12 Keys Of Discipleship, Part 5
Wed May 6, 2009 (10:03 am)
Key Number Three
Hold Your Mind Steady In The Light
I cannot put too much emphasis on this key for the seeker can only
progress so far without mastering it. He can waiver somewhat and
pass the first and second initiations but to escape illusion that
traps so many he must consistently apply this key. He cannot pass
the third initiation without it.
Why?
If he does not hold his mind stead in the light then his attention
will drift away from it. When his attention is no longer on the
light, what is it then on?
Darkness.
If attention is on darkness rather than light then the truth is
covered and the attention will be on illusion.
The reason it is so difficult to master keeping the mind in the light
is that the taking attention off the light is a gradual rather than a
sudden occurrence. When the attention is slowly taken off the light
the loss of light is not that apparent. It is like using a dimmer
switch and slowly turning down the brightness. If one takes an hour
to dim the light by half it may not be noticeable that anything has
changed.
But then if you suddenly turn the light on full brightness it is
startling how much dimming occurred and how bright the original was.
When the seeker takes even a little attention off the light there is
a dimming and the problem occurs when the dimming is slight and he
doesn't notice it. Then he relaxes some more and the light dims
again and still it seems as if he is in the light in its fullness.
When the seeker thus takes his attention off the light one of two
things happen:
- Eventually the light will become darkness and his progression
will end for this lifetime.
- Something will happen to make the seeker aware of the dimming and
by an act of will he refocuses his attention back on the light to try
again.
There is quite a struggle that occurs from the beginnings of soul
contact to the final mastery of keeping centered in the light. At
first soul contact is very hit and miss until after many failures the
seeker is finally able to stay focussed. When this does finally
occur it happens because the disciple creates many good habits that
function as if on automatic pilot. But even here the disciple must
always stay on guard for the initial small loss of light through lack
of focus is difficult to detect.
There are three branch keys that allow the seeker to successfully
execute this key and stay focussed. One is found in the past, one in
the present and one in the future.
Branch Key One: The Past
The seeker must look to the past when he was sure that he was
focussed in the light at its highest point. He must reflect on how
he felt internally and externally. He reflects the clarity of his
sight during this time as well as his spiritual hearing and degree of
inspiration. He reflects on the truths and purposes that were
important to him and he asks if that importance still exists. He
notes his sense of well being and peace and asks if such still exists
for him.
Finally through meditation and contemplation he takes his whole
consciousness back to the time when the light was bright and
refreshes his memory of the reality of the experience.
After he does all this he then checks with himself in the present and
asks himself if he is still there. Has anything changed and if so
then what is it and why? Does he need to move back to the light in
any degree? If the answer is yes then he moves back at once.
Branch Key Two: The Present
The present is where decisions are made. The seeker must examine
each decision he makes and ask himself if it takes him away from the
light or presents a spiritual danger of any kind. If it presents a
danger then he must ask if a wiser decision is available.
Sometimes the best decision is fraught with danger. If it is he must
take extra care to be aware of himself and his surroundings.
Branch Key Three: The Future
The key to using the future to advantage is the Principle of Projection.
The seeker must project himself into the future and examine in his
mind's eye all the possibilities that may materialize. Then he must
imagine himself making decisions and examine the future effect of
them. He does this until he realizes the best course of action to
take when a future situation occurs.
The seeker who follows this course will rarely be caught by surprise
and make a bad decision but during an awkward situation he will have
already charted his course long ago in his imagination.
Now on to the next Key.
Key Four:
Tune In & Use Spiritual Will Until It Dominates Lower Desire
Questions:
What is spiritual will and how can it dominate the world
of desire?
Why does desire dominate in average people?
Is lower desire sometimes mistaken for spiritual will?
"Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it
wants, is the liberty of appearing."
-- Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)
-- End Of Article --
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Copyright © 2009 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved
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