28 Rules Group
Commentary on Rule XII Part IV
of V
R&I (241-247)
(All
Highlighting, Bolding and Underlining—MDR)
Please
read this Commentary with your book open or with reference to an electronic
copy of the text. This will facilitate an appreciation of continuity.
3. The third great change
has been in the relation of the Hierarchy to Shamballa, and of this you can
necessarily know and understand little.
I could perhaps express the underlying significance to you in symbolic
language. The energy, emanating from
Shamballa, has been divided into two direct and distinctive streams. One
stream, embodying the dynamic of purpose, is now
pouring into the Hierarchy and into its seven major Ashrams; another stream,
embodying the dynamic of determination or of enlightened
enthusiastic will, is reaching humanity direct, via the New Group of
World Servers.
1.
Discussion
of Shamballa (in any practical sense) is something relatively new to the
teaching of occultism in the West.
2.
We
are given an important piece of occult information about two streams of energy
emanating from Shamballa. One stimulates the Aquarian Group known as Hierarchy;
the other stimulates the Taurean group known as the New Group of World Servers.
3.
Shamballa
itself is experiencing much stimulation due to the new availability of Aquarian
energies, but is, itself, very related to Taurus.
4.
The
Wesak Festival is the time when Taurus is most powerful and it is at this time
that humanity can make most direct contact with Shamballa. This may also be
true of Hierarchy, though for Hierarchy there is also another time of
impressive contact.
5.
Let
us look at the two qualities which are carried by these two streams.
6.
Into
Hierarchy pours “dynamic purpose”. This definitely provides inspiration for
Hierarchy so They can pass that inspiration along to
the disciples and initiates of the world.
7.
The
stream which pours into the New Group of World Servers is interesting. It is
comprised both of “determination” and “enlightened enthusiastic will”. Both of
these are qualities related to Taurus. Determination is, perhaps, easier to
understand. It suggests a resolute fixity of purpose; that which is intended will be done.
8.
Enlightened
enthusiastic will, seems a blend of the second, sixth and first rays—in that
order. All these rays are related to Taurus—the second sign, ruled by Venus
which planet conveys both the sixth and second rays (from various parts of its
energy system) and the first ray coming through Vulcan which can be considered
the major ruler of Taurus.
9.
The
true Taurean is inspired by the light and has thus become
enthusiastic. But he not only desires
but intends.
Hitherto a blended stream of Shamballa force
has poured into the Hierarchy and has streamed, in its undifferentiated type
and quality, into all the groups within the Hierarchy.
10.
The
previous method was for Shamballa to stimulate through an undifferentiated
stream of energy.
Now the quality of determination, or of what
the average person understands by the use of the word "Will," is
pouring into the New Group of World Servers, whilst the energy of dynamic
purpose, differentiated into seven diverging streams, is pouring into [Page
241] each of the "seven points of reception," the Masters'
Ashrams within the ring-pass-not of the Hierarchy.
11.
Why
the differentiation? Perhaps because will
must now be studied and understood to be something other and higher than determination—something more
related to purpose.
12.
Shamballa
is bringing a new expression of will into hierarchical life; therefore the will
must be understood more completely, not only by Hierarchy but by those who
represent Hierarchy—the New Group of World Servers. From one perspective, the
New Group of World Servers is included within the circle of hierarchical life.
13.
Interestingly,
the streaming forth is eightfold, for the stream which inspires Hierarchy
divides into seven streams.
14.
This
reminds one of the eightfold streaming forth of energy from the Jewel in the
Lotus.
These seven types of purpose embody the seven
energies which will reorganise and redefine the hierarchical undertakings, and
thus inaugurate the New Age. These seven
purposes might be called:
15.
Purpose
is considered sevenfold. These seven streams of purpose will “reorganise and
redefine the hierarchical undertakings”. It is important that we attempt to
understand them.
a. The unknown, unseen and unheard purpose of Sanat Kumara. It is the secret of life itself and is known
only to Him alone.
16.
This
is the most powerful purpose and the most obscure. No other B/being in our
planetary manifestation completely knows or understands this purpose. The Solar
Logos must, however, know and understand it.
17.
DK
has often told us that, for the human being, “life”, per se, is
incomprehensible. He seems to equate “life” with “pure being”. Life or pure
being are not will, soul or matter, but pervade and infuse all three. Life and
pure being are not electric fire, solar fire or fire by friction—but pervade
and infuse all three.
18.
The
full Name of Sanat Kumara is unknown to the Masters. Maybe most of it is known
to the Buddhas of Activity. Perhaps when the Name of Sanat Kumara is revealed
and known, something of the unknown, unseen and unheard purpose will also be
revealed and known.
In its initial phase of this new expression, it works through the Manu and
the Master Morya; it is that which
veils the central mystery which all esoteric schools—if true to their
inaugurating impulse—will eventually reveal. What that is we do not yet know but it is
hinted at in Rule XIII.
19.
Usually,
all school processes are related to the second ray, or perhaps to the third and
fifth—rarely if at all to the first ray.
20.
But
so it is when thinking of truly occult
schools. The first ray is primarily the ray of occultism and the first ray
initiate is the true occultist.
21.
