Responsibilities of Discipleship

As we move through and experience this Aquarian interlude within the annual cycle we can recall that the qualities of this energy were the underlying principles of the French Revolution -- “liberty, equality, fraternity.”  These principles will also govern the new and incoming age and which are working out now, causing such a point of demarcation with the past.  Humanity is struggling to free itself from the yoke of its past, of the old ways and to enter into these higher values that will release so much light and life.

The higher values are permeating the consciousness of all those people today who are responding to the new vibration, who are working to bring about a culture of sharing and peace, adjusting the gross economic and social inequities of this day that cause so much pain and suffering.  This growing responsiveness to the inpouring light is the hope at this time. 

Our task as Triangles workers is to bridge the inner and outer worlds through an established alignment within consciousness.  Our ability to hold this point aids those who work on the inner planes to likewise move outward because a resonant field is being established which can support their vibration.  It’s a give and take for all the  many and varied groups, working on all the many different lines of approach, are fed by the life as it circulates from the heart, in conscious alignment with the steadily deepening call of Hierarchy.  This call is one that penetrates beneath the outer cacophony of sounds, the temporary fragmentation within time and space, that attempts to drown out the subtle voice of the soul.  

Discipleship group work is described by the Tibetan as “ashramic sharing.”  The work is anchored by the subjective bonds that are established within the true, inner home. We who have worked somewhat at the purification of the three lower vehicles of the mental, emotional and physical bodies can, when we come together, find an increased ability to walk together, to come closer  subjectively speaking ,in recognition of the interconnectedness of all life.  This group approach magnifies our creativity because instead of drawing upon our own individual talents, the group members are instead able to draw upon the creativity of a larger, collective purpose which unites us.  

All the many different groups, united by a common purpose could be compared to the many arms and hands found within the tonkas and statues displayed upon the eastern Deities.  On one level these various hands illustrate the many  groupings within a Master’s ashram--each expressing different mudras or holding different talismans, reflecting the different functions it is their task to undertake within the greater group or guru of which they are a part.  United by a common purpose, each group stands as a point of light within a greater light, as strands of loving energy within the stream of love divine.

This ashramic sharing also serves as a highly protective mechanism.  The  protection provided by the group approach makes it possible for it to become responsive and work with much more potent energies than would have ever been possible if working largely alone as in past centuries.  This is surely why humanity has been able to participate in increasing numbers in powerful events such as the recently passed  Festival Week,  the Wesak Festival and the June full moon, contacting energies which were previously impossible to hold.  

The group approach is potent because  each member of the group is valued for their contribution, for their particular skills and qualities that they have to give to the purpose of the group in which they are involved.  These members along many different lines enable the aura of the group to reach out and establish connection with much more potent streams of energy than would ever be possible alone, reaching as well, many more minds and hearts as the energies are distributed through the network.

There are many different types of groups assembling today.  And as we enter into Aquarius more fully we will surely be astounded by the many ingenious ways in which people will join together to use their creative imagination to create a unified field of thought with the intent and purpose of changing the world.  This fostering of unitive thought  is the essential nature of Triangles.                                                     Kathy Newburn

Responsibilities of Discipleship
Harmlessness and Generosity

Thanks Kathy, because this is such a large topic, I would like to confine my talk to-day to the areas of harmlessness and generosity and begin with a quote:

“The time will, therefore, surely come when you will, as individuals and as part of a Master's group, subordinate your personal lives to the need of humanity and to the intention of the Master. You will be and not struggle so hard to be; you will give and not fight constantly the tendency not to give - you will sanely and wisely and as a normal procedure put the work of the Master and of service first.” Discipleship in the New Age I, Alice Bailey, Page 692 – 693

Wherever we are or think we are on the spiritual path, it is good to think ahead and model our lives on those great spiritual teachers or exemplars that have walked before us. We have a more modern expression for this method of spiritual emulation and that is “fake it ‘til you make it”. This is as sound a concept now as it was in the fifteenth century when Thomas a Kempis wrote the Imitation of Christ. But perhaps Christ is too lofty an example for us and we need to look at the lives of those closer to our time – HPB, Helena Roerich, Annie Besant, Alice Bailey, Alice and Foster Bailey for example, or our current spiritual teachers and mentors.

