Speech, Sound & the Meeting of Two Worlds- 29th May 1991

THE parrot can be taught a vast vocabulary, which in imitation of the spoken word can mimic recognizably, human speech. It cannot however, grasp the talent for inflection and meter, and lacks expression and also the musical qualities which give to language the emphasis that one is used to interpret.

A talking computer can do much more than the parrot, with a synthesis of electrical components that drone and repeat when prompted by the correct cue. However the computer has not even the vitality of speech that it part imparts, and is completely inept as regards exciting communication. (Regarding speech, not the information.)

The Sirens who called Ulysses, held the power in their vocals alone to incite men to their doom, to hold them captive and spellbound by the qualities of their projected voice - a voice from the spirit, that called to the spirit that the spirit might break loose from life's mortal reins and return home on its passage through those great seas of time and eternity. Their songs appealed to the sailors with sweet tears and fierce passion; as many a mariner today will testify, as the lapping of the waves, the cry of the gull pitched with the winds, still stirs these men to leap over the bough with excitement; and with apprehension one must restrain from that one step down into salt and sea.

It is the quality of voice that invokes the response from the heart and soul of a man. Words can never be enough, in any measure, to compare with the influence invoked by the breath. To feel the power of many a passage, take the poem or the prayer and give it certain existence in the ether, expelling and propelling it outwardly; flinging open, so to speak, the golden cage and so setting free the winged thought carried by the voice.

The vow of silence was never an exercise of personal restraint - it was held to be for the good of the cloister, that the inner path should not be subjected to such interference or distraction from the contemplative life - words being kept to a minimum and sung rather than spoken, with divine intent. When issued forth, such few utterances became more or less impotent within the outer world, although the meditations were strong and pure, and the local atmosphere congenial to a quiet dis-impassioned life.

Those who seek to experiment with plants will find that the growth responds dramatically to the voice, rather than by thought alone.

As the chapel would hearken its people by massive bells, as the farmer knew the milk to be sweeter from his cow that wore her bell, we may bring to the physical world the stimulation of the etheric vitalities, through the vehicle of sound. Man constantly effects dramatic changes and experiences with this interaction between the physical existence which reaches the higher realms through the passage of sound, sound imbued with a rhythm and life. 

Sound is of course, generally thought of as an effect that is audible, however all sounds are offspring, and are of themselves, that which is what it is. Heaven is a symphony - physical existence a cacophony!

The ability to hear, to determine through that particular sense, is but a vague interpretation within a certain range of limited value, of living, propelling emissions that are to be experienced audibly by us. However all life has such a reality that can be audibly interpreted, had one the ears capable of hearing.

'The Word' as told of by John, is indeed but that. We are that Word, and all that is and ever was is but a word to be heard!

Sound enables us to gauge where the worlds of the physical and etheric meet. From identifying certain sounds we are able to interpret a given effect that is being imparted to the world. The quality of a given sound implies the quality of that which is given out into the worlds.

A most wonderful expression!

Pearls- 27th May 1991

PEARLS have been symbolic of wisdom, and natural pearls have been rare to find. The oyster flourishes in great number, but the pearls are few to meet the demand and therefore purse, of the ordinary man.

So often one strikes pearls therefore, that have been artificially seeded. This also can apply to truth itself, that Man has tried to harvest that which is of his own making. Yet the expert jeweller can nearly always cite the distinctions between the natural and the man-interfered-with, pearl.

Systems of thought can often be traced back to a particular assumption of which the entire framework of supporting ideas is built upon layer upon layer. In a certain sense, this is creativity- the seeding and the result. But in relation to truth these systems can be slightly or dramatically deficient in certain qualities, which render them something less than the truth.

It is not the grit that makes a pearl a pearl. The timing of the seeding determines either:-

a) The abortion of the grit.

b) The irregularities of form.

c) The true spherical perfection.

d) The subsequent color.

Often within a seabed a harvest shall bring either many beautiful examples, or else none because of these factors; in relation to the moon and when the growth of the pearl had just begun. 

Within the world of ideas held by men, this timing in relation to cosmic influences determines the sphere of thought, that although is forever seeded, aborts, malforms, perfects and is colored in a particular way. If this were not so historically, the world of thought should not have altered as it has done. For the thought-world of Man (within this sea: our consciousness) relies on the heavenly influences to stream through and imbue the very impulses that give offspring to certain forms of thought.