We
may infer that the true esoteric school is meant to reveal the mystery of life. What the true esoteric school is
to reveal lies far beyond knowledge.
b. The purpose underlying revelation. This may be a somewhat new idea to you for you
are apt to regard revelation as a goal in itself. You seldom consider it as an effect of the
inner purpose of Sanat Kumara.
22.
It is
true that revelation is often considered a goal in itself. We have not looked
deeply enough.
23.
Revelation
is the disclosure of Reality, but to what end? This disclosure makes
cooperation in the implementation of Purpose through Plan a possibility. There
is more to Creation than sight and light. Action is needed—taken in sight of
the light.
24.
Obviously,
revelation leads to some possibility which is rarely understood, if at all, by
humanity.
The emphasis hitherto has been on the
aspect of revelation, making it an effect of what the disciple has done
with himself and by means of which he is enabled to be
the recipient of revelation.
25.
This
is the standard approach and is not altogether incorrect.
26.
Yet
all revelations are necessarily partial. Towards what do they tend? What does
revelation, itself, reveal?
Yet behind all the successive revelations of
divinity down the ages is to be found one significant purpose; all of them are
and will prove themselves to be aspects of the Great Revelation.
27.
What
can this “Great Revelation” possibly be? Must not even it be relative?
It is through the processes of
revelation that divinity is slowly dawning upon the human consciousness. It is a sevenfold revelation; each of the
seven kingdoms in nature reveals one aspect of it, and each of these seven reaches revelation in seven or fourteen lesser
revelations or phases.
28.
There
are seven kingdoms of nature and each of them reveals one aspect of the Great
Revelation.
29.
We
might say that each kingdom has its secret which be revealed:
30.
The divisions by seven or fourteen suggests the Manus Who work
in relation to any planetary chain or scheme. There are two manus per globe and
thus the number fourteen. There are probably two Manus per chain and, thus
again, the number fourteen.
Ponder on this and learn to distinguish between
vision (which is as much of the divine current revelation as a disciple can
grasp in time and space) and revelation which is the synthesis of the
divine expressive purpose.
31.
There
appear to be three phases in this process of revelation of the Purpose:
32.
Vision
is distinctly a limitation upon the process of revelation.
33.
The
lesser revelations are only aspects of the great and encompassing Revelation.
34.
There
is a “divine current revelation” which suggest that
the revelation possible at any one time is only partial.
35.
There
is a possible “synthesis of the divine expressive purpose”. Is it time-bound or
complete? It seems that it is conditioned by time, though revelation is also
possible in completeness and, as such, will be called the Great Revelation. The
Great Revelation, it seems, will not be conditioned by the limitations of time
and space.
This is related to the will-to-good which
is, in its turn, a complete expression of the love nature of Deity.
36.
Revelation
as the synthesis of divine expressive purpose is related to the will-to-good
which is a complete expression of the love nature of Deity.
37.
Let
us carefully examine this sentence:
38.
We
come to the conclusion that revelation is intimately related to the love nature
of Deity.
c. The (as yet) unrecognised purpose which evoked the creative activity of
our Planetary Logos.
39.
The
concept of “creativity” is related specifically to both the third and fourth
rays.
This brought the [Page 242]
third aspect of the divine Trinity into play.
40.
Purpose
brings into expression the various aspects of divinity. There is a parallel
here to the manner in which the Monad brings the various principles into
expression through the permanent atoms, the vehicles and the chakras.
The usual
reasons brought forward by the finite mind of man to account for what is
called by us "manifestation," and to explain the dualism of all
existence and the relation of spirit-matter, are by no means the real explanation
of the divine purpose;
41.
Our
human ideas are greatly limited. We entertain ourselves with inaccurate
formulations of the truth and tend to search no further.
they are based on
man's own essential dualism;
42.
Mans
essential dualism biases his formulations of the true cause of creativity. We
project our dualism on Reality.
they are the highest explanation of his own divine nature
which he can achieve at this time. This is a point to be remembered.
43.
Man’s
explanations of Reality are always limited by his equipment and his
evolutionary status.
They are his response to the second Ray of
Mutual Attraction, which the Ray of Love-Wisdom is sometimes called. They are not an expression of his response to
the Will of God, and only indicate the limitations of his definition of divine
purpose.
44.
Man
does not yet understand the will. Being subservient to the second ray, he
offers second ray explanations of first ray and third ray processes. Hence the
inaccuracy.
45.
Under
the second ray, man’s explanations will be dualistic.
46.
We
note one of the important names of the Ray of Love-Wisdom. It is called the
“Ray of Mutual Attraction”.
As you will note, they really define
nothing. Nor can I help you to recognise
this third aspect and the eternal purpose of the Lord of the World. Just as a soul seeks incarnation in order to
carry forward some fixed design and to take one of the higher initiations, so
Sanat Kumara came into incarnation through the medium of this planet in order
to carry forward His fixed designs (known to Him as a cosmic Soul on cosmic
mental levels),
47.
Where
does Sanat Kumara manifest as a soul? On the cosmic mental plane. We know that
Planetary Logos also manifests on the cosmic mental plane, on its third level.
Is Sanat Kumara the same as the Planetary Logos and is His (Sanat Kumara’s)
place on the cosmic mental plane the same as that of the Planetary Logos?
48.
Where
is “fixed design” to be known? Apparently within the causal body. This would
apply to a human being and to a Planetary Logos or Solar Logos.
49.
