Theosophy : the Path of the Mystic - Katherine Tingley

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CAMPOBHIA

B3HKSLEY,

CALIFORNIA.

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THEOSOPHY:

THE PATH

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LiNKS FOR

YOUR

OWN

FORGING'

from the Teachings of

Leaderof theTheosophicalMovementthroughoutthe world;

Successor to_{Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and WilliamQuan}

Judge; Foundress of the Raja-_{Yoga System}ofEducation;

Foundress-President of the School of Antiquity, Raja-Yoga

College, and Theosophical University

Compiled by

GRACE

KNOCHE

A

Student

Published by

THE

THEOSOPHICAL

PUBLISHING

COMPANY

POINT LOMA, CALIFORNIA

PointLoma,California

SECOND EDITION

"<&ur

but?

isto _feeep altbe in

man

fjte spiritual intuition*/'

Helena PetrovnaBlavatsky

INVOCATION

OMY

Divinity! thou dostblend with the earth and fashion for thyself Temples

of mighty power.

my

Divinity! thou livest intheheart-life of all _things and dost radiate a Golden Light

that shineth foreveranddothillumineeventhe darkest corners of the earth.

my

Divinity! blend thou with

me

that

from the corruptible I

_may

become Incor-ruptible; that from imperfection I

_may

be-come Perfection; that from darkness I

may

go forth in Light.

PREFACE

THE

have

sourcesbeen taken

from which

are (1)the followingstenographic reportscitations

of Katherine Tingley's public addresses

(many

not

heretofore _published)

and

of Katherine Tingley's

talks to her students; (2) Bulletins issued

by

Katherine _Tingley to students of the School of

Antiquity;

and

(3) (by specialpermission) her

pri-vate letters

and

private instructions to her

more

advanced

students.

These

citationsare

what

the_{title-page indicates,}

'

links foryour

own

forging,' theirofficenotto

do your

thinkingfor

_you

buttostimulate

unawakened

powers

and

impel

you

to think for yourself.

They

are for

the _seeker, the _{inquirer, the mystic,}

who

for

more

definite _study is referred to _{the already}

abundant

Theosophicalliterature,particularly

The

Key

to

Theo-sophy

by Helena

Petrovna Blavatsky, the

Founder

of the _Theosophical Society

and

its first _Leader,

to the_Theosophical

Manuals

little books written

by

students of _{Katherine Tingley}

and under

her

supervision

and

for

advanced

study to

Madame

Blavatsky's masterworks,

The

Secret Doctrine

and

his

Unveiled.

Optimism,

service,

common

sense, action rather

the great unfolding

power

life, the abiding

consciousness of Divinity, pouring through all

and

over all

and

in all, "like water over the pebbles of

Willow Brook"

these are the _keynotes of

Theo-sophy,

and

are accentuated here.

_They

are needed

notes, admittedly, in

_any

_attempt to harmonize or

resolve the jangled progressions of

modern

life; but

at the educational institution founded

_by

her at

Point

Loma,

California,

Madame

Tingley has

made

this _attempt

and

has

crowned

itwith a success that

is_{attracting the attention of the world.}

Her

teach-ings therefore

may

justly claim consideration.

Those

who

see in life_only a riddle,

who

see in-justice

on

every hand,

who

cannotfind_peaceof

mind

without

some

_satisfyinganswer tothe ancient

ques-tions,

Who

am

/,

Whence came

/,

and

Whither do

I

go,

who

have touched the great

problem

ofsorrow

and

would

gladly

make

their livescountinservice to their fellows if _{only they} could find the

_way

such as

theseit isbelievedwillfind

much

_{to inspire}

and

help

them

in the _appeal

made

in this littlevolume.

For

it is _entirely tothe nobler_qualities

and

the

indwel-lingsoulin

man.

THE

COMPILER

International Theosophical Headquarters

Point_{Lorna, California}

CONTENTS

SECTION

I

WHAT

is

THEOSOPHY?

The

Wisdom-Religion of the

_Ages

3

The

Mission of

_Theosophy

8

Helena

Petrovna Blavatsky 13

SECTION

II

THE

GREAT

DISCOVERY:

MAN

is

NOT

_ONE,

BUT

Two

The

_Duality of

Man's Nature

19

Man's

Two

_Companions

23

Reconstruction

and

_Duty

26

Self-Study

and

Self-Control 30

The

Higher

and Lower

Psychology 35

SECTION

III

THE

PATH

OF

THE

MYSTIC

The

_Light of the Divine 43

The Open

Doors

of Silence 50 Nature, the _Mystic

Mother

58

TEACHER AND STUDENT

The

Beaming Thought

65

Your

_{Spiritual Strength} 70

SECTION

V

THE

HEART-CRY

OF

THE

WORLD

The

Vortexof

Human

Life 87

The

Day

of

Achievement

is

Here

94

Foreshadowings 99

The

_Cry

of theNations forPeace 103

To

_My

Brother in Prison 107 Keynotes

and Epigrams

116

SECTION

VI

WOMAN

AND

THE THEOSOPHIC

HOME

To

the

_Awakening

Woman

123

BuildSpiritualAltarsinthe

Home

138

Child

and Mother

150

SECTION

VII

RAJA-

YOGA

IDEALS

AND

THE CHILD

The

Cycleof the Children 159 Education

and

theHeart-lifeof the Child 167

Music

is the

_Song

of the Soul 175

True Drama,

theSoul'sInterpreter 180

is

Theosophy is,then, the archaic

Wisdom-Religion, theesotericdoctrine once

known

in

everyancient country having claimsto

civiliza-tion. . . .

Our

_society is also called the

'

Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.,'

The

Wisdom-Religion

of

the Ages

HE

in

whom

thesoulisevermanifest heisthe

true _mystic,

and

to

him Theosophy

is

no

systemofsterilethought buta_{light,a teacher,} a _companion, ever _{calling to compassionate} action,

ever _urging to _{higher things.}

Think

of

_Theosophy

not so

much

as a

_body

of

philosophic or other teaching,butasthe highest law

of conduct,

which

is theenactedexpression of divine

love or_compassion.

