

and

how

few

hold fast to the highest purpose in

them--which is to employ their enlightenment for the use and benefit of man.

It reminds

us

of

the

rule, because

the

greatest

error

knowledge, little

of

many

is to mistake the ultimate end of

and the rule admonishes us, not because

or

we

have

much Rosicrucian knowledge to boast about it, as

if we had attained,

whereas compared

with

the

masters

of

Rosicrucian science we are nothing but students.

The

rule

certainly

does

not

flatter

us

nor

does

the

quotation for the quotation reminds us of at least six kinds of students:

respectively,

those who seek the knowledge out of curiosity, those who seek it f or mental entertainment, those who acqui re it for the sake of reputation, those who grasp it for triumph and contention, others for money, those whom the it

with

and lastly,

rule

humility,

emphatically ever

declares

should

seek

as students of the highest ideal

and for the use and benefit of mankind*

It is in the last category that we should selves

to be*

acknowledge

And to point the truth of this emphasis upon

continuous studentship we have but to recall how know

our­

little

we

comparatively and how far short we come in our service

to others or whst we wish to do and achieve in perfect

counsel

or

the

way

of

in ameliorating opposing circumstance,

but that is no reason for depreciating our present abilities and powers of execution in whatever direction they listed.

Rather,

we

undue

fact, should

en­

should demand from ourselves the utmost

possible from the knowledge we possess any

are

claims

but

without

making

to others as to what we can achieve.

the basic law of our deliberately

studies

is

involved

here.

In We

bring ourselves to points of crisis on

the path and cultivate climaxes of inner tension which

will

act as an evocative power upon the Inner Self and secure its response.

If

we

do not demand much from ourselves,

little

will

be

given.

This

is only saying that we should try to

rise to the occasion when the demand Is put to us, and once

we

are

launched upon the path, we are all capable of

more than we realize. been

when

accumulated

A reserve of strength and wisdom

and

a

response

will

come

if

has

we have

confidence in it.

We may then perceive from these few thoughts upon merely one rule and one quotation from the work in our hands awaits

our

deepest

reflection

and

use.

thoughts are both hidden and revealed in plainest

language,

and

the

The

prove

and

by applying our minds sincerely end

of the Rosicrucian knowledge will will

much

greatest

simplest

humbly to the study of the monographs themselves,

studentship

how

be

the wisdom

assimilated,

and

our

a real preparation for association

with the Master Minds of the Brotherhood.

THE WAY OF THE HEART

BY RAYMUND ANDREA f955

To

members

the adv anced grades the names of several

in

among them that of the

the Masters will be f amiliar,

of

Master

From what we have read about h im he is a man of very

Moria. striking

of utterance

noted

greet person al power, with a style

of

appearance,

for

sentent i o u s n e s s , insight

its

and

and he is cr edited with the fo llowing cryptic words:

wisdom,

"To behold with the Eyes of the Heart; with the world;

to listen

Ears of the Heart, to the roar of the

to peer into the future with the compre­

hension of the Heart; tions of the past,

to remember the accumula­

through the Heart;

thus must

one impetuously advance upon the Path of Ascent."

In

my contact with members in the past,

I have been acutely

aware that the approach of some to their almost

entirely

a

mental

one.

I

studies

know

that

temperament will strongly influence the kind of student mental

will

make

to

his work*

hBs

been

individual approach

a

Some are almost entirely

in approach while others are

mainly

emotional.

The

best results do not come from either the purely mental or an emotional

attitude.

Few

combine

both

in

a

harmonious

development but no serious student will progress far on Path

without

coming

introvert of the valuable

head

experience.

useful development, he

to

realize

is If

to

close

there

must

that

also

is

to

the to

be

simply

door be

upon

the en most

a balanced and

recognize

the

singular

virtue in being an extrovert of the heart.

We

have

always

compassion.

thought

of

the

Masters

Indeed, they are often called

as being men of the

Masters

of

a Compassion.

This

and Christ,

applies, of

course, mainly to the Buddha

and as the Masters ere acknowledged disciples of

these two greet ones, we cannot think of them other than men of compassion which means, that knowledge

and wisdom,

Now this I

all

their

in

the

first

sentence

They

beheld truly with the eyes of the mind.

clearly and rightly. detached,

that

concentrated

Buddha and Christ; feeding

I have

they

their

sense

to

from of

thBt

nothing

appeared away

and

to

true

that

itself, under teaches

a

many

the

the

that

increased

sharp lesson;

Way

own

of

say

to them all against

that

of

Compassion

tempo

of

chosen

their

and

in trying to direction.

way for years until

life

aspiration,

for life is very far from being an

if it has been ignored,

painful and revealing will come and "Eyes

so

Sooner or later, the heart of life

demands recognition and,

the

seemed

power and efficiency

go

affair of the head only.

with

way

me to be looking away from

achieve personal supremacy in their is

their

They were focused on the mental plane,

that was necessary.

It

the

is just what was not evident in some of the members

They were very satisfied that they could see

except

of

"To behold with the Eyes of the Heart.

mentioned.

cold,

extensive

an all-inclusive love is also theirs.

This is plainly evidenced quotation;

with

the

Heart.1'

towards a balanced development;

experiences

compel them

to

behold

That is the first step

and why should this

not

be

so?

Soul

culture, progress on tha Path, the search after deeper

knowledge and understanding of Self, the

same

research. thought

category

as

scientific,

does

not

artistic

fall or

within literary

This kind of research may be pursued without or

achievement.

reference

other

than

any

to personal culture and

It is part and parcel of the ambitious life of

millions of men aiming at legitimate success in

the

world,

but

mystical

development

is not the ambition of millions.

It is the aim of the few and it has far more stringent rules to

comply

with!

The

first

of

which

personal end unique service to others. serve

others

Heart," are

unless

we

is

equipment

for

We cannot adequately

behold them with the "Eyes of the

We Bhall never understand or help them truly if

simply

introverts of the head.

we

The secrets of men ere

not in their heads but in their hearts, and it is

there

we

have to look for them, feel them and know them.

Now, the

next

statement in the quotation;

"listen with the

Ears of the Heart to the roar of the world," the

world is continually in our ears.

to

interpret

it

does

the

incessant

participate in and silent

hour

of

the

cause

like

and

with

humanity!

clamor mean for the millions who it?

What

a

contrast

one

and

the

turn

ourselves,

hushed

with

other, towards

retirement.

the

those

who

view

the

we need an inspired thinking and a

in the midst of the turmoil.

concentrated toil,

Karma

and while our special

live compassion for the multitudes who make possible

listen

meditation of the monk in his retreat, the

interest may naturally silence

But to

ourselves

mystic and the solitary in their conditions

our

Do not

the burden of responsibility,

own

lives

overlook the the anxious

efforts for adjustment of these multitudes who maintain sound

foundation

civilized life.

and

harmonious

it.

the

working of our so-called

Try to realize its manifold functioning and

interpret it in the terms of the h e a r t ’s in

of

with the "Ears of the Heart" opens a

door to closer identification of What

roar

We are so accustomed

to it that we take little notice of it. try

The

We are a part of it —

stresses

involved

even when we try to ovoid it

but the true mystic can never ignore it without deep loss to himself*

In the words of the Scripture:

He dare not ignore the beauty and obscurity of those other Divine fragments which

are struggling side by

side with him and form the race to which he belongs.

I

need

not

say that the Mysti c Nay does not become easier

through this willful descent int o the heart and sensing life from that sensitive center. burden to our Journey! al

life

it.

No

indeed, rather

it

adds

a

But if w e have a call to the mystic-

must be ready to c omply with the conditions of

we

It is our own choice!

Many on the Path have refused to

accept this indication of the he art as their

teacher.

They

have realized that to do so woul d stiffen the way of ascent, They

have

feared

the

of increased sensitivity

penalties

which they knew it would bring. .♦ «• sensitivity in perfection by

Yet

the

virtue

Master of

has

this

accepting these

condi t i ons all along the Way, and it seems to me that if one really has a call to the Way he must discount the

cost

and

be gratefu 1 for the rare opportunity of an incarnation*

These

thoughts lead us to the next statement;

"to peer into

the future with the comprehension of the H e a r t / ’ master

This is

thought and envisages a far reach of the Path.

a

Only

an illuminated heart can exercise that high prerogative, nor should we attempt to exercise it before the time! whether from ambition or presumption, and lead ourselves, culture

we shall make mistakes

others,

astray,

Even

the

of the heart for an incarnation may not confer this

prerogative, the

and possibly

If we do,

evolving

and it is well that this may be so, for to Karma

awaiting

us

and

others

see

requires

a

balanced development of mind end hsart which is all too rare on the Path.

How many of us, seeing the shadows on the Path

ahead or the surrender of self to portal,

would

yet

go

forward

be with

demanded inflexible

purpose and not be checked by the voice of is

at

a will

personality?

high and It

amazing what some aspirants think they should be able to

do after a few years of study of the Way!

It was a

failing

of some highly intellectual men connected in the early years

with the Theosophical movement in India* privileges

for

which

they

were

They demanded high

unready

exercising a wise humility and patience

and and

instead of being

quite

unprepared to peer into the future with the comprehension of the

heart

--

seance room,

they

had

recourse

to spiritualism and the

as if that byway of doubtful repute could

make

them as wise as their Masters!

,fTo

remember

Heart-’1 with

the

accumulatione

of

the

At first sight I thought we were

this

statement

than

with

that

past through the on

on

safer

ground

the future,

clearly the reference here is to the Karma of former

but

cycles

-- not merely the present one -- and we see at once how very rare

will

be

those who can review the broad sweep of past

lives and see how they have fashioned the men know

it

they

I

is common enough for aspirants to feel pretty sure

about their past incarnations,

basing their conclusions upon

certain features and attainments in their present must

are,

cycle.

I

confess that I have always been sceptical when meeting

with those who

have

storied

As in the case of peering into the future,

past.

the

greatest

think a [like) well balanced envisaging

the

past.

assurance

development

There

will

be

about

is

necessary

much

awaiting

aspirant inscribed in that record of thought and past

times

which,

and

action

I in

the of

destined to come to fruition now and later

if prematurely known, might destroy his peace of mind

and the steadiness of his immediate as

their

regarding

thought

that

guidance,

will

progress.

Here

again,

knowledge of the future,

we may repose in the

the

whom

not

Cosmic lift

Powers, to

we

look

for

the veil and reveal that which we

have not won the right and strength to know

and

face

with

courage and compassion*

Why

do

I

say

compassion

statement of the quotation,

on

coming

..."thus

to

must

this, the final one

impetuously

advance

upon

the

Path

points to what we need present.

of to

Ascent”? culture

Primarily because it

for,

in

the

immediate

The word "impetuously" arrests my attention in the

quotation. The towering presence and rather severe aspect of the

Master

"MM

Peremptory

in

’’impetuously” would not

gives speech

special and

suitably

use

it

as

significance

swift

in

expresses a

word

to the word.

action,

the

word

his powerful will, but I

of

guidance

to

aspirants

generally.

To advance impetuously, with a strong background

of

development,

mature

after, aside

which knows itself,

sees before and

can stand against all odds, can rightly b

11

obstacles

discipline

from

and

life

demand

for

and Karma;

wise procedure for the very few.

self

judge, thrust the

surely this can only be a It would only be a fitting

procedure for a close Bnd accepted disciple of to

whom

the

strongest

the

Master,

whole teaching in this quotation was familiar

and practically demonstreble;

for

ourselves

we

shall

be

safer on humbler ground.

That is why I mention compassion; stage

of

right

development

aspirant when a deep attitude

divine

him

before

compassion

needful for an pervades

towards

a

goal

unsympathetic.

It is not an

the

they cannot see.

If

anyone

It is far

too

circumscribed

thinks he will attain these

and

mental

The heart,

is the center of life, and no matter how high

he may have ascended in the realm of fact he descend

know

The mind alone can

passing years will disillusion him.

not the brain,

toll

fighting for they scarcely

graces of the inner man through logical exercise and acumen,

his

the awakened heart comes to that point of

never meet them face to face. and

and

The years must have taken their hard

long-range vision of lives, what,

possible

toward the world of human existence.

easy attainment! with

and

for there is an attainable

will

have

wash his feet in the Blood of the Heart.

to That

in itself will revolutionize his manner of approach to life,

but he should not wait for this to be forced upon him, as it certainly

will

be

if

he

petitions

for advancement.

should try day by day to measure and judge

all

all

He will only see

people through the Fire of the Heart,

things

He

things as they B r e , and evoke from others what is by

the

magnetic

radiation of the heart.

depths of experience we have sounded, and

compassionate

obtain

from

heart, will

those

who

have

be this

them,

According to the

through the

in

end

the

awakened

response

we shall

latent

experience

in

themselves and only need the right stimulus to express it.

I

am

saying

think;

nothing

new!

We know the books that make us

the books that move and

different

class.

stimulate

belong

the

Fire

of

and evokes the best we know in thought and action?

make this contrast designedly because we live in a fic

to

We know the people who make us think;

many do you know whose vibration kindles Heart

us

period,

is

in

the

No matter

ascendant

discount-*at a dead end.

what

its

value,

far

So true is this that

from

it,

is

it

concerned

that

the

discoveries

scientists shall not bring ruin present heart, fear

way

of

life.

But

end

the

Not

It

is

and exploits of the upon

its

the awakened and compassionate

to which the Master refers,

is the offspring

not

of

but of a spiritual consciousness which places its hope

is

the

intent

within-

Spirit.

And

what we are pledged to, and whatever the future in

the hands of science may bring, we must keep ears

not

general

man.

destruction

in an ascendancy to the high altitudes of this

in

showing a similar concern at the

absence of interest in the life of a spiritual only

I

and spirituality is st a

public shows a profound fear at the advance of science. but

the

scienti­

some respects its influence is a sinister one. The mind, heart,

how

when science is reaching its high altitudes and

its influence is worldwide.

the

a

upon

the

our

eyes

and

revelation which can come only from

We must interrogate the heart in all things and use

the

mind

to execute with understanding and compassion what

the heart reveals.

This is what the Master enjoins, and

in

trying to give it practical effect in our daily contact with others,

we

safely,

impetuously, advance on the Path of Ascent

power many.

of

shall

reach

a point of attainment where we may and

our

service will be vastly increased to the profit of

THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 195B

A

second

advent

of Christ is a matter of special

and much speculation among students of mysticism. ulation concerns school

two

different

schools

of

The spec­

thought*

One

is a Western school which holds that the Christ will

not appear again on the physical plane but only far

interest

as

the etheric or psychic plane,

seems to be that of maintains

an

Eastern

descend

so

A contrary assertion

school

of

thought

which

that the Christ will appear on the physical plBne

again among men at a

propitious,

but

at

present,

a

quite

unascertainable epoch.

Obviously,

declarations

matter would be especially

this nature upon so momentous a

of

expected

interest

to

mystical

when two schools of occult insight and authority

are opposed as to the manner of the coming. our

any

while the truth of which

proof?

Not

one

belong to the intangible, and

What should

be

attitude toward individu al and independent declarations

of this kind, have

students,

clearly

point

we

of criticism,

cannot

possibly

I think, for they

are beyond personal

investigation

to an ev ent undoubtedly very far off in

the future.

We are all familiar with the many findings and prophesies of science upon various material

plane.

We

matters have

which seen

concern

and

life

constantly

objective realization of these prophesies.

on

the

see

the

Many of them are

startling and almost unbelievable when made but a few ago.

Then

suddenly,

when

we

had

years

forgotten about them,

a

promised discovery has been made, a new power has been born, a fresh altitude has been achieved,

and it becomes a fact of

our use in daily life.

But

we

are

upon different ground when declarations of the

kind mentioned ere made. nature

This is

far

of a scientific procedure.

ed in the knowledge of futurity.

from

being

of

the

We are not deeply skill­ There is no instrument

in

the hand of man whereby he CBn foresee and guarantee in time such

a

happening

during a future evolution of humanity as

the coming of an exalted being from high spiritual

existence.

But

as

science

evolution of exceptional and unknown through

cosmic can

levels

of

foreshadow the

powers

and

cooperation with the laws of nature,

processes

and we are now

so accustomed to these eventuating within the limit of a few short years that we scarcely question any so

such

prophesies,

it seems to me we should not dismiss occult declarations

of a possible coming of Christ in with

emphatic disbelief,

a

critical

attitude

or

but regard the possibility with an

open mind even though they differ as to the

manner

of

his

appearance.

Now

the

substance

Df

coming is that it will ified tical

end

unknown.

these declarations about the second happen at some

that

instances

of

unquestionable

a

psychic

have studied the life of St. Theresa,

character.

actual

several her

own

presence of Christ with her.

occasions, words,

living image, she

describes

if

what

of

had

Christ.

see is an image,

not a dead man but the living

Christ/'

of on In

it is a And

with such words as she can find the radiance

which accompanied the visions. d a z z l e s , but

I

will

She sBid that,

she was granted 3 vision

"For

Those

for example,

find therein several acknowledged visions which she the

unspec­

the presence of Christ now has been a matter

of personal experience and of who

time

But those who are conversant with mys­

literature can point to

veracity

future

"It is not

b

radiance

which

a soft whiteness and an infused radiance which

without wearying the eyes, causes them the greatest delight. Nor

are

they

wearied by the brightness which they see,

in

seeing this divine beauty,"

Or to take another instance nearer to our

own

time

and

b

writer whose works are known to many of us; I refer to M*C., who

wrote

"Light on the Path" at the dictation of a Master

and other refers

inspired

to

writings.

In

one

of

her

books,

a massacre of Jews in Russia in 1905, when,

she in a

vision of the Hall of Learning in which stood a great altar, the Christ stands on the alter Light

and

Radiance,

his

steps,

hands

throngs of souls as they pass.

a

superb

uplifted

in

that

contact

They

one

removing from it

be

lightly

dis­

point to a fact of psychic experience, vouch­

safed in the one case to a saintly woman was

one

all memory of the agony of its martyrdom.

