The Testing of Experience Part 2

Continued 14th April 1991

In the preceding lesson we spoke of the voluntary nature with which Man receives pleasures, and how thus the interaction occurs within the astral and etheric substance of that which is in both the pleasure itself and Man. Also comment was made on denial and rejection of certain confronting astral and etheric natures within certain circumstances, which in turn are not received but are distinguished as a pain to the individual that confronts – a veritable angel on the one hand and a dragon on the other.

Taken a step further we should like to comment that this voluntary acceptance also applies very much to the Budhi and Manas of Man. Spiritual teachings can never be imposed on Man because Man has to be in a state of questioning, acceptance and receiving within his Budhi and Manas faculties, in order to assimilate those teachings into himself. Those teachings of the spirit must be absorbed into the spirit and this requires a voluntary acceptance and a wholly embracing of the teachings. Were this not so there would necessarily be conflict and rejection, and the individual is no better for the instruction.

This explains somewhat when it is referred to that "the time must be right". It is to say that teachings and wisdom thereby are never held back from any individual, that it is impossible for the individual to receive wholeheartedly into his Budhic/Manas comprehension, that which he may in fact be fighting against in his lower nature and not identify consciously in the higher, at a given stage.

Conversely, there are beings who would impose upon a soul with various methods, and as we have thus explained it is virtually an impossibility to make any impression in the arena of conflict and rejection, unless acceptance by that soul has taken place. However sickness, both mental and physical can occur, and does occur, when there is repeated conflict; and in some cases insanity.

With the elderly one can often witness where faculties withdraw prematurely to their respective sphere, where resistance is no longer possible for their will-forces to actively resist, resist, resist. It may be symptomatic purely of the inability to meet the concepts of a modern age; and where there is no acceptance on the respective Budhic/Manas spheres, as a muscle withers with unuse, so it is that the ability is weakened to meet with the world concepts at all.

Often in the case of insanity, the individual has gone too far in entertaining the devils that have arisen within their sphere of life, and at a certain point the soul has identified the creatures for what they are, and has ceased to voluntarily absorb such into themselves. Then the only back door in which to escape is to desert the whole physical fabric in which they dwell, and happily withdraw out of harm's way. The devils in question do appear in the individual however, and in the cases of possession one might truly believe that they have won their imposing way over that soul. But the soul has truly vacated and withdrawn on all levels save astral and etheric, where the fight of resistance is no longer pressing in on them, requiring resistance- almost alike to wires that have been in electrical overload.

So one would almost require a fitness regime of sorts in order to meet with the pendulum of resistance and acceptance, and discernment in both the Budhic/Manas substance/worlds of our daily living, and the voluntary acceptance or denial of confrontations in the world of desire, indwelling within the astral/etheric regions of daily life.

Now you have the explanation as to why teachings must be asked for, doors must be knocked, prayers must be made; for without the willingness to receive, not a scrap may be given or received……

Continued....

The Testing of Experience -11th April 1991

THE physical body does not experience pleasure, rather the causal, astral bodies signify the resonance that the certain physical pleasures may inspire. For example, the sweet that you are eating: although the physical body registers both nourishment and sugars, it does not of itself experience the pleasure in which your consciousness takes part in.

Such pleasure is voluntary, when one succumbs to the essence within the sugars, and the essence that has more reality within etherical and astral substance: the character and nature of the sugar, rather than its chemical and organic composition. Pleasures cannot take part within the 'mental world' in this context, as thoughts themselves are indifferent as it were, to the colored impulses that receive and deflect.

Physical pain of course, is a reality. However there is much 'anguish' that can reach extremes, which may or may not be provoked by such physical pain. Let us say that this may be termed by many as 'mental anguish' and once again, is viewed as living purely through the thought-world alone.

In the instance of pleasures, as we have indicated, the man receives such pleasures and delights therein in a voluntary way, giving over to that which we have termed - for the time being - as the essence of that which he derives pleasure from. All of this is relating to and responding to, the astral and etheric substance in both. 

In the case of pain, we have opposition within the man to that which confronts his being, and the conflict and rejection marks the intensity of the pain, believed to be mental, that is experienced within the human constitution. Neither of these conditions is a comment as to whether or not indulgence in either should lead to an unhealthy destruction of the individual, but is meant as something of an explanation of the process that we are involved in constantly in daily life.

The physical body may be viewed as something of a 'poor cousin' in the sense that it is always the last to be told - meaning that it is always the last expression of that which has gone before; a very tangible reflection to a limited extent of what passes through from spirit to soul, astral to ether, and then finally expresses through the physical.

To have an overview as to what inhibits or motivates us in daily life is a prerequisite for being able to manage and cope with the forces that provoke responses continually, day by day. Thus many aspiring yogis and ascetics strove to becalm their interaction with the subtle worlds, in order to rise above the demands made either way. 

However, life itself, the very nature of life itself, is a series of confrontations and response, and should one cease in this, then one should cease to take a vital role in living. And so one can recognize the true nature behind those confrontations and respond accordingly and consciously, rather than be led through life by the nose.

Part 2

Partaking of the bread together…8th April 1991

PARTAKING of the bread together, “in My Name”- that's all that was asked of folk who wish to come together and ponder the holy wonder of the world, as far as groups go. All bread is holy, it is the manner (manna! excuse the pun!) in which it is taken.

Beware of grievous definitions. Beware of sensationalism. Beware of self-importance becoming inflamed - for salt has the most wonderful properties for purifying a wound that it might heal, but it smarts also.

All has been warned and explained. There are folk who would use teachings to meet an end of their own desire, and this will taint any teaching they may hold. The silver shall black.

If you feel hesitation after reviewing what you know, there is no harm in holding back, until you can feel quite certain that the teachings may be passed on with the spirit in which they are given. We care for wisdom lovingly as we would our children. It is not a question of greed in holding back, but caution and care that is necessary.

Art in Creation- 8th April 1991

IT does us well to observe that everything in Nature, if we were to describe it, perhaps would be aptly described as being laid out visually in the best of possible taste. Landscapes of various terrains, in color and form, are extremely pleasing to the eye and the soul who beholds them. Seascapes to mountains, animals and plants - all of creation is happily observed and is satisfying to any individual. In point of fact the more one observes, the more the inherent beauty becomes apparent.

If one were to design with a palette those forms and colors with creativity afresh, could one better what is already there in any facet of Nature in her splendor? Just perhaps a tone of color might clash slightly off pitch, or the gentle lines of the landscape may falter. Could we perfect a plant, recreate a beast?

It is often assumed that one loves what one knows. Science fiction would tell us - as many writers have attempted new worlds - that it is simply a case of the familiar, and that the appeal to our senses and then through to our perception, is a love of the ordinary. Many a child delights in their first encounter with a garden or a goldfish, a sunset or a loving face.

We suggest that it is often overlooked that our world is designed most happily, and it is small wonder that an artist should rejoice in drawing from their habitat the blended perfections of the spirit in manifestation.

A materialist would suggest that the world was created for function alone, with no explanations as to why it holds beauty at all. An atheist might suggest that the perfumed scent of a bud or the sweetness of honey was mere luck as far as Man and his compatibility is concerned.