This is the demand for a sense of synthesis which is occult vision
and not mystic vision. These two demands will be the two basic requirements for
the new schools of occultism.
A.
The second demand, that the sense of synthesis should be the goal
of the training given to applicants in the New Age, is a direct evidence of the
new Shamballa contact, because synthesis is an attribute of the divine will and
the outstanding quality of Deity. It was inevitable that intelligence and love
should be evolutionary objectives on the planet and the first two divine aspects
to be developed, for they are qualities of the will; they make the manifestation
of the divine will possible; they guarantee its intelligent application and its
magnetic power to draw to itself all that is needed for the expression or the
manifestation of the divine envisaged purpose, visualised synthetically, and motivated,
implemented, engineered and made possible by the dynamic aspect of the same will.
1.
Let us remind ourselves of that part
of Rule V to which this paragraph refers. The sense of synthesis is related to
this part of the Rule:
“The macrocosmic Whole is all there is. Let
the group perceive that Whole and then no longer use the thought ‘My soul and
thine’.”
2.
“Applicants in the New Age”
in this case are “aspirants for initiation”, and in many cases will come under
the influence of Master DK, Who focusses particularly on their training. (R&I
586)
3.
Synthesis is directly related
to Shamballa and the intensifying approach of Shamballa to humanity makes a growing
sense of synthesis in human consciousness possible.
4.
We should seek to define synthesis—a
task which, of course, will fail if we use the words available in normal human
languages. Still an attempt can be made:
a.
Synthesis is the fact
of indivisible oneness.
b.
Synthesis is the essential
inseparability of all parts within a whole from each other and from the whole
itself.
c.
Synthesis is essential sameness.
It is identicality of essence despite the illusory presentations of
the lesser consciousnesses included within it.
d.
Synthesis is the impossibility
of dividing pure being.
e.
Synthesis is ineradicable realization
(at all illusory ‘times’ and in all illusory ‘places’) of but one and only all-inclusive
Identity.
5.
It is obvious that synthesis
cannot be successfully discussed if we have not experienced at least a glimmer
of its reality.
6.
We are told that “synthesis
is an attribute of the divine will and the outstanding quality of Deity”. We note
that synthesis is an attribute and not an aspect. This may or may
not be significant as the words “attribute” and “aspect” may not, in this case,
be used in a technical sense as they are when referring to the seven rays—three
“Rays of Aspect” and four “Rays of Attribute”. (We will, for the sake of consistency
with the other commentaries, capitalize, “Divine Will”.)
7.
What this can mean is that
the Divine Will ‘moves all things’; that, within any whole, the will which presides
over that whole affects the whole and all aspects of that whole.
8.
If the Divine Will moves,
it affects all things subject to it, and not only a few.
9.
If synthesis is the “outstanding
quality of Deity”, there is the suggestion that “Deity” is all pervasive and indivisible.
Within any whole we cannot have ‘God here’ and ‘no God there’. The wholeness of
Deity is always present, at all times and in all places—in fact transcending the
illusion of time and place.
10.
In this respect (and playing
upon words), Deity is beyond any ‘partiality’.
11.
Deity may be many wonderful
things, but that ‘Deity is indissolubly everything’ is the most wonderful
thing.
12.
Intuitions of indissoluble
wholeness are earned through experiencing a progressive series of fusions under
the impress of soul and then spirit.
13.
How is one trained for
the perception of synthesis and for participation not only in but as
synthesis?
a.
We have reviewed this question
in other forms earlier.
b.
One must use one’s imagination
to embrace the whole. Of course to embrace the whole is not entirely possible,
but the effort to do so will create an expansive image which carries with a quality
resonant to wholeness.
c.
One must relate every ‘item
of perception’, or ‘content of consciousness’, to the whole in which it is contained.
d.
One must learn to see all things
in-relation.
e.
One must not respect illusory
boundaries, but always find a way to dissolve them so one apparent ‘thing’
blends into another. This is another way of saying that one must learn to perceive
that all things are derivative. There is only One Self-subsistent Thing,
and it is no ‘thing’ at all.
f.