These are testimonies of value and cannot missed.

of

blessing the

Now and again, he draws

to him end presses it with a close embrace, by

figure

long

devotion

whose

whole

life

to living the Christ's life and of

inward conversation with Christ, and the other to a woman of well known occult aspirations and

who,

used

the world one of its most

by

a

Master

to

give

to

in

due

course,

was

remarkable devotional manuals, "Light on the Path".

There is no ground for doubting these testimonies. known to all classes of aspirants end accepted ence , and

there

are

with

which

I

quoted

are

the

two

schools

a

possible coming at some future time,

declara­

of thought,

although of considerable interest, yet pointing as to

rever­

more testimonies of this nature which

could be cited from other sources, so that the two tions

They are

they

do

which seem to be

in a totally different category from these testimonies.

For

in these testimonies we have

the

coming

of

Christ

is

b

kind of

assurance

that

not a far-off divine event which may

occur during this century or in

some

later

one, dependent

upon certain conditions of evolution of humanity as a whole, but

that

the

Christ

is here and now, a divine and guiding

and helping presence and only awaiting recognition.

I recall that in the past there was some criticism here

Bnd

there that our teachings made little mention of Christ*

But

what

is

the

Rosicrucian

science

itself

but a system of

preparation to contact higher cosmic levels of consciousness which may at anytime, very

presence

of

in some particular cases,

Christ

lead to

the

on the etheric or psychic plane.

What do our grades point to and gradually lead to but to increasing

inner

perceptiveness

higher vibrational

and

psychic contact with

levels of cosmic existence?

The advanced grades seek to consummate the special technique whereby the upon

his

individual

within the

sphere

Compassion.

And

initiate,

permissive

of

the

influence

remember

if

we

that

serve

and

the

discounted,

of

inspiration

Christ, for

with

a

contingent as always

of

bring himself

the

Masters

of

the Masters themselves are sharing

his

life.

serve to the best of our knowledge to the

end that we may be worthy guidance

studies

Karma, may

known to be disciples of the Christ and Therefore,

an

any

the

of

special

and

individual

those masters who themselves

criticism

on

this

point

may

be

it

reveals

a lack of understanding and of

If, as one of these

schools

maintains,

our eim.

necessarily evolution, higher

e

greet

has

to happen in the direction end quality of human but preparation in the direction of a larger

consciousness,

before

the

affect his mission in the world,

Christ

can

appear

then I think it is

that such a preparation will be of long duration. scant

deal

enough

signs of his presence anywhere.

the lapse of nearly a century,

and and

obvious There are

Today, after

during which the Masters have

been

written

the subject

and spoken of in occult and mystical circles, is

proclamation, through

still

of

one

for

if

it

were

made

general

public

and was obtained

so-

Mystically

and

we are on a pretty low scale of evolution.

On the other hand, coming

from

even among the intellectuals,

credence

spiritually,

far

if, as the

other

school

maintains,

the

Christ will be* not on the physical plane but on

the etheric level of consciousness, there is another opinion which may be considered as having weight this: plane

and

that the coming may well be, in a way, but

value-

It

is

on the physical

through the medium of highly developed disciples

of the Christ who will carry out His mission among men under His inspiration.

I speak with no authority on this subject,

but if contrary statements are made upon it in very emphatic terms,

we have the right to consider both points of view and

express an opinion about them. of view cannot

be

It is clear that both points

accepted.

One, that

Christ

will

come

again among men on a physical plane, the other, that He will never

take

again a human form or descend below the etheric

level of consciousness. other

assertion,

work in view of

b

I fail to see how cannot

have

That whether we accept one

or

that does not alter in the least our AMORC coming of either description.

any

of

constantly

us in

aspiring mind

the

to

Master-contact

greatest

of Cosmic

Masters who functions at the highest point of evolution whose

influence

is

therefore

place of the highest down to Moreover,

in

the

and

transmitted from the secret

lever

a

suffering

humanity.

the Rosicrucian library, there ere two remark­

able volumes written by Or. Spencer Lewis on the Masters and His teachings.

Therefore,

Master

of

for any one to ask us

what we think of Christ and what place He has in our work is a

plain confession of ignorance.

end of the Path,

If Christ traveled to the

which embraces the whole of Cosmic

wisdom,

so and

we

are -taking the first serious steps on that path, we

might ask what the critics know of this way and if they have taken any steps along it.

Indeed, this is the cardinal failing of ex oteric ity

today.

It

is

Christian-

proud of its confessi on of faith in the

historical Jesus, but for profound belief in and of

an

path

esoteric

Christ,

to the vi sion of the living

leading

And it is just here that

we have to look elsewhere.

by focusing attention u pon either thought

mentioned

acceptance

of

the

schools

two

of

as relating to a second coming of Christ

that a result not fully anticipated

may

happen,

It

would

tend t o lead many to place their faith and hope in what such a coming would do for t h e m , instead of thinking in wardly and se rio us 1y

they can and should do for themse Ives to be

what

worthy of i t and being ready to participate

it .

in

To

be

deeply conc erned or curiously interested about the coming of a

world Ms ster, yet do nothing in the way of self study and

preparation in order to recognize and be competent to assist Him in His mission to mankind subst i tute for discipleship.

should

He

come,

is

a

poor

And I venture to say that this

generati on is unworthy of Him and would not recognize Him if He

It

came,

life.

is

polarized

in and hypnotized by objective

It will pay any price for

multiplying

the

fascina-

tions and interests and rewar ds of that life.

Is

it not then logical

thought

it

wise

seclude

themselves

and

to conclude that if the Master© have necessary,

bodily

from

for

various

reasons, to

the hearts of men nor ere

likely to appear openly among men until much of the world

Karma

has

been

liquidated?

Far less likely is it,

that the Christ, the greatest of Masters, relatively near future to a which

regards

mystical

world

present

will appear in any

steeped

in

materialism

askance the comparatively few devoted to the

life and the discipline

it

entails.

The

chances

are, that if not harried into exile, He would be hanged as a revolutionary and a nuisance and an avowed enemy to our much vaunted

way

of

life.

This

appeal

focusing of interest upon far-off and come,

ie

distracting

and

to

the

future, this

uncertain

unrewarding*

There

before our eyes Bnd our feet that warrants the mind

and

hand.

firmly stood; hour

and

events is

to

enough

interest

of

And this is where Rosicrucians have always

in the present,

endeavoring

to

facing

the

the

problems

of

the

best of their knowledge and

vision to show others something of the significance

of

the

burden of the cross of life resting heavily upon them.

But

the lifting of that burden must be their own serious task.

So

much

of

escapism. without

what is called the religious life is a form of

It

is

Bn

escape

from

self-discipline.

Yet,

that discipline there is no progress on the path of

evolution,

which is the purpose of our incarnation.

is this that the Master,

who inspired

the

works

So true of

M.C.,

stated bluntly that religion holds a man back from the path. Only

those

who

are

on the path will recognize and accept

that simple but profound truth.

has

no

need of church or creeds nor will ever be bound by them,

be­

cause

they

concepts,

are

The advancing soul

seen to be fetters Bnd limitations,

mental

which imprison the spirit of man.

The purpose of the fir st advent of Christ was

expressly

to

free the spirit of man through self-disci pline to enter into the truth of the way. ic

The church has not taught the esoter-

way to Christhood.

tute for it. will first.

prove

And I be lieve that a second advent to

of

Christ

be fa r more dynamic and disrupting than the

For we have re ached a critical po int in general evo-

lution during powers

Creeds are merely a soothing substi-

are

the being

pa st

hundred

sc ientifically

experiment and applied wholly

to

years,

and

such

unusual

devel oped through mental materi al

ends,

that

the

descent

of

an

unprecedented stimulating energy,

expected to accompany a

cosmic

Christ, would

as may be

shatter

the

idols end images which men worship and demonstrate fully the supremacy of the spiritual life.

A coming t oday may mean exile or death, but not t h e n » for it is

reasonable

to

think that the Christ would then have at

his disposal the dynamic potency of a multitude of disciples who will have taken the stages of the path, nize

the

encouraging and stimulating one. us

recog­

Christ and be pledged to fulfill his mission,

nothino will be able to withstand them.

for

who will

to

persist

This thought

It gives

is an

mm

abundant

and

reason

on the path we know, for the time will

come when we shall be called to direct cooperation with

the

cosmic

and

intention.

And

everything

we

have

endured

suffered will be forgotten in the mastery we shall to offer in the fulfillment of that intention.

be

able

THE HONORABLE SCEPTICS

BY RAYMUND ANOREA

1957

Many

who

national

have

written

hard things about the drift in our

life since the war, have been thought unduly pessi­

mistic by those who have chosen to shut their But

shutting

eyes

to

it.

ones eyes to facts, which responsible writers

and critics have not hesitated again and again to declare no uncertain terms,

does not obliterate the facts.

in

They are

far too widely known to be ignored or forgotten.

Recently, this

a former headmaster of a school

in

Scotland

to say: "A sick civilization is throwing up five types

of young people— the lawless* the listless, sensation addicts,

the angry young

sceptics.

one

No

appeared

questioned the statement.

men, to

quickly

to

more

the pleasure and

and

have

the

honorable

contradicted

exciting

or

shoulders

comforting

and

news.

statement was a grave indictment of a large section boasted

civilization.

first four prevalent

types, are

The

no

prevalence

impartial

of

observer

could

they that no decent individual

subject to their degrading

was

chiefly

honorable sceptics. ironically

or

in

commendable

interested

appreciation

qualities

Well,

if

this or that philosophy

the

of

our

deny.

So

can very well

in

the

fifth

Whether the term fh o n o r a b l e ? of the type,

and

writer has said that the avowed uncertainties.

But

or

less

influence.

Persons who are honorable we usually have

turned

the well marked

avoid them, and if he could he would still be more

I

or

The majority of those who read it

would presumably have shrugged their

But

had

the or

respect

are sceptic

sceptic belief

type, the was

I cannot say. because

of good report. is

used

only

sure

they One of

declares openly that

leaves

him

uncertain,

affords

no

foundation

to build on, there is more hope for

him in the future than for either types.

It

the

Some of the

is a sceptic.

w o r l d ’s

have been

the

other

mentioned

not a crime or a defect of character that an

is

individual

of

characters

have been declared sceptics.

literature

thinkers

great

of

understanding

deep

and

in They

extensive

knowledge and have plunged the depths of more philosophy and science than we can boast D f .

I

recall that a well known mysti c, in some of his fantasies

on Karmic Law, pointed the curiou s fact that some

of

characters and writers ha d spent nearly the whole of

famous

their lives in advocating this or that philosophy or of

belief,

reason

for

this

hidden

system

spent their late st years in repudiating all

end

they had hitherto believed

Karma,

these

up

was, to

promulgated.

and

The

apparent

according to him, that some phase of time , suddenly

that

emerged

into

consciousness from the past and s wept them helplessly into a current

of

or non-belie f, directly opposed to that

belief,

which they hed formerly held and upon which their reputation was founded. avowed

considered

No doubt they were

sceptics, but

they

honorable ones*

were

these were sceptics at the top,

thereafter

as

However,

a nd we are thinking now of a

different type at the bottom.

Now the headmaster of analysis

of

the

famous

our sick civilization,

our society very astutely but

would

s c h o o l , in

his

summary

had not only weighed up also

have

had

ample

opportunity of observing these types during his professional life, for

it

is

common

current

of scepticism

student

life

today.

knowledge

running

in

that there is a strong school

and

The orthodox religious teaching which

obtains in practically all of the educational whether

professed

by

university

many

institutions,

or few has, to a great extent,

lost its influence in student life.

It is

not

that

these

sceptics

are

ignorant

of

the

philosophies

beliefs of traditional systems of thought* quite

the

reverse,

for

the

really

It may

general well

be

promising individuals

among them have well-digested knowledge of them

and

these

and

find

completely unsatisfying and leading to no certainty of

fullness of life or incentive have

reached

their

to

decision

worthwhile

honorably

action.

They

during their most

promising years and ended in a philosophy of

their

own:

a

philosophy of doubt.

It

may

be

said

that

this

is no business of ours, but a

Rosicrucian cannot adopt that attitude. ignorant

should

not

be

or turn aside from anything which so deeply lowers

the standard of understand

it

the

instance,

social

and

relation to it.

tion.

We

order-

observe

where

We

should

we

study

ourselves

stand in

We know that the Rosicrucian teachings,

have profound meaning and an

Skeptics

young or old may,

un-decaying

branches

of

for

founda­

if their mind extends its

investigation so far, regard it offhand as just one innumerable

Bnd

magical

and

of

the

supernatural belief

which periodically descend upon us from afar, flourish for a day and are forgotten.

We like others have failed to reach the in

its student life.

approach to it. formidable

in

the confirmed skeptic

can

his

matter how

own

misguided we may think him to be.

opinion,

no

to

us.

An

approach

has

to

strong an appeal that his armour of trated

indictment of ourselves. of

approach

to

e

voluntarily

be made to him with so doubt

shall

and lose its deceptive invulnerability*

method of approach will do this.

be

He will not condescend to

change his opinions or swerve from his pBth and come

generation

We have not found an effective way of

Moreover,

influence

younger

be

pene­

No ordinary

This is far from being

an

Nobody else either has found 8 way

it, neither

society,

cult, movement

or

institution.

The

responsible

agent

is

evolution

which brooks no interference with its august this

is

a

progressive

lews.

Whether

or regressive aim of evolution has

been much a matter of speculation. submerged

itself

We are too involved

in it to take a detached and unbiased view of it.

The young skeptic then is declared to be one of the cuous

ingredients

of

our

notorious

Church and dogmata leave him cold. after their utopias, philosophers,

sick

speculating

through

like

the

derision-

so

As for the doubtful

if a pathetic one,

As

the

personal

supernaturalists

them.

Perhaps

suffering will do

outlook

It certainly would require more much

experience in

time.

of

because the term of life set for us here

up with the destiny of the world,

they

demands

it.

our destiny being bound

suffering is and

and it will

be

will

these

who will have the hardest lessons to learn.

no escape in caring for nothing lighthearted

and

be

influence in human life on its way to inner

awakening and spiritual vision, types

life

to face, whether physical or mental or

belief or non-belief,

compelling

much

Suffering

both,

the

a

many will consider

sometime

our

of

is also a very interesting one.

will

Whatever

have

and

and peculiarly an

mental

other four mentioned types,

them as beyond redemption. redeem

upon the

these Bre merely a

as they,

T herefore, the

skeptic,

to

The

contradicting one another and hovering

tnentel gymnastic for him.

object of

straining

contempt.

centuries

on the confines of skepticism themselves,

s p i r i t u a l i s t s , none

conspi­

civilization.

The idealists,

are regarded with

inscrutable universe,

for

and

adventure, nor

is

skeptic at the other end of the

but

regarding

there scale.

any

four

There is

life

as

a

escape for the

Knowledgeable

and

commendable in character as he may well be, he will feel the pressure of life in a more acute degree. an

un-inspiring inner percuity,

He will experience

a persisting frustration of

mind

end consciousness of being outside the precincts of en

assurance of soul and spiritual guidance which ere an present

solace

end

directive

ever­

in the lives of their wiser

fellow men.

It is well to be cognizant of these phases of racial tion

in

the midst of which we live.

we are practically helpless to aware

that, as

barrier

I know very well that

change

after

them*

are

well

of

evolutionary

the skeptic becomes more and more in evidence and in

increasing

number.

Moreover,

subtle ways the social but

We

barrier between the various

classes are falling away under the impetus trends,

evolu­

actually

the

life-

this

skepticism

Ostensibly,

effects

we may ignore

in it,

influence of this thought form material­

izing a philosophy of doubt is an

unseen

obstacle

in

the

path of our own aspiration and development.

In

the

closing

of

the

ranks

of

humanity,

isolated in a department of influence of its tal

to

forms, its

and recoiling only upon itself.

it cannot be

own

Like other thought

it has attractive power and draws weaker

orbit.

It

has

a

that

law

minds

into

group power which is not in harmony

with cosmic law but in opposition to ignores

detrimen­

or

it, and

the

man

who

willfully opposes its good intention

stultifies his soul life

and

invites

forms

of

suffering

decreed for his redemption.

The

fact

that

we

are

helpless

evolutionary abnormalities, spiritual culture, understanding

in

the

face

of

which ere a menace to higher and

is the strongest

and criticizing them.

reason

for

observing,

If our civilization is

sick, we as Rosicrucians should be the first to realize through

psychorretric

sensitiveness

and

professionally indicated to us, we should interrogated

these

it,

long before it is have

sensed

it,

and discussed it and be well posted as to what

is

causing

its

sickness.

The

early Bosicrucians did not

have to be informed of the evils of their the

first

to

time*

They

were

detect them through their science end expose

them, and they were the first to be damned for doing so* their time the Rosicrucian path was a trail of fire,

In path

b

of scorching revelation with persecution on each side of it. Where is that path today?

It

should

be

indicated to those outside our ranks that we

are not so occupied in saving our own souls that we shut our eyes to what actually is outside and pass by the skeptic the

other

side

as

if

he never existed.

oftener than we think and we should at with

He confronts us

least

confront

him

new enlightenment which may induce him to reflect more

seriously snd endeavor to view his life in and banish the philosophies and beliefs failed

him*

We

scientific

and

b

different light

which

have

really

must assure ourselves that skepticism does

not mean ignorance.

It often means that the influence of

a

intellectual trend of our time has captured

the imagination and submerged all interest in the ity

on

possibil­

of contact with the higher levels of consciousness,

any tendency on our pert to regard the skeptic or any

and

other

thinker as unworthy or inferior because of contrast with our particular

way

of

life

would prove conclusively that the

imperishable wisdom of Christ and illuminist

who

has

gone

Buddha,

and

every

other

before us and far beyond us, has

lost its true significance for us*

However irrelevant this particular theme may appear it

has

to

be,

a value in focusing attention upon one of the signs

of the times.

