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January 1964 to March 1964

Pages 111-113 – The Theosophical Movement – January 1964 (pp. 113-115)

You must learn to live within your heart's bright shrine. Ideation and Imagination will cut a canal for the future. Leave that to Those you are serving with sincerity. No one likes isolation. Even a false pietist of bewildered soul seeks companionship. On the other hand, the Masters are of a Fraternity. We may speculate and conjecture, but Karma has its own way to strike and to uplift. Karma never downs us; but we men and women have the capacity to down ourselves to Avitchi. There is loneliness there if anywhere.

Do not let things upset you. Remain cool, collected, calm — three C’s to produce the fourth, Conquest. We conquer error, decay, disease and even death by the three C’s. Remember that. Best not to enter into discussion; keep still; look on and smile. Much unpleasantness and evil are avoided that way. Another factor: never hasten; take your time. Time always manages; it is often a master manager. May our Great Ideas, the memory of our Great Teachers, and your own Inner Ruler guide and protect you!

Ever avoid impulsive action; take everything calmly; there is time always and what is done deliberately need not be demolished. What is not done today can be done tomorrow; what is impulsively done today may have to be undone tomorrow.

Make it a rule never to act in a hasty or rushy manner. There is time enough. Always think, and think leisurely, before you act. Your chief need is calmness within. Avoid unnecessary and uncalled for acts. Give yourself time. Take time. Make time. You can if you calmly ask — “Necessary?” Do not act till you have asked that, thought over that and got your answer on that. You ought to be able to do all with ease and without rush. Do not hasten to finish but aim at gracious thorough­ness. Do things one at a time and with dispassion and discernment.

Preserve your energy for real work and save yourself from small things. Go easy and you will be able to do more and better work. Do not rush. If you remain calm and do your duties in calmness, bodily health will follow.

I myself desire that you should grow spiritually, but as I have pointed out so often, emotionalism is not spirituality: rest, repose, calmness, silence, softness and sweetness, these are the marks of spirituality, but these are to proceed from within to any thing and to all people, not to some things and some particular people. You do not live within: mainly the difficulty with you is that you want to do, to do. Reading, reflection, silent brooding, etc., are inner practices. You do not give yourself a chance. You must learn to restore yourself inwardly. This cannot be done if your attitude is — I must be busy doing things from 9 to 9.

You spend forces unwisely and in consequence not only do you suffer, but the work also suffers. I do hope you will take all I am saying in the helpful spirit in which I am writing. I do want to help you, but like a doctor I have to prescribe treatment which is often not pleasant to the patient.

Those who live in their personal emotions cannot see clearly, and without sight how can action be? Well, you may receive other opportunities, but these will come when you are least expecting them and from quarters unsuspected by you. Are you at all calm? Even for two or three hours a day? I don’t mean happy, I mean calm. Keep your mind and heart calm and affectionate and your work for the day will go as it should.

Without calmness nothing, nothing you do will be good, let alone per­fect. You may be worried about; that will not help you and will certainly hinder her. It is a hard saying of Jesus — “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”; but from the Occult point of view it is 100 per cent right. I do not say you should not feel love and tenderness for ——           , but your upset astral is no help to her. You are adding to her burden while worsening your Karma. So give yourself time for study and meditation; every morning read and reflect about calmness, from which come accuracy, etc.

May great success and prosperity come to you in the forthcoming examination! In these last days before you sit for the examination you will need inner calm and courage. If in your Heart you are detached from the mundane and so attached to the Inner Guide, the great Triad, you cannot but succeed. He is on the side of Wisdom, of Masters, and for the triumph of the Great Cause; and so He will bring you perception and strength. Further, as you have dedicated yourself to the greatest of all services, treading the Path of Probation and serving through the channel of the U.L.T., the Masters and H.P.B. are on your side. Confi­dence in Them means confidence in the Inner Ruler. With this dual Force ready at hand, make adequate use of it. You must succeed. During these days do not think of anything else but your study and the success it must give you. Take care of your bodily health. Sleep well and sleep sweet. Throw all care, all concern, away and breathe in from Akasha that dauntless energy which finds its way to triumph in this your noble endeavour. Think of the Blessed Holy Ones. Where thought can pass. They can come. May Their Blessings be upon you!

If you eat well, sleep soundly, and be calm, Work will not only protect you but also energize and strengthen you. You derive but little benefit for your own soul from your labour of love, and that is bad, from the inner point of view. Pennies saved in rest and leisure yield pounds of time! Work will go smoothly if energy is conserved, both in speech and in body motions and movements.

You know how it is said: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” The message is to cultivate higher resignation; to be carefree but to possess deeply a sense of responsibility.

