The Rays and the Initiations Read online

  THE RAYS AND THE INITIATIONS

  VOLUME V

  A TREATISE ON THE SEVEN RAYS

  by

  ALICE A. BAILEY

  Index Edition

  Published by the Lucis Publishing Companies

  The first and only publisher of the complete works

  of Alice A. Bailey

  www.lucistrust.org/books

  COPYRIGHT © 1960 BY LUCIS TRUST

  COPYRIGHT © RENEWED 1988 BY LUCIS TRUST

  First Printing, 1960

  Fourth Printing, 1972 (First Paperback Edition)

  Tenth Printing, 2002

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:53-19914

  E Book edition 2012. ISBN No. 978-085330-422-7

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  The publication of this book is financed by the Tibetan Book Fund which is established for the perpetuation of the teachings of the Tibetan and Alice A. Bailey.

  This Fund is controlled by the Lucis Trust, a tax-exempt, religious, educational corporation.

  The Lucis Publishing Company is a non-profit organisation owned by the Lucis Trust. No royalties are paid on this book.

  This book has been translated into Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Translation into other languages is proceeding.

  LUCIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

  120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

  LUCIS PRESS Ltd.

  Suite 54, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EF

  Converted to eBook by EasyEPUB

  Contents

  Cover

  EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN

  THE GREAT INVOCATION

  PART ONE - THE FOURTEEN RULES FOR GROUP INITIATION

  PRELIMINARY REMARKS

  INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

  RULE ONE

  RULE TWO

  RULE THREE

  RULE FOUR

  RULE FIVE

  RULE SIX

  RULE SEVEN

  RULE EIGHT

  RULE NINE

  RULE TEN

  RULE ELEVEN

  RULE TWELVE

  RULE THIRTEEN

  RULE FOURTEEN

  PART TWO - INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

  SECTION ONE - THE ASPIRANT AND THE MYSTERIES OF INITIATION

  The Door of Initiation

  The Door to the Way of the Higher Evolution

  THE ENTERING OF THE ASHRAM

  The seven Groups of Ashrams within the Hierarchy

  The seven Paths confronting the Master

  1. The Path of Earth Service

  2. The Path of Magnetic Work

  3. The Path of Training for Planetary Logoi

  Certain Hierarchical Changes

  4. The Path to Sirius

  5. The Ray Path

  6. The Path the Logos Himself is on

  7. The Path of Absolute Sonship

  The World Tension Analysed

  THE DUAL LIFE OF THE INITIATORY PROCESS

  The Dual Life of the Disciple

  The Dual Existence of the Master

  THE SCIENCE OF THE ANTAHKARANA

  Building the Antahkarana

  The Nature of the Antahkarana

  The Bridge between the three Aspects of the Mind

  The Bridge as the Agent of Alignment

  The Technique of Construction

  The Construction of the Antahkarana...Past

  The Construction of the Antahkarana in the Aryan Race. Present

  The Six Stages of the Building Process

  The immediate Task ahead

  The Seven Ray Methods used in the Construction Process

  THE MEANING OF THE INITIATORY PROCESS

  Fusion of the Master's consciousness with that of the disciple

  Impression on the mind of the disciple of hierarchical intent

  SECTION TWO - THE ASPIRANT AND THE MAJOR INITIATIONS

  THE RELATION OF THE SEVEN RAYS TO THE INITIATIONS

  THE RAYS AND THE FIVE INITIATIONS CONFRONTING HUMANITY

  Initiation I. The Birth at Bethlehem. Ray VII.

  Initiation II. The Baptism in Jordan. Ray VI.

  Initiation III. The Transfiguration. Ray V.

  Initiation IV. The Renunciation. Ray IV.

  The Particular Type of Energy involved and its Initiatory Effect

  The Effect of the Energy of Harmony through Conflict upon Humanity

  The Factor of the Ray of Love-Wisdom as it controls the Ray of Harmony through Conflict and implements the Return of the Christ

  The Effect of the Ray of Harmony through Conflict in the modern world of Nations

  The Results of the Fourth Ray Activity upon the individual Disciple

  A Summation and Forecast

  THE RAYS OF ASPECT AND THE HIGHER INITIATIONS

  Initiation V. Revelation. Ray I.