There is a challenge in it, however little we

can do objectively about it*

We know the value

trated

any

thought

force

upon

specific

of

subject

concen­ in any

particular direction,

and we can add to the potency

Rosicrucian

form we have created through the years

thought

of

the

and thereby increase its attractive power in many mysterious and

unknown ways.

a new impulse conscious

to

It can open many closed doors and impart many

knowledge.

a

closed

mind

quite

beyond

That is the only assurance we have in

the Order in Facing problems of others outside in the at

large.

What

our

cannot

world

be effected directly and with sure

results we may help to be done from the

oosmic

level

from

which the forces of good operate and whose one purpose is to assist the upward evolution of man.

Our

thought, therefore,

of the skepticism of our time leads

us back to the thought of the value of our own can

studies

and

promote a new resolve to make them more effective*

Our

purpose is not simply to repeat the work and attainment of a past year but rather to feel what

has been achieved,

certain

dissatisfaction

inciting to fresh ideas and methods

of research and application and drawing forth abilities

in

the

with

older

still

latent

members and inspiring the younger

ones to a deeper sense of responsibility in sharing in united

effort

and,

in conclusion,

never forgetting that in

thought and meditation, regarding our own inner with

all seriousness,

advancement from year because

some

who

lawless,

or

listless,

men, or even skeptics. disease time. if

of

the

development

and only s o , can we register definite to

will

belong to a sixth type

year.

I

lay

stress

upon

has

not nor

mentioned*

They

pleasure addicts,

They will be tinged

will

not

or angry young with

a

common

these,

studied and challenged and found no solution to

the

the

challenge of any type.

deeper

much

life

the

more

through

through thought and meditation, be skillful in sounding of

So

mind

we,

tones

meditation.

his

should

basic

and

be

age; an easy way to obtain much in a short

his perplexities and if he has sharpened thinking

this

come to us in the near future will

Even the skeptic will be more preferable than

he

this

and be able to meet the

THE ESOTERIC ASPECT OF CHAPTERS

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1958

We

are

proud

reason. build

of

the

Francis

Bacon Chapter and for good

It has been our privilege to form it up,

but it did not destroy our

1947, a

Lake,

The war scattered

our

abroad and checked their activities for cooperative

endeavor, In

and

in one of the most difficult and testing times

imaginable from every point of view, members

it, nourish

purpose

end

resolve.

few enthusiastic members associated with Frater

end the Chapter was inaugurated.

made since then you know,

The progress it

has

and highest praise is due to those

who have brought it to its present influential standing.

I

want to refer now to a more esoteric aspect of Chapter or

group life. the

I suggest that sincere and

Chapter,

when

once

been set up among its

dedicated

not

being

together should

of

members, should

fulfilled

its

come

to

in

a steadfast rhythm of activity has attract

within

sphere hierarchical power hitherto uncontacted, is

work

simply

members.

by

Its purpose

periodical

Something

living

its

meetings

end

dynamic

life within it as an anticipated result of

the united mental,

emotional and spiritual aspiration of its

uni t s .

I have often referred to establish term,

within

but it

is

a

group.

also

and to action.

felt

a

expression

certain on

the

rhythm

it

is

desirable

to

written

and

one

wsy

to

measured, harmonious physical,

this

epoken

In a Chapter it should be seen end

emotional

and

and

and

that

is

balanced

mental planes

towards attunement with the inner spiritual self. only

to

This is particularly a musical

applicable

language in

the

There

is

through ever deeper

knowledge Df oneself and no less of those with whom we

have

to work out our destiny in this cycle.

Now

one

of the outstanding characteristics of Chapter life

should consist in a purpose

deliberate

elimination

of

individual

in the interest of the group organism.

I know that

all will not be ready for this step of preparedness, for entails

and

demands

far more than appears at first sight.

It may be asking too much of the theless, that

it

younger

aspirant.

Never­

it can be said as an example and for encouragement,

the more advanced ones do not feel it a hardship nor a

great self sacrifice nor have they loss

a

in this matter of adjustment.

feeling

of

personal

Quite the contrary, and

in fact in real

inner development,

us, and

this is so, we may be sure that the peculiar

where

it should lie far

fire of long probation has eliminated any

behind

counting

of

the

cost in a worldly sense.

To

work

efficiently

in

a

corporate

certain degree of self e f f a c e m e n t ,

capacity

demands a

To work under stipulated

conditions for mastership in the future is not an easy for

the

personality.

ficulty,

Some

meet

here their greatest dif­

but once a powerful harmonious rhythm is felt with­

in the group,

its influence will be effective in helping the

less advanced to align themselves with it, be

role

but

there

must

a central rhythmic radiation among its chief members, to

provide the necessary and stable sonal

factors

Chapter,

but

guidance

of

Sometimes

under

the

surging

vibration

b

therein, the

instruction given and the dominant tone of the hindering

factors

gradually

lose

and an alignment of purpose is achieved.

Corporate

group life always demands readjustment.

Personal

activities have to be subordinated to the life of the soul.

per­

have been strongly in evidence Dn entering

group as a whole, these ground,

stimulus.

This

does

group

not call for any killing of the ambitious

life

of

the

mind.

The

ambitious

mind

is

an asset and

becomes of greater use when the strain end stress of ing

to

express

only

individually

desir­

is transmuted into the

inclusive expression of the group.

I am looking at our Chapter life from quite a serious angle. For the individual member, it.

We

it has an element of

paradox

in

want him to be expressive to the fullest degree but

for the group, not for himself, and this means, thBt in some respects,

he will have to stop short of some things he could

do or would have done and become quiescent

end

subject

to

the group purpose.

In

group functioning these individual adjustments will have

to be made even if sometimes not group

altogether

relinquishment

of

individual

opinions» possibly

unfsmiliar conditions by its units in order effectiveness

of

its united action.

this is not questioned. or

relaxed

and

ultimately

views,

acceptance to

insure

what

a

adjusted towards one center of

member

may

sanctum,

what

private life

and

himself

his knowledge,

and

the

in, tensed

I submit that the same

cess should not be questioned in the life of a Chapter. matter

of

The reasonableness of

All the lines are drawn

clear knowledge and procedure.

no

A

of intellectuals assembled for concerted action would

undoubtedly require some modification of some

acceptable.

feel

pro­ For

about himself in his

opinion

he

may

have

of

when he comes to associate with

his fellow aspirants in the name of advancement and service, he must

be

assert, but

prepared to

All the groups, happy

to

modify

that

assessment,

not

to

adjust himself to the larger group purpose. whatever their character,

adjustment

and

of

temporary

undergo periods of

maladjustment.

Both

should be accepted with equanimity and an understanding that lessens

are

being learned and assimilated and valuable e x ­

perience gained ss in no other way.

The

influence

of

the

center

will

reach

the

periphery.

The important thing is

that the central radiation of the group

should

be

strong,

steady and exemplary*

I

said

that

a

member

should

be

asessment of himself when he enters have

in

practice,

but

in

with

his

many

abeyance.

life as they will, exponent

Chapter

of

a student of

schools

life.

I

A member may be of

thought

and

Chapter life whBt he hss assimilated

from those sources should not be in

upon

mind one particular modification*

presumably acquainted

kept

prepared to modify his

Let

them

for good.

ostensively

asserted

influence his private way of In the Chapter,

he is

not

theosophy or anthroposophy or Buddhism, Rosicrucianism

but

with

well

defined

an

He is

lines

of

thought and action to be considered and used.

Prior or

tD

entering upon group work,

the aspirant pursues more

less s strictly individual path of development under the

guidance of miscellaneous instruction he may have contacted. There has hitherto been no necessity for the more impersonal procedure which a group demands. brings

into

it

the

mature

nature of an organized mental useful service*

It

is

sufficient

if

he

results of his studies in the and emotional

life directed to

He should not feel that he has authority to

impose any extraneous views absorbed from those studies upon the instruction and procedure of the Chapter*

I will quote from a letter I received from bears precisely upon this subject. highly,

Eastern

a

male

writings and teachings,

hypnosis

students,

which

Rosicrucianism a pharisaical

is

in

particular,

dangerous

both

which

He says that he esteems, but it is the undue

emphasis on them which is distressing since it some

member

an to

produces

esoteric

in

mental

themselves

and

and renders a Convocation little better than farce.

Those are strong words

from

e

group

member but not from the Francis Bacon Chapter.

They illust­

rate whBt I am suggesting that a member should avoid. obvious

It is

that he is a Rosicrucian student or he would not be

in the Chapter at all, and his aim should be to himself

into

its life and purpose.

incorporate

The central and estab­

lished rhythm of the Chapter cannot be expected to alter its tempo and accommodate lenging

rhythm

acquiescence, Chapter

itself

to

in its units.

any

imperfect

for them.

chal­

It is they who must exercise

a receptivity and understanding

provides

or

of

what

the

For if they elect to hold fast

to their own views and procedures,

corporate action is at an

end.

still, within

They remain valuable

individual

spheres,

units

their

own

but so far as they are concerned, there

is no real cD-partnership with the group.

I have no wish to depreciate any of the systems mentioned, student. the

I

am

not

I

have

given

plainly

Chapter,

shows

and

the possible

disharmony and just criticism likely to ensue in.

thought

discrediting them in the eyes of any

I only sey they do not belong to the

quotation

brought

of

if

they

are

It is not well to emphasize the possibility of

negative results in group combinations.

They are

mentioned

rather to strengthen the r e s d v e of those who participate in them,

to spare no effort to prepare themselves to accept the

conditions,

at their own free will,

which must be imposed by

authority upon the behavior within them.

If some negative results are sometimes recorded, indicate

want

of

insight on the part of those responsible

for the election of units in material,

suitable

and

a

group.

valuable

in

It

assistance

to

insure

a

case

of

respects,

being

discipline

with

success but sometimes failing

temporally to carry the tension involved come

is

many

given an opportunity to prove itself under every

it does not

in

in are actuated by a spirit of service;

it.

Many

who

others just as

surely

look

For

special

privileges

from Master contact.

While the few are not concerned about the immediate of

service,

beginning. surprise

the

many

look

at

rewards

it

experience

if

no

individual

to

group

importance.

in

an

aspirant

and

therefore

not

some should retreat even after acceptance of

conditions

imposed

upon

them, for

modern

life

has

the importance of personality and individual power

beyond anything hitherto known, sometimes

swept

into

personality,

so

and a sensitive aspirant

fully

conscious

of.

Yet

the

pathetically strong to hold its own because

of the pressure of the demands of everyday life and must

is

the vortex of this compelling influ­

ence to an extent he is not

stance,

the

is the greatest test that can be conceived

of true impersonality surprising

from

the declaration that the emphasis in this work

Nevertheless,

stressed

these

Those who are esoterioally ready

is shifted abruptly from

the

for

rewards

lose

circum­

ground

when

it passes within the group

connection

that

some

rhythm.

It is in

this

individuals

in

the

past have failed.

who

were

promising

They have failed in

all kinds of groups,

for the increased power which comes

an

group

aspirant

under

discipline is sometimes a direct

challenge to him to misuse it or to hold it chiefly

for

personal

personality challenge,

itself on

achievement.

which

will

the contrary,

for

its

give

It

own interests.

not

come

from

right and wrong, nor

from

the

integrity,

does

nor

yet

attainment

or

from

this

use

power

to

It the

The only inhibition against the

a s p ira nt’s

inward

the ordinary moral code of aloofness

of

intellectual

from a cowardly fear of losing prestige

in the eye of authority. of

immunity

its nature is to foster it.

this arises at the central heart of life.

exclusively

There is nothing in the

has the strongest incentive to seek and limit

to

It is a fiat of the s o u l ’s

spiral

before the Master has called it to share the

grace of His presence.

Indeed, this

discipline

within

the

group

has a value in

preparation which complements the instruction he receives in it.

If approached in ell seriousness and

ing, he

can

with

understand­

help to fashion an instrument for the M a s t e r ^

use when He elects to call ©n initiate for special Hence

the

necessity

unique opportunity mental

for a whole-hearted acceptance of the

of

Chapter

affiliation

from

a

clear

appreciation Df the demands which it must enjoin and

then anticipation of the opposing individual this

service.

group

combination

will

inevitably

factors

which

disclose and his

insight must reconcile.

It is much, spirit

if an aspirant has through the years learned,

and

in

truth, the

effacement.

It

cannot

to instill maturity

be taught.

it into the heart. in

the

and

beauty

from

here

and

self

kind

of

after long and patient vigils deeply,

an ever-present consciousness of

what life means to striving and worthy souls. seen

a

It is really life having been lived incarnations,

of

Even occultism can fail

It flowers

the man himself,

of many kinds. through

nobility

in

They

can

be

there along the paths of life Bnd endeavor,

men who have passed their

treasures

stream

recognition and never seeking it.

of

time

without

of

thought

into

They recognize a power within them not their own which

the

must

be given back to the world in forms of beauty and utility to ennoble

and

educate

whomsoever

worthy of note for us in this creator

and

abdication,

is

refer to

is

his

complete which

akin

esoteric

to

And of

what is the

dedication

constrains

in disregard of ell personal

something the

will.

characteristic

the divine necessity

give himself,

It

server

they

true and

him

to

considerations.

this that I have in mind when I

aspect

of

Chapter

life, that

it

should attract within Its sphere hierarchical power hitherto un-contected•

The

aspirant

should cultivate a sensitivity

to what the combined group power to which he has access

con

produce within him*

And if I may conclude upon

0

high point for consideration,

I

would say this: we are qualifying for Master recognition and cooperation,

and

we

should

know

have that intimate association terms

which

it

demands

Chapter can provide cosmic

forces

tion possible,

a

of

vehicle

and direction,

that we cannot expect to

until us. for

we

The the

comply

with

the

corporate life of a manifestation

of

which will make that associa­

but only after the voices of self have passed

into the silence*

THE WORDS OF A MASTER

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1959

I begin with the words of a Master: tTDoes a man know when he performs his best action? words

has

which of Perhaps

had his

actually

most

thoughts

such

development,

the

What person can tell which of his influence?

has

knowledge

What person can tell

reached

the

the

sphere?

would cut down the striving toward

for it might stir up pride.

reaches

highest

higher

Thought

sometimes

spheres end remains near the

altar ."

I

think

these

encouragement.

words I

am

carry sure

contact and especially in justified.

I

know

I

a

message

judgment our

have

to

us

of

of ourselves in daily

Chapter

work

suggested

a

is

far

high

an

ideal

of

that

nature

is

what

from

ideal

ourselves in our work, but we should not overlook that

great

for

the

fact

we envisaged,

condition of realized attunement to be hoped for, not to expected

to

be attained forthwith.

derogatory sense, but

with

a be

I do not say this in a

as if too much cannot be expected

of

us,

the thought in mind that fulfillments on the Path

are slow and halting within

our

conception

of

time.

How

would they be regarded within the timeless conception of the Cosmic?

The

answer

appears

to

be

suggested

in

the

quotat i o n .

A research study in a Chapter was referred effort of the member who mode it. quite

original

labeled

and and

as

b

small

But s small effort can be

and very interesting and inspiring to many.

We are so bogged down by life around us, right

to

wrong,

good

accepted

and by

standard of judgement for

ill, values the

all

senses

with conceptions of and

non-values,

and

the

mind as a

things, that

the

high

and

clear

insight

of

the soul does not get a chance to reveel

the silent truth shining beyond them.

There is a divinity within u s , but we are human beings a

peculiar

weight

of

Karma

or

past

history

which

constantly urging us to adjust to the present time.

what

should

incline

is

That is

a fact of much importance and the circumstances of us

with

each

of

us to consider it seriously and observe

it means to us.

We often

refer

much

too

freely

to

Kariti3 as a term which defines the general trend of life, but we

forget

that

it has fashioned us down to our fingertips

and cast the lines for t o m o r r o w . without path

our asking or expecting

How much good comes to

us

it and how much towards our

just as unexpectedly and un-wished for and for which we

see no justification?

This two-way activity is very noticeable aspirants,

no

less

so,

lives of those who Without

this

take

often no

much thought

puzzle,

low beings.

more

the

lives

so, than

for

higher

as

life would

be

of

in the culture.

acceptance of the hidden side of life,

past working into the present, hensible

in

an

of the

incompre­

it actually _i_s to millions of our fel­

Dne wonders

sometimes

how, without

a

stable

assurance and understand!ng of the facts of our incarnation, they

maintain

a

grip upon existence at all.

I think they

survive mainly through the common humanity and help of those around them until at some point, through the and

discipline

of the cycles,

first

stages

of The Way.

they are driven inward.

find

themselves

do

upon

Life without fails them and

This would appear to

be

happening

at the present point of history to an unprecedented We

urge

they are brought to seek the

deeper truths of life and ultimately the

reacting

degree*

not, nor shall we, observe large sections of society

accepting offhand the truths of the Path instance,

of Karma and reincarnation.

-

the

facts,

for

But

what

we

do

observe

is that because of the swift and

startling advance of scientific discovery likely

to entail in the near future,

and

what

it

is

together with the keen

desire for knowledges of all kinds of culture on the part of increasing numbers,

especially among

years,

and more vitally important than anything

and further,

else, the

quickening

pulse,

shall

intention in the evolution of the rapidly

prepared

for

the

many

in

we say, races.

their

early

of hierarchical

Ground

is

being

advent of greater souls of high

caliber who will demonstrate the truth of the Path in a which will compel attention. of

evolution

of

the

And observe this:

way

if the pulse

general mind is being pushed rapidly

forward to wider understanding and more inclusive

purposes,

we may be certain that the cosmic pulse is accelerating also and

causing

it, and

what

we

sense

is

the

decree

and

outworking of cosmic purpose.

