140.5 Character Building and Personality Purification
What is your understanding of the term “character”?
For me, character is a
set of good qualities or virtues expressed in a soul-infused personality.
a. We are told that it is character which is rightly
regarded as the first requirement when a man steps off the Probationary Path
and onto the Path of Discipleship, thus becoming a disciple. Why is the
development of a good character regarded as one of the most important training
requirements upon the Probationary Path?
Character building is
regarded as one of the most important training requirements upon the
Probationary Path because it involves purification of the lower bodies, imposing
higher vibrations on the lower bodies in order to bring the personality under
the soul’s control.
i. What are the principal methods employed in
character building?
The principal methods
employed in character building are:
- cultivating qualities,
using the technique “as if”, creative visualizing ourselves as already having
all the desired virtues.
- self observing,
self-reflecting to continuously correct and improve oneself.
- practicing
mindfulness, being mindful in every activity.
- meditation for
increasing soul contact
- practicing: think good
thoughts, say meaningful words, do good works.
ii. What qualities are present in good character? Why
do you think so?
Qualities present in
good character are:
- Kindness, compassion, unconditional love
- Patience,
perseverance, endurance
- Wisdom
- Peace,
divine indifference
- Acceptance,
tolerance, inclusiveness
- Humility,
selfless
- Devotion...
GL…Facing challenges, or facing up to our
mistakes etc.
I think so, because
those are qualities of Soul. And thus, one who expresses qualities of Soul
(having soul-infused personality) is a person of good character.
b. Are you at work in the process of character
building and if so, in what way?
Yes, I am. I use the methods as mentioned above, which
are: creative visualization (“as if” technique), meditation, practicing
mindfulness, applying self-observation, self-reflection, and practicing “think
good thoughts, say meaningful words, do good works.”
GL…Well said Daisy…the descriptions you give
demonstrate spiritual and moral qualities that give a person honor. You will
appreciate the occult path brings its own peculiar set of challenges that are
to be passed through – esotericists are often ridiculed for their beliefs and
perspectives. The Christ covered this matter when he spoke of persecution in
the Beatitudes.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are you when they
revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
This image of Daniel in the Lions
den came to mind…
140.6 Purification of Astral - Dissipation Glamour
What in your opinion is the single most effective means of purifying the
astral body? Why do you think so? Are you applying this method to yourself? If
so, with what results?
For me, the single most
effective means of purifying the astral body is the light of the soul. Because
the light of the soul is the pure dispelling beam. The soul energy from the
higher levels of the mental plane carries the illumination which is the great
dissipating agency to the astral plane.
I am applying this method to myself
through everyday meditation, trying to contact with the soul to evoke the soul
energy. Through meditation, I become calmer and less affected by emotions as
being more of an observer, detaching from emotions.
GL…a clarity shines through in these responses you
offer.
140.7 Recognizing, Understanding and Achieving Freedom from Kama-Manas
One of the difficult things for an aspirant to grasp is that peculiar
moment in his life when he must shift into the realm of discriminative work.
a. What do you understand by discrimination and discriminative work? Why
are they so important?
Discrimination is the
mental capacity to differentiate between what is true and real with what is
unreal, glamour and illusion. Discriminative work involves the recognition of
the True-Self as a spiritual being and thus, not identifying oneself with the lower-self’s
perceptions.
Discrimination is important as it is help
us to overcome all the maya, glamour and illusion, and thus, out of them, to
recognize the Truth.
GL…Yes – not only discriminating between the rights
and wrongs, goods and bads, real and unreal but also to find the correct order
of things, and process of co-measurement and what is applicable or appropriate
to circumstances and to presented opportunity.
b. In what type of discriminative work is the aspirant to be engaged
specifically upon the Path of Probation?
The discriminative work
that the aspirant engaged specifically upon the Path of Probation is primarily that
deals with overcoming the great maya of the world of form and perhaps also on
the later stage, involving overcoming glamour of the astral world..
c. What role does discrimination play in your life?
Discrimination plays an important role in
my life as I remind myself everyday of being aware, and trying to be mindful on
all the things that I do (I am still practicing it and many time being
forgetful). I think it is especially essential nowadays to have critical
thinking and discrimination as one may get confused with various trends of
spirituality.
GL…Yes there are many impersonators – everything needs
to be authenticated and weighed by the inner scales of discernment as to its
real value and placement on the graph of distortion and truth.