Theosophy

will _{bring something}to

_you

that can never_pass

_away:

the consciousness of_{your Divine,}

your InnerSelf; a convictionofyourinherent

_power

to conserve your energy along the highest spiritual

lines.

For

man

cannot find his _{true place} in the

great

scheme

of

human

life until he has ennobled

and

enriched his nature with the consciousness of

his_Divinity.

That

is

what Theosophy means;

that

is its _message;

and

it is a beautiful one to those

who

can throw aside fear

and

prejudice

and

truly

With

all

due

_respect to our _{great colleges}

and

theirwork, withallduedeferencetotheeminent

men

of learningat their _head,I nevertheless declare that

were a Chair _{of Theosophy} to be founded in these

institutions, the whole world

would

soon be

on

its

way

towards that true, that spiritual, civilization

which

isourideal

and

ourright.

For

a

new

religionhas

come

new

in its

presen-tation,butoldasthe agesinits_{meaning: Theosophy,}

once the universal_religionof

_{mankind, and}

destined

tobe the universalreligion of thefuture.

Even

now

its _{great principles} are _{permeating thought}

and

ac-tion_everywhere,

and

everywherethe

most advanced

minds

are lookingforwardtotheidealof a universal

religion as humanity's one hope. Here itis!

Theosophy

is the basis, Divinity is the _power,

mind

is the _instrument,

and

the soul is the

en-lightener.

&

No

_philosophy in the world can

meet

the great

human

'question

and

answer' as does Theosophy. This I

_know,

for it includes the best in all others.

THE WISDOM-RELIGION OF THE AGES

It is the essence of _all, as it is the essence of all

religions. It satisfies the intellect; it is logical,

scientific

and

clear;

and

itstealsinto theheartwith

its_message of brotherliness

and

compassion like the

aroma

of a_flower,likethe tenderbreathofamother's

love.

What

but

_Theosophy

can

meet

the greatneed

of the hour?

Theosophy

does not offer spiritualinstruction for

money.

Truth

isnot _purchasable.

Those

who

_long toserve

_humanity

_{should study}

Theosophy,

if for _nothing else than that _they

_may

learn to

'know

themselves'; that _they

_may

learn to

know

theirchildren _spiritually; that _they

_may

per-ceive_{the duality that}exists in

human

natureaswell

as in _life, thus

_becoming

able to control the

dis-ruptive

and

lower elements,

and

encourage those

whichare noble, constructive

and

divine. . . .

For

the despair

and

unrest of _humanity, the unbalance

and

the _injustices of life, stand at the door of our civilization like _{living pictures, specters,} their

very presence pleading for a manifestation of the

But

theone

who

essaysto_study

_{Theosophy must}

do

his part.

He

cannot befed with_{a spoon.}

There

must

be effort

and

humility, aspiration

and

love of

virtue,

and

a willingness to be taught.

No

teacher,

however

great, can teach until the

pupilis_{ready to learn;}

and Theosophy

isthe world's

teacher, for it is _{the great interpreter of}life.

Were

_you

to be told that just outside the door

great

minds

were waiting to give

you

the secret of

acquiring fabulous wealth,

you would

not _stop for

anything. . . .

Yet

that which

you would hope

to

gain belongs butto the perishable,fleeting,material

sideoflife!

Why

not

make

asgreat aneffort forthe

knowledge

that will _give

_you

the secret of _right

living, reveal to

you

the mysteries oflife?

There is in

_Theosophy

_{an optimism so magical,}

so inspiring

and

so _superb that I

would

I

had

the

power

tochallenge the world with itssublimeideas.

Had

we

the light of this inspiring, pulsating

philo-sophy upon

the affairs of our nations _today,

we

Brother-THE

WISDOM-RELIGION OF

THE AGES

hood.

The

forceofit

would

touch

and

quicken the

most

indifferentminds; it

would

_{bring the}breathof

lifetothose

_{who, weighed}

down

_by

their

Karma,

are

now

but _just half _{living yes,}

men

and

nations

both. It is this

above

all that the world needs.

The

oft-quoted saying of the Sage of _Athens,

"Man,

know

thyself!" has a deeper

meaning

today

thanit

had

_yesterday,for _{a greater}

demand

is

made

today

upon

the whole

human

race.

The

teachings of

Theosophy

alonecan_bring

_hope

to poor,storm-tossed

_humanity;

thisIaffirm.

And

we

have

but toobserve _{the general} trendof

human

thought

and

effort to establishthis as afact.

Anti-quated theories of _religion

and

life are _being

dis-credited, long settled beliefs

and customs

are _being

abandoned,

and

therehas risen in theworld a great

compellingforcewhichis_{demonstrating} the _poverty

ofman'sreligiouslife.

Materialism

and

the_merelyintellectualview

have

carried

man

out

_upon

a seaof unrest

and

dissatisfac-tion, while the real

man,

the Divine

_Man,

has been

ignored.

As

aresult,thefiner

_knowledge

which

is

the_{very being}of

man

himself is inactive

and

ob-scured, so that it is difficult even for _thinking

men

and

women

to find their_moorings. Itisthis_very

con-dition,however,that _{will finally}

_{open man's}

_{eyes to} the

_{power and}

beneficenceof

_{Theosophy, and}

tothe

factthatitholds the_keyto

_knowledge

which heseeks.

Theosophy

is the inner life in _{every religion.} It is

no

new

religion, but is as old as

Truth

itself.

Theosophy!

Theosophy!

It is _{the great}

beacon-light! Itstandsin itscolossalstrength

and

its

won-derful potentialities as the

Good

Angel of the

twen-tieth _century. Let all turn to its teachings

and

find the Lost

Word!

