UNPREPOSSESSING EXTERIORS

In order to understand fully the subject under consideration, we will give the full passage in which it was taken for our full elucidation. In the last paragraph of the Rosicrucian Fellowship Temple Service, we read; “Loving, self-getting service to others is the shortest, the safest, and the most joyful road to God. The recognition of the fundamental unity of each with all, the fellowship of the spirit is the realisation of God. To reach that realisation let us endeavour each day to forget the often UNPREPOSSESSING EXTERIORS of our brothers and seek to serve the divine essence hidden within, which is the basis of fellowship”. This paper will therefore explore the subject in the light of the above passage.

In these modern times, all around the world, we mostly choose our leaders – Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens, based on the personality (the unprepossessing exteriors). Hence, we seldom choose wise leaders. The statesmen and women of old were philosophers, deriving their inspiration from Astrology, Mathematics and Physics. But when political science divorced religion and philosophy, it "lost the name of action" and the personalities of leaders have become the accepted trend. Yet we take the consolation from the fact that the invisible governments are in charge and are directing the affairs of all nations and will restore order in the golden age to come.

In our own Bible, there are many situations in choosing leaders and other relationships where the unprepossessing exterior was tested to the limits. Few examples are; the selection of marriage partners for Isaac and Moses in the Old Testament and the betrothal of the virgin Mary to Joseph in the New Testament. We will here give the full account of the chosen successor to King David to make it clearer.

“Now Samuel did that which the Lord spoke and journeyed to Bethlehem. There the Elders, among whom was Jesse, came to greet him, and with him were his sons. When Samuel looked upon one called Eliab he was struck with the perfection of the youth’s body, which fulfilled every requirement of the priestly laws: ‘Surely the Lords anointed is before me’ he thought. But at that moment he heard the unmistakable accents of the Angel of the Lord speaking into the interior ear of the soul (Samuel means the voice of intuition): ‘Look not on his countenance, or the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart (– Corrine Heline: N. A. B. I. Vol. II pg 61)." We know that subsequently, Solomon was chosen as the worthy candidate, a man with a big heart and full of wisdom. Indeed, a philosopher!

In our own association of Christian Mystics, the rules of choosing candidates to the Board of Trustees is nearer to the truth. Here, the names, photographs and short biographies of the candidates who meet the required conditions are provided, and all voting probationers worldwide are advised to take time to meditate and ask their Higher Selves to guide them in making the right choices. Are we always correct? Or is there a case for review and room for improvements? Time will tell.

In his book, Gleanings of a Mystic, Max Heindel says in chapter XVII that, every page of his book, the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, preaches the gospel of service – loving, selfless service. EUREKA! We have found the ‘Mysterium Magnum’. Service, service always service. The secret is that self-less service (not knowledge) builds the Golden Wedding Garment, the soul body which we will all use in the coming Sixth Epoch. What a great hope we have as esoteric students. He goes on to say, “it is also significant in the extreme that in the parable of the last judgment Christ does not say, well done, thou great and erudite philosopher, who knoweth the Bible, the Kabala, the Cosmo, and all the other mysterious literature which reveals the intricate workings of nature, but he says, well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord, for I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. Not one single word about knowledge; the whole emphasis was laid upon faithfulness and service”.

Let us all continue in well-doing, helping, and serving our neighbours diligently and with no strings attached. Then, the question naturally follows; who is my neighbour? It was at this point that, the master Christ Jesus gave one of the most beautiful stories in the entire New Testament – the story of the Good Samaritan. (St. Luke 10: 25 – 37). Historically, the Jews and Samarians were antagonistic, but this man stopped on his way and helped a wounded Jew. He did not look at the exterior or nationality of the vulnerable person. He dressed his wounds, took him to hospital, and paid for his expenses. Let us continue to get inspiration from this story and help people wherever and whenever we encounter such people.

In our healing work, we must also follow the same principle and pray for the healing balm for all. In doing so, we become both visible and invisible helpers in Christ’s Vineyard. Let us continue to do good in our communities and help to make the world a better place to live.

One of the most important aspects of our spiritual journey is for us to know ourselves – “Man know Thyself”. This is the Divine Essence, which is hidden in us and in all things. It is our true self because we are the earthly expression of our inner God. Therefore, the purer and cleaner we become, the more we express the divine essence that is inside of us on the physical plane and see it in others. To recognise this divine essence, we must always learn to go within. We can use the exercises given to us by the Elder Brothers to help us. The seven exercises are;

1. CONCENTRATION

2. MEDITATION

3. RETROSPECTION

4. DISCRIMINATION

5. OBSERVATION

6. CONTEMPLATION

7 ADORATION

We can also use the precepts for the Rosicrucian student that contain jewels for our instruction.

We can also use the following Christian virtues for meditation, which can lift us above the personality;

HONESTY / INTEGRITY – It is the first essential on the path.

DISCRETION AND SILENCE – Only to the discrete will the mysteries be unveiled. Gossiping about unimportant things only leads to wasting of our creative energy.

PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE – Will bring us to the gate of the temple.

COURAGE AND DETERMINATION – Will carry us across the dark abyss to reach the light.

MODESTY – Before humans, let us live modestly.

HUMILITY – In the presence of God, let us be humble.

TOLERANCE – There are many paths to God.

PEACEFULNESS – Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

FORGIVENESS – Let us release lovingly those who have hurt us, and our souls will be freed to come nearer to God.

FAITH – The faith in God shifts mountains.

KINDNESS – It opens the heart.

CHARITY – Let us love each other as Christ loves us. Let us be active helpers in the spiritual uplifting of humanity.

MERCY – Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

PURITY – Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.

All these exercises and practices will lead us to find the truth within ourselves. It is such truth that can set us FREE and then find it in others. Let us, therefore, develop and find this truth – ‘the Christ Consciousness’ that will lead us to all things. In the words of the Book of Revelation, “He who overcomes will I make a pillar in my Father’s House and he/she shall no more go out”

Endowed with these virtues, we make good progress along the spiritual path. We learn to transmute evil into good, hatred into love, darkness into light. Transmutation is therefore the wonder key that opens the door to at-one-ment with the light, which is the light of the world. Through transmutation, we reach that height that is the supreme goal of earthly life: “To walk in the light as He is in the light and have fellowship one with another."

‘MAY THE ROSES BLOOM UPON YOUR CROSS’

TRF LONDON CENTRE.

REFS:

Max Heindel: The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception

Max Heindel: Gleanings of a Mystic

Corrine Heline: New Age Bible Interpretation. Vol II

King James Bible

Manly P. Hall: Word to the wise.