The fundanse,doi teaching ofthi.t Order is that is. everySoul there is a Divine Guid-ance which, if She human per-sonality will listen, will clearlyindicate that which it rightand wrong.

GEMS OF MYSTICISM

Teachings of

ht %1nflnziI1'4onz Jtftowshk, 3nr.

Selected from the Writings of

DR. & MRS. F. HOMER CURTISSFounders

We aim to help all to find the Jewelof Truth in the mire of their ex-istence, and to make their lives moretolerable because less mysterious and

crushing.

Compiled by F. K. Davis

Sixth Edition

Tnz Cuuszu Pun.csomxc Booz Co.Washington, D. C.

LOWDON AGZNTS

L.N. FOWLER& Co.7 Imperial Arcade, Ludgate Circui

LONDON. E. C. 4

INDEX

CRAPTER PAGE

1. SPIRITUAL GROWTH 9

2.DUTY 24

KARMA 28

REINCARNATION 41

S. THE CHRIST 45

MASTERS OF WISDOM 59

MISCELLANEOUS 64

REFERENCE INDEX

The abbreviated references at the endof the quotations refer to page and para-graph in the following text books of theOrder:

isis The Voice of isisAquaria The Message of AquariaLetters Letters from the TeacherKey The Key of the UniverseWar The Philosophy of WarSound The Soundless SoundSilence The Temple of Silence

The other abbreviations refer to thelessons of the Order now out of print,but which will all ultimately be producedin book form.

FOREWORD

Golden in their wisdom and luminouswith love, the treasured thoughtsgrouped herein have been to me as lifeitself.

Meditate on them in gratitude andthey shall give you Light in the hour ofdarkness, Courage in defeat, Faith intime of trial, Patience in adversity, Lovewhen beset by hate, Wisdom in the midstof error, and the Key to find the Masterwhom you seek.

Where your secret thought is, thereare you.

Let this little book guide you into theGates of Wisdomaye, to the Heart ofLove itself. F.KD.

SPIRITUAL GROWTh

IT is not what your bands are doing,but what your heart is worshijäg

that determines your growth.his, 33-i.

In every heart there is a well so deepand still that it can reflect only one starat a time, and this star, whatever it be,is, for the time it is reflected there, theguiding star of your destiny.

Isis, 36-3.

To think much about your shortcom-ings and limitations is but to give themlife and force, for thoughts are thingsand create after their kind. Determineto think strength, love and confidence tin-til you draw them to you and build theminto your life. Letters, 19-2.

If you stumble, do not waste a mo-ment's thought over it, but remember thelesson from it and say: "I must be upand doing. That is past and gone andit shall not hold me back." Truly noth-ing can hold you back unless you holdto it.

Spiritual Growth 11

Spiritual growth is not a matter ofwhat goes into the stomachbut of thedevotion with which you live out theideals of your heart.

Each one, however, is responsible forthe condition of all his bodies and mustgive them due attention, the attentionnecessary to keep any high-bred animal,of which high-grade work is expected,in good physical condition.

Isis, 397-3-2.

Just go about your Father's businesseach day accomplishing the tasks thatare yours. . . . each day doing thelittle things, bright-eyed, clear-visioned,and with a cheerful countenance, seeingthe stones and ruts in your path, but ableto see how to step over or around thembecause the Light within your heart hasbecome the light of your world, com-bining Love and Wisdom.

Mystery of Elements, 4-1.

Every positive stand you take buildscharacter, increases your strength, liftsyou out of your negative state, gives youpower to conquer your weaknesses andtends to make promptness, courage, reso-lution and trust habits which will re-place the negative habit of making ex-cuses. Mental Foundation, 2-2.

12 Gems of Mysticism

Seek earnestly for the parficular lineof teaching which most appeals to youand which proves most helpful to yourspiritual growth, then, while recognizingthe good in all others and being tolerantof all divergent views, be well-groundedin your chosen teaching, so that you can-not be misled or carried away by sophis-try, but will remain unmoved as long asthe teaching feeds your spiritual hun-gee. Isis, 298-1.

If you bask in the Sun of Righteous-ness, to keep from growing normallywould be impossible.

Learn to love, and forgetBecome so interested in works of mercy

and helpfulness that you will know thatyou are growing only by the perfumeof good that surrounds you and by yourincreased ability to help others.

Letters, 17-2.Your life must be an unfolding of

that which you, and no one else, are intended to be. Hence you cannot judgeor lay down laws for another.

Never seek merely to copy another orto gather the forces winch belong to an-other, but recognize and build into yourcharacter the germs of good to be foundin every thing, within yourself and with-in your environment.

Spiritual Growth 13

Without the perfection of your char-acter the whole plan of the Universewould lack

If you consciously redeem and upliftevery mistake, fault or experience, yourlife will be a continual unfolding fromwithin by a utilization of that which iswithout rather than a vain striving tocopy or be something which you are not.But in this unfoldment seek diligently toIlnd the germs of that which the RealSelf is trying to manifest, else you willbe but building up a mental conceptionof what you think you should be and ig-noring those characteristics which arereally you.

The Lord Jesus Christ, ii, 3-3.

There is no royal road to Divine Wis-dom. There is, however, a straight andnarrow path to spiritual unfoldment Itis found only by wedding Knowledge toUnderstanding and Love to Wisdom. Itmust be trodden step by step, often inweariness and with bleeding feet.

Isis, 280-2.

If we control one selfish trait whichbefore held us captive, we may knowthat we have taken a real step upward.

And the first and greatest of all mag-ical powers to be attained by the pupil

14 Gems of Mysticism

is the magical power of controlling him-self; of day after day mastering thelittle things, with no heroics, perhapswith no one to commend him or realizethat he is making any effort, yet stillcontrolling his little tempers, his littleimpatiences, little acts of selfishness, histendency to criticize, and all the little,trifling things he knows are wrong, butwhich seem too petty to be worth men-tioning.... The building of these littlelessons into his life is the most "prac-tical" formula that can be given him.

Isis, 382-383.

Victory over discouragement is one ofthe greatest victories man can win.

Isis, 45-2.

Have you no confidence hi the loveand power of the great Masters of Wis-dom to protect and sustain you whenyou study Their teachings or would beabout Their business?

Mental Foundation.

Words are sacred things though fewthere be who realize it.

Words should be to thought whatsteam is to the engine; if directed to thecylinder and flywheel the engine does

Spiritual Growth 15

perfect work, but if the steam escapesthrough many tiny holes and cracks, thepower available for real work is diniin-isbed; and wasted steam, like idle words,is an indication of dissipated power.

Do not consider them idle, however,even if apparently trifling and foolish,provided they bring cheer and comfottinto the life of some other. They areonly idle when wasted in mere talkinginstead of doing. Letters, 20-1.

Think what one kind word can dotHow it can bring sunshine and penceand courage into your own life and the.lives of others I

Waste no force in frivolous or nega-tive chatter; speak only positive words,words of love, words of power.