The

Mission

of

_Theosophy

The

mission of the_{TheosophicalSociety}isto_bring

men

and

women

together as co-workers for _{a great}

and

universal_purpose;

and

thefirst_steptowardsthat

end

istoaccentuate the fact that

man

is divine,

and

that to help create a nucleus ofUniversal

Brother-hood, based onthe Divinity of

Man

and

the

THE

MISSION OF

THEOSOPHY

The

mission of the_{Theosophical Society}is to set

aside errors,misconceptions, unbrotherliness

and

in-tolerance,

and

put love

and

trust, right action

and

the sweetnessoftruth, in their place. Itsmissionis

to _spread

new

ideas _throughout the world for the

benefitof those

who

most

need them; to release the

mind

of

man

from

_prejudice

and from

fear,

and

human

life from its _digressions. Its mission is to

bring the whole

human

family

up

to a standard of

spiritual foresight, discrimination, intuition, right

thought

and

right action, with a

new

and

diviner

conception of Justice

and

of Love. If

men

and

women

could

work

together as one great universal

body

towards this end, they

would

becreators of a

new

order ofages, a Universal Religion verily,

and

a true Brotherhood of

Man.

For

we

are allbrothers: children of_Deity,

mem-bers ofGod's _{great family.}

The

_mighty

must

reach

downward

towards the lowly; the _lowly

must

be borne upwards.

My

whole

aim

is _{to bring}out the_spiritual

possi-bilities of the individual. . . . Individual effort

PATH

that is the

aim

of

_Theosophy

that each

_may

come

to

know

himself better, that there

_may

be

a _{spiritual 'rounding-out' of the character}

and

the

life. If

we

can see the individual _rising in the

strength of his divine _heritage, the

_power

of his

spiritual rights, then

comes

a clearing ofthe mind,

a _lifting of the veil that hides the Truth.

As

Madame

Blavatsky said, "Theosophist is

who

_Theosophy

does";

and Theosophy

teaches,

first

and

last, purity oflife, protection of the

inno-cent,purethoughts,pure words,puredeeds.

Above

all, it teaches that each has _{a responsibility} for all

who

are

weaker

or less _progressed; it teaches that

each is "his brother's keeper."

Yet

we

never proselytize.

We

make

no

at-tempt

to 'convert'; for _{our philosophy} declares that

_any

_attempt to force others to _accept our thought or our views is an _injustice to their true

nature, their deeper self.

We

do

not _frighten,

in-timidate, or discourage, nor

do

we

implant fear.

But

we

do

appeal,

we

do

plead,

and

we

do

try

by

the

_example

of our lives to

show

to others the

beauty of

_Theosophy

as a _{living power.} 10

THE

MISSION OF

THEOSOPHY

A

new

_{hope, a}

new

_courage,is even

now

_stirring

the hearts of thousands.

A

_message

of

Love and

Brotherhood has gone out tothe world. Thisis the

keynote of the

new

age Brotherhood.

The

principlesof

Theosophy

areworthless unless

carried outin deeds. Itis useless to_pile

_up

in the

library of our intellectual life ideas

_upon

ideas

and

nothing more.

The

worldis_weighed

down

with

mere

_{intellectualism already.} It

must have

some-thingmore,

and

that_'something

more'

is the_active,

practical expression of those ideas, those spiritual

principles, inevery actoflife.

Partof the mission of

_Theosophy

is to

show

man

how

toreasonin a

new

way. Its _{teachings challenge}

one toseek a

new

_{viewpoint; they}challenge one to

rise in _{the strength of the soul} to _{heights of}

self-mastery never attained before.

But

not for self:

in this time of

_{agony and}

chaos there can be

no

thought ofself.

*

Insuch endeavorthestudentfindsthe sacredness

of the hour

and

the_day.

There

is

no

time for

com-promiseorfor _delay.

The

_lazy, the _indifferent, the

selfish

and

the_{egotistical will}not be_{interested along} suchlinesof research; but one

who

isstirred

by

the

simple conviction thatheisimmortal notin

some

nebulous future life, but here

and now

that

man

feels thetouchof the Divinity within.

Theosophy

is above all the

_power

to _uplift. If

mankind

but understood

and

livedit, thewhole

hu-man

race

would

befreed,asolidfoundationofmental

and

spiritualfreedom

would

beestablished,

and

pres-ent

_{menacing and}

terrible conditions

would

disap-pear. So great

would

bethejoyoflifeunder

Theo-sophy, applied

and

lived, that thosepartakingofits

beneficence could efface from their

memories

even

the mistakes of the _past,

and

could go forward

fearlessly

and

filledwith_hope.

Theosophy

declares that

_humanity

is divine!

Were

this _Divinity but realized, the godlike

attri-butes of character

would

be so manifest in _dignity

and

in_{strength that}

no words would

beneededtotell

you what

real life is!

...

We

are

_{making some}

progress,it is_true; but

we

hear_onlysix_{notes played.}

The

seventh one is silent,

and

that silent, waiting

note is the Divine in

human

nature

and

in life.

HELENA

PETROVNA BLAVATSKY

Theosophy

teaches that

man

weaves

his

own

destiny

and

that heis, to the extentofhis knowledge

and

his ;///,the masterofit.

"Man,

know

thyself!" This teaching

Theo-sophy would

engrave

on

every

human

life.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

I never think of the teachings of

Theosophy

without feeling surge

up

within

me

an _intense, an

affectionate, an infinite _regard for the wonderful

woman who

brought

them

to the

Western

world

teachings far older than those of the Nazarene,

and

yet with all the _beauty,

charm and

_{purity of}

new

life. This unusual

_woman,

Helena

Petrovna Bla-vatsky! I feel that she

must have

passed through

many

schools _{of experience} in

_many,

_many

lives

to _gain the marvelous

_knowledge

that she

pos-sessed, the affectionate self-sacrificing love for

hu-manity

that

was

hers,

and

the couragethat sufficed

to carry her through the _suffering

and

persecution

that came. She

was

as one

who

had

been

cleansed as

_by

fire,

who

had

passed through the

travailof thesoul.

Ifshe

became

a

_mystery

tothose

who

didnotcare tounderstand_her,a

_mystery

totheworldin_general, it

was

becausethe_majorityof_peoplearenotlooking

towards the East.

_They

_may

have

moods

of

un-selfishness

now

and

then,

and spasms

ofaspiration,

but in the

main

_they are, so to speak,'here today

and

gone tomorrow'.