Creativity
exists in order to carry forward a purpose, or “Fixed Design”.
50.
The
Word of Power for the creative third ray enters here: “Purpose itself am I”. Every creative act is to be a purposeful act.
51.
Creativity
is not merely a playful and inconsequential process. It is a definite,
purposeful act which expresses the purpose or Fixed Design behind the act of
creativity.
52.
“Being
descends to manifest”.
53.
The
first and third aspects of divinity cannot be separated.
and to take one of
the higher initiations which
mark the Path of Initiation for these great informing Lives of planetary
spheres.
54.
Sanat
Kumara, it seems, is being called a great informing Life of a planetary sphere.
This would equate Him with the Planetary Logos.
55.
The
fourth initiation taken through the fourth chain is a higher initiation.
56.
We
have to proceed carefully as sometimes Sanat Kumara is said to be different
from the Planetary Logos and sometimes He is exactly equated with this Logos.
57.
We do
have to question, however, whether the initiations which face the Planetary
Logos are exactly the same as the initiations which face Sanat Kumara. The
question is much veiled.
58.
Let
us tabulate the two purposes for which Sanat Kumara took incarnation:
He could take this particular initiation
through the experience to be gained in a vehicle constituted, expressive and at
the special state of consciousness of our entire planetary manifestation. It
required an instrument in which the cells and atoms of His body (all lives in
all kingdoms), and the integrated organisms within that body (the various
kingdoms of nature), were at the peculiar point in evolution at which they are
all now to be found.
59.
The
initiation of Sanat Kumara now under discussion needed exactly the conditions
which now exist on our fourth chain and our fourth globe in order to be taken.
60.
It is
clear that the Tibetan’s reference is veiled. In fact, it is a hint.
61.
The
Planetary Logos about to take the particular initiation under discussion needed
to be assured that the tiny lives (the cells in His body) and the “integrated
organisms within His body” were at a certain point of evolution.
62.
We
are living in a time when these cells and these integrated organisms have,
apparently, attained the requisite level to make the Planetary Logos’ next
initiation possible.
63.
But
is there some similarity regarding the state in which all kingdoms of nature
find themselves? Perhaps they are all moving towards some sort of resonance
with the number four. This would make
the fourth initiation of our Planetary Logos possible even though it is not one
of the major cosmic initiations.
64.
It is
interesting and important to consider the kingdoms of nature as integrated
organisms within the body of the Planetary Logos. Each such organism is
informed by a great Life.
That is as far as I may go in
giving you a hint, and you can see from this that in order to grasp more and
comprehend more of His divine purpose you also will have to be in preparation
for that particular initiation which for you—on your tiny level of awareness of
fixed design—is the microcosmic parallel of His cosmic intention. Which that initiation is I
may not state.
65.
Well,
we do know that the Planetary Logos is preparing to undergo a fourth initiation
in a series of seven. Can this be the initiation meant? Will we have to be at
the fourth initiation in order to understand what is here said?
66.
If
the Planetary Logos and Sanat Kumara are to be considered equivalent (and often
They are) then Sanat Kumara is undergoing a kind of
fourth initiation on a planetary scale.
67.
It
would seem that planetary logoic purpose is related to the planetary logoic
Monad which only makes its conscious impact at the third initiation and beyond.
68.
We
should also note that Sanat Kumara is called “the Great Sacrifice”, an
appellation which say much about which initiation He
is in the process of undergoing.
The only service which these hints can
render (as to the sevenfold divine purpose and [Page 243] the consideration of
them) is to develop in you, the disciple, the power to think abstractly—a
much needed capacity before you can begin to tread the Way of the Higher
Evolution; for this the five initiations open to humanity (as today
constituted) prepare the human spirit.
69.
Abstract
thought is not something that will be transcended by One Who reaches the stage
of Master.
70.
Hints
are to be unfolded not only by the intuition but by the immediately preceding
stage of abstract thinking.
71.
It is
quite interesting that Those Who tread the "Way of Higher Evolution"
are utilizing the abstract mind. If they do not retain the spiritual triad on
their ‘journey’, they retain something which is its sublimation.
72.
This
will mean that the abstract mind is a quality inherent in the Monad (perhaps as
Intelligent Activity) for it is the threefold Monad Who treads this higher Way.
73.
Amazingly,
five initiations prepare the human spirit for the power to think abstractly.
This means that such a capacity almost certainly exists ‘above’ the level of
the spiritual triad.
74.
Abstract
manas in the triad is simply a reflection of the same
capacity (at a much higher level) in the Monad.
d. The mysterious purpose which has necessitated the calling into activity
the Principle of Pain.
75.
The
necessity for the existence of pain is a great mystery. Many think of it as
entirely useless.
Suffering and Pain are essential requirements in
order to carry this purpose to completion.
76.
Yet
the purpose is definite and, apparently, from the perspective of Sanat Kumara, necessary.
The
capacity to suffer, which is distinctive of humanity, is the outstanding
conscious reaction to environment of the fourth kingdom in nature, the human.
77.
DK
tells us that the capacity to suffer is distinctively human. Animals also
suffer, but not in the same way. As far as the recognition of inharmony which
exists in kingdoms higher than the human, it is not clear that it can be called
suffering, per se.
78.
Interestingly,
we are told that our Planetary Logos found the task of assuming redemptive
responsibility for this planet disagreeable, even painful
The
Old Commentary says:
"He
entered into life and knew it to be death.