Thus there are many opportunities arising at alternating episodes, and much excitement when, because conditions are suitable, new impulses are to be received.

If one should ever offer you a string of beads painted with nail lacquer, do not be deceived! In truth, we must work layer upon layer, with the seed of compassion being central to our sphere which we build upon, working upon one pearl of wisdom to add to the string worn at the neck of our Father, as a token of gratitude and devotion.

****

Our Lady of Perpetual Hope,

Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow;

Hear me that I might add just one more grievance,

Hear me that all might be better tomorrow . . .

I, Us, We, Them- 1991

NOT one single truth belongs to a man. He is not the creator and it is not dependent upon him for existence. Lively thoughts, life imbued, may be experienced by a man as he sees fit. Nonetheless, all wisdom which does flow out from the Eternal Truths bears no price other than love's labor and cannot be attributed to any one or any group.

Also one cannot 'authorize' a piece of work set before you. The sole determinant: the choice - the denominator is set by one. One must learn to decide for oneself.

It is one thing to respect authority; it is another to disrespectfully engage in speculation as to that authority. For if one really accepts that there are senior fellows who are trying their level best to assist, but have visions and insight which surpass the current mean, does one suppose that speculation will bring you closer?

Any activity carried out in the name of God is dubious. By all means make effort to comply with the Will of God, but be silent in tribute and take responsibility for what is done by your hand and not lay blame upon another. Up-front honesty, not pretentiousness; humility realized and not false conceit; the harshest judge in the world is yourself.

The problem of anonymity as to what and how and why, is so much more severe for us; and now you come to a little of the same. Falsehoods are wrong, but the truth in part, may too be misleading. How does one confront the world honestly and yet hold back for fear of saying too much? 

Added to that, the believers will believe, whatever the case; the disbelievers as well, shall hold to their courses respectively.

Names, names, names! What’s in a name? - everything and nothing! Do we close the temple door; do we refuse entrance or pick and choose? We all know that this is not the way of the Master. 

Do we oblige all and make of a zoo that which is curious, and peculiar? Unsensed, we may startle the unpresuming. Would you dispose folk to impositions of placing authority before truth?

Does one imply that all of this comes from a far distant land, a long, long, time ago: the Ancient Wisdom? When in fact it's as close as the heart and lives very much now, to be acknowledged and assessed in the light of this day.

Do we characterize or make caricature - distract, extract or simplify the notions?

The question of authorship is indeed a 'sticky' one. Folk have the right to inquire about the source of these works - as does he who would drink of the well: be it sweet or stale, or for that matter, contaminated.

However, all is made clear in good time, and the messages offered are what they are, without false promise and without instantaneous compliance to demands. 

The respect for patience has to be reiterated time and time again. For only through a teaching applied, one may fully come to realize the wisdom of that teaching.

One cannot be covetous. There can be no envy afforded for the typist. A treasure that is imparted, be it secondhand, is as ever valuable and to be valued. Generosity of spirit acknowledges that in this instance someone had to place words on paper and that someone has chosen to execute the job at hand. But ask nothing more of the typist. Learn to be content with what you have. Value that and go on from there.

One name alone can have racial connotations. Real names are private and exclusive, and would provide no real insight to the reader.

We must look and look again at that quiet unpresuming stranger before you. If we look to find the Master in every man, then perhaps we come closer to recognising one whom we should respect as such. There is too much importance given - for the wrong reasons - as to authorship. Hearsay is never acquaintance and but a small imitation of.

They shall come to know the origins of truth by the testing of the lessons.

Your Most Humble Savant,

X

P.S. By the way, folk usually sign their name X when they cannot sign anything else. XXX - Three kisses, that seems nice.

Five Little Pigs- 26th May 1991

THE flesh colored pig has brought much controversy with him, for many centuries. The animal has been despised, insulted and shunned; particularly by those races who would not ingest any flesh for fear that such assimilation would invoke evil into their own being, also the wrath of the Almighty by such an offence. 

The pig of itself does not appear to exhibit an evil nature. In a well-kept environment, a clean farm or the wild, there is no particular slovenliness which should markedly suggest that which his name now implies. He is intelligent and compatible with men - many a myth has cited cases of human babes being turned into piglets - but apart from his fleshy fullness and his indigestible qualities, one must ask why the pig is the object of such ridicule?