&

When Madame

Blavatsky

came

to the world with her message of

_Theosophy,

she perceived the

materialistic trend of

human

_thought

and

life,

and

brought her treasures of

Truth

that she _might turn

it to _{higherthings.}

She

came

_{to simplify the}

prob-lems oflife.

Her

_purpose

was

to set

men

thinking.

Read

The SecretDoctrine, Isis _Unveiled, The

_Key

to

Theosophy,

and The

Voice ofthe Silence

_you

who

are questioning as to the

'whence/

the 'wherefore'

and

the 'whither'

and

see if

_{you do}

not find in

them

principles

and

truths, that, could they be

lived

up

to,

would

absolutely change the whole

aspect of our civilization. She

was

indeed

'Hu-manity's Friend/

&

How

was

it _possible for this Teacher to findher

way

into the heart-life of the world as she _did,

and

leave

on

the screen of time that indescribable

HELENA

PETROVNA BLAVATSKY

something that has never yet been uttered?

For

Theosophy

has not been fully uttered,

and

we

can

perceive as yet but one or

two

aspects ofit

and

these _according to our

advancement.

In her life

she expressed the unutterable, the mystical, the truly

unexpressed.

She

dwelt in the soul-life

and under

the_impressof thesilence. _{She brought} totheworld

lofty

and

colossal principles,

whose meaning

our

children as _{the yearspass}will _{interpret better} than

we. Shelifted the veil before the _mysteries oflife

and

destiny

when

she stepped forth

on

the outer

plane withthis_magnificent

and

dignifiedphilosophy.

Isaluteher,whereversheis!

H.

P. _{Blavatsky has been} libeled

and

_obscured,

as all _spiritual reformers

have

been; but thousands

who know

herteachings

and

herlifehailherasoneof

the _{benefactors of the age.}

We

_already find the

idealsof

_Theosophy

_{permeating every}

_department

of

thought,

and

I_prophesythatitwillnot bea

hundred

years before

Theosophy

will _{be planted}in_{every city}

of thecivilizedworld because shelived

and

sacri-ficed

and

taught.

Oh,

the _{superb things that} then

will

come

to

human

life!

The

_verythoughtofit isa

benediction. She is indeed the spiritual

mother

of the world.

Humanity

is _truly in the _shadows; but _{in spite}

of_{retrogression,} materialism

and

a selfishness that

is _extreme, the finer _atmosphere of the world is even

now

_{surcharged with hope.}

Can we

take the

light

and

sunshine of this

hope

into our lives

and

forget the one to

whose

courage

and

sublime effort

we owe

all this

H.

P. _Blavatsky?

No

Theo-sophistcould

do

so.

She

had

traveled faron the 'small old_path' of

self-mastery a great Spiritual Warrior, with the love of a

mother

burning in her heart

and

the sweetness

and

trustof achild. She standsasone_{transfigured,}

for

_upon

her shines the_{sunrise light}of the

New

_Day

she proclaimed.

She left the world in its _{thought-life teeming}

with an urge for _{higher things,}

which

_only the few could understand.

She

was

inspired

beyond

the

knowing,

and

the great message whichshe brought, the

_mighty

undertones

and

overtones ofUniversal

Love,

sounded by

her in the silences, were part of

the great Universal Plan. She

was

the _Messenger

of years to come, the Torch-bearer of the _age, the

great transmitter of spiritual light to the future.

is

not

_<&m,

but

/j not one part of us body,

and

the

rest _of us soul?

The

Duality

of

Man's

Nature

r I

iHERE

is _{a great discovery}

which

each

must

make

for himself: that

human

nature isdual

and

that a battleis evergoing

on

between the

Higher

Self

and

the lower, the angel

and

the

demon

in

man.

Theosophy

teaches the duality of

man's

nature

the higher,

immortal

_part,

and

the lower,

made up

of passions

and

desires.

When

_{the higherdominates,}

there is

_{knowledge and}

there is peace.

When

the

lower rules, all the dark _despairing elements of

hu-man

life rush in

_upon

the

_unguarded

_soul,

and

too

often suicideis theresult.

I_{bring themessage}that

_man,

in hisinner nature,

is a _{being with} a divine inheritance

and

immeasur-able _{possibilities} of evolution.

This_{strange duality!}

And

how

do

human

weak-nesses creepin? Firstofall

we

turn the

key

of

selfish-nessin

some

closeddoor_{of the nature; then, before}

we know

it,thedooris

_{open and}

inwalks_{a stranger,}

an _{obsessive, potent} forceof_evil, often with

_power

enough

to_{destroy theverybeing.}

No

lenshasas_yet

been

made

that can

_{show you what}

this is, but it

nevertheless exists.

And

the door ofselfish desire

onceajar, theincomingstrangeris_welcomed,

enter-tained, permitted to _enjoy the

_bounty

of the intel-lectual life,permitted tosit in the _very

chamber

of man's _being,

where

_onlyhigher

and

_{splendid things} should be.

This door

_may

_open to

_any

ofus, but

know

that it can never be _shut,

and

kept shut, until our feet

are_planted

on

the eternalrockof

_{knowledge and}

of

trust, until

we

have

the

power

and

absolutely

know

that

we

have

it to shut out the faintest tinge or touch or thought or vibration of _anything that

would

mar

the purity of that inner realm of

mind

that the soul

works

in

and

through.

In the

name

of _justice

and

of

Karma

I _say,

Woe

be unto those

who

wilfully entertain such visitors

asthese!

Woe

beuntothose

who

daretodesecrate their

own

mind

ortouchthe

mind

_ofanother with_anything

but the _loftiest, the _noblest^ the purest

and

the best!

Once

the duality of

human

natureisadmitted

_by

science, our asylums will

become

great schools of

study from which a deeper understanding

and

a

largercompassion shall come. For without a _study

THE DUALITY OF

MAN

S

NATURE

of the Self in its _duality, mental disorders cannot

be understood.

