The Destiny of the Nations Page 11

  Consequently, you have two groups, two objectives, two great formulated ideals, two streams of active energy and two rays predominantly in conflict, thus producing the differing ideologies. The result of this dualism is the external chaos, the differentiation of the two group ideals into the many human experiments, and the resultant ranging of the entire human family under many banners, which testify to the various viewpoints in the many fields of thought — political, religious, economic, social, educational and philosophical. The result of all this conflict is, I would tell you, definitely good, and it demonstrates the steady achievement of the Great White Lodge. The consciousness of humanity has been definitely expanded and the whole world of men at this time is thinking. This is a totally new phenomenon [109] and a fresh experience in the life of the human soul. The first result of all the turmoil has been to shift the focus of human attention on to the mental plane and thereby nearer to the sources of light and love.

  It is right here and in connection with this eventful change of focus that the world disciples can shoulder responsibility and proceed to active work. When I here speak of disciples, I am using the term in connection with all who aspire to true humanity, to brotherhood, and to the living expression of the higher and spiritual values. I am not using it altogether in the technical sense, which involves a recognised relation to the Hierarchy through the grades of probationary or accepted discipleship, though these are included in my thought. I refer to all aspirants and to all who have any sense of true values and an urge to meet the world’s need.

  To understand a little the problem involved and the differing modes of work which characterise those who worked in the past under the influence of the sixth ray and those who are learning to work under the influence of the incoming seventh ray, it might be helpful if we compared very briefly the two systems of activity. I would ask you to remember that both systems and modes of work are equally right in their time and place, but that the modern disciple should be discarding the old methods and steadily learning to employ the new and more modern and effective modes of work. This he must learn to do optimistically and with assurance, knowing that the benefits and the experience gained under the sixth ray system of discipline is still his most precious possession because it has been transmuted from method and mode into characteristics and established habits. It is the new ways of working and the new forces and objectives which the disciple of this present era has to master; he [110] must do this relying upon the lessons learnt in the past and must base his new structure of truth upon the foundations and the stabilised orientations, which must now be established.

  The first step for the sincere aspirant is at this point to stop for a moment to enquire and discover whether he is working primarily under the sixth ray impulse or the seventh ray influence. I use these words “impulse and influence” deliberately because they describe the general effect of the two functioning energies. Upon one thing all disciples and aspirants can rely and this is the basic and enduring effect of all the sixth ray potencies which have been established during the past two thousand years. These must be counted upon, offset and understood and the newer influence must then be studied, the newer methods investigated and mastered, and the new ideas and idealisms must be brought through into objectivity and so expressed in a new way. Only thus can the new civilisation and culture be wisely and sanely produced and the foundations laid for the development of the human family along right lines during the coming era. It will be of value, therefore, to compare the old and the new ways of discipline and of training, of attribute and quality, and of method and objectives.

  Let us take the sixth ray methods of activity and its major characteristics first of all. They are, for us, the most familiar and can be rapidly considered, enabling us to pass on to the new ways of demonstrating and discovering the ancient wisdom, and to the comprehension of the fresh modes of working which will give new vitality to the work of the Hierarchy upon the physical plane.

  The outstanding characteristic of the disciple and the aspirant under the old regime was devotion. The race had, of necessity, to achieve a different and right orientation to [111] the world of spiritual values, and hence the effort of the Hierarchy during the past twenty centuries was to lay the emphasis upon the realm of religious values. The world religions have held the centre of the stage for several thousand years in an effort to make humanity seek one-pointedly for the soul and thus prepare itself for the emergence of the fifth kingdom in nature. This is slated (if I might use such a specialised word) to come into manifestation during the imminent Aquarian age; this age will be predominantly the age of worldwide discipleship, leading later to the age of universal initiation in Capricornian times. Therefore the great world religions have held authoritative sway for a very long time; their peculiar tenets, adapted to specific nation, race or time, embodied some truth through the medium of some particular teacher who attracted to himself individuals throughout the world who were spiritually minded, because he expressed for them the highest goal towards which they could possibly strive. All the world religions have been thus built around an embodied Idea, Who, in His Own Person, expressed the immediate ideal of the time and age. He demonstrated certain divine attributes and concepts which it was necessary to present to the vision of the sons of men as their possible and immediate goal. In these manifestations — as I have earlier pointed out — the sixth ray influence can easily be seen. When, however, an individual sixth ray influence can be noted in an era wherein the sixth ray is uniquely active, then the reason for the potency of the religious idea, as expressed in theological dogma and doctrine and the universal authority of the Churches can be seen.

