THE RAYS AND THE INITIATIONS
VOLUME V
A TREATISE ON THE SEVEN RAYS
by
ALICE A. BAILEY
Index Edition
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Contents
Cover
EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN
THE GREAT INVOCATION
PART ONE - THE FOURTEEN RULES FOR GROUP INITIATION
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
RULE ONE
RULE TWO
RULE THREE
RULE FOUR
RULE FIVE
RULE SIX
RULE SEVEN
RULE EIGHT
RULE NINE
RULE TEN
RULE TWELVE
RULE THIRTEEN
RULE FOURTEEN
PART TWO - INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
SECTION ONE - THE ASPIRANT AND THE MYSTERIES OF INITIATION
The Door of Initiation
The Door to the Way of the Higher Evolution
THE ENTERING OF THE ASHRAM
The seven Groups of Ashrams within the Hierarchy
The seven Paths confronting the Master
1. The Path of Earth Service
2. The Path of Magnetic Work
3. The Path of Training for Planetary Logoi
Certain Hierarchical Changes
4. The Path to Sirius
5. The Ray Path
6. The Path the Logos Himself is on
7. The Path of Absolute Sonship
The World Tension Analysed
THE DUAL LIFE OF THE INITIATORY PROCESS
The Dual Life of the Disciple
The Dual Existence of the Master
THE SCIENCE OF THE ANTAHKARANA
Building the Antahkarana
The Nature of the Antahkarana
The Bridge between the three Aspects of the Mind
The Bridge as the Agent of Alignment
The Technique of Construction
The Construction of the Antahkarana...Past
The Construction of the Antahkarana in the Aryan Race. Present
The Six Stages of the Building Process
The immediate Task ahead
The Seven Ray Methods used in the Construction Process
THE MEANING OF THE INITIATORY PROCESS
Fusion of the Master's consciousness with that of the disciple
Impression on the mind of the disciple of hierarchical intent
SECTION TWO - THE ASPIRANT AND THE MAJOR INITIATIONS
THE RELATION OF THE SEVEN RAYS TO THE INITIATIONS
THE RAYS AND THE FIVE INITIATIONS CONFRONTING HUMANITY
Initiation I. The Birth at Bethlehem. Ray VII.
Initiation II. The Baptism in Jordan. Ray VI.
Initiation III. The Transfiguration. Ray V.
Initiation IV. The Renunciation. Ray IV.
The Particular Type of Energy involved and its Initiatory Effect
The Effect of the Energy of Harmony through Conflict upon Humanity
The Factor of the Ray of Love-Wisdom as it controls the Ray of Harmony through Conflict and implements the Return of the Christ
The Effect of the Ray of Harmony through Conflict in the modern world of Nations
The Results of the Fourth Ray Activity upon the individual Disciple
A Summation and Forecast
THE RAYS OF ASPECT AND THE HIGHER INITIATIONS
Initiation V. Revelation. Ray I.
The Effect of Ray I on Humanity Today
Initiation VI. Decision. Ray III
THE SEVEN AND THE NINE INITIATIONS OF OUR PLANETARY LIFE
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INITIATIONS
Initiation I. The Birth at Bethlehem
Initiation II. The Baptism in Jordan
Initiation III. The Transfiguration
Initiation IV. The Great Renunciation or Crucifixion
Initiation V. The Revelation
The Part which Energy plays in inducing Revelation
The Place that the Will plays in inducing Revelation
Initiation VI. The Decision
Initiation VII. The Resurrection
Initiation VIII. The Great Transition - Initiation IX. The Refusal
APPENDIX
FIVE GREAT SPIRITUAL EVENTS
STANZAS FOR DISCIPLES
ARCANE SCHOOL TRAINING
INDEX
EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN
Suffice it to say, that I am a Tibetan disciple of a certain degree, and this tells you but little, for all are disciples from the humblest aspirant up to, and beyond, the Christ Himself. I live in a physical body like other men, on the borders of Tibet, and at times (from the exoteric standpoint) preside over a large group of Tibetan lamas, when my other duties permit. It is this fact that has caused it to be reported that I am an abbot of this particular lamasery. Those associated with me in the work of the Hierarchy (and all true disciples are associated in this work) know me by still another name and office. A.A.B. knows who I am and recognises me by two of my names.