One must cultivate the realization
that, although there appear to be separate identities, in fact there are not.
“Let the group know there are no other selves”. (Rule
IX for Disciples and Initiates)
g.
One must practice ascending
and descending along the ‘causal chain’. This means tracing causes to their effects
and effects to their causes within the vertical dimension.
h.
One must “practice the Presence”.
Thus to practice, is largely to remind oneself of the Presence and to sustain
the awareness of the Presence.
i.
As you are now in training
for the cultivation of the sense or perception of synthesis, you will find your
own ways into it, although you are already ‘there’ and ever have been
so.
14.
From what the Tibetan says
above, intelligence and love are aspects of the Divine Will and necessarily appeared
first.
15.
Intelligence and love are “evolutionary
objectives” upon this planet (especially) because the personality ray of our Planetary
Logos is the third Ray of Intelligence, while His soul ray is the second ray,
the Ray of Love-Wisdom.
16.
Without intelligence and love
there could be no manifestation of the Divine Will. That will depends upon them
as a foundation. For the Divine Will to manifest, all things must be intelligently
ordered and interactive (ray three) and must cohere (ray two—the “Ray of Attractive
Coherency”) (EA 411).
17.
Jupiter is a representative
of the second ray—a ray which allows the will to “draw to itself” all that may
be needed for the expression and manifestation of “divine envisaged purpose, visualized
synthetically…”
18.
Let us pause to consider these
words. Purpose is Divine Pattern (Monadic Pattern) and must be envisioned, not
piece by piece, but as a whole. This requires the utilization of the buddhic faculty
which provides the noumenon of the power to visualize.
19.
If the pattern ‘above’ is to
be manifested ‘below’ substance is needed. Selectivity in relation to substance
is provided by the third ray, and the drawing power which gathers and holds substance
coherent, by the second ray.
20.
Then the dynamic quality of
the Divine Will enters, motivating, implementing and engineering—in fact, moving
all things according to Purpose.
21.
There are two kinds of synthesis
with which we must concern ourselves. There is essential synthesis which
is the indivisibility of the One. There is also synthesis in relation which
is the realization of synthesis in the midst of apparent diversity. Synthesis
in the midst of diversity would exist, however, whether or not we realized it,
but it would not exist if ‘God’ did not realize it. In terms of consciousness,
‘synthesis underlying relation is the simultaneous perception of all by only One—the
all-perceiving Deity’.
22.
During manifestation there
will always be apparent diversity co-existing with essential Oneness.
23.
It is sometimes difficult to
know whether synthesis is an attribute of the Divine Will, or whether the Divine
Will emerges from the indivisible synthesis of being/life. Either perception could
be convincingly argued. Perhaps we might say that the divine will implements
in relation the synthesis which is in essence.
24.
What is most important is that
we somewhat experience these great states of realization of which we speak. Only
then will our words have meaning.
B.
It is interesting to note that there is every evidence in the world
today that the Shamballa energy is directly impinging upon the human consciousness
and directly producing results. The destroyer aspect of the first Ray of Will
or Power is producing worldwide destruction through the use of the first kingdom
in nature, the mineral kingdom. That which is made of metals and chemicals is
bringing catastrophe and destruction on earth, primarily in the human kingdom.
At the same time the second attribute of the will, synthesis, is evoking an equally
widespread response. This sense of synthesis has a mass effect earlier than it
has an individual effect, and this is a thing of interest and importance to note
at this time. Later, the dynamism inherent in the will, wielded by the New Group
of World Servers and by the disciples and initiates of the world, will turn that
instinctive mass response into factual experience and produce the "appearance"
on earth of the new, developed "quality" which "life" seeks
in the New Age to demonstrate. In the first volume of this Treatise, I called
attention to the three divine aspects: Life, Quality and Appearance. They are
now in process of making their appearance in final form for this particular cycle.
1.