One must develop more and more the Higher Resignation and let the Lords of Nature who are Karma direct our deeds. At times this looks most difficult; the personal nature accustomed to go its way assumes direction and goes astray. The suave nature brings us suavity if we are truly resigned.

Do not regret about the past but plan in the present for the future. In doing so, forget your own self; think and consider only the Great Movement. Courage and Patience make a pair, but without sufficient Detachment you will not be able to express Patience and the dauntless Energy for comprehending and speaking the truth will not evolve. Do not mistake weakness for kindness or compassion; nor bravado for strength and courage. You have created handicaps out of your oppor­tunities; now turn round and take the opportunity that every hindrance brings. You lack calmness, and without knowledge and meditation you will not have it. This sounds like preaching; it is not; but suppose it is—what is right or wrong with and in it? So dear        , think.

Turn within; purify yourself; gain some mental devotion and stead­ fastness, and your life will be a blessing to the Movement. May the year bring you inner satisfaction because in the Inner Soul you have stored Truth and Attention and Bliss!

“The repose of the Sage is not what the world calls repose. His repose is the result of his mental attitude. All creation could not disturb his equilibrium: hence his repose. When water is still it is like a mirror... and the philosopher makes it his model. And if water thus derives lucidity from stillness, how much more the faculties of the mind! The mind of the Sage, being in repose, becomes the mirror of the universe.” — Chuang Tzu

Pages 114-116 – The Theosophical Movement – February 1964 (pp. 151-153)

To accept a course as right and then not to act up to it—that is fatal. If you see that a step is right, take it; if you do not see it, abstain. After all, this, is not difficult. Blind obedience is bad, but blind obstinacy is equally bad. Don’t you think so? Why go by feelings? Try principles. You must learn to open yourself instead of remaining rigid in mind and heart. If you do not mistake obstinacy for will, you will succeed.

Who can expect discretion and discernment when the fogs of Kama and Ahankara descend? Conceit blinds people and they blunder in a variety of ways — what to do?

You can assist first and foremost by a sustained effort, to calm your emotional nature and to steady your wandering mind; effort at these two will help you to control your tongue. Useless talk spoils good work. Always remember one thing: be positive and fully conscious in your daily life; accurate and heedful in all matters. Do everything smoothly. So, keep to your own time and speed without the least haste or rush. When a person overdoes what is not needed he overlooks what is wanted. Apply calmly the teachings of Theosophy in a practical way and you are bound to succeed.

I want you to realize that all these rulings are not to be observed rigidly, but in an understanding and intelligent way. The skeleton of our body is rigid but the muscles and the nerves are not. They become rigid when the body becomes a corpse. So be strict with yourself and be flexible in dealing with other people.

It is necessary to take your stand as a Theosophical student openly. If you and others were to be energized, there would be understanding and unity. All of you would benefit.

Why have you failed so far in Theosophizing your own life? Because you fear     . and H.P.B. has definitely said that Fear and Hate are the same. When will you learn to do the right and Theosophical thing? So far no sustained effort has been made. You have indulged your own weakness; are you continuing to do so? This and all other things you can and you should remedy within yourself. A few years more and you will not be able to do it. Why do I write to you this now? So that you may take prompt advantage and re-establish a better relationship of faith and love and trust. If you stand up against wrong actions and policies others will be encouraged to do likewise. So, go to the Soul of the situation — yourself; a quiet self-examination will show you how you have not been true and faithful. So, wake up now.

Yes, make a fresh start; there is nothing else for you to do. Unless you do that in all sincerity and earnestness, you will come to grief, and in this cycle sooner than you calculate. It will not prove difficult if you observe your Discipline: inner work on yourself of study, self-examina­tion and reflection and proper outer behaviour with due control of tongue, holding back of impulsive action and remembrance that you are under trial and test. Karma has brought you support, guidance and protection. Strengthen your bond with those who are deep in their efforts at living the life.

What I want to write is not about details of this and that (and every detail of work is an opportunity and a test), but principally about soul-affecting influences. I had requested you separately to work in unity and harmony. I would like you to tell me why there is lack of faith in your own Ego, of trust in each other, and so of brotherliness among you. Have you not been losing good opportunities, and more, have you not been untrue to your Discipline in the treatment of each other? Are you exercising thoughtful endeavour in the earning of Right Livelihood in a business organization which ought to be bright with Theosophical radiance? These questions are more vital and of greater importance than what salaries you get, what sales you make, and what business acumen, sharpness and push you express.

It seems to me — correct me if I am wrong— that you have, perhaps unconsciously to yourselves, fallen prey to irresponsible talk. Instead of working jointly, unitedly and harmoniously, you have listened to adverse criticism of each other and in self-justification done injustice to your brothers and companions. Among brothers and companions there should be no fear, but frank speech, free expression ensouled by brotherliness. Things which are common and accepted and stealthily practised in the business world are not in conformity with Theosophical ethics and moral­ity and you should neither fall prey to such nor allow any of them to creep into business concerns. Your most pressing task is to purify the atmosphere, to discipline your own self.