  The Effect of Ray I on Humanity Today

  Initiation VI. Decision. Ray III

  THE SEVEN AND THE NINE INITIATIONS OF OUR PLANETARY LIFE

  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INITIATIONS

  Initiation I. The Birth at Bethlehem

  Initiation II. The Baptism in Jordan

  Initiation III. The Transfiguration

  Initiation IV. The Great Renunciation or Crucifixion

  Initiation V. The Revelation

  The Part which Energy plays in inducing Revelation

  The Place that the Will plays in inducing Revelation

  Initiation VI. The Decision

  Initiation VII. The Resurrection

  Initiation VIII. The Great Transition - Initiation IX. The Refusal

  APPENDIX

  FIVE GREAT SPIRITUAL EVENTS

  STANZAS FOR DISCIPLES

  ARCANE SCHOOL TRAINING

  INDEX

  EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN

  Suffice it to say, that I am a Tibetan disciple of a certain degree, and this tells you but little, for all are disciples from the humblest aspirant up to, and beyond, the Christ Himself. I live in a physical body like other men, on the borders of Tibet, and at times (from the exoteric standpoint) preside over a large group of Tibetan lamas, when my other duties permit. It is this fact that has caused it to be reported that I am an abbot of this particular lamasery. Those associated with me in the work of the Hierarchy (and all true disciples are associated in this work) know me by still another name and office. A.A.B. knows who I am and recognises me by two of my names.

  I am a brother of yours, who has travelled a little longer upon the Path than has the average student, and has therefore incurred greater responsibilities. I am one who has wrestled and fought his way into a greater measure of light than has the aspirant who will read this article, and I must therefore act as a transmitter of the light, no matter what the cost. I am not an old man, as age counts among the teachers, yet I am not young or inexperienced. My work is to teach and spread the knowledge of the Ageless Wisdom wherever I can find a response, and I have been doing this for many years. I seek also to help the Master M. and the Master K.H. whenever opportunity offers, for I have been long connected with Them and with Their work. In all the above, I have told you much; yet at the same time I have told you nothing which would lead you to offer me that blind obedience and the foolish devotion which the emotional aspirant offers to the Guru and Master Whom he is as yet unable to contact. Nor will he make that desired contact until he has transmuted emotional devotion into unselfish service to humanity-not to the Master.

  The books that I have written are sent out
with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writings, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the Masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of his intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said.

  AUGUST 1934

  THE GREAT INVOCATION

  From the point of Light within the Mind of God

  Let light stream forth into the minds of men.

  Let Light descend on Earth

  From the point of Love within the Heart of God

  Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.

  May Christ return to Earth.

  From the centre where the Will of God is known

  Let purpose guide the little wills of men—

  The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

  From the centre which we call the race of men

  Let the Plan of Love and Light work out.

  And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

  Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth

  “The above Invocation or Prayer does not belong to any person or group but to all Humanity. The beauty and the strength of this Invocation lies in its simplicity, and in its expression of certain central truths which all men, innately and normally, accept—the truth of the existence of a basic Intelligence to Whom we vaguely give the name of God; the truth that behind all outer seeming, the motivating power of the universe is Love; the truth that a great Individuality came to earth, called by Christians, the Christ, and embodied that love so that we could understand; the truth that both love and intelligence are effects of what is called the Will of God; and finally the self-evident truth that only through humanity itself can the Divine Plan work out.”

  ALICE A BAILEY

  PART ONE - THE FOURTEEN RULES FOR GROUP INITIATION

  PRELIMINARY REMARKS

  (3) It might be here of value, my brothers, if I again laid emphasis upon the fact that the formless world is only entered when the aspirant has acquired somewhat the capacity to center himself on the abstract levels of the mental plane. This involves necessarily certain developments within the aspirant’s own nature. The demanded contact would otherwise be impossible. What is needed is self-exertion, the resultant developments of which might be touched upon as follows:

  I. The Repolarisation of the Entire Lower Man so that his attitude toward the aggregate of forms which make up his field of general contact has changed. He is no longer deluded by the things of the senses but has in his hand that thread or clue which will eventually guide him out of the maze of the lower life perceptions into the field of clear knowledge and the realm where daylight is found; he will then no longer need to walk in the dark. This repolarisation is brought about in four ways, each of which provides the next step forward, and in their totality (and when definitely followed) will eventuate in the total subjugation of the personality. These four ways are:

  A constant and unfailing attempt to center the consciousness within the head. From this central position the real man, the directing agency will direct and guide all his members, imposing upon the “lunar lords” of the physical body a new rhythm and habit of response. Two factors are of value and helpful in the production of the necessary polarisation:

  The reiterated appreciation of the words “I am the Self, the Self am I.”

  The habit of early morning meditation wherein the Thinker centers himself in the point of control and [4] starts upon his day’s experience and contacts with the realisation that he is only the Observer, the Perceiver and Actor.

  A close consideration throughout the day as to the use and misuse of energy. Every man should realise that in the use of energy lies direction and the treading of the Path. It produces eventually truthful manifestation and the displaying of one’s light in order that circumstances may be irradiated and fellow pilgrims helped. Students should familiarise themselves with the “energy concept” and learn to regard themselves as energy units displaying certain types of energy. In this connection it should be borne in mind that when spiritual energy and material energy (the two opposite poles) are brought into relationship, a third type of energy is produced, and the work of the fourth or human kingdom is to demonstrate this peculiar type. It might serve to clarify thought if students remembered that

  Superhuman entities display spiritual energy.