Master DK speaks of the evidence
that the Shamballa energy is directly impacting humanity.
2.
The destruction wrought through
the use of the mineral kingdom is cited as one type of evidence. We must remember
that the mineral kingdom is the first kingdom, but related also to the
number seven, for it expresses principally in relation to the seventh plane
(counting from above to below). The Kingdom of Solar Lives is the seventh kingdom and is related principally
to the first plane of the cosmic physical plane. The similarity of numbers
show the relation between Shamballa and the mineral kingdom. The ‘perfect organization’
of Shamballa is reminiscent of the crystalline structure of the mineral kingdom.
3.
The catastrophe wrought upon
the human kingdom is attributed to that which is made of metals and chemicals.
We can immediately see the connection to Vulcan (ruling all that is truly dense
in the material world) and yet, being a first ray planet, is intimately related
to Shamballa and to both the spiritual will and the Divine Will.
4.
The human kingdom and the mineral
kingdom are also closely related, for man, when perfected, is to become a “living
stone”. Further, humanity is the fourth kingdom of nature and the mineral
kingdom is also the fourth if we consider the kingdoms subsumed in man-as-macrocosm
of the lower kingdoms. We can thus see the relation between the seven, the four
and the one. All of these numbers can be associated with rays which are important
in the expression of Vulcanian energy.
5.
In this paragraph, synthesis
is called the “second attribute of the will” and should be remembered as such,
for synthesis contains much of the second ray as well as the first. The implication
is that the destroyer aspect is the first aspect of the will. Elsewhere, the power
of destruction is related to the third aspect of divinity (matter), and pure being
(and the ‘Will-to-Be’) seems to be related to the first aspect. (cf.
R&I 87)
6.
DK points to the mass effect
of the attribute of synthesis and its occurrence/emergence earlier than the individual
effect. Perhaps the great political movements involving the masses (communism
and fascism, as they have manifested in the twentieth century) are evidences of
the mass effect of the energy of synthesis. The synthesis in these forms of political
organization was, however, enforced and not fundamentally real.
7.
The individual effect of this
energy would (through identification) relate the part indissolubly to the whole
and is realized progressively in the initiate consciousness.
8.
In the very first volume of
His five-volume treatise (i.e., in Esoteric Psychology, Vol. I) DK introduced
us to the trinity of “Life, Quality and Appearance”. Here He returns to this representation
of the three aspects of Deity, predicting that the dynamism inherent in the Divine
Will, will at length produce a synthesis of these three upon the physical plane.
This synthesis will be one of the glories of the new and impending Age. It becomes
clear that the “Tendency toward Synthesis” will be far more important in the Aquarian
Age than it has been in the Piscean Age, and will qualify the new culture and
civilization.
9.
We do not know to which cycle
DK may be referring—to the Piscean Age, to the Aquarian Age, or to an even larger
cycle such as the Grand Piscean Age of about 25,000 years? If “Life, Quality and
Appearance” are in process of making their appearance “in final form”, some time
will be required for this process to be fulfilled—judging from the chaos of the
present times.
10.
At least we can gather that
great manifestations are “in the works” and are working out under Shamballic guidance.
C.
Synthesis dictates the trend of all the evolutionary processes
today; all is working towards larger unified blocs, towards amalgamations, international
relationships, global planning, brotherhood, economic fusion, the free flow of
commodities everywhere, interdependence, fellowship of faiths, movements based
upon the welfare of humanity as a whole, and ideological concepts which deal with
wholes and which militate against division, separation and isolation.
1.
The practical effects of synthesis
are then reviewed. Synthesis is today directing the evolutionary process. The
appearance of many larger groupings is part of this trend towards synthesis.
2.
DK is showing us the evidence.
Humanity is learning to think not only in group terms, but in terms of the entire
planet.
3.
We can see that all the various
rays are involved in this trend towards synthesis.
4.
One of the first areas where
synthesis may be demonstrated is in the province of the third ray governing economics,
finance and the flow of information (as on the World Wide Web).
