Introductory Study Notes On

Introductory Study Notes On
THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE

By Gaile V. Campbell
SECON EITION
T!e epartment o" Education
T!e T!eosop!ical Society in #merica
Copyri$!t % &'(') *++, by t!e T!eosop!ical Society in #merica.
#ll ri$!ts reser-ed. No part o" t!is study $uide may be reproduced in any manner
.it!out
.ritten permission e/cept "or 0uotations embodied in critical articles or re-ie.s.
THE THEOSO1HIC#L SOCIET2 IN #3E4IC#
epartment o" Education
Email5 education6t!eosop!ical.or$
Contents
Fore.ord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
1re"ace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-
F4#G3ENT I
Lesson & Vs. &7&8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &
Lesson * Vs. &97:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;
Lesson : Vs. :(79( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &9
Lesson 8 Vs. 9;7;9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *:
Lesson 9 Vs. ;(7&++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :+
F4#G3ENT II
Lesson ( Vs. &+&7&&, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :,
Lesson ; Vs. &&'7&:, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Lesson , Vs. &:'7&;+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9&
Lesson ' Vs. &;&7&'9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (&
F4#G3ENT III
Lesson &+ Vs. &'(7**+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (,
Lesson && Vs. **&7*8: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;(
Lesson &* Vs. *8:7*(( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,8
Lesson &: Vs. *(;7*,: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '&
Lesson &8 Vs. *,87:&( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '(
Biblio$rap!y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &+8
ii
Fore.ord
The Voice of the Silence by H. 1. Bla-ats<y is a classic o" T!eosop!ical
literature. It
!as many dept!s o" meanin$ and is a ne-er7endin$ source "or study)
meditation and
spiritual inspiration. T!ere can be no sin$le interpretation to The Voice) and
not all
students .ill a$ree upon any one approac!. Students .!o .is! to
understand
somet!in$ o" its pro"ound spiritual teac!in$ must underta<e t!eir o.n searc!
and
disco-ery.
=e are $rate"ul to Gaile V. Campbell "or pro-idin$ t!ese Study Notes, .!ic!
.e
!ope .ill !elp open t!e door to t!is precious $em o" .isdom "or ne.
students.
Ho.e-er) students are ad-ised to purc!ase t!eir o.n copy o" The Voice of
the Silence)
as t!is study $uide does not replicate t!e -aluable introductory material or
t!e
$lossary) bot! o" .!ic! contain in"ormation important to understandin$ t!e
te/t.
#lso) t!e reader is assumed to already !a-e a basic <no.led$e o"
T!eosop!ical
p!ilosop!y and terms. #$ain) t!is study $uide is not meant to be t!e
de>niti-e
approac! to The Voice) but simply t!e "ruit o" one student?s labor o" lo-e.
#"ter
students !a-e $one t!rou$! t!is entire study $uide) t!ey are encoura$ed to
e/pand
upon t!e ideas presented !ere and come to t!eir o.n reali@ations as to t!e
deeper
meanin$ o" The Voice. 3any o" t!e boo<s listed in t!e biblio$rap!y are .ort!
readin$
as t!ey .ill pro-ide t!e reader .it! "urt!er insi$!ts and dept! o"
understandin$.
3s. Campbell passed a.ay in &''+ at t!e a$e o" ,( in !er !ome at Cal$ary)
Canada) but t!is online edition .ill assure t!at !er contribution li-es on. Not
muc!
is <no.n about !er e/cept "or t!at s!e .as an ardent student o" T!eosop!y)
and also
an artist .!ose paintin$s o"ten appeared in t!e $alleries o" Vancou-er and
Toronto.
T!e >rst edition o" Study Notes .as publis!ed by t!e T!eosop!ical Society in
#merica?s epartment o" Education in &'(') but it .as not .idely
distributed. I "elt
t!at it .ould be use"ul to publis! an updated second edition. Errors in
citations
"ound in t!e >rst edition !a-e been corrected and a more complete
biblio$rap!y
added. Some o" t!e ori$inal commentary !as been ampli>ed sli$!tly to
pro-ide
$reater conte/t. In ot!er cases) a "e. obsolete re"erences !a-e been
deleted. =!ere
t!e .ord man appears in t!e te/t) it s!ould be interpreted in t!e non7$ender
speci>c
sense as indicatin$ t!e !uman bein$ or !uman race. I !a-e c!osen to ta<e
t!e actual
-erses o" The Voice "rom t!e &''* edition publis!ed by T!e T!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$
House in =!eaton) Illinois.
a-id 1. Bruce
irector o" Education
Aune *++,
iii
1re"ace
The Voice of the Silence .as one o" t!e last .or<s .ritten by 3adame H. 1.
Bla-ats<y) aBectionately <no.n as CH1B.D S!e tells us t!at t!e contents o"
t!e little
boo< .ere deri-ed "rom The Book of the Golden Precepts) a .or< .!ic! is
read by all
mystic students in t!e esoteric sc!ools beyond t!e Himalayas. T!e ori$inal
precepts
are en$ra-ed on t!in oblon$s. Copies are -ery o"ten on discs or on plates)
and are
$enerally preser-ed on t!e altars o" temples. T!ey are .ritten sometimes in
t!e
Tibetan lan$ua$e) but mostly in ideo$rap!s. To read t!e pre"ace in its
entirety .ould
$reatly in"orm t!ose see<in$ to understand better !er .or<.
The Voice of the Silence is an in-aluable source o" spiritual $uidance) "or it
tells t!e
aspirant !o. to be$in preparin$ !imsel" "or tra-elin$ t!e Great En<no.n.
=!et!er
or not t!e aspirant is ready to ta<e speci>c steps on t!is road matters little)
"or t!e
important t!in$ is to become ac0uainted .it! t!e si$nposts .!ic! .ill $uide
t!e
disciple alon$ t!e pat!less pat! at some "uture time in t!is li"e or in t!e ne/t.
To
understand t!e rules .ill add muc! to t!e student?s <no.led$e o" spiritual
science.
FGaile V. Campbell
&'('
i-
Introduction
Eac! Fra$ment !as been di-ided into sections. It mi$!t be ad-isable Gbut not
essentialH to !a-e t!e same edition o" The Voice of the Silence GT!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$
House) &''*H t!at .as used in preparin$ t!is study $uide. I" t!e edition used
!erein
cannot be obtained) t!e additional researc! to be done by t!e student .ill) in
any
case) pro-e re.ardin$.
T!e t!ree Fra$ments contained in t!is boo< could be summed up as "ollo.s5
I Fra$ment One) called CT!e Voice o" t!e Silence)D points out t!e .ay) t!e
met!od) by .!ic! an aspirant may be$in to prepare !imsel" "or meditation
and disciples!ip.
I Fra$ment T.o) called CT!e T.o 1at!s)D s!o.s t!e importance o" study)
puri>cation o" t!e lo.er -e!icles) and de-otion in obtainin$ .isdom) and t!e
c!oice bet.een t.o 1at!s.
I Fra$ment T!ree) called CT!e Se-en 1ortals)D re-eals se-en <eys .!ic! open
into a li"e o" responsibility and ser-ice .!ic!) it is said) .ill e-entually lead
t!e disciple into union .it! !is !i$!er or inner Sel".
&
Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One
THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE
Lesson &
VOICE5
1. These instructions are for those ignorant of the dangers of
the lower IDDHI.
See H1B?s "ootnote in t!e $lossary o" The Voice of the Silence "or an
e/planation o"
t!e .ord iddhi. T!e lo.er psyc!ic "aculties re-eal t!e pre-iously undetected
presence
o" a -ast and complicated net.or< o" nonp!ysical li"e) includin$ <in$doms o"
de-as
and nature spirits) some o" t!em ad-erse to !umanity) as H1B tells us "urt!er
on.
#s H1B $oes on to say) t!ere are t.o <inds o" siddhis Gabnormal po.ersHF
t!e
spiritual and t!e psyc!ic. T!e spiritual po.ers may be uncommon and
abnormal) but
t!ey are po.ers .it! .!ic! .e s!all become better ac0uainted in t!e "uture
.!en .e
!a-e learned to use t!em) not only "or oursel-es) but also "or t!e bene>t o"
!umanity.
T!e t!ird ObKect o" T!e T!eosop!ical Society clearly ad-ocates t!at t!ose
.!o
.is! to learn s!ould Cin-esti$ate t!e une/plained la.s o" nature and t!e
po.ers
latent in !umanity.D T!e term Clatent po.ersD relates not only to -arieties o"
e/trasensory perception but to t!e aut!entic and deeper po.ers o" t!e
!uman spirit.
VOICE5
2. He who would hear the voice of Nada, the Soundless
Sound, and comrehend it, he has to learn the nature of
Dhran.
In !is boo< Letters That Have Helped Me) Aasper Niemand describes dharana
as
Cselectin$ a t!in$) a spot) or an idea to >/ t!e mind on.D Audit! Tyber$) in
Sanskrit eys
to the !isdom "eli#ion) describes it as Ct!e intense and steady mental
concentration
directed to some subKect o" t!ou$!t .it! t!e mind and !eart absolutely "reed
at t!e
time "rom t!e disturbances o" sense attractions.D Concentration) t!ere"ore) is
re0uisite
and must be $i-en e/clusi-ely to t!e c!osen obKect and not to t!e restless
acti-ity o"
t!e t!ree lo.er -e!iclesFt!e p!ysical) astral GemotionalH and lo.er mental
bodies.
3editation s!ould be practiced .it!out causin$ strain to t!e body. =!en
#nnie
Besant .as >rst instructed by H. 1. Bla-ats<y) r. Besant be$an to meditate
.it! $reat
intensity) and !er teac!er interrupted !er by sayin$) C3y dear) you do not
meditate
.it! your blood -essels.D For t!ose o" us .!o are learnin$ !o. to meditate) it
is
*
su$$ested t!at .e be$in by learnin$ !o. to protect oursel-es "rom t!e
"orces t!at
constantly bombard our -e!icles "rom .it!out. #nd so .e learn to .it!dra.
into t!e
center o" our bein$) a place .!erein no ot!er "oot !as trod) and ac0uaint
oursel-es
.it! t!e deep silence) .!erein d.ells t!e real CI.D T!is is most sacred
$round.
VOICE5
!. Having "ecome indi#erent to o"$ects of ercetion, the
uil must see% out the rajah of the senses, the Thought&
'roducer, he who awa%es illusion.
(. The )ind is the great Sla*er of the +eal.
,. -et the Discile sla* the Sla*er.
#s .e are told) t!e mind is t!e ra$ah) t!e ruler o" t!e senses) and must be
controlled. One o" t!e most eBecti-e systems "or $ainin$ control o" t!e mind
is t!e
ancient spiritual science o" 2o$a. T!e "act t!at t!is re0uirement is listed early
on in The
Voice s!ould be an indicator as to its importance. # prominent early
T!eosop!ist)
Ernest =ood) elaborates on t!is "urt!er in !is boo< Practical %o#a5
In yo$a .e are to $o beyond t!ou$!t) and to <no. t!in$s not in t!eir Ku/tapositions
but in t!eir relations to primal unity. #nd so to learn to still t!e mind is
t!e &rst daily e/ercise t!e disciple underta<es) "or con"usion o" t!ou$!t) .!ic! is
constant mo-ement and c!an$e ta<in$ place in t!e mental body) is not t!e ideal
atmosp!ere in .!ic! true meditation can ta<e place.
VOICE5
.or/ 0
1. 2hen to himself his form aears unreal, as do on wa%ing
all the forms he sees in dreams3
4. 2hen he has ceased to hear the man*, he ma* discern the
5678the inner sound which %ills the outer.
T!is Cinner sound .!ic! <ills t!e outerD may be e/plained t!is .ay5 i" .e .ill
listen to t!e -oice o" .isdom) .e .ill become increasin$ly t!e master o"
oursel-es and
our li"e) and t!en Ct!e inner soundD Gt!e >rst step in Budd!ic consciousnessH
.ill put a
stop to t!e outer clamor .!ic! directs t!e "e-eris! acti-ities o" our e-eryday
li"e. Aust
as a blind man !as no sense o" color) .!en .e a.a<en to a !i$!er and
broader li"e) .e
percei-e "or t!e >rst time t!e crus!in$ yet entirely unsuspected limitations
under
.!ic! .e !a-e pre-iously been li-in$.
It !as been said t!at li"e is a sc!ool and .e are in t!is .orld to learn. =e
be$in in
<inder$arten to learn our #BC?s o" li"e. T!en) in t!e course o" time) .e later
$raduate
:
.it! "ull <no.led$e o" t!e .orld and oursel-es) .it! t!e added <no.led$e o"
.!at
lies be!ind t!is po.er"ul and in!erent !uman ur$e to kno'5
VOICE5
9. Then onl*, not till then, shall he forsa%e the region of Asat,
the false, to come unto the realm of Sat, the true.
(sat is a Sans<rit term meanin$ t!at .!ic! is Cnot realD or Cdoes not
endure.D
Tyber$?s Sanksrit eys to the !isdom "eli#ion says t!at t!e term is $enerally
used to
describe t!e Cillusory or mLyL-i realms o" t!e mani"ested uni-erse) to t!e
s!ado.y or
reMectin$ side o" nature) and to t!e -e!icles and bodies t!rou$! .!ic! t!e
Sel"
e-ol-es.D
Entil .e are able to !ear t!e inner -oice o" conscience and loo< upon li"e
"rom t!e
standpoint o" t!e !i$!er planes) .e !a-e no real $rasp o" t!e trut!
underlyin$ t!is
comple/ity o" mani"estation) .!ic! surrounds us on all sides on t!e lo.er
planes.
VOICE5
:. ;efore the soul can see, the Harmon* within must "e
attained, and <eshl* e*es "e rendered "lind to all illusion.
It is said t!at t!ere is a perpetual strain bet.een t!e astral GemotionalH and
t!e
mental bodies) bet.een t!e desires and t!e mindN neit!er o" t!ese bodies is
in tune
.it! t!e E$o Ga T!eosop!ical term "or t!e !i$!er Sel"H or prepared to act as
its -e!icle.
T!e E$o) .!ile enmes!ed in t!e personality) >nds it diOcult to learn .!en
t!e mental
and astral bodies are in a state o" con"usion and out o" !armony .it! t!e
!i$!er Sel".
#nd so) t!e ac0uirin$ o" <no.led$e is made more diOcult and t!e E$o $ains
but a
limited -ie. o" t!in$s to be learned.
T!is is one o" t!e >rst lessons in see<in$ to tread t!e 1at!5 subduin$ t!e
personal
sel" or personality so t!at t!e c!annel bet.een it and t!e E$o becomes
opened and
.idened. T!e mind must be "ree to study) "or it is t!e brid$e lin<in$ t!e
lo.er)
peris!able part o" t!e !uman bein$ to t!e immortal E$o. It is only .!en
personal and
sel>s! desires cease to !a-e inMuence t!at t!e cacop!ony o" -oices "rom t!e
outer
.orld .ill no lon$er be in control o" our destiny.
VOICE5
1=. ;efore the Soul can hear, the image >man? has to "ecome as
deaf to roarings as to whisers, to cries of "ellowing
elehants as to the silver* "u@@ing of the golden Are<*.
8
To be able to !ear t!e Cstill small -oice)D one must learn to become -ery
0uiet. #s
lon$ as .e are busy reactin$ to outer stimuli) .e remain dea" to t!e
Csoundless soundD
mentioned in -erse *. =e !a-e to become dea" to t!e outer sounds be"ore
.e can !ear
t!e inner sounds. It !as been "ound t!at s!ortly be"ore $oin$ to sleepFor t!e
>rst
t!in$ in t!e mornin$ be"ore .e $et cau$!t in our daily routineFone is better
able to
settle do.n to a "e. minutes o" 0uiet meditation. #s one .riter !as said5 CHe
.!o
learns t!e secret o" bein$ nau$!t but a c!annel) and .!o abides still .it!in
t!e secret
place) can pass t!rou$! many a crisis .it!out undue s!atterin$ or pain.D
#s The Voice tells us) d!arana Gintense concentrationH .ill assist in producin$
t!is
stillness) and t!en t!e disciple .ill remain uns!a<en by all e/ternal t!in$s.
1aul Brunton) aut!or o" many esoteric boo<s says) C4e"er in.ards to t!e
O-ersel")
until t!e !abit becomes >rst t!ou$!t and second nature) .ea<enin$ t!e
stren$t! o"
dis!armonious and unpleasant emotions .!ic! are e-er attac<in$ us "rom
.it!out.D
VOICE5
11. ;efore the soul can comrehend and ma* remem"er, she
must unto the Silent Sea%er "e united $ust as the form to
which the cla* is modeled, is Arst united with the otterBs
mind.
It is .ritten t!at be"ore t!e soul can "ully compre!end t!e dri"t o" all t!e
tuition
.!ic! comes to it "rom .it!out) and t!e intuition .!ic! comes to it "rom
.it!in)
anot!er !armoni@in$ process must ta<e place) in .!ic! t!e mind $radually
becomes
attuned to t!e spiritual .ill G#tmaHF'hich #ives direction to !is li"e. =e must
ne-er
allo. oursel-es to become discoura$ed and "eel t!at .e are not ready or not
suOciently ad-anced to be$in real study. # lay c!ela Ga probationary discipleH
once
.rote5
I belie-e it to be absolutely true t!at t!e sli$!test attention seriously paid to t!e
instructions .ill $enerate results .it!in t!e spiritual principles o" t!ose .!o
render itFcauses capable o" producin$ appreciable conse0uences in a "uture
state o" e/istenceN t!at t!e smallest result establis!es a tendency in t!e direction
o" spiritual ac!ie-ement.
It !as also been said t!at it is diOcult "or t!e soul to tread t!e 1at! "or t!e
>rst !al" o"
t!e Kourney .!ile it is endea-orin$ to unite itsel" more and more .it! t!e
Budd!i
Gspiritual soulHFbut all t!e .or< is done under t!e direction o" t!e #tma) t!e
se-ent!
principle in t!e !uman constitution. T!e metap!or o" Ct!e "orm to .!ic! t!e
clay is
modeledD su$$ests a similar relations!ip bet.een our p!ysical "orm) t!e
soul) and t!e
CSilent Spea<erD t!at is .ort! ruminatin$ on.
9
VOICE5
12. .or then the soul will hear, and will remem"er.
1!. Cnd then to the inner ear will sea%8
TH7 D5IC7 5. TH7 SI-76C7
Cnd sa*/ 0
1(. If th* soul smiles while "athing in the Sunlight of th* -ife3
T!e CVoice o" t!e SilenceD is a mystical Gand parado/icalH term used to
desi$nate
t!e !i$!er Sel"Ft!at mysterious part o" us .!ic! is immortal and beyond t!e
realm o"
normal) daily consciousness.
2ou .ill note t!at t!e !i$!er Sel" and its -e!icles are all operatin$ in t!is
.orld o"
illusion .!ere !umanity learns t!e necessary lessons t!at .ill !elp $uide it
on t!e
return Kourney to t!e .orld o" Spirit) our ori$inal !ome.
T!e poetic ima$ery o" Ct!e Sunli$!t o" t!y Li"eD re"ers to t!ose !appy times
in li"e
.!en "ortune smiles upon us) .!en .e "eel t!at all is ri$!t .it! God and t!e
.orld.
VOICE5
. . . if th* soul sings within her chr*salis of <esh and
matter3
T!e t!ree -e!icles t!at constitute t!e personality Gp!ysical7emotional7
mentalH are)
in trut!) a c!rysalis "rom .!ic! a butterMy is $radually "ormed.
3etap!orically) t!e
soul?s residence in t!e p!ysical body corresponds to t!e caterpillar state.
T!e soul s!ould endea-or to reali@e t!at it is independent o" t!ese temporary
-e!icles. Once t!e soul kno's .!ere it is $oin$ and .!at it s!ould do) it is
released in
$reat measure "rom doubt and "ear.
VOICE5
. . . if th* soul wees inside her castle of illusion3 if th* soul
struggles to "rea% the silver thread that "inds her to the
)CST7+3 %now, 5 discile, th* Soul is of the earth.
To understand t!e conditions by .!ic! .e may ad-ance and ma<e real
pro$ress)
.e s!ould not allo. oursel-es to indul$e in >ts o" depression) sadness) or
sel"7pity "or
t!ese emotions deplete our ener$y. =e .ill cease to pander to t!e insatiable
demands
o" t!e personality i" .e desire to set oursel-es "ree "rom t!e innumerable ties
t!at bind
us to t!in$s t!at !a-e no lastin$ -alue) .!ic! pre-ent us "rom climbin$
up.ard into
more rare>ed air) t!e natural place o" spirit. T!e Csil-er t!readD or cord is t!e
emblem
(
o" purity) .!ic! lin<s t!e soul to its di-ine counterpart. I" .e are to $raduate
into a
!i$!er state o" e/istence) t!en .e !a-e to .or< at stren$t!enin$ t!is lin<
bet.een t!is
.orld and t!e ne/t by t!e daily practice o" spiritual disciplines.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS
1. =!at are t!e t.o <inds o" siddhis Gabnormal po.ersH and !o. are t!ey
diBerentQ
2. In t!e early sta$es o" learnin$ meditation) it is su$$ested t!at .e protect
oursel-es "rom Cad-erse "orces.D Gi-e some e/amples o" "orces t!at .ould
ot!er.ise distract t!e no-ice.
:. In your o.n .ords) e/plain t!e meanin$ o" CBe"ore t!e soul can !ear . . .D
8. =!y is t!e soul c!aracteri@ed as bein$ Co" t!e eart!D in -erse &8Q
9. Consider !o. t!e .ords CindiBerent)D Cdea")D and CblindD relate to t!e
attainment o" d!aranaQ
RRRRRRRRRR
T!e maturin$) sel"7e-aluatin$ person reac!es a point .!en !e "eels t!ere is
more to !imsel" t!an !e !as t!us "ar come to <no.. T!ere be$ins an internal
$ropin$) probin$) un.indin$ sta$e) not unli<e t!e stru$$les and emer$ence o"
t!e Cne. bornD butterMy "rom t!e c!rysalis) or t!e un"oldment and appearance
o" t!e "res!ly blossomed Mo.er. T!is is not a process o" s!ort duration "or a
!uman bein$N it is a searc! t!at continues t!rou$!out our li-esFi" .e !a-e but
t!e interest and moti-ation to <no. oursel-es and ot!ers better. GFrancis
Sno.les) )iscoveryH
;
Lesson *
VOICE5
1,. 2hen to the 2orldBs turmoil th* "udding soul lends ear3
when to the roaring voice of the great illusion th* Soul
resonds3 when frightened at the sight of the hot tears of
ain, when deafened "* the cries of distress, th* soul
withdraws li%e the sh* turtle within the caraace of
S7-.H55D, learn, 5 Discile, of her Silent Eod, th*
Soul is an unworth* shrine.
T!e Cbuddin$ soulD su$$ests t!e e-olutionary pro$ress o" t!e soul. T!ere are
t.o $reat sta$es in t!e soul?s e-olution5 >rst t!e .ay o" "ort!$oin$ and
second t!e
.ay o" return. urin$ t!e many li-es comprisin$ t!e "ormer) t!e
de-elopment o"
personality ta<es place) alon$ .it! t!e accumulation o" <arma) as it pursues
its
restless and o"ten rec<less career in see<in$ satis"action "rom a myriad o"
desires in
t!e e/ternal .orld. Epon its return Kourney) t!e soul $radually turns its bac<
upon
t!e t!in$s t!at tend to !old bac< its pro$ress. #t t!is sta$e o" e-olution it
proceeds to
per"ect itsel". T!e description o" t!e soul t!at is "ri$!tened and unresponsi-e
to
!uman suBerin$ su$$ests t!ose mee< souls .!o) in t!eir i$norance) are
a"raid o"
ta<in$ on responsibility) !a-e no sense o" t!e oneness o" li"e) and cannot
"ace up to
t!eir <arma) t!ere"ore tendin$ to .it!dra. "rom li"e into a psyc!olo$ical
cocoon) Kust
as t!e tortoise .it!dra.s into its !ardened s!ell at t!e least si$n o" dan$er.
VOICE5
11. 2hen waFing stronger, th* Soul glides forth from her
secure retreat3 and "rea%ing loose from the rotecting
shrine, eFtends her silver thread and rushes onward3
when "eholding her image on the waves of Sace she
whisers, This is I,8declare, 5 Discile, that th* soul
is caught in the we"s of delusion.
Bein$ Ccau$!t in t!e .ebs o" delusionD re"ers to t!e sel"7deception
associated
.it! t!e personal nature. It !as been said) CT!e personality is not t!e true
Sel") and
T!eosop!y teac!es t!at it must not be allo.ed to set itsel" up as a candidate
"or
immortality and try to entrenc! itsel" a$ainst t!e ra-a$es o" use and time
t!at beset
all material t!in$s.D Voluntary e-olution is a deliberate trainin$ o" onesel" in
t!e
nobler 0ualities o" c!aracterN in-oluntary e-olution belon$s to t!e lo.er
sta$es o"
e-olution. =!en t!e spiritual entity brea<s loose "rom e-ery particle o"
matter) only
,
t!en .ill it enter upon t!e Eternal and Enc!an$eable. In t!e H* P* Blavatsky
+ollected
!ritin#s, t!e e/istence o" t!e sil-er t!read is implicit .it!in t!e "ollo.in$
passa$e5
CE-ery mortal !as !is immortal counterpart) or rat!er !is #rc!etype) in
!ea-en. T!is
means t!at t!e "ormer is indissolubly united to t!e latter) in eac! o" !is
incarnations)
and "or t!e duration o" t!e cycle o" birt!sD G&859&H. In ,sis -nveiled) Bla-ats<y
states)
C=!en t!e s!inin$ t!read .!ic! lin<s t!e spirit to t!e soul) "rom t!e moment
o" t!e
birt! o" a c!ild) is -iolently snapped . . . t!e disembodied entity is le"t to
s!are t!e
"ate o" t!e lo.er animals TandU to $radually dissol-e into et!erD G&5:&9H.
VOICE5
14. This 7arth, Discile, is the Hall of Sorrow, wherein are set
along the 'ath of dire ro"ations, tras to ensnare th*
7E5 "* the delusion called Ereat Heres*.
19. This earth, 5 ignorant Discile, is "ut the dismal entrance
leading to the twilight that recedes the valle* of true
light8that light which no wind can eFtinguish, that light
which "urns without a wic% or fuel.
Here Ct.ili$!tD represents t!e astral and t!e lo.er mental planes) .!ereas
t!e
Cli$!t .!ic! burns .it!out a .ic< or "uelD points to t!e more rari>ed re$ion o"
t!e
t!e !i$!er Sel". Compare t!is to Stan@a :) slo<a ( o" The Secret )octrine
.!ere it says)
CT!e root o" li"e .as in e-ery drop o" t!e ocean o" immortality) and t!e ocean
.as
radiant li$!t . . .D G&5*'H.
VOICE5
1:. Saith the Ereat -aw/8In order to "ecome the G6527+ of
C-- S7-. thou hast first of Self to "e the %nower. HI
reach the %nowledge of that Self, thou hast to give u Self
to 6on&Self, ;eing to 6on&;eing, and then thou canst
reose "etween the wings of the E+7CT ;I+D. C*e,
sweet is rest "etween the wings of that which is not "orn,
nor dies, "ut is the CJK throughout eternal ages.
2=. ;estride the ;ird of -ife, if thou wouldBst %now.
21. Eive u th* life, if thou wouldBst live.
urin$ t!e e-olutionary sta$e in .!ic! !umanity a.a<ens) man becomes t!e
t!in<er and <no.er. For some millions o" years on t!is eart!) !uman bein$s
!a-e
been actin$ and creatin$ causes stamped .it! t!eir indi-idual
c!aracteristics) as .ell
as racial and national causes t!at must be .or<ed out in use"ul e/perience.
'
T!e CGreat BirdD o" .!ic! The Voice spea<s) is an esoteric symbol containin$
t!e
implication o" time) since it is proceedin$ t!rou$! space. T!ose indi-iduals
.!o !a-e
passed t!e t!ird initiation are sometimes re"erred to as t!e Hamsa or s.an)
because
t!ey !a-e risen abo-e sel>s! desire and are t!ere"ore no more under t!e pull
o" t!e
eart!. # yo$i .!o bestrides t!e Hamsa is not aBected by <armic inMuences.
The Voice
ad-ises) CT!e Sel" o" matter and t!e SELF o" Spirit can ne-er meet. One o"
t!e t.ain
must disappearN t!ere is no place "or bot!D G-s. 9(H. #nd so) t!ere can be no
!ed$in$
o" one?s bets) no straddlin$ t!e "ence.
T!e .ord #E3Fo"ten spelled O3Fis used at t!e commencement o" e-ery
$ood .or< or t!ou$!t) because it is a .ord o" po.er) symboli@in$ i-ine
Creation.
VOICE5
22. Three Halls, 5 wear* ilgrim, lead to the end of toils.
Three Halls, 5 conLueror of Kara, will "ring thee
through three states into the fourth and thence into the
seven worlds, the worlds of +est 7ternal.
T!e state o" Crest eternalD is reac!ed .!en t!e indi-idual consciousness is
mer$ed in t!e Eni-ersal Consciousness. T!e Cse-en .orldsD Gi.e.) se-en
planes o"
bein$H su$$est .orlds o" rest eternalFt!e se-en sub7planes o" t!e #tmic
plane) into
.!ic! t!e #r!at be$ins to ascend.
T!e t!ree states o" consciousness) or t!e t!ree Halls) may be described as
"ollo.s5
I A#G4#T G=a<in$H5 =e are in t!is state .!en .e are $oin$ about our daily
business on t!e p!ysical plane) .it! all our "aculties attuned to t!e endless
stimulations and sensations pro-ided by t!e material .orld.
I SV#1N# Greamin$H5 T!is state is not t!e result o" p!ysiolo$ical c!an$es
ta<in$ place in t!e brain Glo.er mindH but t!e true e/periences o" t!e soul
.!ile a.ay "rom t!e p!ysical body .or<in$ and learnin$ in t!e realm o" t!e
astral and mental planes. It is one o" t!e subKecti-e states "ound in yo$a.
I SESHE1TI Geep sleepin$H5 T!is is a state o" deep dreamless sleep) out o"
.!ic! t!e candidate a.a<ens to remember not!in$ because !e !as $one
into a
second sleep) !a-in$ emer$ed into t!e ne/t set o" planes) to be conscious "or
a
time at t!at !i$!er le-elFt!is last e/perience bein$ too sublime an
e/perience
to recall at t!e p!ysical le-el. In yo$a it is considered to be a state o"
indescribable peace and bliss.
T!e student may read more about t!ese states in Aasper Niemand?s boo<
Letters
That Have Helped Me) .!ere !e states5
&+
T!e t!ree 0ualities are lo.er t!an a state called Turya) .!ic! is a !i$! state
capable o" bein$ enKoyed e-en in t!e body. T!ere"ore in t!e state t!ere e/ists
none o" t!e t!ree 0ualities) but t!ere t!e soul sees t!e t!ree 0ualities mo-in$ in
t!e ocean o" Bein$ beneat!. T!is e/perience is not only met .it! a"ter deat!)
but) as I said) it may be enKoyed in t!e present li"e) t!ou$! o" course consciously
-ery seldom.
VOICE5
2!. If thou wouldBst learn their names, then hear%en, and
remem"er.
2(. The name of the Arst Hall is IE65+C6C78Avidya.
(vidya is a Sans<rit term t!at literally means Cnon7<no.led$e)D but is
$enerally
translated as i$noranceN remo-e t!e pre>/ CaD and it becomes vidya) .!ic!
means
.isdom or sacred <no.led$e. In Sans<rit .ords) addin$ t!e pre>/ CaD to a
.ord
c!an$es t!e meanin$ to denote somet!in$ t!at is t!e opposite.
VOICE5
2,. It is the Hall in which thou sawBst the light, in which thou
livest and shalt die.
T!e Hall o" I$norance is a metap!or "or t!e p!enomenal .orld o" t!e senses
and
o" terrestrial consciousness only.
VOICE5
21. The name of Hall the second is the Hall of -earning.
It is t!e Hall o" probationary learnin$. =e are all to$et!er on t!is planet to
learn)
and t!ose .!o .is! to tra-el more speedily do not .ait to be tested. T!ese
souls are
called sel"7startersN t!ey 'ill t!emsel-es to $o t!e ri$!t .ay about t!in$s)
and do not
.ait to be prodded by li"e.
VOICE5
In it th* Soul will And the "lossoms of life, "ut under
ever* <ower a serent coiled.