If your brother offend you, speakwords of love that your heart may sendback nothing but love.

Never withhold a sincere word of 1oveor endearment, or a word of help, en-couragenient or health. A kind wordspoken even to a stray dog will not re-turn to you void.

We cannot emphasize too stronglythis fact: "That every idle word (eitherspoken or written) that men shall speak,they shall give account thereof in theday of judgment." hir, 175-176.

Spiritual Growth 19

other occult powers will be retarded, ifnot actually prevented. Isis, 175-2.

Smce man is the microcosm of themacrocosm, in his spiritual evolution hemust pass through stages analogous bothto his own physical evolution and thatof the planet, just as during his inter-uterine life he passes through the evo-lutionary stages of the early Racesvegetative, animal, human. Isis, 210-i

Let each Soul take the little grains ofexperience in his or her nature, learnthe lessons from them and build roundthem layer after layer of love and de-votion until they become pearls of Wis-dom Aquaria, 261.

Many declare they find it impossibleto live out their true selves; but the in-ner development will always manifest, nomatter what the environment.

If a Soul fails to demonstrate that itis spiritually advanced it simply meansthat it has not attained to or created thestate that it desires to manifest

If one is absorbed in petty cares, tothe exclusion of higher aims, it meansthat he has not outgrown petty conili-

20 Gems of Myslfthm

tions; for if he had he would find timeto follow the higher leadings and mani-fest them in his life. Isis, 275-2.

The battle is not one-sided. In fact,"He that is with you (your Higher Self)is greater than he (the personality orlower self) that is against you."

isis, 92-1.

He who says he has realized the Di-vine within himself, yet only as powerfor his own upliftinent, and who uses itonly for his own advancement, has nevereven approached that realization.

isis, 73-2.

The first Gate to be passed is the at-tainment of Charity and Tolerance forall; a realization of Divine Love, and anearnest desire to become one with TheChrist-force which is manifesting inyour fellow man. This is the first Gateto be entered because intolerance is abar to further progress. isis, 297-1.

An important point to remember, isnot to copy the actions of others or tryto square your life with the ideals ofothers, but bravely seek deep withinyour own being for the germs of actionimplanted in the personality by the

Sf,iritiwi Groivth 21

Higher Self and make the personalitymeasure up to the ideal given you byyour own Higher Self.

In other words, find yourself, do yourown thinking, and live true to your owndivine guidance. Isis, 132-1.

Before the student can receive spir-itual illumination all old conceptions orcoverings to his understanding must beput off or laid astde that the understand-ing may receive the Light direct.

Isis, 317-1.

You are often told to live close to Na-ture, yet very few understand the sig-nificance of that injunction.... Tolive dose to Nature is to feel your one-ness with her; to realize that the sameforces are operating in youin yourbody, in your mind, in your spirituallifeas in the verdant hills and buddingtrees.

It does not necessarily mean living ina tent or sleeping on the ground, but itdoes mean correlating your conscious-ness with Nature, trying through inedi-tation to enter the phases of naturalgrowth and development, recognizing thesimilarity and the oneness of all growth.

Letter:, 25-2&

22 Gems of My.cSicisns

In Nature you will find an explana-tion of every experience through whichyou pass. The Christ Seed.

It is just as selfish to permit your hu-mility to occupy the foreground in yourthoughts and continually impose it uponthe thoughts of others, as continually toseek your own pleasure. Ijis, 132-2.

What would be a slight lavse from vir-tue in a savage or in the ignorant, be-comes a cyclone of iniquity, sweepingmany before it, in one who has enteredthe inner degrees of occultism; for uponeach inner step every vibration is multi-plied a thousand fold.

The disciple should absolutely master(gain perfect control of, not suppress)all life-forces crc he attempts to enterthe inner degrees, or his failure is fore-ordained. Isis, 251-2.

Truth is more than merely refrainingfrom speaking falsely. It means beingtrue in every phase of your thoughts,desires and life, being true to your Di-vine Self.

Let Truth search out every hiddenfault and failing that you may recognizeand correct it.

Spiritual Growth 23

Have no false conceptions, no veils tohide your real character from you.Above all things be true. Think true.Act true. Live true.

The New Jerusalem, 4.

Duly 25

All real duties confront you becausein your evolution you have set up con-ditions which make just such tasks nec-essary to build into your Soul certainqualities in which you are lacking...and without the lessons they teach yourcharacter is incomplete.

Hence they are the things which, whenthey are performed and the qualitiesthey are meant to develop are incorpo-rated into your being, will give you thestrength and ability to take your nextstep. Isis, 30-2.

If you perform a duty because you arecompelled to, and fail to incorporate itslesson in your heart, at your next stepyou will find yourself confronted by an-other duty of the same general charac-ter but far more difficult of performance,and this will continue until you not onlyperform the duty, but gain the lackingquality of Soul this duty is intended toinculcate. Isis, 31-2.

Take the little duties as they conic,for not one step can be missed.

Letters, 18-1.

There is no duty higher than the onewhich -lies nearest, provided it he a realone. Isis, 33-2.

26 Gems of Mysticism

Your body is the Temple of the LivingGod. It is your duty to see that inevery way it is kept a fit dwelling placefor the God within. The chief requisitefor this is absolute purity of body, mindand heart.

No natural function of the body butis pure and wholesome when used forits proper purpose. No natural act is,of itself, impure. It becomes impureonly through impure thoughts concern-ing it.

Not alone impure acts but also im-pure thoughts, even if only subcon-sciously held, are a source of defilement.

The whole problem rests upon yourability to purify your thoughts concern-ing all the forces and functions of yourbodies. isis,, 215.-i; 216-217.

It is not a real duty to try to relieveanother from doing his plain duty

Isi.r 33-2.

iCnow well the burdens of all Soulsare sent in Love. Deprive them not ofthe strength they bring, lest, alas, forlack of the burdens you would bear theyshould lose the prize.

.Soundless Soimd, 27-4.

Duty 27

Since all real duties are your task, inthem lies your opportunity, and in theirproper performance lies your victory.

Not in the performance merely, butin the attitude of mind you hold towardtheni and the manner of their perform-ance. Isu, 31-2.

There is one real duty which con-fronts all students of the higher lifethat cannot be ignored, i. e., to decidejust what avenue of help is most benefi-cial, not only to their own advancement,but also the one which brings the great-est amount of practical help to human-

ifence, your first duty is conscien-tiously, prayerfully and earnestly to seekfor the special channel through whichyou desire to help humanity, and whenfound throw into that channel all youhave to give, whether it be moneytheeasiest of all things to giveor love, dc.votion and thought, or service.

isis, 32-2.

Karma 29

The main idea of Karma, then, is notone of punishment for past failures, butthat you may learn your lesson and gainas quicldy as possible the Soul-qualitiesneeded, that you may fulfill your des-tiny, your special place and work in theGrand Plan. Isis, 116-3; 117-1.

