Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul - Discipleship in the New Age II - Talks To Disciples

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Discipleship in the New Age II - Talks to Disciples - Group Instruction

IV. I shall, therefore, endeavor to interpret humanity to you (and to disciples everywhere) so that its present problems and its immediate opportunity may emerge clearly in your minds, and you will be able consequently to work intelligently and understandingly. The Science of Service needs elucidating and the Path of Man needs understanding. The attitude of the initiate consciousness to human problems is not identical with that of the ordinary human being. I do not desire to deal with problems already considered by us in the various pamphlets and in my books. It is the new world which we shall start to study, the new opportunities and the new complexities, as well as the new and coming simplifications in life and being. They concern primarily the service of the initiate; hitherto we have only considered the service which disciples, aspirants and men of goodwill can render.

V. I shall give you some clear and definite instructions anent the uses of the etheric body. This vehicle of vitality or energy is the ultimate conditioning factor in the activity of the physical body. It is an initiator, for there is no physical activity as we understand it unless impulsed by some energy emanating from the etheric body. An understanding of some of the processes of initiation will come from an understanding of the body of vitality. The etheric body is the organ whereby personality or soul expression becomes evidenced upon the physical plane. Its potency is that which evokes the physical form. Most of the vehicles have a dual capacity - invocation and evocation. They also have a third function: they ground or focus energy, thus producing a point of tension, of crisis, and an interlude, prior to a process of transmission. [21] Ponder on these words. The physical body can be evoked into manifestation and subsequent activity, but it has no power of invocation. Hence it is not a principle (as H.P.B. tells us in The Secret Doctrine) but is basically an automaton. The etheric body invokes and evokes; but it also, in relation to the physical plane, precipitates energy through a process of appropriation. A study of these things will bring to our attention the entire subject of the centers and this we will approach from the angle of invocation and evocation.

The teaching upon the etheric body naturally follows upon any instructions which I may give anent telepathic communication and the manipulation of energy by the initiate-disciple, via the centers, via the group centers - and when of very high development and initiate degree - via the planetary centers. I have not yet given you much on this theme but there is much that will later be said. I shall, however, have to deal with it only briefly and tentatively, as the majority of aspirants and disciples are not yet ready for this particular study.

VI. I shall, once a year, give to each of you a measure of individual help, personal instruction and individual meditation. The clue to your next step towards the door of initiation and towards the Presence will also be indicated by me. This I will do at the time of the Full Moon of May (Taurus) each year. This may involve at times an analysis of your group relation, of the effect that your national and racial thought-forms have upon you, and also the assets and the liabilities of your personality and egoic rays. I shall endeavor to bring to your attention your personal point in evolution. I would remind you at this point that these seven rays are sharply different as to coloring and phenomenal effect and, at the same time, I would remark that - under the Law of Occult Paradox - the seven Lords of Being (the seven Rays) are widely different but remain non-separative.

VII. We are also trying the experiment of externalizing the Ashram. This is an effort which, if successful, will be the prelude to the manifestations of the Hierarchy upon Earth. This is one of the next intended undertakings, if and when the Forces of Light have driven the forces of evil and of [22] aggression back to their "dark habitation." As time goes on I will convey information anent the work of the Masters' Ashrams, their planned externalization and, eventually, the externalization of the Hierarchy.

Such, brother of mine, is our appointed task. Out of all that might be said or written by me will eventually emerge a Treatise on Discipleship which will be useful in the New Age. You are accustomed to the teaching of the Piscean Age upon this subject and also to the Piscean interpretation. It is part of my work to begin to indicate the methods and processes and the modes of instruction which will distinguish the Aquarian Age. This will only be possible to aspirants with an open mind. For this you must strive.

This program is an ambitious one, my brothers; it will call forth your utmost capacity and staying power but, if persisted in, it will hasten your development; this will also entail obedience. We are basically occupied, little as you may realize it, in compiling an elementary manual for initiation. Ponder on this. Much antagonism will be evoked and an uprising of skepticism will be naturally aroused; those who see no need or possibility for any changing of hierarchical methods, and who are the fundamentalists of the theosophical movement and the narrow theologians among the esotericists, will make an outcry. They will be annoyed and bewildered, but they can make no further progress this life unless they widen their point of view; they must learn that the past methods and techniques were devoted to bringing the personality into relation with the soul, with character building, integration and alignment processes, as well as with laying the foundation for what could be given out when humanity reached its present stage.

Now the preparatory work has been done and has proved effective; it will be continued for those who need its aid, but the more advanced work can be made exoteric. This planned externalizing of the teaching must go on all the time. It is the testimony of the Hierarchy that the points of crisis in the evolutionary process have accomplished their intent and have demonstrated success. These points of crisis are ever [23] succeeded by "points of revelation" and it is with such points of revelation that we are at this time occupied.

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