My heartfelt wishes for your betterment and prosperity are there always. The coming year will be important for all of us and I must take this opportunity to send you a word which ought to prove helpful. What you have to remember and ever recall to your consciousness is the fact of your special avenue of service. It can and should show that it is en­souled and moved by Theosophical Ethics. I would like you to think over this. What is needed is not personal actions but a calm, considered, im­personal attitude and behaviour in speech and deeds. You must learn to be stricter in business rectitude, stricter in veracity, stricter in observing your Discipline so that your example is copied and the staff observes its discipline. Here I am giving a few principles. Avoid long discussions and long sermons. Much time is wasted. Save minutes and the hours will save themselves.

Outside of business, continue the good work of assimilation going on between you, –- and –-. This does not mean talking — once again it is attitude and behaviour. Do not neglect your study and set an ex­ample of how a student should think and feel, speak and act.

Do not allow the rush and the impatience of business to mar your Theosophical output in the way of right conversation, balanced judgment, etc. You must not compartmentalize your conversations on business and your conversations on Theosophy. There should be Theosophizing of the business, and the business atmosphere of earnestness and right gain in Theosophical conversation. You speak of your own study and of yourself. In a way it is good that you are not satisfied with your own self. Who can really be if he is sincere? As Judge has said, in this life of occultism there are struggles always. Impulsive action you must curb and must take your time to produce deliberate action.

In this cycle which is now opening, the discipline about small talk and big gossip will need to be applied with greater tact, remembrance and without fear. Make it a rule not to speak about anyone behind his back. Real unity remains to be established. You should practise mental honesty; i.e., should think justly, rightly, with adverse feeling towards none, with due appreciation of all, if you are to make further progress.

One more piece of advice: Try to hold your Inner Centre firm, to control your mind to deliberate and orderly behaviour. Don’t let your consciousness rush out, but conserve it within your brain. Use your force of affection with discrimination and expand your circle of friends while you deepen your ties with old friends. Begin to think for yourself, making proper use of our texts.

How about your own study, meditation, self-examination and application? Keep yourself collected; avoid impulses; talk cautiously; eat ade­quately: observe silence so that Nature-Prakriti may speak to you suc­cessfully and then there are the great Purushas — the Lords and Masters of Matter.

Years are rolling on like the majestic clouds I have been watching these days. They pour down what are called April showers. So with us. One way or another Time goes on. You have come some way, but you have a great, long way to go. You need to integrate your life; Lodge and office, sacred and secular, are to become all one, all Sacred Vibrations. Sunday is different from other days in the week, but all days are sacred and so the difference enriches. So think; all you do should be holy, each a different type of holiness. This implies three things—memory, attention and imagination. All of us have to learn to remember, then to be attentive to whatever we have to do, and by the power of imagination to hitch our wagon to our star!

Pages 117-119 – The Theosophical Movement – March 1964 (pp. 191-193)

Outside the home there is a world; outside your own mind-world and heart-world there is a universe. It has lessons on the one hand; it needs service on the other. You must begin to cultivate a deliberate at­tentiveness to the Inner Light by whose aid alone you can perceive truth. As bodily age creeps on, the inner has to be attended to with speed and clear vision. What saving of time and energy and how? What giving of what is saved to the Great Cause and to Them? Less fluctuating and more steadiness and steadfastness of and in the within is becoming your pressing need. More study, not only of Theosophy but of cognate sub­jects, becomes necessary. You need consideration, which means thought; reflection, which means seeing in the Mirror of the Mind; meditation, which means gaining familiarity with the Divine Astral — Maha Smriti; and, above all, application, which means descending from the Inner Akasha to the outer brain. We cannot be less strenuous in living the Life and serving the Lords of Life — our Living Mahatmas. You must prove to your own self that you are an officer and not only a soldier or sepoy in the Great Army.

Well, enough of the past. Let us look to the future, both near and distant, and labour in the present to sustain the motions of the Mighty Plan of the Mighty Holy Ones. Holiness, like love, is a misunderstood term; the world needs Holiness and it can best be taught by personal example. So. I say, live the Life and make your home a centre of the Theosophic Light of true Holiness, for which you will need the associa­tion of S.D. ideas and the companionship of the writings of W. Q. Judge.

You hold on to the Lines — inner especially. You are learning many things all along the line — even teaching at the U.L.T., etc., is learning and gathering experience. Make it all precious and store it away for the future. Get yourself a position which the world recognizes, for we have to work with the mind of the race; you must carve out a place for your­ self in this world’s civilization and then you will be of mighty service to the Blessed Holy Ones. Keep your Faith and Devotion burning in silence and secrecy and thus you will do for Them what They need.