It may be su$$ested t!at eac! CMo.erD pluc<ed in t!is desire7.orld !olds a
necessary e/perience "or t!e soul .!o desired it. =!en a person is >lled .it!
a
stron$ desire "or some particular t!in$) t!at obKect must t!en !old some
special
lesson loc<ed up .it!in it "or t!at person. The Voice tells us t!at .e can
create our
&&
c!ances "or tomorro.) and "or our ne/t incarnation) by so.in$ t!e ri$!t
seeds no.)
today) "or "uture !ar-estin$. For as .e so.) so s!all .e reap.
VOICE5
24. The name of the third Hall is 2isdom, "e*ond which
stretch the shoreless waters of CGSHC+C, the
indestructi"le .ount of 5mniscience.
T!e Hall o" =isdom is a metap!or "or t!e !i$!er mental plane) Cbeyond
.!ic!
stretc! t!e s!orless .aters o" #<s!ara)D .!ic!) accordin$ to t!e $lossary) is
t!e
Cre$ion o" spiritual consciousness beyond .!ic! t!ere is no lon$er dan$erD
"or t!ose
.!o !a-e succeeded in reac!in$ it. Candidates "or t!e pat! o" yo$a in t!e
4aKa 2o$a
sc!ools are al.ays trained to puri"y t!emsel-es mentally and emotionally. #
3aster
can mo-e t!rou$! t!ese lesser .orlds in sa"ety) but neop!ytes lea-e
t!emsel-es open
to $reat dan$er i" t!ey meddle .it! t!e astral substance be"ore t!ey !a-e
cleansed
t!emsel-es "rom all impurities.
T!e teac!in$s o" 1atanKali) t!e $reat Indian aut!ority on yo$a and
concentration)
ma<e t!e >rst t.o steps moral ones re0uirin$ de>nite pro$ress in t!ese
be"ore t!e
practices leadin$ to t!e siddhis or yo$ic po.ers are ta<en. For) as The Voice
says)
CT!ese instructions are "or t!ose i$norant o" t!e lo.er idd!iD Tsidd!isU. T!e
dan$ers
occur .!en .e start to culti-ate t!ese potent po.ers .it!in oursel-es be"ore
.e are
ready or .ort!y to possess t!em) "or t!e c!annel must be clean) else it
attracts stron$)
ad-erse) psyc!ic inMuences "rom .it!out. Ernest =ood !as called t!ese >rst
steps
CT!e Ten Commandments)D and !as translated t!em as t!e >-e restraints5
CT!ou
s!alt not inKure) lie) steal) be inconstant) $reedyN and >-e obser-ances5 T!ou
s!alt be
clean) content) sel"7controlled) studious and de-oted.D
VOICE5
29. If thou wouldBst cross the Arst Hall safel*, let not th*
mind mista%e the Ares of lust that "urn therein for the
Sunlight of life.
T!is means t!at i" .e become too in-ol-ed .it! t!e transitory obKects o" t!is
eart!) .e become entan$led and blinded to t!e t!in$s t!at really matter)
suc! as t!e
promptin$s o" conscienceFt!e Cstill small -oiceD t!at .!ispers "rom .it!in.
VOICE5
2:. If thou wouldBst cross the second safel*, sto not the
fragrance of its stuef*ing "lossoms to inhale. If freed
thou wouldBst "e from the Garmic chains, see% not for th*
Euru in those Ka*avic regions.
&*
T!e candidate does not lin$er too lon$ in t!e plane o" illusion) but li<e t!e
bee !e
ta<es t!e !oney Ge/perience and <no.led$eH and mo-es on) re"usin$ to
become
into/icated by t!e scent o" countless blossoms temptin$ly displayed be"ore
!im on
t!e lo.er planes.
H1B e/plains t!e .ord CGuruD in t!is manner5 CT!e Initiate .!o leads t!e
disciple t!rou$! t!e Sno.led$e !e imparts to !is spiritual) or second birt!) is
called
t!e Fat!er) Guru) or 3aster.D #nd so t!e E$o t!at .is!es to be assisted by a
3aster
must -i-i"y t!e lin< bet.een t!e lo.er sel" and !i$!er Sel".
T!e assistance t!at an aut!entic Guru $i-es .ould naturally be o" a -ery
!i$!
order t!at concerns t!e most unsel>s! part o" !uman nature. T!e 3aster
.ould not
be concerned .it! t!e re$ion o" illusion) t!e maya-ic re$ions. #s t!e old
ada$e $oes)
C=!en t!e pupil is ready) t!e 3aster appears.D
VOICE5
!=. The 2IS7 567S tarr* not in leasure&grounds of senses.
!1. The 2IS7 567S heed not the sweet&tongued voices of
illusion.
!2. See% for him who is to give thee "irth, in the Hall of
2isdom, the Hall which lies "e*ond, wherein all
shadows are un%nown, and where the light of truth
shines with unfading glor*.
T!is could mean t!e second .irthF.!en only t!e innocent and pure in !eart
may
>nd union .it! t!e inner Sel". 3adame Bla-ats<y mentions t!is in The Secret
)octrine5 CFor Aesus states repeatedly t!at !e .!o Vs!all not recei-e t!e
Sin$dom o"
God as a little child s!all not enter t!erein?D G*59+8H. T!e c!ild7state su$$ests
utter
selMessness) de-oid o" personality) and >nal union .it! t!e One. CT!e Hall
.!ic!
lies beyondD is a poetic metap!or "or a state o" spiritual consciousness)
.!erein
s!ado.s are un<no.n) .!ere i$norance and doubt e/ist no more. But .!at is
meant
by s!ado.sQ In !is boo< o" essays The +reative Silence) 4o!it 3e!ta says
t!at t!e
absence o" s!ado.s in t!e Hall o" =isdom means t!at C!ere .e no lon$er
deal .it!
idols and ima$es. T!e realm o" indirect perception !as been le"t be!indFt!e
mind?s
processes o" comparison and contrast are no moreF"or !ere t!e Vli$!t o"
trut! s!ines
.it! un"adin$ $lory?D Gp. 88789H.
VOICE5
!!. That which is uncreate a"ides in thee, Discile, as it
a"ides in that Hall. If thou wouldBst reach it and "lend
the two, thou must divest th*self of th* dar% garments of
&:
illusion. Sti<e the voice of <esh, allow no image of the
senses to get "etween its light and thine that thus the
twain ma* "lend in one.
CT!at .!ic! is uncreateD re"ers to t!e immortal) !i$!er Triad o" #tma7Budd!i7
3anas) as distin$uis!ed "rom t!e lo.er personality .it! its temporary
-e!icles o"
consciousness. T!ese -e!icles are created ane. "or eac! incarnation) .!ile
t!e upper
Triad carries o-er "rom one incarnation to t!e ne/t.
VOICE5
Cnd having learnt thine own Ajnana, <ee from the Hall
of -earning. This Hall is dangerous in its erAdious
"eaut*, is needed "ut for th* ro"ation. ;eware, -anoo,
lest da@@led "* illusive radiance th* Soul should linger
and "e caught in its decetive light.
T!e disciple .!o is a.are o" t!e enc!antment o" t!e lo.er planes Gt!e
p!ysicalastral7
lo.er mentalH <no.s t!at t!ese realms are a trainin$ $round) or sc!ool) "or
t!e
$ro.t! o" t!e soul. It is t!rou$! a -ariety o" eart!ly e/periences .!ile
embodied in a
!ouse o" Mes! t!at t!e soul C$oes to sc!oolD and increases its store o"
.isdom.
The Voice continues to spea< o" t!is decepti-e li$!t.
VOICE5
!(. This light shines from the $ewel of the Ereat 7nsnarer,
>)ara?. The senses it "ewitches, "linds the mind, and
leaves the unwar* an a"andoned wrec%.
3ara is a demon) an #sura) or Satan as t!e C!ristian .orld <no.s !imN !e
represents t!e personi>cation o" e-il. Translated) t!e .ord means) CT!at
.!ic! <illsD
i.e.) t!at .!ic! <ills t!e soul) t!at .!ic! !inders our spiritual pro$ress. In
esoteric
p!ilosop!y 3ara is t!e personi>cation o" t!e <ind o" temptation t!at can
blind t!e
mind to all reasonN t!us pro$ress is delayed. 3ara is also re"erred to as Ct!e
$reat
testerD and plays an important role as a teac!er o" !umanity.
VOICE5
!,. The moth attracted to the da@@ling <ame of th* nightlam
is doomed to erish in the viscid oil. The unwar*
Soul that fails to grale with the moc%ing demon of
illusion, will return to earth the slave of )ara.
&8
# .ise man <no.s t!at a !ot Mame can burn) .it!out puttin$ !is !and into itN
only a "ool must ma<e t!is test. T!e la. o" <arma) .!ic! brin$s to men t!e
e/perience t!at t!ey !a-e $i-en to ot!ers) is t!is bene"actor and ultimate
liberator)
not an instrument o" -en$eance or punis!ment) as many belie-e. T!ose .!o
commit
-iolent and t!ou$!tless deeds need a -iolent <ind o" e/perience to a.a<en
t!em to
t!e conse0uences o" suc! a .ay o" li"e. =!en) t!rou$! <armic retribution) a
person
!as suBered $reatly) !e or s!e .ill be$in to re"orm) t!an<s to t!e la. o"
<arma)
.!ic! is al.ays educati-e) ne-er puniti-e.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!at is t!e si$ni>cance o" t!e t!ree !allsQ
*. =!at is t!e sil-er t!readQ
:. Ho. do .e $o about ac0uirin$ true <no.led$eQ
8. In .!at .ays do our p!ysical senses decei-e usQ
RRRRRRRRRR
T!ere is a road) steep and t!orny) beset .it! perils o" e-ery <ind) but yet a road)
and it leads to t!e -ery !eart o" t!e Eni-erseN I can tell you !o. to >nd t!ose
.!o .ill s!o. you t!e secret $ate.ay t!at opens in.ard only) and closes "ast
be!ind t!e neop!yte "or e-ermore. T!ere is no dan$er t!at dauntless coura$e
cannot con0uerN t!ere is no trial t!at spotless purity cannot pass t!rou$!N t!ere
is no diOculty t!at stron$ intellect cannot surmount. For t!ose .!o .in
on.ards t!ere is re.ard past all tellin$Ft!e po.er to bless and sa-e !umanityN
"or t!ose .!o fail, there are other lives in 'hich success may come* /Blavatsky,
+ollected !ritin#s &:5*&'H
&9
Lesson :
VOICE5
!1. ;ehold the Hosts of Souls. 2atch how the* hover oBer the
storm* sea of human life, and how eFhausted, "leeding,
"ro%en&winged, the* dro one after another on the
swelling waves. Tossed "* the Aerce winds, chased "* the
gale, the* drift into the eddies and disaear within the
Arst great vorteF.
T!e ima$ery o" s.ellin$ .a-es and >erce .inds su$$ests li"e on t!e astral
and
p!ysical planes) .!ere t!e $reater part o" !umanity e/ists .it!out a pattern
o" li"e to
"ollo.) or a star by .!ic! to steer its course. T!e diOculty is an o-erly deep
en$rossment in t!e lo.er sel") t!is bein$ t!e cause o" t!e .orld?s misery.
Here is a
"ootnote "rom Letter (, o" The Mahatma Letters re$ardin$ 3ara and t!e !ost
o" souls.
CT!is 3ara) as you may .ell t!in<) is t!e alle$orical ima$e o" t!e sp!ere
called t!e
V1lanet o" eat!?Ft!e 'hirlpool .!it!er disappear t!e lives doomed to
destructionD
G"n. p. &'9H. H1B says5 CT!ese are t!e useless drones .!o .ill peris! by t!e
millions
durin$ t!e >"t! round.D T!is means t!e closin$ o" t!e door to "urt!er pro$ress
in t!is
3an-antara. The Theosophical Glossary describes a 3an-antara as Ca period
o"
mani"estation) as opposed to 1ralaya Gdissolution) or restH) applied to -arious
cycles)
especially to a ay o" Bra!ma) 8):*+)+++)+++ Solar years.D
VOICE5
!4. If through the Hall of 2isdom, thou wouldBst reach the
Dale of ;liss, Discile, close fast th* senses against the
great dire heres* of searateness that weans thee from the
rest.
True bene>t may only be e/perienced once .e !a-e reac!ed t!e t!ird
spiritual
sta$e) t!e place o" serenityFt!e CVale o" Bliss.D T!is serenity is t!e $oal o"
bliss to
.!ic! The Voice of the Silence is directin$ t!e candidateN !e or s!e is told
t!at it can be
reac!ed by >rst passin$ t!rou$! t!e Hall o" =isdom. T!e !eresy o"
separateness
means t!at .e cannot pro$ress on t!e 1at! .it!out t!e spirit o" brot!er!ood
and o"
cooperationN .it!out t!e opportunity to pass t!rou$! t!is planet) t!is sc!ool
o"
learnin$) .!ere ot!er men and .omen to$et!er .it! our o.n actions create
circumstances to test us) .e .ould ne-er $raduate to !i$!er planes.
&(
VOICE5
!9. -et not th* Heaven&"orn, merged in the sea of )a*a,
"rea% from the Jniversal 'arent >S5J-?, "ut let the Aer*
ower retire into the inmost cham"er, the cham"er of the
Heart and the a"ode of the 2orldBs )other.
It .ould be .ise not to use our Hea-en7born "orce o" t!e Lo$os "or sel>s!
purposes. # "ootnote in The Voice says t!e >ery po.er is Sundalini) .!ic!
also
means C.orld mot!er)D one o" t!e mystic 2o$ic po.ers) and t!at it is Budd!i
.!ic!
is considered as an electro7spiritual "orce) a creati-e po.er .!ic! .!en
aroused into
action can as easily <ill as it can create. In t!e se-enteent!7century boo< Le
+omte de
Ga.alis) .e are told t!at it is possible "or t!e saints to !a-e attained union
.it! God
t!rou$! t!eir de-otion and prayer moti-ated by a constant desire and
aspiration to
come closer to God?s la.. T!is dedication and constancy liberated a spiritual
"orce in
t!ese men and .omenFa li-in$ Mame t!at acted t!rou$! t!e i-ine in man)
.it! or
.it!out t!e conscious eBort o" t!e >nite mind. =e can t!us in sa"ety set "ree
t!is
$reat po.er o" Sundalini once .e are united .it! t!e !i$!er Sel". But to try to
tamper .it! t!e po.er o" Sundalini be"ore one is ready is to court disaster.
VOICE5
!:. Then from the heart that 'ower shall rise into the siFth,
the middle region, the lace "etween thine e*es, when it
"ecomes the "reath of the 567&S5J-, the voice which
Alleth all, th* )asterBs voice.
Only .!en t!e Guru >nds t!at t!e c!ela is ready "or serious de-elopment .ill
ad-ice "or arousin$ Sundalini be $i-en under direct super-isionN ot!er.ise it
can be
a -ery dan$erous procedure) !a-in$ a serious and disrupti-e eBect on t!e
psyc!ic
nature. Sundalini rises t!rou$! t!e -arious "orce7centers <no.n as t!e
c!a<ras until
it reac!es t!e center bet.een t!e eyebro.s) .!en t!e c!ela is blessed .it!
i-ine
po.er. T!e "ourt! c!a<ra is centered in t!e !eart. T!e raisin$ o" t!e >re is
re"erred to
as bein$ CC!ristedD .!en t!e Sundalini !as been brou$!t into action. T!is is
a state
o" spiritual po.er also called t!e CSe-en Gi"ts o" t!e Holy G!ostD in t!e
C!ristian
system. It !as been said t!at t!e symbol o" t!e !uman bein$ is a treeN
ima$ine t!en
t!is tree as bein$ suddenly lit up by se-en colored li$!ts. T!is is t!e deeper
meanin$
o" our C!ristmas tree5 t!e c!a<ras are t!e li$!ts and t!e star cro.nin$ t!e
topmost
pea< is t!e Star o" Initiation) t!e comin$ into a state o" $reat spiritual po.er.
The
Secret )octrine tells us t!at) once !a-in$ arri-ed at t!is ad-anced state) .e
must $o
still "urt!er) and must part "rom t!e si/ principles in order to center oursel-es
entirely in t!e se-ent!.
&;
VOICE5
(=. MHis onl* then thou canst "ecome a 2al%er of the S%*
who treads the winds a"ove the waves, whose ste
touches not the waters.
In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) Bla-ats<y tells us t!at echara GCs<y7.al<erD or
C$oerDH is a 2o$i .!o !as become as one "ormed o" t!e .ind) as Ca cloud
"rom .!ic!
limbs !a-e sprouted outD a"ter .!ic! !e compre!ends t!e meanin$ o" t!e
Cosmos
and its .or<in$s. T!e p!rase) C.!ose step touc!es not t!e .aters)D re"ers to
one .!o
can tra-el in t!e astral body) symboli@ed by t!e e-er7c!an$in$ .aters. #t t!is
sta$e)
t!e 2o$i is deli-ered "rom all t!e p!ysical ills o" li"e) "rom t!e $allin$ po.er o"
"ate)
t!e rec<less caprice o" "ortune) and t!e $loom o" deat!. #s .e learned
earlier) t!e
2o$i bestrides Hamsa) t!e s.an) out o" time and space.
VOICE5
(1. ;efore thou setBst th* foot uon the ladderBs uer rung,
the ladder of the m*stic sounds, thou hast to hear the
voice of th* inner E5DN in seven manners.
Be"ore a candidate may be$in to "unction at t!is !i$! le-el) !e must raise !is
consciousness to t!e se-ent! 1rinciple) so t!at it be$ins to mo-e on t!e
#tmic or
Nir-anic 1lane) and t!ere prepare "or t!e >"t! initiation) t!at o" t!e #dept.
T!e
mystic sounds may be translated as t!e sounds !eard in t!e mysterious
Voice o" t!e
Silence) t!e -oice o" pure conscienceN t!ese sounds cannot be !eard .it! t!e
p!ysical
ear) "or t!ey are secretly $i-in$ $uidance "rom t!e spiritual plane.
Let us $o still "urt!er in tryin$ to understand t!e meanin$ o" Ct!e ladder o"
mystic sounds.D T!ese sounds are also called CstepsD or Csta$es)D by .!ic!
t!e
pil$rim slo.ly mounts t!is mystic ladder) $radually disen$a$in$ "rom t!e
clutc!es o"
t!e e-er demandin$ personality Gt!e lo.er sel"H) .!ic! is a -e!icle attuned to
t!e
outer .orld o" sensation.
T!is lo.er -e!icle) i" properly directed) can be used .!en under control by
t!e
!i$!er Sel". Sris!namurti) in !is little boo< (t the 0eet of the Master) spea<s
o" t!e
body as t!e animal upon .!ic! .e ride) and t!at it must be cared "or) <ept
clean and
"ed) but not pampered) "or sel>s! desires and cra-in$s are but trappin$s to
be
dispensed .it!) once t!e $reat return Kourney is be$un. 1urity o" moti-e
demands
t!at .e tra-el li$!tly and learn to de-elop t!e po.er o" non7attac!ment.
* T!e Hi$!er Sel"
&,
VOICE5
(2. The Arst is li%e the nightingaleBs sweet voice chanting a
song of arting to its mate.
(!. The second comes as the sound of a silver c*m"al of the
Dh*OnPs, awa%ening the twin%ling stars.
((. The neFt is as the laint melodious of the ocean&srite
imrisoned in its shell.
(,. Cnd this is followed "* the chant of Dina.
(1. The Afth li%e sound of "am"oo&<ute shrills in thine ear.
(4. It changes neFt into a trumet&"last.
(9. The last vi"rates li%e the dull rum"ling of a thundercloud.
(:. The seventh swallows all the other sounds. The* die, and
then are heard no more.
T!e student may obtain a little more in"ormation as to t!e "ull esoteric
meanin$
o" t!ese steps or sta$es t!rou$! "urt!er researc! in The Secret )octrine by
Helena 1.
Bla-ats<y and 0irst Principles of Theosophy by C. AinaraKadasa. It is said t!at
t!ese
sounds !eard by t!e soul could be li<ened to t!e Cmusic o" t!e sp!eres)D t!e
sound o"
t!e C.!irlin$ orbs in space.D T!e occultist belie-es t!at t!e t.el-e si$ns o"
t!e
Wodiac and t!e se-en planets "orm a soundin$ board and strin$s o" C#pollo?s
se-enstrin$ed
lyre.D E-idently t!e mystic enters into a r!yt!mic -ibration as t!e Hea-en7
=orld is entered) and it is t!en t!at t!e sounds o" t!e Inner =orld are !eard.
T!is) I
belie-e) is re"erred to as Ct!e #.a<enin$.D
#nd in re"erence to Ct!e ocean sprite imprisoned in its s!ell)D per!aps Oli-er
=endell Holmes !as !elped to e/plain t!is concept in !is poem CT!e
C!ambered
Nautilus.D He tells !o. t!e nautilus e/empli>es pro$ress in t!e e-olutionary
plan as
it constantly builds section a"ter sectionFeac! lar$er t!an t!e one be"oreFin
a spiral
s!ell) until at last it emer$es into t!e open) !a-in$ "ound its "reedom. T!e
.ord
CoceanD re"ers to t!e primordial ocean o" space) (kasha G.aterH bein$ t!e
t!ird
principle in t!e material cosmos on .!ic! Narayana) t!e sel"7born spirit
mo-es. T!e
!yanis are called t!e Se-en Sons o" Li$!t) stars t!at .atc! o-er t!e Se-en
Sacred
1lanets o" t!e Eart!7C!ain. In GeoBrey Barbor<a?s boo< The )ivine Plan) t!e
aut!or
comments5 CAust as . . . one !yani !a-in$ particular sur-eillance o-er one
$lobe and
li<e.ise o-er one 4aceJin similar manner t!e !yanis o" t!e Se-en Sacred
1lanets
act as Vprimaries? o-er t!e se-en principles o" man) one 1lanetary !yani "or
eac!
principleDGp *8;H. The Vina represents t!e astral plane. In re"erence to t!e
sentence)
CT!e se-ent! s.allo.s all t!e rest)D .e !a-e already learned t!at t!e si/
must be
&'
>nally mer$ed into t!e One. T!e number seven is used constantly) "or .e are
li-in$ in
a se-en"old .orld) and to arri-e at per"ection) .e !a-e to con0uer) or re>ne)
t!e
intermediate planes) steps up .!ic! .e must mount) to reac! t!e more
spiritual
ones. To "urt!er e/pand on t!is number se-en) let us recall t!e se-en sta$es
o" !uman
de-elopment. T!e teet! o" a c!ild appear in t!e se-ent! mont!N t!ey are
s!ed at ;
yearsN at t.ice ; puberty be$insN at t!ree times ; t!e mental and -ital
po.ers are
de-elopedN at "our times ; "ull stren$t! !as de-elopedN at >-e times ; t!e
desires are
most de-eloped. The Secret )octrine contains t!e ans.ers) but .!et!er or
not t!ey are
understood depends upon our spiritual de-elopment.
VOICE5
,=. 2hen the siF are slain and at the )asterBs feet are laid,
then is the uil merged into the 567, "ecomes that
567 and lives therein.
Once t!e c!ela !as subdued t!e senses and obtained control o-er t!e lo.er
-e!icles t!rou$! t!e po.er o" spiritual .ill) t!en !e or s!e is ready "or
ser-ice. T!e
c!ela .ill t!en be use"ul to t!ose .!o are in c!ar$e o" t!e Great E-olutionary
1lan.
T!e spar< Gt!e #tmaH .ill !a-e become as one .it! t!e Flame Gt!e
1aramatmaH.
VOICE5
,1. ;efore that ath is entered, thou must destro* th* lunar
"od*, cleanse th* mind&"od* and ma%e clean th* heart.
T!e Clunar bodyD is t!e astral "orm) t!e body o" desire) .!ic! is part o" t!e
temporal man and not t!e companion o" t!e immortal Sel". Once not!in$ o"
eart!?s
pleasures can tempt !im) t!en only may t!e union o" mind) t!e !i$!er mind)
and
spirit ta<e place. A. C. Street) t!e aut!or o" The Hidden !ay (cross the
Threshold .rites5
=!o ele-ates !imsel") isolates !imsel". #ny man .!o is bra-e enou$! to step
aside "rom all con-entionalities o" t!e time and a$e) and) i" need be) to se-er ties
o" "ormer "riends!ips and companions!ipFcon"essin$ t!at !e desires to be "ree
"rom dar<ness o" t!e past and to !a-e some in"allible $uide in matters o" Spirit)
Soul) and Trut! in t!e subKecti-e .orld) i" !e can de-ote time) patience) and
silent meditation to t!e .or<) .ill >nd a ne. .orld) a !ei$!t o" compre!ension
and ne.ness o" li"e o" .!ic! !e ne-er dreamed Gp. *8'H.
VOICE5
,2. 7ternal lifeBs ure waters, clear and cr*stal, with the
monsoon temestBs mudd* torrents cannot mingle.
*+
Li"e?s pure .aters are li<ened to a !idden sacred sprin$) .!ic!) once tasted)
causes t!ose .!o >nd it to t!irst no more.
VOICE5
,!. HeavenBs dew&dro glittering in the mornBs Arst sun&"eam
within the "osom of the lotus, when droed on earth
"ecomes a iece of cla*3 "ehold, the earl is now a sec%
of mire.
For countless centuries in t!e East) t!e lotus !as been re$arded as a symbol
o"
spiritual consciousness. T!is sacred Mo.er !as its roots deep in t!e mud o"
eart! Gt!e
p!ysical .orldHN its stem rises up t!rou$! t!e muddy .ater Ganalo$ous to t!e
emotional7desire natureH) .!ere t!e blossom) t!e end product o" $ro.t!)
t!en opens
to t!e rays o" t!e sun) symboli@in$ t!e spiritual Sel" $i-in$ "ort! its per"ume)
.!ic! is
a symbol o" radiant ser-ice o" t!e disciple in t!e t!ree .orlds. =e) as .e
stru$$le
e-er up.ard) are endea-orin$ to s!a<e oB t!e t!ic< coatin$ o" clay.
CHea-en?s
de.dropD is pure spirit) or pure consciousness) be"ore it !as become in-ol-ed
in t!e
t!in$s o" eart!. e. !as been mentioned in Sans<rit as 2E) meanin$
CbrilliantDFa
Cdrop "rom Hea-enD or Csap o" t!e Supreme Spirit.D It is interestin$ to note
t!at t!e
.ord de' is Cornis! "or God) and t!at t!e Frenc! .ord "or God is )ieu.
VOICE5
,(. Strive with th* thoughts unclean "efore the* overower
thee. Jse them as the* will thee, for if thou sarest them
and the* ta%e root and grow, %now well, these thoughts
will overower and %ill thee. ;eware, Discile, su#er not,
eBen though it "e their shadow, to aroach. .or it will
grow, increase in si@e and ower, and then this thing of
dar%ness will a"sor" th* "eing "efore thou hast well reali@ed
the "lac% foul monsterBs resence.
T!e lan$ua$e !ere is 0uite dramatic) but t!at is necessary sometimes to
ma<e a
point. Let us read .!at C. =. Leadbeater) in The +hakras) !as to say on t!e
subKect.
T!ou$!t Mies li<e li$!tnin$ t!rou$! t!e subtle matter o" t!e mental plane) so
t!e t!ou$!t o" t!e .!ole .orld on a certain subKect may easily $at!er in one
spot) and yet be accessible and attracti-e to e-ery t!in<er on t!at subKect. #stral
matter) t!ou$! so "ar >ner t!an p!ysical) is yet denser t!an t!at o" t!e mental
planeN t!e $reat clouds o" Cemotion7"ormsD .!ic! are $enerated in t!e astral
.orld by stron$ "eelin$s do not all My to t!e one7.orld7center) but t!ey do
coalesce .it! ot!er "orms o" t!e same nature in t!eir o.n nei$!bor!ood) so
t!at enormous and -ery po.er"ul Cbloc<sD o" "eelin$s are Moatin$ about almost
*&
e-ery.!ere) and a man may readily come into contact .it! t!em and be
inMuenced by t!em.
#nd so t!is .ould) I belie-e) re"er to t!e blac<) C"oul monster?s presence.D
VOICE5
,,. ;efore the m*stic 'ower can ma%e of thee a god, -anoo,
thou must have gained the facult* to sla* th* lunar form
at will.
#ut!or 4oy 3itc!ell) in Throu#h Temple )oors, says
One o" t!ese "orces) .e !a-e seen) is t!at serpent7"orce) as it is called) t!at in all
esoteric sc!ools is depicted as risin$ out o" t!e eart!) passin$ t!rou$! t!e le$s
into t!e body and lyin$ coiled around t!e epi$astric ple/us) etc. 1yt!a$oras
says o" t!e Babylonian 3a$i G3a?KiH) t!at t!ey called t!e ma$netic currents o"
t!e eart! serpents) and t!at t!ey possessed t!e po.er to direct t!em. T!e
incorporeal >re o" t!e inner man t!ey called t!e Celestial Lion. T!ese t.o) t!e
ascendin$ Serpent and t!e descendin$ Lion) t!ey said $enerated by t!eir
meetin$ t!e "arces t!at "reed t!e candidate.
#lso) in t!e boo< Le +omte de Ga.alis .e note t!at t!e lion represents t!e
lo.er side o"
!uman nature) t!at t!rou$!out anti0uity t!is symbol represented nature and
t!e
un$o-erned passions o" !umanityN so t!e <in$ o" t!e beasts) t!e lion) must
be
con0uered be"ore spiritual de-elopment is possible. T!us t!e >rst labor o"
t!e Gree<
Hercules Ga Sa-iorH .as to slay t!e lion) .!ic! symboli@ed !is lo.er nature.
VOICE5
,1. The Self of matter and the S7-. of Sirit can never meet.
5ne of the twain must disaear3 there is no lace for
"oth.
T!e aspirant .is!in$ to attain must c!oose bet.een t!e li"e o" t!e .orld and
t!at
o" t!e Spirit. It is useless and -ain to endea-or to unite t!e t.o) "or there is
no room for
.oth. Once t!e c!ela <no.s .!ic! pat! !e .is!es to ta<e) !e must t!en
proceed .it!
a >rm step. Consider t!is bit o" ad-ice le"t by t!ose .!o !a-e preceded us5
=!en .e
t!in< .e are pro$ressin$) .e may be at a standstill) and .!en .e t!in< .e
are not
pro$ressin$) .e may be ma<in$ .onder"ul strides a!ead5
**
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!at !appens to t!ose souls .it!out a star to $uide t!emQ
*. =!at name is $i-en to t!e C>ery po.er)D t!e C!ea-en7born)D and t!e
C.orldmot!erDQ
:. Name some o" t!e t!in$s a candidate must do be"ore !e may be$in
treadin$
t!e 1at!.
8. =!at is one o" t!e $reat stumblin$ bloc<s to union .it! t!e Sel"Q
RRRRRRRRRR
Come !it!er) you t!at .al< alon$ t!e .ayN
See !o. t!e pil$rims "are t!at $o astray5
T!ey catc!ed are in an entan$lin$ net)
VCause t!ey $ood counsel li$!tly did "or$et5
VTis true t!ey rescued .ere) but yet you see)
T!ey?re scour$ed to boot. Let t!is your caution be.
FAo!n Bunyan) The Pil#rim1s Pro#ress
*:
Lesson 8
VOICE5
,4. 7re th* SoulBs mind can understand, the "ud of
ersonalit* must "e crushed out, the worm of sense
destro*ed ast resurrection.
,9. Thou canst not travel on the 'ath "efore thou hast "ecome
that 'ath itself.
Fi$urati-ely spea<in$) t!e 1at! in-ol-es t!e cruci>/ion o" t!e lo.er sel")
t!ereby
settin$ "ree t!e !i$!er Sel" t!at .e may "ollo. t!e road o" ser-ice or return
to t!e
Source) accordin$ to The Voice. T!e "ootnote reads5
T!is C1at!D is mentioned in all t!e 3ystic =or<s. #s Sris!na says in t!e
2naneshvari5 C=!en t!is pat! is be!eld . . . .!et!er one sets out to t!e bloom o"
t!e East or to t!e c!ambers o" t!e =est) 'ithout movin#) O !older o" t!e bo.) is
t!e travelin# in this road. In t!is pat!) to .!ate-er place one .ould $o) that place
one1s o'n self .ecomes.D CT!ou art t!e pat!)D is said to t!e adept $uru) and by t!e
latter to t!e disciple a"ter initiation. CI am t!e .ay and t!e 1at!)D says anot!er
3#STE4.
VOICE5
,:. -et th* Soul lend its ear to ever* cr* of ain li%e as the
lotus "ares its heart to drin% the morning sun.
1=. -et not the Aerce Sun dr* one tear of ain "efore th*self
hast wied it from the su#ererBs e*e.
11. ;ut let each "urning human tear dro on th* heart and
there remain, nor ever "rush it o#, until the ain that
caused it is removed.
