May 1944

How is the Hierarchy working at this time? In what manner are the Masters aiding the work of the Forces of Light? Can something of moment and of lasting significance happen at this coming May Full Moon? How do the Masters look at the world situation? What are Their plans? Can these plans be materialized? And what can the individual disciple, initiate and world disciple accomplish in the face of humanity's dilemma?

These are all normal and intelligent questions and can be answered partially, though not fully, owing to three reasons:

1. The outcome of the coming climaxing conflict depends on humanity itself. A greater effort is required, particularly in America - an effort to see the issues clearly, to understand the causes of this war, and a determination to take those steps - through propaganda and discussion - which will clarify the minds of the masses. Into these agelong causes I cannot here go; there is not time to do more than enumerate certain of them

1. Universal and ancient selfishness, materialism, aggression, and national prides. Of these faults all nations have been guilty.
2. A sense of separateness of which the border issue between such nations as Russia and Poland is symbolic. The need of humanity and its general well-being comes [432] eternally first. Nations and their ephemeral disputes are of secondary interest.
3. A tendency - centuries old - among the Germanic peoples to dominate, to take what is not their own, to regard themselves as unique, superior, and as embodying a super-race; there is also a fixed determination, on behalf of their own interests, to plunge other nations and races into war. Today they have achieved a planetary war.

2. There are factors present in this battle between evil and good which are so deeply esoteric and hidden from the understanding of the most advanced human being that it is useless for me to enlarge upon their existence. They are concerned with the ability of the mind, or of the mind principle, to react to truth or to lies; the mystery of this reaction is hidden in the evolutionary process itself. A point can be reached in human development where acceptance of deception is impossible and clear thinking is normal. The potency of glamor (which holds so many people in prison) is related to this mystery. Glamor holds not those who are mentally and emotionally undeveloped; they are complete realists and see life in its bare outlines and baldly. The highly developed are not subject to glamor; they also think realistically but this time with true mental perception and not instinctively. The thinking man, in his process of training, but who is still largely governed by his emotions, is exceedingly prone to glamor, and very often to the glamor of a sentimental so-called loving attitude. These people do not realize that love is a process of determining action on the basis of the ultimate good of the individual or the group, and that the immediate reactions of the personality are secondary. In this conflict the Hierarchy is concerned with the final issue, with the future welfare and the ultimate well-being of humanity. They are not so concerned with the immediate suffering and pain of the personalities involved. Is this a hard saying? A tiny replica of this correct attitude can be found in the influence, words and actions of those wise parents, those farsighted guides [433] of youth, who see the need of discipline if their children are in the future to be rightly oriented, and to live correctly. The temporary discomfort of the discipline and the rebellion of the children do not in any way condition such parents. They see ahead.