A

volume

could be written

on

this

oneline _alone,

and

the halfnot then be told.

How

wonderfullyfar-seeing

was

that old teacher of

_bygone

days,

who

left us this _injunction:

_MAN,

KNOW

THYSELF!

That

is the

_key

to the whole

situation. Let

man

take the first _{step boldly} in

honestself-examination,witha_{daringthat stops}

be-fore _nothing that

_may

_impede

his_path,

and

hewill find very soonthathe hasthe

key

to

wisdom

and

to

the

_{power which}

redeems. Discovered through his

own

efforts,

by

the law of self-directed evolution,

this

_key

will

_open

before

him

the

Chambers

of

the Self.

For

when

a

man

has the_courage to_analyse

him-self his_purposes,his_motives,his_verylife

when

hedares to

_compare

the

_wrong

_thingsin hislifewith

the_rightones, in the _spirit of a love for

_humanity

sufficient to

make

him

willing tolay

down

hislifefor itifneedbe,hewill findthe secret ofliving. Thisis

what

I

mean when

I _say that

we

are ever being

challenged challenged

by

the better side of our

naturestostandfacetofacewithourselves.

That

is

PATH

OF

the challenge of

Theosophy, which

everpleads with

man

to reach out in _recognition to the _Divinity

within.

For

this_Divinity,this

_Knower,

_this

Spiritu-al

_Companion,

isever_pleadingtobelistenedto,ever

waiting to be recognised, ever ready to help

and

serve that it

_may

_{bring the} whole nature of

man

to

its standard_{of godlike perfection.}

These two

forces: _{the physical}

_{dominated by}

the

spiritual, the

mind

illuminated

by

treasuresof truth

and

inspiration

from

the

Higher

Self, these two,

working together, will bring about results that are

unbelievable.

Nor

will it take all _eternity to bring

about these _things.

The

very

atoms

of our

_body

can be touched

_by

thefireof divinelife

and

_brought

into

harmony

with the

mind

and

soul,controlled as

the master musician controls his _instrument,

_by

the

_Higher

Self.

For

life is_Light

and

_Lightis life,

and

the

Christos-spirit is in _everything in _degree.

Could

we

sit at

thefeetof the

Law

likelittle_{children, could}

we

free

our

minds

from misconceptions

and

learn from na-ture

and

listen to the Christos-voice within, oh,

what

revelations

would

come

tous!

We

should then

be able to say, This is immortal

and

thatis _mortal;

MAN

S

TWO

COMPANIONS

this _belongs to the

animal

nature of

man,

and

thatto

the spiritual.

The

power

to

do

thisisthe

_power

that

we

need, arousingus

from

the_{dead,so to speak,}

and

bringing to us light

and

illumination.

Man's

Two

_Companions

From

the time that a

vow

is taken the _disciple

has ever with

him two

forces:

two

invisible

com-panions

formed

of his

own

_essence, one _evil, one

divine; the secretion or objectivationofthe opposite

poles ofhis

own

self-consciousness,theyrepresenthis

good and

evil angels,the_Augoeides

and

its

counter-part,eachseeking toabsorbhis_being.

One

of these

in the

end must

prevail over the other,

and

one or

the other is _strengthened

_by

_every act

and

thought

of his life.

_They

are his _higher

and

_lower

poten-tialities_{passing slowly into potency, as the energies}

(both

good and

evil, note) . . . are

awakened.

. . .

(Fromprivate instructions}

Our

problem

is to transfer

more

and more

of

our-selves to the real battle-field.

That

field isone that consistsof the _feelings

and

thoughtsof

men;

THE

PATH

OF

fore,

by

right feeling

and

thought is the battle

maintained.

Our

strength lies in _{keeping positive;}

in_{holding asteady joy}inourhearts; ina

momentary

meditation

on

all _{floating great ideas} till

we

have

seized

them and

made

them

ours; in a meditation

with the_imagination

on

the life of

humanity

in the

future,

and

its_grandeur; in _dwelling

on

the

concep-tion of Brotherhood. . . .

(Fromprivate instructions)

Yet

never can

we

reach that point of spiritual

discernment until

we

have

found within our

own

hearts _something

new:

a _larger

_sympathy

for all

that_lives,

and

a broader, deeper,grander conception

of

human

life

and

the _{superb laws} that _govern it.

I thinkeachis_{a focalization to a point of}allthe

good and

all the evil elements to

which

we

have

given consciouslifeinthe_past.

At

each

moment,

as

we

consciouslyincline

toward good

orevil,oneorthe

other feeds into

and

fillsthemind.

And

it isobvious

that the point ofconnexion witheitheristhatfailing

or virtue to

which

we

are

most

inclined.

However

small a point, it _must, if _encouraged, lead to

and

MAN

S

TWO

COMPANIONS

involve all therest

on

that side ofthe stores ofour

nature

and

the universe. If this is _true, it follows

that to _give our conscious volitional

_{encouragement}

and

backing to

_any

fault or

_any

_failing, is

an

im-mensely pregnant move downward.

(From private instructions)

But

if effort be continual, if

no

failures or falls

discourage the aspirant

and

arealwaysfollowed

_"by

as

_many

undaunted

struggles

upward,"

he has always

the help

and

counsel of the divine 'Daimon,' the

'

Warrior'

;

and

victory,

however

faraway,iscertain.

For

this is _{an unconquerable power,} "eternal

and

sure," anactual_presence

and

inspiration, if

_you

will

but _recognise it, having faith

and

faith

and

faith.

(From-privateinstructions}

Why

then, it will be natural to _ask, if this

Warrior, fighting for us, is _invincible,

do

we

ever

fail? It is lack of _faith,

unwontedness

of resort

to this _{place of energy, the habit of yielding} to

temptation without pause or _thought, the

non-recognition

by

meditation of the _duality of our

nature. _{(Fromprivate instructions)}

Reconstruction

_{and Duty}

I

am

_{always thinking of reconstruction,} butit is

the great keynote ofeffort at the present time, for

it is a time of

new

things,

new

light,

and

verygreat

help, if

we

invoke it.