5.
Synthesis in relation to the
second ray is to follow and is slowly developing, but is more difficult to achieve.
6.
The greatest fear and resistance
will be related to the attempt to achieve synthesis in the First Department of
Hierarchy as there have been so many political abuses throughout history from
those who have sought to ‘synthesize the world’ under their personal control.
7.
The trend, however, is very
positive and is naturally evoking all that stands resistant. Reactionary responses,
therefore, are rapidly emerging and we are engaged in the “last ditch fight” of
the forces of retrogression against the forces for progress.
8.
Each of us should gauge the
degree to which we are involved in the establishment of synthesis upon our planet.
Are we a cooperative unit? Are we an indifferent unit? Are there aspects of our
nature which make us perform at times as a reactionary unit?
D.
Little as people realise it, these concepts are relatively new
factors in the human consciousness, and the fact that they are the result of a
new and direct relation between Those Who implement the will of God and humanity
everywhere is the guarantee of the inevitability of their expression in the future.
It is only in the immediate interim—a period of one hundred fifty years—that delay
may seem the rule. Such, however, will not really be the case. The forms through
which these new and impending ideas must take shape and manifest have yet to be
created, and that takes time, for they are built by the power of thought and due
process of educating the public consciousness until that consciousness becomes
confirmed conviction and demonstrates as an immovable public opinion.
1.
Master DK points to the growing
trend towards synthesis as a relatively new factor in human consciousness.
2.
The Lives Who move within
Shamballa are now more directly related to humanity everywhere. Synthesis an energy
which characterizes these Lives. These Lives are newly related to humanity
and the fact of that relationship guarantees the future expression of the energies
which qualify these Lives. The emergence of synthesis is an inevitability.
3.
DK speaks of the “delay” which
might seem to occur during the next 150 years. This means (considering when the
text was written) approximately until the year 2100. We remember that, according
to Master DK, the Aquarian Age begins in 2117.
4.
The delay will be more a perceived
delay than a real one. The new forms through which the manifestation of the new
energies may express have not yet been built. This building takes time. The new
energies, therefore, are definitely ‘descending’ and progress is occurring, though
the factor of resistance to the new may be more noticeable than the effective
emergence of the new.
5.
We are told that the new forms
are built by the “power of thought” and that public consciousness must be educated
to recognize, value and accept these new energies. This should serve as an injunction
to us to use our “power of thought” in a dedicated and effective manner.
6.
One of our great tasks as
disciples is to educate “the public consciousness until that consciousness becomes confirmed conviction and demonstrates as an immovable
public opinion”. There are three steps in this process:
a.
education and impartation of
information
b.
training the public consciousness
until it becomes confirmed conviction
c.
strengthening the confirmed
conviction with that much of the spiritual will as can impact public consciousness,
until confirmed conviction becomes immovable public opinion.
7.
Only an immovable public opinion
oriented towards the light instead of towards material values will result in the
permanent changes within human consciousness required by the Divine Plan.
8.
The New Group of World Servers
is conditioned by Taurus which is esoterically ruled by Vulcan, the planet of
will. We can see that the fixed and determined orientation toward the light
which much characterizes this group (and which is such a Taurean quality) must
be imparted to the masses of humanity. They cannot understand the details, but
they can, at least, understand the value of what for them will be a new orientation.
9.
We can see that there is a
war being fought on the subtle levels. In this war, light and love must prevail
over ignorance, separatism and hate. We are all engaged in the subjective war
whether or not we wish to be. Our success in this inner contest will result in
the more rapid precipitation of the Divine Plan.
E.
This sense of synthesis is one of the things which the new esoteric
schools will develop in their students and neophytes, for it will be the people
trained interiorly in these schools who will be the builders of the new world
and the trainers of future public opinion. The labels and the names whereby these
schools may call themselves mean but little. Many will proclaim themselves as
esoteric schools and will communicate nothing of a truly esoteric nature. They
will but attract to themselves the gullible and the foolish. There are many such
functioning in this manner today. Others may refrain from all outer indication
of esoteric and occult training, and yet convey the needed teaching. They will
seek to relate the One, the Monad, to the personality, and to evoke in their students
a true sense of synthesis.
