Principles Are Eternal, Personalities Temporal

As we move through this world of maya, glamour and illusion, it is easy to lose perspective, engrossed as we are in the forefront of our lives with its stresses and strains. Through recollection, through the ability to step back and move into our inner centre, our perspective gradually changes and we find ourselves holding to a surer footing.

Abraham Lincoln, an astute observer and experiencer of the human condition, quoted a famous parable in one of his speeches: “It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him with the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!”

It’s said Lincoln was so fond of the aphorism that he went about repeating it to his friends and co-workers – “And this, too, shall pass away.” The words obviously served as a type of mantram in his daily life, providing solace and a refocusing amidst the outer fragmentation and challenges facing him on all sides.

We, too, can find aid in the use of mantrams in our efforts to live more principled and spiritually-centred lives. One such mantram, the Mantram of the Holy Ones, speaks of a type of peace that qualifies Those who have learned to “dwell in the eternal.” This phrase serves to expand the contours of our minds. The mantram goes on to command that peace to “brood over us.” Although we cannot hope to embody the eternal principles that govern the Hierarchy, we can attempt to draw near to that planetary heart centre and become sensitive to its impressions for guidance in our lives.

There is a sequence that we can attempt to implement in our service work to keep our principles and our priorities straight. That sequence is: first and foremost to the Plan – to that subjective synthesis and telepathic unity that unites all life at the fundamental level of spirit; then, to those whom the Plan serves – to humanity and the lower kingdoms; and, only finally, to Those Who serve the Plan, which includes those who work on the periphery of Hierarchy. By pondering on this sequence we gradually shift our attitudes from those that governed humanity during the long cycle of the Piscean age, towards a higher type of allegiance – to principles, not personalities.

Triangles is a world service activity in which people link in thought in groups of three to create a planetary network of triangles of light and goodwill. Using a world prayer, the Great Invocation, they invoke light and love as a service to humanity. Further information is available on request from Triangles.

The Triangles Bulletin is for men and women of goodwill and is published four times a year in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Triangles is an activity of the Lucis Trust, a non-profit educational charity which exists to promote right human relations.