CONTENTS

Seed Thought
Reading Assignment
Written work to be completed
Letter from the Teaching Staff
Virtues and Vices of the Rays

A TREATISE ON THE SEVEN RAYS,
Vol. I –- Esoteric Psychology, pages: 62-69
Vol. II -- Esoteric Psychology, pages: 629-683

WRITTEN WORK TO BE COMPLETED

1.

People are always asking what they can do to further the Plan. The second portion of your reading assignment -- SEVEN RAYS, Volume II, pages 629-683, see section (a) -- sets forth specific tasks which were intended to prevent World War II. Evidently the response to that portion of the teaching was insufficient at that time.

Even though that portion of the teaching was intended for a time now past, will you study it carefully, sorting out as you read, noting which ideas and suggestions might well apply to today's situation? Please list what you consider the main ideas and suggestions that we should be trying to act upon now. When referring to or quoting any passage in the book, mention the page number.

2.

Recalling to mind that the energy focussed in the Tibetan's ashram and flowing through His teaching stimulates and promotes right human relations, what have you learned through the study work and meditation that enables you to get along better with the people you see every day?

One of life's purest joys is sharing the deep insights and the guiding light of the Teaching we have learned to love and trust. The principle of sharing motivates the entire life of one who loves his fellow men.

In addition another principle, the principle of occult reticence characterizes the disciple's attitude toward his outer environment. Occult reticence characterize his behavior, his speech, his outer expression in the daily life.

The paradox between the principle of sharing and the principle of occult reticence is puzzling some students. We need to learn not to shy away from paradoxes because some of the most valuable teaching is presented to the minds of men in the form of a paradox.

An important part of esoteric training is learning to be accurately sensitive to the effect of one’s words upon others. Giving occult knowledge to those not yet ready to apply it, merely increases their burden of karmic obligation. This is hardly a kindness or a help to one's friends, For knowledge, you see, remains a karmic burden until it is properly applied. To know and not to act upon what is known, is not good.

One can look anywhere and see how further knowledge would ease pain, improve human relations, and make the world better. It requires sound judgment and an accurate appraisal of another's stage in evolution, to sense with helpful sureness his particular learning needs.

A good indication of another’s readiness for further learning will be his generally questioning and open minded attitude and his clearly interested response to new ideas and to a viewpoint different from his own. In our workshops we have observed, during an oral presentation of new teaching, that the member who interrupts or changes the subject may be protecting himself from exposure to knowledge for which he is unready. This situation may also occur during serious conversations with our friends. The sensitive server learns to watch for and respect such signals.

If your listener displays less than eager interest, say no more. It is so easy to be swept on the flood tide of one’s own enthusiasm and eloquence, while neglecting to notice the subtle signals which are coming (unconsciously or subconsciously) from the listener. When his interest ceases to equal your enthusiasm, quit.

Another point to be considered is that channeling Hierarchical energy (in this case, Hierarchical teaching) into human consciousness, is white magic. "Magical work is begun in the magician’s own life… nor can the magical force of the soul work out in manifestation upon the physical plane until the meaning of its esoteric phrases has been somewhat wrought out in the inner experience of the magician." (WHITE MAGIC, page 235). The white magician passes through his own living experience whatever energies he uses in the magical work of the soul. He first lives the Teaching.

One of the obligations of the esoteric server is to relay to others the Teaching which he has received. However, one cannot speak from depth with clarity and conviction by merely quoting the book or by reciting one’s most recently acquired bit of knowledge. Such expressions, however true, fail to appeal to the other person’s soul, and therefore do not fulfill another’s living need.

In our efforts to stimulate the interest of another in what interests us, a constant self-examination of motive is a basic safeguard. It is most important to see clearly that we are not merely passing the knowledge we love on to others for the pleasure we derive from the process but that we are working creatively and selflessly for the other person’s development in consciousness.

In fellowship,

The Staff of ARCANA