The boar, which has a much hairier hide and pronounced snout, has a temperament in compliance with the wild - and in strict terms the boar is a far distant relative to the pig, in nature but not in form. The Chinese have held to twelve differing representatives from the animal kingdom, which are said to mark twelve differing qualities within the constitution of Man. The boar being one of these, indicates a strength and an earthly steadfastness in his attributes and nature, and is linked closely with the evolution of Man.

The pig however, does not enter into the calendar, because as stated, the pig’s family is quite separate in nature to that of the boar. If the boar is characteristic of a certain facet within the nature of man, and the pig held to be some perversion of the boar, then the pig must also be a perverted characteristic of modern man. It is small wonder then that the pig is held in horror by Man, or distance to say the least.

But one must question whether it is a case of perversion or evolution, or perhaps even a mixed evolution: that is the pig today.

The more compatible an animal is with Man, the less compatible his flesh is to consume- this is a fact. But laws against such ingestion were not simple statements to this effect, for there would be many other such animals implied in this instance, where the flesh itself would detrimental to Man's wellbeing (and remember when one is hungry, one would eat just about anything cooked or raw).

Many who are not even vegetarians, would find the idea of horseflesh or dolphin meat undesirable, if not revolting. If such a meat was prepared to taste as well as any other meal, one would find still a natural aversion to the foodstuff; just as there is today, a natural aversion to certain organs of the accepted fleshes that are consumed.

This is the beginning of where Man finds he cannot indulge in the flesh of a brother. Where the relationship is so closely linked, he identifies such characteristics- various attributes that he himself is endowed with. It is but a disgusting and degrading practice to enter into cannibalism of this kind.

Historically and quite mistakenly, there have been practices of all kinds of cannibalism that suggests to the people that certain attributes can sheath the consumer, by the act of that very consuming. Whilst not commenting as to the morality of this unhappy misguided notion, and further in the evil practices that also encourage such ridiculous assumptions, not only is the effect quite the opposite, but largely destructive. 

The result of consuming that which is the expression of a being so closely linked with that of ourselves, calls upon the lower realms. Flying in the face, so to speak, of one's humanity and compassion, is to negate that which is characteristic of such humanity, and degrade the consciousness to that of the flesh. For of course, flesh can devour flesh, and in respect to the lower aspects, be quite given over such attributes that are within the flesh, but the essence of that being, which calls the physical form, cannot be devoured. If this could be so there would be men trying to pick the bones of Angels!

Lower entities delight in such an indulgence that negates aspiring humanhood (certain lower entities). And so not only is there a difficulty in the act of such practice, but the added complication in the attraction of equally disgusting elemental creatures, who indulge with the man and cheer him on.

Returning to our friend the pig: The pig is only disagreeable to Man if eaten, as his nature is so developed that Man crosses boundaries, commits the sin of taking into himself the flesh of one who is too closely linked with the nature of himself, in part.

In future days to come, Man will find that the humble pig shall offer to the farmyard a way to earn his keep that shall not be provided by flesh for diet (or for medicine - another disgusting practice), but through a most unexpected contribution.

Dance- 25th May 1991

THE performance of dance is unlike any other performance of movement within the arena of action and reaction. Certain rhythms are implied in a particular dance sequence and certain responses are called forth by such a sequence of movements.

Would that one should dance through the world of thought!

To view a dancer is to witness a transformation of the particular level of consciousness from the active to the receptive. For those who are impelled by certain rhythms, quite insteeped by them, the level of experience is transformed whereby the relationship between their consciousness and the outer world is attuned perfectly in a certain way.

When inspired it is very natural to young children to express themselves through dance movements. They respond readily with cheery disposition to an outer rhythm inciting and impelling a moving response. This need not be expressed in a sequence of differing notes: one note repeated - e.g. a banging of a drum or saucepan - is quite sufficient.

Many teenagers who experience extreme discontent with a somewhat painful consciousness in daily life, are happiest when given over to forms of dancing - which may or may not be inspiring on higher levels of expression, but nonetheless offer a condition in which they are most comfortable, and for a time alter their interactions with the world where they may instantly attune themselves to something totally rather than nothing, sufficiently. Many a teenager will try to hold back the world with loud music, and in measure by this, can achieve just that.

