Nature of the Soul
By Lucille Cedercrans
Lesson 3
In our last lesson we had just begun to consider the inherent characteristics of
the Soul which could be found expressed through the highly developed form. We
had touched upon, and I say touched upon, because an entire book could be given
to each of these Divine Attributes, the first aspect - Divine Will. We are now
ready to touch upon the second aspect of Divinity:
2. DIVINE LOVE WISDOM: For the sake of clarity let us define the words used to
convey this concept. Anything which is Divine we recognize as pertaining to, or
being God.
Love, or the lack of it, can be used to ascertain the quality of the
relationship between any two or more individuals, or groups of individuals; that
quality which determines the activity resulting from the two or more being
related.
Wisdom, which is an aspect of Divine Love, is very difficult to define, for
words are in themselves so inadequate. Where the quality of relationship is
Divine Love, there is perfect understanding; and where there is perfect
understanding there is perfect application of knowledge. Wisdom, then, is the
ability to put concrete knowledge into intelligent activity, the knowing how to
apply that which you know.
Divine Love Wisdom we understand as describing a Divine Relationship, in which
there is Divine understanding resulting in Divine Activity.
Particularly in this evolutionary scheme is Divine Love Wisdom important for it
is the lesson to be learned; the quality to be perfected by each and every one
in this Solar system. In the instrument perfected for service we find it
predominating in the astral vehicle. This energy body, which constitutes the
emotional nature of man, is a great transmitter of force which can be, and often
is, of a destructive nature. When the love aspect is highly developed, however,
we find this body a great healer and transmutation agent, and the power factor
in the work of manifestation. In this stage it constitutes the desire body of
the Soul and through the power of right desire it attracts all that is needed
for the Divine work.
We find this manifesting first in the consciousness of the would-be disciple as
right aspiration. He has become, over a long period of experience, discontented
with that which he has always known. He longs for something else, and not
knowing what that something else is, he is driven from place to place, from
religion to religion, from philosophy to philosophy in search of Truth.
At last he recognizes that Truth as something greater than he, or anyone else as
a personality, for he realizes that the personality in itself is without
purpose. He sees that something else as his own Higher Self, his self in
Reality, and to that he aspires.
He endeavors to see the vision of himself as he really is, a Soul; and in so
doing he becomes aware of the vision, at first distorted by the clouds of his
own thinking, later clear and beautiful.
After having seen the vision, if only in part, he then sets about to embody it,
to become that in manifestation. He undergoes a period of self discipline in
which he fashions his thought life, his emotions and his physical actions to
portray the ideal he has found.
In this manner the instrument is literally rebuilt. The mental life gradually
becomes undistorted by negativity and the non-essentials. The emotional life
assumes an attitude of serenity and the physical body is galvanized into right
action.
The aspirant, during this period of throwing out of the instrument that which is
undesirable, and building in that which is desirable, learns to practice
harm-less-ness. He lifts the vibratory frequency of his bodies by a strict
discipline over his attitude as regards others. He becomes harmless in thought,
word and deed. Only then is he ready for initiation.
In reorienting his activities to the life of the Soul the aspirant finds Divine
Love Wisdom manifesting next as a recognition of others, which is the first step
toward the common goal of man, the establishment of brotherhood. He recognizes
first those of his immediate group as his brothers, and gradually all the
connotations of this relationship seep into his consciousness. He experiences
the greatest of all gifts, the richness and the fullness of the Love of God in
Man.
One of the very important steps toward this goal is the attitude of detachment.
We have already touched upon this, now we shall consider it in more detail. As
an effect of Divine Love it is actually an attachment to the Soul of all things
which results in a detachment from the form.
As stated before, disciples who are thrown together in the life of the
personalty to work out some portion of the Divine Plan and to adjust their
karma, often meet with great difficulty. There are differences in personality
reactions, differences in opinion, in type and method of work and in Ray
make-up. This causes friction where we find the attention focused in the world
of form.
The aspirant learns first that his brother is a Soul, and therefore a part of
himself. He then learns to attach importance only to the oneness of the Soul,
and to attach no importance to the differences of the personality. This is at
first difficult, for after all, the individual has been concerned with the
affairs of the personality for many lives. It necessitates a placing of values
upon constant realities, rather than changing conditions, an attainment of right
perspective.
The aspirant wants to know how. How can such a thing be attained on this plane
of existence?