1.
We see how important is the
sense of synthesis to the type of education that the new esoteric schools will
present. Training in synthesis is not reserved for those who are members only
of the advanced schools; those in the preparatory schools must also understand
what it is, value it and cultivate it.
2.
The schools have a very important
function. Their curricula are certainly not only for the edification of their
students. Trained students have a responsibility to society to build the new
world and to train public opinion. No potential student who is not
oriented in such a direction is fit to participate. The motive for entry into
such schools cannot be selfish, though it can be presumed that motives will become
increasingly selfless as the interior training proceeds.
3.
We note that the training
is, indeed, interior training, as one would expect, for the schools are
essentially schools of meditation.
4.
DK discusses the difference
between the spurious and the real. The name used for such a school will not necessarily
convey the quality of the school. DK’s previsions some types of schools
which will proclaim themselves as esoteric schools but offer nothing of truly
esoteric nature. Other schools may claim little, but the necessary teaching will
be given. A task of keen discrimination will be required of future students of
esotericism. They will come into incarnation with the potent inner urge to be
esoterically trained and will have to discern where that training may best be
pursued. The problem exists even today.
5.
The true esoteric schools
will attempt to relate the One, the Monad to the personality and to evoke in their
students a true sense of synthesis. We see that the esotericism of the future
will necessarily involve the spirit aspect and not alone the soul. Hence
the relatively advanced training which is even now offered, as in The Rays
and the Initiations.
6.
The new esoteric schools will
offer that which is in advance of anything that can possibly be offered at this
time. At present we can approach the theory and some initial experiential work.
But the necessary group developments cannot be wholly achieved at this time.
F.
It is the sense of synthesis, putting it very simply, which will
be the goal of all the educational movements, once the [Page 122] New Age idealism
is firmly established. Physical coordination, personal integrity (which involves
primarily the control and later the negation of the astral body), and personality
integration will be the essential first steps. To this will succeed processes
whereby the fusion of the personality with the soul, of the lower self with the
higher Self, and of form with the divine Dweller in the form will follow next.
Then the truly esoteric phase of the educational process will be attempted when
the earlier steps or stages have been satisfactorily grasped and there is indication
of some measure of real success. By that time the school of the Mysteries and
the Halls of preparation for initiation will be generally recognised by the thinking
people and believed in by the expectant masses.
1.
DK prognosticates concerning
the sense of synthesis; it will be the goal of all the educational movements once
the New Age Idealism is firmly established.
2.
We remember that, although
the sixth ray will not be much in power during the Aquarian Age, Aquarius is an
idealistic sign. Further, there is the idealism of the soul as well as
the idealism of the personality. Idealism is one of the major soul qualities,
for the soul is close to the realm of ideas and seeks to see those ideas
established on earth in all their beauty and purity. Idealism is the desire for
the establishment of such ideas. Idealism is essentially a longing to participate
in the archetypal worlds or to see the energies of the archetypal worlds manifest
on earth so that such participation may be assured even on the outer planes.
3.
DK tells us how the sense
of synthesis will be developed in all educational movements. The first phases
of the development are exoteric. They involve attention to the three vehicles
of the personality.
4.
Physical coordination (seventh
ray) pertains naturally to the etheric-physical vehicle.
5.
Personal integrity, as here
understood, is related particularly to the astral nature, for it is largely a
divided desire nature which causes conflicting divisions within the personality
and hence the compromising of personal integrity. To create personal integrity
the astral body must first be controlled and then negated, so that guidance of
the personality may be under the control of the soul-illumined mind.
6.
The next phase involves personality
integration. As there is no phrase given particularly to the cultivation of the
mental nature, we can presume that personality integration is a largely mental
matter, for the personality has its seat within the mental unit on the fourth
subplane of the mental plane.