We ourselves, this

purpose

effect

to

and

it.

noticeable ly

in our Rosicrucian studies, are

The

doing

visible

witnesses

to

we can to give greater

results

may

be

scarcely

in the busy life around us, but it is esoterical-

aligned

with

the cosmic purpose,

better judge the value of it. and

what

are

and later on we shall

Generally

speaking,

interest

attainment in the esoteric realm are little in evidence

today,

but the Masters exist; they

discern the trend of events, cross

purposes

wishes, shows

with

one

in royal conquest,

know

their

plan;

they

and if the nations are still at another

over

their

and even where they

rights and are

not, it

scant interest in the culture of the higher faculties

of man, or even do not believe in their existence, dedicated in the main as competitive physical thereby

they

race

space* thwarted.

are

to

sensuous

attractions

end

a

for mental domination and the conquest of Nevertheless, If

it

is

the

Masters1

plan

is

not

said that the trend of world

events could be a part of the plan--in other words, what

is

must

be and all is well--then there is nothing the individ­

ual can do about it. nations

I incline to

statesmen,

plan--the

scientists--is

and difficulties.

than

science.

Science, which can be

cast

plan

politi­

so

often

far

less

valuable,

bo

has

for

is

diBmetrica11y

well

consider neverthe­

anxiety and

opposed

to

the

humanity which legislates for universal

individual security and perfect trust.

It also

may

instance, today.

be

said

written

Indeed?

sufferings and cure,

of

that

over

the

the

words

of

a

Master,

world are

"The

moral

and

spiritual

more important and need help

more than science needs aid from us in

any

field

I do not think Masters make mistakes when

they make prophetic statements of that nature. prophetic

for

fifty years ago have no application

Listen to them:

discovery.”

are

of

the people for whom they legislate*

I think that

Masters’

plan

over humanity an atmosphere of fear,

distrust.

of

The

the answer to all problems

proved

informed

love,

view.

Leaving aside the politicians and states­

men , who moreover can be

less

different

can be so unspiritual and therefore shortsighted as

to think that their own little cians,

a

and

they were written.

These

words

they are more pertinent today than when For if

all

the

so-called

leaders

of

humanity and rocket-minded scientists focused their energies in

a

combined

effort upon lifting the moral and spiritual

sufferings of the through

a

wor1d--inf initely

marked

decline

greater

as

they

are

during the present c e n t u r y - t h e

plan of the Masters would stand revealed,

known and

brought

to fulfillment,

because they would then be worthy of it, but

the plan waits.

The nations have by-passed it, thinking— if

they His

think

about

Masters

is

hallucinations

it at all--that the plan of a Christ and worthy

of

a

to

take

Swedenborg,

its to

place whom

among

the

the presence of

Christ and the spiritual world were as familiar as the world around him.

Looking

at

world picture in all its somber colors,

the

have s duty not to

be

discouraged

by

and threatening it may appear,

bewi 1 dering

For

it.

the

mul tiply with

the years because the m ind of man is in

This is our K a r m a , here

All

man.

the

befo re

us

our selves,

now, written

end

more

within

and demanding att ention and interpretation. we turn the

Without b eing unduly introspective, upon

less,

should we be not to be diverted from our aim and

determine d

and

find

They do not grow

the ascen dant instead of the spirit of

purpose.

We

implicated in the midst of increasing

Karmically

problems of states and individuals. They

more

the more certain

we are th et what little we can do is needed in it. ourselves

patiently

and without bias,

searchlight

being under no

illusi on as to what we are, what we beli eve and what we do -

It

we

is

can

an easy task nor can i t be e swift one.

not

quiet sea rching of the heart and mind in prescribed

A

moments

It is imperative on _ • quotation I gave wa s to encourage us in

is far fr om being a selfish occupation, the

P a t h , and

it.

When we think sometimes that

from

the

little

so

it, we have no criterion in this,

good

results

If we could see our

own light as the Masters to whom we aspi re

can

see

it, we

should often be surprised at the kind and extent of the good we have done when there is h o ostensible proof of it.

Now the assurance which this Master quotation gives us, that our thought and action often produce greater results than we are conscious of, can also be taken as a subtle directive to us.

It

can

take

SEEK MORE LIGHT. It

should

be

the character of a personal exhortation: We should not really need this

the central aim of our life on the Path,

attainment of more inner persistent

directive.

effort

to

light.

It

could

urge

us

to

the a

bring about a fusion of the light of

the mind with the light of the inner spiritual self which is ever present and awaiting recognition. point the way.

Our mystical studies

At

the

same

time,

advice with a kind

I of

should

be

warning.

inclined to qualify this

It

ie

very

natural

that

search of this kind can be pursued with too much enthusiasm. We

must

not

forget

reaction,

end

if

reaction

upon

that

the

the

action

action

life

of

on

this

Path produces

is

tense, so

will

the

aspirant.

It is not for

nothing that Masters of the Path aspirants to learn how to wait;

have

so

often

be

the

counseled

to set a time limit for this *

or

that attainment can be very disappointing*

no

sudden leaps into the region of miracles.

soul-destroying year or next,

There can be There are

no

examinations set, which must be passed this

or the pupil will be sent down.

I do not

say

that results almost miraculous are not sometimes accomplish­ ed,

our

quotation

suggests

they are, but it is not at all

certain that we shall be conscious of them or of

the

value

of them*

We

so

itself

often

speak

wisdom

of

there spontaneously experience

once

better than we know.

Bet

is of great significance.

attained

us.

and

It means,

the

present

comes

forth

that out of

the

and past cycles of life, the

latent,

light*filled

which others have drawn forth intuitione 11y from

I will give you a concrete instance of this,

A

member

confided to me a lifelong type of mental aberration he

had which often made him fear for his sanity. time that all appreciation

he of

for this purpose. wrote

That in

needed

was

borderline

b

clear

conditions.

I felt at the

understanding

I sent him a book

Later, when I had forgotten the

case, he

me that he had waited all his life for that book.

you wonder that I have so often paramount

need

for

stressed

and

in

writings

Do our

deeper understanding and compassion in

touching other lives?

The real

Rosicrucian,

worthy

of

that

ancient

title, can

never be content with platitudes and the superficielities of

life. Way

The lives of those he is privileged to contact on the must

kindle the deep fire of the heart end inspire him

to an intimate sharing in a human need. process

by

persistently

looking

self, the presiding soul,

upward

periods

from that vantage point of withdrawal, into

higher

to the spiritual

of

meditation

powers

can

bestow

upon

us

and

entering gradually at

sphere of soundless contemplation,

b

this

which overshadows and inspires the

coordinated personality during

will

We can hasten

deeper

in which the and

mystical

insi oht *

It

would be a mist ake to think of the early Bosicrucians as They were far m ore

merely men of actio n. were

cont emplatives.

. expert

their

power.

objective

From

life

contemplative

life

so

the

They

unseen

the

and

source

aligned

completely

of

Their the

with

that the ordinary accepted standards of

speech and action w ere often of, before

an

was

That

that.

they derive d their vision,

that

was

lived

They

unknown life of inn er communion.

than

ignored , lost

entirely

il lumination

and

directi on

sight

of the inward

light and inspirati on of the soul*

It is little wonder that they were men with

their

contemporaries

in

in

thought

direct

and expression and

sometimes had to pay dearly for their spiritual but

conflict

ascendancy,

contemplatives they were first and men of unique speech

and action af te rwa rds . disjointed,

distracted

That is what is needed and

superficially

active

Never before so much as now do we need

to

beyond

babel

the

frontiers

of

the

sorry

today

retreat

in

a

world. within,

of contesting

tongues and the all-absorbing adventures of would-be masters of outer space to the infinite spaces of the wise silence of the s o u l , where reside the first end in carnation.

last

secrets

of

our

Let

us

then

discard the idee that we meet together merely

For the pleasure of social level

of

a

united-heart

intercourse and seek

the

deeper

contact, which shall throw light

upon the profound issues and meaning oF our incarnation enable

and

us to bring to others a breath of vision and a power

of service which are the aim and end of the Path.

b 11

our

culture

on

THE CONFLICT DF OPPOSITES

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1950

The

Greek philosopher,

Heraclitus,

a ceaseless conflict of opposites. father

of

all."

I

do

painfully

know

had

no

for

doubt

continuous

"War," he said, tfis

between

and remember themHeraclitus,

applicability

a

nations,

from

opposites, nore

early

the

as

we

It has for us, and

far

more

intimate

and

to the opposition and struggle of

forces within man on his journey through life, for, itself

bs

not interpret this term "war" as

applicable to the insane conflicts too

regarded the universe

years

to

late

is

not

I do not know what else it is.

if

life

a conflict of

I think that

the

you study your own life with insight and impartiality,

you will find this conflict of the opposites operating right through

it.

You

will find that it has confronted you with

unending problems of adjustment, best you believe life,

and

evolution.

there

in, know, is

Moreover,

a constant challenge to the

and can do.

It

is

the

law

of

no escape from it at this point of our if we expect life

to

bear

fruit

in

good works, nothing less than the conflict of opposites will produce them.

The

young

aspirant,

setting

early anticipation on the Path, judgment too favorably.

out in the warm enthusiasm of may not regard this mature a

He will not be inclined to view his

new venture in a search for more knowledge than he would devotion to a science,

in any other way,

an art or to

commerce,

85 just another interest in a different direction, even as a possible shortcut to a kind of "su perman".

Now

one

thing

which

is

undoubtedly

responsible

aspirant assuming this attitude towards hie studies number

of

for an is

the

books being published under arresting titles and

purporting

to

teach

some marvelous new system of develop­

ment.

He cannot be expected to take the

books

at

measure

of

these

e glance which the experience of a mature student

enables him to do.

A great artist said, "Man cannot be taught to compose or invent,

but

he

can become a good copyist," and most of the

books of the present-time cults replicas

of

are

but

half a dozen originals,

the mind of God and which can never

poorly

disguised

which came direct from be

added

to

little minds who lust after recognition and fame. hint

to

the

faculties, late

young

aspirant

to

sharpen

that he may learn to discern

that

far

from

all

those

who

by

his

early

critical

rather

cry loudly,

only

on

instance,

the

modern

Buddhism,

and many other systems of

original

standard

expositions

thought

me,

on

YogB,

alongside

the

to

chart

new

and

to the promised land. The occult press reminds

to compare small

novels

need

and techniques to note from

whence the moderns derive the incentive paths

books

than

"Master, One

place, for

busy

This is a

Master," have entered within His auric influence.

short

to

the

art

things of

which were Poe and Doyle,

with

large,

detection,

of

the

glut

of

the original masters of

whom none have

improved

upon

Dr

equalled since they wrote.

But

once

the

literature, will

aspirant

is

bearing upon some

aware

of this modern trend in

aspects

of

his

studies,

he

do well to become 8 severe critic of what is presented

to him and refuse to be misled by these deceptive lights and look to the masters of his science who have because

they

have

trodden

guidance of those proficients,

Bnd

shown

understood it.

the

Under the

he will soon realize that the

Mystic Way is not a flower garden bedecked with roses, charm the sense and make the journey to the mountain pleasant

dream. He

way

which top

a

will find that life can play havoc with

dreams. Cross

He will find that life can be and should become the of

Christ in action.

Until he does realize that,

he

is but dreaming.

It is not my wish to damp t he enthusiasm but

e nthusiasm.

let it be a rational

are not contradictions, closer

can

the

aspirant,

Reason and aspiration

exist

together, end

development.

He

will

that,

com e

to

appreciate

Why should this be

ally,

unfoldment

esoteric

along a straight line.

the

view

It

return

again

and again,

little

wiser

on

each

is

so?

Because

fundament-

never an uneventful progress

ever

proceeds

in

spirals.

aspirant

sp iral

through

perfectly

mundane It is up

to ©chie ve all he can upon each spiral

He will not do th is by

the way.

We

a pparently to where we were, but a

experiences which force the truth of life upon us. the

of

on the Path is a ceaseless conflict

"Life

of opposites."

to

the

association the sounder and surer will be his

their

Heraclitus

the y

of

seizing

upon

and

of

giving

allegiance to every book th at promises to give him an unprelift into a revel ation of the facts of the univer-

cedented sal

intention.

It

is

surprising

interpret

how

many

writers

to

lucidly

the minds of the Masters for us and put us right.

Until we are able to interpret a little drop these masqueraders by the wayside, in

profess

for

ourselves

and

our advancement lies

facing the circumstances which have placed us just where

we are and which hold the secret of our individual progress. It is astonishing how many Bspirants place their whole faith in this or that called teacher,

in this new cult

and

that,

but it is not astonishing to find them after a few months or years just in

the

sought the

bs

irrationally enthusiastic in another direction

expectancy that, in the beginning.

living

at last, they have found what they It is the circumstances

of

life,

intimately the present hour, which teaches what

we

are made of, what we can do and striving to do it, which

reveals the s o u l fs deeper life*

If I were asked whet is the cause subsequent aspirant, meaning

disillusionment

often

I would say he has of

Heraclitus

of this

and

noted in the life of the

not

in

waywardness

comprehended

the

deeper

his statement that, "War is the

father of a 11.,f

It is a statement he is likely to question,

but is it true?

When people today are asking for a world at

peace,

that

the idea

encouraging

presides

had

neither

exoterical1y , but esoterical1y , we really need more

of

it.

are to grow,

have

is

it,

has

We

all

of

it

pBlatable.

over

enough

Indeed,

nor

war

been said that we need crises in life if we

and if the aspirant is not aware of any in

life,

he should precipitate them.

which

sounds very discomforting.

That is another statement Nevertheless,

it is true*

He who never has to face difficulties and trials, to his strength impartiality, the

of

his

character, his

insight,

challenges

foresight

and

may be sure that he is not in training to face

issues B n d take up the kind of charge a Master would be

likely to place upon

him.

aspirant

carries the marks of

to

become

indelibly in him.

Why, the

disciple

He has not been called

b 11

a

I

want

the

this, written battle-scarred

warrior without good reason.

If

we can read the signs rightly, we shell always find them

stamped,

by the fire of the soul

do not know all they signify. but

deeply

think,

itself upon him, even if we

Yet if we

not

worst

look,

we shall come to realize what they mean.

War on the three planes of endeavor has done its

merely

its

beat

to make the mature disciple what he is. We shall

find that all along the way he has been faced with one sis after another, spiral

and

cri­

and if he had not surmounted spiral after

under the accumulating tension of these crises, with

his own wounded hands,

he would never

stand

where

he

is.

You

will

pardon

my

earnestness, but I cannot regard this

pursuit of higher culture, to which we have consciously deliberately sense,

called

ourselves,

in

any

other

more and more a part of it. profoundly

a

serious

warning

hand

to

Is it not like a

upon the heart,

become

firm

and

demanding from us care,

and right action in dealing with It, when

we see what utter chaos thousands make of it? are

us

thing, an obligation laid upon us to be

laid

conscientiousness,

compels

Is not this multifarious life a

careful how we meet and use it?

That

is

why

Bpart from it and yet have to work with and for it.

Here we have the conflict of opposites in its aspect,

a

two-way

momentum

most

of

will

have

it, and this continuous effort at right adjustment

impresses upon us a further truth, whether

crucial

of the life of the serious and

espiring soul and of the life of the world which none

In

it is something different and apart from the whole of

life around us yet at the same time

we

way.

and

we

know

Literally,

ourselves,

it or not, face to face with those higher

beings who have prompted cooperation.

that we bring

and

guided

us

to

secure

their

For what purpose?

as

we

shall

later realize,

to inscribe the life

of the cross in our members with unrelenting

compassion, to

the

the

end

that

we

radiate

unconsciously

co-active

influence of all the soul has known and suffered through the cycles during its ascent which

will

to

their

presence,

an

influence

unerringly reach and change the lives of others

with whom we associate, even in the ordinary ways of life.

It will be understood that I do not discountenance the value of books and teachings of the right kind, has

to

live

these out experimentally on

life and in all his athlete

in

but

members.

demonstration,

we

When

we

cannot

the

b 11

see fail

unique discipline of body and mind the years

aspirant

the planes of a

first-class

to realize the have

demanded

of him. tion

It is the same with a master artist,

and

one-pointed application have brought them through

all the crises incidental There

complete devo­

to

a

perfection

of

technique#

has been no short cut, no neglect of detail, no shar­

ing of difficulty and responjsibi 1 ity , but a ready plete

and

com­

acceptance of life and circumstance to the one end of

the mastery sought.

It may b e thought that I am suggesting what few can give, le vel , for

am viewi ng our aim and purpose from a high u 11imate

which

amuse

millions

the

of the sw ift years has to be faced,

opportunities of a c ycle are seen to be time

is rapidly pas sing,

until

the dawn of the New of

beyond

reach?

m ovement

Thought

in

Britain

done to create a new world? e

century,

we

Since at

the

li braries of literature on mind

power have become th e property of millions.

half

The

if it has not already passed, when

century,

the

a

Bnd the final

simply reading about the path is of major importance.

beginning

what

satisfaction can there be in flitting through life

playing with the toy s reckoning

I

Wi th

b 11

How much has it

this

reading

after

b e hard put to it, to show any

should

very prolific results from it, esoterically speaking.

It is something, but it is not enough, to say must

be

there, hidden

that

results

from u s , in the background of life.

That really satisfies nobody nor helps anybody, and to those who do not like this argument, see

I would say,

will

soon

it demonstrated by the real students Df this generation

now coming to the front; found

silent, self-styled saints who

have

God

within the confines of their societies, who are expecting the appearance of a prove

them.

are

in some of the so-called esoteric societies of today,

the s e 1f-righteous ones who

to

they

their

to

themselves,

well

misty-eyed theorists Christ in their midst

own theories correct end work miracles for

These and such as these,

the keen and demanding young

minds

now

questioning and seeking Light,

end of the queue. frontiers hands,

to

They will push back

liberation

revealing a

path

of

will leave et the

for

themselves

the

the soul with their own eager

which

only

genius

has

had

the

courage to tread hitherto*

Swift

once

said, "There never appear more than five or six

men of genius in an age, but if they were united could

not

stand

before

them.'1

Well,

if

half

illuminated spirits burst upon Britain with the Light the

of

of

that

men.