Primitive peoples perceived the motivation of dance to be a fulfilling reality. Within their communities such dances performed were held to be of greater importance to the whole, than any other activity. This form of interaction is for the native, a complete expression of partaking in life itself. If one were to seek communion with the Gods or Devas, they would dance. If one sought the assistance of the elements, they would dance. If calling for change, in healing or in war, they would dance. In ritual and celebration, in community and for manhood, they would dance. Dance to the native is not only an expression of life, but is life.

In many respects modern forms of dance are a corruption if not performed with inner recognition, but out of a clumsy rehearsed sequence- which if it was a book, would be written with numbers rather than characters, with no intrinsic meaning or interpretation to be had.

It could be said that the animal kingdom dances also. This can be defined as such, when in mating or hunting the animal or the bird performs rituals with a rhythm that has no directly perceived consequence on that which they are about to do. Prowling or prancing has no relationship to self-consciousness, in the case of the animal. An animal does not 'show-off', for that would be beyond its comprehension. The animal does however enter into certain dances which most certainly have cause and effect of themselves.

Within the Western world, ballet is held to be the highest expression of dance. One must question where the ballet has evolved from; also the attraction and pleasure of the awestruck audience, whereupon no direct interaction is required for the inspirations of movement to take effect. 

The dancers weave a spell for the spirit of the onlookers, who moved inwardly by the music also, lend of themselves their consciousness to the performance, enraptured by the language of the movements.

Discontent & the Atheist- 23th May 1991

DISCONTENT is a fine motivating factor and alarms the individual to the possible consequences of pursuing further any particular line of operation, because they can identify having been down that road before. But once this is acknowledged, discontent with oneself generally is unproductive and is only a self-indulgence that delays further learning.

Once an individual has sighted a path that resounds in the heart as being true and correct, then a certain rejoicing in spirit takes hold of a weary soul who has tired of the error of former ways. Release and renewal from the past that one might go on, this grace is the Shadow of Christ in which we all dwell. This grand possibility for divine renewal is the release of our former ways, the indelible imprints and the burdens we carry; the ability at any time to throw off the cloth of our former selves and find identity in worlds of a higher nature, a finer substance.

There is no limit, no boundary set, in the ways one may improve and learn. Many are caught in a net of repetitious delusions that require submission, that the creations of our own being may perpetuate themselves. However, desire to effect changes in one's condition and within one's own being, will of its own present opportunities and challenges before the soul, that should assist in offering the progression onto the desired 'new life'.

Such challenges may bring either the extreme of suffering or temporary indulgences. However, inwardly the soul at all times is far stronger than the personality would have us believe, for the personality never endures, it must effect constant change and be impressionable from within and without. The soul welcomes the unfolding drama, as it seeks to glean from the arena of expression and existence, and is never satisfied.

Many individuals renounce their immortality, but can they come to terms with their own mortality? The former denial is understandable. For within one's consciousness daily it is almost impossible to grasp knowingly the consciousness of eternity and immortality; a glimmer yes, but an actual impression conceptually, no. For consciousness is such that it requires us to be in the one place at the one time and not expanded in a way whereupon we may realize all places at all times. One must fix a position, a center of operation, so to speak.

Recollection of past-lives would interfere greatly with one's perception of the moments today and experiences of the future would surely be retarded in like fashion. So if a man has not even a glimmer of the worlds ahead, this is not imperative to his standing in the world today, as the reality of the future of his soul will in time unfold of itself.

However, can a man, particularly the man who experiences no connection with the spiritual worlds, perceive his own mortality? If this was accomplished, what a wonderful carrot and stick for the beast he should have! And so we suggest to the materialist that if it is impossible to contemplate higher worlds, then look hard to the world you know of with a sternness of attitude that a consciousness of impending death requires, and live each moment in the light of morality and self-improvement - waste not one minute! If all men held death before their eyes in waking hours, and before entering the gates of sleep, then surely their seriousness, their pursuits and inquiry, their endeavors, their strengths, their honesty and compassion, would increase one thousandfold!

One's mortality is far more difficult to realize and come to terms with, than that of future existence. Because in truth all individuals know that death is ever a new beginning. If one were to sit at the bedside of any atheist who is near passing, should he tell you then that he is destined for the dirt?

Who might suggest in all honesty, that there could be no divinity, no higher intelligence, above that which we know? The higher-self in man knows of his wonder and gratitude for his spiritual heritage, and if the lower consciousness may be quietened for a time, one's higher-self will reassure the troubled individual of the glorious destiny that awaits him.