Know ye not the conditions of life inwhich you find yourself are those bestfitted for your Soul-growth?

Soundless Sound, 31-2.

The adjustment of Karma is broughtabout consciously through spiritual at-tainineut. Letters, 116-3.

If you refuse to recognize the lesson,or rim away from the conditions crcthey are conquered, you will have tomeet them again and again in variousforms in this and other lives until vic-tory is gained. Isis, 34-2.

The Law works as compensation inthat in every experience, be it painful orotherwise, there is a compensating pow-er to be gained or a reward which iswell worth the suffering necessary tobuild it into Soul-growth.

Inextricably blended with the Law asCompensation is that aspect known as

30 Gems of Mystiwm

Karma. That is, effects of causes set upin previous tunes or former lives arebrought to you in orderly sequence tobe worked out, and in turn to set upfresh causes.

The great point to understand in thismanifestation of the Law is that Karmais neither a reward nor a punishment forpast deedsand still less is it an aveng-ing Nemesis remorselessly exacting "aneye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"but is the effect of causes in the sensethat it brings to the Soul the opportunityto learn certain lessons which it has notlearned in a past life, hence which theLaw of Love brings to it throu?h thismanifestation that it may gain theSoul-quality needed for further prog-ress. Ins, 194-195

No matter what the burden laid uponyou, it is not laid there merely that youmay suffer, nor does any God wish youto bear it. It is yours because some-where, sometime you missed a lesson inlife that only such a burden onuld teach

'°iierefore, conditions worked togetherand you were brought face to face withyour lesson. Try to realize this.

Then, if you can admit that what youare forced to bear is meant merely a a

Karma 31

lesson to point out some shortcoming orabsolute fault, know well that the mo-ment you learn the lesson or correct thefault the experience will no longer beneeded and it will pass away.

Letters, 24-1.

Whatever the condition that confrontsyou, know well that it will never leaveyou until you have gained the Wisdomit is intended to teach. Isis, 34-2.

Do not rail at your experiences or con-ditions of life, but rather welcome themas opportunities to gain new lessons, ex-periences whose mastery will give youadded strength and understanding.

Do not fight or fear conditions butwelcome them; for the thing you fearexhausts you, while the thing you wel-come yields you its strength and power.

The Christ, 3-i.

There is only one way effectually tobring about a better condition, and thatis to recognize that you are where youare because the Soul, or Higher Self,realizes that there is some important les-son to learn which those conditions canteach better than any other, and set towork to learn that lesson.

Realize that conditions do not really

32 Gems of Mysticism

retard, but are intended to make youthusk and take account of stock. First,try to determine what lesson you mustlearn, then take it determinedly to heartuntil you have conquered.

We know that no man has conditionsgiven to him that he does not need, andthat the moment he gets out of a condi-tion, its highest good, he is rid of it for-ever. Letters, 34-i

Try to realize that when bound on theWheel of Karma, to struggle but snakesthe cords cut deeper into your quiveringflesh. Stop struggling. Lot I say untoyou: Peace, be stilL All is well.

Learn the lesson of saying, "Thy willbe done," knowing that the Will of theFather is victory and that it will andmust be done. Letters, 19-2.

If the Soul were obliged to reap allthe Karma in one life that it had gen-erated in the last preceding life therewould be neither time nor opportunityfor progress.

Therefore, the Lords of Light holdback a certain percentage from eachlife, and manipulate the currents of forceso that a chance is given the Soul tolearn the main lesson of the last earthlife and at the same time have an op-

Karma 33

portunity to gain entirely new experi-ceBut, before final liberation can come,

each Soul must, of its own choice, takeup all the accumulated odds and endsof Karma and work them out or re-deem theni. Letters1 125-I.

Just as the grosser flame sweeps theforest, so the subtler "fire of the Lord"or the fire of the Law (Karma), beforewhich the earthly man is but chaff,sweeps humanity.

The flames that consume the debris,the underbrush and the twining para-sites which sap the vitality of the gianttrees also cause new vegetation tospring up. Likewise in our hearts afterwe have passed through a karmic burn-lug we find new and unexpected mani-festations of life and growth.

Think of the burnings of ka,nic Lawnot as something to which you mustschool yourself, something that will de-prive you of every happiness, take fromyou your cherished ideals and bringnaught but desolation, but think of itin its constructive aspect.

Realize that just as the heat and lifeand light of the sun penetrate the earthto bring forth the seeds, so shall thesesubtle fires of Karma sink deep into

34 Gems of Mysticism

your heart and germinate all the seedsof immortal power which you havestored up in past incarnations andWhich oni await the fire to sweep awayold conditionseverything that inter-feres with your spiritual growthtogerminate and put forth.

Declare yourself ready to stand in theburnings of the Law, not passively giv-ing up because it is your Karma, butthat your heart and mind and lifeallthat is manifested on all planesmay bepurified and make way for the new spir-itual growth.

Fire of the Law, 2-4: 3-i: 4-3.

A golden vessel to be placed upon theKing's table must pass through a seven-times heated furnace and be hammeredand tested and purified until the gold iswithout a flaw; then it must be f ash-ioned into the shape best adapted to itspurpose. Soitiswiththevesselof clayWhich WC call our personality.

Isis, 35-3.

Since all evolution tends to developmore and more perfect organismsthrough which greater and greater de-grees of freedom from the bondage ofexternal conditions can manifest, we canbe truly free from the bonds of Karma

Karma 35

only as we work with evolution throughthe seeking of those things which areour own and following those thingswhich will perfect and thus hasten ourevolution. This is not attained by self-ishly trampling on the freedom or rightsof others that we may advance, for todo so is to develop selfishness, butthrough harmonious co-operation for thegood of all. Key, 305.

We do not mind bearing trials whenwe know that we are merely correctingmistakes made in a past life, or elselearning needed lessons in this.

Trials are not given as punishments,but as the only means of making uslearn the lessons that will fit us to takeour real places at the right hand of God-the-Father, and to gain a greater reali-ration of His nearness and help whilehere below. Letters, 210-3.

Understand clearly, whatever sick-nesses, troubles or trials come to a per-son they are either the result of brokenlaw or are conditions given by theHigher Self to teach certain necessarylessons and thus gain the experienceneeded to take the Soul a step onward.

Often by pouring his personal magne-tism (prana) into the aura of a patient,

36 Gems of Mystthm

or by sheer force of Will, one may soinfluence another as temporarily todrive away sickness or trouble, but ifthe real lesson which the sickness ortrouble was meant to teach has not beenlearned by the patient, the moment thewill-power is withdrawn the trouble willreturn. Or, if the will-power has beenstrong enough, the trouble may be driv-en back off the physical-plane to appearupon some higher plane, perhaps in adifferent form such as some form ofnervous disorder or mental trouble.

Letters, 169.