I am a brother of yours, who has travelled a little longer upon the Path than has the average student, and has therefore incurred greater responsibilities. I am one who has wrestled and fought his way into a greater measure of light than has the aspirant who will read this article, and I must therefore act as a transmitter of the light, no matter what the cost. I am not an old man, as age counts among the teachers, yet I am not young or inexperienced. My work is to teach and spread the knowledge of the Ageless Wisdom wherever I can find a response, and I have been doing this for many years. I seek also to help the Master M. and the Master K.H. whenever opportunity offers, for I have been long connected with Them and with Their work. In all the above, I have told you much; yet at the same time I have told you nothing which would lead you to offer me that blind obedience and the foolish devotion which the emotional aspirant offers to the Guru and Master Whom he is as yet unable to contact. Nor will he make that desired contact until he has transmuted emotional devotion into unselfish service to humanity-not to the Master.
The books that I have written are sent out
with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writings, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the Masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of his intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said.
AUGUST 1934
THE GREAT INVOCATION
From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men—
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out.
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth
“The above Invocation or Prayer does not belong to any person or group but to all Humanity. The beauty and the strength of this Invocation lies in its simplicity, and in its expression of certain central truths which all men, innately and normally, accept—the truth of the existence of a basic Intelligence to Whom we vaguely give the name of God; the truth that behind all outer seeming, the motivating power of the universe is Love; the truth that a great Individuality came to earth, called by Christians, the Christ, and embodied that love so that we could understand; the truth that both love and intelligence are effects of what is called the Will of God; and finally the self-evident truth that only through humanity itself can the Divine Plan work out.”
ALICE A BAILEY
PART ONE - THE FOURTEEN RULES FOR GROUP INITIATION
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
(3) It might be here of value, my brothers, if I again laid emphasis upon the fact that the formless world is only entered when the aspirant has acquired somewhat the capacity to center himself on the abstract levels of the mental plane. This involves necessarily certain developments within the aspirant’s own nature. The demanded contact would otherwise be impossible. What is needed is self-exertion, the resultant developments of which might be touched upon as follows:
I. The Repolarisation of the Entire Lower Man so that his attitude toward the aggregate of forms which make up his field of general contact has changed. He is no longer deluded by the things of the senses but has in his hand that thread or clue which will eventually guide him out of the maze of the lower life perceptions into the field of clear knowledge and the realm where daylight is found; he will then no longer need to walk in the dark. This repolarisation is brought about in four ways, each of which provides the next step forward, and in their totality (and when definitely followed) will eventuate in the total subjugation of the personality. These four ways are:
A constant and unfailing attempt to center the consciousness within the head. From this central position the real man, the directing agency will direct and guide all his members, imposing upon the “lunar lords” of the physical body a new rhythm and habit of response. Two factors are of value and helpful in the production of the necessary polarisation:
The reiterated appreciation of the words “I am the Self, the Self am I.”
The habit of early morning meditation wherein the Thinker centers himself in the point of control and [4] starts upon his day’s experience and contacts with the realisation that he is only the Observer, the Perceiver and Actor.
A close consideration throughout the day as to the use and misuse of energy. Every man should realise that in the use of energy lies direction and the treading of the Path. It produces eventually truthful manifestation and the displaying of one’s light in order that circumstances may be irradiated and fellow pilgrims helped. Students should familiarise themselves with the “energy concept” and learn to regard themselves as energy units displaying certain types of energy. In this connection it should be borne in mind that when spiritual energy and material energy (the two opposite poles) are brought into relationship, a third type of energy is produced, and the work of the fourth or human kingdom is to demonstrate this peculiar type. It might serve to clarify thought if students remembered that
Superhuman entities display spiritual energy.
Subhuman entities display the energy of matter.
Human entities display soul energy.
In the perfect manifestation of these three will the plan of creation be consummated. It should also be borne in mind that these three are nevertheless a manifestation of duality—spirit and matter—and that this is the manifestation of a great Existence and of His appearing. Therefore, what are called the “three gunas” in Hindu philosophy are but the qualities He manifests through these types of entities.