7.
We see that we are building
towards a sense of synthesis and that all is occurring by graded steps.
8.
Soul-personality fusion follows
next and the Tibetan describes this in various ways: as the merging of the Higher
Self and lower self, and as the merging of the form with the Divine Dweller.
9.
These phases of the process
building towards synthesis are not really esoteric. This we must bear in mind.
The present work to contact the soul and then merge soul and personality are still
relatively exoteric and will certainly be considered so in future centuries when
the emphasis will be on the spirit aspect and its relation to the soul-infused
personality.
10.
Then the truly esoteric
work will be attempted. Presumably this will involve the building and utilization
of the antahkarana, and thus the approach to the spiritual triad and monad.
11.
We can see that education (as
presently practiced) has a long way to go, especially since what is described
here is not reserved only for esoteric groups. Esotericism will have become widely
accepted as a reasonable world view. Without this development, the needed changes
of normal education cannot emerge.
12.
The vision presented here by
the Tibetan may extend some centuries ahead, but by that time the “schools of
the Mysteries and the Halls of preparation for initiation will be generally accepted
by thinking people and believed in by the expectant masses”.
13.
We note the distinction between
those who think and those who expect and, therefore, only believe.
Even in the Aquarian Age there will be these two groups. To really appreciate
the necessary nature of the new schools and the Halls of Preparation, one must
be able to think. Part of the work of modern disciples is to teach people
how to think in these terms so that the new world view, which is a far
more esoterically-based world view, may be widely and generally accepted as reasonable
among the higher levels of humanity.
14.
We certainly have our work
set for us, because the concrete mind will presently resist much of what we might
propose. It is hoped that a number of scientific discoveries in various fields
like physics and medicine may come to our aid.
G.
In those schools, those who are beginning to function as souls
will be led on to take their next step. Their developed soul nature will be expressing
itself through intelligent love and a sense of group fellowship; these two divine
qualities will form a basis or foundation from which the next unfoldment can emerge
and on which a more spiritual superstructure can be built. The Science of Meditation
and the conscious building of the antahkarana will be the first two preliminary
stages in the esoteric curriculum. Today, the true teaching of meditation and
the construction of the bridge of light between the Triad and the personality
are the most advanced teaching given anywhere.
1.
We see that one of the requirements
for those who are to participate in the new schools is that they already are beginning
to function as souls.
2.
How can we notice those who
are beginning to function as souls? Intelligent love will be manifest and also
a “sense of group fellowship”. Without these, a more spiritual superstructure
cannot be built.
3.
It is important to stress
that there is no safe way to approach the spirit aspect unless a certain tendency
towards loving group consciousness is present.
4.
DK is dealing with the foundation.
The two sciences of meditation and of the antahkarana will be foundational to
all further esoteric work.
5.
We can see that the esoteric
schools of the future will necessarily offer very advanced work if the science
of the antahkarana (an advanced phase of the science of meditation) is considered
only preliminary.
6.
But without the building and
use of the antahkarana, there is no way to approach the spiritual triad and the
spirit/monad, which are the objectives of the newer types of esoteric schools.
7.
While there are many claims
today that advanced teaching is being given, DK offers a simple and sobering thought.
The true teaching on meditation and the more advanced meditative techniques which
involve bridging between the personality and the spiritual triad via the antahkarana
are “the most advanced teaching given anywhere”.
8.
Do we find this surprising?
It would mean that groups such as this one, who study the 28 Rules and various
approaches to the spiritual triad via the antahkarana, are on a “cutting edge”.
9.
It also suggests that there
is much more to the science of meditation than we may have imagined—a thought
inviting our deeper penetration into the mysteries of this much-discussed but
insufficiently practiced science.
H.
Humanity is, however, ready for exceedingly rapid development and
this readiness will demonstrate increasingly in the postwar period, and for it
the disciples of the world must make ready. Two factors will bring this about:
the first is the tremendous stimulation which the war, its demands and its consequences
have given to the human consciousness and, secondly, the coming in of very advanced
souls ever since the year 1925. These souls will be ready to give the needed
training and instruction when the right time comes, having brought it over with
them when they came into incarnation, and knowing normally and naturally [Page
123] what the modern esoteric student is struggling to grasp and understand.