All broken contracts and all disobedi-ence to the Law produce inharinony onall planes at the same time. And thepersons bringing into action the particu-lar inharmonious note must themselvesreadjust every wave of inharmony thathas been produced by their acts beforeharmony can be restored in their lives.This is a benign and beneficent law; forit is only by reaping what we have sown,and eating the fruits thereof, that wecan ever learn to plant wheat insteadof tares.

It is not denial of mharinony that set-tles the score, but a recognition of it andthe correction of its cause.

If through will-power you push it

Kar,na 37

aside and apparently gain either health,wealth or some other earthly comfortere the readjustment is made, the inhar-mony will gather force by the very push-ing back and will sweep over you againand again until it is recognized and ad-justed. True healing combines all physi-cal agencies with the psychic and theDivine, for these three are one.

Letters, 170-176.

The pressure from without cannotharm you, if the within be properlybalanced. Isir, 44-2.

Every inharmony is continually work-ing toward readjustment, just as allwounds tend to heal, and all forms ofdisease to cure themselves.

Silence, 27-4.

As the conditions of life flow to it theSoul consciously gathers out of the va-ried experiences of life just those germsof good (lessons) that are needed tomake it grow into the likeness of theperfected Being which that particular in-dividual is destmed to become.

The Lord Jesus Christ, ii, 3-2.

All seeds are planted in the earth, yeteach seed grows into the particular

38 Gems of Myscism

plant whose germ and pattern are with-in. So each Soul is planted in the soilof its earthly environment, with the pat-tern of the perfect man to be embodiedwithin the sheath of his personality.That which brings unrest and dissatis-faction is the effort and striving to man-if est something that is not within.

The Iron Age, 4.

How many would gladly attempt tobear the hardships and sufferings oftheir loved ones rather than stand asideand permit them to fulfill their karmicdestiny in exact justice.

But their loved ones cannot be puri-fied and pass on to higher things, if theirburdens are borne for them and theyare not allowed to meet their tests andstand in the fiery furnace which they inages past have lighted.

Stand aside then, and while giving alllove, sympathy and encouragement, al-low all to meet their tests and burningsthat they may be purified and advanceto higher things. his, 82-83.

Every word we utter has not only itsvibrations, but, together with the form,color and number of the letters compos-ing it, possesses a potency that will never

REINCARNATION

1JO one is ready to learn the truth ofLI reincarnation to whom it does not

appeal.Only those who feel an inward urge to

know the whole truth need have it giventhem.

The whole object of rebirth is foreach Soul to attain all-around Soul-per-fection, learn all the lessons life canteach, and thus be prepared to do itswork in the Grand Plan.

Even if it were possible for a man togain all knowledge and have all experi-ence in one life, nevertheless the stupen-dous task of evolution, from an atom toa God, would require incalculable aeons.

Comparing our life-period to a day,as well might we expect a child to ac-quire the experience and wisdom of alife-time between sunrise and sunset.

Perfection could not be attainedin one life. isis, 278-2.

If each Soul were required to redeemin one life all its mistakes and spiritual-ize every atom with which it had been

42 Gems of Mysticis,n

connected in even one life, the Cycle ofNecessity would be never-ending.

Instead of this all tasks that are be-yond the strength of the Soul in any oneincarnation are held back until it hasgrown strong enough little b7 little towork them out. Isis, 181-1.

Each Soul is judged at the close ofeach life-cycle by the sum total of howmuch he has overcome, how much of thelower self he has illumined by the high-er spiritual consciousness. War, 24.

The "I' is the Higher Self, the over-shadowing Father-in-heaven. It is theTrue Self in that it is the Egoa Sparkof the Infiniteincarnating again andagain in an animal body for the purposeof gaining experience in matter and,through its informing of physical atomsin an earthly body, to help redeem (spir-itualize) matter.

The lower selves are like the outerhusks of the seed which are dissolvedand their substance indrawn to formnourishment for the seed, to enrich itand enable it to grow and blossom....

The body wears out and is cast asidejust as a garment is, and a new one puton; but the Self never changes.

It gains more experience and needs a

44 Gems of Mysticism

the thought that to manifest Divine Lovein perfection is all that is worth striv-ing for. isis, 270-271.

The object of evolution is for ,nan-kind to gain Wisdom out of every condition. Isis, 34a

c.

tmv.,

,Çftp

h'V444

V4'?

46 Gems of Mysticism

ganism to its environment Among menit is the divine urge toward union withGod; the effort "to bring the divinewithin them into harmony with the di-vine in the universe," as the mystic phi-losopher Plotinus expresses it.

The Mystic Christ, 32.

It is this mystic, informing, vivifyingPrinciple (The Christ-force), manifest-ing in and through Him, to which Jesusreferred when He said: "I am the liv-ing bread which came down from heaven;if any man eat of this bread, he shalllive forever: and the bread that I willgive is my flesh, which I will give forthe life of the world.... Who soeateth my flesh, and drinketh niy blood,.hath eternal life."

Manifestly such statements could notapply to any human flesh and blood, oreven to an historical personality, butwere used figuratively for that immortal,universal, mystic Principle which thepersonality of Jesus embodied.

Eternal life cannot be obtained bymerely observing or studying spiritualtruths, for they must be eaten and as-similated into the nature1 built into thecharacter, made a part of the lifejustas physical food must be assimilated tobe built into the bodyand manifest as

The Chtht 47

love, tolerance, charity, brotherhood andpurity, ere you have truly eaten of thebody of The Christ.

The MyeHc Chtht, 4-2.

Only as The Christ-force is embodiedin you can you have eternal life.

To grow spiritually it is not enoughmerely to lead ethical and morallyblameless lives, but we must also drinkof the blood and eat of the flesh of theChrist, $ C., drink in that spiritual crea-tive Power or Divine Life-force whichshall re-create us, which shall make ourlives not merely automatic moral models,but dynamic, radiant centers of forcefor good, vibrant with that creativenesswhose very emanations shall fructify andawaken in everything we contact an an-swering vibration and a quicicened life.

There must be an infusion of the crea-tive life-force of The Christ into thepersonality until it becomes one withthe Mystic Christ

The Mystic Christ, 4-3.

Difficulty arises through a failure todistinguish between the Mystic Christ-principle, which "bath shined in ourhearts to give the knowledge of theglory of God," and the personality ofthe teacher Jesus who manifested an in-

48 Ceuw of Mysticis"1

dividualiZat of this Force to a super-lative degre.

This distinction s so plawiy madeonghoflt the New Testament that only

the decadence of knowledge concerningthe MIStefl5 and the ladc of trainingin esoteric philosophY as a requiremflelitfor the ministrY, can account for the ut-ter ignoring of it and all that it implies.

The Mytie Chvut, 1-3.

In one sense the Gospel story of Jesusis meant to inspirC those whose spir-ittial develoPfl!ent requires a physical

ibodjflient and a personal. historic ex-ample after which to pattern their lives.

