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We have sought to cast upon the self what can be called the golden flame of precise illumination. If we have revealed a page, volumes remain to be written and read. Nevertheless, a helpful summation of what has been given is in order.
Man's delight in the inward laws of his own being will increase in majesty and in power through his realization that the gift of dominion lies within his own hand. There are many who wait for external conditions to shape their lives, and we acknowledge that to a great extent outer circumstances do control the lives of men. But men must recognize that the inward affinities of the soul and the accumulations of good and bad karma are the actual promoters of their destiny. Therefore, to understand the man that is within is an essential part of taking dominion over the earth.1
Taking dominion over one's world as God intends does not include the exerting of mortal control over others nor does it imply that individuals should be moved by every whimsy of mortal thought and feeling. But far too many of the children of God upon earth are unknowingly subject to the various methods of control of the self by others whose ideals and purposes are not identifiable with the divine plan but with a plan of personal domination. Dominion and domination are not the same thing. To take dominion means to be aware of the cosmic potential that has been implanted within the Self as a gift of the living God and then to begin to externalize in the outer world of form the beautiful pattern which God holds for every man, whereas the domination of mankind is the usurpation of his free will.
One of the greatest mistakes men make is to fail to externalize the plan of God first in the inner world of the mind and then in the outer world of manifestation, for the divine plan is intimately involved with the subtleties of the inner radiance of the divine consciousness in man. When that plan is passed through the muddied stream of the subconscious mind, filled with its hodgepodge of vain imaginations, it is temporarily lost to the outer mind which can then bring forth only the bane of ignorance upon the screen of life.
The purification of one's consciousness, then, is a vital prerequisite for the beginning student as well as for the more advanced along the Path who would truly find their way Godward. The winged God Self cannot fly when its wings are clipped by human vanities or man's self-imposed limitations. Man is truly a God in exile, but he need not remain so. He can purify his world through application to the heart of Deity, and he can invoke those cosmic flame patterns which are manifestations of the flow of the Christ consciousness.
It is then the sense of sin as well as involvement in iniquity that has promoted in men those feelings of guilt which cause them to go deeper and deeper into debt simply because they do not see their way clear to pay the debts they have already made. Far too many among the children seeking the light fail to understand that they themselves have created what we refer to as "a pile of rubble." And they know not that they can never complete the beautiful work of soul development until they have also engaged their energies in the process of purification.
The question has been raised, shall a man purify and develop his soul simultaneously or must he complete his purification before he begins his development? Beloved ones, let us put first things first. Purification is development, for even in the building of a house you must first clear the land and prepare the site before you can lay a proper foundation.
One of the problems that is often confronted by the more advanced students results from the fact that they have been involved in a great deal of study of spiritual law, often with a number of teachers and organizations who have taught partial yet effective truths. At certain points along the way, these students seem to feel compelled to cast aside all that they have learned in order to grasp the eternal symbol of progression.
Let them learn that although names may vary, processes remain the same. We acknowledge that the techniques that are recommended for their spiritualization may differ according to the teacher, but the individual should always remember that his relationship to his God Presence remains the same. Therefore, upon the student rests the responsibility of drawing from the teachings the effective application that will enable him to profit the most from the instruction.
We do not exonerate the teacher of the responsibility of presenting the teaching in the best way possible. But what is the best way possible when one deals with minds in various states of progress, stemming from various beginnings? Hindered by semantics, some become hopelessly lost and they eventually abandon their search for truth.
None of this is necessary, for even the most advanced student does not hinder his progress by reexamining the basic principles of the law as a point of review. Simply because you have already mastered a language skill does not mean that you cannot profit from a review of your earliest books or an encounter with phrases now forgotten. Such review will often revitalize the whole imaginative process and enable you to capture an inner picture of a host of subjects which when integrated will add to your compendium of knowledge that is so valuable in the business of living.
Divine arts are no different than human ones, and we choose to think that the business of living is really a divine art but far too many among mankind take this business for granted. Long ago, one of the great followers of the Christ said, "Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price."2
The descent of God into form was an opportunity for the personality (the form consciousness) through the nature of God individualized to attain to the completeness of the Godhead. The Christ is the cornerstone of the temple,3 and your own Holy Christ Self is the mighty orifice of the fountain of life. As this opening is enlarged through your attunement and the expansion of your own level of awareness, the unfolding realities of the Self will bring the peace that comes with a more comprehensive knowledge of the law.
In our releases to mankind, both in our worded instruction and in the gentle radiation of our love that can be felt through the very pages themselves, we desire to bring you into the great sheepfold of the eternal Good Shepherd. The bishop of your soul is the living Christ within you. And unless you have and maintain contact with this mighty universal being, whose business it is to see to it that you become the fullness of all that God is, thereby fulfilling your destiny and returning to the divine image, you will never come up out of the human consciousness.
He is the door and all who climb up another way are thieves and robbers.4 Christ is the light of the world.5 But centuries ago the children who had only a partial glimpse of reality twisted and warped the great Christine truths that would have given all men their freedom long ago. Therefore we today ask you in the holy name of your God Presence to realize that your Higher Self is very much involved in the business of living and so must your lower self be. There are entirely too many among mankind who function mechanically, repeating with cyclic regularity their boring routines without ever realizing their opportunity to bring the Christ light into the simplest and humblest task.
Whatever you do can contribute not only to the development of yourself and to your daily understanding of the Self but also it can provide a beacon of hope to others with whom you may be associated. The grace that is not too proud to become as a little child in spiritual things,6 to stoop that it might enter the narrow, sometimes low doorway of events, will ultimately find itself at the feet of Infinite Grace.
Surely one day the dawn of Self will become the noontide, and the fulfillment of the cycles of being will signify a return to the Father's reality.
The flame here at Lake Titicaca rises high. May all aspire to the highest illumination of the Real Self.
I remain devoted to your light,