Aspirants,

and

not

the greet

In

resplendent

only

they, would

need

today

is

for

They would realize that

self-discovery, e

focusing

to tap the resources of the soul.

one

of

our advanced grades,

time when each seeker alone. and

dozen

b

it is the individual who counts, not the weak

conformist who runs with the crowd.

inward,

world

the Cosmic around them, something would happen in

minds

realize

the

One must,

cannot

who

it is said,

travels

the

’’There comes a

Path

must

travel

sooner or later, work alone in development

depend

upon

teacher,

Master,

friend

or lodge

companion to assist as in the lower grades of study,” means

that

up

to that point the aspirant has been shown a

way of experimental for

initiation

This

approach,

into

and thereafter

must

look

a higher realm of contact with forces

and insight through his awakened his own individual

he

and

dedicated

way will be revealed to him.

mind, when That is the

time of testing,

and he who has been leaning upon others and

depending

their help all the way will not easily meet

upon

that test.

lonely

ones.

There are steps on the Path which we must take alone,

and we

should

Our greatest struggles are always

not

fear

them.

We have the testimony of others to

this fact and the voice of the ancient prophet confirms MI

have

trodden

the

wine press alone and,

there was none with m e / 1

it,

of the people,

I

began

on

a

note of conflict within man,

this same note of conflict, demonstrable,

for

because it

onto

the

been

powers.

operative

in

his

it.

interrogate

to decide.

himself,

It

life, but

compels

leave his decisions to others.

and

to

gets

he is faced

now

him

It

has

he becomes reflect, to

It is of no use for him to He must make his own

and take the consequences of them.

temper of mind,

he

law of opposites and inner war.

acutely conscious of

ions

Directly

Path in purpose and aspiration,

with this universal always

inescapable

every seeker who pledges himself irrevoc­

ably as a servant of the cosmic well

is

I conclude on

decis­

If he hes not that

he will move along with the

crowd

and

get

nowhere.

The Path demands that temper of mind,

aspirant

will sacrifice much for it and not feel the conse­

quences.

Me will find

the

circumstances

and the true

will

come

full

circle under the set and inflexible will.

The early spirals

of

Let them do their

the way are often the most difficult.

worst;

and still

further, cruel

presence

Yet

a

little

while,

a

of

the

a new force,

past.

The

mind will receive a new

a recognition from

which will reveal

the

M a s t e r ’s

own

life in its true perspective and

dissipate all doubt of the truth of the way and how to in i t .

little

and the light of the soul will be released from its

bondage

impetus,

persist.

walk

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1964

Pythagoras this, For

Chapter

is

to

be

congratulated on initiating

the first combined rally to be held in some

years,

as

you

know,

endeavor to extend our work bringing

the

service, every

of

Since the

by

increasing

last

the idea has grown

rapidly

description are rampant,

First of all,

until

now,

some smart things,

of

many good and some very bad, tendency

of

the

time,

to

extension is

why do we associate in

and science,

them?

together

to

which has said

inform

So

ourselves

in

Chapters,

we

Study

should

be

element also in the private life of a member,

but he enters a different atmosphere responsibility

our

in matters which are

beyond the scope of science and religion. essential

and

is also behind the times as we soon

come to realize in our teachings. study

groups

want something which the orthodox religions and

philosophies cannot supply, done

the

groups and work in and extend them.

not everything. we

Groups are

compelled

when we consider our work in the Chapters,

Because

and

all kinds of groups on cooperative labors and

associate in

an

membership

war, which

but they do indicate the strong

But

country.

we have been engaged in the

various Chapters into prominence.

dominant today. formation

this

when

and

incurs

sn

added

he becomes a unit in a group organism,

such as a Chapter.

One of the main requirements of group activity is the eli mi­ nation of individual purpose in the interest of You

may not like the term,

whole.

but the fact is, that in working

together in a cooperative capacity, individual an act of

the

there is demanded of the

self-effacement.

You

cannot

be

b

11

yourself when you cooperate with other students for a chosen

end.

There

is

usually

good

a

deal

in

the

mental and

emotional life which has to s ubmerge if you want harmony and progress-

There must be a ce rtain quiescence

silence in the individual

and

interior

if the group aura is to be rightly

The his tory of Chapter life has proved

formed and function.

only too often that the rever se has been the case. uals

come in to assert themselves,

have

extreme value of their own pe rsonality, necessa ry

elimination has been Chapter,

for

in

Individ-

to demonstrate the

and their subsequent

the

interests

of

the group aura is of fundamental significance.

It can be disorganized and it s influence curtailed at ♦

through the presence of inhar monious units

The

f,

•

in it.

themselves

unreservedly

•

only some th e

to

of

the

esoteric

members aspect

give

of

its

If increased knowle dge of one's self and of the

activities.

path is desired,

Chapter life mu st be

taken

seriously.

not enough to belong to a Ch ap t e r , the question Beyon d

can you contribute to it? teaching

once,

hindrance to the sue cessful working of a Chapter

chief

in the past hes been this:

is

the

therein,

you

be

should

with

Y ou

others.

actual

able

and

inward contribution of insight communication

the

to

It

is, what

and

factual

bring your own

discovery

into

need to be well

direct

informed,

and every member should make it his business to acquire wide and useful studies

information

in

the

upon

bearing

Order, even

all

aspects

of

his

with a view to augmenting and

extending them.

That is why I say extension in numbers The

question

for

you

is, what

esoteric influence there? knowledge

in

your

technique of service, some

measure

of

is

is the

In imparting

discussions,

your

not

pattern

your own

your own power of healing

comfort

and

everything.

own

of your acquired

inspirational and

giving

assistance to others in the

Chapter who may need these far more

than

you

realize,

and

await your approach to them. Indeed, that is almost the main virtue

of

group

cooperation.

If

it is not a dynamic and

dedicated concentration of the faculties of your inmost self within the Chapter, influence

if you

©imply

end

go, and

your

is not felt there in any beneficent way, you miss

the aim of the

true

service,

means

which

Rosicrucian

field of

ideal, for

the

hand

of

an expression of your whole personal­

ity, should be called into use

To

come

and

find

its

own

special

operation.

be a good listener is well, but that does not make you a

Rosicrucian.

You must make way for the spirit

and

expression

way

that

it

along

of

creation

the lines of your gift but in such e

harmonizes

with

your

group

associates*

Instances in the various occult groups are too well known to be

overlooked of individuals in them who,

good intentions and conscious of which

all

the

in spite of their

multiplied

in the groups have access,

power

to

forget that power and

extended knowledge are for their use but to corporate

ends,

not simply for personal prestige.

For

service

is

the

Bt

heart of our activities.

easily said,

but wise cooperation,

is

matter.

another

That

yourself in a Chapter. various

Karmic

is

tD

The diversity of

limitations

it

effective,

why I said you cannot be all

and

types

in

it, the

possibilities under which

these types have to live end express, interest

render

That is

demand not

only

your

but deep insight and understanding if you would be

of any use to them beyond merely social contact.

They

have

prejudices and predilections, which national characteristics end

praise

foster

others difficult* opposite, qualities

and accentuate,

and make adjustments to

Some ere pronounced extroverts,

and it takes time and patience and

differences,

realize

to

their

them to full expression in the Chapter.

others the

observe

these

value and bring

That is the special

responsibility

of the officers.

From them,

a more specific

understanding is to be expected of the selected units in the Chapter in order to promote among them and make of

the

combined

them

aware

influence and helpfulness of their fellow

members.

You will observe that I place much responsibility officers

and

other representatives

in

upon

the

Chapter for direct

b

personal helpfulness and service to the members in it. so because I think it has often been if

there

considered

members

sufficient

is concentration upon the actual teaching

while the important factor of frore intimate has

been

overlooked

or

thst

arise

in

the

neglected*

It

behind

problems.

comprehension

but

emotional

depth

receptiveness

to

consideration,

and

and

need very

and

wrestling

sympathetic

are

with has been

grasp

of

teachings but little concern

about the troubled soul Intellectual

given,

contact

considered sufficient if there is an intellectual problems

I do

quite

often,

with

those

is a valuable asset, understanding

and

another matter for your

more

important.

It

is

a

revelation to see how much the heart craves for your insight and

loving appreciation,

statment of problems. this

kind

of

the Chapter, have

You

if it has been of reel a

degree

sympathetically,

need

heart

Your chief aim should

personal service to others,

cultivated

sense,

far more than your cleverness in

the

awakened

of

be

to

render

for your work in

esoteric

value, should

sensitivity enabling you to

the inner lives of your fellow inspirational

which

can

sense

and

reveal

conditioning

the

lives of members,

men.

quality of mind and what

is

within

and

and that means to bring

into effective use the telepathic and psychometric faculties of the soul which should be familiar to you

in

the

latest

stages of your studies.

It

is

not

the

intellect

which

should

be

of paramount

interest in a Chapter, aspiring todBy. end

soul.

It

it is the life of the in-dwelling and

is

easy

to be well informed and clever

Factual knowledge confront© us everywhere,

on the sir, but the soul is missing.

of the new members feel, turns them to between

a

us.

books

That is what many

and the inadequacy of the intellect

Therefore,

purely

in

I

mark

intellectual

a

great

technique

difference

of approach and

application and a compassionate emotional identification service.

You

need

in

in

your Chapter life the love of those

who are waiting to express it, for the

understanding

love,

which emanates from the heart of group life, can mean a real expansion there

of

consciousness.

is, here

un-expressed

and

and

waiting

penetrating light of it, will

there,

You a

to

initiated

need

rich reveal

to

recognize that

content itself,

consciousness,

invite it to disclose itself.

in

humanity,

and only the thrown

upon

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1965

We now regard our rally as a unique event here and one which has

qualities

and

elsewhere which

a

robust

mark

it

thoroughness not to be found an

bs

occasion

of

exceptional

importance.

Only

a

few

years ago, we were visualizing and feeling our

way to a new type of convention and interchange with

members

from

far

and

enthusiasm and coloring well y e a r ’s rally for instance, features

given

by

near,

which

is

the

past.

officers, can

produced

most

be

when

done

and the will for success and the

purpose of highest service are fully expressed. most

deeply

interested officers

Last

with its variety of well prepared

competent

perfected

contact

would give it an

in advance of

excellent results and demonstrated what preparation

of

That

which

me about the rally was the devoted

labor of

the

responsible,

revealed

in

all

the

features

of it, and their sincere cooperation in making the

event an outstanding one.

There was a particular facto r which I

realized

had

int o consideration whe n making this recording.

taken

to

be

It was

this : our Chapter does not s tand where it did at the time of former

rallies.

outlook,

in

efficiency,

has

It

confident and

in

grown

in

pe rsonal

attract ive

character, action,

influence,

in

in

all-round

ail of which not

only reacts within the Chapt er upon all taking part but

it

has

become

memore ble

in

the

mental

minds

in

it,

of visiting

officers from various parts of the country.

It has not only

gone rapidly ahead of its fo rmer capacities,

it has now

self-conscious

the

momentum whi ch is shared by the whole of the

staff of officers.

New

this is an ideal we had in mind from the beginning.

has now materialized, come

from

merely

cooperation, ideal

but this kind of development does

desiring

understanding

shall

be

a marked

success.

responsible

and

realized.

grown with their task,

It a

comes from purposeful

determinetion

They

have

than

felt

concrete action of the

that

the

The stature of the officers has

are

more

ever

capable

before

minds

with

larger views relating to the purposes of the whole.

not

and this alone has made their efforts

There

office

it.

It

taking

new ideas and Chapter

as

a

the enthusiasm and the ability for senior

officers

and

given

whole­

heartedly their cooperation to them.

In

preparing

the

have kept in mind strictly

many different features of our rally, we b

two-fold balanced

Rosicrucian

aspects

The serious

Bim.

of our teaching, as given in

the Chapter throughout the year,

and

also

the

entertaining character of such an occasion. seek

to

focus

Chapter for

for

their

the

and

visitors

stimulation

social

and

In this way, we

the main purpose of the

and

encouragement

end

to

stress the importance of the social aspect which will Invite a

closer

personal

cooperation

contact

between

them and insure their

in ell the C h a p t e r Ts activities.

A further factor which we in the Chapter are fully alive is

this:

the increasing influence of television in dissemi­

nating knowledge of the most varied afforded conduct, this.

by

experts

relating

kinds, the

Much

there

is

to

gained

but we know

making is, that in the general

information all share alike, views

held

on

from

be deplored and decried, that

our

with the many the enlightenment referred to,

personal

information

to most aspects of life and

and the consequent enlightenment

from the same source,

am

to

issuing share

and the point I

increase of knowledge and

and this

the

members

all

is

bound

to

modify

trend and conduct of present

daily

life.

It

visibly

affects

members who imbibe the scientific

the and

views

of the young

cultural

and

other

information relayed for them with a positiveness and note of finality which admits of no interrogation or criticism.

To

most

of

corrective,

this,

our

teachings

can

provide

a

decided

and wherever the views are expressed by

members

as a kind of challenge to what the monographs teach, be

our

business

to meet this challenge and to expound and

expand those views by a kind

sound

psychological

and

mystical

approach-

This

think will

increase among new members today because

passive

acceptance

of challenge is to be expected,

know

that

and I

of

even

mentioned.

given

understanding

of

self

would revolutionize

What

which

with the emphasis of authority by those who have

no sympathy with the interior and psychic

partially

But

the preliminary teachings of our early

grades completely undermine many views and statements are

the

of so much that is relayed to them with

that complete assurance and finality I have we

it will

and

the

life

thinking

approach

to

the

which we offer and which of

the

misinformed

or

informed members.

do we envisage for the young members attending this or

other Chapters: Rosicrucian

a life

of

definite

guidance.

We

can

eager recruits, discipline

for

willing

active,

still. well

aspirants

its many stages. hierarchy

Its

aware

who

regard

qualify

them

under

under

the

hierarchy

entire personnel of

and

directly

of

the

as a group of a

self-imposed

positions of authority as real service,

we may be assured that standing

to

usefulness

Masters

is

for not

is alert and vitally interested

in

all

are seeking and following the Path in any of They are all

within

the

vision

of

the

and will receive help Bnd guidance if they demand

it and resolve through

meditetion

and

service

to

their lives to the rhythm and aims of the heirarchy.

attune

It

is

an

illusion

humble efforts,

if

they think that their faithful end

at whatever stage they may be, can count for

little because the higher reaches of beyond them.

The humblest aspirant,

service, may

be

hierarchy, an

of

path

appear

far

because of hie life and

exceptional promise in the eyes of the

and a few years of special effort will bring

enlarged

consciousness

recognition.

Like nature,

many and unpredictable. them

the

but

when

and

an

inner

him

assurance

the revelations of the

of

path

are

They come not when actually seeking

the mind and heart are iriBde ready for them.

This is my word of encouragement outside

will

for

the

young

The

world

will

leave him to his own dreams and aspirations,

aspirant.

give him no such encouragement.

It

and it

is

up to him to take speedy means to materialize them under the watchful care of those ready to help him.

And

what

of

the o lder members and officers who

ourselves,

* serve in

.i • their

Chapter?

I

• various

think

capac ities

of

in

with

them

the

work

admiration

of

the

and

deep

appreciation because of the lab ors and responsibilities they discharge,

accept so willingly and so ably and

sustains

within,

them

in

this

they sense and

suffering

of

tesk? the

know Tha t

humanity*

but

what

Fundamentally and deep

ever-present

is

urges

sorrow

and

the keynote of all their

l a bo rs.

Among

humanity

reaching

there

out

for

bewilderment from unknown

goal

is it

the

a

prevailing

knows

onslaught

of mental

It

application, elone

calls

for

of

achievement.

because we have to live with it. task.

not

courage,

and

our way within a kind

guides us. of

what,

a

chaos,

a

©tumbling, a

opinions

towards

an

We are aware of this,

So much the harder is perseverance

and the influence of our

sustains

mental

and

untiring

hierarchical

In a word,

circumscribed

the

contact

we have to make

circle

of

upward

aspiration.

We

cannot

get

much help from outside it.

have to look upward and think upward end drew more and upon

the

more

inspiration of the hierarchy and its readiness to

respond to us. cooperation

Nor must we forget that we

of

those

who

the

veil

believe

have gone before us.

their work here unfinished and beyond

We

only

to

see

in

the

They left

more

clearly

and to cooperate more understandingly end

helpfully in the greater things they wish to do and to which we are dedicated.

It will be a sorry thought to think that when Knowledge was closed for them here,

the

Book

of

it would not be open for

them to continue their advancement with the greater souls in the

Cosmic

to

whom

they belong*

They have made contacts

which we, within our present limitations* ere unable to make or only at times,

quite unknowingly.

We know that at certain stages of the path we have to travel alone,

but that aloneness is

here.

There

an

Incident

here

hearts,

to

lift

so shall

effectively.

It

some

we

do

here,

fall

us

it

there,

through

upon

as

we

collectively

each

and

more

is a chastening and inspiring thought thBt

what the hierarchical

perplex

all

beings

us

here

have

of the vicissitudes of life.

hold on to that thought and most when life down

We work in

away beyond the veil and we shall know, with our

departed brothers, for

and

sojourn

of the burden of life from human

the doubts and illusions which hinder and will

our

is no aloneness on the other side.

closer association than is possible seek

of

seems

done

We must to

close

us in its many changing moods and challenges our

very faith in unseen help and direction.

Unseen

influences

sleeping;

in

are

moments

ever

with

us, whether

of abstraction,

waking

or

we are well aware of

them, but to interpret the nature and significance

of

them

calls

for

s degree of intuitional eensitivity which has to

be cultured for.

Yet we have gone a good way

towards

this

objective in our studies and especially in our practice* have

We

reached a stage when our combined concentrated thought

affects very strongly those we seek to help in difficulty or illness.

Here we touch the very heart

of

the

Bosicrucian

life.