These are but cbildrcfl in spiritual un-derstanding, to whom the beautiful em-bodiment of The Christ Within the mailJesus, the Man of Sorrows, forms a pic-ture with great emotional appeal. Ifthey stop there, however, and are intis-lied with the personality of the humanteacher, they never really find TheChrist as a personal. religious experi-ence, nor do they even touch the hem ofHis garment.

They worship but a picture and aredoomed to disappoifltflmat and sorroW.for some day they must see their humanChrist-ideal, as it exists today. cmci-

The Christ 49

fled, cast down and destroyed. (By his-torical research, higher criticism, etc.)

The literal, personal example or letterof the law, is not satisfying to the awak-ened Soul.

The Pauline picture (of The Christ)is for those who need no historic per-sonality as a model; those who openwide the doors of their hearts at theknock of the Mystic Christ; who can re-spond to the downpouring of DivineLove and through a divine ecstasy canenter into the higher realms of spiritualconsciousness where the powers of thehuman mind are transcended and wherethey grasp those things which are spir-itually discerned; those things which are"revealed unto his holy apostles andprophets by the Spirit"

The Mystic Christ, 2-2 and 3.

The story of the life of Jesus is notthe personal history of one GreatTeacher, but is an allegory of the life ofperfected Man, the growth and perfec-tion of the Soul, every incident symboliz-ing a step upon the Path of Attainment,from the birth of The Christ-conscious-ness in the heart of the personality, theweary pilgrimage of life1 the crucifixionon the cross of matter and desire, to the

50 Gems of Msticssm

glorious resurrection and ascension, whenthe personality has been perfected andThe Christ-man sits at the right hand ofthe Father-in-heaven.

In other words, when the personalityof each of us has experienced the ascen-sion and completed the at-one-ment withthe Divine we become the right band ofthe Father or the instrunient throughwhich His work is accomplished onearfl

The story of Jesus is the stor7 of evo-lution. It is not the literal history ofany one personality that is thus depicted,but the experiences which each Soulpasses through as the Mystic Christ isborn within and evolves to perfection orat-one-nient with its Father-in-heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ, , 2-4.

When the name (Jesus) is coupledwith The Christ (the word "the" hav-ing been eliminated as the distinctionbetween the mystic Principle and its em-bodiment was lost to humanity) itstands for that stage in the growth ofthe Soul when the personality has madethe at-one-mont with the Mystic Christ-principle, or, in theosophical terminology,the stage at which Mn2 has beenblended with the Buddhic-principle. ForManas is dual and in most cases the con-

The Christ 51

sciousness vacillates between the lowerand the higher expression, functioningmost of the time in the lower.

The Jesus man becomes a Christ onlywhen the human mind (Manas) is up-lifted and blended with The Christ-con-sciousness (Buddhi and Atina, the Fa-ther-in-heaven) and the three becomeone or perfected Man.

Hence the name of Jesus stands forthe possibility of common, ordinary man,merging his personality into the Divine,entering The Christ-Consciousness andmanifesting the Mystic Christ throughhis Jesus personality.

The Lord Jesus Christ, ii, 2-3.

It was expedient for ou that yourconception of the man Jesus perishingon the eross should go away, should beeliminated from your consciousness, thatthe Comforterthe Mystic Christmight come to you, might enter into yourheart and abide forever.

Only through the Mystic Christ canyou enter into a conscious oneness withthe great Master Jesus, the guide, friendand Elder Brother of mankind.

The Lord Jesus CisrifI, H 4-4.

It makes very little difference, as faras the truth of His teachings is con-

52 Gems of Mysticism

cerned, whether or not such a juan asJesus ever lived.

As a matter of esoteric history, therewas an Avatar of that name who didpass through the experiences symbolizedin the Bible during the pilgrimage ofHis Soul toward mastery, just as everySoul must pass that way.

But the whole story, as it is told, isone grand allegory designed to teach,exoterically, the inner truths of the dif-ferent steps on the Path.

Each step has its trials and sufferings,its mockery of the multitude and thefinal crucifixion of the lower personalityand the glorious resurrection into lifeimmortalthe triumph of the spiritualover the temporal man.

The story is woven around this Ava-tar, Jesus, and events and places areadapted or created to carry out the sym-bology; but every name used, as wellas every incident, has its inner meaningwhen interpreted kabalistically. This isthe style after which all scriptures arewritten, ,. e., The Vedas, Upanishads,etc. It is the method always adoptedby Initiates in giving out the great truthsso that only those who have developedthe qualities necessary to the true under-standing can see the inner meaning.

The multitude see the beautiful story,

54 Genu-of Myssscssm

scious union made with The Christ with-in, all things are revealed unto you. Thisis, as it were, the shortcut to Mastery.

Isis, 384-1.

The Christ . . . is more than a Prin-ciple; is more than an entity or a forceor a power; it is the manifestation ofthe Godhead. Yet it is entitized in everyMaster who has trodden the Way, mani-fested in Truth and discovered In Life.

The Christ is a living power, the lifeof the Soul.

It shines from the eyes, it emanatesin waves of magnetic force from thefingertips; it shines as an aureole roundabout. It dwells within; it manifestswithout...

Throuh your own will and effort youmust brmg about the Resurrection ofThe Christ from the tomb of materiality.

It is the densitr of matter that slowsdown the vibrations of this Principle,making it almost inactive.

To you the task is given through thesublimating of the matter of your bodiesto accomplish the resurrection of TheChrist....

The Christ.. . is a manifestation ofall that you can picture of a DivineComforter; of a brother, a sister, afather, a mother.

The Christ 5S

Who will come and stand beside Himupon the Rock of Truth?

Who will cast from their hves, fromtheir heart; their stumbling-blocks?

It matters not what the past holds.All that is gone before is like the waterthat has passed the water-wheel.

It has turned it for good or for eviland the grain has been ground by itspower.

Some day you must come back and eatof its meal, but today you are past it.Therefore make today a day of Truth.

The Truth, l-1:1-43-4.

The Christ-spirit is the cause of theeternal miracle of springtime, both innature and in the Soul.

It is an universal life-givmg, all-pow-erful force that the human heart, as itlives and breathes and presses on in evo-lution, must imbibe and express moreand more, even as nature imbibes andexpresses the same Force in the spring-time.

It is Life itself, the essence of the Di-vine One Life.

It is the perfume of the rose, the lightof the sun, the nourishment of the food.the power of the breath, the sustainingquality of hope, the enduring quality ofcourage.

The Christ 57

can grow in peace, harmony and luxuri-ance if you will?

The Christ Seed, 4-5.

The world is today awaiting the ad-vent of a Divine Teacher or true Priestof the Lord, a personalized embodimentof the great Christos-principle of theuniverse, the all-pervading, vivifyingpower which underlies all manifesta-tions of the One Life.

As this great spiritual Being ap-proaches the earth-plane each heart whocan respond to the vibrations of Hismessage will come more or less con-sciously into touch with Him, no matterwhat orpnization or movement he maybe working in.... Aquaria, 433-3.