The answer of course is simple; its application not so easy. Once again we go
back to the rules for disciples, particularly that of non-criticism. The
disciple refuses to criticize in thought, word or deed. He goes farther if he is
capable, and recognizes neither vice nor virtue in the personality. He shifts
his focal point of attention from the personality, which is actually the
clothing of the Soul, to the Soul itself, and there he sees and knows reality.
He is neither attracted nor repelled by the personality, but is at-one with the
Soul; thus right relationship on the plane of the personality is the result, and
we find the disciple able to work in harmony with any and every one.
There is a point of danger here which I wish to bring out in order to eliminate
one of the greatest obstacles to group relationship.
First let us realize that all affinity is the result of a transmission of the
energy of Divine Love through the various aspects of the personality. The state
of consciousness, as it registers the energy, interprets according to its
understanding and so reacts. To take two extremes, let us consider the rapist,
and the sincere Minister who is down on his knees praying for the salvation of
his congregation. The two are reactions to the same force, but from totally
different levels of consciousness. The rapist reacts as an animal, for he is
little more than that in consciousness. The Minister reacts as a Servant of God
from his more enlightened consciousness.
In a group of disciples there are many thoughtforms lying both below and on the
threshold of awareness. Almost all individuals react to the above mentioned
force by desiring above all else a perfect relationship, usually with someone of
the opposite sex. This is the cause of the greatest illusion of all, the
distorted concept of Soul mate. The individual intuitively knows that somewhere
there can be a perfect relationship, a perfect love, and so he evolves the idea
of Soul mate. As the power of love sweeps through him it magnifies his
thoughtforms, and he is inevitably attracted to another with a similarity of
consciousness and a like manifestation of love. Because he is focused in the
personality, he misinterprets the relationship, which in truth is brotherhood,
as that of Soul mates. The attempt of the personality to direct the expression
of Divine Love, in order to realize its desires, always results in disillusion
and therefore we find the two seeking Soul mates elsewhere - and so on and on
until the consciousness realizes the perfect love for all.
I tell you this, my brother, because I know the situations which can arise as a
result of too great a power and too little an understanding. I realize your
great hunger and the many bypaths that hunger can lead to when not rightly
directed. It is this distortion of truth which has discredited so many
organizations, disrupted so many lives and caused so many unnecessary delays
along the Path of Initiation. That you may receive the power of Love along with
the light of Love, and so work with understanding, is my prayer for all of you.
The next manifestation of Divine Love Wisdom which is discovered by the
aspirant, is an increasing ability to heal. At this time I am going to speak of
this briefly. Later we will consider healing in greater detail, for all
disciples sooner or later must learn the art of healing.
There are many aspects of healing seldom considered by the individual. The
activity is, however, largely the pouring forth of Divine Love Wisdom from the
Source, via the instrument as a channel, to the dis-eased area; the only
qualification being the establishment of Divine Law and Order.
The form the healing takes may be any number of activities, the healing of the
mind, of the emotional nature, the physical body or the environment. It may be
accomplished via the right use of speech, the right use of thought or the use of
physical activity. The medical doctor, the magnetic healer, the Christian
Science practitioner or the Indian medicine man, any and all may be channels for
the transmission of healing energy.
The prerequisites to an ability to act consciously as a healer are:
1. Self-less-ness. The ability to work without thought of self.
2. Harm-less-ness. That harm-less-ness which results from right relationship and
purity of motive.
3. Detachment. The ability to divorce one's self from the personality and so,
not allow foolish concern to hamper the work.
4. An ability to establish and maintain contact with the Soul, so as to work at
all times under Divine Guidance.
5. The ability to see and understand karma and so work in cooperation with the
Law.
6. A knowledge of types and qualities of energy and the wisdom to organize,
coordinate and direct such energies to a specific goal.
The first three, of course, pertain to the threefold personality acting as a
channel, while the last three pertain to the enlightened consciousness acting as
a cause. The last three you can do nothing about until you have cultivated and
developed the first three as a part of your equipment. Then you will be capable
of consciously carrying the energy that heals. After you have become a perfect
channel, you will, through observation of its activity, learn how to direct such
energy.
There are, of course, many other manifestations of Divine Love Wisdom which are
joyfully discovered and experienced by the disciple, however, I feel that you
have been given enough to absorb for the present. May you all know the blessings
of Divine Love and may you share those blessings with others.