140.8 The Control and Correct Utilization of the Lower Concrete Mind
Enlarge upon the following: “The aspirant should concentrate on the
subjugation of the emotional body and the enlargement of the mental body and
cultivate the habit of abstract thinking”. [Letters on Occult Meditation, page
77]
a. What does the aspirant learn by ‘reaching’ from the concrete mind to
the abstract mind?
By reaching from the
concrete mind to the abstract mind, the aspirant learns to unfold the
intuition, which is a blend of the intuitive spiritual understanding and the
power to comprehend abstract ideas and ideals. Yes great..
b. How do you understand the statement that the concrete and abstract
mind are to the soul what the concrete mind and the brain are to the
personality?
There is anology and
corresponding between what the concrete and abstract mind are to the soul with
what the concrete mind and the brain are to the personality. To the soul, the
concrete mind is like the brain to the personality. The brain functions as an
instrument of the personality, through which the impressions, thoughts from the
concrete mind can be registered. Similarly, the concrete mind functions as an
instrument of the soul, through which the impressions from the abstract mind
can be registered.
GL…Yes the role of the concrete mind is to articulate
higher thought and the brain serves to articulate the concrete minds
impressions on the physical plane.
c. Do you have any experience with abstract thinking? Why do you think
you do or do not?
Yes, I do. Because we,
as students of esoteric philosophy, have to deal a lot with abstract thinking
through contemplating on the sacred texts of ancient wisdoms from the Masters.
GL…Yes and often this begins with questions such as
“what is the meaning of life”, “who or what am I really” and “what is the
purpose for my existence.
140.9 The Roles of Meditation in the Transition from Mysticism to
Occultism: Understanding the Major Contrasts Between Mysticism and Occultism
What do you understand by "occultism"? What role if any does
occultism play in your life?
Occultism is the science
of energy and forces that underly all the phenomena in the world. I’m a student
of esoteric study, thus I’m learning on the way to become an occultist in the
future.
GL…many of us have dedicated lives to the mystical
path and are now ready for the challenges of occultism…such a wonderful
privilege I think.
a. How would you define the “practical mystic” or occultist? At what
stage of the Path do we find the emergence of the practical mystic and why?
Would you call yourself a practical mystic? If so why and if not, why not?
An occultist must first
be a “practical mystic”. A practical mystic is the one who has mystical
awareness or the power to feel correctly as well as the power to know mentally
and practically.
After the first initiation we can find the
practical mystics. Because the mystical way leads to the first initiation and
then followed by the lighted way of occultism leading to the higher states of
consciousness. I may call myself a
practical mystic as we are Morya Federation’s students, studying and being
trained towards occultism.
GL…This is a good description of many of us Daisy.
b. What, in your estimation is “occult consciousness”? To what extent is
your consciousness an example of occult consciousness? Please explain.
Occult consciousness is the united
condition of the higher and lower selves through the use of the mental bodies.
Maybe my consciousness is just at the very beginning step towards the occult consciousness
as I’m still not very clear about it to explain.
GL…This is the very purpose of these types of
questions as they assist us to engage aspects of the mind that are not so
easily engaged in this area of research of the self/Self. These questions help
us to be practical and grounded in our study. So far I think you are doing very
well here Daisy so be encouraged. Articulating some of these matters is a
common problem for us all…occultism fundamentally deals with causes and their
translation into effects on the planes of form.
c. What are the differences between mystical and occult consciousness
and why must every mystic become an occultist and every occultist, a mystic?
The differences between
mystical and occult consciousness:
·
The mystical consciousness is emotional or
astral in nature while the occult consciousness is mental in nature.
·
The mystical consciousness is related to
the power to feel correctly while the occult consciousness related to the power
to know.
·
The mystical consciousness involves the
evolution of the mystical vision while the occult consciousness involves the
revelation of light and power.
Every mystic must become an occultist and
every occultist, a mystic in order to develop comprehensively and toward
wholeness.
GL…nicely said.
140.10 The Role of Meditation Specifically Upon the Path of Probation
What specifically is the meditative task of the probationer treading the
Path of Probation?
The meditative task of
the probationer treading the Path of Probation is to start the alignment of the
lower self through personality integration of the physical, etheric, emotional
and mental bodies, and then to contact the soul through developing the
alignment between the personality and the soul.
a. How is this different from the meditative task of a confirmed
disciple?