The cry of the Great One is now goingforth to all who can hear: "Come untome, my little lambs. The fold is waitingand the heart of the Shepherd yearning.Think of the thoughts that I have shedaround you as you journeyed throughthe wilderness of lives and lives; thinkof the words that have been spokenthrough the mouths of my chosen proph-ets in your ears, life after life, age afterage, and will ye still be deaf and dumbto love?

MASTERS OF WISDOM

THE Masters of Wisdom are Great.LSouls who, through repeated expe-riences and determined effort throughmany earth lives, have obtained nlastery,Ilrstly, over the passions, appetites anddesires of the personal self; and sec-ondly, over the forces of Their bodiesand over the life-currents of the Oismos.Hence They have become one with theFount of all Wisdom. They and theFather are one.

Jesus was such a Master, in fact, wasand is a Master of Masters.

But there are many more, all bandedtogether in what is known as The GreatWhite Lodge; a lodge in the sense ofoneness of aim and motive, for Theyare all working for the uplifting ofhumanity.

They are divided into certain degreesand subdivided into orders so as to sys-tematically cover all the needs of hu-manity in its different stages of evolu-tion.

You will thus see that there are Mas-ters of all grades; that is, upon all stepsof the ladder leading to the point of

60 Gems of Mysticism

highest attainment where a Master ofMasters stand.

Each group and each individual has acertain work to do for the betterment ofhumanity.

These Great Souls are able to functionon all planes, hence They are near to allwho really need Their help, for human-ity must reach out for help crc it can begiven. Letters, 63-4.

You can set it down as a positive factthat no Master of Wisdom ever did,ever will, or ever could advertise Him.self or give out spiritual teachings at somuch per lesson.

Nor is there any such thing as anInitiate of the Great White Lodge uponthe physical-plane acting in His physi-cal body, and claiming to be such. TheGreat White Lodge does not work thatway. Letters, 69-2.

As long as individuals are sathfiedwith a purely physical existence theMasters know well that they are not yetready to be helped, for their lessons arethose of the physicaL Letters, 64-2.

The Masters of Wisdom know whoneed the outer help, and it never failsto present itself.

Musters of Wisdom 61

It may seem to conic from some nat-ural and ordinary source, but in realityit is from these Watchers and ElderBrothers of humanity who make use ofnatural channels to answer the cry ofthe Soul for light and help.

Letters, 64-3 & 2.

The Elder Brothers of humanity, thegreat Masters of Wisdom, into whosehands the evolution of the Race is en-trusted, are continually sending forththe cry for helpers. "The harvest trulyis great, but the laborers are few," forThey can work on the earth-plane onlythrough human agencies. With the crygoes the promise of sure reward for allwho hear and obey. Letters, 60-2.

The Lodge of Masters is eagerlywatching and waiting for the develop-ment of every avenue through whichThey can pour love and wisdom to en-lighten the world in this its darkesthourthe hour that precedes the dawnof the coming day.

The whole aim and end of ibis Move-ment is to help each individual Soul tofind, not only The Christ within him-self, but also the guiding hand of theMaster.

We cannot assure you that you will

62 Gems of Mysticism

find Him, for many feel around in adarkness created by themselves andnever touch the out-stretched hand.

We can only say that the Teacherand Guide stands ready, close at hand,to guide and help you through thislabyrinth of darkness into the light ofthe perfect day. Letters, 66-67.

Directions for physical exercises arenever given by a Master of Wisdom ex-cept in a personal way, and in such acase they would be adapted to that pu-pil's ability and capacity, and to thatpupil alone.

No Master would ever give to a pupilexercises of a physical nature that wouldbe likely to overtax his capacity.

The Masters of Wisdom know wellthe physical conditions as well as thespiritual development of each pupil, andthe Law of Growth is always followed.

Letters, 78-2:77-3.

It will be o,ily through your own mdi-vidual effort, your attitude of Soul, andthe character of your life that will en-able you to place yourself in personal,conscious touch with the Masters. It de-sends upon no personality but your

Only when this interior communion

Master: of Wisdom 63

is established can the pupil come faceto face with his Guru.

Of course this will take place upon theinner planes, but long crc this he willbe carefully instructed as to the neces-sary steps, the necessary cautions to beobserved; will be told how to recognizeand treat false teachers and false teach-ings.

The requisite preparation for suchclose, personal contact is a sincere andloving heart, a child-like confidence andtrust, and a willingness to sit at theMaster's feet and be taught.

You are ready for personal help whenyou can recognize and accept the in-struction when it comes.... This isthe Law: Only he who asks can re-ceive, because the asking opens the doorsthrough which help can come.

Letter:, 235-1 :85-1 & 2:84-3:92.

MISCELLANEOUS

KNOWwell that no matter how lofty

a philosophy may be, or how gooda lesson, unless it brings to your indi-vidual Soul some practical application,something that you can work into yourdaily life, that philosophy is of no ac.count to you.Letter:, 59-3.

All teachings that bring to humanitya knowledge of the higher truths, andthat awaken an interest in spiritual de-velopment, are useful, but individualSouls need special lines of instruction.

Some find help under one teacher,sonic under another, and if your HigherSelf knows that the one from whom youare striving to learn is not the most help-ful one for you, you will be impressedwith a feeling of dissatisfaction. Yetthis does not mean that the teachingsyou have been receiving arc not excel-lent for a certain stage of growth, andjust what you needed at one time.

That which you need will appeal toyou.

One thing may appeal to you today

Miscellaneous 65

and in a month or a year you may growaway from it.

If you are sincere and earnest, thismerely indicates that you have learnedone lesson and must look elsewhere forthe next.

The great lesson to learn is to followthe leadings of your Higher Self andtake for yourself what appeals to youand helps you.

But be just as ready to concede toothers the right to choose for them-selves.... The oak does not contin-ually reproach the violet because it doesnot try to be an oak.

Letters, 29-1; 91-2.

He who feels another's sorrow, whoforgets self for others, has realized, inmeasure at least, the Divine.

Isis, 73-3.

Unless a teaching appeals to the heartand rings true to a Soul, it is not true tothat Soul. . .

The fact that a teaching attracts andhelps you is evidence that it containsthe lessons needed by you for the stepyou are taking.

The fact that a movement no longerappeals to you, no matter how helpful

66 Geru of Mysticism

it may be to others, is evidence eitherthat your Soul has learned the lessonsthat movement had for youeventhough not mastered intellectuallyorthat the movement, no matter how beau-tifully conceived and launched, has be-come tainted with something that is nothelpful, or is perhaps distinctly injuriousto your physical, mental, moral or spirit-ual growth.

To remain connected with an organiza-tion to which you no longer feel drawn,or which you have outgrown, is as detri-mental to your Soul-growth as it wouldbe for a flower to remain in a pot whichhad become too small for it, or whosesoil had become exhausted or contami-nated. Isis, 424-2:426-2.

