There is little that I need to do or can do. Until "the sun moves northward," your work is difficult and yet of so simple a nature (when put into words) that perhaps you may not regard it as of adequate importance. Yet I tell you with love and not a little concern that upon your achievement much rests - both to yourself and to the group. It might be of value if I touched here upon a question which oft arises in the minds of disciples working together in group formation and in a Master's Ashram. Just how far does the progress or non-progress of any individual disciple help or hinder the group of disciples? Because of the [516] innate sincerity of the true disciple, the next question that arises is: Which do I do - help or hinder? Let me answer this last question in connection with you. You do not hinder. Your gentle nature and your loving unselfish attitude militate powerfully against what you yourself are inwardly recognizing - a slowly growing spirit of criticism. You are deeply loved by your fellow disciples and the gentleness of your vibration - with its persistent note of service and of love - have an unconscious "holding" effect even upon those disciples in my group whom you do not personally know. I ask you to remember this. But you could help more definitely and consciously if you could free yourself from ties and begin to function in your home and in all your relationships as a true sannyasin. This I earlier pointed out to you. I called you definitely to the Path of the Sannyasin. But you are still only playing around the fringe of that idea. For you, it is a symbol of a detachment which you erroneously feel you cannot achieve. You underrate yourself, my brother. You have a persistence which is undaunted and which has guided you from your early days until now. This persistence is the hall mark of the pledged disciple. Will you remember this? You have never wavered in your search for light and for a field in which to serve your soul and to evidence your devotion to humanity and to the Great Ones who guide the destiny of the race of men - and whom you truly love.

What lacks is something most simple to state and most difficult to express. This lack almost constitutes your Waterloo, to use a current phrase. It is simply the failure to be detached. You tie yourself to those you love and oft the clinging hands of love can hinder progress - not only our own but also that of those we love. Do you realize that? As you live and love those in your immediate environment, do you ever ask yourself the [517] question: Am I strengthening them as souls to handle life and serve?

I can but give you a word and one hint: Let not your physical body dictate to you. Physical disability is the refuge some times of those who feel that their lives do not provide them with that which they desire, or it is the refuge of those who feel that they have failed upon the Way.and the active cooperator? One thing only can prevent this - not ill health or circumstances - but a failure to be detached. Will you follow each day (not necessarily at night) a review upon detachment and will you do it conscientiously in the holy and silent place which we call your garden? My love and blessing rest upon you, my brother. This is a thing I say but seldom.

You have not failed, my brother. I repeat this to you: You have not failed, and I know whereof I speak. Those of us who function with full vision on the inner side of life see the equipment and the karma, the struggle and the destiny in a way that is not possible to you. But I do say to you that the remaining years of your life can be a gradual drifting into a comparative uselessness - the uselessness of a fruitless old age - or they can climax the career of a free soul, whose wisdom, service and selfless love can be the means of bringing inspiration to many souls throughout the world. You can now - if you so choose - capitalize upon the garnered fruits of a life of constant orientation towards the light and demonstrate the wisdom which comes from having been the onlooker, the student and the servant for so long. Will you not become more actively the participator [518] and the active cooperator? One thing only can prevent this - not ill health or circumstances - but a failure to be detached. Will you follow each day (not necessarily at night) a review upon detachment and will you do it conscientiously in the holy and silent place which we call your garden? My love and blessing rest upon you, my brother. This is a thing I say but seldom.