This task is different from the meditative
task of a confirmed disciple in the state of effectiveness. For a confirmed
disciple, he can achieve higher states of effectiveness in contacting the Soul
and operating at the mental level.
GL…Generally we would consider an accepted disciple a
highly integrated human being, not the complete and full integration but the
task is well under way. Therefore their capacity for concentration which leads
to contemplation are more effective in the meditative technique.
b. Do you find that the meditative task before you is that of the
probationer or that of the disciple, or somewhere between? Please explain.
I think the meditative task for me is
somewhere in between that of probationer and that of the disciple. Through
meditation, I could listen to the inner voice. But I’m still on the way to
develop this connection with the Soul and to expand my consciousness.
GL…Have you read the “six stages of discipleship”
Daisy found in DINA 1 page 673 – 790..?..
The master goes into some technicalities regarding each stage. Well worth a
look.
140.11 Understanding the Problems and Requirements of the Probationary
Path in terms of the Seven Rays, Esoteric Astrology and Energy Centres
Which chakra most implicated and active at the time of the first
initiation and why?
The sacral chakra and
the throat chakra are most implicated and active at the time of the first
initiation. Because at that time, the first transference of energy is activated
from the sacral centre to the throat centre.
a. In what transformational work is this energy centre involved?
This chakra energy involves the
purification and controlling of the lower appetites.
GL…Yes the sacral centre is a potent vortex and area
of gravity for those leading up to the 1st initiation. Their task is
to overcome the instinctual pull of this centre as a motivating force on the
physical plane and transfer this energy fixation to creative living by
transmuting the energy to the throat centre. No easy task as the forces are
particularly powerful and also energized by the solar plexus. We are witnessing
the ordeal of overcoming these instinctual forces on a large scale in the
various groups in preparation for this initiation.
b. Which planets and rays condition the first initiation and what is
their role in this process?
The first ray of Will
and Power and the planets Pluto and Vulcan condition the 1st
initiation. Their role in this process is purification of the lower bodies.
c. Is the aspirant still treading the Path of Probation at the time of
the first initiation? Please explain.
Yes, he is. The aspirant
is still treading the Path of Probation at the time of the first initiation
because this period covers the later stages of the Path of Probation and the
early stages of the Path of Discipleship.
GL…yes and we should include the influences of Uranus
(sacral centre), Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn and Venus of course.
140.12 The Use of Rayological, Astrological and Chakric Energies to
Integrate the Personality
Which zodiacal, ray and chakric energies do you believe contribute
specifically to the type of personality integration which the aspirant should
experience upon the Path of Probation? Please explain.
The zodiacal, ray and
chakric energies contribute specifically to the type of personality integration
which the aspirant should experience upon the Path of Probation:
·
The zodiacal energies:
o Leo relates to self-consciousness, probationers, and the integration of
the personality
Aquarius – Leo interplay relates to the integration and evolution of the
personality, from self-consciousness (in Duong) toward group consciousness in
Aquarius.
o The Mutable Cross (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) rules the
Probationary Path, the probationers and the integration of the personality.
o Cancer—Capricorn—Saturn enable the aspirant to tread the Path of
Probation.
GL…One of the main lessons when entering the
probationary path is “to be true to oneself”…this takes place under the
influence of Leo as you say…the next lesson is to maintain “group integrity”
under the influence of Aquarius…I think there are also influences beginning to
enter the psych from the fixed cross – Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius…This
causes the individual to embark on a journey of self-improvement.
·
Rays:
o The 1st and the 2nd rays draw us to the Path of
Probation.
o The 3rd ray relates to the intellectual stimulation in
personality integration.
o The 7th ray relates to the sacral energy which will be
sublimed into creative energy.
GL…Yes Ray 7 is quite pivotal here and assists to
establish a reorientation of the life theme more towards spiritual matters than
just physical…I think the tide turns…This causes a reorganization of the energy
field of chakras and their orientation to the influences of the soul.
·
Chakric energies:
o The energies of sacral centre and throat centre. They are involved in
the first energy transference from the sacral centre to the throat centre.
GL…Well done Daisy – you demonstrate a good grasp of
these matters and are working these ideas into the physical plane environment
which is not an easy task.
So you have completed this section of the course work and ready for the next
area of study. Congratulations on your achievement in this regard - Geoff