If you cannot find time to enter theSilence, still no power in heaven orearth can keep the Silence from enteringintoyouifyouwillletit. Isis,33-l.

You will never find Truth in anyteaching! if Truth, to you, depends uponthe perfection of the instrument throughwhich that Truth is expressed.

You must cultivate the power of spfr-itual discernment and not allow anythingto turn you aside from Truth.

Learn to seek Truth for Truth's sake.

Miscellaneous 67

Look for it among the stubble andsnuck of life, and in the dark placeswhere humanity crawls in filth; look forit hidden under the mountains of self-ishness and self-sufficiency of teachers;seek for it as a Jewel of Great Pricethat has been lost; for you may find theJewel where you least expect it. Butfirst rise up and sweep your own housediligently. Letters, 211-212.

Every fault is a virtue perverted andevery hard circumstance of life is astimulus to learn a needed lesson.

The Lord Jesus Christ, ii, 3-3.

As to failings, we all have them.The greatest example the world can

have is to see a brave Soul struggling todo right.

It is those who are honest with them-selves; who know their own weaknesses,yet arc striving to conquer; who recog.nize that they are not above Their fellowmen; who are capable of feeling a sym-pathetic thrill with every failing and cangrasp a brother's hand and from theheart encourage him to struggle onwardbecause they themselves are still strug-glingthey are the ones who are thereal examples. Letiers, 40-41.

68 Gems of Mysticism

If you have a fault you wish to cor-rect, create its of'J'osste.

Think no more about the fault, butput all your thought on its opposite.

Put your failures behind you. Givethem no more force by thinking of themor worrying about them.

Live each day for itself1 for if youcan conquer one day at a time you con-quer all. Letters, 203-205.

If the world's sorrow oppresses you,remember that the very best you can dotoward lifting that heavy load is to makea center of joy and gladness in yourown heart....

The only way really to help human-ity is to take hold of that morsel of hu-manity over which you have been givencommand (your various bodies and allpertaining to them, the portion of goodsbelonging to yougiven to you by yourFather ere you took your journey intothis far countiy of earth-life) and be-gin by redeeming it.... This is thesure, in fact the only true, way to be-come an agent of the Masters....

Letters, 167-2; 39-1.

If you study Hamlet, you will findthat In his attempt to set the world arighthe only brought sorrow and suffering to

Mucdllaneous 69

himself and those he loved, and, sacri-ficed not only his own personality butalso the personalities of others in hismisguided attempt

No person has ever been born to setthe world aright except so much of itashe finds expressed in his own per-

If yoi mimi your own business and letthe faults of others go, trusting to theLaw to straighten them out and con-fine yourself to straightening out yourown faults, you will realize the joy that

- comes from such conquering.When you cease to worry over the

faults of others, it will be like a physi-cal burden rolling from your shoulders.

If you have never done this, try. itmerely asa physical experiment for yourown happiness, and the results will roveitstruth. Izis9

If ou were in a congregation whichwas singing out of tune, the best way tobring about harmony would be, not tostop- the singing and talk about it, butto sing steadily. and firmly in perfecttune yourself. Those next to you wouldcatch and spread the harmony until allwere singing in tune. -

It will be only the working out of this

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Miscellaneous 71

numication through which the spiritualforce can flow. In other words, it isclosing the circuit.

The Will, a desire for spiritual gifts,and a constant attitude of devotion arethe proper channels, but words, inedita-tion and a recognition of the end to beattained, are steps leading to the openingof them.

To ask for guidance is but to takehold of the power of Divinity as a littlechild grasps its father's hand.

The child does not say, "Father, giveinc bread and clothing and house-room";for all that is its birthright; but it isquite right to come to its father with itsdifficulties, its lessons and its little tum-bles and bruises and ask for sympathyand help. Letters, 104-105.

During the darkness, while we sleepall the stored up energies of the invisiblerays begin their cycle of activity and ourbodies grow and put forth anew, ac.cording to the pattern we have set forour physical lives. The Iran Age, 3-4.

Poise is the result of self-knowledgeIt is not stoical indifference to

pain and pleasure, but rather risingabove it.

Miscellaneous 73

in spizitual things, under a Master ofWisdom.

But, remember that, because you areno longer interested in the coloredblocks or primers you once thought sobeautiful; you are not to despise thechildren who still cling to theni, or findfault with the teachers of the a-b-c's.

All have their place, and the childrenwill grow away from the blocks whenthey have learned their lessons, just asyou have grown.

The proof that you have outgrownearthly organizations will be the loveand tolerance with which you treat allyour brothers and sisters who still feelthe need of such methods.

To rail at organizations, especially onewhich has helped you to reach your pres-ent state, and those who work in them,is proof that you still need their disci-pline.

Every uplifting movement or teachinghas its place and has for followers thosewho need its lessons. 1st,, 426-427.

A thing that costs you nothing is val-ued at nothing.

Just in proportion to the real love andsacrifice will be the value to your ownSoul.

In other words, what we love we

Miscellaneous 75

Harmony and Brotherhood into mani-festation the sooner, through the con-trolling of thoughts, words, emotions,and by overcoming his or her resistance,and responding more and more under-standingly and gladly, to the upwardurge of the Divine. War, 25.

That whinh we fail to appredate theGreat Law removes from us.

Letters, 162-1.

There is no such thing as death, mere-ly various changes in form in the mani-festation of the One Life....

Isis, 400-3.

As long as there is motion, which isvibration or life, we cannot get awayfrom God, for it is in this God that "welive and move and have our being."

All that exists is substance, but in dif-ferent rates of vibration.

Aquaria) 60-1.

Nothing in the nature of man is inher-ently evil; it is only evil through itsmisuse and the evils that are attachedto it.

Determine to deliver it from evil andto find The Christ-force within every

76 Gems of Mysticism

temptation and everything that assailsyou, knowm? full well that these thingsare the portion of goods that have beengiven you by your Father at your re-questyour just belongings that youhave deserved and out of which youmust create your immortal habitation.

Not one thing must be lost or wastedor destroyed, but each must be trans..muted and its golden potency indrawnand built into the immortal Temple ofthe Living Christ This is the meaningof the sentence in the Lord's Prayer,"Deliver us from evil." Letters, 26-2.

No matter what the apparent sourceof any teaching and no matter how beau-tiful the language used, do not acceptit unless it meets the test of purity andcomnionsense, does not violate the moralcode, and is confirmed by the intuitionof your own Soul. his, 265-2.

The greater the work laid out for aneophyte, the greater the necessity forthorough testin This is a merciful law,for the suffering and the evil Karmawould be much worse to bear if you weregiven a great opportunity and failed forlack of proper training; for, of necessity,you would draw others down with you.

Miscellaneous 71

Until you have been tried and haveproven your strength you cannot brmgforth the harvest

The greater the struggle, if persistedin to victory, the stronger and moreself-reliant wiU be the new-born Soul

Letters, 33-2:35-1.