1.
Sixty years ago Master DK
predicted a time of very rapid development following the Second World War. In
fact, we have already seen it occur. Today we hope to sustain the spiritual
momentum which was generated after the war and especially in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
2.
The “exceedingly rapid development”
of which Master DK speaks has two principal causes:
a.
the tremendous stimulation
of the war
b.
the coming in of very advanced
souls after 1925
3.
Why is such a war stimulating?
Perhaps because it forces a direct access to the will aspect. During war people
are put into extreme conditions in which their lives and the lives of their loved
ones are at stake. They are forced to take extreme measures to save those lives
and to win the victory for the side on which they may find themselves. All capacities
within their nature are mobilized and they do with readiness that which otherwise
they might defer. In short, the higher aspects of their nature are called into
prominence and dominate lower tendencies. Human resources are mobilized under
threat. Sacrifice (which always leads to gain) is ensured.
4.
What does Master DK mean by
“very advanced souls”. Presumably, those who have already taken the third initiation.
Modern esoteric students are largely candidates for the first and second initiations,
with some few as candidates for the third. These very advanced souls are coming
forward, actually as members of the Spiritual Hierarchy and in order to assist
that Hierarchy externalise. The struggles of these very advanced souls have more
to do with the manifestation of the Divine Plan than with negative personal tendencies.
They have already proven themselves victor in those life-battles which occur strictly
within the realm of character.
5.
Hierarchy has its vanguard
and it must necessarily appear before They do. Spiritual status is graded by degree
and so is the order of externalization.
6.
It would serve the modern esoteric
student to attempt to notice such people and to explain to themselves and others
why they believe such people to be advanced. Thus the expression of soul qualities
will be noticed and appreciated.
I.
A study of what I have here outlined as basic requirements will
show that the esoteric schools about which I wrote in Letters on Occult Meditation
lie far ahead in the distant future. The work of the preparatory schools must
come first, and their work will proceed until such time that the work of the Ashrams
of the Masters is recognised as forming part of an outer hierarchical activity.
This in due time will lead to the giving of the first initiation publicly, as
a part of the great service ritual of the then prevalent universal religion.
The race of men will then—in its most advanced brackets and groups in every country
in the world—be normally clairvoyant, and will therefore see for themselves the
light within the candidates; they will know then that the first initiation is
justifiably undergone, and they will also see the same light in thousands who
in previous incarnations have taken that initiation.
1.
In this paragraph, Master
DK seems to distinguish between the “esoteric schools” and the “preparatory schools”.
The esoteric schools, according to this line of discrimination, are the “advanced
schools” described in Letters on Occult Meditation, and their appearance
lies “far ahead in the distant future”.
2.
Perhaps there was a change
in the schedule for the Externalization since Initiation Human and Solar and
Letters on Occult Meditation were written. In those books, new schools
of both varieties seemed relatively immanent. In fact, they seemed to be
appearing even in the early part of the twentieth century in the form of the Esoteric
Section of the Theosophical Society, and perhaps certain Masonic Initiatives.
3.
Further it seemed as if the
two types of schools must be built more or less together, as the graduates of
the preparatory schools were to be sent to the advanced schools.
4.
The perspective given in this
more advanced book (The Rays and the Initiations) is rather different and
seems to defer for some indefinite period the coming of the advanced schools.
5.
But it also seems quite clear
that a beginning may be made with the preparatory schools, and today there are
serious attempts in this direction.
6.
The advanced schools will
not appear in reality until certain of the Ashrams of the Masters are actually
externalised and recognized as such. There will a noticeable outer hierarchical
activity.
7.
As well, such a time will
see the giving of the first initiation publicly. As the Christ is the Hierophant
at that initiation, the Great Lord will necessarily have “reappeared”.