"He
took a form and grieved to find it dark.
"He
drove Himself forth from the secret place and sought the place of light, and
light revealed all that he sought the least.
"He
craved permission to return.
"He
sought the Throne on high and Him who sat thereon. He said 'I sought not this. I looked for peace, for light, for scope to
serve, to prove my love and to reveal my power.
Light there is none. Peace is not
found. Let me return.'
But
He Who sat upon the Throne turned not his head.
He seemed not e'en to listen nor to hear. But from the lower sphere of darkness and of
pain a voice came forth and cried: 'We
suffer here. We seek the light. We need the glory of an entering God. [I can find no other words except these last
two to express the ancient symbol from which I am translating.] Lift us to Heaven. Enter, O Lord, the tomb. Raise us into the light and make the
sacrifice. Break down for us the prison
wall and enter into pain.'
The
Lord of Life returned. He liked it not, and
hence the pain." (EP II 98)
79.
The
Planetary Logos is a cosmic Being, far higher than a human being. Yet,
apparently, He suffered in taking the form of this planet and we, in reflection
of Him, suffer as well.
80.
Something
is said of Him which may shed light on the nature of His suffering in contrast
with our own:
The
cells in His body—those cells through which He feels, and senses, and
experiences,—are, in this world period, rent by pain and suffering, for His is the consciousness at the centre
of the Body, and theirs is the capacity to suffer, so that by means of
them He may learn the meaning of systemic dispassion, be dissociated from all
forms and material substance, and upon the cross of matter eventually find
liberation and the freedom of the Spirit. (TCF 384)
81.
We
return to the idea that it is something distinctively human to suffer.
It is related to the power to think and
consciously to relate cause and effect.
82.
It
would seem that the capacity to suffer is related both to self-consciousness
and the power to compare past, present and potential future.
83.
We
learn, in this respect, that the fifth ray (which systematically relates cause
and effect) is necessary if there is to be present the power o suffer.
It is a process on the way to something
undreamt of today. And when I say this, my brother, I mean just exactly that.
84.
We
are learning that there is a very great and beautiful purpose behind suffering.
DK is telling us that we have no idea where this tendency is leading us—or,
presumably, our planet, since our particular Logos informs the planet
characterized by the greatest amount of pain and suffering of all planets in
our solar system.
This same ability to
respond through pain is not to be found (in the sense in which the human being
comprehends it) in any of the subhuman kingdoms, nor in the superhuman
kingdoms, any more than it was found in the previous solar system or will be
found in the next.
85.
This
is an important statement. Apparently, the capacity to respond to pain does exist in the lower and higher
kingdoms but not in the same way that the human being comprehends this response.
86.
The
greatest amount of suffering occurs on the soft-line rays which are the rays
most affected by duality. Duality and
suffering are inescapably connected.
87.
In
this solar system our planet is meant to be conditioned primarily by the second
ray of Love-Wisdom. This conditioning is reinforced by the present conditioning
of our Solar Logos which is primarily along the second ray line. In the next
solar system, both our plane and our solar system which be
characterized by far more of the first ray than is presently possible.
It is related to an aspect of the creative intelligence, an aspect and
characteristic peculiar to humanity.
88.
It is
as if one must know that one exists,
and further, that one is oneself alone (i.e. both individualized and human), if
there is to be a capacity to suffer in the sense that human beings understand
suffering.
89.
Animals
do not know they exist, and members
of kingdoms higher than the human (while they know they exist) know that they
do not exist in isolation. They know “there are no other selves”. This higher
knowledge alters tremendously the attitude towards the inharmonies which
normally cause suffering within humanity.
This aspect was not found in
the previous solar system, in which the other aspects of the creative
intelligence functioned.
90.
We
continue to speak of an aspect of creative intelligence which was not active in
the previous solar system and which, in this system, has been brought from
latency to potency.
91.
To
some degree, suffering is related to Mercury and the fourth ray. Our planet is
called the “Star of Suffering” (TCF 1197) and Mercury is called the “Star of
Conflict” (EA 357)
92.
How
many aspects of creative intelligence are there? DK is not specifying, but it
seems very likely that the aspect of creative intelligence related to suffering
is also related to the fourth ray—humanity’s predominant ray.
93.
Yet
we cannot say that in the previous solar system the fourth ray was not
expressive as human beings existed then, we have been told.
94.
We do
know that in the previous solar system the second ray was not strongly in
expression. It is the second ray which confers the ability to "agonise
towards the goal, carrying the burden of the world, learning—through
identification with others—a detachment which, as time proceeds, negates all
pain.” (DINA I, 149)
95.
As
regards suffering and the fourth ray (humanity’s present soul ray), the
following is pertinent:
This
has been called the "ray of
struggle" for on this ray the qualities of rajas (activity) and
tamas (inertia) are so strangely equal in proportion that the nature of the fourth ray man is torn with their
combat, and the outcome, when satisfactory, is spoken of as the
"Birth of Horus," of the Christ, born
from the throes of constant pain and suffering. (EP I 206)
In this solar system, it has
been developed and brought from latency to potency in connection with the
substance of the human bodies through which the human soul is gaining
experience.
96.