The

reconstruction of

humanity!

How

shall

we

set aboutit?

The

first _step, I _hold,is todeclare to

man:

You

are Divine! Thereis within

_you

_soul-life,

and

_if

_{you WILL}

to_{bring out}that

lifeitwill revealto

you

the truth; it will

make

_{clear every step that}

_you

take. Greatest _ofall, it will revealto

_{you your}

_duty.

For

humanity

atpresent is_{working largely}

on

mistaken

lines of_duty.

ji

Duty

ismisunderstoodasJustice

and

Equityare.

Yet

if

we

couldfreeourselves

from

the limitations of

preconceivedideas ideas that are_literallyriveted

intothe

mind

we

could

move

outinto the free air

of_{harmonious thought}

and

action,

and would

know

what duty

is.

The

_things

we

believedin _yesterday

we

should believe in

no

_longer; the false _gods

we

have

_worshipedinourhome-life

and

thelifeof the

na-tion,

would

vanishin the_presenceof the

New

Light.

RECONSTRUCTION

AND DUTY

For

the _Light is _{only waiting} to be perceived.

You

_{need not go}toIndia,nor waitforthetouchof a

Swami's hand,in order tofind that Light.

You

can

finditforyourselves,althoughsinceall

have

evolved

differently, in differentenvironments,

under

different

conditions,

and up

todifferent_pointsof

understand-ing,one cannot say

when

orhow.

To

establish aset rule forreformation

would

thereforebe unwise. This

we

do know,

however, that with the

motive

_pure

and

the soul ever urging one

upward,

one

moves

forward naturally

on

linesof_simpleduty,

and

thus into the _light of the higher nature

and

of Truth.

O

ye

men

and

women!

Sons ofthe

same

Uni-versal

Mother

as ourselves!

Ye

who

were born as

we

were born,

who

must

die as

we must

die,

and

whose

souls like ours _belong to the Eternal: I call

upon you

toarise

_{from your}

_dreamy

state

and

tosee

within yourselves that a

new

and

brighter

day

has

dawned

forthe

human

race.

This need not remain the _{age ofdarkness,} nor need

_you

wait until _{another age} arrives before

_you

can

work

at_yourbest. Itis_{only an age of darkness}

for those

who

cannot _{see the Light,} for the _Light

itself has never faded

and

never will. It is _yours

if

_you

will turn to it, live in it; yours today, this

OF

hour even, if

_you

will hear

what

is said with ears

that understand.

Arise then, fear _nothing,

and

_{taking that} which

is _your

own

and

all _men's, abide with it in _peace for evermore!

(From anaddressdeliveredtoanativeaudienceat_Bombay,India,

duringtheFirst TheosophicalCrusadearoundtheWorld(1896-7).

Wisdom

comes

not from the _{multiplication} of

spoken or _{written instructions;}

_{what you have}

is

enough

tolast

_you

athousand_years.

Wisdom

comes

from the _performance of _duty,

and

in the silence,

and

only the silence expresses it.

(Fromprivate instructions)

Let us_{bring into}life as an _{active,potent}factor,

that

_{knowledge which}

isnot to_{be purchased,}forit is onlytobe

won

_by

the surrenderof thelower nature

the passionate, theselfish,thelustfulnature to

the_{Christos-spirit,}the

God

within.

Then

letuscall

forth _{this inner,} DivineSelf, that it

_may

illuminate

the

mind

and

bring

man

to the heights ofspiritual

discernment, to

_knowledge

of the

Higher

Self,

and

realization of the Theosophic life.

RECONSTRUCTION

AND DUTY

We

shall never _{possess the courage} that

right-fullybelongsto

man

as_{part of the}Divine

_Law,

until

we

know

that

we

aresouls,until

we

have opened

new

doors of experience in our lives, interpreting life accordingto this

Law

and

the higher

knowledge

of

our being.

When

with _great effort a

man

has clarified his

nature,

when

hecansay, Gettheebehind me^Satan!

then has he entered the _{path of self-development.}

Though

hislowernature

_may

meet him

at_everyturn

of the path,never can he fail,says

Theosophy,

ifhis

purposeis _pure.

The

_{godlikequalities} ofhis _higher

nature are _disciplining him, because he has said, // shallbeso.

Greater than all Christ

knew

was

the divine

compassion that he felt;

and

it

must have

been

when

on

the _{heights, sounding} the harmonies of

the soul in his compassion for

humanity,

that he

looked into the _future, beheld the divine

possi-bilities of those

who

were to come,

and

said, Greater

things than theseshallye do.

OF

The

mentality of

man

will never be fully

de-velopeduntilhe has

made

his

own

the_{enlightenment} that

comes from

_{soul-knowledge.}

And

_yet each

holds this_{rare possession} withinhis heartofhearts.

It _belongs to all

_men;

_they

have

but to claim

their own.

Self-Study

and

Self-Control

Self-analysis, self-study, self-control!

These

are

the _{divine, protective power,} the _{golden keys} to an understanding of the Self.

Oh

that

_you

_might

realize

what

books of revelation are piled

up on

the

shelves of_your

own

lives!

Study

the teachingsof

_{Theosophy on}

thissubject

of duality,

and

then put

your

mental houseinorder!

Have

a spring-cleaning,

and

fit the brain-mind to

become

the repository ofnoble

and

beautiful _things,

withthe Warrior the Spiritual Self

which

is your-self in _very truth _standing at _{the portal!}

I

have no

timetowrite a

volume on

this_subject,

though

there should be one in _every school

and

home,

but

under

the pressureoftheheartache which

comes

to

me

when

Iseeone

who

isfitted toserve the

SELF-STUDY

AND

SELF-CONTROL

world superbly yet

dominated by some

weakness or

obsessionthatis_{absolutely foreign to the} Real Self,

I

must

_say a

word

here,

and

a

word

there, as I can.

Have

_you

meditated

on

that

_Higher

Selfto

which

you

aspire? This thought

and

meditationisthefirst

step to an understanding of the real nature of the

inner

and

outer

man.