The

burden

of

sorrow

often descends upon us through this

very act of alleviating the distress remember

the

scripture

which

lifting a little of the lifting

means

that

heavy

we

of

other

refers Karma

to of

souls.

the the

disciples1 world.

his

own

way, and see

That

are actually taking upon ourselves

something of the burden of souls who Bwsit deliverance in

You

by and

reason

of

accept

our

this,

we

each

development end

willingness

to

are

made

the

instruments

of blessing and redemption through our deliber­

ate effort but often enough quite unknown to us.

You will not consider these reflections as of a spective studies

character. and

cultivated

arise of

They

are

naturally

and

from

the

very nature of our

the

others.

the

habit

problems

we

listen to teachings of the path.

which

beset

if we merely read or

They have to be transfused

into the blood of the heart and issue forth as the of life.

have

We do not believe with some that we

have done well, and all that is needed,

truth

intro­

feeling and seeing below the surface of life

and of applying our findings to ourselves

of

too

realized

Our studies teach us to interrogate life in

all its aspects, then we reverse the process and look inward in silent contemplation and receive the deeper truths

which

only Bwait recognition.

We

shall

come

to

realize more and more the effect of the

spiral process of development which operates in

cur

lives.

This

takes

place

very

through the years* the

much

unknown

to us as we pass on

The foundation having been

truly

laid,

interrogation of life under the guidance of our studies

and the inward contemplation to receive the unfolding of

them,

coupled with the silent passage of time reveal the

changes wrought by our spiral development the

truth

consciousness

that

limited self-hood,

we

most

clearly

in

have outgrown the former, more

hBve a new scale of values and on assured

and confident approach towards all that life decrees for us* The decrees of life bring surprise and change, from

what we expected,

so

different

so often opposed to so much we hoped

for and felt sure of, yet It is much if we are able to all

eventualities

with

insight and composure,

meet

for that is

perhaps the surest sign of real inner advancement.

Our life in the Chapter has brought us a long way early

years

of

self

expanded outlook of

development

mature

of

the

the aspirant to the

consciousness,

where

spirit of self sacrifice asserts its right over us. not regret or refuse this,

from

the

true

We must

no matter what it demands from us

or whst it elects to do with us.

We may not be known of men

in the busy life of the world, but if the sacrificial spirit reigns

in

our heart,

known on the inner against it.

every step of the way is foreseen end

side

and

nothing

can

really

prevail

BY RAYMUND ANDREA ISBS

I have been asked to record a message for your Conclave,

and

the theme I have in mind is suggested by a magisterial admo­ nition

of the well known mystic Boehme.

the road is world

steepest,

refuses,

thither

things,

thy

steps.

that take thou upon thyself.

will not do, that do thou. all

bend

It is this, "Where

thus

What

the

What the world

Walk contrary to

the

world

in

by the shortest road shalt thou attain to

God .11

There you have,

in four pregnant sentences,

way of the world in a very large Yet,

because

we

are

of

a

majority

mystical

study and meditation to our credit,

a reverse of the of

its

people.

persuasion, with much

we cannot with any sense

of superiority shut ourselves off from it, nor have right

to

do

so.

The

we

any

very fact that we are a part of it,

have to rely upon it, could not exist without it, assures us that, under Karmic decrees, must it.

cultivate

a

we have a

duty

toward

it

love for it, even as we aspire away from

We have chosen the steepest road for our steps,

must

be

and

and

it

steep not simply because of its inherent difficul­

ties but because there are prepared

and

to

so

few

comparatively

who

are

make any attempt to ascend above the material

intellectual

planes

of

existence

to

encourage

and

strengthen our hands.

I

do

not

believe

there are more lonely souls in the wide

world than those who bend their steps to take road, day

by

day,

very

world of strange peoples. with

this

in

our

often

steepest

as if they were living in a

Times without number I

members.

events Df everyday life,

the

In

the

have

met

midst of the rush of

they have to seize their place

and

play

their

ears.

part

with

voices

innumerable assailing their

Yet within they are solitary units,

communion

of

For

as

for

any

thought or word of higher understanding, they

might ae well be among the people of an unknown tongue or in a desert solitude, and

I

but that is a fact of the steepest

road,

doubt if there is a mystic of any standing who could

not testify to it>

Well,

if it is a fact and a

decree

accept it and thither bend our steps. for

K a r m a , we

of

have

to

Th ere is no other way

us, and the only thing which can for tify us during this is that not o nly others

almost unique quest of

OLirs

than

have

gone

that

within the veil which

dims

for

ourselves

vision

greater

way bu t that we are known the

mo ment

the

clearest

them and that we have the sur e inner guidance of

of

master minds who kno w all the technicalit ies of The Way the

and

efforts and fru strations encountered in our environment

in our resolve to re ach them,

’’What the Boehme*

world Every

refuses,

take

step he mentions

thou

they

and this one

ourselves

burdens

in

reject or selfishly ignore because

You know the craving for ease

meet

it

everywhere.

responsibility

The

in

modern

life;

indifference and evasion of

in those w ho coul d do and be so

much

is

a

rebuff to the first principles of humane living,

staggering

not to mention the That

says

threaten the ease and leis Lire of their own sense-bound

existence. you

thyself,M

is a hard one,

means that we deliberately take upon life which so many evade,

upon

keen

demand

of

spiritual

of the min d must never infect us.

disease

aspiration, Yet,

I was

told of a member who decl ined to visit another who was dying in hospital because the e tmosphe re of the place would be bad for him.

One would think such a person had never

heard

the life of Christ or wha t Rosie rucianism stands for. are

afraid

of

soiling

of

If we

our hands in lifting the burden of

distress

or

need,

the

need willing

hands

to

scarcely

understand

hour will surely come when we shall have the

compassion

mentality

otherwise, especially if they have tragedies

of

upon

of

those

known

compels

allegiance

and

refusals

and glaring factor of modern life. Master

one?

can think

of

the

But the

hypnotic

influ­

of the highest and are

a

common

But when the seership of

Seer sees through it all from afar off, and our

seership should see it too, easy

who

war and witnessed the havoc of them.

noblest of that which the soul demands of us

the

I

anything

world itself is the grand illusion and its ence

us.

We

often

can we expect our path to be

expect

it

to

be

an

and think we have

merited it because the concealed Karma of our lives seems to act against us, but for our future good, the

deeper reasons for it.

it does not spare us, weak

thinking.

see

The admonition is stern enough,

it gives a death blow to negative

Indeed,

the tempered will,

only we cannot

we

and

should need the awakened heart,

and a purposeful soul,

to do

that

which

the world refuses.

The

next step has the same quality of relentlessness in it,

"What the world would not do, that do thou."

It seems to me

that Boehme wrote for our time as well as for must

have

seen

written it. own day.

the need for it then,

his

own.

or he would not have

The man of vision does not write merely for his

His vision sweeps far along the path of evolution.

His inspiration carries him into the very heart of life into the hearts of men. tion

and

knows

that

T h e r e f o r e , he

and

He understands the cycles of evolu­ what has been will be, until mankind

rises by its own efforts to higher action,

He

does

levels

of

thought

and

not hesitate to impose upon us

this kind of peremptory mandate although it counters abrupt­ ly the attitude of the world and lays the responsibi1ity and circumstances arising from it upon Boehme

wrote

for

the

strong

us.

It

s o u l , not

is

clear

that

for the weak and

vacillating

one.

One

would think that when he wrote this,

he did so after a lifelong contemplation the

life

of Christ.

certitude,

and

following

of

There is the same austerity, the same

the same ascension of all the powers of the

soul

to the plane of divinity.

Am

I

going

Illusion?" thought

too

far in describing the world as "The Brand

Boehme leaves us in

it was.

no

doubt

as

to

what

he

His admonition is but a brief direction to

the student to make a daily application of it and unveil the illusion for affirmed

himself.

the

same?

Have In

a

not

other

great

authorities

famous spiritual classic of the

East, written centuries ago, we have this; "Know revolving

world is e wheel of delusion,

is like its nave or axis.

By

its

that

and the human heart

continuous

rotation,

produces all this delusion within its circumferenceyour manly exertions, the

center

this

If, by

you could put a stop to this motion in

of your feeling and desires,

you will cause the

revolutions of the great circle of delusion to cease," turns the upside

accepted

down.

It

materialistic reverses

we

ourselves

help

advanced

psychology

world" means how we view world, it.

the

to

That

the

values

The sorry thing B b o u t

world of the it

is

to make "The Brand Illusion."

We

endow it w i t h b e i n g Bnd s u b s t a n c e the

attitude

completely

eternal masquerade Bround ue. thBt

it

in our own

minds, b u t

of today ventures to affirm, the

world, our

attitude

to

as "the the

end can be regarded as our world* our presentation of

But,

entirely character

in

itself

our of

the

acceptance

world or

is

denial

reality or unreality.

indifferent, which

mysticism.

Its

most

formidable

gives

Psychology,

is feeling its way along the frontiers of

the

and it is it

the

therefore,

province

of

problem now confronts it,

since it has to reckon with the spiritual revelations of the ancient East and the mystical West.

Between

the

assertions

of

the

awakening

East and the West there is no conflict,

but

Boehme,

and many others before and after him, are still

the pioneers of thought in the vanguard of spiritual tion,

evolu­

and science ie beginning to recognize this.

Boehme's things,

conclusion,

"Walk

contrary

to

the

world in all

thus by the shortest road shslt thou attain to God,"

is the crowning assertion of all pinnacle of the mystical path, it, and

try

to

visualize

and

touches

the

highest

I invite you to reflect upon

just

what

it means.

It would

appear to demand the outright renunciation of the world, Boehme was too far-seeing compliance

with

the spirit of it* living

part

of

the

and

wise

to

advocate

rigid

written word instead of entering into

He knew very well that we are too much

opposing

forces

it become a constant stimulus to rise above them and,

so doing,

exert a beneficent influence in other

admonition

lives.

in His

uroes us to reverse our accustomed attitudes and

assessments of persons world

a

the world and dependent upon it and that a

link of destiny has set us in it, that the of

a

but

and

circumstances

from a new angle of vision.

and

regard

the

He exhorts us to realize

that this phantasmagoria around us weaves a veil of illusion so cleverly that we shall never know it for what it is until thought and action and emotion are brought under the search­ light of spiritual perception.

It has been said that if we met an adept

in

the

flesh, we

should

be

unable to recognize him.

That may be so, but we

should

be

very

not

differently

after

dense

if

we

did

think

and

meeting him, and our meeting with Boehme

should not leave us quite the same as before we met may

not

feel

him-

We

immediately recognize "The Brand Illusion" in many

of the forms it presents to us, but our cultivated spiritual senses should be s w 1ft to penetrate and un-mask them*

A man can only write whBt he is on this path,

and

the

fact

that Boehme wrote this admonition is testimony to me that he hed experienced what he wrote2

doubt

if we shall,

We have not atteined it, and

as long as we live in the world

bb

it

is, but it is the true mystical path as the Masters know and live it, and our efforts to follow it, however much we short of it,

fall

is all that is expected of us and will bring ue

nearer to them.

A CONCLAVE

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 1968

You

have

very

kindly given my name to your Chapter, and I

taks this opportunity of thanking you For your of

my work in the Order.

appreciation

My mission in that work has been,

not to lay down rules Bnd

principles,

but

to

inspire

and

encourage in pursuing what the training of the PBth requires of u s .

Briefly

defined,

Conclave

b

shared or specialized ourselves, sharing?

a meeting of a group with

interests.

Therefore,

I

personally

like

have

produce

not

merely

in

a

the

seme

world?”

had

to

meet

do

something

worth­

we leave it

in

frame of mind as that in which we entered it, has or

merely

Social contacts are all very well,

everyday

without

seeking

for

after something far more serious in

wish

For that is what a Conclave of this

it really been an adventure in spirit contact?

ask

an ordinary club or a literary society but a

nature should do, but if, on its conclusion, the

might

no doubt whet they should be,

deep personal desire and intention to while

we

what ere these specialized interests we should be

and I ask, "Do they together

is

a

social

and they can be

them, but we should be

and

profitable.

Everyone

this Conclave should be fully aware that we shall obtain

little on the path of higher culture without a live persist­ ency and strenuous research, soul

will

only

dedicated purpose,

reveal

because the hidden life of

itself

and in a Conclave,

one thing and be of one purpose. be of secondary importancemade

a concentrated and

we should be intent on

The social

aspect

should

I am persuaded that it is often

of first importance to many,

activities,

before

the

I am not decrying social

but they should have a very subordinate place in

the minds of the members.

I have been prompted to these comments since it was recently put

to

me by a responsible officer that much Df our effort

in group life is directed to rather

than

to

events

and

occasions

one-pointed Rosicrucian activities.

seems to be justification mounting

social

for

this

view

judging

There by

the

interest in these occasions and the noticeable en­

thusiastic anticipation shown when they are

publicized.

We

shall little impress the present or the future in this way!

We may well recall the lives of the early Rosicrucians if we want an example of how they approached the life of the Path. The earnestness, all

they

seriousness and dignity which characterized

did and wrote is a flaming challenge to our time,

and in the sessions of a infuse

we

should

endeavor

at least something of the same spirit*

be mutual and

Conclave

interrogation,

purpose

of

the

deep understanding

There should

of

the

nature

studies officially promulgated,

revealing among yourselves of various aspects of selves.

to

and a

your inner

A door should be thrown open to the inner self

and

an endeavor made for a deeper communion Df soul with soul.

This

nation

of

ours was, not so very long ago,

most insular of nations. crack

the

shell

It took

two

of our insularity,

shattering

been

washed

in

the

of

blood of its heart.

should be enough to make us consider whether, late day, the

to

the

nation

That memory

even

at

this

we can fathom the depth of thet remarkable rule in

scripture,

"Before

ence of the Master, the

wars

and that only happened

under the hard blows of fate after the feet had

one of the

heart,"

It

the

soul

can

stand

in the p r e s ­

its feet must be washed in the blood is

of

a rule that a fresh aspirant might

quickly pass over and try to forget.

He will think its tone

ominous and forbidding.

b

his

Yet, this is

rule

inscribed

in

own heart which will bar his way to the highest commun­

ion until

it becomes a fact in his own experience*

What

is

more,

it

will

bar

the

way

of those beyond the status of

aspirant until they come to know themselves very and

understand

what

psychologically,

life

has

done

in this respect:

girds people closer fell

blood

did

disa ppointment,

a

great

suffering and fear

Barriers

together,

us

of

long

standing

and there ensued a great sharing of interests on

away,

from the lowest to the highest,

every hand, rooted

and is doing to them

and why.

Yet, that shedding of the nati o n ts service

thoroughly

insularity,

str ongly

which

and

deeply

marked this nation,

We need only look around us today

wiped out.

the

to

was

note

how

far and in what ways this dras tic change has penetrated. has

come,

symbolically,

throu gh

the

compulsory and later,

the spontaneous outpouring of the blood of may

doubt

the

heart.

You

fail to see th e application of this, but the

or

change from insularity to a sh aring of interests, scale, meant

It

a

on a

vast

destined rele ase in diverse degrees from an

individual bondage.

We know what that release has done for a large percentage of people.

It has freed them from much but not elevated

It

lowered their standard and their value. They are no

has

example to the earnest aspirant. almost rest.

That

fact

Where there is neither even

toleration,

sympathy

that

declare our ideal and purpose.

is

nor

knew

war struck us. through

the

what

wbs

it

now

understanding,

But we,

looking to the inner Many of

us

did

coming before the first phase of the

We had already shed much of studies of year© of research.

and progress further on that. say

is

no invitation to us to

life, should not have needed that release. we

itself

enough to make us retain our insularity and shun the

scarcely

not,

in

them.

our

insularity

We have to rest

I have said it before,

with renewed emphasis:

and

I

we shall receive no en­

couragement from outside, neither from government,

church or

society.

So

much

the

more

imperative is it that we find

encouragement within ourselves.

The tide of interest in the mystical life has us,

in

the main* all through this century,

one arresting sign that the success

in

edge.

tide

is

the

and there is not

turning.

mind

end

to

Bn

daily

to

urging and

Our com­

assimilation and mastery of know­

ledges for which they have no love but

only

a

perfunctory

and for which they lack the capability to apply to

any useful purpose. has

worldly

of men more firmly to the temporal.

students

interest

Of

increases

so-called education is defeating itself in pelling

against

all its manifold forms there is much to acknowl­

Secular knowledge abounds

enchain

been

forced

the

The release from one kind

mind

of

man

to

another.

His own cleverness has

life

form,

of

take

of

bondage

a hasty refuge in

imprisoned

him, within

b

and he refuses to believe in Bny possibility

of development outside of it.

Our studies lead us in a diff erent

direction.

If

we

shed our insularity in favor of a sharing of interests, should

not

mean

becoming imita tors ori gin al

can

of

one

another,

Nothing

come of merely following, want of

insted d of allowing it to sleep through rededicete

that

a mild sur render of our individuality and

work. Whereas, we pens in group - 1* ve ideas, b bringing out creat

should

have

creative

or

yet that often hapcreati ve

a soul an

think ing,

life within us incarnation. We

ourselves again and again with a resolve

to pursue the harder way to our self discovery. of interests should drive

us

inwards, not

Our sharing

outwards,

Even

the social aspects we engage in should minister to that end* We

might

engage

in a reasonable and healthy introspection

and remembering that we are what Karma has made sober

assessment,

not

us, make

a

an inflated one, of what this equip-

ment and the circumstances in which we are, will

permit

us

to

do.

We

should be willing to be different, somewhat out

of step with the time, and bring our strength to the

inner

self

has

possibilities,

trial,

for

the depths Df which we

have not yet sounded.

Within this self,

we stand as e central

point

between

unceasing movement of two waves of evolution. us

the

One is behind

and comprises the consummation of all our past cycles of

incarnation,

That stretch of hidden past history conditions

us, we have made it end cannot Biter it, although it can modified

to some extent and rearranged by a master hand for

a specialized purpose if the adjusted

admits

of

it.

kind of Karmic content

Therefore,

brought us in body and mind,

or

short,

to

be

whatever our Karma has

in soul and circumstance, we do

well to accept it and determine to build long

be

we have to fulfill

will which can carry us through, not

upon

it.