Compassion is essential "or t!e spiritual disciple. =e cannot close our eyes or
turn a dea" ear to t!e suBerin$ o" eit!er man or beast. Li<e t!e lotus Mo.er
t!at
opens its !eart to t!e mornin$ sun) so must .e open our !earts to t!ose
stru$$lin$
beside us in t!e dar<nessN t!us may our o.n pain be s!ared and so"tened in
selBor$et"ulness.
But it is not all pain and loneliness) "or as .e pro$ress on t!e 1at! .e
be$in to "eel a $reat Koy in our !eart at comin$ so close to t!e !eart o"
Nature and our
"ello. tra-elers. =e are no. touc!in$ t!e 4eal) t!at .!ic! .ill ta<e us
beyond t!e
unreal) peris!able t!in$s o" t!is li"e.
*8
VOICE5
12. These tears, 5 thou of heart most merciful, these are the
streams that irrigate the Aelds of charit* immortal. BTis on
such soil that grows the midnight "lossom of ;uddha
more diQcult to And, more rare to view than is the <ower
of the Doga* tree. It is the seed of freedom from re"irth. It
isolates the Crhat "oth from strife and lust, it leads him
through the Aelds of ;eing unto the eace and "liss
%nown onl* in the land of Silence and 6on&;eing.
T!e souls .it! t!e merci"ul !earts are t!ose .!o ne-er restN t!ey !a-e
c!osen to
"ollo. t!e pat! o" lo-e and ser-ice "or t!e sa<e o" suBerin$ man<ind. Not
only are
t!ese dedicated men and .omen .or<in$ out t!eir o.n <arma) but also t!ey
are
acutely a.are o" t!e suBerin$ o" ot!ers) and t!e pain .ei$!s !ea-ily upon
t!em as
t!ey scale t!e mountain to.ard #r!ats!ip and illumination. Once t!ey !a-e
reac!ed
t!at sta$e and are Cbestride t!e Bird o" Li"e)D no more eart!ly suBerin$ can
be
e/perienced) "or t!ey are outside t!e realm o" time and space. #t t!at point)
t!ey
!a-e become sel3ess.
VOICE5
1!. Gill out desire3 "ut if thou %illest it ta%e heed lest from
the dead it should again arise.
1(. Gill love of life, "ut if thou sla*est tanh, let this not "e
for thirst of life eternal, "ut to relace the <eeting "* the
everlasting.
T!ose .!o !a-e set t!eir minds on t!e 1at! and >/ed t!eir eyes on t!e
summit
are a.are o" t!e obstacles t!at .ill .aylay t!em. #nd so t!e .arrior learns to
be
prepared. T!e .ord tanh4 means t!e lo-e o" li"e) t!e desire to $rati"y t!e
sensesN t!ese
are ties .!ic! bind and .!ic! must be $radually se-ered. Sris!namurti?s
little boo<
(t the 0eet of the Master is o" $reat !elp in understandin$ some o" t!e
0uali>cations
needed "or treadin$ t!e 1at! t!at leads to.ard initiation.
VOICE5
1,. Desire nothing. Chafe not at Garma, nor at 6atureBs
changeless laws. ;ut struggle onl* with the ersonal, the
transitor*, the evanescent and the erisha"le.
#n aspirant) once !e !as c!osen t!e road !e .is!es to tra-el) accepts it
c!eer"ully) <no.in$ t!at t!e Great La. is al.ays $ust. T!e real stru$$le is
.it! t!e
personality) .!ic! is e-er tryin$ to obtain sel"7satis"action t!rou$! t!e
senses) and
*9
.it! 3ara t!e tempter .!o .ill be up to all !is tric<sN t!ese become more
subtle as
t!e aspirant ad-ances) "or !e G3araH <no.s t!at t!e mind o" t!e pil$rim is on
$uard
and a.are o" !is presence. # "ourteent!7century boo< o" C!ristian mysticism)
The
+loud of -nkno'in#) oBers t!is ad-ice to t!e aspirant5 CLoo< a!ead no. and
ne-er
mind .!at is be!indN see .!at you still need) and not .!at you !a-eN "or t!is
is !o.
mee<ness is most 0uic<ly .on and de"endedD Gp. &&,H.
VOICE5
11. Hel 6ature and wor% on with her3 and 6ature will
regard thee as one of her creators and ma%e o"eisance.
14. Cnd she will oen wide "efore thee the ortals of her
secret cham"ers, la* "are "efore th* ga@e the treasures
hidden in the ver* deths of her ure virgin "osom.
Jnsullied "* the hand of matter she shows her treasures
onl* to the e*e of Sirit8the e*e which never closes, the
e*e for which there is no veil in all her %ingdoms.
It is .ritten) CNature is con0uered by obedience.D #ll t!e "orces .e use in
modern li"e) suc! as electricity) !ydraulics) Ket propulsion) and solar po.er
are
e/amples o" our .or<in$ .it! nature) .it! t!e Great La.. =e are told a$ain
and
a$ain t!at i" .e .or< 'ith t!e la.s o" Nature) and not a#ainst them) .e
e-entually
$ain mystic po.ers not <no.n to t!e ordinary person. 1atanKali spea<s o"
t!ese in
t!e t!ird section o" t!e %o#a Sutras. T!ese po.ers are to be used e/clusi-ely
"or
assistin$ t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan and not "or sel>s! personal $ain.
Nature is composed o" li"e as .ell as matter) consciousness as .ell as "orm)
and it
is t!rou$! sympat!etic "eelin$ t!at .e become attuned to t!e li"e t!at d.ells
.it!
ot!er "orms) .!et!er it be o" t!e !uman) animal) or plant <in$dom. Li"e
e-ol-es and
pro$ress t!rou$! a myriad o" "orms "rom t!e simple to t!e comple/. T!is
may seem
stran$e to some) but T!eosop!y aOrms t!at Ce-eryt!in$ in t!e Eni-erse)
t!rou$!out
all its <in$doms) is CONSCIOES5 i*e.) endo.ed .it! a consciousness o" its o.n
<ind
and on its o.n plane o" perceptionD GThe Secret )octrine) &5*;8H. T!ere"ore)
indi-iduals .!o desire to be o" ser-ice to man<ind may !asten t!eir
e-olution by
puttin$ t!eir already $ained <no.led$e into practice) t!us !astenin$ t!eir
pro$ress.
T!e aspirant be$ins to build in t!e in-isible realms) by $i-in$ attention to t!e
inner
needs) by listenin$ to t!e .ee small -oice o" t!e inner Sel". It is said t!at
once an
indi-idual yearns to ser-e) it is instantly <no.n) and t!at !e must learn to
!eed t!e
CVoice o" t!e SilenceD .it!in !imsel") .!ic! .ill $uide !im in all !e s!ould do.
T!ese "e. .ords e/plain it to per"ection5 CLet $o) and let God.D
*(
In The )ialo#ues of G* de Purucker) t!e aut!or points out t!at initiation is
sel"con"erred5
C=!en one !as $one a!ead to t!e point .!ere !e is ready to recei-e more)
!e .ill <no. it !imsel". Ot!er.ise !e is not ready to recei-e it . . . I <no. in
my li"e I
!a-e !al" a do@en times !ad to .ait years and stru$$le to reac! a certain
point. T!en
.!en I reac!ed t!ere) I <ne. "rom t!e in.ard burst o" illumination t!at I .as
ready
to recei-e) and I recei-ed.D G&589H.
VOICE5
19. Then will she show thee the means and wa*, the Arst gate
and the second, the third, u to the ver* seventh. Cnd
then, the goal8"e*ond which lie, "athed in the sunlight
of the Sirit, glories untold, unseen "* an* save the e*e of
Soul.
CT!e means and .ay)D as .ell as t!e C$ates)D .ill be "ully e/plained in t!e
T!ird
Fra$ment o" The Voice Glesson &+H.
VOICE5
1:. There is "ut one road to the 'ath3 at its ver* end alone the
Doice of the Silence can "e heard. The ladder "* which
the candidate ascends is formed of rungs of su#ering and
ain3 these can "e silenced onl* "* the voice of virtue.
2oe, then, to thee, Discile, if there is one single vice
thou hast not left "ehind. .or then the ladder will give
wa* and overthrow thee3 its foot rests in the dee mire of
th* sins and failings, and ere thou canst attemt to cross
this wide a"*ss of matter thou hast to lave th* feet in
2aters of +enunciation. ;eware lest thou shouldBst set a
foot still soiled uon the ladderBs lowest rung. 2oe unto
him who dares ollute one rung with mir* feet. The foul
and viscous mud will dr*, "ecome tenacious, then glue
his feet unto the sot, and li%e a "ird caught in the wil*
fowlerBs lime, he will "e sta*ed from further rogress. His
vices will ta%e shae and drag him down. His sins will
raise their voices li%e as the $ac%alBs laugh and so" after
the sun goes down3 his thoughts "ecome an arm*, and
"ear him o# a cative slave.
#t t!is sta$e o" t!e 1at!) t!e disciple !as to t!ro. oB in earnest t!e cruder
and
unre>ned part o" !is nature so t!at !e may tra-el t!e pat! more sa"ely. #s
t!e
disciple climbs t!e mountain into more rare>ed planes) !e may easily
o-erloo< or
"or$et t!e .ea<nesses t!at !a-e not as yet been completely rooted out o"
t!e personal
*;
nature. I" i$nored) t!ese s!ortcomin$s .ill ine-itably cause critical problems
.!en
least e/pected. #n automobile .it! a minor .!eel ali$nment problem may
seem to
dri-e ade0uately at slo.er speeds) but .!en tra-ersin$ .indin$ roads at
muc!
!i$!er speeds) t!is sli$!t mec!anical Ma. becomes more pronounced and
e-en
dan$erous. Similarly) c!aracter Ma.s t!at .ould seem relati-ely minor to t!e
man or
.oman o" t!e .orld become seriousFe-en !a@ardousFto t!e disciple .!o
blit!ely
continues to i$nore t!eir presence .!ile scalin$ t!e "urt!er run$s o" t!e
ladder. T!e
ada$e Ct!e bi$$er t!ey are) t!e !arder t!ey "allD is supported not only by
e/amples
"rom t!e .orld o" sports) politics) and commerce) but also by sad and
un"ortunate
instances o" spiritual teac!ers t!at !a-e "allen into i$nominy and disrepute.
VOICE5
4=. Gill th* desires, -anoo, ma%e th* vices imotent, ere the
Arst ste is ta%en on the solemn $ourne*.
41. Strangle th* sins, and ma%e them dum" for ever, "efore
thou dost lift one foot to mount the ladder.
isciples .!o ma<e up t!eir mind to rid t!emsel-es o" t!eir .ea<nesses and
culti-ate all t!at is noble and >ne .it!in t!emsel-es) .ill at >rst meet .it!
muc!
resistance and become discoura$ed. It is ine-itable t!at bot! t!e $ood and
bad
0ualities .ill be brou$!t into acti-ity by t!e desire "or rapid spiritual
pro$ress. T!is
al.ays !appens .!en a person sincerely enters upon t!e spiritual 1at!) and
it .ill
!a-e to be dealt .it!. Suc! a person is .ell ad-ised to underta<e a study o"
2o$a. In
Practical %o#a) Ernest =ood .rote) C2o$a in acti-e li"e consists o" body7
conditionin$)
sel"7study) and attenti-eness to God. T!ese are t!e t!ree t!in$s to be
practiced in
e-eryday li"e) as yo$a in t!e midst o" actionD Gp. 8(H.
VOICE5
42. Silence th* thoughts and AF th* whole attention on th*
)aster whom *et thou dost not see, "ut whom thou
feelest.
#t t!is sta$e o" pro$ress) our tas< is to endea-or to >/ our attention on t!e
!i$!er
Sel") $i-in$ less and less t!ou$!t to t!e lo.er sel". In !is boo< Thou#ht
0orces) 1rentice
3ul"ord .rites)
None o" us can e/pect to belie-e and li-e up to ne. la.s) principles or met!ods
o" li"e all at once. T!ou$! con-inced o" t!eir trut! t!ere is an unyieldin$)
stubborn part o" us .!ic! is !ostile to t!em . . . T!at part is our lo.er mind.
T!ere is a supreme po.er and rulin$ "orce .!ic! per-ades and rules t!e
boundless uni-erse) you are a part o" t!is po.er. 2ou as a part !a-e t!e "aculty
*,
o" brin$in$ to you by constant silent desire) prayer or demand) more and more
o" t!e 0ualities) belon$in$s) and c!aracteristics o" t!is po.er.
VOICE5
4!. )erge into one sense th* senses, if thou wouldBst "e
secure against the foe. BTis "* that sense alone which lies
concealed within the hollow of th* "rain, that the stee
ath which leadeth to th* )aster ma* "e disclosed "efore
th* SoulBs dim e*es.
T!e CSoul?s dim eyesD re"ers to t!e soul?s $radual a.a<enin$ to t!e eternal
-erities. To Cmer$e into one sense t!y sensesD is to lose onesel" completely)
by a constant
eBort to mer$e in t!e true Sel" all our oBerin$s o" eac! day. CSee< >rst t!e
Sin$dom o" God) and its ri$!teousnessN and all t!ese t!in$s .ill be added
unto you.D
3ara?s !osts !a-e less eBect upon us i" .e ma<e a !abit o" enterin$ our
secret
c!amber and communin$ .it! our i-ine Sel".
VOICE5
4(. -ong and wear* is the wa* "efore thee, 5 Discile. 5ne
single thought a"out the ast that thou hast left "ehind,
will drag thee down and thou wilt have to start the clim"
anew.
To be in t!e position o" !a-in$ to Cstart t!e climb ane.D re"ers to t!e need to
$ain control o" one?s t!ou$!ts) .!et!er it is in relation to our daily meditation
or to
our li"e as a .!ole) .!ic! .e are endea-orin$ to re>ne. To lose t!e t!read is
to lose
t!e r!yt!mFt!at dynamic "orce .!ic! !as been built up t!rou$! constant
repetition.
So it stands to reason t!at .!en t!is r!yt!m !as been bro<en .e must be$in
all o-er
a$ain. But .ise aspirants do not .aste precious time bemoanin$ t!e "act
t!at time
!as been lostN t!ey pic< up .!ere t!ey le"t oB and continues on t!eir .ay.
VOICE5
4,. Gill in th*self all memor* of ast eFeriences. -oo% not
"ehind or thou art lost.
T!e Bible tells us t!at once a man !as put !is !and to t!e plo. and stops to
loo<
bac<) !e is not >t "or t!e Sin$dom o" Hea-en. T!e Budd!a listed doubt as
one o" t!e
Ten Fetters t!at bind us to t!e .orld o" samsara. In t!e classical 2o$a o"
1atanKali)
doubt is listed as one o" t!e obstacles to Sel"7reali@ation. Be"ore t!e
candidate ma<es
t!e commitment to tread t!e 1at!) !e or s!e may entertain some measure o"
doubtF
0uestions as to t!e -alue o" treadin$ t!e 1at!) .!et!er one is ready "or it)
.!et!er
*'
one .ill ma<e t!e sacri>ces necessaryFbut once be$un in earnest) it is "atal
to !arbor
to suc! doubts. T!e prospecti-e candidate must deliberate upon and ans.er
suc!
doubts satis"actorily .efore ma<in$ t!e commitment to "or$e a!ead. #"ter
one !as
be$un treadin$ t!e 1at!) one sin$le doubt"ul $lance bac<.ard .ill only ser-e
to
delay one?s pro$ress.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!at must t!e disciple learn to do in order to tra-el t!e 1at!Q
*. Name t!e acts o" compassion a c!ela must per"orm in order to understand
!umanity?s $reat suBerin$.
:. =!at act $enerates t!e seed o" "reedom "rom rebirt!Q
8. =!at are t!e t!in$s t!e disciple must try to C<ill outD in !imsel"Q
9. I" t!e disciple .or<s alon$ .it! Nature) !o. does s!e re.ard !imQ
6. I" t!e disciple enters occult li"e be"ore !e !as prepared !imsel" "or it) .!at
.ill
delay !is pro$ressQ
RRRRRRRRRR
Come !it!er) you t!at .al< alon$ t!e .ayN
See !o. t!e pil$rims "are t!at $o astray5
T!ey catc!ed are in an entan$lin$ net)
VCause t!ey $ood counsel li$!tly did "or$et5
VTis true t!ey rescued .ere) but yet you see)
T!ey?re scour$ed to boot. Let t!is your caution be.
FAo!n Bunyan) The Pil#rim1s Pro#ress
:+
Lesson 9
VOICE5
41. Do not "elieve that lust can ever "e %illed out if gratiAed
or satiated, for this is an a"omination insired "* )ara. It
is "* feeding vice that it eFands and waFes strong, li%e
to the worm that fattens on the "lossomBs heart.
He .!o is see<in$ t!e Li$!t must e-er be on $uard a$ainst t!e traps and
pit"alls
.!ic! lie in .ait "or !im as !e labors up t!e sacred mountain) and t!e most
dan$erous o" t!em is sel"7conceit) closely "ollo.ed by -anity and "alse pride.
For) as
.e are told o-er and o-er a$ain) t!e !i$!er .e climb t!e !arder .e s!all "all
i" .e
err. #s .e $ro. in understandin$ and compassion) .e become increasin$ly
sensiti-eN it is t!is !ei$!tened de$ree o" sensiti-ity t!at ma<es us so
pain"ully a.are
o" our s!ortcomin$s and mista<es) and t!ereby causes acute suBerin$ to t!e
aspirant.
But as !e pro$resses !e becomes less and less attracted to t!e t!in$s o" t!is
eart!) "or
!e is be$innin$ to sense t!e stren$t! o" t!e spirit and t!e peace o" t!e soul
as !e
<eeps !is eyes >/ed upon t!e pinnacle o" t!e mountain. It is t!en t!at Satan
G3araH is
said to !ea-e a si$! o" relie" "or !e !as one soul less to tempt and taunt) and
so lea-es
t!e .eary but -ictorious pil$rim to proceed unmolested "or t!e remainder o"
t!e
Kourney. He <no.s t!at !is .or< is done and t!at t!e only enemy no. .ill be
t!ose
o" t!e pil$rim?s o.n ma<in$Fpride and t!e misuse o" spiritual po.er.
I" 3ara and !is ser-ants o" dar<ness did not test and c!allen$e t!ose .!o
desired to enter t!e realm o" t!e $ods) t!en .e s!ould !a-e but .ea<lin$s to
.atc!
o-er us and rule t!e .orlds. C!elas are .arned be"ore t!ey ta<e t!eir >rst
step on t!e
1at! t!at it .ill not be easy) t!at it .ill be -ery diOcultN "or t!e ultimate
stru$$le
ta<es place not on some e/ternal battle>eld in t!e .orld) but .it!in t!e
subKecti-e
>eld o" one?s o.n consciousness. 3ara <no.s t!is) and !e is terrible in !is
testin$)
only $i-in$ up .!enFCCalm and unmo-ed t!e pil$rim $lidet! up t!e stream
t!at to
Nir-ana leads. He <no.et! t!at t!e more !is "eet .ill bleed) t!e .!iter .ill
!imsel"
be .as!ed. He <no.et! .ell t!at a"ter se-en s!ort and Meetin$ birt!s
Nir-ana .ill
be !is . . . D GThe Voice) -s. *';H.
One -ersion !as it t!at t!is prince o" dar<ness) Satan) .as $i-en t!is Kob o"
tryin$
souls) because o" past disobedience) and only by t!eir resistance to !im)
could !e
!ope to re$ain step by step !is place in t!e Hierarc!y o" #n$elic Bein$s.
3arie
Corelli spea<s t!us o" t!e "allen #n$el on pa$e 89, o" !er contro-ersial no-el
The
:&
Sorro's of Satan5 C#rise) Luci"er) Son o" t!e 3ornin$X One soul reKects t!eeNF
one
!our o" Koy is $ranted t!eeX Hence) and ariseXD #nd so) .e loo< upon t!e
opposin$
"orces as t!e unconscious 0uic<ener) ma<in$ possible t!e birt! o" t!e
spiritual nature
in man.
VOICE5
44. The rose must re&"ecome the "ud "orn of its arent stem,
"efore the arasite has eaten through its heart and drun%
its life&sa.
To lin$er and mo-e about aimlessly at t!e "oot o" a mountain poses little
dan$er)
but .!en one !as made t!e eBort to climb !al".ay up t!e mountain) to
lin$er and
.aste time is ris<y and !a@ardous. T!e aspirant?s Kob is to !asten t!e union
.it! t!e
!i$!er Sel" be"ore t!e lo.er sel" s!ould depri-e t!e aspirant o" t!e .ill
needed to
stri-e "or.ard to t!e pinnacle o" Sel"7reali@ation. T!e meanin$ o" t!e
statement t!at
Ct!e rose must re7become t!e budD can be $leaned "rom t!e "ollo.in$ lines
"rom t!e
Stan@as o" @yan5 CI !a-e clot!ed mysel" in t!ee) and t!ou art my -e!icle to
t!e day
Vbe7.it!7us)? .!en t!ou s!alt re7become mysel" . . .D G;5;H.
VOICE5
49. The golden tree uts forth its $ewel&"uds "efore its trun%
is withered "* the storm.
T!e C$olden treeD represents t!e enli$!tened !uman bein$) and t!e Ke.els
!is
se-en centers Gt!e c!a<rasH. Let us read .!at 4oy 3itc!ell !as to say about
t!em in
!is boo< Throu#h Temple )oors5
I"Fremember t!at t!e ner-es run t!rou$! t!e body and out to its sur"ace at
e-ery pointF.e ima$ine t!e ner-es as dissected "rom t!e body and maintained
in Situ .e .ould only !a-e a -astly intricate mes!7replica o" t!e $eneral "orm
o" t!e body. T!is t!e Hermetic .riters said .as t!e outer and p!ysical
mani"estation o" an inner mes! t!ey called T!e House o" Net) t!e !ouse o"
.!ic! Tot!7Hermes .as master. T!at is to say) t!at o" a subtler $rade o" matter
t!an t!e ner-es) and correspondin$ in e-ery detail o" s!ape and position to
t!em) is anot!er mes!) a true one o" .!ic! t!e p!ysical ner-es are only t!e
ima$e. T!is) t!ey said) is t!e core or armature o" t!e double) t!at subtle body
.!ic! is t!e central "actor in all mystery systems) t!e body o" t!e resurrection.
Furt!er on !e says5
To t!e clair-oyant eye) !o.e-er) t!e true ner-es are said to be radiant .it! li"e
and color and t!e coursin$ ener$ies .e <no. only by t!eir eBects are described
as bein$ luminous currents passin$ to and "ro alon$ t!e real Nadis o" t!e subtle
:*
body. =!ere .e !a-e a t!read o" ner-e >bre) t!e subtle mes! s!o.s a s!inin$
t!readN .!ere t!ere is a ple/us or $an$lionFcalled also a lotus Ke.elFt!ere is
in t!e inner body a bri$!t) starry centre. T!is is .!y t!e et!eric double !as been
called) time out o" mind) t!e astral or sidereal body) as !a-in$ a starry radiance.
CBe"ore its trun< is .it!ered by t!e storm)D su$$ests t!at t!e disciple s!ould
be$in .or<in$ on !is -e!icles in order to re$ain !is God!ead be"ore t!is
3an-antara
comes to an end) .!en t!e lon$ CsleepD G1ralayaH o-erta<es !im. T!ese $reat
cycles
may be compared to our seasons in .!ic! sprin$ brin$s "ort! li"e and .inter
.it!dra.s it a$ain into !er bosom. T!ose souls .!o are indiBerent to t!e
callin$ o"
t!eir Hi$!er Sel-es) H1B re"ers to as Cla$$ards5D
#s t!e la$$ards in a race stru$$le and plod in t!eir >rst 0uarter .!ile t!e -ictor
darts past t!e $oal) so) in t!e race o" immortality) some souls outspeed all t!e
rest and reac! t!e end) .!ile t!eir myriad competitors are toilin$ under t!e
load o" matter) close to t!e startin$7point. Some un"ortunates "all out entirely)
and lose all c!ance o" t!e pri@eN some retrace t!eir steps and be$in a$ain. G,sis
-nveiled) &5:8(H.
VOICE5
4:. The uil must regain the child-state he has lost, Mere the
Arst sound can fall uon his ear.
T!e Cc!ild7stateD could mean t!at t!e personality !as no more inMuence o-er
t!e
indi-idual Gt!e E$oH and t!at !e stands be"ore t!e 3aster in all !is purity)
innocent o"
any e-il. T!en) and t!en only) is t!e aspirant ready "or "urt!er spiritual
<no.led$e.
T!ere is also anot!er meanin$ "or t!e c!ild7state) .!ic! is t!at CLittle OnesD
in t!e
Gospels re"ers to t!e initiates o" .!om Aesus .as one. 1aul is re"erred to in
t!e
Talmud as CLittle One.D The Voice a$ain re"ers to t!e Csound.D T!e sound t!at
"alls
upon t!e ear o" t!e aspirant may be re"erred to as t!e se-en"old mystery o"
initiation.
Orp!eus) accordin$ to The Secret )octrine G*59*'H) .as a $reat teac!erN !e
tau$!t
!armony and .as usually depicted .it! a se-en7strin$ed lyre) a symbol o"
t!e se-en"old
mystery.
VOICE5
9=. The light from the 567 )aster, the one unfading golden
light of Sirit, shoots its e#ulgent "eams on the discile
from the ver* Arst. Its ra*s thread through the thic% dar%
clouds of matter.
T!e !i$!er Sel" is e-er s!eddin$ its bene>cent beams on t!e disciple) and it
is "or
t!e aspirant to be on t!e alert to catc! t!e Mas!es o" inspiration t!rou$! !is
intuition.
::
To still t!e mind and to <eep it as limpid as a mountain stream is one o" t!e
lessons
t!at The Voice tries to impress upon us.
VOICE5
91. 6ow here, now there, these ra*s illumine it, li%e sunsar%s
light the earth through the thic% foliage of the
$ungle growth. ;ut, 5 Discile, unless the <esh is
assive, head cool, the soul as Arm and ure as <aming
diamond, the radiance will not reach the chamber, its
sunlight will not warm the heart, nor will the m*stic
sounds of the C%Oshic heights reach the ear, however
eager, at the initial stage.
CT!e mystic sounds)D or melody !eard by t!e ascetic at t!e be$innin$ o" !is
cycle
o" meditation) comes "rom t!e #<as!ic !ei$!ts) t!e primary substance o"
.!ic! et!er
is one o" t!e lo.er mani"estations in our solar system. #ir is t!e Great Breat!
in
#<as!a) and it is t!at .!ic! $i-es rise to t!is "eelin$ o" touc! Gt!e inner
touc!H to
.!ic! The Voice re"ers in t!e ne/t "e. para$rap!s.
VOICE5
92. Jnless thou hearest, thou canst not see.
9!. Jnless thou seest thou canst not hear. To hear and see this
is the second stage.
In Talks on the Path of 5ccultism) .e learn t!at unless t!e candidate is
responsi-e
to t!e inner -oice) and t!at unless !e understands t!e spiritual la.s and
loo<s upon
t!in$s .it! t!e eyes o" spirit) !e .ill ne-er see t!e outer t!in$s as t!ey really
are. To
alternate bet.een meditation and li"e e/perience re0uires a balanced
interplay o" t!e
inner and t!e outer. T!e +loud of -nkno'in# su$$ests t!at t!ere are t.o
li-es to be
li-ed simultaneouslyFone o" contemplation and t!e ot!er o" an acti-e
nature) t!e
acti-e nature bein$ t!e lo.er) and contemplati-e t!e !i$!er. CIt is t!e nature
o" t!e
acti-e li"e bot! to be be$un and ended in t!is li"e. Not so) !o.e-er) o" t!e
contemplati-e li"e) .!ic! is be$un in t!is li"e and s!all last .it!out endD G*5
&:;H.
CHi$!erD and Clo.erD in t!is conte/t are not peKorati-e termsN bot! aspects
are
necessary) but C!i$!erD and Clo.erD "ul>ll diBerent "unctions.
VOICE5
9(. 2hen the discile sees and hears, and when he smells and
tastes, e*es closed, ears shut, with mouth and nostrils
stoed3 when the four senses "lend and read* are to
:8
ass into the Afth, that of the inner touch8then into stage
the fourth he hath assed on.
In order to become ac0uainted .it! t!e inner Sel") t!e aspirant must learn to
.it!dra. .it!in and $i-e !isY!er .!ole attention to t!e Voice) .!ic! abides
in t!e
silence. T!e "ollo.in$ may be o" interest in $ettin$ to understand t!e inner
meanin$
o" t!e Csenses5D
I Si#ht J a symbol o" perception o" t!e trut! by t!e intellect or t!e soul.
I Hearin# J t!e intuiti-e perception o" t!e trut! "rom .it!in t!e soul.
I Smell J a state .!erein t!e aspirant learns somet!in$ "rom t!at inner
condition.
I Taste J a state in .!ic! t!e aspirant .e#ins to kno' somet!in$ o" t!is
inner
state.
I Touch J !e is no. in touch .it! t!is inner state or conditionN !e no.
<no.s.
=!en a man or .oman kno's) !e or s!e becomes t!e La..
VOICE5
9,. Cnd in the Afth, 5 sla*er of th* thoughts, all these again
have to "e %illed "e*ond reanimation.
T!is rat!er dramatic lan$ua$e re"ers to t!e necessity o" eliminatin$ all
undesirable t!ou$!ts "rom one?s mental >eld.
91. 2ithhold th* mind from all eFternal o"$ects, all eFternal
sights. 2ithhold internal images, lest on th* Soul&light a
dar% shadow the* should cast.
94. Thou art now in DHR+C6R, the siFth stage.
E-ery sense on t!is plane Gt!e si/t! sta$eH !as to be silenced be"ore t!e ne/t
plane
Gt!e se-ent! sta$eH may be reac!ed. It is t!is se-ent! sta$e t!at is t!e most
spiritual
and is t!e source o" intuition. In t!e openin$ passa$e o" The Voice) i" you
remember) is
t!is admonition5 CHe .!o .ould !ear t!e -oice o" Nada) t!e soundless
Sound) and
compre!end it) !e !as to learn t!e nature o" !arana.D =!en !arana is
reac!ed and
mind ceases to "unction in relation to t!e t!in$s o" t!e e/ternal .orld) .!en
.e !a-e
closed it out and entered into our o.n secret c!amber) t!en t!e se-ent!
sense can be
reac!ed. #s men and .omen pro$ress in t!eir e-olutionary pil$rima$e) t!e
intuiti-e
po.ers increase) and t!ey rely less and less upon t!e >nite mind "or
assistance) "or
t!ey are be$innin$ to recei-e instruction strai$!t "rom t!e Source) "rom t!e
O-er7sel".
:9
VOICE5
99. 2hen thou hast assed into the seventh, 5 ha* one,
thou shalt erceive no more the sacred three, for thou
shalt have "ecome that three th*self. Th*self and mind,
li%e twins uon a line, the star which is th* goal, "urns
overhead. The three that dwell in glor* and in "liss
ine#a"le, now in the world of )a*a have lost their
names. The* have "ecome one star, the Are that "urns "ut
scorches not, that Are which is the JOdhi of the .lame.
1assin$ "rom concentration G!aranaH to meditation G!yanaH) t!e aspirant
enters t!e Budd!ic consciousness. T!is state is t!en CT!ysel".D T!e lo.er
mind
GmanasH !as been silencedN t!e mind7principle !as been raised to t!e plane
o" Budd!i)
so t!at no. t!e t.o are Cli<e t.ins upon a line.D T!e star t!at Cburns
o-er!eadD is
t!e star o" initiation) Ct!e T!ree in One.D
VOICE5
9:. Cnd this, 5 Sogi of success, is what men call Dh*ana, the
right recursor of Samadhi.
#s e/plained in t!e "ootnote o" The Voice) !yana is t!e last sta$e be"ore t!e
>nal
one on t!is eart!) unless t!e candidate becomes a "ull 3a!atma. T!e 4aKa
2o$i) t!e
aut!or says) is yet spiritually conscious o" t!e .or<in$s o" !is !i$!er
principles) but
one step more) and !e .ill be mer#ed into the 5ne. T!is is Samad!i) t!at
Cstate in
.!ic! t!e ascetic loses complete consciousness o" e-ery indi-iduality
includin$ !is
o.nD "or !e !as become t!e #LL.
VOICE5
:=. Cnd now th* Self is lost in S7-., thyself unto THSS7-.,
merged in THCT S7-. from which thou Arst didst
radiate.
:1. 2here is th* individualit*, -anoo, where the -anoo
himselfT It is the sar% lost in the Are, the dro within the
ocean, the ever&resent +a* "ecome the Cll and the
eternal radiance.