Human
physical bodies are found on a vibratory level related to the number four. Of the four lower planes, the
level which includes the substance of the human bodies is the fourth—mental,
astral, etheric and dense-physical.
97.
This
solar system is related to the number four for our Solar Logos (at least at
this time) is a Logos of the fourth
order. Such “orders” may change as the focus of the Solar Logos ‘rises’ on the
cosmic planes.
98.
DK,
however, is speaking of all the
bodies through which souls express. They express through personalities and the
personality is also correlated with the number four.
99.
On
the bridging fourth ray, those processes are put into effect which will assist
the pattern of first solar system substance to be re-pattered in such a way as
to accord with second solar system purposes. This repatterning brings about
suffering.
100.
When
considering the number four and its relation to suffering, we must remember
that the four Lords of Karma (whose beneficent work imposes much suffering upon
humanity) are also conditioned by the number four.
It holds the secret of beauty in
manifestation, and its first expression can be seen in the creative perfection
of certain phases of art for which man, and man alone, is responsible.
101.
We
are still referencing an aspect of creative intelligence which is “peculiar to
humanity” and may well be associated with the fourth rah. This aspect is
related to the emergence of “beauty in manifestation”. It is the exercise of
this aspect which allows the human being to achieve “creative perfection” in
relation to certain phases of art.
102.
All
of Creation is an artistic creation. The Planetary Logos and the Solar Logos
are great Artistic Creators, but DK seems to be speaking of a different kind of
art which arises out of the capacity to suffer.
103.
Suffering
may be the experience of an energetic-interplay which occurs as man moves from
disharmony to harmony, and from imperfection to
perfection. It may also be called the experience of the tension which exists
between the actual and the idea. Man holds both states simultaneously and in
their dissonance, suffering arises.
104.
From the
musical perspective, suffering is the experience of dissonance without the
anticipation of harmonious resolution.
105.
There
may also be a secret of ‘beauty outside
of manifestation’ but it is the task of man to bring archetypal beauty into manifestation.
106.
When
man attempts to do this, he experiences pain due to the resistance of substance
to the pattern of beauty which he intends to impose.
107.
The
fourth ray is the “Corrector of the Form” (EP I 71) and there is cognitive pain
in the correction process. This cognitive pain transfers itself also to the
lower vehicles of the personality.
No other kingdom in nature creates forms,
produces colour and sounds in harmonious relation, except the human; all of
this type of creative art is the result of aeons of conflict, pain and
suffering.
108.
Perhaps
the word “produces” is to be examined. As stated, Archetypes of planetary and
solar Beauty exist, but perhaps we cannot say that they are produced. They are conceived and their
conception renders them existent.
109.
Man,
on the other hand, has to labor in a
vibratory domain apparently separated from the archetypal worlds. He must bring
the patterns of those worlds into relation with the substance which is
conditioned by patterns other than the archetypal patterns which he seeks to
impose.
110.
Man
‘holds the discrepancy’ of the two worlds in his consciousness. This requires
the fourth ray and in this holding, he endures suffering. Man ‘holds the
difference’, or ‘holds the contrast’.
111.
Perhaps
the aspect of creative intelligence we have been discussing is that which allow
him to ‘hold the difference’ and adjust substances (within and without) until
there is no difference, discrepancy, no contrast between the archetypal and the
actual.
The Jews, as a product of the humanity of the
previous solar system,
112.
Let
us remember the important fact that the previous solar system what the fourth in order (just as ours is the
fifth).
113.
The
Jews are a (not the) “product” of the
previous solar system. The humanity of that solar system comprised more than the
Jews. The Jew are simply an aspect of that earlier
humanity.
and as constituting
the incarnating residue from that solar system,
114.
“Laggards”
in that system and the avant guard in this. We are not necessarily speaking of
all the present Jews, but of the Jews as DK reveals
them—present on our planet even before individualization occurred.
115.
It
must be realized that not all those who are presently Jews are Jews in the
sense that DK here discusses. Some of the “incarnating residue” from the first
solar system may be incarnated in bodies which are, racially, not Jewish, and
others, of course, will be presently found within bodies which are part of the
Jewish hereditary stream (much intermixed with other racial groups, it must be
stated).
have run the gamut of
suffering and are in the forefront of the creative arts at this time, particularly [Page 244] in group production such as
certain of the great motion pictures and in the field of scientific discovery.
116.
The
implication is, the greater the suffering, the greater that artistic capacity
(or the capacity to appreciate art born of suffering). The Jews are
characterized by a fourth ray mode of expression filled with dramatic
contrasts—tragedy and comedy. In the art for which they are responsible, they
replay ages of experience.
117.
The
great motion pictures (as DK calls them) present the panorama of life (as
experienced through the ages).
118.
Another
implication is that the Jews may not always be in the forefront of the creative
arts. Is the trend already on the wane? And yet, “who is the Jew”? The
subjective Jew may not be the same as the objective Jew. Bodies can change but
psyches do not sever themselves from their aeonial experience.
119.
The
field of scientific discovery is inserted here. It is not directly related to
the arts which are under discussion. It is an interesting piece of information
none-the-less. This information links the Jew not only to the fourth ray but to
the fifth and third rays.
There will be, as you can well
see, a close relation between this fourth purpose of Sanat Kumara, the
fourth kingdom in nature, the human, and the fourth Ray of Harmony through
Conflict.
120.