  Subhuman entities display the energy of matter.

  Human entities display soul energy.

  In the perfect manifestation of these three will the plan of creation be consummated. It should also be borne in mind that these three are nevertheless a manifestation of duality—spirit and matter—and that this is the manifestation of a great Existence and of His appearing. Therefore, what are called the “three gunas” in Hindu philosophy are but the qualities He manifests through these types of entities.

  Superhuman lives express sattva, the guna of rhythm and of harmonious response to divine urge, of perfect display of coordinated cooperation with the purpose of manifestation.

  Human lives demonstrate the quality of rajas, of mobility, of constant and conscious change in order to ascertain what is the Real and through the medium of experience demonstrate the true nature of rhythmic response.

  Subhuman lives express the guna of tamas or of inertia. They work blindly and have no ability to respond consciously [5] to the plan. They are the sumtotal of the “units of inertia” just as the human units are called “the points of light moving within the square.” This may have its appeal to Masons.

  This subject of the use or misuse of energy is capable of infinite expansion, and in my other books where I give you more upon the centres I have enlarged upon it. I but seek at this time to give you that which can be of immediate use to students and thus lay the foundation for later work.

  A close study of the needed transmutation of astral and emotional energy into love, the energy of love. This involves the sublimation of personal feeling into group realisation or consciousness, and when carried out successfully produces in time the construction of a higher and subtler body, the buddhic sheath. When this sheath is thus materialised a very high stage of advancement is marked, but the earlier stages can be intelligently approached by any earnest student and probationer. To transmute emotion into love the following realisations will be found necessary:

  1. A realisation that all moods, all display of sorrow, of pain, or of happy excitement are due to our identification with the objects of desire, with the form aspect, and with that which is material.

  2. An understanding of the emotional or astral body and the place it plays in the student’s development. It should be recognised as the shadow of the monad, and a connection should be traced between

  The Astral Sheath....6th Plane

  The Buddhic Sheath...4th Plane

  The Monadic Sheath...2nd Plane

  and the place the love petals in the egoic lotus play should also be carefully considered.

  3. A comprehension of the potency of the astral sheath owing to its undivided nature.

  4. A study of the purpose of the solar plexus, and the part it plays as an organ of transference of energy from the three great centres below the diaphragm to the three higher [6] centres. There is a very close analogy here to the so
lar lotus, the egoic body, occupying a midway point between the threefold Monad and the threefold lower man. The more advanced should follow this.

  The development of the faculty of mind control, so that the Thinker grips and holds steady the mental processes and learns to regard the mind as the interpreter of the states of consciousness, as the transmitter of egoic intent to the physical brain and as the window through which the Ego, the real Man looks out upon vast and (to the majority) unknown fields of knowledge.

  II. An emergence into Manifestation of the Subjective Aspect in Man. One of the objects of evolution is that the subjective reality should eventually be brought forward into recognition. This can be expressed in several symbolic ways, all of them dealing with the same one fact in nature:

  The bringing to the birth of the Christ within.

  The shining forth of the inner radiance or glory.

  The demonstration of the 2nd or the Love aspect.

  The manifestation of the solar Angel.

  The appearing of the Son of God, the Ego or the Soul within.

  The full expression of buddhi, as it utilises manas.

  This emergence into manifestation is brought about through what is understood by the following terms:

  The refining of the bodies which form the casket or sheath hiding the reality.

  The process of ‘unveiling’ so that one by one those bodies which veil the Self are brought to a point where they are simply transparencies, permitting the full shining forth of the divine nature.

  An expansion of consciousness, which is brought about through the ability of the self to identify with its real nature as the Onlooker, and no longer regarding itself as the organ of perception. [7]

  III. A Re-alignment of the Lower Sheaths so that the contact with the Real Man, the Thinker, the Solar Angel, on the higher levels of the mental plane may become complete and continuous. This only becomes possible as the other two points are beginning to be grasped and the theory as to man’s constitution and purpose is somewhat understood. As meditation is practiced, as the lower bodies are painstakingly dominated, and as the nature of the Sutratma or Thread is better comprehended it will become increasingly possible to bring into the lower personality on the physical plane that spiritual illumination and that divine energy which is the soul’s heritage. Little by little the light will shine forth, year by year the strength of the higher contact will grow, gradually the downpour of divine love and wisdom into the head centres will be increased until eventually the entire lower man will be transformed, his sheaths will be refined, controlled and used, and he will demonstrate upon earth the powers of Director, Teacher or Manipulator according to the major ray upon which his Monad may be found.