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Discipleship in the New Age


Volume I

 

 

 
 
  In connection with this group of my disciples and with this experiment which I am undertaking, you need to arrive at a point in group experience wherein you are not so intensely preoccupied with your own development, status and service; you all need to learn to decentralize yourselves so that the work to be done becomes the factor of main importance. When this is the case, then the intense self-interest with some aspect of the personality expression, some weakness of character, some dear objective, or some physical condition will cease. You will find the cultivation of a "divine indifference" (as I have told you several times) of great assistance in forgetting the little self; this frequently looms so large (from habit) that it shuts out the Higher Self; it comes between the disciple and the Master and prevents contact with his co-disciples, thus negating effective service.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  During the past few years I have many times spoken to you with frankness and even with apparent harshness. This I have done in an effort to galvanize you to a greater oriented reaction to the urge of your soul and thus draw away from you the two factors which have blocked the free intercourse which should exist between your soul and your personality. I have ever hinted. I do not voice my suggestions in clear words at all times for my object is always to evoke the activity of your Higher Self, thus exacting the correct type of obedience.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  I ask myself anew: How can I convey to this disciple the nature of his problem? I will put it in this form. Your egoic energy, focused in your mind, is at the service of your personality and of the work which you are endeavoring to do in the particular field wherein you are, forcing yourself to remain. It should be the other way round and the personality - with all its unified powers - should be at the service of the soul. All the forces of your lower nature should be at the disposal of the Higher Self, working through an illumined mind and sensitive brain. Ponder on this. The energy of the intelligence and two intelligent forces - the soul, the mind and the physical nature - serve your devoted personality. You should reverse this, my brother, and let the intelligent soul control your devoted personality. There lies your problem.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  11. Is my mind the organ of vision for the spiritual man, and am I offering this organ to the Higher Self to use?  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  First, I would say: Be not discouraged but admit the failure of your intuition. Be, however, true to yourself and if you feel, my brother, that the position is not as I have stated it to be, then abide by your own decision and be true to your Higher Self. That is the matter of the greatest moment - personal truth and integrity. This decision may lead you to continue to form part of my group of disciples - a cooperation which has been interrupted the past few months - or it may lead you to work in conjunction with the group which has lately so powerfully influenced you. But be true to the situation as, in sober meditation, you see it; no higher attitude can be expected of anyone.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  Your key words are self-knowledge, lucidity and truth, and they must all be called into play at this time. Remember that your decision, if based on a choice between two Tibetans, will be a false one. Your problem is that of choosing between the teacher which we call the Personality and the teacher which we call the Higher Self. Settle this problem in the light of the soul, and not through impulsive personality reactions.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  Those who refuse to share in the world karma and pain will find their entire progress inevitably slowed down, for they will have put themselves outside the great tide of spiritual force now sweeping in regenerating streams throughout the world of men. The present world conflict is analogous to the stern conflict which is going on within the hearts and lives of all the world aspirants and disciples and is inevitably a sign that they are setting their feet upon the Path of Conscious Discipleship. The Higher Self and the personality meet face to face for the determination of that decision for which the soul (the Self) upon its own plane is waiting. This is what is also happening with the world aspirant, Humanity, at this time. Ponder with care upon this idea.  
 

 

 

 

Discipleship in the New Age -

Volume II

 

 
 
  In the past, the religious emphasis upon the esoteric side of instruction has been the approach of the individual man to the God within, to his own Higher Self, the soul, the first Master. In the future, the emphasis will be upon the united approach of humanity (as represented by an increasing number of groups of aspirants and disciples) to the Hierarchy.  
 

 

 

 

 
 
  Prayer; this is the stage wherein the aspirant, the mystic or the spiritually inclined man blends personality desire with aspiration for soul relation and contact; he, through the proved efficacy of prayer, discovers the subtler powers and the fact of the essential dualism of life; he finds that he himself is both a lower self and a Higher Self.