#s .e be$in to reali@e t!at t!e personality is merely t!e e$ocentric VI)? and
.e
be$in to raise our center o" consciousness to t!e !i$!er Sel") t!ere comes a
sta$e
.!en .e disco-er) as a "act o" e/perience) t!at t!at our consciousness is
Vyou? not VI?.
T!is may sound li<e nonsense to t!e rational mind) but many mystics o"
-arious
reli$ious traditions !a-e !ad e/traordinary e/periences in .!ic! t!e sense o"
:(
personal sel" melted a.ay and .as replaced by a -ery real sense o" bein$
part o"
somet!in$ muc! bi$$er and e/pansi-e) and it is in suc! transcendent
e/periences
t!at t!e lo.er sel" becomes lost in t!e !i$!er Sel". In ot!er .ords) .e !a-e
used t!e
lo.er mind7-e!icle to reac! t!e !i$!er. =e cannot possibly attain to spiritual
"reedom .it!out t!e !elp o" t!e lo.er sel") but >rst .e must discipline and
train it to
ser-e t!e needs o" t!e E$o) or Soul.
VOICE5
:2. Cnd now, -anoo, thou art the doer and the witness, the
radiator and the radiation, -ight in the Sound, and the
Sound in the -ight.
:!. Thou art acLuainted with the Ave imediments, 5 "lessed
one. Thou art their conLueror, the )aster of the siFth,
deliverer of the four modes of Truth. The light that falls
uon them shines from th*self, 5 thou who wast discile,
"ut art Teacher now.
T!e C>-e impedimentsD are t!e <no.led$e o" misery and trut! re$ardin$
!uman
"railties) oppressi-e restraints) and t!e absolute necessity o" separation "rom
all ties o"
passion) and e-entually o" desire. T!e Four Noble Trut!s) as tau$!t to t!e
.orld by
t!e Lord Budd!a) .ere5 &H Sorro.) *H Sorro.?s Cause) :H Sorro.s Ceasin$)
and 8H t!e
=ay.D Budd!a endea-ored to s!o. man<ind !o. to !a-e a !and in its o.n
Sarma)
t!us !elpin$ to pre-ent muc! blunderin$ alon$ t!e .ay) so.in$ t!istle7seed
and
"ore-er reapin$ t!istles. T!e Four Noble Trut!s may be "ound in Sir Ed.in
#rnold?s
The Li#ht of (sia Gp. &,:7&,,H.
VOICE5
#nd o" t!ese modes o" Trut!5 J
:(. Hast thou not assed through %nowledge of all miser*8
Truth the ArstT
:,. Hast thou not conLuered the )arasB Ging at Tsi, the ortal
of assem"ling8truth the secondT
:1. Hast thou not sin at the third gate destro*ed and truth the
third attainedT
:4. Hast not thou entered Tau, the 'ath that leads to
%nowledge8the fourth truthT
:;
H1B says in a "ootnote t!at C. . . t!e "our modes o" trut! are) in Nort!ern
Budd!ism5 u) suBerin$ or miseryN Tu) t!e assemblin$ o" temptationsN Mu)
t!eir
destructionsN Tau) t!e pat!.D
VOICE5
:9. Cnd now, rest Bneath the ;odhi tree, which is erfection
of all %nowledge, for, %now, thou art the )aster of
SC)CDHI8the state of faultless vision.
T!e name Budd!a comes "rom t!e .ord Budh meanin$ Cto a.a<enD and
si$ni>es Ct!e Enli$!tened OneDN t!is includes e-ery soul .!o !as -an0uis!ed
i$norance and ac!ie-ed supreme .isdom. T!e ascetic !as become one .it!
t!e #LL)
!e !as returned "rom .!ence !e came. He met !imsel" on t!e pat!) !e
tau#ht !imsel"
on t!e pat!) and !e .ecame t!at pat!) all a part o" !imsel".
VOICE5
::. ;eholdU thou hast "ecome the light, thou has "ecome the
Sound, thou art th* )aster and th* Eod. Thou art
THSS7-. the o"$ect of th* search/ the D5IC7 un"ro%en,
that resounds throughout eternities, eFemt from change,
from sin eFemt, the seven sounds in one, the
D5IC7 5. TH7 SI-76C7
1==. Om Tat Sat
(um Tat Sat is one o" t!e Great Trut!s o" t!e Hindus. T!e .ord (um)
sometimes pronounced 5m) is used at t!e be$innin$ and end o" e-ery $ood
.or< or t!ou$!t) because it is a .ord o" po.er) symboli@in$ i-ine Creation
GTat means CT!atDH. T!ere"ore C#um Tat SatD means CT!at .!ic! is 4eal.D
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!at role does 3ara play in our daily li-esQ
*. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e $olden tree and its Ke.el7budsQ
:. =!at is t!e diBerence bet.een a 3an-antara and a 1ralayaQ
8. =!at does Cc!ild7stateD meanQ
9. =!y is a balanced interplay o" acti-ity and contemplation necessaryQ
(. Ho. is t!e lo.er sel" necessary in !elpin$ us to attain enli$!tenmentQ
:,
Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T.o
THE T=O 1#THS
Lesson (
VOICE5
1=1. Cnd now, 5 Teacher of Comassion, oint thou the wa*
to other men. ;ehold, all those who %noc%ing for
admission, await in ignorance and dar%ness, to see the
gate of the Sweet -aw <ung oenU
T!is Second Fra$ment opens .it! t!e Guru Gteac!erH addressin$ t!e
candidate
.!o is nearin$ t!e summit o" t!e 1at!) .!ere !e .ill !a-e to ma<e a c!oiceN
and t!e
0uestion arises5 .ill t!e disciple $o on.ard into Nir-anic Bliss) !eedless o"
t!ose le"t
be!ind Mounderin$ in t!eir i$norance) or .ill !e turn bac< "rom t!e t!res!old
and
!elp !umanityQ T!is is t!e c!oice o" t!e t.o 1at!s.
VOICE5
The voice of the Candidates/
1=2. Shalt not thou, )aster of thine own )erc*, reveal the
Doctrine of the HeartT Shalt thou refuse to lead th*
Servants unto the 'ath of -i"erationT
T!e candidate is not as yet too sure .!ic! 1at! !e s!ould ta<e. It is said t!at)
as
t!e Lord Budd!a sat under t!e Bod!i tree on t!e mornin$ "ollo.in$ !is
illumination)
!e doubted .!et!er t!e .orld .ould understand t!e <no.led$e !e .is!ed to
impart to it. Suddenly !e !eard a -oice as o" t!e eart! in pain .!ic! cried5
CSE4EL2 I
#3 LOST) I #N 32 C4E#TE4ES5 O SE14E3E) LET TH2 G4E#T L#= BE ETTE4ED GBoo< t!e
Se-ent!) The Li#ht of (sia, p.&9:H.
VOICE5
Vuoth the Teacher/
1=!. The 'aths are two3 the great 'erfections three3 siF are the
Dirtues that transform the "od* into the Tree of
Gnowledge.
T!e t.o 1at!s) .rites H1B) are de>ned t!us5 CT!e open 1at! is one tau$!t to
t!e
layman) t!e e/oteric and t!e $enerally acceptedN .!ile t!e Secret 1at! is one
t!e
nature o" .!ic! is e/plained at initiation.D T!e Secret Heart o" t!in$s is
re-ealed in
:'
t!e esoteric doctrine) touc!in$ on t!e inner mysteries. C?T!e Tree o"
Sno.led$e? is a
title $i-en to t!ose .!o !a-e attained to t!e !ei$!t o" mystic <no.led$e.D
T!e tree
also represents manF.it! !is roots deep in t!e mire o" eart!7li"e subKectin$
!im to
t!e ra-a$es o" time) .!ile !is branc!es stretc! !ea-en.ard) e-er aspirin$
to.ard t!e
God!ead. T!ere is a tree in ancient symbolism depicted .it! its roots in
!ea-en) and
its branc!es stretc!ed do.n to.ard eart!. T!is tree su$$ests spiritual unionN
!a-in$
passed beyond t!e need "or eart!ly sustenance) it s!o.ers its "ruits upon all
.!o
need spiritual $uidance. T!ere is no more t!ou$!t o" sel"N at t!is sta$e the
'hole of
humanity is part of himself.
VOICE5
1=(. 2ho shall aroach themT
1=,. 2ho shall Arst enter themT
1=1. 2ho shall Arst hear the doctrine of two 'aths in one, the
truth unveiled a"out the Secret HeartT The -aw which,
shunning learning, teaches 2isdom, reveals a tale of
woe.
T!e Ct.o 1at!s in oneD are e/plained as t!e open Ge/otericH and t!e closed
GesotericH) or .!at are sometimes re"erred to as t!e !ead and t!e !eart
doctrine. T!e
>rst is "urt!er e/plained as bein$ t!e pat! o" !ead7learnin$) .!ile t!e
doctrine o" t!e
Secret Heart is t!e pat! ta<en by a "uture sa-ior o" man<ind. T!e t.o pat!s
are one
to be$in .it!) but t!ey separate .!en t!e c!oice bet.een t!e t.o !as to be
made)
.!et!er to enter t!e .ell7earned Bliss) "ree at last "rom t!e .orld?s turmoil)
or to turn
"rom t!e t!res!old .!ere -ictory is .it!in $rasp) to return to !elp t!e .orld.
CT!e
La. .!ic! . . . teac!es =isdom re-eals a tale o" .oe.D It is not an easy La.)
"or t!ere
is muc! sacri>ce re0uired) in "act) a complete renunciation o" t!e personal
sel" is
necessary in order t!at t!e disciple?s -e!icles be rendered absolutely pure to
recei-e
t!e $uidin$ po.er o" t!e Supreme. T!e Ctale o" .oeD teac!es t!at t!e $reat
suBerin$
o" man<ind is due to i$norance) and t!is causes !umanity?s $reat pain.
VOICE5
1=4. Clas, alas, that all men should ossess Cla*a, "e one
with the great Soul, and that ossessing it, Cla*a should
so little avail themU
=e are told t!at eac! one o" us is a ray o" #laya) a spar< o" i-inity. =e are
all
lin<ed to t!e Eni-ersal Soul G#layaH) also called t!e O-ersoul by 4alp! =aldo
Emerson and 1aul Brunton. =e are all lin<ed to t!e Eni-ersal Soul) t!e 3aster
Soul
or #tma. CEac! man)D says H1B) C!a-in$ a ray o" it in !im) and bein$
supposed to be
8+
able to identi"y !imsel" .it!) and to mer$e !imsel" into it.D E-ery animate
and
inanimate t!in$ possesses a spar< o" t!is Li$!t) .!ic! .ill one day Gin some
"uture
3an-antaraH be "anned into a $reat Mame) as t!e i-inity ens!rined .it!in
e/presses
itsel" more and more. T!en indeed) .ill t!ere be a -eritable !ea-en on eart!.
To
possess t!e seed GpotentialH o" i-inity .it!in us) and yet do not!in$ about
it) is
.!at is bein$ deplored !ere in -erse &+;.
VOICE5
1=9. ;ehold how li%e the moon, re<ected in the tranLuil
waves, Cla*a is re<ected "* the small and "* the great, is
mirrored in the tiniest atoms, *et fails to reach the heart
of all. Clas, that so few men should roAt "* the gift, the
riceless "oon of learning truth, the right ercetion of
eFisting things, the Gnowledge of the non&eFistentU
#laya) t!e Eni-ersal Soul) is t!e root and basis o" allN in-isible and
incompre!ensible
to !uman eye and intellect) it can reMect only its o.n reMection) not itsel".
T!e >nite mind) .e are told) cannot $rasp t!e occult meanin$ o" t!ese
mysteries. =e
must learn to still our t!in<in$ be"ore .e may <no. t!e incompre!ensible) as
parado/ical as t!at may sound. T!e moon) accordin$ to t!e Secret )octrine)
is a
"ormer li-in$ planet) t!e literal mot!er o" our planet eart!) "rom .!ic! its
substance
.as deri-ed.
T!e reader may !a-e noticed by t!is time t!at t!ere is muc! repetition in
The
Voice) purposely so) in order to impress a trut! upon t!e mind.
VOICE5
Sait! t!e pupil5
1=:. 5 Teacher, what shall I do to reach to 2isdomT
11=. 5 2ise one, what, to gain erfectionT
111. Search for the 'aths. ;ut, 5 -anoo, "e of clean heart
"efore thou startest on th* $ourne*. ;efore thou ta%est
th* Arst ste learn to discern the real from the false, the
ever&<eeting from the everlasting. -earn a"ove all to
searate Head&learning from Soul&2isdom, the 7*e
from the Heart doctrine.
CNo occult pro$ress is possible "or man .!ile !e is e/tremely i$norant)D so
say
t!e aut!ors in Talks on the Path of 5ccultism. T!ey $o on to say t!at)
!o.e-er muc!
one may be intellectually de-eloped in ot!er areas) .it!out <no.led$e o" t!e
1at!
and t!e Trut!) it is not possible to ad-ance in t!e realm o" t!e occult.
8&
T!eosop!y tells us o" t!e $reat destiny a.aitin$ us all) and so it is absolutely
necessary t!at .e put our <no.led$e into practice and be$in to "an t!at
inner Mame.
In 1atanKali?s speci>c sense) 2o$a is t!e ma$ic .and) a process by .!ic! .e
can
c!an$e oursel-es) t!at is to say) to $et our lo.er -e!icles under control) so
t!at t!ey
lea-e us "ree to proceed on t!e 1at! unmolested. 2o$a is a system .!ereby
per"ect
!armony is establis!ed bet.een t!e lo.er sel" and t!e E$o) or !i$!er Sel".
VOICE5
112. Sea, ignorance is li%e unto a closed and airless vessel3 the
soul a "ird shut u within. It war"les not, nor can it stir a
feather3 "ut the songster mute and torid sits, and of
eFhaustion dies.
T!e E$o) t!e soul) !as to be culti-ated li<e anyt!in$ else) and it needs t!e
pure
air o" spirit) t!e atmosp!ere o" aspiration and o" !i$! t!ou$!t in .!ic! to
$ro.N "or
not to aspire to $reater !ei$!ts is to remain eart!7bound) burdened .it!
mundane
and pedestrian t!ou$!ts t!at cannot rise to t!e le-el .!ere an$elic
inMuences are "elt.
VOICE5
11!. ;ut even ignorance is "etter than Head&learning with no
Soul&2isdom to illuminate and guide it.
CHead7learnin$D alone is not enou$! "or t!e pil$rim on t!e 1at!. Let us read
.!at A. Sris!namurti says in (t the 0eet of the Master5
T!e .isdom .!ic! enables you to !elp) t!e .ill .!ic! directs t!e .isdom) t!e
lo-e .!ic! inspires t!e .illFt!ese are your 0uali>cations. =ill) =isdom and
Lo-e are t!e t!ree aspects o" t!e Lo$osN and you) .!o .is! to enroll yoursel-es
to ser-e Him) must s!o. "ort! t!ese aspects in t!e .orld. Gp. ;&H
VOICE5
11(. The seeds of 2isdom cannot srout and grow in airless
sace. To live and rea eFerience the mind needs
"readth and deth and oints to draw it towards the
Diamond Soul. See% not those oints in Mayas realm3
"ut soar "e*ond illusions, search the eternal and the
changeless SCT, mistrusting fanc*Bs false suggestions.
T!e aspirant needs pointers) intuitional ideas) to dra. !im up.ard.
1aracelsus
re"erred to t!em as t!e C1rimordial Essence)D a spiritual "orce) in-isible)
incompre!ensible) .!ic! is in-ested .it! t!e ori$inal po.er o" li"e) .it!out
"ormF
t!e matri/ o" all created t!in$s. T!ey are t!e seeds out o" .!ic! all creatures
!a-e
8*
$ro.n. T!ese points) or ideas) must be o" an intuitional nature) and t!ey
must be "ree
o" illusion.
VOICE5
11,. .or mind is li%e a mirror3 it gathers dust while it re<ects.
It needs the gentle "ree@es of Soul&2isdom to "rush
awa* the dust of our illusions. See% 5 ;eginner, to "lend
th* )ind and Soul.
T!e mind must be "ree "rom cluttered t!in<in$ i" it is to recei-e spiritual
$uidance) Kust as t!e p!oto$rap!er?s plate is prepared to recei-e an
impression. H1B
says t!at t!e metap!or o" dust on t!e mirror represents t!e accumulated
preKudices)
illusions) and "ancies t!at cloud our astral and mental bodies. T!ese) s!e
says) are
obstacles to our pro$ress.
VOICE5
111. Shun ignorance, and li%ewise shun illusion. Cvert th* face
from world decetions3 mistrust th* senses, the* are false.
;ut within th* "od*8the shrine of th* sensations8see%
in the Imersonal for the eternal man3 and having
sought him out, loo% inward/ thou art ;uddha.
I" .e are serious about treadin$ t!e 1at!) .e do not .aste muc! time on t!e
tri-ialities t!at ma<e up most popular "orms o" entertainment. Time is
precious and
not to be .asted. Aust as an at!lete in trainin$ "or competition .ill curtail
sociali@in$
and ot!er di-ersions o" time and ener$y) t!e true aspirant .ill approac! t!e
1at!
.it! t!e same de$ree o" seriousness and dedication t!at a pro"essional
at!lete does
.!en in trainin$. =e all !a-e our allotted time durin$ an incarnation to do
.it! as
.e please5 .e are "ree to idle in t!e mar<et place and "ritter our time a.ay in
"ri-olities and -acuous pursuits) or .e ma<e t!e decision to s!oulder our
<arma
bra-ely as .e place our "eet >rmly on t!e pat! leadin$ !ome.
VOICE5
114. Shun raise, 5 Devotee. 'raise leads to self&delusion.
Th* "od* is not self, th* S7-. is in itself without a "od*,
and either raise or "lame a#ects it not.
3any people !a-e been spoiled by undue praise) "or it o"ten leads to pride)
and
as t!e sayin$ $oes) pride $oet! be"ore a "all. T!e personality must ta<e a
bac< seat i"
t!e disciple .is!es to culti-ate t!e inner Sel". To repeat as o"ten as .e can)
CNot my
.ill) but T!ine be done) O Lord)D is a $ood practice.
8:
VOICE5
119. Self&gratulation, 5 discile, is li%e unto a loft* tower, u
which a haught* fool has clim"ed. Thereon he sits in
rideful solitude and unerceived "* an* "ut himself.
T!e simile o" a to.er is indeed a $ood one) "or pride does tend to s!ut an
indi-idual a.ay "rom t!e rest o" !umanity. But do not con"use t!is pride o"
isolation
.it! t!e $enuine need "or solitude) to study and meditate .it!out
interruption or
distraction. Temporary periods o" solitude are absolutely necessary in our
spiritual
de-elopment) but t!at is -ery diBerent "rom t!e "eelin$ o" separateness and
aloo"ness
"ostered by pride. =e cannot possibly $o do.n into t!e cro.ded mar<etplace
and
teac! ot!ers until .e oursel-es !a-e ac0uired some measure o" .isdom and
$ained
control o-er oursel-es. For t!is) .e need to set aside a "e. minutes eac! day
"or sel"reMection
and meditation) alon$ .it! time to read boo<s suc! as The Voice of the
Silence and ot!er spiritual $uideboo<s.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!ic! 1at! belon$s to t!e octrine o" t!e HeartQ
*. =!at is t!e Sans<rit .ord "or t!e Eni-ersal SoulQ
:. =!at does t!e .ord Cyo$aD meanQ
8. o does t!e symbol o" an i-ory to.er representQ
RRRRRRRRRR
T!e time arri-es in !uman e-olution) !o.e-er) .!en t!e t!rust o" Spirit) t!e
call and pressure o" t!e a.a<ened 3onad7E$o) so aBects t!e personal man
t!at !e e/periences bot! dissatis"action .it! e/istin$ limitations and aspires
to pea<s o" !i$! ac!ie-ement. Slo.ness o" pro$ress and paucity o" attainment
ir< a.a<ened man. E$o7impelled) !e t!en determines to tra-el s.i"tly) to
ac!ie-e mi$!tily) to con0uer sel" or die.
FHodson) GeoBrey. The Path to the Masters of the !isdom
88
Lesson ;
VOICE5
11:. .alse learning is re$ected "* the 2ise, and scattered to
the 2inds "* the good -aw. Its wheel revolves for all,
the hum"le and the roud. The Doctrine of the 7*e is
for the crowd, the Doctrine of the Heart for the elect.
The Arst reeat in ride/ ;ehold, I %now, the last, the*
who in hum"leness have garnered, low confess, thus
have I heard.
CT!e $ood La.D plays no "a-oritesN it Kud$es bot! t!e innocent and t!e $uilty
.it! utmost impartiality) care"ully .eedin$ out all t!at is in opposition to a
soul?s
$ro.t!. False learnin$ is <no.led$e .it!out .isdom. True <no.led$e leads to
.isdom) and t!ere is .isdom in bein$ !umble) "or by learnin$ t!e lessons o"
!umility) .e "acilitate t!e soul?s "urt!er $ro.t!. T!ose .!o are inMated in
t!eir $reat
opinion o" t!emsel-es are not able to see t!e misery o" t!e .orld) and so .ill
not be
o" use in !elpin$ t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan.
VOICE5
12=. Ereat Sifter is the name of the Heart Doctrine, 5
discile.
T!e C!eart doctrineD is called t!e CGreat Si"terD because) as .e .or< in t!e
.orld
in t!e manner in .!ic! it directs) t!e mista<es .e ma<e are $radually si"ted
out and
remo-ed t!rou$! t!e "aculty o" t!e intuition. =e can ta<e a creati-e part in
s!apin$
our o.n <arma and become t!e captain o" our soul) i" .e .is! to do so. #nd
so .e
are no lon$er sla-es to our personality.
VOICE5
121. The wheel of the good -aw moves swiftl* on. It grinds
"* night and da*. The worthless hus%s it drives from out
the golden grain, the refuse from the <our. The hand of
Garma guides the wheel3 the revolutions mar% the "eating
of the Garmic heart.
I" .e learn to understand t!at t!e La. is absolutely Kust) t!en .e t!orou$!ly
understand t!e meanin$ o" cause and e6ect and re"use to bemoan our "ate.
Sarma is
o"ten depicted as a "orm o" retribution "or past misdeeds) but it may be more
89
appropriate to -ie. it as a "riend comin$ to teac! us a muc!7needed lesson.
To <no.
.!ere .e err is to ma<e a c!an$e "or t!e better) as t!is e/tract "rom Ao!n
Blo>eld?s
The !heel of Life points out5 CHell is -ery real) ma<e no mista<e. To be in !ell
means
to be s!ut oB "rom <no.in$ t!e Trut!) "rom <no.in$ t!at it is closer t!an
!ands or
"eet) t!at t!e =!eel is o" your o.n ma<in$ and is spinnin$ at your o.n
be!est
t!rou$! your o.n i$norance) and $i-in$ it li"e.D T!is t!ou$!t must !a-e
caused
many a t!ou$!t"ul indi-idual to c!an$e t!eir pattern o" li-in$.
VOICE5
122. True %nowledge is the <our, false learning is the hus%. If
thou wouldBst eat the "read of 2isdom, th* <our thou
hast to %nead with CmritaBs clear waters. ;ut if thou
%neadest hus%s with Ka*aBs dew, thou canst create "ut
food for the "lac% doves of death, the "irds of "irth,
deca* and sorrow.
CTrue <no.led$eD teac!es immortality o" t!e soul .!ile C"alse learnin$D is
merely t!e empty outer !us<s o" intellectual <no.led$e. T!ere are t!ose .!o
enKoy
ostentatious displays o" <no.led$e t!at t!ey !a-e ac0uired. T!is is not t!e
case "or
t!ose .!o are too busy puttin# into practice .!at t!ey !a-e learned.
C#mrita?s clear
.atersD is t!e Eli/ir o" Li"e) t!e .ater o" immortality. CT!e birds o" birt!)
decay and
sorro.D spea< o" many "uture incarnations o" suBerin$) until man<ind
reali@es its
i$norance and be$ins to see< true <no.led$e) .!ic! re-eals a 1at! t!at .ill
set all
"ree. Once !umanity be$ins to set into motion constructi-e causesFt!e
eBects o"
ad-erse <arma .ill be$in to cease.
VOICE5
12!. If thou art told that to "ecome Crhan thou hast to cease
to love all "eings8tell them the* lie.
12(. If thou art told that to gain li"eration thou hast to hate
th* mother and disregard th* son3 to disavow the father
and call him householder3 for man and "east all it* to
renounce8tell them their tongue is false.
12,. Thus teach the Tirthi%as, the un"elievers.
Candidates .!o are ad-ancin$ rapidly must not despise and i$nore t!ose
.!o
are as yet unde-eloped. I" t!ey s!ould "eel superior in any .ay to ot!ers)
t!ey .ould
>nd t!emsel-es in $reat dan$er o" losin$ $round t!at !ad been $ained by
many
years o" !ard .or<. Bra!man mon<s .ere called Tirthikas) unbelie-ers)
because t!ey
did not "ollo. t!e precepts o" Budd!a.
8(
VOICE5
121. If thou art taught that sin is "orn of action and "liss of
a"solute inaction, then tell them that the* err. 6onermanence
of human action, deliverance of mind from
thraldom "* the cessation of sin and faults, are not for
Deva 7gos. Thus saith the Doctrine of the Heart.
Inaction does not belon$ in t!e li"e o" t!e disciple on t!e 1at!. isciples!ip is
not
an e/cuse to escape "rom t!e .orld) .!et!er it is a literal .it!dra.al into
some
remote and unin!abited area) or a psyc!olo$ical pullin$ bac< "rom t!e rest o"
!umanity. #ction in-ol-es t!e application o" <no.led$e to daily li"e) out o"
.!ic!
comes e/perience and understandin$. T!e Ce-a E$osD are reincarnatin$
E$os .!o
aspire to !elp t!e .orld. It is said t!at t!ere is not an o-erabundance o" E$os
ready
"or special teac!in$ and trainin$. 1er!aps an earnest desire to be o" "uture
ser-ice to
!umanity .ill inspire some aspirants to be$in sel"7trainin$N t!is inner resol-e
.ill
automatically place t!eir "eet upon t!e 1at!) and t!eir Kourney is be$un.
VOICE5
124. The Dharma of the 7*e is the em"odiment of the
eFternal, and the non&eFisting.
T!e .ord C!armaD may be translated as meanin$ CdutyD or Cbelie")D or a
c!osen .ay o" li"e) a pat!.
VOICE5
129. The Dharma of the Heart is the em"odiment of ;odhi,
the 'ermanent and 7verlasting.
T!e octrine o" t!e Heart is t!e teac!in$ o" .isdom enablin$ t!e disciple to
understand !is or !er place and .or< in t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan.
VOICE5
12:. The -am "urns "right when wic% and oil are clean. To
ma%e them clean a cleaner is reLuired. The <ame feels
not the rocess of the cleaning. The "ranches of a tree
are sha%en "* the wind3 the trun% remains unmoved.
CT!e LampD Gt!e soulH is able to spread its radiance in t!e .orld i" t!e lo.er
-e!icles are clean and "ree "rom a$itation. CT!e MameD Gt!e #tmaH bein$ a
part o"
i-inity cannot possibly e/perience anyt!in$ o" a lo.er nature. =e !a-e to
raise
oursel-es up to t!at plane or state.
8;
VOICE5
1!=. ;oth action and inaction ma* And room in thee3 th* "od*
agitated, th* mind tranLuil, th* Soul as limid as a
mountain la%e.
In order to "or$et t!e personality and pro$ress more rapidly) bot! t!e daily
acti-ities and inner de-elopment must come under t!e inMuence o" t!e
!i$!er Sel")
!elpin$ to pre-ent t!e mista<es so easily made by t!e lo.er sel".
VOICE5
1!1. 2ouldBst thou "ecome a Sogi of TimeBs CircleT Then,
5 -anoo/8
C# yo$i o" Time?s circleD is one .!o is .illin$ to remain in t!is .orld in order
to
!elp !umanity. To see< liberation solely "or one?s sel" is to i$nore t!e
suBerin$ o"
ot!ers. But) says The Voice) t!ere is "ree c!oice.
VOICE5
1!2. ;elieve thou not that sitting in dar% forests, in roud
seclusion and aart from men3 "elieve thou not that life
on roots and lants, that thirst assuaged with snow from
the great +ange8"elieve thou not, 5 Devotee, that this
will lead thee to the goal of Anal li"eration.
It is .ritten t!at sel"7denial .it!out $ood .or<s is o" no -alue. Solitude !as
-alue in t!at it allo.s "or a period o" sel"7searc!in$ -ery necessary to t!ose
.!o are
see<in$ to tune in to t!e !i$!er Sel" and listen to t!e Voice o" t!e Silence.
But to
.it!dra. "rom t!e .orld?s turmoil merely to -e$etate and li-e a li"e o" ease
.ould
certainly delay t!e soul?s $ro.t!.
VOICE5
1!!. Thin% not that "rea%ing "one, that rending <esh and
muscle, unites thee to th* silent Self. Thin% not, that
when the sins of th* gross form are conLuered, 5 Dictim
of th* Shadows, th* dut* is accomlished "* nature and
"* man.
To $o-ern t!e body is necessary) but to torture it .it! ascetic practices is
"oolis!.
It is more important t!at .e learn to o-ercome t!e cra-in$s o" t!e lo.er
nature)
.!ic! stand in t!e .ay o" spiritual de-elopment. Be"ore t!e s!ip o" t!e soul
can
enter t!e sea o" .isdom) t!e anc!or o" personality must be dislod$ed "rom
t!e eart!)
8,
allo.in$ it to sail "ort! in "reedom upon t!e c!artless .aters o" #<s!ara) t!e
re$ion
o" "ull spiritual consciousness.
VOICE5
1!(. The "lessed ones have scorned to do so. The -ion of the
-aw, the -ord of )erc*, erceiving the true cause of
human woe, immediatel* forsoo% the sweet "ut selAsh
rest of Luiet wilds. .rom Cran*a%a He "ecame the
Teacher of man%ind. Cfter Wulai had entered the 6irvana,
He reached on mount and lain, and held discourses in
the cities, to Devas, men and gods.
CT!e Lion o" t!e La.D is one .!o !as con0uered !imsel". T!e Lion represents
t!e lo.er nature) .!ic! !as been subdued by t!e immortal Sel") and t!is
allo.s t!e
Solar Force to "ree t!e candidate "rom li"e as an ordinary man or .oman. T!e
candidate !as become an e/traordinary indi-idual able to .ield t!e scepter
o" po.er
"or $ood.
#ranya<a is a "orest d.eller. Aulai is t!e name "or Tat!a$ata) a title applied to
e-ery Budd!a) .!ic! means C!e .!o !as "ollo.ed in t!e steps o" !is
predecessors.D
Ce-as) men and $odsD all see< to bat!e in t!e stron$ and beauti"ul auras o"
t!e
Enli$!tened Ones. T!e e-as) Gods) and C!o!ansFbein$ rulers o"
principalities)
ominions and T!rones) etc.) o" t!e !ea-enly statesFare t!e conscious)
intelli$ent
1o.ers in Nature .!ic! e-er see< to ser-e t!e Budd!as. =e are told t!at
Gautama
t!e Budd!a .ent into t!e "orest to meditate) and t!ere He seated Himsel"
under a
Bod!i tree resol-in$ to attain illumination. Let us read .!at The Li#ht of (sia
!as to
say5
CT!en !e aroseFradiant) reKoicin$) stron$F
Beneat! t!e Tree) and li"tin$ !i$! !is -oice
Spa<e t!is) in !earin$ o" #ll Times and =orlds5
3#N2 # HOESE OF LIFE
H#TH HEL 3EFSEESING EVE4 HI3 =HO =4OEGHT
THESE 14ISONS OF THE SENSES) SO44O=7F4#EGHTN
SO4E =#S 32 CE#SELESS ST4IFE5
BET NO=)
THOE BEILE4 OF THIS T#BE4N#CLEFTHOEX
I SNO= THEEX NEVE4 SH#LT THOE BEIL #G#IN
THESE =#LLS OF 1#IN)
NO4 4#ISE THE 4OOF7T4EE OF ECEITS) NO4 L#2
F4ESH 4#FTE4S ON THE CL#2N
B4OSEN TH2 HOESE IS) #N THE 4IGE71OLE S1LIT5
8'
ELESION F#SHIONE ITX
S#FE 1#SS I THENCEFELIVE4#NCE TO OBT#IN.D
F#rnold) Sir Ed.in. The Li#ht of (sia) Boo< t!e Si/t!.
VOICE5
1!,. Sow %indl* acts and thou shalt rea their fruition.
Inaction in a deed of merc* "ecomes an action in a
deadl* sin.
