If you will study the nine initiations and look upon them from
this angle, you will see how each does most definitely mark a point of attainment, and
therefore the entire subject of initiation takes on a new beauty and appears more worthy
of the pain and struggle of attainment. Let me give you an indication (no more than that)
of what I mean.
- Initiation I. - Birth. Freedom from the control of the physical body and its
appetites.
- Initiation II. - Baptism. Freedom from the control of [686] the emotional nature
and the selfish sensitivity of the lower self.
- Initiation III. - Transfiguration. Freedom from the ancient authority of the
threefold personality, marking a climaxing moment in the history of all initiates.
- Initiation IV. - Renunciation. Freedom from all self-interest, and the renouncing
of the personal life in the interest of a larger whole. Even soul-consciousness ceases to
be of importance and a more universal awareness, and one closer to the divine Mind, takes
its place.
- Initiation V. - Revelation. Freedom from blindness - a liberation which enables
the initiate to see a new vision. This vision concerns the Reality lying beyond any
hitherto sensed or known.
- Initiation VI. - Decision. Freedom of choice. I have dealt with these choices in
an earlier part of this book.
- Initiation VII. - Resurrection. Freedom from the hold of the phenomenal life of
the seven planes of our planetary Life. It is in reality a "lifting out of or
above" the cosmic physical plane.
- Initiation VIII. - Transition. Freedom from the reaction of consciousness (as
that word is understood by you) and a liberation into a state of awareness, a form of
conscious recognition which has no relation to consciousness, as you understand that term.
It might be regarded as complete freedom from sensitivity, yet with a full flowering of
that quality to which we give the inadequate name "compassion." More I cannot
say. [687]
- Initiation IX. - Refusal. Freedom from all possible forms of enticement,
particularly with reference to the higher planes. It must constantly be remembered
(and hence my constant reiteration) that our seven planes are the seven subplanes of the
cosmic physical plane.
This goal of freedom is in reality the main incentive to tread the Path of Return. One
of the most spiritually exciting things taking place in the world today is the use, in
every country, of the word Freedom; it was that great disciple, F. D. Roosevelt,
who "anchored" the word in a new and more universal sense. It now has a fuller
and deeper meaning to humanity. |
