July-September 2019

CONTENTS:

Editorial – The Art of Observation
Right observation develops the skill of stepping back from the short-term vision … and instead, view events as part of a historical sequence in the evolution of human consciousness. By striving to expand our vision out into longer time cycles, we stand a better chance not only of detecting the emerging Ideas of the Divine Plan, but of also helping them to manifest in our needy world.

Conflict in the World today – Djwhal Khul
Today, the conflicts are numerous, vital and unavoidable; they are present in the individual consciousness and in the mass consciousness; they present constant points of crises and are today bringing about a point of world tension which seems well-nigh unbearable. But ahead of the individual disciple and of humanity lies a point of emergence.

Phoenix from the Ashes: Discipleship and the Path of Renewal – Derek Fraser
The decision to tread the Lighted Way is made by the soul and may initially be viewed by the aspirant as a process of personal self-improvement but as the soul imposes its rhythm on its instrument in the physical world the fire of the higher will makes its mark.

Learn to Practise Harmlessness – John Rasmussen
The effort by the personality to practice negative harmlessness is the prerequisite of positive harmlessness. The negative form of harmlessness means not injuring – either by thought, word or deed – any living creature. It means not acting from ill-will. The positive form of harmlessness is shown in impersonal love and compassion from the smallest act of charity to Monadic affinity and identification.

The Soul of Government – Henry Guy
In a sense, the words soul and government can seem like they are from two different worlds. Yet we know that every existence has three aspects: purpose, an intelligent manifestation of that purpose, and the relation between the two. In that light, the soul of government then is the evolving relationship of the purpose of government and its intelligent manifestation.

Reshaping Our Hierarchical Awareness – L. Rae Lake
Hierarchy is collectively to Humanity what the soul, individually, is to the personality. Just as we know that separation from the soul is an illusion, so our separation from Hierarchy is equally an illusion. Literal (superficial) interpretation of Hierarchy prevents the conceptual abstraction necessary for fusion with the wholeness, the oneness, the spirit of Life itself. Exactly like the soul, imagining the Masters or Hierarchy as ‘up there’ or beyond us in either time or space prevents correct esoteric understanding. All are right here, now.

Modern Higher Education, Striving to Take a Tiny Step on the Way to Livingness – Linda Spremulli
Over the course of the past 15 or so years, there has been an increasing recognition that education is a two-way process. Teaching and learning go hand in hand. A teacher can only do so much in bringing new knowledge and ways of thinking to students. No matter how good an instructor is or what method he employs, ultimately, the students are the ones who must learn.

A Short Treatise on the Esoteric Nature of Francis Bacon, Part I – Lawrence Farrow
As a philosopher, Francis Bacon was likened to three famous “ancient” philosophers, Hermes, Plato and Solomon. He also referred to himself as the “herald of a new time”, a time of paradise on earth, ushered in by the “last ages” when “the thorough passage of the world and the advancement of the sciences are destined by fate, that is, by Divine Providence, to meet in the same age”.

Nikolayevich Tolstoy – Forerunner– Roman Shchepalov
Tolstoy believed that a true Christian could find lasting happiness by striving for inner self-perfection through following the Great Commandment of loving one’s neighbor and God rather than looking outward to the Church or state for guidance. His belief in non-resistance when faced by conflict is another distinct attribute of his philosophy based on Christ’s teachings.