Itclarifies

your

whole _being,

unloading

and

separating

from you

much

that

_you

have

hitherto_thought tobeyourself, helping

you

to

an understandingof the valuelessness of

much

that

you have

hitherto desired

and

perhapsthought

neces-sary to

your

welfare or_peaceof

_mind;

_{separating the}

chaff from the

wheat

in _{consciousness, conferring}

added power

of insight into

human

nature,

and

dis-crimination in

_your

_dealings with

men.

. . .

(Fromprivate instructions)

J*

We

are too slowin _lookingat these _grave

prob-lemsin

human

nature

from

_{the practical standpoint,}

too dilatoryin oureffortsto_study

them

from

analo-gy.

Yet

thisis_just

what

we must

do

if

we

are to_go

forward

on

the_{path ofself-conquest}

and

real

helpful-ness to others.

We

_may

talkabout_duality all_day;

but

what

doesit availif

we

do

_{not apply our}

know-ledge to the conditions of actual life?

It is in the _mysterious

Chambers

of the Self,

within the _very

atoms

of the _mind, that the little

weakness, the little _{untruthfulness or disobedience,} theallbut unnoticedvice,take root

and

grow,

mark-ing the subtlebeginningsofanevilthatisworse than

a crawling,

venomous

reptilereadyto_springat_your

throat. This is a vivid picture, but

we

need it

to see things as _they are.

To

reconstruct

mankind

we

must

arouse

more

faith inthe Self.

The

_{spiritual failure}

becomes

such because he has lost faith in himself.

That

is_always

the initial _step.

Then

comes

loss of faith in his

friends, then in

mankind

as a _whole,

and

soon he

finds himself _{living in a strange house:} the house

of the lower nature.

Itis an awful _{spectacle, the} decayof a _loyal

na-ture.

So

littleabar seemsto_{keepthe poor,}

_unhappy

mind

flutteringthroughitsdelusions from

find-ingits

own

_{place of peace.}

But

eventhese casescan

help. . . if

we

_study

them and

learnfrom

them

the

two

_keynotes that

mark

our

own

_duality, one induc-ing worry, the hot brain, misery, discordant

over-tones, self-justification,

and

again

and

again self-32

SELF-STUDY

AND

SELF-CONTROL

justification, an eternal harping

on

that; the other

peace, love, joy, clear vision, work. . . .

(Fromprivate instructions)

No

one, thoroughly set in a

_wrong

course, can everbe broughtto arealizationof thatfact

_{by words}

alone.

_Why?

Because the lower nature is there; it is, forthe time,masterof thesituation, master in

the house ofmind, inimical naturally to

whatever

would

enable its victim to learn the truth.

We

all

know

that the inner

man

is _{true, eternal,}

strong, pure,compassionate,just.

The

outeris too

often_{weak, wavering,}selfish; its_energyarisesoutof

desire

and

ambition.

Yet

it istheinstrument

which

the soul, the inner, seeks to perfect in _compassion. It is in this outer nature, usually physically

domi-nated, thatarisesthe

common

_feelingof'I',

and

it is

to the _blendingofthis with the real 'I* that

evolu-tion tends. _(Fromprivate instructions)

Our

consciousnessis_{often a strangelyself-gullible,}

dual_entity. Victories are

won

firstin _thought;

and

the habit _{of substituting a}

_good

_{thought or picture}

thatarouses _compassionor

_any

_partof the spiritual

nature, or agranderideain

_any

_way

_going

_beyond

the

limited selfhood, for a selfish _{or personal or sensual}

one, is _easily learned. (Fromprivate instructions)

To

touch

_upon

this

moot

_{question, so often raised}

by modern

psychology thequestionof habit: it is

habit that

makes

or

mars

the character; but he

who

knows

the_{dividing-line} between _{self-indulgence}

and

self-control, has the

key

tohabit

and knows

how

to

build _aright.

Ifindmyselfthinking the

same

thing todaythat

I_{did yesterday,holding}the

same

idealbut with each

day

living closer to it, nearer to the

warmth

and

glow of the real life.

Soon

habit is established,

the habit of aspiration

and

self-control, the

founda-tion of character.

Were

this_{knowledgeuniversal, there}

would

open

new

_pathsinlife.

We

should

have

no

_{disharmonies,}

no

war

... we

should

have

_religion itself religion

that

would

leadus to see thebeauties ofnaturein a

new

_way,

to _study

_humanity

in a

new

_{way, and}

to

find the virtues ofour brothers

and

cultivate

them

so _{understandingly}

and

so _generously that in time

all hatred

would

disappear.

THE HIGHER

AND

LOWER

PSYCHOLOGY

Itisindeed timeto_{think along theselines,}forthe

spiritofhatred has passedsodeeplyintoournatures

sucked in,so to speak, as the rain is sucked into

theearth thatitwill take

no end

ofspiritual

sun-shine,

no end

ofspiritual virility

and

splendidhope,

to bringus _{to a higher standard,}withits_promiseof

ultimate perfection.

The

Higher

and Lower

Psychology

The

duality of

human

nature is the great

Theo-sophical revelationin the realmofpsychology. . . .

Were

I to take

_John

Knox's old _conception of the

devil,

and were

I _{to intensify}itsfiendishnature

and

sendit out into theworld as a _{livingpersonality,} it

would

be harmless in _{comparison with} the force of the lower _psychology

which

_today is _seeking to

destroy the

_power

of the

human

mind.

Thisisoneof the closeddoorsin

human

life;

and

I

am

_{trying to}

_open

it for the benefit of

mankind.

We

declare that thereis

no

hell_exceptthat

which

abidesin

_man,

or

which

he

makes

forhimself

by

his

own

_thought

and

deeds;

no

heaven except that which

man

makes

for himself.

The

more

exalted the

dominant

motive of the

life, the greater is the _{soul-expression,} the

more

dominant

the soul-psychology.

The

lower the life-motive,the stronger

becomes

thelowerself

and

with itthe_{lower psychology, which}sofarasitmanifestsin

human

life_today,isthe

damnation

ofhumanity. . . .

