Rules VIII

Brief Commentary on an Overview of These Rules

We now come to a brief the synthesis of two deep and abstruse Rules which deals primarily with the first aspect of divinity. The purpose of these syntheses, as always, is to help us live the Rule more successfully according to the measure of possibility within us or within our groups.

Rule VIII.

For Applicants:  When the disciple nears the Portal, the greater seven must awaken and bring forth response from the lesser seven upon the double circle.

1.                  The greater seven (the seven major centers associated with the head—whether within the head or outside and above the head) must awaken, but what shall we do to awaken them and render them increasingly evocative of the lesser seven? The awakening of the lower and more normally considered chakras should be an automatic response to the awakening of the higher.

2.                  Since we are dealing with the awakening of the head centers we have entered the realm of purpose. From the psycho-spiritual perspective a good strategy with which to promote this awakening is simply to live purposefully.

3.                  The occultist lives “in the head” (considering the head as inclusive of the more normally considered chakras. ) We are, therefore, not speaking of living without heart, for instance, but of living so purposefully that all volitional life processes are directed towards a chosen objective in line with Divine Plan and (to the extent possible) Divine Purpose.

4.                  If we meditate persistently and enduringly (Vulcan) upon the Divine Will and attempt, regardless of distraction and temptation to carry out the indications we have received, the seven head centers will surely awaken.

5.                  There are a number of head centers extending from the ajna center to the crown of the head. It is surely possible to meditate ‘within’ every one of them with varying results, but they are most powerful centers (the powers of which are not easily understood or accessible to us presently).

6.                  Since, however, a number of these centers are triadally and even monadically related, every attempt to build the antahkarana and to access the energies of the spiritual triad and Monad will lead to their correct stimulation in a manner which is timely for the individual (or group) concerned.

7.                  Those who take occult meditation seriously have experienced the awakening, to some detectable extent, of the highest head center. Since that center is a ‘surmounting’ center, the seven head centers (and, perhaps, there are more, depending upon the enumeration we choose) will also awaken to an extent during the normal pursuit of occult meditation.

8.                  Even the lesser chakras upon the double circle have associated with them capacities and powers rarely awakened in the normal students of occult meditation. How much more so will this be the case for the seven head centers and the crown center!

9.                  It is wise for us to be attentive to the process but refuse the temptation to force or meddle—too little is presently known, though methods of finding out are available.

For Disciples and Initiates:  Let the group find within itself response to the greater seven groups which carry out the hierarchical will with love and understanding.

10.              When the focus is transferred to an awareness of the seven Ashrams instead of the seven head centers, the individual must be functioning as an integrated group member in a group focally responsive to the Will of Hierarchy.

11.              The implication is that each ashramically aligned group must, in some measure, find within itself response to all of the seven Ashrams, even though it will naturally be most aligned with one of them.

12.              Another way of saying this is that all the seven ray qualities must awaken at least some response within the group.

13.              Let the groups in which we function become increasingly ashramically aware. Let their preoccupation be the will and purpose of the major Ashram (Hierarchy) and the minor Ashram with which they are most affiliated.

14.              Of such a discipleship group it must be said—“its mind and heart are full of the work to be done”.

15.              Then the group will be learning to work as a “miniature Hierarchy” and the newer modes of group work will characterize its processes.

16.              Clearly, much group meditation upon the Ashram with which the group is affiliated will be required, and much searching discussion amongst the group members (who will not have the same kind of unanimity as that possessed by Ashrams when they meditate upon the Divine Plan and Purpose).

  The group contains all seven, the perfect group.

17.              Every complete group is sevenfold and must represent to some reasonable extent all the seven rays.

18.              This little sentence may also refer to the fact that the Ashram of Sanat Kumara (the Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet) is the “perfect group”, containing (at least eventually) seven complete yet subsidiary Ashrams each with its distinctive role and purpose.

19.              When we think of our group life, we should assess the extent to which it is representing all seven ray tendencies. All are needed and if any ray tendency is missing, the group will suffer.

The lesser seven, [Page 22] the greater seven and the planetary seven form one great whole, and these the group must know.

20.              Group members need to be aware of the synthesis between the seven ray-types of human beings (the “lesser seven”), the seven Ashrams (the “greater seven”)  and the seven Kumaras or Ray Lords (the “planetary seven”).