We
have been exploring this relationship. As well, Sanat Kumara is sometimes
called the “fourth Kumara”.
121.
In
this discussion the following is of importance:
A
touch of this freedom from the limitations of pain and sorrow can be found
among the more advanced sons of men on Earth, who know the ecstasy of the
mystic, the exaltation of the initiate, and the exquisite agony of sacrifice or of any feeling which is carried
forward to the point of sublimation.
When this point has been reached, the mechanism of suffering and the
ability to register sensuous perception is transcended, and momentarily the man
escapes on to the plane of unity. (EP II 102)
122.
There
is much in this excerpt about
It is the balanced relation of these three,
consummated at the fourth initiation, which produces the full beauty of the
creative fixed design of the individual soul, or—on a different level of
initiatory process—of the fixed design of the universal soul of the Lord of the
World.
123.
The beauty
of the human soul is revealed at the fourth initiation. This initiation,
interestingly, is ruled by the fourth
ray.
124.
What
are the factors balanced at the fourth degree?
The fourth ray being temporarily out of full incarnation at this time
125.
DK
did not say that it was entirely out
of incarnation. The suggestion is that many souls still upon the fourth ray
have not taken incarnation, but that some have.
Within
the United Nations is the germ and the seed of a great international and
meditating, reflective group—a group of thinking and informed men and women in
whose hands lies the destiny of humanity. This
is largely under the control of many fourth ray disciples, if you could but
realise it, and their point of meditative focus is the intuitional or buddhic
plane—the plane upon which all hierarchical activity is today to be found. (DINA
II 220)
At this time, the
effect of this ray is predominantly of a group nature, and there are—except in the ranks of disciples of the
Great White Lodge—no fourth ray souls in incarnation. (R&I 605)
126.
Is DK
speaking perhaps of fourth ray souls who are to found working in this way?
There are some fourth ray souls, but they will only be found among advanced
individuals.
is the
reason for the relative interlude in the production of human creative art of a
very high order.
127.
We
may assume that during the nineteenth century, when so much great music was
composed, a number of fourth ray souls were expressing.
128.
Elsewhere
in the teaching it is suggested that these souls were brought into incarnation
under special dispensation.
The cycle of suffering is nearing its close,
and we shall later see—when the fourth ray again swings into full objective
activity—a recurrence of the arts on
a turn of the spiral far more exalted than any lately seen.
129.
This
is a great and beautiful promise and offers us the anticipation of a new
Renaissance.
e. The fifth great secret underlying the purpose of Sanat Kumara
is related in a peculiar sense to the cyclic manifestation of all that is found
in the three worlds of human evolution.
130.
This
cyclic manifestation is part of the process of rebirth or reincarnation.
131.
We
must remember that one of the chief and coming lines of service of the
scientific servers will be to study the cyclic process of reincarnation.
132.
We
must also remember how much of the fifth ray will be brought into expression
through the presence of the energies of the sign Aquarius.
It concerns that which is working slowly
into manifestation through the medium of the lower concrete mind as it controls
desire and brings substance and matter into conformity with the divine thought
along this line.
133.
This
is an important function of the fifth ray—to bring “substance and matter into
conformity with the divine thought…”
134.
For
this to occur it is necessary that desire be controlled, because if desire is
unleashed without disciplined supervision, that which is created through matter
will not be in conformity with divine thought.
The sumtotal of the highest phases of human thinking
along all lines, materially affects what appears on
the physical plane in all the kingdoms of nature,
135.
In
relation to this fifth purpose of Sanat Kumara we are reminded of the aphorism,
“energy follows thought”.
136.
We
are dealing, actually, with the process of embodiment or incarnation. Through
the processes of embodiment or incarnation that which is thought takes physical form.
137.
The
personality, itself, is a thoughtform created by the soul (on its own plane).
138.
The
shape of form and relationships between forms change because of the thinking
process.
what precipitates civilisations and cultures, and which
expresses the best response at the moment of human sensitivity to cosmic
impression.
139.
DK is
speaking of the “highest phases of human thinking”. The low will also
precipitate, but its results in matter/form are not noteworthy.
140.
Interestingly,
human thought affects all kingdoms of
nature. Man is the macrocosm for those kingdoms.
This is all that can be said
as we attempt to sum up the fixed desire and the pattern or purpose of divine
activity down the ages.
141.
We
recall that the fifth systemic Law is called the “Law of Fixation”.
142.
The
mind and the process of thinking (the power of concretion) is
integral in the manifestation of God’s “fixed desire” and purpose.
143.
“Fixed
desire” is obviously related to the carrying out of the divine “Fixed Design”.
We know it to be profoundly inadequate as yet
to express or to produce in
manifested form the beauty of that design and to create in conformity with
God's thought;
144.
We
are being told that, thus far, human thinking is profoundly inadequate to truly
manifest the beauty of God’s thought.
145.
We
are being presented with the goal of thought.
146.
It is
obvious that we are being asked to help improve the quality of human thinking.
but—age by age—the thinking capacity of man and his
creative imagination have wrought out the slowly unfolding design, and
will continue to do so;
147.
DK
links mans thinking capacity with his creative imagination. The purpose of this
union of capacities is to bring forth the “unfolding design”.
148.