8.
These developments must surely
lie some time in the future because, when they occur, there will be a prevalent
“universal religion”. Some centuries must probably elapse before such things can
be.
9.
Present attempts to start
the seeds of such schools must be considered only that. We are given the main
curricula of both the preparatory and advanced schools and so a beginning can
be made. But participants in such esoteric ventures must not think that they are
manifesting the true advanced esoteric schools, as such schools will demonstrate
only after the Reappearance of the Christ.
J.
One thing only will I add to the above and to the elucidation of
the significance of Rule V. The clue to all this esoteric work demanded by Shamballa
is to be found in the development of the Art of Visualisation. Through visualisation,
three expressions of the human consciousness will become possible:
1.
The antahkarana can be built and the shining of the Triad be definitely seen.
Such will be the new vision—an outcome of the development of the sense of vision.
2. Groups, large wholes and major syntheses will also be visualised, and
this will lead to a definite expansion of consciousness. Thus the sense of synthesis
will be unfolded.
3. All creative art will be fostered by this training,
and the new art of the future in all departments of creativity will be rapidly
developed as the training proceeds. The unfoldment of the sense of vision and
of the sense of synthesis, through visualisation, will lead to a sense of livingness
in form.
1.
The importance of visualization
is stressed. A certain type of esoteric work will be increasingly “demanded by
Shamballa”, and to the understanding and practice of this esoteric work visualization
holds the clue.
2.
For more on visualization
consult the final lesson of the first series of lessons in Discipleship in the
New Age, Vol. I, and the commentary thereon.
3.
Various methods through which
visualization will be employed are suggested.
4.
The spiritual triad will definitely
be “seen”. The triad must represent an aspect of the aura still more deeply recessed
than the causal body, and so, in the future time described, the level of clairvoyance
will be progressed far beyond that which is found today.
5.
It is through visualization
that the triad will be seen. The fine line between visualization and actual interior
vision will be worn thin; visualization will be transformed into interior vision.
6.
There may be a hint here,
as these results are said to be related to the “development of the sense of vision”.
We are told that certain developments in the eye (and in the ethers) will make
etheric vision possible and even common. Perhaps the ability to see the triad
shining forth will be related to this more outer developments.
7.
We do remember, however, that
only the initiate of the third degree can really “see the triad shining forth”.
This vision is, of course, different to full polarization within that triad. It
is as if something ‘in the distance’ is seen. For the initiate of the fourth degree,
there is much greater intimacy with the triad, and for the Master, the spiritual
triad is mastered.
8.
The spiritual triad is, in
one sense, microcosmic, though really it is trans-individual, and thus, really,
a group structure.
9.
The large wholes which can
also be visualized will promote the sense of synthesis. It will be as if great
planetary conglomerates can be ‘contained’ by the consciousness. Consciousness
will expand through the application of the art of visualization and the sense
of synthesis will grow. Even now we can practice this inclusive form of visualization
and note the way that it expands our consciousness and makes the sense of synthesis
more real to us.
10.
Finally, visualization will
foster the growth and development of the creative arts. The new arts will be revelatory
of the Plan rather than simply an expression of the personality (and often of
the personality in its lower aspects).
11.
Finally there comes a sentence
which requires careful scrutiny: “The unfoldment of the sense of vision and of the
sense of synthesis, through visualisation, will lead to a sense of livingness
in form”.
12.
The sentence suggests the
advent a truly buddhically inspired art. The planes of livingness begin
with the buddhic plane and include all the cosmic ethers. A new and enlightened
‘animism’ will enter consciousness and the archetype within every form
or causally responsible for it, will shine forth. It is this archetype
(this “name”) which truly makes forms live. Plato used to call such archetypes
“Forms”.
13.
We shall find the World of
Causes and Patterns and the world of effects and outer forms most meaningfully
fused.
14.
The arts will reflect, therefore,
aspects of the Divine Pattern, and through them, God’s “Fixed Design” will be
livingly revealed.