Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to reason that the Master Architect must understand in detail the principles, the laws, the artistic devices of temple building. Equally true is it that the mind of man must have an intelligent comprehension of the principles, the divine laws, and the artistic devices that underlie architecture of Soul. When the mind has truly awakened to a realization of these laws and principles, and is willing to assume its rightful place in the divine plan as the master architect of the Soul, it has truly become the Awakened, the Illumined, Mind.

or

But it is to be distinctly emphasized that awakened, or "baptized," mind is not the Christ. Rather is it the "forerunner of the Christ." The Christ comes after the awakened mind has builded the Soul, or after the awakened mind has, in turn, awakened the Soul. After the Soul has truly been awakened, the mind of man is as nothing, or is supplanted; for the man whose Soul is awakened, no longer uses the mind centered in the head, or in the brain, for the greater work of Soul Building and of Soul Illumination; but he uses the Mind of the Center-the Great Center upon the Altar in the temple.

LESSON FIVE

When man becomes illuminated, then does the Fire of Illumination descend upon him like a dove from heaven.

St. John 1:28-37.

28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Those who have become awakened to the fact that the things which belong to the flesh are not eternal, those who

have been baptized even by water, or understanding, will at once recognize those who have reached Illumination, or Christhood. There is the Light of Illumination surrounding these at all times, which can easily be recognized.

When we have reached Illumination, or the Christhood, our sins are taken away; for, during the transmutation process through which we have gone in order to become illuminated, we have freed ourselves from past evil. This we did by transmuting the evil into good, and by good works and constructive thoughts.

We can then take away the sins of the world, not by forgiving them, nor by taking them upon ourselves, but by teaching the truth and helping men to travel the right path. Only through knowledge can we free men from their evils; for evil is ignorance of the truth and the Divine Law.

John beheld and recognized the Lamb of God. Through continual cultivation of his soulual nature, and through continual obedience to the Divine Law in the affairs of life, he had at last reached Illumination. He beheld the Light, which is the Lamb of God.

30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me.

The awakening of the Soul, the Divine Illumination, can not come before the awakening of the mind. Unless the mind becomes convinced of its darkness, it can not seek the light-the light that gives Immortality.

"For he was before me." If John had referred to the physical man, he could not have meant Jesus, because John was born before Jesus saw the light of physical day.

The Christ is always. There never was a time that he was not; for he is of the Father. But man did not always know him, and though the Christ was manifest in Jesus, man did not know him.

31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

At the time to which John refers, he did not know the Christ, he had not become illuminated; but he was dissatisfied with the attainment he had reached. He had faith that there must be something which would bring satisfaction and deeper knowledge. And, in order that this something might manifest in Israel, or in darkness, he was willing to make definite use of the powers of his mind to awaken and to stimulate his soulual nature, so that the Christ might come forth, or manifest.

32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. When Soul Awakening took place, when Soul Consciousness became a reality, there was an influx of light, which appeared to him as a dove coming from the skies.

This is Illumination; and in like manner does it come to all those that use the awakened mind for the awakening of the Soul.

When Awakening, or Illumination, has taken place, then do we testify of it, or "bear record"-not in words only, but in deeds in our relations with men. Perhaps a word of warning is needed here, as ofttimes elsewhere: we must remember that the practical things of life are in no wise to be severed from the so-called spiritual. The Divine Law pertains to our relations with men; and it is impossible for the habitual recluse, or hermit, to attain the highest estate of Soul Consciousness. In other words, the practical dealings of human life in relations with others on the social plane and the busines plane, and in connection with daily home interests these very things, these very conditions, are the means by which Soul Consciousness is to be attained.

33. And I knew him not: but the one that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Who was it that sent John to teach the truth and the power of the mind? It was none other than his own Awakened Mind. The Voice that spake to him and bade him do these things was the Voice of Conscience; for, when the mind is stimulated to better things, the conscience also becomes aroused and active, and urges one to live a different life, and to get away from those things which give not life, but death.

When the Spirit, or the Light of Illumination, descends upon anyone, that one is said to be Awakened, or Illumined, in Soul; or, he is said to have attained Soul Consciousness. When one has truly attained Consciousness of Soul, he is able to baptize with the Holy Ghost; for the Light, which is the Holy Ghost, has descended upon him and belongs to him. This Light remains with him; for he has created it through his thoughts, his desires, and his deeds for humanity.

34. And I saw, and bear record that this is the Son of God. After Illumination of Soul takes place, there is no more denying of the Father. The Illuminated One sees the Light, and knows where the Light is. He knows that it is of the Father, and that, through receiving the Light, he has become the Son of God.

Can it be denied that man is divine when he has attained Illumination? "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are Gods?"

35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

What is the difference between saying, "Behold the Lamb of God," and saying, "Behold a god?" Illumination, or Soul Consciousness, makes a god of man. How great a god he will be, depends entirely upon the work that he shall do. Greatness is in doing, not in the mere possession of power.

To the uninitiated, to those who are inexperienced in the self-effacement necessary to growth of soul, these statements

seem bald and bold and startling. But it must be remembered that the Illumined One never makes such a claim for himself. Again, it must be emphasized that, to realize within one's own experience the divinity of humanity and the possible Godhood of humankind, demands a depth of humility and meekness and self-renunciation that transcends the imagination even of those untrained in spiritual things. Genuineness of humility and meekness, sincerity in effacement of the limited personal self, must equal in depth the seeming transcendant exaltation of a consciousness that identifies itself with the Infinite.

37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

LESSON SIX

The man who leads the people from ignorance to light is a Messiah to his people.

St. John 1:38-51.

38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?

They said unto him,

Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,)

where dwellest thou?

39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

From this it would appear that these two disciples left John, the Awakened Mind, and followed the Master, the Awakened Soul.

The awakened mind always seeks the Christ, Illumination of Soul; and Illumination comes when no man is aware of it. The change of consciousness from the Illumined Mind to the Illumined Soul is gradual; but Illumination comes in an instant, and when man least expects it. One must pass from the awakened mind stage of consciousness to the

« AnteriorContinuar »