(t the 0eet of the Master ad-ises t!e aspirant to do ri$!t "or t!e sa<e o"
ri$!t) and
.or< "or t!e sa<e o" .or<) .it!out any desire to see t!e results or outcome o"
t!ose
actions. #s disciples on t!e spiritual pat!) t!is "rame o" mind trains us to
become
increasin$ly selMess and !umble. #nd it is also our duty) continues t!e aut!or
o" t!at
spiritual $uideboo<) to inter"ere in cases o" cruelty to eit!er man or beast.
#nd) to
carry t!is still "urt!er) !e su$$ests t!at .e "eel "or t!ose people .!o are
$uilty o"
cruel acts) "or t!ose people !a-e created -ery bad <arma "or t!emsel-es. I"
t!ey can
be s!o.n t!e error o" t!eir .ays) some $ood .ill !a-e been accomplis!ed.
VOICE5
Thus saith the Sage.
1!1. Shalt thou a"stain from actionT 6ot so shall gain th*
soul her freedom. To reach 6irvana one must reach Self&
Gnowledge, and Self&Gnowledge is of loving deeds the
child.
H. 1. Bla-ats<y says in The ey to Theosophy t!at CT!eosop!y is t!e
0uintessence
o" duty)D as it teac!es us to reali@e our o.n inner po.ers) !o. to culti-ate
t!em) and
t!ereby attain .isdomFnot "or sel") but in order to !elp man<ind.
VOICE5
1!4. Have atience, Candidate, as one who fears no failure,
courts no success. .iF th* SoulBs ga@e uon the star
whose ra* thou art, the <aming star that shines within
the lightless deths of ever&"eing, the "oundless Aelds
of the Jn%nown.
Students .!o are tryin$ to do $ood .or<) but >nd t!e opposin$ "orces too
$reat)
.ill not be disappointed or lose coura$e i" t!ey understand t!at all eBort put
"ort!
into spiritual .or< produces a proportionate result) alt!ou$! t!e result may
be
un<no.n to t!em. #nd so) re$ardless o" success or "ailure) t!e aspirant to
$odli<e
.isdom pus!es on.
9+
VOICE5
1!9. Have erseverance as one who doth for evermore endure.
Th* shadows live and vanish3 that which in thee shall
live for ever, that which in thee knos, for it is
%nowledge, is not of <eeing life/ it is the man that was,
that is, and will "e, for whom the hour shall never stri%e.
=e are told t!at our personalities Gs!ado.sH come and $o) do some .or<)
learn
some lessons) and t!en -anis!) t!at only t!e E$o GsoulH endures "ore-er. T!is
means
t!at .e can continue to learn and impro-e li"e a"ter li"e) and so any $ood
.or< t!at is
done by a discipleFe-en i" !e comes into t!e .or< late in li"eFis carried
o-er into
t!e ne/t incarnation .!ere t!e impulse to continue t!e .or< .ill be "elt at an
early
a$e. T!ere is also $reat bene>t deri-ed "rom t!e stay in e-ac!an GHea-enH)
.!ere
t!e disciple continues !is .or<) de-elop !is .ill) and trans"orms all !is
e/periences
into eternal concepts and "aculties .!ic! reMect !is i-ine Nature. 3uc! o"
t!e
abo-e in"ormation .as ta<en "rom 0irst Principles of Theosophy by C.
AinaraKadasa.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!y is discrimination so necessary .!en ac0uirin$ <no.led$eQ
*. =!ic! doctrine assists us in steerin$ our o.n <armic courseQ
:. =!at does a %o#i of Time1s +ircle meanQ
8. =!en is an i-ory to.er necessaryQ
9. =!at does CLion of the La'D meanQ
(. =!y is action necessary to $ain our "reedomQ
RRRRRRRRRR
1lu$ t!y lo. sensual ear) .!ic! stuBs li<e cotton
T!y conscience and ma<es dea" t!ine in.ard ear)
Be .it!out ear) .it!out sense) .it!out t!ou$!t)
#nd !ear<en to t!e call o" God) C4ETE4NXD
Our speec! and action is t!e outer Kourney)
Our inner Kourney is abo-e t!e s<y
T!e body tra-els on its dusty .ayN
T!e spirit .al<s) li<e Aesus) on t!e sea.
FT!e 3ystic =ay
9&
Lesson ,
VOICE5
1!:. If thou wouldBst rea sweet eace and rest, Discile, sow
with the seeds of merit the Aelds of future harvests.
Cccet the woes of "irth.
Sarma) as .e <no.) is created by our daily t!ou$!ts and actionsN so i" .e
.is!
to Creap s.eet peace and rest)D .e must learn to $o-ern our t!in<in$ in
order to set
into motion t!ose causes t!at .ill brin$ us peace o" mind) rat!er t!an
ad-erse
conditions .!ic! .ould tend to slo. do.n our spiritual pro$ress.
VOICE5
1(=. Ste out from sunlight into shade, to ma%e more room
for others. The tears that water the arched soil of ain
and sorrow, "ring forth the "lossoms and the fruits of
Garmic retri"ution. 5ut of the furnace of manBs life and
its "lac% smo%e, winged <ames arise, <ames uriAed,
that soaring onward, Mneath the Garmic e*e, weave in the
end the fa"ric gloriAed of the three vestures of the 'ath.
1(1. These vestures are/ 6irmana%a*a, Sam"hoga%a*a, and
Dharma%a*a, ro"e Su"lime.
The Voice repeatedly admonis!es t!e disciple to "ore$o !is o.n peace and
rest in
order to !elp ot!er see<ers >nd t!eir .ay. By assistin$ ot!ers) t!e disciple
!elps t!em
to e-entually teac! in t!eir turnN t!us more room is made for others. O" pain
and sorro.)
.e are ne-er $i-en more t!an .e can bear) as t!e Lords o" Sarma are Kust.
Once t!e
lessons o" !uman e/istence !a-e been learned) t!e disciple can loo< "or.ard
to a ric!
!ar-est) "or t!e sli$!test eBort to raise !imsel" is kno'n and bene>cent
"orces rus! to
!elp !im.
T!e student is ad-ised to re"er to H1B?s $lossary note :8 "or Fra$ment T!ree)
.!ere additional in"ormation is $i-en on t!e t!ree -estures.
VOICE5
1(2. The Shan!na ro"e, Mtis true, can urchase light eternal.
The Shangna ro"e alone gives the 6irvana of destruction3
it stos re"irth, "ut, 5 -anoo, it also %ills8
comassion. 6o longer can the erfect ;uddhas, who
9*
don the Darma%a*a glor*, hel manBs salvation. ClasU
shall S7-D7S "e sacriAced to Self3 man%ind, unto the
weal of JnitsT
1(!. Gnow, 5 "eginner, this is the O"en 'CTH, the wa* to
selAsh "liss, shunned "* the ;odhisattvas of the Secret
Heart, the ;uddhas of Comassion.
# "ootnote in t!e $lossary o" The Voice says t!e CS!an$na 4obeD is a
metap!orical
re"erence to t!e ac0uirin$ o" .isdom t!at accompanies t!e destruction o" t!e
personality once Nir-ana is entered. Literally) it is t!e robe o" t!e neop!ytes
GcandidatesH. T!e stoppin$ o" rebirt! means t!e balancin$ o" <arma and t!e
destruction o" personality by 0uenc!in$ all desire) includin$ t!at o" li"e itsel")
in
order to mer$e into t!e #LL. T!is ad-ice) o" course) is meant "or t!e disciple
.!o is
nearin$ t!e pea< o" attainment. CSel>s! bliss)D as The Voice states) may
appear to be
sel>s! "rom our point o" understandin$) but actually not!in$ can possibly be
sel>s!
on t!e !i$!er planes) "or as consciousness ascends to t!ose rare>ed planes)
it
necessarily becomes more re>ned) selMess) and uni-ersal in scope. #nd so
.e may
understand t!e meanin$ as one .!o see<s union .it! t!e #LL) instead o"
remainin$
be!ind to !elp ot!ers. But !a-in$ "ound t!at bliss t!rou$! many incarnations
o"
suBerin$) t!at soul !as surely earned t!e peace it sou$!t. T!e c!oice o"
.!et!er to
enter Nir-ana or to "orsa<e it is a matter o" our o.n c!oosin$.
VOICE5
1((. To live to "eneAt man%ind is the Arst ste. To ractice
the siF glorious virtues is the second.
T!ere is a re"erence to t!ese -irtues at t!e be$innin$ o" t!e Second
Fra$ment
G-erse &+:H t!at tells o" t!e si/ $lorious -irtues trans"ormin$ t!e body into
t!e tree o"
<no.led$e) one o" t!e systems t!at can brin$ out t!e $odli<e 0ualities in an
aspirant.
T!ese si/ transcendental -irtues) t!e 1aramitas) are listed as5 c!arity)
morality)
patience) ener$y) contemplation and .isdom.
VOICE5
1(,. To don 6irmana%a*aBs hum"le ro"e is to forego eternal
"liss for Self, to hel on manBs salvation. To reach
6irvanaBs "liss, "ut to renounce it, is the sureme, the
Anal ste8the highest on +enunciationBs 'ath.
=!at $reater sacri>ce can a man or .oman ma<e t!an to lay do.n !is or !er
li"e
"or !umanityQ # potential sa-ior o" t!e .orld $ladly sacri>ces t!e lo.er sel"
in order
9:
to ser-e t!e !i$!er) because suc! an act is not e/perienced as a !ards!ip or
pri-ation
but as a moment o" indescribable and intensely sublime Koy.
VOICE5
1(1. Gnow, 5 Discile, this is the Secret 'CTH, selected "*
the ;uddhas of 'erfection, who sacriAced The S7-. to
wea%er Selves.
To.ard t!e end o" t!e T!ird Fra$ment) t!e .arrior .!o nears -ictory is
petitioned) CCan t!ere be bliss .!en all t!at li-es must suBerQ S!alt t!ou be
sa-ed
and !ear t!e .!ole .orld cryQD T!ese are indeed tellin$ .ords) .!ic! cannot
"ail to
reac! t!e !earts o" all t!ose .!o contemplate a li"e o" ser-ice.
VOICE5
1(4. Set, if the Doctrine of the Heart is too high&winged for
thee, if thou needest hel th*self and fearest to o#er
hel to others8then, thou of timid heart, "e warned in
time/ remain content with the 7*e Doctrine of the -aw.
Hoe still. .or if the Secret 'ath is unattaina"le this
da*, it is within th* reach tomorrow. -earn that no
e#orts, not the smallest8whether in right or wrong
direction8can vanish from the world of causes. 7Ben
wasted smo%e remains not traceless. C harsh word
uttered in ast lives, is not destro*ed "ut ever comes
again. The eer lant will not give "irth to roses, nor
the sweet $essamineBs silver star to thorn or thistle turn.
I" .e s!ould >nd t!at t!e Cdoctrine o" t!e !eartD is too diOcult "or us to
"ollo.)
.e must not despair. =e are .ell ad-ised to Kust <eep on .or<in$ and
learnin$) "or
t!e li"e o" t!e personality is Kust one day in t!e $reater li"e o" t!e soul. One
day)
.!et!er in t!is incarnation or t!e ne/t one) .e s!all reac! t!e position .!ere
t!e
CidealD .ill be per"ectly natural and comparati-ely easy to do. No sincere
eBort
passes un!eeded by t!e Silent =atc!er .it!in.
GeoBrey Barbor<a .rites in Man1s Potent 0orce5 CT!e remar<able t!in$ is
t!at at
any moment alon$ t!e pat!.ay o" li"e an indi-idual !as t!e po.er o" c!oice
F!e !as
t!e ability to !e. a ne. pattern "or !imsel"Fi" !e so c!oosesXD Gp.8;H =e
must ne-er)
e-er) t!in< t!at anyt!in$ is impossible to us) "or t!ere is not!in$ impossible
to t!e
i-ine Sel" .it!in. Students "re0uently as<) C=ould t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in be
interested in our e-eryday problemsQD It !as been .ritten t!at t!ere is
not!in$ t!at
!appens in t!is .orld .it!out t!e i-ine Sel" <no.in$ about it) because .e
li-e and
mo-e and !a-e our bein$ in t!at One Sel". T!ere"ore) it stands to reason t!at
our
98
daily problems) .!et!er small or lar$e) are <no.n) and it is up to us to turn
to t!e
source o" =isdom) .!ere Sno.led$e is unadulterated and Lo-e is all7
embracin$.
VOICE5
1(9. Thou canst create this da* th* chances for th*
morrow. In the Ereat Wourne*, causes sown each
hour "ear each its harvest of e#ects, for rigid Wustice
rules the 2orld. 2ith might* swee of never erring
action, it "rings to mortals lives of weal or woe, the
Garmic rogen* of all our former thoughts and deeds.
I" .e ta<e ad-anta$e o" t!e opportunities and c!allen$es pro-ided by t!is
CdayD
Gour present incarnationH) .e t!en lay t!e $round.or< "or t!e opportunities
and
c!allen$es o" t!e Cmorro.D Gour ne/t incarnationH. T!e CGreat AourneyD re"ers
to t!e
$rand) aeonian Kourney o" our soul?s cyclical descent into t!e .orlds o"
matter and
t!e correspondin$ ascent to conscious union .it! t!e i-ine Source. =e are
all
ma<in$ t!is lon$ pil$rima$e) and in time .e s!all all become Sel"7reali@ed
bein$s)
"ully conscious o" our true spiritual nature.
VOICE5
1(:. Ta%e then as much as merit hath in store for thee, 5 thou
of atient heart. ;e of good cheer and rest content with
fate. Such is th* Garma, the Garma of the c*cle of th*
"irths, the destin* of those, who, in their ain and
sorrow, are "orn along with thee, re$oice and wee from
life to life, chained to th* revious actions.
1,=. Cct thou for them toda*, and the* will act for thee
tomorrow.
=!en .e oBer assistance .!ere !elp is truly needed) and $i-e our com"ort
and
encoura$ement to t!ose .!o suBer) .e are assistin$ our "ello. pil$rims .!o)
in
turn) may !elp us in our time o" need. =e must be Co" $ood c!eer)D no
matter .!ere
.e >nd oursel-es in t!is incarnation) "or t!e "abric o" our present incarnation
!as
been .o-en by our actions in pre-ious li-esN .e cannot c!an$e t!e past but
.e can
certainly determine !o. .e s!all meet t!e present. It ser-es no purpose to
.eep and
moan about our present lot in li"e. T!e .ise ones .ill buc<le do.n and put
t!eir
!ands to t!e loom) and be$in to .ea-e t!eir "uture destinies .it! con>dence.
VOICE5
1,1. BTis from the "ud of +enunciation of the Self, that
sringeth the sweet fruit of Anal -i"eration.
99
To .or< .it! no t!ou$!t o" personal $ain but "or t!e ad-ancement o" all is to
taste Ct!e s.eet "ruit o" >nal Liberation.D T!e temporal sel") or t!e
personality) must
no lon$er !a-e t!e po.er to control our e-ery desire.
VOICE5
1,2. To erish doomed is he, who out of fear of Kara refrains
from heling man, lest he should act for Self. The
ilgrim who would cool his wear* lim"s in running
waters, *et dares not lunge for terror of the stream, ris%s
to succum" from heat. Inaction "ased on selAsh fear can
"ear "ut evil fruit.
T!e disciple .!o !esitates to !elp !is brot!er because !e is uncertain as to
.!et!er or not !e s!ould) lac<s con>dence in !imsel". I" con"ronted .it! a
soul in
distress) .e must immediately do somet!in$ about t!e situation. T!e Koinin$
o"
!ands) t!e .as!in$ o" one anot!er?s .ounds) reKoicin$ in our nei$!bor?s $ood
"ortuneFt!ese acts are prompted by t!e true spirit o" brot!er!ood. Eac!
time a deed
o" mercy is per"ormed) a lin< o" eart!ly bonda$e is .ea<ened.
VOICE5
1,!. The selAsh devotee lives to no urose. The man who
does not go through his aointed wor% in life8has
lived in vain.
SelMessness) .e learn) is t!e <eynote o" a disciple?s li"e. # disciple is one .!o
is
practicin$ t!e disciplines t!at .ill allo. t!e i-ine Spar< .it!in to s!ine "ort!
in all
its splendid $lory. From t!e standpoint o" disciples!ip) not to !a-e learned
t!is basic
spiritual trut! durin$ t!is li"etime is to !a-e .asted muc! -aluable timeN but
t!en) all
is not lost) "or .e can be$in t!is .or< ane. in t!e ne/t li"e.
1,(. .ollow the wheel of life3 follow the wheel of dut* to race
and %in, to friend and foe, and close th* mind to
leasures as to ain. 7Fhaust the law of Garmic
retri"ution. Eain Siddhis for th* future "irth.
T!e Lords o" Sarma) .e are told) see t!at eac! person is $i-en t!e conditions
t!at
are best suited to t!eir $ro.t! and t!e particular .or< needed "or t!eir
pro$ress. T!e
man or .oman .!o per"orms !is or !er daily duties .ell .ill $radually be
entrusted
.it! more important ones. T!e indi-idual .!o ma<es t!e best o" t!e
a-ailable
opportunities .ill "acilitate t!e creation o" ne. opportunities. Conscientious
.or<ers
are $reatly needed by t!ose .!o are $uidin$ t!e destiny o" our planet eart!.
To
e/!aust our <arma in t!is li"e) .e !a-e to "ace up to conditions and not >$!t
or resist
9(
t!em) because t!ey are o" our o.n ma<in$. =e must try to ma<e ri$!t all
in!armonious conditions in our immediate surroundin$s and in our
relations!ips
.it! ot!ers. To $ain merit "or our ne/t li"e) .e are e-er on t!e alert to be o"
assistance
to t!ose .!o are in need o" !elp) .!et!er it be o" t!e p!ysical <ind or
spiritual. =e
s!ould also be e-er ready to treat .it! care t!e animal and plant <in$doms.
T!is may
sound -ery demandin$) and it is) because t!e pat! o" disciples!ip sets -ery
!i$!
standards. I" it .as easy) .e .ould !a-e all reac!ed enli$!tenment by no..
VOICE5
1,,. If Sun thou canBst not "e, then "e the hum"le lanet.
C*e, if thou art de"arred from <aming li%e the noon&da*
Sun uon the snow&caed mount of urit* eternal, then
choose, 5 6eoh*te, a hum"ler course.
Lastin$ .or< is built in secret) "or it is done alone .it! but one .itnessFt!e
!i$!er Sel". I" .e cannot attain in t!is li"e) .e s!all at least !a-e $ained muc!
$round) enablin$ us to be o" some assistance in t!e e-olutionary plan. T!e
spiritual
momentum .e $enerate in t!is li"e .ill carry "or.ard to t!e ne/t. =e are told
t!at
t!ere are times .!en) unbe<no.n to !im) a Neop!yte is used "or some
special .or<.
Sometimes .e may not <no. !o. use"ul .e are as c!annels) and in some
"uture li"e
.e may .onder .!y .e are suddenly blessed. =e .ill !a-e earned t!at
blessin$
because not!in$ comes to us by accident.
VOICE5
1,1. 'oint out the 2a*8however diml*, and lost among
the host8as does the evening star to those who tread
their ath in dar%ness.
#ll t!e $reat teac!in$s ad-ise t!ose .!o !a-e !ad t!e $ood "ortune to !a-e
ac0uired a measure o" spiritual <no.led$e to be e-er ready to pass .!at
t!ey can to
ot!ers. By raisin$ t!ose around us) .e raise oursel-es. H1B once said t!at
e-ery
person .!o dra.s t!e breat! o" li"e aBects t!e mental and moral
atmosp!ere o" t!e
.orld) and !elps to color t!e day "or t!ose about !im by .!at !e says and
does.
VOICE5
1,4. ;ehold )igmar, as in his crimson veils his 7*e swees
over slum"ering 7arth. ;ehold the Aer* aura of the
Hand of -haga eFtended in rotecting love over the
heads of his ascetics. ;oth are now servants to 6*ima left
in his a"sence silent watchers in the night. Set "oth in
Galas ast were "right 6*imas, and ma* in future
9;
Da*s again "ecome two Suns. Such are the falls and
rises of the Garmic -aw in nature.
H1B) in !er "ootnote) states t!at Mi#mar is Tibetan "or t!e planet 3arsN
Lha#pa is
3ercury) and Nyima is t!e Sun. S!e also tells us in The Secret )octrine t!at
CE-ery
!ea-enly body is t!e temple o" a $od) and t!e $ods t!emsel-es are t!e
temples o"
GOD G&59;,H. # p!ilosop!er once .rote) CEac! o" t!ese stars is a reli$ious
!ouse.D
E-idently .e o.e more t!an .e ima$ine to t!e planets o" t!is solar system.
Eac!
diBerent race) !a-in$ been born under t!e inMuence o" a certain planet)
recei-es "rom
t!at planet !elp) instruction) and certain c!aracteristics. T!e planet 3ercury)
accordin$ to The Secret )octrine GStan@a &5* o" #nt!ropo$enesisH) recei-es
se-en times
more li$!t and !eat "rom t!e Sun t!an does t!e eart!N per!aps t!is is t!e
reason "or
t!e ascetic recei-in$ added stren$t! and protection. #ll li"e is Mu/ and
c!an$e5
nations rise and "all) and be$$ars c!an$e places .it! <in$s. It seems
intended t!at all
li"e s!ould e/perience e/pansion o" consciousness. 1lanets are also subKect
to t!is
<armic la.) and so may Cin "uture Vays? a$ain become t.o Suns.D
VOICE5
1,9. ;e, 5 -anoo, li%e them. Eive light and comfort to the
toiling ilgrim, and see% out him who %nows still less
than thou3 who in his wretched desolation sits starving
for the "read of 2isdom, and the "read which feeds the
shadow, without a Teacher, hoe, or consolation, and8
let him hear the -aw.
T!e Teac!er no. tells t!e candidate !o. to assist t!ose .!o are in need o"
spiritual $uidance.
VOICE5
1,:. Tell him, 5 Candidate, that he who ma%es of ride and
self&regard "ond&maidens to devotion3 that he, who
cleaving to eFistence, still la*s his atience and
su"mission to the -aw, as a sweet <ower at the feet of
Sha%*a&Thu"&a, "ecomes Srota"atti in this "irth. The
Siddhis of erfection ma* loom far, far awa*3 "ut the
Arst ste is ta%en, the stream is entered, and he ma* gain
the e*esight of the mountain eagle, the hearing of the
timid doe.
T!e Cs.eet Mo.erD laid at Ct!e "eet o" S!a<ya7T!ub7paD Ganot!er epit!et "or
t!e
Lord Budd!aH is an oBerin$ o" ser-ice to t!e Teac!er. Some people >nd t!e
#ncient
=isdom easy to di$est) "or t!ey) "ortunately) !a-e <no.n and .or<ed .it!
t!e Great
9,
La. in "ormer li-es. T!ey may e/pect to reco-er more speedily t!e ac0uired
<no.led$e o" pre-ious e/istences) "or t!e learnin$ t!ey under$o in t!is li"e is
initially
a recapitulation o" earlier .or< done in pre-ious incarnations. CT!e eyesi$!t
o" t!e
mountain ea$leD and Ct!e !earin$ o" t!e timid doeD are representati-e o"
inner
"aculties t!at are bein$ slo.ly de-eloped by t!ose .!o are a.are t!at Cto
!ear and
seeD need not necessarily re"er to actions o" t!e p!ysical sense or$ans.
Consider t!is
biblical passa$e GI Cor. *5'H5 CEye !at! not seen) nor ear !eard) neit!er !at!
it entered
into t!e !eart o" man to concei-e t!e t!in$s .!ic! God !at! prepared "or
t!em t!at
lo-e Him.D
=!en Ct!e >rst step is ta<en)D "e. disciples loo< bac<) because it is t!e inner
Sel"
t!at !as made t!is decision) and t!is inner Sel" is a "ormidable opponent o"
t!e lo.er
sel".
VOICE5
11=. Tell him, 5 Csirant, that true devotion ma* "ring him
"ac% the %nowledge, that %nowledge which was his in
former "irths. The deva&sight and deva&hearing are not
o"tained in one short "irth.
True de-otion means li-in$ in suc! a .ay as to culti-ate only t!ose t!in$s in
oursel-es t!at .ill brin$ to "ruition t!e innate po.ers o" t!e E$o) t!e Eternal
Sel". T!e
true student .ill) at e-ery step o" t!e .ay) admit no compromise bet.een
ri$!t and
.ron$. T!e pat! !e treads is ra@or s!arpN t!ere are no !al" measures. CFor
t!e $ate is
narro. and t!e road is !ard t!at leads to li"e) and t!ere are "e. .!o >nd it.D
E-eryt!in$
t!e disciple does must .e ri#ht) "or to become one .it! t!e $reat
E-olutionary
1lan and to assist in t!e $reat .or<) !e must be utterly pure in !eart and
mind. T!is
means adoptin$ an attitude o" complete selMessness) !a-in$ no ulterior
moti-es "or
sel"7$lori>cation or sel"7ad-anta$e.
VOICE5
111. ;e hum"le, if thou wouldBst attain to 2isdom.
112. ;e hum"ler still, when 2isdom thou hast mastered.
In an article entitled CT!e 3ystery T!at Is 3an)D Gordon 1lummer assures us
t!at C# man o" ea$er mind .!o can $rasp concepts o" t!ou$!t utterly beyond
t!e
a-era$e is t!e more !umble) because !e is more a.are o" t!e limitless
e/tent o" t!e
un<no.n. T!e circum"erence o" !is circle) !is !ori@on o" t!ou$!t) is so muc!
-aster
and "or t!at reason !e stands in re-erent a.e be"ore t!e presence o" t!e
En<no.nD
GTheosophia) =inter &'(:7(8H.
9'
VOICE5
11!. ;e li%e the 5cean which receives all streams and rivers.
The 5ceanBs might* calm remains unmoved3 it feels
them not.
T!e candidate must remain calm as !e mo-es amon$ t!e disturbin$
inMuences o"
t!is .orld) permittin$ none to a$itate !im. In t!is manner !e trains !is lo.er
-e!icles
to respond solely to t!e commands o" t!e !i$!er Sel".
VOICE5
11(. +estrain "* th* Divine th* lower Self.
11,. +estrain "* the 7ternal the Divine.
T!e !i$!er Sel") or E$o) s!ould be allo.ed to control t!e lo.er sel". T!e E$o)
t!en) may more easily come under t!e inMuence o" t!e 3onad) t!e i-ine
Sel". See
0irst Principles of Theosophy by AinaraKadasa) C!apter (.
VOICE5
111. C*e, great is he, who is the sla*er of desire.
114. Still greater he, in whom the Self Divine has slain the
ver* %nowledge of desire.
1upils .!o are see<in$ to o-ercome t!eir .ea<nesses must constantly $uard
t!e
lo.er -e!icles "rom bein$ cau$!t in t!e net o" un.anted !abits. Cleanliness
Fnot
only out.ardly but also in.ardlyFis necessary i" t!e pupils .is! to re>ne
t!eir
lo.er natures.
VOICE5
119. Euard thou the -ower lest it soil the Higher.
T!e i-ine spar< .it!in eac! one o" us can do not!in$ "or us unless .e >rst
ma<e oursel-es ready "or its un"oldment by entertainin$ only t!ose t!ou$!ts
and
emotions t!at mer$e t!e lo.er sel" .it! t!e !i$!er Sel".
VOICE5
11:. The wa* to Anal freedom is within th* S7-..
14=. That wa* "egins and ends outside of Self.
Sal-ation or attainment rests solely .it! t!e indi-idual) as .e !a-e "ree
c!oice
eit!er to li"t oursel-es out o" i$norance or remain unenli$!tened. Verse &;+
points
out t!at our release "rom <armic mista<es and i$norance o" our di-inity may
be
(+
obtained only by reac!in$ out.ard) by identi"yin$ oursel-es .it! all t!at
li-es) and
t!ereby $radually "reein$ oursel-es "rom t!e con>nes o" our lo.er nature.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!y must man learn to $o-ern !is t!in<in$Q
*. =!at are t!e si/ $lorious -irtuesQ
:. =!at must man learn to do in order to $ain meritQ
8. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e CGreat AourneyDQ
9. =!y are spiritually ad-anced persons more !umbleQ
RRRRRRRRRR
Trut! is .it!in oursel-esN it ta<es no rise
From out.ard t!in$s) .!ate-er you may belie-e.
T!ere is an inmost center in us all)
=!ere trut! abides in "ullnessN and around)
=all upon .all) t!e $ross Mes! !ems it in)
T!is per"ect) clear perceptionF.!ic! is trut!.
# baZin$ and per-ertin$ carnal mes!
Blinds it and ma<es all error5 and) to SNO=)
4at!er consists in openin$ out a .ay
=!ence t!e imprisoned splendor may escape)
T!an in eBectin$ entry "or a li$!t
Supposed to be .it!out.
F4obert Bro.nin$) D1aracelsusD
(&
Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence 7 Fra$ment T.o
Lesson '
VOICE5
141. Jnraised "* men and hum"le is the mother of all
+ivers, in Tirthikas roud sight3 emt* the human form
though Alled with CmritaBs sweet waters, in the sight of
fools. 2ithal, the "irth&lace of the sacred rivers is the
sacred land, and he who 2isdom hath, is honoured "*
all men.
C#mrita?s s.eet .atersD is t!e essence o" Li"e itsel". To all t!ose .!o see<
!er
out) s!e con"ers Immortality. T!e "e. .!o !a-e recei-ed enli$!tenment are
sou$!t
and !onored by all man<ind. T!e Tirt!i<as) accordin$ to t!e "ootnote in t!e
$lossary
o" The Voice) are Bra!manical sectarians beyond t!e Himalayas .!o are
called
in>dels by t!e Budd!ists. T!e adKecti-e CproudD could be translated as
meanin$
Csel>s!.D
VOICE5
142. Crhans and Sages of the "oundless Dision are rare as is
the "lossom of the Jdum"ara tree. Crhans are "orn at
midnight hour, together with the sacred lant of nine
and seven stal%s, the hol* <ower that oens and "looms
in dar%ness, out of the ure dew and on the fro@en "ed
of snow&caed heights, heights that are trodden "* no
sinful foot.
T!ese sa$es) .!ose numbers are usually small) are sometimes called
C!ildren o"
Li$!t. T!e Csacred plantD represents !umanity) .!ic! !as its roots deep in
mot!er
eart!) usin$ t!e nouris!ment "or its $ro.t!) .!ile t!e branc!es reac!
!ea-en.ard)
aspirin$ e-er up.ard to.ard its ri$!t"ul place in t!e !ierarc!y o" $lorious
bein$s.
T!e symbol o" man is eit!er a tree or a Mo.er) and t!e branc!es or t!e
petals $i-e
"urt!er in"ormation as to !is $ro.t! in t!e -ast mystery o" t!e Great
E-olutionary
1lan. Spea<in$ "urt!er about t!ese sa$es) 1aracelsus .rote5
T!ey li-e in -arious parts o" t!e .orld) and do not meddle .it! politicsN t!eir
business is to do as muc! $ood to !umanity as it is in t!eir po.er) and to
drin< .isdom "rom t!e eternal "ountain o" Trut!. T!eir number is small. Some
li-e in Europe) ot!ers in #"rica) but t!ey are bound to$et!er by t!e !armony
o" t!eir souls) and t!ey are t!ere"ore as one. T!ey understand eac! ot!er)
(*
alt!ou$! t!ey spea< in diBerent ton$ues) because t!e lan$ua$e o" t!e sa$es is
spiritual perception. GHartman) ::,H
VOICE5
14!. 6o Crhan, 5 -anoo, "ecomes one in that "irth when for
the Arst the Soul "egins to long for Anal li"eration. Set,
5 thou anFious one, no warrior volunteering Aght in the
Aerce strife "etween the living and the dead, not one
recruit can ever "e refused the right to enter on the 'ath
that leads toward the Aeld of ;attle.
Be"ore >nal liberation is ac!ie-ed and #r!ats!ip is .on) t!ere are many
birt!s to
be li-ed t!rou$!. T!e 3aster S.H. once said) CT!ere are only t.o <inds o"
people)
t!ose .!o <no. and t!ose .!o do not <no..D In esoteric .ritin$s) t!e >rst
are
metap!orically re"erred to as Ct!e li-in$D and t!e latter as Ct!e dead.D
VOICE5
14(. .or, either he shall win, or he shall fall.
14,. Sea, if he conLuers, 6irvana shall "e his. ;efore he casts
his shadow o# his mortal coil, that regnant cause of
anguish and illimita"le ain8in him will men a great
and hol* ;uddha honour.
141. Cnd if he falls, eBen then he does not fall in vain3 the
enemies he slew in the last "attle will not return to life in
the neFt "irth that will "e his.