Whether

its term with a tempered austerely,

but

remem­

bering the privilege accorded us; to become a servant of the cosmic

powers,

worthy of the name.

ness in the will,

If there is relentless*

there should be compassion in

the

heart.

Both are needed and demanded for a balanced development, that is always the aim of a disciple of any note. wave

approaches us from the future,

what

life

The other

with all its opportuni­

ties of exceptional advancement in expanding if we are awske to them.

and

consciousness,

We stand at a center,

has made us, regretting nothing,

that foundation shall we gain the insight

conscious of

because only on

and

strength

of

will to face higher initiations of consciousness.

Here, he

for example,

well

is a member questioning and lamenting,

might, the

purpose

of the Dark Night of the Soul

which has come down upon him, but he the

burden

trial. is

end

of

as

should

be

glad

that

the incarnations has made him worthy of the

Thrown back upon himself,

he can see himself

come to realize that the darkness

as

he

is but the shadow

eo of

the

Light

testing

which awaits him.

experience

demanding

which

recognition

emerges

and

them, or

ascend

from

the

fulfillment.

ready to meet them and profit overcome

So it is with every other

from

above

We

them, them

silent

pest

shall only be

understand

if

them,

we have drilled

ourselves unremittingly to that end.

I refer to communion of soul with soul because only

can

bo

members hope to really know one another. We shell never know others if we c o n c e n t r a t e mainly upon the acting personifica­ tion of them in everyday life. requires

this of us.

The peculiar action of Karma

What impresses one is the unexpected­

ness of the outworking of Karma in to

its

We need

the

inwardness,

the

our contacts to enable us to sense the phases life

of

experience

should

equip

forward

taking

us

to

sensitiveness,

in

meaning and drift of

place in them.

penetrate

The mystical

behind

the

scenes

obvious to common observation.

immediately

A

pressing

fulfillment in so many strange B n d myster­

destined

ious ways.

lives,

member recently touched this point very deeply to me, re­

marking that when he contacted another to assist him, quite unable to recall afterwards the many details superficial

analysis

of

character

would

almost entirely occupied with the soul reflecting

itself

within

him.

Those

which

reveal*

life

of

he was

He

the

the

world

and,

under the

maturity

between

of

w b s

other

of us who have been

pursuing these studies for a long time might endeavor this kind of perspective,

a

after

for there is all the difference in

contacting and conversing with m person

cultivated

impressionableness

of

hie

own

soul, entering into a spiritual communion with

him.

Obviously,

for this,

spective.

This

may

we must have spiritual height and seem

per­

to be asking much, but if we are

mindful

of

our

studies of years,

noted merely for standing firm but higher

ground.

We

Rosicrucians were, seers and

of

must

to whom we

no mean order.

spiritual

cultivated

never

insight.

we should not wish to be for

passing

onward

to

(forjget, what the earlier

sometimes

refer.

They

were

They hed extraordinary, intuitive It

was

precisely

beceuse

they

and exercised these gifts that they attracted to

themselves the obloquy and

opposition

of

governments

and

authorities

who

would not tolerate these gifts of the gods

among them.

And,

I know of nothing that

awaken

like opposition and obloquy,

todey,

the

would

on

their hearts,

quickly

or something worse

than the advent of a similar company

prophecy

so

of

seers

with

their lips and the luminosity of the spirit in but I think that is a far-off event.

A LETTER FROM A MEMBER

BY RAYMUND ANDREA 19B8

I

want to quote to you from a letter received from a member

of our Order. knows

our

She has been a member for

work

in

this

and

very

many

years,

other countries through her

travels abroad, end therefore is

competent

to

express

opinion about our membership and the work of the Order. says

this;

"Why

does

RosIcrucianism

you

would

to

do.f

But is it my life?

lives given to us for, really? desire, for

of that I am sure.

some

1It is your l i f e 1,

and whet they mean is 'Do what you

like

time, and

want

and

What are our

Not to gratify every wish or

These thoughts have

earnest

She

make so many people

become materi b !istic (because it does!)? somebody said,

an

prayer

subject of whet to do with all

I

haunted

me

and meditation on the

have

tried

to

make

of

myself brought me to your book.”

Now,

a

letter

of

knowledge

and

searching

reply,

that

inner

description,

written from personal

conviction, demands

a

and I am going to make it.

definite

and

There are many

letters we can file and forget but not when they are written in this stringent tone, does

it

occur

and if what this member says is

to you that we ourselves may help to foster

the attitude expressed in this letter? potencies

in

potencies on thought

so,

the the

You know

there

are

individual aura of each of us, and those path

strongly

life cannot be hidden.

declare

themselves-

It travels far and wide.

has telepathic and psychometric qualities.

It is

known

Dur It of

»

men,

influencing

diagnosed by many. studies

them And,

unconsciously* I say

to

you,

It if

is we

seen

and

permit

our

to divert us from the soul life within, thus giving

it an objective and secondary interest in our lives, we have much serious thinking to do*

I

was

interested to note that your present Chapter Master,

at her installation, mystical

Bnd

wished to lay more

Well,

is

that

appreciation

from

members

a

bed sign or a good one?

since,

It has

had

the

field

to

Science has done itself, but

of miracle Bnd terror is slowing down.

has been billowing in upon the shores carrying

the

there had been too much of science of late years.

well of late. reign

upon

esoteric aspects of your work, to which there

was a swift response of they said,

emphasis

all

before

it, until

of

For years,

time

and

it boasted it could run the

is encountering an unseen obstacle it can

knowing it,

the impregnable confines of the spiritual realm*

with

its

things. skies

clever hands In its chagrin,

and

is

see, nor

nor

questioning,

It

neither

It

understand,

It is pausing,

of.

it

specs,

universe, but now hesitation and doubt are troubling it.

dispose

its

confronting,

without

considering whet more it can

do

instead of believing it could do all it may still

even come back,

splutter

up

to

but the answer is not there.

the It

will not find God or the Hierarchies on the rocky fastnesses of the seeking

moon*

It

God

may

so

will

be

objected, tTBut

science

not be disappointed,”

is

Precisely so.

It is seeking power and domination and the glorification men

and

of man.

not

of

would transform the creation of God into the image Meanwhile,

the spirit within man awaits the hour of

s c i e n c e ’s exhaustion and a change of direction.

The domination by science of the modern complete

mind

has

been

so

that few have had the heart to declare against its

boastful, materialistic assurance or the courage to denounce explicitly

its

compelling

power

young minds, and

impious

tendencies

and

influence.

of science has had a hypnotic effect upon

end the governments of the day have

increased

advertisements.

The

it

through

their alluring talks,

The older and experienced members

fogged or sidetracked by these hidden persuasives.

encouraged books and ore

not

They can

strip off the insidious glamor.

The young and inexperienced

minds readily succumb to it.

It

has

been

matter.

I

myself,

MHow

said

was

that.

For me, discipleship is a serious

interested

could

in

thBt

discipleship

subject?"

What

subject

is

seriously

than

that, the

statement

be

other

worthy

of

and

than a serious

being

whole aim of which,

taken

taken

the

stages

of higher evolution,

clear and long-range vision of spiritual who

are

ever

discipleship in student,

who

seeking

wishes

seriously.

to

It

I know

end

spiritual

who

possessed the

a

promise

nothing

what

and of

which

merits

to

man, should

a be

take

the central aim of all our

No matter at what stage we are working

or what aspect of studies is purpose

show

into

be

life

consciousness,

evolve

should

studies on the path.

this

who

development?

s d u I

considered an enlightened more

those

more

is to fit us

for contact and cooperation with those Masters of have

asked

firmly

in

engaging

mind,

of

us, we

so

should

have

preparing ourselves

inwardly to be able to receive impressions and guidance from the hierarchical

level of spiritual consciousness.

I need not remind you thet my correspondent made no specific reference to your Chapter. and

students

in

her

She had contacted many

travels,

and

to

quote her further,

"Chapters disappointed me terribly and nearly drove of the Order."

It seems,

her

is

criticism

of

therefore,

me

out

that the basic cause of

a prevailing tendency to materialism

among the members she has contacted. is

Chapters

If

we

inquire,

fWhat

a Ro sicrucian,1 there are ample authorities to enlighten

us, but I turn to a brief definition in a modern dictionary, and what does it say — to esoteric w i s d o m . 1 wisdom,

fa member of an organization devoted If materialistic science

I have yet to meet with it.

is

esoteric

But,

I

have

not quite Finished with my good c o m espondent.

She had previously written reading,

and

"Lately,

I am haunted by an

self, body,

I

will

to

soul

quote

end

why

I

have

experience, with to

experiences,

thoroughly

Rcsicrucian

in

spirit

seriousness

in

the

outlook,

and the

the

on

in

to

her

whDle

much greater

make of

you for

will taking

age, culture

long years of mystical

having

in

my

think

member

dedicated and

a

I

of

and

of

to

truth,

had

many

psychic

the

inner

life, a

revealing

her

own

matter of spiritual development on the

the

utter

other

lack

in mind and aspiration, impossible.

rededicate

apology

record

work

members she has known,

is

to

Here is a

result

lines From her letter,

service." no

a

devotedness

one hand

Few

the

mind, everything,

discipleship seriously. and

a

as

urge

degree than ever before to realize

me

Well,

of

declaring

the

dedication

materialistic

in so many of our

who have nothing in common with

her,

and with whom harmonious cooperation there

is

a picture,

and a true one,

taken from life not from imagination.

Now,

I would like to quote to you from

a

the

disciple and the Master in Burma,

The Master is teach­

ing the disciple how he may hear the God

and

in

reply

to

the Master says this:

will

are

and

"When

passive

internal word and spirit,

being

both

to

the

locked

words

how he may

intellect

and

of the

is winged up and senses

up by Holy abstraction, will

of

be

and

the

then the

revealed

in

That touches us today at its highest and best. That

is discipleship end given in disciples

between

impressions

outward

eternal hearing, seeing and speaking thee,'*

thy

and when thy soul

above that which is temporal, the imagination

unspeakable

the disciple,6 question,

hear,

quiet

dialogue

we

our

grades

of

teaching,

for

are, or should be with full emphasis upon the

esoteric aspect in mind and effort.

It is not an easy path,

and that is why so many shun it, even when they

think

they

are

on

it, but

lip

service is of no value here.

must be paid for it, and it will mean much.

A price

For one

life will not run smoothly, happily and carelessly. bring

the

whole

man to attention,

and how!

times of trial,

times of change and

that

no longer meet the occasion.

was

can

my

correspondent, "I

rededicate my whole self, in

am

body,

It will

There will be

readjustment.

haunted

soul

he

by

and

The

man

He will demand

deeper truth and enter into it, and only when with

thing,

can

an

say,

urge

to

mind, everything,

a much greater degree than ever before to service,” will

you know what discipleship really is.

I have,

on many occasions,

spoken and written strongly about

the general drift in modern life, but never

been

ignorant

influences

in

our

of, or midst;

slow the

let to

work

me

say,

recognize, of

those

I

have

the good who

have

consistently done and are doing their best to be b light and leading to the younger generation. that

Chapter

life, wherever

Rosicrucianism should be a

it

And unfortunate as it is may

legitimate

be, and target

the name of for

pointed

criticism and to the effect that its tendency is to mBke its adherents

materialistic,

lays

a

responsibility

Chapter and others to ascertain the ground cism.

In

your

own

Chapter,

as

[as]

of

upon your

this

before

said,

asserted by members that science has been too much dence.

criti­ it is

in

evi­

If that is so, the influence is that a materialistic

tendency

has

crept

verse of esoteric,

in, which is objectionable and the r e ­

and

b

further influence must be made that

the inner life, the life of the demanding

expression.

It

is

spirit, for

us

is

not

given

its

to direct attention

dynamically and interests Fundamentally to the inner life as in the higher grade teaching, tists.

That

is

not to the

them.

mystical

of

scien­

not the objective of Chapter or the Order,

and if it is made so, then we shall tract

making

or

spiritual

certainly

men or women,

neither

at­

we shall repel

As members of a Chapter, and

is

which has a most creditable history

well known here and abroad,

we might ask ourselves,

"Where are we placing the emphasis in life in our Is

it

upon the accumulation of facts,

studies?"

scientific or other­

wise, the main object of which is to convert a student a

kind

of

third-class

admire and emulate,

encyclopedia

for

into

the ignorant to

or to have a nimble cleverness of tongue

to give a stereotyped answer about all things to all men, to make our borrowed impression

upon

temporalities, action

of

our

learning

a

fellow men?

the

level

us

of

to

Is it these,

a

sounding

and similar

which we aim at, or is there a place for

to

the

spirit within us to fix our eyes elsewhere,

and put the emphasis upon spiritual enabling

passport

or

vision

and

realities,

view life and our associates from a higher

consciousness,

to

see

their

anxious

need

and

minister to it, fcr this is the true Rosicrucian mission?

Therefore, we

cannot

the final thought I would leave with you is this: do

what

we

like with our lives in the name of

materialism or science without incurring the penalties of an ever-present destiny. silence

The spirit of man waits in

the

wise

for our recognition and our cooperation and, at the

appointed time,

will compel them.

THOMAS A KEMPIS

BY RAYMUND ANDREA

It

is

well

known

that

The

Imitation of Christ has been

translated into more languages than any other book with exception

of

the

Bible.

Within ten years of the author's

death, there hBve been published eighty editions of 1399

the

it.

In

Thomas A Kempis, the writer of it, was admitted into a

Augustinian convent and

there

writing

and

sermons, hymns

monastic

and

biographies.

Christian The

most

he

lived

pious

life,

in

of

secluded

tracts,

of b

life

treating of the

addition

celebrated

Imitation t obviously the work

a

to

his

several

works

is

contemplative, for

The it

breathes of the quietness and peace of the cloister.

With

its combination of simple faith and mysticism,

never ceased to appeal to

b 11

manner of

men

and

it

women

every conceivable religious and mystical persuasion. devotional heart, be

book

makes

an

universal

appeal

as this book has done for several

sure

has of

When a

to the human

centuries,

we

may

that it is the offspring of divine inspiration and

has a profound message and meaning for us.

It is related of Pascal,

that when about to

write, he

used

to kneel down and pray the Infinite Being so to subdue every part

of him unto itself, that when he was thus brought low,

the Divine Force might enter into him. he

By

self

abasement,

prepared himself for the receiving of inspirations. That

is the attitude we must have if we wish to profit Im it a t i o n , then Holiness. before are,

the

a

door

softly

opens

The music of the voice of the altar

falls

upon our ears*

into

from

e

Temple

disciple

The of

kneeling

We forget what we

and listen to a voice of yearning compassion telling us

what we might become, world,

and when we pass out into the strident

we carry the tones of that voice

within

us, and

we

know that it is attuned with the Spirit of Christ.

In

these

days

we

hear very much about the revelations of

psychoanalysis, psychology and psychiatry and methods

of

scientific

other

probings of the sacred precincts of

personality and soul, yet, when all is said and do

we

stand?

We

stand

thinking and consequent conforms

to

the

face

done, where

to face with our own secret

outward

action.

If

our

provide

and

a

complexes

rich

thinking

Law of Christ within us, there is a plain

and lighted way to our action in the world, and inhibitions

allied

source

which

of

haunt

enterprise

the

the

fears,

majority and

for

clinics

and

professors pass away like mist before the rising sun.

We

do

not

think

psychologist,

of

the

author

He

from

has

the

looked

vantage

Imitati on as a

point

of

mortal

man

of

nor has

he

but he is greater than any of

into the heart,

Consciousness of Christ, weakness

The

a psychoanalyst or a psychiatrist,

ever been described as either, them.

of

a

seer,

mind and soul of man illumined

by

the

uncovered every palpable or lurking and

revealed the way to immortal

s e l fh ood .

The rare quality of A Kempis is that he ampled

the

unex­

genius of a man possessed with a passion for Christ.

From the first words to the last of pressed

with

the

unrestrained

overwhelmingly possessed with the has

reveals

seen,

lived

and

his

book,

influence

of

presence

of

communed with Christ.

we b

are

man who is Christ, who

The whole book

revolves around the one central theme which absorbs him: man, helpless,

broken,

unreclaimed nature, the

divine

buffeted

and

perplexed

which has turned away from or

presence

within

him, of

man

by

life

of

the

world

and

of

his own forgotten

unredeemed

blinded through absorption in the passing phantasmagoria the

im­

and of

of the challenging and sadly

compassionate

figure

of

Christ ever before his vision and

pointing the way which he had trodden in defiance of all the difficulties,

hindrances and treacheries which the Karma

of

the world could set against him.

I

question

whether there is any teaching in any other book

of devotion which so truly epitomizes the pBth of ship

we

bs

entitled, second in

know

it, as

it

is

presented in the Chapter

"Of the K i n g ’s Highway of the Holy Cross,1’ in

book

on the inward life.

Eastern

devotional

discipleship

in

works, which

colorful

Western

mind,

the

Some, who are well versed depict

the

way

of

language and with a nomenclature

which is far more abstract than applicable in the

disciple­

character

to

may on first sight doubt this statement.

I ask them to accept the challenge of it and take this chap­ ter into the hour of meditation in the attitude of Pascal.

There is no appeal from heaven,

it

is

the

highest estate. read,

the

life

the

tribunal

here

or

in

disciple in its true and

and not one can escape it.

path to his m i n d ’s content,

it into discipleship,

from

of

any

shall

challenge of the cross stands before every disci­

the

of this,

to

No matter what books we have read or

ple as b fact to be met, chart

it

major and minor,

mystic by virtue of that,

him, the

word

He

may

divide and subdivide occultist

by

virtue

near to the Master or far

of A Kempis is a two-edged sword which

flashes clean to the heart of the problem of Initiation into Christ.