Let
us fix in our mind the thought of the fifth ray and this fifth purpose as gradually
creating conformity to the Fixed Design in matter/form.
every [Page 245] great world cycle sees the emergence of
greater beauty,
149.
We
see how the fifth ray is being linked to the fourth and how the fifth purpose
of Sanat Kumara is being linked, also, to the fourth.
150.
Let
us remember that the present rays of the human kingdom are the fourth (soul
ray) and the fifth (personality ray).
and sees the subtle effects of man's thinking upon the subhuman kingdoms in
nature steadily bringing the unknown to the surface, altering the
nature of the flora and the fauna of the planet, and preparing the way for
that time of wonder when the Hierarchy will again be exoterically directing the
Plan upon the earth and aiding mankind to work with a fuller understanding of
the divine design.
151.
In
today’s study of genetic engineering (and, in general, the manipulation of the
genetic structure of plants, animals and humans) we see a trend which could (if rightly guided) lead to a
beatification reflective of the Fixed Design.
152.
The
power of human thought is determining when related to the lower kingdoms.
153.
The
Hierarchy belongs largely to the fifth kingdom of nature (the
154.
The
seventh ray is a ‘Ray of Design’ as the fourth is a ‘Ray of Beauty’. The fifth
ray works closely with both of these rays. The power to bring about conformity of the actual to the archetype is a fifth ray ability and is related to
this fifth purpose.
155.
God,
the Thinker, has thought. Now that thought has to be brought perfectly into
expression in the lower worlds, utilizing the method of cyclic impulsion
(rebirth and reincarnation). The fifth purpose is behind this process.
Here again is another reason
for the changing plans of the Hierarchy.
The Masters have to prepare Themselves for this
intended and imminent emergence. They
are faced with the necessity of changing Their
techniques of work in order to meet adequately the demands upon Them.
156.
The
Masters, too, are seeking to think and act in greater conformity with God’s Thought.
It is far
easier for Them to work, as illumined Minds, upon the mental substance of Their
disciples than it will be for Them to work down upon the physical plane,
relating the minds and the brains of advanced human beings.
157.
DK
speaks of a condition of activity which entails, for the Masters, sacrifice.
People are apt to forget that with each
forward advance of humanity, the demands upon the Hierarchy change, new needs
must be met, new techniques used, new and experimental methods must be
employed.
158.
Many
of these forward advances of humanity have been brought about through the use
of the fifth ray.
159.
The
power of Uranus and Aquarius are also involved in promoting these advances.
Both of these energy sources are related to the fifth ray.
As I write for disciples and initiates, I call
this to their attention. Their work of mental training does not
end as they attain certain spiritual initiatory goals.
160.
One
day disciples will be members of the Spiritual Hierarchy, but even then they will
have to use their minds and the creative power of the fifth ray.
161.
The
mind is forever under cultivation. Does one suppose that the Planetary Logoi
and the Solar Logoi do not continue to train Their
minds—though this training is a cosmic
cultivation!
This fifth purpose is therefore closely related to
the whole theme of "the garment of God" and to the emergence into
manifestation of His "robe of beauty" as it is created and brought
into being by humanity,
162.
Here
we have an important and definitive statement. How shall the “garment of God”
be rendered God’s “robe of beauty”? Right now that “garment” is not as
beautiful (nor as functional) as it should be.
163.
Through
the processes of cyclic reappearance, the garment will be brought into ideal
conformity with God’s Thought.
164.
We
see how closely related are the fifth and fourth rays.
acting as the medium for ideas from the superhuman
kingdoms, and then influencing and swinging into creative cooperation the
subhuman kingdoms.
165.
Humanity
is manas. It utilizes manas to tap
superhuman ideas and then intelligently engage the cooperation of the lower
building forces of nature. This requires the use of occult science. This fifth
purpose of Sanat Kumara is inseparable from the development and expression of
occult science.
f. It is difficult for me to
give any idea whatsoever of the purpose with which we are now concerned,
because it is expressed in the relation existing between the significance of Desire, Will, Plan and Purpose.
166.
These
terms must be carefully discriminated to the extent we have the capacity to do
so.
All these words are symbols evolved by man in
his attempt to grasp logoic purpose.
167.
There
is a Great Conception, a Fixed Design, held in the Mind of God. It is intended
that that Purpose will manifest. The Purpose already is; it already exists on higher planes. But it must compel all
relationship in the lower worlds into conformity with itself.
He recognises the impulses of desire, and in
the course of the evolutionary process learns to transmute them [Page 246] into
aspiration;
168.
Through
aspiration man learns to desire that which is more beautiful, more
“goal-fitting”, more in accord with the Divine Thought.
he passes on to a
vague groping forward in an effort to understand and acquiesce in the
"will of God," as he calls it;
169.
There
is a great Directing Power. At first man does not sense it, but later He
discovers it and realizes that it is an ‘Irresistible Force’.
as long, however, as
human approach to that will remains negative, submissive, and acquiescent (as
it does under the influence of the theological approach and in the manner
inculcated by the Churches), no real light on the nature of that Will will be
seen.
170.
The
Will of God, demands not only submission; it demands understanding. Theology has often advised man to avoid the attempt
to understanding the Divine Will. This is not the illumined way of occultism.
It is only as human beings enter into relation
with the Hierarchy and are gradually absorbed into the hierarchical life and
begin to take the higher initiations that the true nature of the divine Will
will be grasped and the purpose of Sanat Kumara be revealed by an
appreciation of the plan, followed by a consequent cooperation with that Plan.