21.              This synthesis is relatively, so large, that we probably give it but little thought.

22.              The synthesis must be both intellectually understood and intuitively ‘felt’.

23.              What does it mean to live in the felt awareness of these sevens? At the very least, the three sevenfold structures must be held in mind and one must ‘feel’ out towards them with one’s heart and with what we might call the ‘feeling capacity’ of the heart in the head.

24.              How often do we think of the seven Ashrams and their personnel? How often of the Seven Ray Lords—for us, remote Shamballic Beings?

25.              When we think of humanity, we may think of it in its entirety, but we may also think of the seven ray groupings of human beings and their various qualities and objectives.

26.              When we think of the Ashrams, we may, of course, think of all of them (and this is useful), but of course, we will think most focally of that particular Ashram which claims our allegiance.  An alignment with the Ashram of which we may know ourselves to be a member or towards which we are striving is indispensable every day.

27.              When we think of the Seven Ray Lords (the Seven Spirits Before the Throne—planetarily considered), we will have no true or faithful image, but we may at least think of the seven rays in their entirety (i.e., as a synthesis of seven qualities) and of the purpose, mission, color and note of the particular ray upon which we seek most focally to function—namely, for most of us, our soul ray.

When this is realised and the Law of the Supplementary Seven is understood let the group understand the Three and then the ONE.

28.              We are in no position to understand the Law of the Supplementary Seven in completeness. A simply intellectual understanding will not do, however necessary it may be.

29.              A full understanding of the Law of the Supplementary Seven would necessitate the capacity to withdraw (in full consciousness) into the state of Samadhi. Thus, certain powers of abstraction, which by far the majority of us have not yet mastered, would have to be fully in demonstration.

30.              We can, at least, learn various preliminary means of abstraction and dis-identification and note the corresponding changes in our energy system and consciousness.

31.              As for a growing understanding of Humanity, Hierarchy and Shamballa (i.e., “the Three”), towards such an understanding we consistently strive, but cannot be expected to achieve a great deal for some lives to come. Who can truly understand Shamballa with intuitive accuracy except an initiate of the sixth degree—one who is a Monad in conscious identification and expression? And shall we understand the Hierarchy (even in a preliminary manner) unless we are in an initiate of the third degree?

32.              Nevertheless, towards these deep understandings we move with deliberation, knowing that the day will also come when an understanding of even the Planetary Logos (from one perspective, the “One”) will be within our grasp.

33.              The problem with the type of understanding required is that it necessitates a deeper familiarity with the first aspect of divinity than most of us have. But as we seek to understand and apply the spiritual will (as a reflection of the planetary logoic Plan and Purpose), a deeper understanding of the Three and the One will inevitably dawn.

  This they can do with the united breath and the unified rhythm.

34.              I always think of this sentence as indicating the capacity to conspire together spiritually. This involves a deeply shared intention, the execution of which is rhythmically pursued.

35.              We must also remember that “the breath is the Life”, and so to function with the united breath is to function together in response to the life aspect of divinity—i.e., in response to the Divine Will.

36.              From a practical perspective, we can understand the “united breath” as the capacity, in group formation, to act wisely and in a disciplined manner according to available cycles. Group members must know the proper times and seasons for the objectives which they all share, and together act at the right time. This will be an important step towards scientific group work.

37.              Lately we have been dealing with the cycle of seven years created by a great Capricornian impulse and received, especially, by the New Group of World Servers. We have also become more aware of the three years cycles of the NGWS (which began, for practical purposes, in 1933) and the nine year hierarchical  cycles which entered the consciousness of the NGWS in a new way also in 1933.

38.              Simply knowing that these cycles exist and what they may indicate for members of the NGWS and for those affiliated with one or other of the Ashrams, presents a useful method of achieving a united breath and a unified rhythm.

39.              There are, of course, other cycles—planetary cycles indicated by astrology, and ray cycles determined from certain points of reckoning given to us in EP I, p. 26.

40.              We have enough in our possession to begin a cycle of group living characterized by greater scientific accuracy and, hence, greater effectiveness.

As a general note, we find ourselves studying Rules that are clearly meant to convey illumination to the initiate consciousness. Even members of the Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet can study them with profit and, during the Aquarian Age, will do so. We have no present way to absorb all that is intended, but in our current studies, we are preparing for a time when we can. It must be clear to every thinking person that these Rules will be studied and applied for hundreds of years. The Great Lord does not yet walk visibly among us and the Hierarchy of Masters has not yet externalized. Before the true new esoteric schools manifest and utilize these Rules as their major curriculum, it may be that a number of centuries must pass. Nevertheless, a sound foundation of understanding can now be laid.