  This orientation of man to the world of higher values has been the main objective of the Piscean age which is ending now and of the sixth ray influence which is so [112] rapidly passing out. Though there has never been a time when this basic orientation has not been going steadily forward, it is of value to bear in mind that during the past two thousand years a much higher, rarer and more difficult process of orientation has been held before the race and for the following reason. The fourth kingdom in nature has been definitely attracted upwards towards the emerging fifth kingdom and this has made necessary also the shift of attention away from the three worlds of human endeavour and expression into the higher world of soul consciousness. It has necessitated likewise the refocussing of the instinctual and intellectual attention which are the main factors in the unfoldment of divine awareness. This awareness can be instinctual, intellectual and therefore human, and also spiritual. But all three are equally divine, which is a point oft forgotten.

  The second objective of the sixth ray disciple or of the man who is emerging out of the sixth ray influence but is still conditioned by it (being a representative human being from the current evolutionary angle) has been the unfolding of the “capacity for abstraction,” as it has been called. The outstanding quality of our day and period, as a result of transmuting human quality and character in and through its disciples, has been the expression of the idealistic nature of man, or of his instinctual response to the higher intuitional values. In the past, highly developed but rare people have here and there demonstrated this power to abstract the consciousness from the material or form side of life and to focus it upon the ideal and upon the formless expression of living truth. Today, whole masses of people and entire nations are regimented to certain forms of idealism and can and do appreciate ideas, formulated into ideals. Thus again the success of the evolutionary process can be seen [113] and the work of the Hierarchy, as it endeavours to expand human consciousness, can be demonstrated to be effective.

  Because of the potency of the sixth ray activity, owing to the long period wherein it has been expressing itself, the reaction of the average human being is one of intense devotion to his particular ideal, plus the effort, fanatically, to impose his idealistic dream (for that is all it potentially is) upon his fellowmen and to do so in such a form that unfortunately the original idea is lo
st, the primal ideal is destroyed and the devotee becomes much more occupied by the method of applying his ideal than by the ideal itself. Thus the idea is lost in the ideal and the ideal, in its turn, in the method of its application. The man becomes the devotee of an ideal which may or may not be embodied in an individual expression; this controls his thoughts, fore-ordains his activities and leads him frequently to merciless excesses in the interest of his peculiar and formulated idea.

  Under the immediate expression of the sixth ray, the divine principle of desire has shifted potently away from the desire for material form into the realm of higher desire. Though materialism is still rampant, there are few people who are not animated by certain definite idealistic aspirations for which they are ready, when needed, to make sacrifices. This is a relatively new phenomenon and one that should be carefully noted. Down the ages, great sons of God have ever been ready to die for an idea; today, whole masses of men are equally ready and have done so, whether it is the idea of a superhuman state, empire or nation, or some response to a major world need, or some potent adherence to some current ideology. This indicates phenomenal racial achievement and the pronounced success of [114] the Hierarchy to shift human attention into the world from whence ideas emerge and on to the higher and the less material values.

  The instinct which has characterised this passing sixth ray period and which has been noticeably fostered under its influence is that of taste — taste in food, in human intercourse, in colour, in form, in art and architecture and in all branches of human knowledge. This discriminating taste has reached a relatively high stage of development during the past two thousand years and “good taste” is a highly cherished mass virtue and objective today. This is a totally new thing and one which has been hitherto the prerogative of the highly cultured few. Ponder on this. It connotes evolutionary achievement. For the disciples of the world, this sense of taste has to be transmuted into its higher correspondence — a discriminating sense of values. Hence the clear emphasis laid in all textbooks on discipleship upon the need to develop discrimination. Desire — taste — discrimination; these are the values, under the sixth ray, for all evolutionary unfoldment and peculiarly the goal of all disciples.

  The methods whereby the activity of the sixth ray and its objectives have been imposed upon the race are three in number:

  1. The development of instinct. This is followed by intelligently recognised desire and thus there is a steady expansion of requirements, of realisation and then of reorientation.

  2. The consequent stimulation of the human consciousness towards expansion, leading finally to spiritual aspiration.

  3. The reflection of reality in the mind consciousness follows next and this is sensed, demanded and sought through the medium of group work. [115]

  The apparatus of the human being, which is the mechanism whereby the soul contacts the three worlds which would be otherwise (under the present plan) sealed and hidden to the experience and experiment of the soul, has been more acutely sensitised and developed during the past two thousand years than in any previous period of ten thousand years. The reason for this is that the mind of man has been consciously aiding in the process of coordinating the instincts and transmuting instinctual reaction, translating it into intelligent perception. In the case of the world disciples, this process has been carried forward into the next stage of unfoldment to which we give the name of intuitional knowledge. The counterparts of the five senses and their higher correspondences upon the subtler planes are being rapidly unfolded, organised and recognised and it is by means of these inner senses that spiritual discovery becomes possible as well as the more familiar psychic discoveries. In the three phases:

  a. Instinct to aspiration

  b. Stimulation of divine desire

  c. The reflection of reality

  you have the history of the activity of the sixth ray and of its relation during the past few centuries to its major field of expression, the astral plane.