# disciple must not $i-e in to "eelin$s o" discoura$ement or depression i" !is
pro$ress seems slo.) because lon$ be"ore !e become a.are o" it) t!e
p!ysical brain)
as .ell as t!e subtle emotional and mental -e!icles) are slo.ly becomin$
or$ani@ed
and sensiti@ed to t!e !i$!er -ibratory rate o" spiritual consciousness. I" one
!as
enou$! "ait! in t!e po.ers o" t!e !i$!er Sel") !e or s!e .ill reali@e t!at t!ere
is
acti-ity o" a "undamental and spiritual nature $oin$ on) e-en t!ou$! it may
be
totally unpercei-ed by t!e personal nature. #ll t!e disciple !as to do is to
so. t!e
ri$!t seed and .ater t!e plant dailyN t!e rest is in t!e !ands o" t!e !i$!er
"orcesFt!e
i-ine Sel". T!e candidate .!o t!in<s !e is tra-elin$ at too slo. a pace may)
in "act)
be doin$ -ery use"ul .or< on t!e inner planes. #ll eBort produces results)
e-en i" .e
cannot -isibly see t!ose results. T!e disciple s!ould not be concerned .it!
seein$ t!e
results o" !is .or< or -alidatin$ !is personal pro$ress) "or t!at brin$s t!e
"ocus o"
attention bac< to t!e personal sel") and t!at is counter7producti-e. I" .e do
not
reali@e our !i$!est spiritual aspirations in t!is li"e) .e s!all no doubt carry
"or.ard
(:
into t!e ne/t incarnation all .e !a-e learned and made our o.n) "or not!in$
is lost
or o-erloo<ed in t!e $reater sc!eme o" t!in$s.
VOICE5
144. ;ut if thou wouldBst 6irvana reach, or cast the ri@e
awa*, let not the fruit of action and inaction "e th*
motive, thou of dauntless heart.
# disciple does not tread t!e pat! o" !oliness in order to $ain !is o.n
sal-ationN
!is moti-e is a muc! $rander one t!an t!at.
149. Gnow that the ;odhisattva who li"eration changes for
+enunciation to don the miseries of Secret -ife, is
called, thrice Honoured, 5 thou candidate for woe
throughout the c*cles.
In t!is conte/t) C.oeD means t!e ta<in$ on o" t!e sorro.s o" t!e .orld) as do
t!e
Sa-iors) until t!e end o" t!is cycle. #ll $reat men and .omen !a-e t!e
.el"are o"
!umanity at !eartN t!ey !a-e become) sometimes un<no.n to t!emsel-es)
c!annels
t!rou$! .!ic! t!e !i$!er po.ers can do t!eir .or< on eart!.
VOICE5
14:. The 'CTH is one, Discile, *et in the end, twofold.
)ar%ed are its stages "* four and seven 'ortals. Ct one
end8"liss immediate, and at the other8"liss deferred.
;oth are of merit the reward/ the choice is thine.
T!e 1at! becomes t.o"old a"ter t!e disciple !as reac!ed enli$!tenment. He
no.
!as to c!oose bet.een liberation "or !imsel") .!ic! is t!e ne$ation o" birt!s
and
deat!s "or !imsel") or returnin$ to t!is dar< planet a$ain and a$ain in order
to !asten
t!e enli$!tenment o" !umanity) in t!is .ay !elpin$ to s!orten t!e cycle o"
dar<ness.
VOICE5
19=. The 5ne "ecomes the two, the O"en and the Secret# The
Arst one leadeth to the goal, the second, to Self&Immolation.
T!e 1at! is one) on up to t!e -ery pinnacle) .!en it suddenly branc!es out
into
t.o more pat!s. T!e .arrior !as to c!oose) and must not be critici@ed i" t!e
c!oice
s!ould be liberation. But t!e soul t!at c!ooses to "ore$o its o.n "reedom in
order to
return to !elp t!e .orld is lauded by all o" Nature "rom mineral to #n$el.
(8
VOICE5
191. 2hen to the 'ermanent is sacriAced the )uta"le, the
ri@e is thine/ the dro returneth whence it came. The
O"en 'CTH leads to the changeless change86irvana,
the glorious state of C"soluteness, the ;liss ast human
thought.
192. Thus, the Arst is -I;7+CTI56.
In order "or an aspirant to ac0uire $odli<e .isdom) !e $radually casts aside
all
eart!ly desires) reali@in$ t!at all t!in$s o" t!is eart! pass a.ay in time. He
sees t!at
!e !as been li-in$ under a delusion o" separateness and t!at only t!in$s o"
t!e spirit
are eternal. #nd so) !e see<s t!e pat! leadin$ to Ct!e c!an$eless c!an$eDF
but t!en)
is t!is t!e c!oice o" !is soulQ
VOICE5
19!. ;ut 'ath the Second is8+76J6CICTI56, and
therefore called the 'ath of 2oe.
19(. That Secret 'ath leads the Crhan to mental woe
unsea%a"le3 woe for the living Dead, and helless it*
for the men of Garmic sorrow, the fruit of Garma Sages
dare not still.
T!e C1at! o" =oeD describes t!e suBerin$ t!at arises "rom deep compassion
"or
!umanity. T!e disciple sees all t!e pain and sorro. o" t!e .orld t!at !a-e
been
brou$!t about by !uman i$norance. Handel?s Messiah elaborates on t!e
suBerin$s o"
a $reat Sa-ior) Aesus. T!ere !a-e been many sa-iors and t!ere .ill be more
be"ore
t!is cycle is completed. It is t!ou$!t by many t!at t!e li"e o" an #r!an is total
sadness. Since !umanity must learn t!rou$! pain and an$uis!) $reat souls
!a-e to
descend to !umanity?s le-el in order to be understood) but t!eir inner sel-es
are
lin<ed .it! t!e inner planes and t!ere"ore are in t.o places at once) .or<in$
amon$
man<ind and !a-in$ t!eir main e/istence amon$ t!e an$els. T!ere"ore)
<no.in$
.!at man<ind is missin$) an #r!an !as cause to .eep) "or at !is $reat sta$e
o"
ad-ancement !e sees -ery clearly .!at !umanity could be doin$ to a-oid its
misery.
But once a person suBerin$ abKect misery cries out "or !elp and assistance)
t!ere
is !elp "ort!comin$N "or t!ese $reat souls are e-er .aitin$ to be o" assistance
and to
teac! .!at t!ey <no.. SuBerin$) t!ere"ore) seems to be a necessary catalyst
until .e
see< to <no.N to learn to <no. oursel-es is t!e be$innin$ o" true <no.led$e
and t!e
end o" suBerin$.
(9
VOICE5
19,. .or it is written/ teach to eschew all causes3 the rile of
e#ect, as the great tidal wave, thou shalt let run its
course.
#s .e so.) so s!all .e reapN .e must see t!at t!e seeds are all $ood) t!at
t!e
"ruit and t!e Mo.er be use"ul to our spiritual pro$ress. =!ate-er cause is set
in
motion returns to t!e creator o" t!at cause.
VOICE5
191. The 5en 2a*, no sooner hast thou reached its goal,
will lead thee to re$ect the ;odhisattvic "od* and ma%e
thee enter the thrice glorious state of Dharma%a*a which
is o"livion of the 2orld and men for ever.
T!ere is no sel>s!ness attac!ed to t!e !arma<aya state) to t!e one .!o
c!ooses
to enter Nir-ana. But t!e one .!o dons t!e Nirmana<aya robe) .!o
renounces
Nir-ana) is $reatly needed by t!e !ierarc!y in order to !elp >ll t!e reser-oir
o"
spiritual "orce "or use by t!e #depts.
VOICE5
194. The Secret 2a* leads also to 'aranirvanic "liss8"ut at
the close of Galas without num"er3 6irvanas gained
and lost from "oundless it* and comassion for the
world of deluded mortals.
199. ;ut it is said The last shall "e the greatest, Samyak
Sambudda, the Teacher of 'erfection, gave u his S7-.
for the salvation of the 2orld, "* stoing at the
threshold of 6irvana8the ure state.
T!e .arrior) alt!ou$! re"usin$ to enter C1aranir-anic blissD in order to return
to
assist suBerin$ man<ind) may claim !is re.ard at t!e close o" numerous
Salpas
Gcosmic cyclesH .!en !is .or< is completed. CSamya< SambuddaD is anot!er
name
"or t!e Lord Budd!a) .!o is said to be able to mo-e to ot!er $lobes o" our
planetary
c!ain.
VOICE5
19:. Thou hast the %nowledge now concerning the two 2a*s.
Th* time will come for choice, 5 thou of eager Soul,
when thou hast reached the end and assed the seven
'ortals. Th* mind is clear. 6o more art thou entangled in
((
delusive thoughts, for thou hast learned all. Jnveiled
stands truth and loo%s thee sternl* in the face. She sa*s/
1:=. Sweet are the fruits of +est and -i"eration for the sa%e
of Self3 "ut sweeter still the fruits of long and "itter dut*.
C*e, +enunciation for the sa%e of others, of su#ering
fellow men.
CT!e se-en portalsD are "ully e/plained in t!e T!ird Fra$ment. T!e aspirant to
$odli<e .isdom is no. nearin$ t!e crucial part o" !is Kourney. He !as been
$i-en
.!at <no.led$e !e is able to !old and understand at !is le-el o"
consciousness. No.
t!e mind o" t!e aspirant s!ould be muc! clearer t!an be"ore) as !e !as stood
"ace to
"ace .it! Trut! and learned <no.led$e o" t!e Ct.o =ays.D
VOICE5
1:1. He, who "ecomes 'rat*e%a&;uddha, ma%es his o"eisance
"ut to his Self. The ;odhisattva who has won the "attle,
who holds the ri@e within his alm, *et sa*s in his
divine comassion/
1:2. .or othersB sa%e this great reward I *ield8
accomlishes the greater +enunciation.
1:!. C SCDI5+ 5. TH7 25+-D is he.
To $i-e up one?s li"e t!at ot!ers mi$!t li-e is t!e ultimate sacri>ce. But in so
doin$) t!e Bod!isatt-a unites !imsel" .it! t!e =orld Soul .!ose .ill it is to
raise t!e
consciousness o" all t!at li-e and ma<e up t!e li"e o" t!is planet eart!.
VOICE5
1:(. ;eholdU The goal of "liss and the long 'ath of 2oe are at
the furthest end. Thou canst choose either, 5 asirant to
Sorrow, throughout the coming c*clesU . . .
1:,. 5) DCW+C'C6I HJ).
T!e aspirant to sorro. !as o" !is o.n "ree .ill turned !is bac< upon !is o.n
liberation and .ill no. return to s!oulder t!e sorro.s o" t!e .orld. # "riend
and
dedicated T!eosop!ist) .!o !as le"t t!is eart!ly plane) once said t!at COm
-aKrapani
!umD mi$!t be translated to mean CTrut! "allen into t!y t.o !ands.D
(;
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!ere is t!e birt!place o" t!e sacred ri-ersQ
*. =!o are t!e Cli-in$D and t!e CdeadDQ
:. Name t!e 1at! .!ic! leads to t!e chan#eless chan#e.
8. =!ic! 1at! leads to renunciationQ
RRRRRRRRRR
Startin$ upon t!e lon$ Kourney immaculateN descendin$ more and more into
sin"ul matter) !a-in$ connected !imsel" .it! e-ery atom in mani"ested
SpaceFt!e Pil#rim) !a-in$ stru$$led t!rou$! and suBered in e-ery "orm o"
li"e and bein$) is only at t!e bottom o" t!e -alley o" matter) and !al" t!rou$!
!is cycle) .!en !e !as identi>ed !imsel" .it! collecti-e Humanity. T!is) he
has made in his o'n ima#e. In order to pro$ress up.ards and !ome.ards) t!e
CGodD !as no. to ascend t!e .eary up!ill pat! o" t!e Gol$ot!a o" Li"e.
FThe Secret )octrine) &5*(,
(,
Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T!ree
THE SEVEN 1O4T#LS
Lesson &+
VOICE5
1:1. J'CDSC, the choice is made, I thirst for 2isdom. 6ow
hast thou rent the veil "efore the secret 'ath and taught
the greater Sana. Th* servant here is read* for th*
guidance.
CEpadyaD means a spiritual preceptor) a Guru) or 3aster) .!o ta<es pupils
.!o
.is! to tra-el t!e 1at! and .!om !e belie-es can be trained to be o" some
special
ser-ice. T!e $reater 2ana) as H1B e/plains it) is one o" t.o sc!ools o"
learnin$ in
Budd!ism5 t!e 3a!ayana Gt!e $reater 2anaH is called t!e $reat -e!icle) t!e
Hinayana)
t!e smaller -e!icle. Today) t!e term CT!era-edaD is used in place o" t!e
CHinayanaD
as t!e latter is percei-ed to be peKorati-e by its practitioners.
#nd no. t!e Epadya) t!e Teac!er) is about to tell t!e aspirant .!at lies
a!ead o"
!im.
VOICE5
1:4. MTis well, Shrava%a. 'reare th*self, for thou wilt have to
travel on alone. The Teacher can "ut oint the wa*. The
'ath is one for all, the means to reach the goal must
var* with the 'ilgrims.
CS!ra-a<aD re"ers to a listener) one .!o sits at t!e "eet o" !is Teac!er)
absorbin$
suc! spiritual <no.led$e as !e may be able to understand) a"ter .!ic! !e is
told to
$o "ort! and test t!e <no.led$e !imsel" in !is daily li"e. T!e c!ild cannot sit
at t!e
<nee o" its mot!er all !is li"eX #lt!ou$! t!e 1at! is one "or all) .e eac! "ollo.
it at our
leisure) in our time) and in our o.n particular .ay. =e all belon$ to one o"
t!e se-en
rays) and .ould t!ere"ore approac! t!e 1at! diBerentlyFbein$ dra.n to
particular
.or< and to a special Teac!er) on t!at ray. T!is may be t!e reason .!y .e
!a-e "ree
c!oice) allo.in$ us to "ollo. t!e needs and aspirations o" our o.n souls.
E-en .it!in
t!e same ray7type) t!e teac!in$ is adapted to indi-idual needs. =e read t!at
a 3aster
may send one o" !is pupils into seclusion and anot!er out into t!e .orld. #nd
a$ain)
!e may $i-e one t!e satis"action o" <no.in$ t!at !e is bein$ tau$!t and
lea-e anot!er
.it!out t!at <no.led$e "or a $reat len$t! o" time. #nd so) t!e ans.er is5
study and
('
.or< "or t!e sa<e o" ac0uirin$ .isdom "or its o.n sa<e) and not "or some
special
reason o" your o.n. # sincere aspirant ne-er loo<s "or t!e results.
VOICE5
1:9. 2hich wilt thou choose, 5 thou of dauntless heartT The
Samtan of e*e Doctrine, fourfold Dh*ana, or thread
th* wa* through 'aramitas, siF in num"er, no"le gates of
virtue leading to ;odhi and to 'ra$na, seventh ste of
2isdomT
T!e aspirant is as<ed .!ic! o" t.o met!ods !e is $oin$ to c!oose. T!e
Paramitas
are si/ transcendental -irtues5 c!arity) morality) patience) ener$y)
contemplation) and
.isdom. CSamtanD is a Tibetan .ord meanin$ a state o" meditationN C"our"old
!yanaD denotes "our steps ta<en in meditation. =e came across t!e "our
modes o"
trut! in t!e >rst Fra$mentFsymboli@ed by t!e .ords Su) Tu) 3u) and Tau. T!e
CEye octrineD is said to mean do$ma) t!e dead7letter "orm "or t!ose .!o
are
content .it! e/oteric "ormulas.
VOICE5
1::. The rugged 'ath of fourfold Dh*ana winds on uhill.
Thrice great is he who clim"s the loft* to.
2==. The 'aramita heights are crossed "* a still steeer ath.
Thou hast to Aght th* wa* through ortals seven, seven
strongholds held "* cruel craft* 'owers8assions
incarnate.
T!e C1aramita !ei$!tsD are said to !a-e se-en portals t!rou$! .!ic! t!e
candidate !as to stru$$le .it! temptation) and t!is can only be done in t!e
.orld o"
people) in t!e stream o" li"e .!ere our <arma !as placed us. It is said t!at
bot! t!e
C"our"old !yanaD G"our sta$es in meditationH and t!e C1aramitasD are
necessary to
t!e .ell7rounded spiritual li"e. T!e "ormer deals mainly .it! meditation and
t!e
second .it! our actions and moti-es. T!e re>nin$ o" our personality is most
important) as it inMuences t!e inner man at all times. Bot! action and
inaction must
>nd room in us) a time "or .or<in$ at .!at .e !a-e learned) and a time "or
contemplatin$ t!e trut! o" .!at .e <no.. Our lo.er nature does not die
easilyN it
!as an elemental consciousness o" its o.n and also .is!es to li-e.
VOICE5
2=1. ;e of good cheer, Discile3 "ear in mind the golden rule.
5nce thou hast assed the gate Srotaatti, he who the
stream hath entered3 once th* foot hath ressed the "ed
;+
of the 6irvanic stream in this or an* future life, thou hast
"ut seven other "irths "efore thee, 5 thou of adamantine
2ill.
T!e >rst $ate teac!es c!arity and compassion) and .it! t!ese t.o rules .e
be$in
our KourneyN .e enter t!e stream o" li"e in preparation "or a li"e o" altruistic
ser-ice.
Once .e !a-e ta<en t!is step) it is said t!at .e t!en !a-e only se-en more
incarnations) and maybe less) be"ore .e attain to Sel"!ood. =!et!er t!is
period o"
se-en incarnations s!ould be ta<en literally is a matter o" some debate
amon$
esoteric students. # little !andboo< o" $reat -alue as .e be$in t!e Kourney is
(t the
0eet of the Master. T!e teac!er continues5
VOICE5
2=2. -oo% on. 2hat seeBst thou "efore thine e*e, 5 asirant to
god&li%e 2isdomT
T!e aspirant ans.ers5
VOICE5
2=!. The cloa% of dar%ness is uon the dee of matter3
within its folds I struggle. ;eneath m* ga@e it deeens,
-ord3 it is diselled "eneath the waving of th* hand. C
shadow moveth, creeing li%e the stretching serent
coils. . . . It grows, swells out and disaears in
dar%ness.
Once t!e aspirant be$ins to tread t!e 1at! in earnest) bot! t!e best and t!e
.orst
tendencies in !is nature rise to t!e sur"ace) and t!e a$e7old stru$$le
bet.een $ood
and e-il "orces is on. To <no. our stren$t!s and our .ea<nesses is !al" t!e
battle.
3uc! o" t!e lo.er nature may be re>ned .it! $ood actions and "ait! in t!e
Sel")
.!ic! is e-er .it! usFbut not seen. T!is "ait! can dispel doubt and "ear i" .e
but
allo. it to. Fait! is a <ey t!at opens all doors. =!en a person decides to
!asten !is
pro$ress) !e ma<es a decision t!at c!an$es !is .!ole li"e. #t a time li<e t!is)
t!e
disciple needs t!e <ind and understandin$ t!ou$!ts o" ot!ers) "or !e is no
lon$er
li-in$ by t!e super>cial con-entions o" !is social en-ironment. T!is tends to
increase
!is diOculties. But t!ose .!o <no. t!at t!is is a deep and -ery personal
$earin$ o" a
soul ea$er to tread a ne. pat!) despite t!e obstacles) stand by and de"end
t!e
disciple?s ri$!t to do .!at !e "eels !e must. T!is is true brot!er!ood. T!e
Guru
continues5
;&
VOICE5
2=(. It is the shadow of th*self outside the 'ath, cast on the
dar%ness of th* sins.
T!e disciple ans.ers5
VOICE5
2=,. Sea, -ord3 I see the 'CHX3 its foot in mire, its summits
lost in glorious light 6irvanic. Cnd now I see the ever
narrowing 'ortals on the hard and thorn* wa* to Wnana.
T!e >rst "e. portals appear .ide and easy o" access) but t!e rest stretc!in$
into
t!e distance loo< narro.N t!is causes t!e disciple to "eel discoura$ed. T!e
.ord 2nana
could mean understandin$) <no.led$e) or enli$!tenment. His $uide $oes on
to say5
VOICE5
2=1. Thou seest well, -anoo. These 'ortals lead the asirant
across the waters on to the other shore.
CT!e ot!er s!ore)D a p!rase t!at is used "re0uently) !as t.o meanin$s5 one
is t!at
bet.een li"e and deat! t!ere is a ri-er or ocean and souls are "erried across
to t!e
ot!er s!ore a"ter deat!N t!e second meanin$ is t!at .!en a soul steps out
"rom
$eneral e-olution) .!ic! it !as completed) and be$ins t!e li"e o" an #dept)
t!at soul
c!ooses to return "rom t!e ot!er s!ore in order to !elp man<ind.
VOICE5
7ach 'ortal hath a golden %e* that oeneth its gate3 and
these %e*s are/8
2=4. 1. DC6C, the %e* of charit* and love immortal.
CanaD does not mean mere c!arity in t!e sense o" $i-in$ almsN it is utter
readiness to $i-e o" one?s sel") and to "or$i-e t!ose .!o do not understand
our
moti-es. To sacri>ce our time) ener$y) and t!ou$!t to t!is end is to learn
c!arity in
t!e uni-ersal sense.
VOICE5
2=9. 2. SHI-C, the %e* of Harmon* in word and act, the %e*
that counter"alances the cause and the e#ect, and
leaves no further room for Garmic action.
CS!ilaD is ri$!t conduct) ri$!t action) and usin$ our en-ironmentFin .!ic!
<arma !as placed usFin order to close our <armic account as 0uic<ly as
possible.
;*
T!us) t!e aspirant ac0uires added "reedom and opportunity to ser-e .it!out
t!ou$!t
o" sel".
VOICE5
2=:. !. GSHC6TI, atience sweet, that nought can ruYe.
CSs!antiD means a state o" indiBerence to t!e .orld?s barbs and criticism.
T!is is
not a "eelin$ o" sel"7ri$!teousness but one o" peace) brou$!t about t!rou$!
t!e
<no.led$e t!at no thin# can !urt t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in) .it! .!ic! t!e
aspirant is
endea-orin$ to lin< !imsel".
VOICE5
21=. (. DI+CEC, indi#erence to leasure and to ain,
illusion conLuered, truth alone erceived.
CVira$aD or CVaira$yaD means utter desirelessness) .or<in$ "or t!e sa<e o"
obtainin$ .isdom in order to be prepared "or some special ser-ice in t!e
$reat e-olutionary
plan. T!ere .ill be no personal $lory in t!is) "or as t!e aspirant pro$resses)
!e
becomes more and more impersonal) bein$ mo-ed mainly by t!e -ision o" a
ne.
.orld .!ere i$norance !as no place.
VOICE5
211. ,. DI+SC, the dauntless energ* that Aghts its wa* to the
suernal T+JTH, out of the mire of lies terrestrial.
CViryaD is t!at stren$t! and ener$y t!at carries eac! one o" us "or.ard)
accordin$
to our "ait! and eBort) and at our o.n pace. No man or .oman can tell .!ere
!e or
s!e standsN to desire to <no. .ould be mere -anity. T!e true disciple
stru$$les on in
!umility .it!out .orryin$ about !is personal pro$ress.
VOICE5
212. 1. DHSC6C, whose golden gate once oened leads the
6ar$ol toward the realm of Sat eternal and its ceaseless
contemlation.
C!yanaD is a state attained t!rou$! meditation. Only in silence can t!e
aspirant
!ope to recei-e $uidance) .!ic! is o" an intuitional nature. It is true t!at
e-en amid
t!e turmoil o" t!e mar<etplace) a person may recei-e enli$!tenmentN but "or
t!e
student) t!e disciple) t!ere are rules to be "ollo.ed. T!e .ord CNarKolD means
a
saintly person.
;:
In re$ard to t!e >rst si/ o" t!e 1aramitas) 4o!it 3e!ta obser-es t!at t!e >rst
t!ree are oriented to.ard t!e outer .!ile t!e second $roup o" t!ree points to
t!e
inner.
T!e outer instruments T1aramitasU deal .it! t!e pattern o" be!a-ior) .!ile t!e
inner instruments deal .it! t!e source or t!e bac<$round o" be!a-ior. In ot!er
.ords) t!ese instruments deal .it! t!e structural and t!e "unctional) t!e "orm
and t!e li"e) aspects o" t!e mo-ement o" t!e spiritual pil$rim on t!e 1at! o"
1er"ection. Aust as li"e and "orm must co7e/ist) similarly t!e inner and t!e outer
instruments must remain to$et!er. T!e one is tan$ible) t!e ot!er is intan$ible.
T!e pattern or be!a-ior is somet!in$ tan$ible) .!ile t!e bac<$round or t!e
source o" be!a-ior is somet!in$ intan$ible. But let not t!e spiritual pil$rim
commit t!e mista<e o" re$ardin$ t!e intan$ible as unreal. =it!out t!e presence
o" t!e intan$ible bac<$roundFt!e SourceFt!e tan$ible pattern o" be!a-ior
becomes only an empty "orm. T!is is one o" t!e $reatest pit"alls on t!e 1at! o"
1er"ection. GThe +reative Silence) p. &*;H
VOICE5
21!. 4. '+CW6C, the %e* to which ma%es of a man a god,
creating him a ;odhisattva, son of the Dh*anis.
C1raKnaD is a state .!ere =isdom !as become a part o" t!e li"e be!ind t!e
"ormN
t!is 0uality ma<es t!e Bod!isatt-a. C!yanisD are i-ine intelli$ences.
VOICE5
21(. Such to the 'ortals are the golden %e*s.
#ccordin$ to The Secret )octrine t!ere are se-en <eys o" interpretation to
e-ery
symbol and alle$ory. In t!e September7October &'(: issue o" The +anadian
Theosophist
4. 3ac!ell .rites) CIt is a -ery old idea t!at man passes t!rou$! -arious
$ate.ays on
t!e pat! o" e-olution) and t!at eac! $ate !as its <ey. T!e <eys !a-e to be
"ound) and
t!en t!ey !a-e to be turned in t!e loc< be"ore t!e $ate can be openedD Gp.
,*H.
VOICE5
21,. ;efore thou canst aroach the last, 5 weaver of th*
freedom, thou hast to master these 'aramitas of
erfection8the virtues transcendental siF and ten in
num"er8along the wear* 'ath.
211. .or, 5 discileU ;efore thou wert made At to meet th*
Teacher face to face, th* )CST7+ light to light, what
wert thou toldT
;8
It stands to reason t!at i" a pupil .is!es to ma<e contact .it! !is 3aster) !e
must >rst endea-or to re>ne and puri"y !is -e!icles t!rou$! practice o" t!e
perfections) as little conscious contact can be made bet.een a coarse
personality and a
spiritually re>ned Bein$. To meet t!e 3aster Cli$!t to li$!tD e/presses a
.onder"ul
idea. =!en t!e pupil comes into touc! .it! !is 3aster?s consciousness) it is
said t!at
t!eir auras blend and ma<e a .onder"ul li$!tX
VOICE5
214. ;efore thou canst aroach the foremost gate thou hast
to learn to art th* "od* from th* mind, to dissiate the
shadow, and to live in the eternal. .or this, thou hast to
live and "reathe in all, as all that thou erceivest
"reathes in thee3 to feel th*self a"iding in all things, all
things in S7-..
[\ be able to Cpart t!e body "rom t!e mindD is to "or$et t!e lo.er sel" in an
eBort
to rise and lin< up .it! t!e !i$!er mind) .!ic! is t!e brid$e .!ic! lin<s t!e
t.o) t!e
"inite and t!e in"inite. C[\ li-e in t!e eternalD is to be able to Kud$e t!in$s
al.ays
"rom t!e standpoint o" t!e eternal.
VOICE5
219. Thou shalt not let th* senses ma%e a la*ground of th*
mind.
Encontrolled t!in<in$ can delay spiritual pro$ress.
VOICE5
21:. Thou shalt not searate th* "eing from ;7I6E, and the
rest, "ut merge the 5cean in the dro, the dro within
the 5cean.
22=. So shalt thou "e in full accord with all that lives3 "ear
love to men as though the* were th* "rother&uils,
disciles of one Teacher, the sons of one sweet mother.
T!e disciple o" today reali@es t!at to stand alone) indiBerent to .!at is $oin$
on
in ot!er parts o" t!e .orld) is impossibleN !e <no.s t!at personal
in-ol-ement is
imperati-e. #nd so !e 0uietly and consistently $oes about t!e business o"
preparin$
!imsel") not only "or !is o.n $ro.t! but to be ready to ser-e t!e spiritual
needs o"
!is "ello.man. In ser-in$ ot!ers) t!e disciple ser-es !is !i$!er Sel".
;9
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!y is it necessary "or a disciple to practice t!e 1aramitasQ
*. Gi-e t!e names o" t!e t.o sc!ools o" learnin$ in Nort!ern Budd!ism. =!y
is
t!e term CHinayanaD no lon$er used by practitioners o" t!at sc!oolQ
:. =!y is it t!at .!en an aspirant decides to tread t!e Holy 1at! o"
#ttainment
t!e best and .orst in !is nature rise to t!e sur"aceQ
8. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e $olden <ey t!at opens t!e $ate o" esirelessness.
9. Interpret t!e meanin$ o" t!e S!ila <ey.
RRRRRRRRRR
Go) sei@e "ast !old o" t!e s<irt o" <no.led$e)
For learnin$ .ill con-ey t!ee to e-erlastin$ abodes.
See< nou$!t but <no.led$e i" t!ou art .ise)
For it is ne$lect"ul to remain .it!out .isdom.
From learnin$ t!ere .ill come to t!ee per"ection as re$ards reli$ion and
t!e .orld.
FSadi1s Scroll of !isdom
;(
Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence 7 Fra$ment T!ree
Lesson &&
VOICE5
221. 5f teachers there are man*3 the )CST7+&S5J- is one,
Cla*a, the Jniversal Soul. -ive in that )CST7+ as ITS
ra* in thee. -ive in th* fellows as the* live in IT.
First) .e learn about lo-e and <indness at our mot!er?s <nee) and t!en .e
are
tau$!t our #BC?s in elementary sc!ool. Later .e are tau$!t at !i$! sc!ool
and
per!aps in t!e uni-ersityFbut t!e $reatest o" all teac!ers is t!e Eni-ersal
Soul)
.!ic! is e-er present be!ind t!e scenes o" e-ents) as .e <no. t!em. T!e
<arma t!at
eac! soul brin$s .it! !im into eac! incarnation is at .or< brin$in$ to !im
t!ose
t!in$s t!at !e !as nurtured) and <eepin$ "rom !im t!ose t!in$s t!at !e !as
a-oided.
#nd so) <arma is a -ery personal and Kust t!in$) yet at t!e same time -ery
impersonal.
Since .e are interconnected at some le-el .it! all t!at li-es) .e are at all
times
aBectin$ and colorin$ t!e .!ole in subtle and e-en unpercei-ed .ays by our
t!ou$!ts and our actions. #nd so) our indi-idual <arma is inter.o-en .it! t!e
<arma o" t!e .!ole planet.
VOICE5
222. ;efore thou standest on the threshold of the 'ath3 "efore
thou crossest the foremost Eate, thou hast to merge the
two into the 5ne and sacriAce the ersonal to S7-.
imersonal, and thus destro* the ath "etween the
two8Antahkarana.
It is possible "or a person) durin$ t!is li"etime) to $et in touc! .it! t!e Hi$!er
3anas G3indH t!rou$! t!e (ntahkaranaFt!e brid$e bet.een t!e lo.er mind
and t!e
!i$!er. T!e !old t!at t!e reincarnatin$ E$o !as o-er its lo.er -e!icles is
normally
only -ery partial) but .!en t!e E$o and t!e lo.er personality are in
!armony) t!e
brid$e bet.een t!e t.o ceases to e/ist) "or t!e lo.er !as Clet $oD and
become an
inte$ral part o" t!e Hi$!er 3anas.
VOICE5
22!. Thou hast to "e reared to answer Dharma, the stern
law, whose voice will as% thee at th* Arst, at th* initial
ste/
;;
22(. Hast thou comlied with all the rules, 5 thou of loft*
hoesT
22,. Hast thou attuned th* heart and mind to the great mind
and heart of all man%indT .or as the sacred +iverBs
roaring voice where"* all 6ature&sounds are echoed
"ac%, so must the heart of him Mwho in the stream would
enter,B thrill in resonse to ever* sigh and thought of all
that lives and "reathes.
C!armaD re"ers to a person?s o.n special .or<) t!e pat! c!osen by !im
.!ic!
may lead to ser-ice accordin$ to !is talent and spiritual a.areness. To enter
upon t!e
pat!less 1at! is to lose all personal identity in order to identi"y .it! t!e
o-erall 1lan.