The true teacher must have evolvedbeyond the little personal self and tosonic extent merged his consciousnessinto the Divine, hence neither seeks norpermits adulation or worship for him-self, but lets the Divine in him speakthrough his teachings. Isis, 133.-I.

The Christian Bible, 111cc all greatscriptures, is an inspired setting forthof the one Divine Wisdom in symboliclanguage.

It deals with principles, not things. Itdescribes qualities, forces and spiritualevents, not historical men, places orphysical events.

It is "a repertory of invented person-ages in its older Jewish portions, and ofdark sayings and parables in its lateradditions, and thus quite misleading toanyone ignðrant of its esotericism."

It is less understood than more an-cient scriptures, because all so-called

78 Ge,ue of Mystthm

study of it has proceeded upon the hy-pothesis that it is intended to presenthistorical facts.

In reality, no great scripture is his-torically true, nor is it supposed to beby those who, having been initiated intoits mysteries, understand something oftheir inner meaning.

AU scriptures and myths are collec-tions of allegories and parable; groupedand arranged to illustrate symbolicallysome feature of the growth of the SoulHence, while not historically true, asmodern research has abundantly shown,they are universally true, because theyillustrate phases of experience throughwhich every Soul passes during its evo-lution toward conscious union with theDivine.

Whenever possible, familiar historicalincidents, names and places are used toillustrate the points more clearly, andalso to inculcate a moral lesson for"than that are without," s. e., not mi-tiated, who are able to grasp on'y sur-face truths. - Isis, 7S46

Cultivate love and toleran for allyour brethren and avoid the thought thatyour way or your view is superior, orin any way- better, than another's, exceptfor yourself. Isis, 406-2.

Mucdlasseous 79

A hasty temper is like a fire; put it ina furnace and it will generate steam orforce that will run machinery and acconiplish a great work for the world.

A sharp tongue, controlled, will be aweapon that cun fearlessly cut the evilfrom the good; its ruler is love.

Intellectual pride is a dangerous mas-ter, but a wonderfully efficient servant.Wed it to humility and let love bless theunion. Letters, 131-2.

Every person belonging to a spiritualmovement (as well as its leaders) isabsolutely responsible for the force thatenters the body of humanity throughthem, as well as for the force they bringinto the movement Isis, 113-2.

There is no surcease for sorrow en-cept when the heart rests in Divine Lovem the assurance that all is well; thatthere is no failure; that underneath thestormy waves of life there is a firmfoundation; that the deep waters shallnot overcome you, for your LovingFather has h9ld of your hand, and yourunderstanding (feet) finds a sure rest-mg-place on the rock of the Law be-neath the waters.

The Fire of Low, 4-2.

80 Gems of Mysticism

The animal nature, to be the servantof the Real Self, must be well takenwe of, well fed, well-groomed and com-fortable, but not over-fed or indulged.

Thus taken care of the animal will dofar better work and make far fewerdemands than one that is starved or ill-treated.

You need the 2nhn2l for your servant;you need all its powers in their best pos-sible condition.

Therefore, treat it as you would anyother finely bred animal of which youexpected great intelligence and greatservice.

The physical must be conquered andcontrolled, not killed out.

Everything that you crush out andweaken must be taken up again and againuntil you perfect and do your full dutyby it. Letters, 162-2:161:2.

Nothing will so retard our own evo-lution as to steal from another thatwhich has been given to him and not tous, be it a thing, a thought, an oppor-tunity, or a life....

Evolution is retarded until humanityas a whole awakens to the importance ofthe fact that every Soul must have free-dom of opportunity to find its own place,perfect itself in its work and follow

Miscellaneous 81

out the inner guidance of its Fatherin-heaven. Key, 303, 305.

It is a mistake that is often made, andone that is fostered by the teachings ofall the orthodox churches, as wdl as bymany other organizations, that sorrowis the only road to purification; that tobe miserable is meritorious and that onlythrough scourging and suffering can wehope for salvation.

The truth is that, when we realize howmuch sorrow there is in the world andknow of a certainty that thoughts arethings and that either joy or sadnesshas the power to spread over a largearea, it becomes our duty to be joyfuland happy. Letters, 167-1.

All ii Law, and aU Law is LoveLove in its highest expression is the

one power which you possess in commonwith the gods.

It is a divine force of attraction whichseeks equilibrium in the union of themasculine and feminine expressions ofthe Divine. isis, 214-2216-3.

Since scritural stories and events donot agree with the proven facts of his-tory (except incidentally, here andthere), the Bible has either been an.

82 Genie of Mysticism

cepted in a Uteral sense and slavishlyfollowed, even against all common senseand justice, or it has been mutilated andonly such parts as can, seemingly, be"proved" accepted, and the rest rejectedor discredited.

In studying the seemingly preposter-ous myths and legends of gods and god-desses found in more ancient scriptures,we have no difficulty in understandingthat they arc not supposed to have anaccurate historical basis, even though re-ferring to historical or astronomicalevents. We do not attempt to pin themdown to actual facts, but seek for thehidden meaning pertaining to the spir-itual development of tn2nkM which weknow they must contain.

The Bible, instead of dealing withgods and goddesses, deals in exactly thesanse nray with personages and places,some of which are taken from history,not because their use in this way pre-tends to be history but because the his-torical facts readily lend themselves tothe illustration of the lesson intended.

Other names and places used are justas fictitious as those used in the ancientmyths; but they all have their inner, cc-cult significancethe numerical value ofthe very words themselves have a defi-nite meaningand are purposely selected

Miscellaneous 83

to indicate steps in the Path of At-one-meat up which each Soul must journey.

Isis, 76-77.

Until you recognize Divinity speakingto you from every other atom of hu-manity; until you have ceased to seekout your brother's mistakes; until youhave ceased to look for his shortcom-ings and failings; ceased to measure hiscorn by your bushel of human frailtyand have found how to use God's meas-ure instead; until you have ceased to lis-ten to the many voices of the world andbegun to listen to the one Divine Voicemanifesting through all humanity asthrough Nature, you will never hear theSilent Voice within.

Soundless Sound, 24-25.

Even though we may be but the htnn-blest of human creatures, still we haveour lives to live, our place to fill, ourrecord to make, and our grain of truthto leave behind. Aquaria, 261-4.

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Fifth Edition. Jllastreted. Issdexed. Price$2.50.

THE KEY OF DESTINYSequel to and continuation of the spiritual in-

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If you have enjoyed The Key to the Ueweereand found it helpful, you will want this volume.Covers almost eveq phase of occult study andevery step in the s?aritual life. Those who havenot read the "Key' can also enjoy this, for it Isnot strictly dependent on the former volume.

Forty chapters ten full ae plates and manyfilustratuons. Full index. Third Edition. Price,$2.50.

REALMS OF THE LIVING DEADSolves all problems, explains all conditions

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LETFERS PROM THE TEACHERPractical questions from earnest students on

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GEMS OF MYSTICISMinspiring ouotations from the Authors' writ.

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