Nor

is this_peculiarto_{our age}or to our_{race, for}

these dual_{conflicting forces} are as old as

_humanity

itself.

How

do

they manifest?

Very

simply

and

in

many

unsuspected ways.

For

example,

have

we

not

in our _experience

met

with real sermons in _poetry,

music or _art, that lifted us spiritually, above the

senses to a higher plane?

And

on

the other hand,

have

we

not contactedother

and

evil forces,

which

playedin

_upon

_{our minds,silently,} but nevertheless

shutting

away

the_soul-light?

And

thus

we

find the

play

and

interplay of thehigher

and

lower psychology

on

all_{sides, foras the ancient scripture}hasit the

Bhagavad-Gtta,loved

by

allstudents of

Theosophy

"these _{two, light}

and

darkness, are the world's

eternal _ways."

And

thenthis_{question of obsession:} there areso

many

theories,so

many

so-calledexplanations.

But

our scientists have

much

to learn about it because

THE HIGHER

AND

LOWER

PSYCHOLOGY

thereexist inthenatureinvisible

and

intricateforces

which have theirconnexion with _{the physical} brain,

and

yet can neither be

measured

nor seen.

_They

exist _{nevertheless, subtle}

and

_powerful forces, that

under _{the pressure of}selfishdesire willdesecrate the

loftiest ideals, destroy the highest motives, nullify

the best of intentions.

_They

beat in

_upon

the

physical brain with play

and

interplay,

and

use it

to destructive ends.

There

is _{something very wonderful about} this

brain-mind of ours; there iseven something sacred

aboutit _{because,though}itdoes _belongto_the physi-cal

_make-up

of

_man,

therestill shine

_upon

itas

_upon

a flower the rays of the Spiritual Sun.

But

when

some

selfishdesireshuts that_lightaway,thereseems

no

limit toits_{capacity to}be used

on

lower,

destruc-tive lines.

Have we

not seen this _exemplified in

the _{recent great} world-war?

On

the otherhand,thereis

no

limittothe service

the brain-mind can render

on

the highest spiritual

lines,

when

disciplined

and

balanced

by

right

educa-tion, with the high

and immutable

principles of a

true_philosophyoflifereflected

_upon

itswalls.

These

things are thereal_mysteries,

and

_theyarenotstudied

as _{they should} be, even

by

students of

Theosophy.

PATH OF

So

thatwithall

_my

soulI_urge

_you

to look within.

Even

tothe

man

who

haslostfaith in

_{humanity and}

in himself,even to_{the pessimist}

who

daresnotthink a

week

ahead in

_hope

to such as these I _say,

Look

into the

chambers

of_your soul, for truly

you

are a soul. Rediscover the _energy

and

strength of

your

manhood.

Take

timetothink, notin the

ordi-nary

way,

butdeeply,

and

the laws that govern life

will be revealed.

You

cannot touch the laws connected with this

mighty

power,the soul-psychology,without

generat-ing wonderful forces forces that the

human

eye cannot see, that the

mind

cannot comprehend,

can-not explain . . . but

which

_bringus into touch with

Nature and

with the laws

which

_govern the lower

kingdoms

of life.

Truly I believe that birds

and

flowers

know

us

betterthan

we know

ourselves;

and

when

we

are

on

the _{high plane of mystical knowledge,}

when

our

hearts aretouched withthespiritual forcesof

Nature

and

of_life,

we

learn to talkwith Nature,

we

learn to

work

with her.

I never

went

into the

woods

but the birds _sang

better while I

was

there.

Not

thatI _gave

them

the

power, but that they, in their simplicity,being part 38

THE HIGHER

AND

LOWER

PSYCHOLOGY

of the great

Law,

felt _{the longing of}

_my

soul for a

touch of_{sweet Nature,}

and

theysangtome. I

have

had some

strange experiences in _{handling flowers;}

they

have

answered the _yearnings of

_my

soul with

just the answer

most

needed.

The

tiniest

atoms

of

the earth

have

_voices,

and

these voices are even a

part of ourselves.

And

thus in _every

_department

of life

we

can demonstratethe_psychology of thesoul.

The

_psychology of the Christos-spirit ever

ac-companies true

manhood

and

true

womanhood.

It is the masculine

and

the feminine blended into the

higher unity. Christ

had

attained that unity a

mystic

and

interior state as

had

other great

Teachers before him. . . .

And

the whole

human

familycan reachthis _{highpoint of}endeavorifitwill

placeitself

under

the influence of the_{soul-psychology}

in life.

Man's

_only

_way

towinhisgreat

hope and

to

know

the

Truth

is to seize hold

on

himself, assert

and

realize his _{potentially all-dominating} soul-existence.

Making

his

mind

and

_memory

_register

_beyond

all

futurecavilor

doubt what

he then

knows

tobe _true,

THE

PATH OF

holding himselfat histrue dignity, guiding intoright

conduct all the elements ofhis nature his _body,

mind,

and

emotions he will maintain from that

moment

strength

and

joy in life.

That

once done,

couldhe but stand in that attitude for a few

weeks

or_{months, he}

would

have

made

ofhis

mind

a_willing

instrument of_service, harnessedit to the chariot of the soul,

and

dissolved

away

its limitations.

I

am

not _taking

_you

to _{a point} in _space; I

am

delving

down

into your heart, trying to bring out

what

is best in

_your

nature that

_you

_may

know

the

Higher Law.

Let there be

no

delay.

There

is

no

need of preparation in the brain-mind sense.

You

need not

memorize

catechisms;

you

have not to

spendyearsin_{studying your}Biblesinordertolearn

the great truths oflife

and

destiny.

Your

heartwill

reveal these to _you.

_{Once you have}

found this

knowledge and have

commenced

to_applyit to_your

conduct,

you

can turn to the

Book

of the

_{Ages and}

interpretitinthe_lightof the_Higher

Law.

You

will

know

your Christ as

you have

never

known

him

before.

$atfj

of

_tfjc

_jflpstit

cleaves the eternal _ether, so the mystic advances on a path not ordi-narily manifest.