Superhuman lives express sattva, the guna of rhythm and of harmonious response to divine urge, of perfect display of coordinated cooperation with the purpose of manifestation.
Human lives demonstrate the quality of rajas, of mobility, of constant and conscious change in order to ascertain what is the Real and through the medium of experience demonstrate the true nature of rhythmic response.
Subhuman lives express the guna of tamas or of inertia. They work blindly and have no ability to respond consciously [5] to the plan. They are the sumtotal of the “units of inertia” just as the human units are called “the points of light moving within the square.” This may have its appeal to Masons.
This subject of the use or misuse of energy is capable of infinite expansion, and in my other books where I give you more upon the centres I have enlarged upon it. I but seek at this time to give you that which can be of immediate use to students and thus lay the foundation for later work.
A close study of the needed transmutation of astral and emotional energy into love, the energy of love. This involves the sublimation of personal feeling into group realisation or consciousness, and when carried out successfully produces in time the construction of a higher and subtler body, the buddhic sheath. When this sheath is thus materialised a very high stage of advancement is marked, but the earlier stages can be intelligently approached by any earnest student and probationer. To transmute emotion into love the following realisations will be found necessary:
1. A realisation that all moods, all display of sorrow, of pain, or of happy excitement are due to our identification with the objects of desire, with the form aspect, and with that which is material.
2. An understanding of the emotional or astral body and the place it plays in the student’s development. It should be recognised as the shadow of the monad, and a connection should be traced between
The Astral Sheath....6th Plane
The Buddhic Sheath...4th Plane
The Monadic Sheath...2nd Plane
and the place the love petals in the egoic lotus play should also be carefully considered.
3. A comprehension of the potency of the astral sheath owing to its undivided nature.
4. A study of the purpose of the solar plexus, and the part it plays as an organ of transference of energy from the three great centres below the diaphragm to the three higher [6] centres. There is a very close analogy here to the so
lar lotus, the egoic body, occupying a midway point between the threefold Monad and the threefold lower man. The more advanced should follow this.
The development of the faculty of mind control, so that the Thinker grips and holds steady the mental processes and learns to regard the mind as the interpreter of the states of consciousness, as the transmitter of egoic intent to the physical brain and as the window through which the Ego, the real Man looks out upon vast and (to the majority) unknown fields of knowledge.
II. An emergence into Manifestation of the Subjective Aspect in Man. One of the objects of evolution is that the subjective reality should eventually be brought forward into recognition. This can be expressed in several symbolic ways, all of them dealing with the same one fact in nature:
The bringing to the birth of the Christ within.
The shining forth of the inner radiance or glory.
The demonstration of the 2nd or the Love aspect.
The manifestation of the solar Angel.
The appearing of the Son of God, the Ego or the Soul within.
The full expression of buddhi, as it utilises manas.
This emergence into manifestation is brought about through what is understood by the following terms:
The refining of the bodies which form the casket or sheath hiding the reality.
The process of ‘unveiling’ so that one by one those bodies which veil the Self are brought to a point where they are simply transparencies, permitting the full shining forth of the divine nature.
An expansion of consciousness, which is brought about through the ability of the self to identify with its real nature as the Onlooker, and no longer regarding itself as the organ of perception. [7]
III. A Re-alignment of the Lower Sheaths so that the contact with the Real Man, the Thinker, the Solar Angel, on the higher levels of the mental plane may become complete and continuous. This only becomes possible as the other two points are beginning to be grasped and the theory as to man’s constitution and purpose is somewhat understood. As meditation is practiced, as the lower bodies are painstakingly dominated, and as the nature of the Sutratma or Thread is better comprehended it will become increasingly possible to bring into the lower personality on the physical plane that spiritual illumination and that divine energy which is the soul’s heritage. Little by little the light will shine forth, year by year the strength of the higher contact will grow, gradually the downpour of divine love and wisdom into the head centres will be increased until eventually the entire lower man will be transformed, his sheaths will be refined, controlled and used, and he will demonstrate upon earth the powers of Director, Teacher or Manipulator according to the major ray upon which his Monad may be found.