171.
There
is a sequence here—a sequence meant to aid in the revelation of Divine Purpose:
All this will be done through
the transmutation of desire into aspiration, and then into fixed determination.
172.
Again,
we have a threefold process:
173.
We
note that these are all Taurean themes. Taurus (with its principal ruler
Vulcan) is closely related to Shamballa and, hence, to Divine Purpose.
174.
The
transmutative process begins with an adjustment of values, over which factor Taurus rules as well.
When, however, the initiate has related these
phases of consciousness in his own inner experience, and has permitted those
inner realisations to affect his outer experience and daily living, then the
underlying Purpose will shine forth and he will no longer be working in the
dark.
175.
Only
inner changes in our own consciousness will reveal the “underlying Purpose”. It
all begins with the right handling of our desire nature. According to the
nature of what we value so we will
undertake the necessary transmutative elevation or not.
You see, my brother, that all that I can do
in these abstruse matters is to indicate what you can do, as an individual, to fit yourself to grasp divine purpose,
and thus see the divine design and patterns as they are in reality.
176.
Our
consciousness does not yet grasp the real, but with proper preparation it can
and will.
Once you have taken the needed steps and
complied with the requirements, the mystery disappears.
177.
There
is no way to appreciate the Real unless we meet the requirements. To the
untrained, unsensitized consciousness there is the registration of a mystery; to the
trained, sensitive consciousness, “the mystery disappears”. Illumination takes
its place.
g. The final phase of the
divine purpose is the most difficult of all to indicate, and when I say indicate, I mean exactly that, and
nothing more definite and clear.
178.
The
seventh purpose should, it would seem, be the most concrete, and yet it is
elusive. We are dealing with the unsuspected tangibility of many subtle occult
phenomena.
179.
We
may judge from the following that the great symphony being composed by Sanat
Kumara is ‘taking form’ (true form) within the formless worlds of the cosmic
ethers.
Does it mean anything to you when I say that
the ceremonial ritual of the daily life of Sanat Kumara, implemented by music
and sound and carried on the waves of colour which break upon the shores of the three worlds of human evolution,
reveal—in the clearest notes and tones and shades—the deepest secret behind His
purpose?
180.
This
ritual also reveals the Beauty which Sanat Kumara intends to manifest and is in
process of creating.
181.
Sanat
Kumara creates ritualistically. All proceeds under law and order and respects
the daily rhythms of the planet.
182.
The
ceremonial ritual is occurring within the cosmic ethers. Using the analogy of
the ocean, these subtle worlds are as an ocean of light in which waves of color
are in ceaseless, orderly movement. The lower three worlds are dense by
comparison (probably we mean the lower eighteen sub-planes) and the subtle
cosmic etheric waves break upon this density just as the ocean waves would
break upon the shore—a level of density greater than the density of the ocean.
183.
What
we usually call colors and tones are unclear and even muddy when compared with
the “notes and tone and shades” which are generated in the ritual of Sanat
Kumara.
It scarcely makes sense to you and is
dismissed as a piece of symbolic writing, used by me in order to convey the
unconveyable.
184.
Such
is the vague consciousness of the presently constituted human being.
Yet I am not
here writing in symbols, but am making an exact statement [Page 247] of fact.
185.
DK
has often told us that sometimes He speaks symbolically and sometimes
factually, but that (to protect the real Teaching) He will not tell us when He
is doing which.
186.
We
are invited to consider the forms taken by color and sound in the formless
worlds of the cosmic etheric planes.
187.
These
waves are as emanations of the Fixed Design, of the Archetypal World. They
determine that which must be and will be ‘below’ when the lower worlds have
responded properly to the cyclic impulses of Heavenly Beauty.
As beauty in any of its
greater forms breaks upon the human consciousness, a dim sense is
thereby conveyed of the ritual of Sanat Kumara's daily living. More I cannot say.
188.
What
happens to a wave as it breaks upon the shore? Its integrity as a wave is
destroyed, but its influence “pounding the shore” or more gently washing over
the shore, gradually brings about changes on the shore—the area of density is
slowly changed by that which is both rhythmic and subtle.
Here are hints, therefore, as
to the divine purpose; each of the seven supplements and completes the other
six.
189.
We
cannot consider these seven divine purposes in isolation.
190.
If
would be profitable to take these purposes, two at a time, and examine their
possible modes of interrelation.
191.
We
remember these purposes arose from one of two streams of force emanating from
Shamballa. One stream enlightened the New Group of World Servers. The other
stream divided into seven streams each of which demonstrated as one of Sanat
Kumara’s Seven Purposes.
Only
by attempting to grasp the whole inner synthesis will we arrive at the
merest hint of the nature of that exalted consciousness which has brought our
planet and all that is within and upon it into being.
192.
We
are speaking here of the consciousness of Sanat Kumara (probably in His role as
Planetary Logos) for Who else but the Planetary Logos “brought our planet and
all that is within and upon it into being”?
193.
These
abstruse purposes cannot be fathomed with the mind alone. They are revealed in
that state of consciousness which contains synthesis. Their understanding is a
revelation of the spiritual triad and is dependent upon the ability to touch
and appreciate triadal states of awareness. They are initiate realizations.