Never consider any problem from the viewpoint of whether it is pleasant or unpleasant to persons; each problem should be decided on its own merit. We should not try to judge of our efforts from the results of others. We have to do that which is right and leave Karma to settle all the rest.

If you make discerning use of Karmic activity in and of your environ­ment you will gain experience which will strengthen your feet. Remain silent and think and seek out teachings applicable to each situation. Your silence will endow you with purity while your endeavour to learn will develop and deepen your sense of truth. Apply the Shila Paramita; let not there be any room for Karmic action started by you. Have love in your heart and no adverse thought in your head about conditions. Keep up your noble efforts at service. Take care of your precious body, your psychic temperament and your thoughts. The purity and spirituality of thoughts are the best protectors and also the energizers of the body to be healthy and wise; these two are the best of wealth.

Do take great care of yourself, not only of your good mind and your pure heart, but also of your body. Keep it in good magnetism so that from its every pore streams forth Light, benign and gracious. May peace and happiness be with you, and may you grow like a flower of colour and fragrance and beauty of shape! Have love for all, even for the mean and the crooked and the selfish. Forgiveness comes from faith in the Higher. Each one carries the light of the Soul. Some obscure it very grotesquely, but it is there. Look for it. Do not minimize your own light of mind, of heart, of hands.

May all good and real prosperity envelop you every day of the com­ing year! If you truly take care of your body and improve its health substantially your mental energies will gain vitality and even your weakening memory will improve. But you really must learn to take good care of your body. The Work and our Cause need every loyal and de­voted helper. Though you have suffered in the physical body there is enough stamina, pranic and other, to keep you going provided you work in silence and collectedly in your mind and calmly with your heart.

No use preaching to you about anything today, but let me wish you success in your effort to gain calmness, desirelessness, sanctified common sense.

May your life and labour prove beneficent in an increasing measure! To live is to be. We need to know so that we may become better and brighter — enlivening and enlightening all deeds. Life all live, but some without light, some by the glare of the street lamps. We want the Light of the Spiritual Sun — it is there, all ready to be tapped. Tapping it means recalling, remembering and then using our divine faculty of Imagination. May Their blessings surround you every day of this coming year! My love is always with you.

Work is progressing and I am cogitating about the labourers in the world-field which belongs to Them and on which Their watchful eye ever falls.

Great privileges as well as responsibilities spread out before you and I hope that you will value them from the point of view of the Inner Ego and not of the outer man. You will have many tests, many trials and many temptations, but if you remain faithful to the Teachings you will be able to save yourself many a pitfall. And it is only through the teachings that you will be able to know really who the Teachers are. You have begun to feel for the great Masters and Their nearness to you; you must now endeavour to come face to face and light to light with Them. You will succeed if you keep the three things of study, application and promulgation well and properly balanced. Also, avoid the extremes of either going too much in the outer world or restricting this too much and neglecting the external.

What do I wish for you? Prosperity of the ordinary type? Health, wealth and happiness? Of course, yes. But these are effects and we must look deeper into the plane of causes. It is mental calm and psychic con­tentment which begets physical health. It is disinterestedness, generosity, enjoying Nature through yagna-sacrifice which attracts wealth to us and makes us trustees of the money which comes to us. Real happiness of the sattva kind is described in the 18th chapter of the Gita-, in our sensorium it reflects the inner joy, Ananda, bliss. May you have all these! But above them all, may your heart glow with enlightenment and may the Tathagata Light burn therein increasingly! May your mind radiate the Divine Paramitas whose virgin mother is Compassion Absolute! These are high hopes, my dear, but better ever to hope as high as the heavens and derive for our human devotion what the stars send forth. So acquire true knowledge by study, send it out by teaching it to others, and be united, for that and all purposes, with those who are like-hearted and like-minded. May the bond of old days sustain us in common en­deavour for the good of the Great Cause of the Blessed and Holy Masters!

Inner Heart-Feeling, true Compassion, assembles knowledge from without, garnering the same all the time, while within Wisdom spontaneously springs up. Inner Contentment needs a great deal of outer silence: to appear as nothing in the eyes of men; to do real Dana so that our left hand knows not what our right hand does — this is real Siddhi, in which Buddhi is present. Aim at this, for by this and this alone real Masters are to be found. “Seek for Him who is to give thee birth in the Hall of Wisdom.” That is my first wish. Attain this inward Contentment and all the necessary things will come to you, more or less naturally. Real and regular study of the Stanzas and of the Voice, of Judge’s articles and of Light on the Path, will strengthen your psycho­-spiritual Heart and brighten up with real shade all your deeds. Be true to the Inner God, to Them, to the Lines laid down by H.P.B. May you succeed!