CT!e sacred 4i-er?s roarin$ -oiceD is said to be t!e <eynote o" Nature. In t!e
$lossary
o" The Voice) H1B points out t!at it Cis a .ell <no.n "act in p!ysical science
as .ell as
in occultism) t!at t!e a$$re$ate sound o" NatureFsuc! as is !eard in t!e
roar o"
$reat ri-ers) t!e noise produced by t!e .a-in$ tops o" trees in lar$e "orests)
and t!at
o" a city !eard in t!e distanceFis a de>nite) sin$le tone o" 0uite an
appreciable
pitc!.D Eac! one o" us $i-es oB -ibrations created by a color and a sound) as
do t!e
animal) -e$etable) and mineral <in$doms.
VOICE5
221. Disciles ma* "e li%ened to the strings of the soulechoing
$ina3 man%ind, unto its sounding "oard3 the
hand that swees it to the tuneful "reath of the E+7CT
25+-D&S5J-. The string that fails to answer Mneath the
)asterBs touch in dulcet harmon* with all the others,
"rea%s8and is cast awa*. So the collective minds of
%anoo-Shravakas. The* have to "e attuned to the
Jadh*aBs mind8one with the 5ver&Soul8or, "rea%
awa*.
#t >rst t!e pil$rim -entures "ort! on t!e 1at! ea$erly and Koy"ully) but t!e
-ision
may soon "ade) resultin$ in a $eneral sense o" .eariness and loss o" !eart.
S!ould
t!is !appen) t!e teac!in$s .ill come to t!e pil$rim?s aid) remindin$ !im t!at
Cno
eBort) not e-en t!e smallest) is e-er lost)D "or durin$ t!e s!ort period o"
earnest eBort
!e put "ort! in t!e be$innin$) !e made $reat strides "or.ard. I" "or some
reason !e
cannot continue at t!is pace) it is a pity) but) as The Voice continues to
stress) t!e
smallest eBort is ne-er lost and .ill bear "ruit in li"etimes to come. =e are
tau$!t not
to be aBected by moods) as t!ey .aste t!e soul?s precious time. I" .e
mista<enly "all
into i$norance) .e do not sit and .eep) but immediately rise and use t!e
$olden
<eys.
;,
VOICE5
224. Thus do the ;rothers of the Shadow8the murderers of
their Souls, the dread Dad&Duga clan.
T!e pil$rim .earin$ t!e bad$e o" lo-e and c!arity is no. allo.ed to pass t!e
>rst $ate.
VOICE5
229. Hast thou attuned th* "eing to Humanit*Bs great ain, 5
candidate for lightT
22:. Thou hastT . . . Thou ma*est enter. Set, ere thou settest
foot uon the drear* 'ath of sorrow, Mtis well thou
shouldBst Arst learn the itfalls on the wa*.
T!e candidate is as<ed .!et!er !e is prepared to sacri>ce all !is time and
li"e in
order to !elp !umanity. I" !e is) t!en !e may enter) "or all .!o enter must
ser-e.
CT!e pit"alls on t!e .ayD are mainly 0ualities o" a personal nature) ones t!at
!e is
aimin$ to replace .it! impersonal and uni-ersal ones. T!e disciple reali@es
t!at !e
cannot place !is "oot upon t!e 1at! be"ore !e !as learned t!e rules. #s The
Voice
repeats) !e !as to become t!e 1at! itsel" be"ore !e is .ort!y o" ser-in$.
Once t!e
aims are understood and put into practice) all c!an$esN t!e 1at! becomes
clear) and
t!e pil$rim) $uided by !is staB o" <no.led$e) proceeds .it! radiant
!appiness.
VOICE5
2!=. Crmed with the %e* of Charit*, of love and tender merc*,
thou art secure "efore the gate of Dana, the gate that
standeth at the entrance of the 'CTH.
=e !a-e learned about t!e Golden Seys. )ana) t!e <ey o" C!arity and Lo-e)
means not only t!e $i-in$ o" alms and donations to .ort!y causes) but
actual
participation in t!e .or< o" compassion. T!e $i-in$ o" onesel" in ser-ice is
one o" t!e
<eys to spiritual pro$ress. #s it says in (t the 0eet of the Master) CTo "eed t!e
poor is a
$ood and noble and use"ul .or<N yet to "eed t!eir souls is nobler and more
use"ul
t!an to "eed t!eir bodies. #ny ric! man can "eed t!e body) but only t!ose
.!o <no.
can "eed t!e soul. I" you <no.) it is your duty to !elp ot!ers to <no.D Gpp. &;7
&,H.
VOICE5
2!1. ;ehold, 5 ha* 'ilgrimU The ortal that faceth thee is
high and wide, seems eas* of access. The road that leads
therethrough is straight and smooth and green. MTis li%e
a sunn* glade in the dar% forest deths, a sot on earth
;'
mirrored from Cmita"haBs aradise. There, nightingales
of hoe and "irds of radiant lumage sing erched in
green "owers, chanting success to fearless 'ilgrims. The*
sing of ;odhisattvasB virtues Ave, the Avefold source of
;odhi ower, and of the seven stes in Gnowledge.
T!e disciple must be in !armony) not only .it! t!e $reat purpose o" t!e
3aster)
but also .it! !is brot!er disciples. He .ill be $i-en .or< to do) t!en tested)
and i"
"ound .antin$ !e .ill be o-erloo<ed until suc! time as !e !as learned t!e
"undamental lesson in .or<in$ in !armony .it! ot!ers and in per"ormin$
e/cellently .it! .!at !e !as. CLanoo7S!ra-a<asD are t!ose .!o !a-e entered
.illin$ly upon t!e pat! o" serious disciples!ip.
VOICE5
2!2. 'ass onU .or thou hast "rought the %e*3 thou art secure.
CT!e Brot!ers o" t!e S!ado.)D or t!e 4ed Caps) are usually called blac<
ma$iciansN t!ey use t!eir considerable innate po.ers "or sel>s! purposes. #
"ootnote
by H1B says)
T!e Bhons and )u#pas) t!e sect o" t!e C4ed Caps)D are re$arded as t!e most
-ersed in sorcery. T!ey in!abit =estern and Little Tibet and B!utan. T!ey are
all Tantri<as. It is 0uite ridiculous to >nd Orientals .!o !a-e -isited t!e
borderlands o" Tibet) suc! as Sc!la$int.eit and ot!ers) con"usin$ t!e rites and
dis$ustin$ practices o" t!ese people .it! t!e reli$ious belie"s o" t!e Eastern
Lamas) t!e C2ello. Caps)D and t!eir Nar$ols or !oly men.
VOICE5
2!!. Cnd to the second gate the wa* is verdant too. ;ut it is
stee and winds u hill3 *ea, to its roc%* to. Ere* mists
will overhang its rough and ston* height, and all the
dar% "e*ond. Cs on he goes, the song of hoe soundeth
more fee"le in the ilgrimBs heart. The thrill of dou"t is
now uon him3 his ste less stead* grows.
2!(. ;eware of this, 5 candidateU ;eware of fear that
sreadeth, li%e the "lac% and soundless wings of
midnight "at, "etween the moonlight of th* Soul and th*
great goal that loometh in the distance far awa*.
T!e Cmoonli$!tD o" t!e soul is said to s!ine .it! a reMected li$!t "rom t!e
Lo$os)
and not!in$ must be allo.ed to come bet.een) else t!e soul .ill be le"t in
dar<ness.
,+
VOICE5
2!,. .ear, 5 discile, %ills the will and sta*s all action. If
lac%ing in the Shila virtue,8the ilgrim tris, and
Garmic e""les "ruise his feet along the roc%* ath.
oubt as to !o. to pro$ress paraly@es t!e pil$rim?s sli$!test eBort. So !e
meditates on t!e .isdom o" t!e <ey o" S!ila) .!ic! teac!es !armony o" .ord
and act
and .!ic! counterbalances cause and eBect. T!us) .it! a mind re"res!ed) !e
proceeds.
VOICE5
2!1. ;e of sure foot, 5 candidate. In GshantiBs essence "athe
th* Soul3 for now thou dost aroach the ortal of that
name, the gate of fortitude and atience.
CSs!anti)D t!e <ey o" patience and "ortitude) opens t!e t!ird $ate. #nd as
The
Voice tells us) steady ent!usiasm is needed) "or spasmodic ent!usiasm is apt
to
.ea<en t!e disciple?s eBorts in t!e lon$ run. # s!ort7li-ed burst o"
ent!usiasm .ill
spur us on "or t!e moment) but !o. "ar .ill it carry usQ =e need to sustain
our
steady pro$ress up t!e mountain .it! a sublime patience t!at does not loo<
"or 0uic<
and easy results. To use t!e analo$y o" t!e runner) .!at is needed is not t!e
psyc!olo$y o" t!e runner .!o does only s!ort sprints) but t!e -ery diBerent
attitude
o" t!e marat!on runner .!o paces !imsel" "or t!e lon$ !aul.
VOICE5
2!4. Close not thine e*es, nor lose th* sight of Dor$e3 )araBs
arrows ever smite the man who has not reached
Dairag*a.
3ara?s arro.s Gt!e temptations t!at t!e disciple must o-ercomeH are e-er
.aitin$ to smite Gentice or testH t!e candidate .!o !as not as yet risen
abo-e personal
desire. T!e disciple?s talisman GorKeH is !is >/ed attention on t!e Lo$os) t!e
Supreme Budd!a o" Ct!e iamond Heart)D in .!ose all en-elopin$ lo-e t!e
pil$rim
bat!es. T!e aspirant .!o continues to stru$$le up.ard) indiBerent to all
obstacles) is
lo-in$ly protected by t!e !i$!er intelli$ences .!ic!) .!en necessary) .ard
oB e-il
"orces. #ssistance is sometimes $i-en to an earnest pil$rim .!o !as not as
yet
o-ercome entirely !is indiBerence to pleasure and to pain GVaira$yaH.
VOICE5
2!9. ;eware of trem"ling. B6eath the "reath of fear the %e* of
Gshanti rust* grows/ the rust* %e* refuseth to unloc%.
,&
2!:. The more thou dost advance, the more th* feet itfalls
will meet. The ath that leadeth on, is lighted "* one
Are8the light of daring, "urning in the heart. The more
one dares, the more he shall o"tain. The more he fears,
the more that light shall ale8and that alone can guide.
.or as the lingering sun"eam, that on the to of some tall
mountain shines, is followed "* "lac% night when out it
fades, so is heart&light. 2hen out it goes, a dar% and
threatening shade will fall from thine own heart uon
the ath, and root th* feet in terror to the sot.
T!e only "ear in all t!e .orld) said t!e Stoic p!ilosop!er #ntoninus) C. . . is
t!at
!e !imsel" s!ould "ail to use to t!e "ull all !is -irtues and po.ers "or $ood.D
Fear)
t!ey say) is a "orm o" sel>s!ness. #nd so) .!en .e become less sel"7
centered) .e
be$in to destroy t!e cause o" our misery. CT!e li$!t o" darin$D is t!e .ill to
be$in
and to "ollo. t!rou$!. To do) to dareFis a motto .ritten across t!e .arrior?s
s!ield.
CT42)D said one o" H1B?s Teac!ers. T!is encoura$ement .as not meant only
"or t!e
"e.) but also "or t!ose .!o "elt an ur$e to be$in ac0uaintin$ t!emsel-es .it!
t!e
CstepsD and C-irtuesD and ot!er soul7e0uipment necessary to an earnest
aspirant.
VOICE5
2(=. ;eware, discile, of that lethal shade. 6o light that
shines from Sirit can disel the dar%ness of the nether
Soul, unless all selAsh thought has <ed therefrom, and
that the ilgrim saith/ I have renounced this assing
frame3 I have destro*ed the cause/ the shadows cast can,
as e#ects, no longer "e. .or now the last great Aght, the
Anal war "etween the &i!her and the %oer Self, hath
ta%en lace. ;ehold, the ver* "attleAeld is now engulfed
in the great war, and is no more.
Sel"7doubt is t!at Clet!al s!adeD .!ic! paraly@es t!e .ill and pre-ents t!e
disciple?s "urt!er pro$ress. =e are told t!at all ad-erse "orces are o" our o.n
ma<in$N
t!ey are our only enemies. But once .e "ace up to t!em) and <no. t!em "or
.!at
t!ey are) t!ey lose t!eir po.er o-er us) "or to .it!dra. our attention "rom
t!em is to
depri-e t!em o" li"e "orce t!at $i-es t!em a li"e o" t!eir o.n. T!e Cbattle>eldD
is
.it!in oursel-es) .!ere t!e !i$!er and t!e lo.er are stru$$lin$ "or
supremacy)
sometimes re"erred to as t!e Csacred .ar.D
VOICE5
2(1. ;ut once that thou hast assed the gate of Gshanti, ste
the third is ta%en. Th* "od* is th* slave. 6ow, for the
,*
fourth reare, the 'ortal of temtations which do
ensnare the inner man.
Ss!anti teac!es t!e aspirant patience and calmness) t!us pre-entin$ !is
bein$
t!ro.n oB balance. T!e "orces o" e-il Gi$noranceH are al.ays .aitin$ "or an
opportunity to undermine t!e "oundations o" Good. T!is is t!eir Kob. T!e
pil$rim is
no. about to "ace t!e C1ortal o" temptations.D
VOICE5
2(2. 7re thou canst near that goal, "efore thine hand is lifted
to uraise the fourth gateBs latch, thou must have
mustered all the mental changes in th* Self and slain the
arm* of the thought sensations that, su"tle and
insidious, cree unas%ed within the SoulBs "right shrine.
#t t!is sta$e t!e aspirant is e-er mind"ul o" t!e subtle mo-ements o" mind.
=atc!"ulness is t!e <ey.ord !ere) lest upon nearin$ t!e $oal) t!e pil$rim
rela/ !is
!old upon t!e lo.er sel") .!ic! is e-er on t!e alert "or opportunities to lure
!im bac<
to !is old .ays. T!e temptations o" t!e mind are e-en $reater t!an t!ose o"
a more
p!ysical nature.
VOICE5
2(!. If thou wouldBst not "e slain "* them, then must thou
harmless ma%e th* own creations, the children of th*
thoughts, unseen, imala"le, that swarm round
human%ind, the rogen* and heirs to man and his
terrestrial soils. Thou hast to stud* the voidness of the
seeming full, the fullness of the seeming void.
The Voice says t!at t!e disciple must not allo. any t!ou$!t o" self to enter
!is
consciousness at t!is critical sta$e. I" .e do not .ant to be imprisoned or
inMuenced
by t!e base and dar< t!ou$!ts o" ot!ers) .!ic! >ll t!e atmosp!ere) .e must
counteract t!em by $eneratin$ positi-e ones. In ,sis -nveiled) H. 1. Bla-ats<y
spea<s
o" unseen "orces t!at see< to trip up t!e pil$rim on !is .ay5 CIn t!e East t!ey
are
<no.n as t!e VBrot!ers o" t!e S!ado..? Cunnin$) lo.) -indicti-e) and see<in$
to
retaliate t!eir suBerin$s upon !umanity) t!ey become) until >nal
anni!ilation)
-ampires TandU $!oulsD G&5:&'H. T!ese pernicious inMuences can only be
eBecti-e
.!ere t!ere is .ea<ness. 1urity o" !eart and mind GpurposeH is t!e s!ield
t!at
protects t!e .arrior "rom t!ese ad-erse "orces.
,:
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. Name some o" t!e $olden <eys.
*. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e >rst <ey) in Sans<rit.
:. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e last <ey) in Sans<rit.
8. =!at is t!e C#nta!<aranaDQ
9. =!y is it important to learn t!e rules be"ore enterin$ upon t!e 1at!Q
(. =!at are t!e eBects o" "ear upon t!e candidateQ
(. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e Csacred .arDQ
=!en a man !as mastered !imsel") !e is per"ectly at ease in cold) in !eat) in
pleasure or pain) in !onor or in dis$race.
FB!a$a-ad Gita
,8
Lesson &*
VOICE5
5 fearless Csirant, loo% dee within the well of thine
own heart, and answer. Gnowest thou of Self the owers,
5 thou erceiver of eFternal shadowsT
CT!e Heart CenterD .rites H. 4!odes =allace in !er boo< Ho' to 8nter the
Silence
Cis t!e center "or re$eneration. T!is) t!e dar< incubatin$ c!amber .!ere t!e
synt!esis o" emotion and .ill is consummated. T!is) t!e #ltar .!ere
consumin$ >res
transmute disease and po-erty into li"e and muni>cence. T!is) t!e Transition
Center
"rom li"e to li"eD Gp. &&&H.
VOICE5
2((. If thou dost not8then art thou lost.
=e must learn t!e needs o" t!e !i$!er Sel" Kust as .e <no. about t!ose o"
t!e
outer personality. T!e needs o" t!e inner Sel" must necessarily be o" a
spiritual
natureN t!ere are -irtues to be ac0uired and speci>c <eys to be used be"ore
.e can
stand "ace to "ace .it! our true Sel". 3abel Collins says in !er boo< Throu#h
Gates of
Gold5
T!e $od) $i-en !is ri$!t place) .ill so inspire and $uide t!is e/traordinary
creature) so educate and de-elop it) so "orce it into action and reco$nition o" its
<ind) t!at it .ill ma<e you tremble .!en you reco$ni@e t!e po.er t!at !as
been a.a<ened .it!in you.
VOICE5
2(,. .or, on 'ath fourth, the lightest "ree@e of assion or
desire will stir the stead* light uon the ure white walls
of Soul. The smallest wave of longing or regret for
Ka*aBs gifts illusive, along Antahkarana8the ath that
lies "etween th* Sirit and th* self, the highwa* of
sensations, the rude arousers of Ahankara8a thought as
<eeting as the lightning <ash will ma%e thee th* three
ri@es forfeit8the ri@es thou hast won.
2(1. .or %now that the 7T7+6C- %nows no change.
,9
#s you may !a-e already noticed) t!ere is constant repetition as to bein$
pure in
t!ou$!t and constant in actionN to lose t!e r!yt!m is to bac<slide. #nd so)
t!e
disciple is constantly reminded to <eep !is eyes on t!e $oal. T!e
(ntahkarana is t!e
brid$e) t!e !i$!.ay bet.een t!e !i$!er Sel" and t!e lo.er sel") .!ic!) i"
ne$lected) is
.ea<ened by $natli<e t!ou$!ts t!at pre-ent t!e disciple?s consciousness
"rom
crossin$ t!e brid$e. T!e Eternal does not MuctuateN it is silent) deep) and
c!an$eless.
VOICE5
2(4. The eight dire miseries forsa%e for evermore. If not, to
wisdom, sure, thou canBst not come, nor *et to
li"eration, said the great -ord, the Tathagata of
erfection, he who has followed in the footstes of his
redecessors.
2(9. Stern and eFacting is the virtue of Dairag*a. If thou its
ath wouldBst master, thou must %ee th* mind and th*
ercetions far freer than "efore from %illing action.
Budd!ists list t!e ei$!t dire miseries as malice) slot!) pride) doubt) desire)
delusion) i$norance) and "uture li-es. C. =. Leadbeater obser-es in Talks on
the Path
of 5ccultism, Vol.* t!at it may seem stran$e to list C"uture li-esD as one o"
t!e dire
miseries. He e/plains t!at t!is is because eart!ly li"e is misery .!en
compared .it!
t!e sublime Koys o" t!e !i$!er planes. Vaira#ya is t!e "ourt! $ate)
indiBerence to
pleasure and to pain. To <ill all action .ould be to stop pro$ress) to stop
impro-in$N
t!is .ould indeed pre-ent t!e disciple "rom reac!in$ !is $oal.
VOICE5
2(:. Thou hast to saturate th*self with ure Cla*a, "ecome as
one with 6atureBs Soul&Thought. Ct one with it thou art
invinci"le/ in searation, thou "ecomest the la*ground
of Samvriti, origin of all the worldBs delusions.
To saturate onesel" in Cpure #layaD is to blend utterly .it! pure t!ou$!t) "or
God7Consciousness is e-ery.!ere. E-ery bus! is a>re .it! GodN stri<e a
stone and it
.ill re-eal a spar<. I" t!e >re o" t!e sun .ere to be e/tin$uis!ed .e .ould all
peris!N
i" t!e >re o" spirit t!at animates man .as to be continually ne$lected) it too
could $o
outN t!is .ould be a spiritual deat!. H1B says t!at Samvriti is only Crelati-e
trut!.D
VOICE5
2,=. Cll is imermanent in man eFcet the ure "right
essence of Cla*a. )an is its cr*stal ra*3 a "eam of light
immaculate within, a form of cla* material uon the
,(
lower surface. That "eam is th* life&guide and th* true
Self, the 2atcher and the silent Thin%er, the victim of
th* lower Self. The Soul cannot "e hurt "ut through th*
erring "od*3 control and master "oth, and thou art safe
when crossing to the nearing Eate of ;alance.
T!e soul?s pro$ress is pre-ented only by t!e disciple?s ne$lect o" !is <armic
duties) t!e 0uality o" !is t!ou$!ts and actions) and in not "ully understandin$
t!e
<no.led$e .!ic! eac! $olden <ey possesses. T!e personality peris!es a"ter
eac!
incarnationN a ne. $arment GbodyH is ours at eac! ne. birt!. T!e E$o lasts
t!rou$!
.!ole series o" !uman incarnations but t!e 3onad lasts lon$er. T!e CGate o"
BalanceD is t!e 1armita o" Ss!anti) Cpatience s.eet) t!at nau$!t can ruZe.D
VOICE5
2,1. ;e of good cheer, 5 daring ilgrim to the other shore.
Heed not the whiserings of )araBs hosts3 wave o# the
temters, those ill&natured Srites, the $ealous -hama*in
in endless sace.
In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) t!e L!amayin are described as Celementals and
e-il
spirits ad-erse to men.D T!ey are said to be en-ious o" !umans and t!eir
bodies
Gmental) emotional and p!ysicalH) .!ic! are $i-en t!em to use in t!e process
o"
ad-ancin$ to !i$!er sp!eres. T!e L!amayin) or elementals) !a-e t!e po.er
to instill
"ear in a pil$rim but not!in$ moreN t!e pil$rim !as to <no. t!is be"ore !e
starts on
!is Kourney lest !e be t!ro.n oB course by 3ara?s !osts o" tempters.
VOICE5
2,2. Hold ArmU Thou nearest now the middle ortal, the gate
of 2oe, with its ten thousand snares.
T!e Cmiddle portalD as .e !a-e already learned is called Vaira#ya) and t!e
aspirant is endea-orin$ to >t t!e <ey to t!e loc< o" CindiBerence to pleasure
and to
pain.D Here temptation !as a t!ousand "orms) and 3ara .ill use t!em all.
T!e role o"
temptation is necessary and enables only t!e stron$ to pass t!rou$! t!ese
portals)
.!ic! lead to spiritual ric!es and po.ers beyond ima$inin$.
VOICE5
2,!. Have master* oBer th* thoughts, 5 striver for erfection,
if thou wouldBst cross its threshold.
#t t!is point) a candidate could ima$ine t!at !e or s!e .as pro$ressin$ -ery
.ell
.!en t!ey .ere not) or t!ey could also ima$ine t!at t!ey .ere "ailin$ .!en
in trut!
,;
t!ey .ere succeedin$X #nd so) t!e ad-ice to aspirants at all times is to !a-e
complete
mastery o-er t!eir t!ou$!ts.
VOICE5
2,(. Have master* oBer th* Soul, 5 see%er after truths
und*ing, if thou wouldst reach the goal.
2,,. Th* Soul&ga@e centre on the 5ne 'ure -ight, the -ight
that is free from a#ection, and use th* golden Ge*.
T!e description C"ree "rom aBectionD means t!at be"ore t!e pil$rim is able to
cut
!imsel" asunder "rom t!e pull o" eart!) !e must !a-e ac0uired a uni-ersal
sense o"
lo-eFt!e <ind .!ic! does not diBerentiate) and embraces all bein$s. In
trut!)
not!in$ is really separated) "or all bein$s and all t!in$s abide in t!e One.
VOICE5
2,1. The drear* tas% is done, th* la"our well&nigh oBer. The
wide a"*ss that gaed to swallow thee is almost
sanned.
E-en at t!is $reat !ei$!t t!e soul still labors) and temptations may still lur<
around t!e corner. But t!e soul bra-ely pus!es on .it! eyes >/ed upon t!e
$oal.
VOICE5
2,4. Thou hast now crossed the moat that circles round the
gate of human assions. Thou hast now conLuered )ara
and his furious host.
#s t!e disciple nears spiritual -ictory) care must be ta<en t!at t!e lo.er
-e!icles
are not o-erstrained "or t!ey are necessary to attain t!e >nal -ictory.
VOICE5
2,9. Thou hast removed ollution from thine heart and "led
it from imure desire. ;ut, 5 thou glorious com"atant,
th* tas% is not *et done. ;uild high, -anoo, the wall that
shall hedge in the Hol* Isle, the dam that will rotect th*
mind from ride and satisfaction at thoughts of the great
feat achieved.
T!e .arrior is .ell on t!e .ay no.) !a-in$ o-ercome muc! in !is lo.er
natureN
but t!ere are still temptations) t!ose o" t!e mind bein$ especially subtle. #nd
so) t!e
aspirant is cautioned to Cbuild !i$! t!e .all t!at s!all !ed$e in t!e Holy Isle.D
T!is
,,
Isle can be e/plained as an area o" metap!ysical "orcesFa center o" po.er
$radually
built up .!ic! becomes t!e "ocus o" t!e soul?s acti-ities. T!is is sometimes
called t!e
C4in$71ass7NotD and reMects t!e ultimate limits o" understandin$ possible to
any
indi-idual by reason o" !is e-olution.
VOICE5
2,:. C sense of ride would mar the wor%. C*e, "uild it
strong, lest the Aerce rush of "attling waves, that mount
and "eat its shore from out the great 2orld )a*aBs
5cean, swallow u the ilgrim and the isle8*ea, even
when the victor*Bs achieved.
E-en at t!is !i$! le-el) t!ere can still e/ist a subtle sense o" pride at !a-in$
pro$ressed t!is "arFand pride bein$ a personal attribute) belon$s to t!e
t!in$s o" t!e
eart! and must t!ere"ore be le"t be!ind.
VOICE5
21=. Thine Isle is the deer, th* thoughts the hounds that
wear* and ursue his rogress to the stream of -ife. 2oe
to the deer that is oBerta%en "* the "ar%ing Aends "efore
he reach the Dale of +efuge8Wnana )arga, ath of ure
%nowledge named.
=oe to !im .!o is sidetrac<ed by passin$ t!ou$!ts) .!ic! delay t!e pil$rim
"rom reac!in$ t!e CIsleD .!erein d.ells t!e Sel". Once t!is !oly isle is
reac!ed)
not!in$ can come near or !arm t!e -ictorious pil$rim. T!e C!oundD yelpin$
at t!e
!eels o" t!e deer represents conscience) e-er $oadin$ t!e pil$rim on in t!e
di-ine
0uest o" Sel"!ood. No person can e-er truly rest until !e !as placed !is "oot
on t!e
pat! o" return. i-ine unrest .ill pla$ue !im until !is eyes searc! "or t!e
summit o"
t!e !oly mountain. T!e "ollo.in$ passa$e "rom Francis T!ompson?s poem
CT!e
Hound o" Hea-enD describes t!is -a$ue yearnin$ and unrest.
I Med Him) do.n t!e ni$!ts and do.n t!e daysN
I Med Him) do.n t!e arc!es o" t!e yearsN
I Med Him) do.n t!e labyrint!ine .ays
O" my o.n mindN and in t!e mist o" tears
I !id "rom Him) and under runnin$ lau$!ter.
Ep -istaed !opes I spedN
#nd s!ot) precipitated)
#do.n Titanic $looms o" c!asm]d "ears)
From t!ose stron$ Feet t!at "ollo.ed) "ollo.ed a"ter.
,'
VOICE5
211. 7re thou canst settle in Wnana )arga and call it thine, th*
Soul has to "ecome as the rie mango fruit/ as soft and
sweet as its "right golden ul for othersB woes, as hard
as that fruitBs stone for thine own throes and sorrows, 5
ConLueror of 2eal and 2oe.
Anana 3ar$a is t!e pat! o" true kno'led#e. =!en t!e pain o" ot!ers and t!eir
needs become more important t!an our o.nFand all ot!er li"e .!ic! 3ot!er
Nature !olds dearFt!en t!e !ei$!tened sensiti-ity o" our soul .ill be an
indication
t!at .e are ready to ser-e.
VOICE5
212. )a%e hard th* Soul against the snares of Self3 deserve for
it the name of Diamond&Soul.
21!. .or, as the diamond "uried dee within the thro""ing
heart of earth can never mirror "ac% the earthl* lights, so
are th* mind and Soul3 lunged in Wnana )arga, these
must mirror nought of )a*aBs realm illusive.
Ciamond SoulD is an appellation meanin$ per"ection) a title t!at is
commonly
$i-en to t!e Supreme Budd!a. It is also $i-en to t!ose .!ose .!ole
personality !as
been mer$ed in Anana 3ar$a Gtrue <no.led$eH) t!ereby becomin$ one .it!
t!e si/t!
and se-ent! 1rinciples) #tma and Budd!i.
VOICE5
21(. 2hen thou hast reached that state, the 'ortals that thou
hast to conLuer on the 'ath <ing oen wide their gates to
let thee ass, and 6atureBs strongest mights ossess no
ower to sta* th* course. Thou wilt "e master of the
sevenfold 'ath3 "ut not till then, 5 candidate for trials
assing seech.
T!e trials and diOculties are not so $reat as to be impossible to o-ercome.
T!ese
"urt!er trials are o" a <ind un<no.n to t!e personality and only <no.n to t!e
E$o) or
!i$!er Sel". For) in t!is pil$rima$e o" t!e soul) a"ter t!e lo.er sel" is >rst
con0uered)
t!e E$o must $o on to scale "urt!er !ei$!ts) ones un<no.n to t!e
personality. But i"
t!e >rst part o" t!e Kourney !as been .ell understood and !as pro-ided t!e
pil$rim
.it! t!e necessary spiritual <no.led$e and stren$t!) t!e rest o" t!e climb
.ill be
.ort!.!ile) .!ate-er t!e cost.
'+
VOICE5
21,. Till then, a tas% far harder still awaits thee/ thou hast to
feel th*self C--&TH5JEHT, and *et eFile all thoughts
from out th* Soul.
211. Thou hast to reach that AFit* of mind in which no
"ree@e, however strong, can waft an earthl* thought
within. Thus uriAed, the shrine must of all action,
sound, or earthl* light "e void3 eBen as the "utter<*,
oBerta%en "* the frost, falls lifeless at the threshold8so
must all earthl* thoughts fall dead "efore the fane.
T!e candidate !as no. reac!ed t!e sta$e .!ere any random t!ou$!t .ould
mar
"urt!er pro$ress. #s The Voice says) CT!e mind is t!e $reat slayer o" t!e 4eal.
Let t!e
disciple slay t!e slayer.D Once !a-in$ arri-ed at t!is sta$e o" deep
meditation) any
t!ou$!t .ould stir t!e steady Mame and mar "urt!er pro$ressF"or in t!e
Silence)
CT!e Eternal <no.s no c!an$e.D
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. Name t!e ei$!t dire miseries.
*. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e Cot!er s!oreQD
:. Name t!e <ey to t!e 3iddle 1ortal.
8. =!at is meant by t!e CHoly IsleQD
9. =!at does Anana73ar$a meanQ
RRRRRRRRRR
T!e race o" man<ind !as its "oot!old on t!e eart! in p!ysical li"e. #nd t!e "eet
.it! .!ic! !e stands or mo-e on eart! must be .as!ed in t!e blood o" t!e
!eart be"ore !e can stand in t!e presence o" t!e 3asters. T!e !i$!er sel" is t!at
.!ic! stands) <eepin$ its !old upon t!e p!ysical li"e by dominatin$ its bodily
"orm. #nd .!en it !as ac0uired po.er and stren$t! by standin$ amid t!e turmoil
o" t!is lo.est >eld o" action) it desires to ma<e t!e $reat essay) and >nds
it can only do so by destroyin$ t!ose .eeds .!ic! $ro. ric!ly in t!e t.o
lo.er >elds o" its nature. It is not $rie" or sorro. or suBerin$ .!ic! ma<es t!e
!eart o" t!e =arrior bleedN !e !as tau$!t !imsel" to endure t!ese uns!a<en. It
is t!e dra.in$ out o" t!e !eart t!e source o" e-il and e/pun$in$ it. T!is is li<e
dra.in$ t!e -ery li"e7blood) and o"ten it may seem too $reat a strain upon t!e
.!ole nature to be endured.