  We can now proceed to consider the seventh ray in its relation to the present situation in just the same way as we considered the sixth ray. Through doing this, there will unfold in your consciousness an idea of the developing process and of the emerging events and of the imminent happenings which may logically be expected. There are, as you may realise, two ways in which any particular ray may [116] be considered. It can be studied, first of all, from the angle of energy which is ever coming into relation with other energies and forces, producing through their meeting and frequent conflict a situation entirely different and changed from that which existed prior to the contact. The stages of this import might be covered briefly by the following words: Contact, conflict, adjustment, equilibrium (a form of stalemate or static condition such as was arrived at during the 19th century), absorption and the final disappearance of the weaker outgoing energy. The conclusion is always inevitable for it is not the rays themselves which are in conflict but the substance and the forms which are implicated during the period. Secondly: the quality of the ray can be considered. This is in reality the expression of its soul and intrinsic nature, which — impinging upon the condition existing when the ray comes into manifestation — definitely does three things:

  1. Changes the nature of the civilisation and the culture of humanity in any given period. It is this force which the Hierarchy utilises when any meeting of the ray energies takes place. The culture is first changed, because all basic quality changes work ever from above downwards, and it is the intelligentsia who are at first sensitive to the incoming differences. Form changes then automatically reverse the process. It is thus that points of juncture inevitably occur throughout the evolutionary process. When the scientists concerned with the theory and processes of evolution accept and study the ray procedure, definite changes in attitude and a closer approach to the truth will at once appear. This concept also lies behind the teaching which I have given anent the Great Approaches which must take place (and can take place [117] very shortly) between the fourth and the fifth kingdoms in nature. Of the fifth kingdom, the Hierarchy is the dynamic and living nucleus.

  2. Changes in the other kingdoms in nature, producing a different quality in the manifestation of the soul of any kingdom (for they all differ in soul quality) and consequently changes in the form aspect as well.

  3. Changes in the type of egos or souls which will take incarnation during any particular ray period. By this I mean that just as during the age which is now coming to an end, the bulk of the incarnating souls were predominantly sixth ray in quality, so we can look for an increasing number of seventh ray egos now to appear. The furtherance of the coming seventh ray civilisation of synthesis, fusion, and of increased soul expression, and the development of the new stage into which the white magic of the Hierarchy is entering is, therefore, inevitable and for this stage there should be definite preparation and training.

  The powers of the magical age are many and one of the reasons why the seventh ray is now making its appearance is that, owing to the rapid perfecting and integration of the human personality, the higher integration between soul and personality is today more possible and more easily accomplished than ever before. The new forms, through which that much desired consummation can be affected, must be consequently gradually and scientifically developed. This, as you may well conceive, will be achieved through the intensification of the forces, functioning through the etheric body, through the coordination of the seven major centres, and the establishing of their rhythmic relationship. The seventh ray governs predominantly upon the etheric levels of [118] the physical plane. It does not govern the dense physical form which is under the control of the third ray. It is the vital or the etheric body which is responsive to and developed by the incoming seventh ray influences.

  In considering the methods whereby the seventh ray purposes are achieved, I would like to point out that it is in this part of our discussion that I am limited and handicapped by language, because we are dealing with that which is new and, therefore, no
t as yet to be truly comprehended, and with those developments which will be eventually brought about by means of a true and scientific magic. This new magic will have no more relation to the crude attempts and oft ridiculous undertakings of the magicians, alchemists and performers of the past than c-a-t, cat, has to an algebraical formula. I would remind you also that in that home of ancient magic which you call Egypt, the magical work there performed was definitely concentrated upon the producing of physical effects and material results, and that the focus of the attention of the magician of the day can be seen in the stupendous production of those ancient and gigantic forms, standing silent and still in their pristine magnificence, which today call for the attention of archaeologists and travellers; the forms of lesser magic which they produced were dedicated to the magical protection of the physical form and allied matters. In later days, we have the appearance of alchemy in its many forms plus its search for the Philosopher’s Stone and the teaching as to the three basic mineral elements. They were driven esoterically and from the subjective side of life to search for that which could unify the three lower physical levels and this is in its nature deeply symbolic of racial unfoldment. These levels symbolise the integrated man — physical, astral and mental. When to these elements the Philosopher’s [119] Stone is added and has done its magical work, then you have the symbolic representation of the control by the soul of the four higher levels of the physical plane, the etheric or energy levels. Of this desirable consummation, the Philosopher’s Stone is the emblem. I said “emblem,” and I did not say “symbol.” A symbol is an outer and visible sign of an inner and spiritual reality, carried out into expression upon the physical plane by the force of the inner embodied life. An emblem is man’s formulation of a concept, created by man and embodying for him the truth as he sees it and understands it. A symbol is ever greater in its implications than is an emblem.