The Cross of Christ descends bodily upon every soul

of man who is resolved upon that Initiation. use

for

us,

If

es

yet

untried, to

It

is

Df

no

turn aside from this

aspect of the path because we may think it unduly introspec­ tive,

if not morbid,

some,

the

in presentation.

academically

I

can

ever

the

cross

that

and occultly learned ones, may feel

inclined to do so, but thBt will not dispose If

imagine

of

ha6 been laid upon humanity,

the

fact.

it has in

this

century above ell others, nor could ell the voices end

commotion

of

recognized

the

world

how

fact,

But it will make

laid

all

as

a

major

pein

responsive, of

like a narcotic,

time, uninspired

happened

ative,

and

That has happened in

all, we

we

us

far.

may

no

revolving

inspiration to our

countless

lives.

If

it

the other view

is

imper­

an

important

crisis

in

life

which

instead of by slow and easy development.

humdrum,

spiritual

uneventful

w b s

living,

living, very eventful

and

more

settling down uneventful

quietness

in

looking

and

and

making

which

turned

back

in

ourselves?

What

have

mankind in general. stripped

The world crisis,

mankind

will do so,

way

loss, where

do

we gained and what lost?

of

that has not taught it much. same

The

and

it

are

find

is

not

yet

most of its material gain, yet It may elect to

upon the same foundations.

There

we

I speak of

build

those,

a

again

The majority

for they see nothing better, but this

all.

Imitat­

back over the years and making an impar­

tial assessment of our profit and

satisfy

higher

and continence to the perennial spring of spirit­

And,

the

again

of a materialistic environment and less and

ual inspiration and culture such as we find in

ended,

once

in seizing upon

less susceptible to a frame of mind

in

It

not have to wait long for the

Hence,

Between the two wars, mankind

ion.

the

an acceptance or rejection of a peculiar Initiation,

by force,

more

of

face a turning point in evolution where men

have been brought to

to

differ­

leave us subdued end u n ­

of

in

should

of civilization.

that

offers

is

To view it as

bound hand and foot to the relentless

fellowmen*

downfall

the

upon man for his own perfecting.

the

wheel

it

opportunity

a chance stroke of destiny will not carry desden

whether

we regard it, whether we recognize it as a stroke

of common fate or see it cross,

the

as the Cross of Christ or merely worldly misfor­

tune is another matter. ence

hide

will

comparatively

not small

minority,

who

interpret the world crisis as a crisis in the

soul of man, and through this crisis in these lives, Christ, it seems to me, will come into his own.

It has been said that purity of heart is to will one That

thing.

most pertinently sums up The Iroitation and its author.

Throughout the book, single

one thing only is willed.

There

is

a

endeavor to mirror in the heart of men the image and

life of Christ in all its beauty.

There

ideal.

is

radiant, poignant

and

unrivaled

not a word of deviation from this august

It is as if the author had ever before him, day real

presence

of

Christ

and

night,

the

in the Temple of the

Heart,

and not for a moment could he release his gaze from a

rapt contemplation of it nor speek but in words

of

fervent

simplicity of the way to full possession of it.

Acquainted as many of us are with many books of a devotional nature,

when

we

turn

reflection upon it,

to

it is astonishing to note how completely

absorbed the author was in single

aspect

The Im itati on and after repeated

his

subject.

of the conduct of man,

retrogression from the Christ ideal, clear

In

is

not

should

of

some

in his approach to or

which has

escaped

touches of austere asceticism,

expect

from

the

retirement, we

find

in

sympathetic failings

understanding

the

pen him

of a

for

e

recluse

warmth, man

in

in

which we monastic

companionship all

his

and

manifold

and weaknesses on The Way which places it in sharp

contrast to the complacent

Eastern

aloofness,

literature.

conscious

How

height

bleak detachment so characteristic of

the

often

does

of attainment, latter,

seem

the the to

or belittle our common and wounded humanity fighting

at odds in a purely worldly environment and impress us a

b

insight of this genius of holiness.

spite

ignore

There

feeling

of

finality

with

and impossibility of achieving the

high goal of endeavor while man is but roan? The

Imitati o n .

The

Not

irresistible magnetism of Christ works

upon the mind like a spiritual

leaven as we read it.

the magnetism of Christ which gripped A Kempis it, and

it

is

It was

he

bs

wrote

this same influence which holds and compels

our allegiance as we meditate it.

Spiritual magnetism in an

inspired writer has this of divinity in it; upward

1b It in

bo

that

it

draws

to itself, directly the heart is touched by it, and,

as A Kempis depicts upon luminous

his

living

canvas

in

full

colors the character of the Great Exemplar,

and

we see

a man lifted up into the high heaven of consciousness by the magnetism of his subject and writing what he must in perfect humility end consuming adoration.

Today our ears are deafened with the rhetoric of a tongues. Christ.

They

not

inquisitorial

They have forgotten Him and

There

is

tions:

power,

name

are

tongues

arraign

thousand arraigning

one

another.

a mBd haste to build quickly upon the old founda­

of

it

prestige called

and QBbel,

domination. For

Therefore

really,

is

the

a few short years

after the blood bath of the nations, the fear of man for the ascendancy Bnd domination of his neighbor rises steadily and makes the future as uncertain picture

that

would

through

and what shall

the

years

for

values of life and others like us are

but

a

the

past.

inspire any man.

look for inspiration, striven

bs

It

is

not

a

Whence then shall we we

the of

handful among the nations,

do?

We, who

have

greater and enduring stiffer

persuasions,

but nothing that has

happened has robbed us of our ideal or our hope.

They ere a

part of the texture of soul which neither wars not the rumor of wars can touch.

Indeed, we are far more

convinced

than

ever that these values are the only enduring ones, for after the world holocausts, persistency, within us.

as

they dominate the heart with an abated

silent

witnesses of the presence of Christ

It is upon this foundation that we must continue

to

build.

We

are

not responsible for

the nations nor did we create the gods gods

the masquerades of they

worship.

of the nations ere idols," says the Psalmist.

MA11

That is

a summary judgment, but in this materialistic epoch in which we Find ourselves, when

is it not short of the

truth?

In

fact,

we turn from it for a moment to quiet contemplation of

The Imitation, we wonder

whether

after

all

A

Kempis

is

speaking

to humanity as we know it and whether it is fit to

read it.

We

need

it

are

firm

upon

nations

desperately, but their

thrones.

shaken them from their morbid seats, fellow men and women, unpalatable truth, has

been

by

the

A

Two wars have not

gainsaying

people

ssks

us

our

That is the it.

Christ

of the nations and as

inquisitor

to look at Christ,

b e a u t y , suffering and strength whatever

happens

influence of that life, Him.

the

dismissed

Him

contemptuous finger pointing Him to the door,

e

Kempis

that

of

and it is humanity,

no

summarily dismissed as the grand with

gods

who have kept them there.

but there is

dethroned

the

to

us

as

Christ, we

try

and

to

realize

to radiate the

we shall find the prototype of it in

There is cur inspiration,

reflect

of

to meditate upon the

and our care must be that we

it in a life of devoted service to

which is worth anything in this world.

the

only

ideal

ROSICRUCIAN CODE NUMBER 10

BY RAYMUND ANDREA

The

Rosicrucianfs

Code of Life set out in our Manual is no

doubt familiar to us all. familiar

experience

can

be

real

inward significance is often overlooked

in

so

Yet my

regard

to

many

the application of them.

other

what

are

little fruition in our lives. volume

of

and

forgotten

These rules of the

They can take their

place

called platitudes and so bear As a matter of fact, a

whole

Rosicrucian instruction could be written on this

Code and be a stimulating commentary of and

one

with rules of this nature, that their

Code can easily share this fete. among

is, that

behavior.

Some

direction

of these rules are more penetrating in

character than others. moment of Rule Number

esoteric

I am thinking 1D.

particularly

It is often in my

at

the

mind,

"Attempt no direct reforms in the lives of others. Discover in improve

yourself what

yourself,

needs correction

and

that by the Light of your Life

you may point the way to others."

I

sometimes think that we who are on the Path (and) are apt

to see the faults of others more quickly than by

reason

of

our

studies.

other

people

I sometimes think we are more

prone to attempt the reform of others than

the

keen

prac­

tical hard-headed professional Bnd business types we meet in the

city,

contact,

immersed

in

the

affairs and struggles of daily

exercise toward their fellow men.

They usually see

more truly the basic qualities of characters tolerant

Df

the varied behavior,

and

are

more

the personal reactions of

their fellows, then we who assess them from what we consider the higher point of view.

Why is this?

Is it because, through the

kindness

of

good

Karma, with

we

have been privileged to renew links from the past

those

who

development

are

and

devoting

are

themselves

enjoying

happy

to

esoteric

associations

therefore feel themselves much in advance of

the

and

majority,

in this respect* who take no thought for the inner life? this

is

not

the

basic

dangers of the Path* separateness. down

a

cause,

If

it is certainly one of the

It has often been called the heresy of

Yet it should scarcely occur

demarcation

line

to

us

to

set

between ourselves and others who

have not taken any thought for the Path,

We do not know the

potentialities of any human being and what may lie quiescent behind an unassuming exterior we know well* assess people at their face value. mistaken.

Beyond

the

veil

If we do, we

of

un-sounded history of past lives,

We should never should

personality

and if that

be

lies

the

history

were

suddenly revealed to us we should be astonished and humbled.

Regarding

this rule,

it is our first and paramount business

to labor assiduously to know ourselves. to that task. trial

and

There can be no end

It is one of continuous work and

experience.

If

reflection,

we believe that because we have

read a number of books on the teaching of the Path and through

certain

grades

of

pass

instruction we have the key to

self-hood end other lives, experience will catch up with and their

teach

us

varied

better. course,

instrumental

are

technique,

point where we have experiences

Our

to

us

grades, enlightening all along constantly

a

preparation,

an

revealing a way of advancement to a meet

the

and eventualities of life wisely and well.

But

the revelation of self

apply

and

all

its

we

great

know

to

possibilities

lies

beyond that and is subject to the conditions of the Karma of the

past

and cannot be foreseen or unduly hastened*

know this is so, with those who have taken thought Path

and

are

treading

If we

for

the

it, surely it should incline us to

feel charitably towards those

who

cooperate

with

us

and

-those

who

do

not, For

life,

in

either

case,

is

a hard

in

this

work,

school.

Now, speaking of ourselves who are engaged there

is a Factor which can not be overlooked.

justiFy us in acting other than this does

rule

It does not

enjoins, but

it

reveal a reason why many on the path do act in opposi­

tion to its teaching and

oFten

go

out

of

their

bluntly and untactfully attempt to reform others*

way

to

Those who

have been working upon themselves for some time esoterically are

bound

to

feel

the

effects

phlegmatic English for instance, and

restraint,

are

more

of

that

with their

the

to undergo considerable change,

quickens,

releases and

contacts

with *

extends

others.

native

Mental

the

them

be

a

suggest,

to

an

matter

vibrational

actions

criticism

are

range

prone

to

of be

consequence

and

an

attempt

alignment with our own thinking.

and

I am

It

eeeme

Reformation rarely comes on

Others have to grow in their

they

to

of personal duty, yet our real duty is to

not to urge or compel.

those terms. have,

is

Etheric stimulation

sure that is often done with the best intentions. to

but

what does not immediately harmonize in others with

our own views is matter for compel

reserve

temperament

swifter and therefore sometimes intolerant. The is, that

The

introverted than extroverted,

under the influence of higher training liable

practice.

own

way

as

we

should be allowed their own conclusions and

testing by experience.

The condition is somewhat similar to what happens students

passing

The

strong stimulation of university life is more than they

can

adjust

to,

school

and

to

young

the university.

comfortably

through

to

some time has to elapse before

they become assimilated to the new climate can

do justice to themselves.

correction in ourselves,

of

thought

and

As to discovering what needs

iF we are

making

headway

in

our

studies, comings. needful

we

should

be

have

long

We

fully

qualifications

conscious

since for

been

of our own short­

acquainted

with

advancement, because

we

constantly in mind the lives of those who have been examples

the have

shining

in the mystical life, end it is the latter part of

the rule which claims our

special

attention,

"....that

by

the Light of your Life you may point the way*”

If there is anything we should devoutly pray for, we

be

given

more

Light.

It

is

it is that

amazing to realize what

mistakes we can make through the want of even a little Light upon ourselves. cannot

force

Yet, we must learn to wait for it, we

issues.

All

the

Light

we

need,

guidance we wait for, are present in the higher consciousness,

own

private

life, but

our

life

active service ever involves the lives of is

all

the

reaches

of

and only through meditation Bnd experience do

we become gradually aligned to receive it. our

more

where our chief problem lies,

That pertains to

in the world and in others,

and

that

to throw the Light we have

upon them end understand them.

One cannot go further in this theme without reverting to the thought of impersonality. this

is so,

It will readily be perceived

why

for if the insistent claims and concerns of the

personal self unceasingly hold the field of attention, there is little hope of penetrating lives of others. the

field,

eo

into

At stated times, to speak,

and

understanding

the

it is necessary to vacate

and still the mental and emotional

life and endeavor to rid us of the content and status of an ­ other self with whom we 8re dealing and wish to help. an exercise of psychometric art, and results noticed

when

once

we

have

will

soon

be

learned to be inwardly still,

impersonal end receptive to incoming impressions* hindrance to success in this,

It is

The great

is that the conscious field is

usually crowded with the conditions, happenings and

impres­

sions

of

our

own

physical,

There is no opportunity for

emotional

the

and mental selves*

prevailing

conditions

in

another self to be reflected in the mirror of consciousness* We

cannot

really

Light of the soul,

understand

others

In this way, for the

which elone can rightly interpret,

permitted to shine through us and reveal need to know to help them* voices

of

the

In others

is not

what

we

To be still and silence the many

personal self is the only sure way in which

the many voices of other lives can be heard by us Bnd known.

We are not without instruction to assist us in this, grades

of

teaching.

this art through the ideal,

of

course,

person.

following

is

of

such

instruction*

tone

absence

the emotional

life,

be

a

attempted. most

condition,

and the mental caliber of

its fullness and efficiency or otherwise and the

degree of spiritual responsiveness. may

of

I have known this to be done so effectively as

Df

the person,

The

to be able to register the prevailing

to register very accurately the present physical the

our

Many have had considerable success in

conditions of another life at long range in the the

in

comparatively

rare

This kind of

attainment,

diagnosis

but

it

Its success would give one the real key

helpful

service, but

the

basic

can be to

the

requisite is a high

degree of selflessness!

It will be noted how that basic qualification leads us to

the

first

part

of

the

Rule

we

attempting direct reformation in other

ore

considering on

lives.

Having

qualification,

we

should have no desire to do so.

be

of

an

conscious

inhibition

interesting fact that, the

Path, we

reach

against

it.

It

We shall is

a

an

point in inner development when our great

change.

Certain

farmer insistent reactions of the personality fall away. to

that

when we have passed certain crises of

Bttitude towards others undergoes a

seem

back

be as removed from them.

We

They do not urge us into

action as hitherto.

Where there was agitation, now there is

peace.

goal for every aspirant too,

It

Is

the

and we are

willing to let them find their own way with such as

they

may

ask and we can give them.

assistance

We shall no longer

demand that they be and do what we wish but which not

yet qualified ecoterically to be and do.

will be to let such Light as we them.

The

kindly

ourselves

they

Our only wish

have, fall

upon

and effective radiation of our own Light

will prove ultimately the best gift we can make in

the

of master service.

An

way .

ancient Greek philosopher said that all higher education

of the intellect

depends

understand one another. to

are

be

very

a

on

cultivating

substitute

we

are

for

the

thinking

of.

We

have

understand

of greatest importance,

It

is

because

our

lies at the root of all maladjustment

in

one

another,

visible

by

included mentioned,

in

the

real

speculative

the

great

attain**,

perplexities

and

man is invisible to intellect.

He

only

through the illumined mind, by our ascens­ our

rising

above

what the Greek calls

the intellect*.

if

as if to see ourselves as

differences,

life, for

ion of consciousness, intellect,

as

failure in these two directions

our

ordinary sight and to the becomes

*

But, why should stress

we ere and others as they are were a goal of ment?

only . jto

higher education of the intellect,' "the

be put upon the ability to was

to

yet its meaning underlies the

higher or soul consciousness in man.

this

ability

At first sight that does not appear

profound statement,

rule

our

rationalistic

*the higher education of

And the first stages of sensing

the

that

process

are

of impressions in the way I have

by inward or upward

direction

and

silence,

and

the sensing in service of others is the sureBt way of rising above

the

hampering

veil

of

personality which obstructs

knowledge and understanding of invisible selves.

However,

the

of

Rosicrucian

the

idea

of service, which is the central feature ideal, requires

common-sense perspective.

they

need

others of the their

feet

to

different

responsibility

of

seeking for themselves.

from

in

a

end they can relieve

help another to bear a difficult phase very

placed

They can waste valuable time

help themselves,

necessary and

be

Some have rather a distorted view

of the idea of helping others. which

to

standing

upon

We can and should

of

Karma, which

is

inviting others to place their Karmic

responsibilities upon ourselves. Path who seek to do this,

There are many even on the

because

they

are

aware

of

the

compassion and sympathy of the true server.

I

believe

the

Masters

help aspirants in their individual

trials far more than they are conscious of but that they not

and

cannot

liquidate

the Karma which is theirs.

a s p i r a n t ’s whole development pattern,

and

he

to

be

conditioned

by

a

The

Karmic

himself must so study himself and his life

as to be able tc meet happens

is

do

a

it.

burden,

Masters to whom he aspires,

But ie

the

burden

within

of

it, if

it

the knowledge of the

and it is our duty in their name

to help him to accept it and lighten it for him.

Perhaps the greatest incident

to

our

sorrow

time,

is

of

is

time,

and

peculiarly

the individual and racial Karma

which people have to bear, whether not,

our

they

are

aspirants

or

and to relieve some of the keen pressure of it, nothing so necessary and urgent as a deep understanding of self.

Every step in that direction reveals to us more and more the fears, ties

difficulties and anxieties as well as the

possibili­

of those who ore brought within our sphere of contact.