3abel Collins) 5ur Glorious 0uture
'&
Lesson &:
VOICE5
;ehold it written/
214. 7re the gold <ame can "urn with stead* light, the lam
must stand well guarded in a sot free from all wind.
7Fosed to shifting "ree@e, the $et will <ic%er and the
Luivering <ame cast shades decetive, dar% and everchanging,
on the SoulBs white shrine.
Here steadiness o" mind leads to t!e Virya 1ortal) .!ere t!e =ill) t!e
dauntless
ener$y) >$!ts its .ay to t!e supernal trut!. CTo reac! t!is Fount o"
o-ercomin$
po.er)D says Helen 4!odes =allace in Ho' to 8nter the Silence) Cre0uires t!e
!i$!
potential o" lo-e to.ard God. T!us .e are c!allen$ed at t!e -ery outset to
produce a
moti-e po.er ade0uate to climb t!e spiritual !ei$!ts. T!e ne. .orld to
.!ic! !e
see<s admittance is $uarded by la. . . . It cannot be bou$!t) nor caKoled) nor
intimidated nor commanded. 3an earns it by placin$ !is o.n li"e in sacri>ceD
Gp.
&;'H.
VOICE5
219. Cnd then, 5 thou ursuer of the truth, th* )ind&Soul
will "ecome as a mad elehant, that rages in the $ungle.
)ista%ing forest trees for living foes, he erishes in his
attemts to %ill the ever&shifting shadows dancing on the
wall of sunlit roc%s.
#t t!is critical sta$e) t!e mind7body may rise up and resist as ne-er be"ore)
"or it
is a stru$$le to t!e deat!. T!e candidate) i" not "orti>ed .it! uns!a<able
sel"con>dence)
mi$!t ima$ine all <inds o" obstacles bloc<in$ t!e .ay) .!ere t!ere are) in
"act) none at all. # lac< o" "ait! and a $roundless "ear can undo muc! $ood
.or<.
VOICE5
21:. ;eware, lest in the care of Self th* Soul should lose her
foothold on the soil of Deva&%nowledge.
24=. ;eware, lest in forgetting S7-., th* Soul lose oBer its
trem"ling mind control, and forfeit thus the due fruition
of its conLuests.
'*
241. ;eware of changeU .or change is th* great foe. This
change will Aght thee o#, and throw thee "ac%, out of
the 'ath thou treadest, dee into viscous swams of
dou"t.
Ce-a7<no.led$eD re"ers to <no.led$e o" t!e i-ine 1resence underlyin$ all
mani"estation. T!ere is a measure o" dan$er !ere) .!erein t!e candidate
desires to
<no. !o. "ar !e !as pro$ressed on t!e 1at!) because curiosity o" t!is <ind
may
cause t!e candidate to lose !is "oot!old on t!e 1at!. T!ere is anot!er
.arnin$ "or
t!ose .!o are nearin$ t!e $oal) and t!at is to keep the rhythm) not to
c!an$e t!e basis)
t!e essential attitude) .it! .!ic! t!ey started. T!ey must be constant) e-er
buildin$
t!e up.ard spiral) "or to "alter no. .ould brea< t!e r!yt!m and t!e .or<
.ould
!a-e to be started all o-er a$ain. But i" t!is should !appen) t!e aspirant is
ad-ised not
to moan and resort to sel" pity) but endea-or to pic< up t!e r!yt!m a$ain
.it!out
any .aste o" time) and be"ore lon$ !e is on !is .ay a$ain.
242. 'reare, and "e forewarned in time. If thou hast tried
and failed, 5 dauntless Aghter, *et lose not courage/
Aght on and to the charge return again, and *et again.
24!. The fearless warrior, his recious life&"lood oo@ing from
his wide and gaing wounds, will still attac% the foe,
drive him from out his stronghold, vanLuish him, ere he
himself eFires. Cct then, all *e who fail and su#er, act
li%e him3 and from the stronghold of *our Soul, chase all
*our foes awa*8am"ition, anger, hatred, eBen to the
shadow of desire8when even *ou have failed. . .
T!e "earless .arrior >$!ts on) no matter .!at t!e cost no.) "or !e is too "ar
alon$ t!e 1at! to turn bac<. Better to "all >$!tin$ t!an to turn bac< in "ear.
For !is
"oes) .!ic! !e !as .ell ni$! con0uered) .ill not return to taunt !im in t!e
ne/t
incarnation. His battle .ill be .on .!en once a$ain !e treads t!e 1at!. The
Voice
stresses t!e "act t!at not t!e smallest eBort is e-er lost) t!at .e can create
t!is day Gin
t!is incarnationH c!ances "or t!e morro. Gour ne/t li"eH.
VOICE5
24(. +emem"er, thou that Aghtest for manBs li"eration, each
failure is success, and each sincere attemt wins its reward
in time. The hol* germs that srout and grow
unseen in the discileBs soul, their stal%s waF strong at
each new trial, the* "end li%e reeds "ut never "rea%, nor
can the* eBer "e lost. ;ut when the hour has struc% the*
"lossom forth.
':
#s you may !a-e obser-ed) The Voice repeats o-er and o-er a$ain t!at i" t!e
candidate s!ould "ail) ne-ert!eless) !e !as $ained $round. Failure is possible)
but it is
not "or nau$!t i" t!e candidate tries a$ain and re"uses to $i-e up. #ll t!e
eBort put
"ort! in learnin$ to .or< .it! compassion and understandin$ and
selMessness !as
already become a part o" !imsel". Not!in$Fno oneFcan depri-e a soul o"
t!ose
t!in$s t!at it !as earned) "or t!ose t!in$s .!ic! it !as earned t!rou$! sel"7
sacri>ce
are in-iolable. CT!e !oly $ermsD Gto use 1lato?s termH are spiritual ideas and
aspirations.
VOICE5
24,. ;ut if thou camest reared, then have no fear.
241. Henceforth th* wa* is clear right through the $irya gate,
the Afth one of the Seven 'ortals. Thou art now on the
wa* that leadeth to the Dh*ana haven, the siFth, the
;odhi 'ortal.
244. The Dh*ana gate is li%e an ala"aster vase, white and
transarent3 within there "urns a stead* golden Are, the
<ame of 'ra$na, that radiates from Ctman.
=it! dauntless ener$y t!e pil$rim pus!es on) "or no. !e is nearin$ t!e end
o"
!is Kourney and -ictory is at !and. He enters t!e >"t! $ate o" Virya) lea-in$
be!ind
t!e plane o" illusion. He is no. about to enter t!e si/t! $ate o" !yana) a"ter
.!ic!
t!ere is only one more to enter. )hyana is t!e CBod!i 1ortalDN !ere is .!ere
per"ect
=isdom e/ists. T!e Calabaster -aseD indicates t!e Budd!ic body or s!eat!s
.!erein
burns a steady $olden li$!tN t!e lamp !as been lit.
VOICE5
249. Thou art that vase.
24:. Thou hast estranged th*self from o"$ects of the senses,
traveled on the 'ath of seeing, on the 'ath of
hearing, and standest in the light of Gnowledge, Thou
hast now reached Titi%sha state.
29=. 5 6ar$ol, thou art safe.
Ha-in$ created a Budd!ic body) a body o" Li$!t) t!e candidate is no more
entan$led in t!e mes!es o" !is lo.er sel") "or !e is no. blessed Gt!rou$! !is
o.n
eBortsH .it! per"ect indiBerence to pleasure and to pain. T!e suBerin$ o"
eart!
t!rou$! i$norance !as come to an end. T!e CTiti<s!a stateD Gsupreme
indiBerenceH
!as been reac!ed) and t!e NarKol Gone .!o !as attained t!rou$!
contemplationH is
allo.ed to pass on in sa"ety. For as t!e "airy tales tell us) only t!e "e. bra-e
ones are
'8
able to scale t!e mountain pea< and enter t!e impre$nable abode t!at lies
at t!e
summit. But .ill t!ey .is! to stayQ
VOICE5
291. Gnow, ConLueror of Sins, once that a Sowanee hath
crossBd the seventh 'ath, all 6ature thrills with $o*ous
awe and feels su"dued. The silver star now twin%les out
the news to the night&"lossoms, the streamlet to the
e""les riles out the tale3 dar% ocean&waves will roar it
to the roc%s surf&"ound, scent&laden "ree@es sing it to the
vales, and statel* ines m*steriousl* whiser/ C )aster
has arisen, a )CST7+ 5. TH7 DCS.
# So.anee Ga Srotapatt^H is one .!o practices So.an) t!e >rst pat! in
!yana.
GeoBrey Barbor<a says in The )ivine Plan) CSrotLpatti is t!e state o" entry
into t!e
current leadin$ to t!e VOcean)? !ence t!e >rst o" t!e "our pat!s to Nir-anaD
Gp. 8:;H.
T!ere"ore) a So.anee is one .!o !as entered t!e current leadin$ to Nir-ana.
T!e
Csil-er starD is t!e Star o" Initiation. C3aster o" t!e ayD is one .!o is sa"e in
t!e
present e-olutionary cycleN one .!o !as attained to -ictory o-er !imsel"
durin$ t!is
cycle o" rounds and races) and is ready to enter into ot!er e/istences beyond
our <en.
=!en a soul rises to t!is $reat !ei$!t o" attainment) all sentient bein$s and
t!e matter
.!ic! ma<e up mot!er eart! sense a stirrin$ o" ne. li"eN t!e eart! !as
recei-ed a ne.
impetusN anot!er sa-ior is born .!o .ill brin$ peace and lo-e and t!us assist
t!e
Hierarc!y in speedin$ up t!e e-olution o" t!e planet.
VOICE5
292. He standeth now li%e a white illar to the west, uon
whose face the rising Sun of thought eternal oureth
forth its Arst most glorious waves. His mind, li%e a
"ecalmed and "oundless ocean, sreadeth out in
shoreless sace. He holdeth life and death in his strong
hand.
29!. Sea, He is might*. The living ower made free in him,
that ower which is HI)S7-., can raise the ta"ernacle
of illusion high a"ove the gods, a"ove great ;rahma and
Indra. No he shall surel* reach his great rewardU
T!e symbol o" t!e East is o"ten used to typi"y t!e position o" t!e Great =!ite
Brot!er!ood. T!e adKecti-e C.!iteD is a time7!onored symbol t!at !as o"ten
been
used to indicate purity and spiritual 0ualities. It !as not!in$ to do .it! s<in
color or
et!nicity. T!e Ctabernacle o" illusionD is manN only t!rou$! !uman eBort can
a soul
'9
reac! Sel"7Sno.led$e. T!ere is no ot!er .ay to reac! union .it! i-inity
t!an
t!rou$! understandin$) and a !uman bein$ is t!e only creature made in t!e
ima$e o"
God and) t!ere"ore) a.le to seek and to >nd union .it! Him. T!e darin$
pil$rim !as
tra-eled "ar) and t!ere is no limit to t!e !ei$!t to .!ic! !e may no. rise. He
.ill be
able to lea-e t!is dar< planet be!ind !im and $o on !is $lorious .ay. Bra!ma
and
Indra represent $reat creati-e "orcesF$ods.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS 5
&. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" e-a7<no.led$eQ
*. Name t!e si/t! $ate.
:. =!y is Cr!yt!mD necessary to spiritual pro$ressQ
8. =!at is t!e Titi<s!a stateQ
9. =!at is t!e Srotapatti stateQ
RRRRRRRRRR
T!rou$! $reat cycles o" time successi-e incarnations in $ross matter may yet
be !is lotN but !e no lon$er desires t!em) t!e crude .is! to li-e !as darted
"rom !im. =!en !e ta<es upon !im man?s "orm in t!e Mes! !e does it in t!e
pursuit o" a di-ine obKect) to accomplis! t!e .or< o" Ct!e 3asters)D and "or no
ot!er end.
FLi#ht 5n The Path
'(
Lesson &8
VOICE5
29(. Shall he not use the gifts which it confers for his own
rest and "liss, his well&earnBd weal and glor*8he, the
su"duer of the great DelusionT
#$ain) The Voice repeats t!e $reat c!oice "acin$ t!e candidate. =ill !e claim
!is
.ell7earned re.ardForFturn !is bac< upon t!e pri@eQ
VOICE5
29,. Nay, 5 thou candidate for 6atureBs hidden loreU If one
would follow in the stes of hol* Tathagata, those gifts
and owers are not for Self.
291. 2ouldBst thou thus dam the waters "orn on SumeruT
Shalt thou divert the stream for thine own sa%e, or send
it "ac% to its rime source along the crests of c*clesT
I" !e .ould "ollo. in t!e steps o" Budd!a) all t!e po.ers t!at .ill be
besto.ed
upon !im must be used in selMess ser-ice. T!ese po.ers) o" course) are
really sel"besto.ed)
i.e.) earned t!rou$! a pure and dedicated li"e. #ll t!is po.er lies dormant
.it!in t!e sleepin$ blossoms) .!ic! are our c!a<ras. =e are told t!at 3ount
3eru
or Sumeru) is called t!e 3ount o" t!e Gods) a source "rom .!ic! Mo.s all
spiritual
<no.led$e) and .!ic! continues to Mo. into and t!rou$! e-ery member o"
t!e
Brot!er!ood and must e-entually reac! e-ery possessor o" t!e i-ine Spar<.
#nd so)
in order to carry on t!e $reat .or<) t!e candidate is e-er on t!e alert in
.atc!in$ and
a.aitin$ opportunities to pass on t!e <no.led$e !e !as $ained. T!us t!e
stream
continues to Mo. "reely "or all .!o see< to 0uenc! t!eir t!irst "or spiritual
<no.led$e.
VOICE5
294. If thou wouldBst have that stream of hard&earnBd
%nowledge, of 2isdom heaven&"orn, remain sweet
running waters, thou shouldBst not leave it to "ecome a
stagnant ond.
';
Once t!e candidate !as contacted t!e i-ine Source) and it !as started to
Mo.
"reely t!rou$! !im) it .ould be un.ise to bloc< it oB by any sel>s! moti-e.
He
s!ould be constantly a.are t!at !e is but an instrument "or its passa$e to
t!e .orld.
299. Gnow, if of Cmita"ha, the ;oundless Cge, thou
wouldBst "ecome co&wor%er, then must thou shed the
light acLuired, li%e to the ;odhisattvas twain, uon the
san of all three worlds.
#mitab!a is t!e Cun7measurable) bla@in$) splendour in boundless spaceD
.!ic!
mani"ested in Gautama Budd!a and in ot!er CSons o" Li$!t.D CT!e
Bod!isatt-as
t.ainD in one sense re"ers to t!e t.o Great Brot!ers) t!e Lord Gautama and
t!e Lord
3aitreya) .!o represent t!e middle principle in t!e Hierarc!y) t!e "ormer
dealin$
.it! t!e !i$!er .orlds) and t!e latter turned do.n.ards to deal .it! t!e
personalities
o" t!e lo.er planes. T!e Cspan o" all t!ree .orldsD re"ers to t!e terrestrial)
astral) and spiritual planes. T!is may !a-e somet!in$ to do .it! t!e t!ree7
cro.ned
!eaddress .orn by t!e popes) si$ni"yin$ t!eir <no.led$e o") and rulers!ip
o-er) t!e
t!ree planes. T!ese symbols are -ery ancient and !a-e been <no.n only to
t!e "e..
VOICE5
29:. Gnow that the stream of suerhuman %nowledge and the
Deva&2isdom thou hast won, must, from th*self, the
channel of Cla*a, "e oured forth into another "ed.
2:=. Gnow, 5 6ar$ol, thou of the Secret 'ath, its ure fresh
waters must "e used to sweeter ma%e the 5ceanBs "itter
waves8that might* sea of sorrow formed of the tears of
men.
T!e Cstream o" super!uman <no.led$eD re"ers to t!e =isdom o" t!e Gods)
e-a7=isdom. T!is super7<no.led$e creates a Csuper7man.D He is no. a
s!ep!erd
see<in$ !is Moc<. His eye is sin$le) .it! no ot!er t!ou$!t but to !elp
suBerin$
man<ind climb out o" dar<ness into li$!t.
VOICE5
2:1. ClasU when once thou hast "ecome li%e the AFBd star in
highest heaven, that "right celestial or" must shine from
out the satial deths for all8save for itself3 give light to
all, "ut ta%e from none.
2:2. ClasU when once thou hast "ecome li%e the ure snow in
mountain vales, cold and unfeeling to the touch, warm
and rotective to the seed that sleeeth dee "eneath its
',
"osom8Btis now that snow which must receive the
"iting frost, the northern "lasts, thus shielding from
their shar and cruel tooth the earth that holds the
romised harvest, the harvest that will feed the hungr*.
He .!o !as attained to t!e position o" a S!inin$ One must) li<e a star) s!ed
!is
bene>cent rays upon all man<ind) as<in$ not!in$ in return. T!e aspirant is
un"eelin$
only in t!e sense t!at !e !as learned) by "ocusin$ !is mind upon t!e spiritual
Sel") to
.it!dra. unnecessary attention "rom !imsel". #nd so) .!en trouble comes
!is .ay)
!e is not aBected in t!e .ay an unenli$!tened person .ould be) "or !e
understands
t!at suBerin$ is brou$!t about by .ron$ t!ou$!t and .ron$ action. #n
aspirant is
$lad to "ace up to !is bad <arma) "or t!en !e can be$in to replace it .it!
$ood. He is
e-er mind"ul o" t!e deity in man) and t!ere"ore e-er ea$er to assist !is
brot!ers in
re$ainin$ t!eir $od!ead.
VOICE5
2:!. Self&doomed to live through future Galas, unthan%ed
and unerceived "* man3 wedged as a stone with
countless other stones which form the Euardian 2all,
such is th* future if the seventh gate thou assest. ;uilt
"* the hands of man* )asters of Comassion, raised "*
their tortures, "* their "lood cemented, it shields
man%ind, since man is man, rotecting it from further
and far greater miser* and sorrow.
In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) H1B describes t!e Guardian =all as C. . . t!e
.all o"
protection. It is tau$!t t!at t!e accumulated eBorts o" lon$ $enerations o"
2o$is)
Saints) and #depts) especially o" t!e Nirmana<ayasF!a-e created) so to say)
a .all
o" protection around man<ind) .!ic! .all s!ields man<ind in-isibly "rom still
.orse
e-ils.D T!e Secret )octrine says t!at all t!e e-ils are man7made) e-er since
man
became 3an) and .as able to t!in<. #nd so it is su$$ested t!at .e s!ould
endea-or
to raise our t!in<in$ in order to .ea<en t!e attraction o" t!ese lo.er "orces.
VOICE5
2:(.2ithal man sees it not, will not erceive it, nor will he
heed the word of 2isdom . . . for he %nows it not.
2:,. ;ut thou hast heard it, thou %nowest all, 5 thou of eager
guileless Soul. . . . . and thou must choose. Then hear%en
*et again.
''
3an is slo. to see t!e Li$!t. =e are still da@@led by t!is .orld o" illusion .it!
its
myriad enticements. But in time) t!e circus o" t!is li"e .ill be$in to pall) and
.e .ill
loo< "or somet!in$ more stable. T!e a.a<ened ones <no. t!at t!e sublime
Koys o"
t!e spiritual li"e out.ei$! t!e temporary pleasures o" .orldly e/istence.
VOICE5
2:1. 5n SowanBs 'ath, 5 Srotaatti, thou art secure. C*e, on
that Karga, where nought "ut dar%ness meets the wear*
ilgrim, where torn "* thorns the hands dri "lood, the
feet are cut "* shar un*ielding <ints, and )ara wields
his strongest arms8there lies a great reward immediately
"e*ond.
In t!e abo-e -erse) t!e .ord C3ar$aD re"ers to t!e pat! o" !oliness. Only t!e
most selMess and dedicated can tread t!is pat!) "or it demands all that you
are) and no
!al" measures. To $i-e up all is to $ain all. T!e re.ard a.aitin$ t!e inner man
cannot
be ima$ined by ordinary men.
VOICE5
2:4. Calm and unmoved the 'ilgrim glideth u the stream
that to 6irvana leads. He %noweth that the more his feet
will "leed, the whiter will himself "e washed. He
%noweth well that after seven short and <eeting "irths
6irvana will "e his. . . .
2:9. Such is the Dh*ana 'ath, the haven of the Sogi, the
"lessed goal that Srotaattis crave.
T!e candidate arri-es at t!is state not only t!rou$! selMess deeds o" lo-e
and
c!arity) but also by t!e 1at! o" !yana GmeditationH) t!rou$! .!ic! !e
steadily
.or<s !is .ay up.ard to t!e Budd!ic plane.
VOICE5
2::. 6ot so when he hath crossed and won the Cr*ahata ath.
!==. There Glesha is destro*ed for ever, TanhaBs roots torn
out. ;ut sta*, Discile . . . Set one word. Canst thou
destro* divine C5)'CSSI56T Comassion is no
attri"ute. It is the -C2 of -C2S8eternal Harmon* Cla*aBs
S7-.3 a shoreless universal essence, the light of
everlasting +ight, and Atness of all things, the law of
love eternal.
&++
CSles!aD is lo-e o" t!e pleasures o" t!is eart!) and Ctan!aD is t!e desire to
li-e in
p!ysical "orm. Compassion stands !ere as an abstract impersonal la. .!ose
nature
is absolute !armony.
VOICE5
!=1. The more thou dost "ecome at one with it, th* "eing
melted in its ;7I6E, the more th* Soul unites with that
which IS, the more thou wilt "ecome C5)'CSSI56
C;S5-JT7.
To become CCompassion #bsoluteD is to "eel t!e utter need to communicate
t!is
compassion to all man<ind so t!at t!ey also may learn to "eel merci"ul and
tender
to.ard t!eir brot!ers and all t!e ot!er <in$doms o" nature.
VOICE5
!=2. Such is the Cr*a 'ath, 'ath of the ;uddhas of erfection.
T!e C#rya 1at!D is t!e ori$inal <no.led$e as tau$!t by t!e #ryans) and as
"ollo.ed by Budd!a and t!e 3aster Aesus.
VOICE5
!=!. 2ithal what mean the sacred scrolls which ma%e thee
sa*T
!=(. 5KU I "elieve it is not all the Crhats that get of the
6irvanic 'ath the sweet fruition.
!=,. 5KU I "elieve that the 6irvana&Dharma is entered not
"* all the ;uddhas.
E-en an #r!at could "ail on t!e Nir-anic 1at!) "or !e must continually practice
t!e Virtues and <eep in mind t!at it is not he t!at is in a state o" becomin$
but t!e
i-ine Sel" .it!in) .!ic! is $radually ta<in$ o-er. #nd so !umility is more
necessary as !e ad-ances on t!e 1at!. T!ey say t!at t!e Nir-anic 1at! is not
entered
by all t!e Enli$!tened Ones) as many pre"er to remain in t!e lo.er realms in
order to
inMuence t!e souls o" men.
VOICE5
!=1. Sea3 on the Cr*a 'ath thou art no more Srotaatti, thou
art a ;odhisattva. The stream is crossBd. BTis true thou
hast a right to Dharma%a*a vesture3 "ut Sam"hoga%a*a
is greater than a 6irvani, and greater still is a
6irmana%a*a8the ;uddha of Comassion.
&+&
T!e pil$rim GSrotapattiH .!o >rst entered t!e stream !as no. become a
Bod!isatt-a) a potential Budd!a. He is told t!at once !e !as attained to t!e
)harmakaya -esture GstateH !e !as a ri$!t to renounce all relations .it!
eart! li"e and
mer$e .it! t!e Eni-ersal Consciousness. But !e is also earnestly entreated
to
consider t!e t.o ot!er states or bodies) t!e Sam.ho#akaya and
Nirmanakaya. T!e
Samb!o$a<aya is t!e same) says H1B) but .it! t!e additional luster o" t!ree
per"ections) one o" .!ic! is entire obliteration o" all eart!ly concerns. #nd
t!e
Nirmana<aya is t!e et!ereal "orm .!ic! one .ould assume .!en) lea-in$ !is
p!ysical) !e .ould appear in !is astral bodyF!a-in$ in addition all t!e
<no.led$e
o" an #dept. T!e Bod!isatt-a de-elops it in !imsel" as !e proceeds on t!e
pat!.
Ha-in$ reac!ed t!e $oal and re"used its "ruition) !e remains on eart! as an
#deptN
and .!en !e dies) instead o" $oin$ into Nir-ana) !e remains in t!at $lorious
body !e
!as .o-en "or !imsel") in-isible to uninitiated man<ind) to .atc! o-er and
protect it.
VOICE5
!=4. 6ow "end th* head and listen well, 5 ;odhisattva8
Comassion sea%s and saith/ Can there "e "liss when
all that lives must su#erT Shalt thou "e saved and hear
the whole world cr*T
T!e .arrior listenin$ to !is !eart) .!ic! is no. in tune .it! all suBerin$ men
and creatures) cannot turn a dea" ear to t!eir cry "or !elp. One senses all
t!rou$! The
Voice an undercurrent o" pleadin$) o" !ope) t!at .!en t!e pil$rim >nally
reac!es !is
$oal) !e .ill not "or$et t!e suBerin$s o" t!e .orld.
VOICE5
!=9. 6ow thou hast heard that which was said.
!=:. Thou shalt attain the seventh ste and cross the gate of
Anal %nowledge "ut onl* to wed woe8if thou wouldBst
"e Tathagata, follow uon th* redecessorBs stes,
remain unselAsh till the endless end.
T!e Theosophical Glossary translates Tat!a$ata as C!e .!o is) li<e !is
predecessors
Gt!e Budd!asH and successors) t!e comin$ "uture Budd!a or =orld7Sa-iour.D
To
C.ed .oeD is to remain to !elp t!is Cdar< planetD eart! Duntil t!e $rass itsel"
be
enli$!tened.D
VOICE5
!1=. Thou art enlightened8Choose th* wa*.
&+*
!11. ;ehold, the mellow light that <oods the 7astern s%*. In
signs of raise "oth heaven and earth unite. Cnd from
the four&fold manifested 'owers a chant of love ariseth,
"oth from the <aming .ire and <owing 2ater, and from
sweet&smelling 7arth and rushing 2ind.
!12. Har%U . . . from the dee unfathoma"le vorteF of that
golden light in which the Dictor "athes, C-- 6CHJ+7Bs
wordless voice in thousand tones ariseth to roclaim/
!1!. W5S J6T5 S7, 5 )76 5. )SC-;C.
!1(. C 'I-E+I) HCTH +7TJ+67D ;CCG .+5) TH7
5TH7+ SH5+7.
!1,. C 672 C+HC6 IS ;5+6. . . .
!11. 'eace to all bein!s.
H1B .rites) CMyal.a is our eart!Fpertinently called VHell)? and t!e $reatest
o" all
Hells) by t!e esoteric sc!ool.D #nd s!e $oes on to say) CT!e esoteric doctrine
<no.s
o" no !ell or place o" punis!ment ot!er t!an a man7bearin$ planet or eart!.D
#nd so)
.e !a-e "ollo.ed t!e earnest pil$rim step7by7step) "rom >rst settin$ "oot on
t!e pat!
to !is >nal enli$!tenment) and .illin$ sacri>ce.
4EVIE= PEESTIONS5
&. =!at does t!e CSacred StreamD representQ
*. =!at is t!e CGuardian =allDQ
:. T!e pil$rim ad-ances t!rou$! action and inaction. E/plain t!is.
8. =!at is meant by CCompassion #bsoluteDQ
9. =!at is t!e C#rya 1at!DQ
(. =!ic! C-estureD is c!osen by an #r!an or sa-iourQ
RRRRRRRRRR
I s!ould li<e to end t!is series o" lessons on The Voice of the SilenceF.!ic!
it is
belie-ed .as one o" H1B?s last .or<sFby 0uotin$ t!e "ollo.in$ passa$e. Her
messa$e in essence is timeless) and is as a clarion call to present day
T!eosop!ists
e-ery.!ere.
T!ere is a road) steep and t!orny) beset .it! perils o" e-ery <indFbut yet a
roadFand it leads to t!e Heart o" t!e Eni-erse. I can tell you !o. to >nd
&+:
T!ose .!o .ill s!o. you t!e secret $ate.ay t!at leads in.ards only and
closes "ast be!ind t!e neop!yte "or e-ermore.
T!ere is no dan$er t!at dauntless coura$e cannot con0uer) t!ere is no trial
t!at spotless purity cannot pass t!rou$!) no diOculty t!at stron$ intellect
cannot surmount. For t!ose .!o .in on.ards) t!ere is re.ard past all tellin$N
t!e po.er to bless and sa-e !umanity.
For t!ose .!o "ail) t!ere are ot!er li-es in .!ic! success may come.
FThe Secret Gate'ay) H.1. Bla-ats<y
&+8
Biblio$rap!y
#rnold) Sir Ed.in. The Li#ht of (sia. 1!iladelp!ia) 1#5 a-id 3cSay Company) nd.
Barbor<a) GeoBrey. The )ivine Plan. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House)
&'(&.
JJJJ. Man1s Potent 0orce* Ne. 2or<5 Green.ic! Boo< 1ublis!in$) &'9(.
Besant) #nnie and C. =. Leadbeater. Talks on the Path of 5ccultism. : -ols. #dyar)
C!ennai5
T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'(97&',+.
Bla-ats<y) Helena 1etro-na. The Voice of the Silence. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$
House) &''*.
JJJJ. H* P* Blavatsky +ollected !ritin#s. &9 -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$
House) &'((7'&.
JJJJ. ,sis -nveiled. * -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &';*.
JJJJ. The Secret )octrine. : -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House)
&';'.
JJJJ. The Theosophical Glossary* Los #n$eles) C#5 T!eosop!y Company) &';:.
JJJJ. T'o Books of the Stan9as of )9yan* #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$ House)
&'8+.
Blo"eld) Ao!n. The !heel of Life: The (uto.io#raphy of a !estern Buddhist. Boston)
3#5
S!amb!ala 1ublications) &',,.
The +loud of -nkno'in#. Ed. Aames =als!) S.A. Ne. 2or<5 1aulist 1ress) &',&.
Collins) 3abel. 5ur Glorious 0uture: The ,nterpretation of Li#ht on the Path.
Edinbur$!)
Scotland5 T!eosop!ical Boo< S!op) &'&;.
JJJJ. 5ur Glorious 0uture: The ,nterpretation of Li#ht on the Path. Edinbur$!)
Scotland5
T!eosop!ical Boo< S!op) &'&;.
JJJJ. Throu#h the Gates of Gold. London5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ Society) &'&:.
Corelli) 3arie. The Sorro's of Satan of the Stran#e 8;perience of 5ne Geo6rey
Tempest,
Millionaire. 1!iladelp!ia) 1#5 A. B. Lippincott Company) &,'9.
e Villars) #bbe N. e 3ont"aucon. Le +omte de Ga.alis. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er
1ublis!in$) &'';.
Hartman) Fran@. The Life and )octrines of Philippus Theophrastus, Bom.ast of
Hohenheim, no'n
.y the Name of Paracelsus. Ne. 2or<5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ Company) &'&+.
AinaraKadasa) C. 0irst Principles of Theosophy. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical
1ublis!in$ House)
&'(:.
Sris!namurti) A. (t the 0eet of the Master. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$
House) &'(;.
&+9
3ac!ell) 4. C4eincarnation5 T!e Hope o" Humanity.D The +anadian Theosophist 88)
no. 8
G&'(:H5 ;'.
Mahatma Letters to (* P* Sinnett from the Mahatmas M* and *H* Transcribed by #.
4. Bar<er.
Ed. Vicente Hao C!in) Ar. 3anila) 1!ilippines5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'':.
3e!ta) 4o!it. The +reative Silence: "e3ections on the Voice o" t!e Silence. #dyar)
C!ennai5
T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'9;.
3itc!ell) 4oy. Throu#h Temple )oors: Studies in 5ccult Masonry. Toronto) Ontario5
Bla-ats<y
Institute 1ublications) &'*:.
Niemand) Aasper. Letters That Have Helped Me. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$)
*++;.
1lummer) Gordon. CT!e 3ystery t!at is 3an.D Theosophia *+) no. : G&'(:H5 ;.
1uruc<er) G. de. The )ialo#ues of G* de Purucker. : -ols. 1asadena) C#5
T!eosop!ical
Eni-ersity 1ress) &'8,.
Street) A. C. The Hidden !ay (cross the Threshold or the Mystery !hich Hath Been
Hidden for (#es
from Generations. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$) &''(.
Tyber$) Audit!. Sanskrit eys to the !isdom "eli#ion. San ie$o) C#5 1oint Loma
1ublications)
&',8.
=allace) Helen 4!odes. Ho' to 8nter the Silence. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er
1ublis!in$) &'';.
=ood) Ernest. Practical %o#a: (ncient and Modern. Ne. 2or<5 E. 1. utton) &'8,.

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THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE

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