What can we learn from our observations and reflections on some of these pioneers of ageless wisdom? Well they were all very hard workers and as DK has suggested in the quote - they put their spiritual work at the forefront of who they were and what they did in their lives - they gave and sacrificed everything of their time, energy and resources to the work.

One of the misconceptions of the spiritual path is that life gets easier when in fact it gets more difficult. As we look at their lives, I think we can see that this was true.

One area where they stood out was in the area of service and sets us up for today’s discussion on responsibility. Here is a quote from DK:

“The one humanity, no matter what the place of residence, colour of skin, or religious belief, is clamouring for peace, education, justice and economic security. All this the right use of money and a recognition of the financial responsibility of each one, based on spiritual values, would make rapidly possible. The major opportunity lies with the mass of good, kindly people all over the world in all spheres of influence. The power of the individual is not yet truly grasped; there is a vast opportunity before all, but it requires courage, patience, and loving understanding to do the needed work.” The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice Bailey, Page 175

A close reading of Discipleship in the New Age Volumes I & II provides a vast amount of information on this topic of responsibility but here are some fundamental ideas:

“Most aspirants to discipleship today do not know or realise this law (supply and demand); they do not give freely and fully either to the work of the Hierarchy or to those who need. Until they do, they limit their effectiveness and shut the door on supply, not only for themselves but for the group with which they are affiliated in service. Herein lies responsibility. The clue to supply is personality harmlessness and the dedication of all individual resources to the service of the Great Ones, without restraint and spontaneously. When you, as a disciple, try to live harmlessly—in thought and word and deed—and when nothing is held back materially, emotionally or from the angle of time, when physical strength is so given and the gift of all resources is accompanied with happiness, then the disciple will have all that is needed to carry on his work and the same is true of all working groups of servers. Such is the law. Perfection is not yet possible, it is needless for me to say, but greater effort on your part to give and serve is possible." Discipleship in the New Age, Alice Bailey, Page 692-693

“The aspirant has an appreciation of the occult value of money in service. He seeks nothing for himself save that which may equip him for the work to be done, and he looks upon money and that which money can purchase as something which is to be used for others and as a means to bring about the fruition of the Master’s plans as he senses those plans." Initiation Human and Solar, Alice Bailey, Page 79

In these quotes we see the broad outline of the responsibility of the disciple, the prerequisite of harmlessness and the generosity of spirit that mark the true disciple. The bar is set high, yet he tells us that perfection is not yet possible, but more effort to give and serve need to be demonstrated.

DK’s ideas are presented to us along with substantial hints in his Reflective Meditation on Attracting Money for Hierarchical Purposes (DINA II p 228 – 231). In this meditation he invites us to take what we have saved during the previous week and dedicate it to the work and present it in mediation to the Christ and His Hierarchy. “Whether the sum is large or small, it can become an attractive and magnetic unit in the Masters’ plans” he tells us.

What is required of us to do this? I believe it is an unstinting, excuse free inventory of our desire nature and how it drives our spending.

Until we can face up honestly to our deficiencies and understand their power over us, we will not be in a position to correct the habits of selfishness and to give more generously. We must take a firm grip and assume full responsibility for the state of our finances. DK does not ask us to give beyond our means, he asks us to make a start, save and give part of each week’s savings to the work.

DK also invites us to give to those organizations that claim our allegiance. Often, I am astounded at how many spiritual people give to many charities with broad appeal but never think of giving closer to home, to the group or organization that is providing them with spiritual teaching. If you are being trained by a spiritual organization it is important to be in right relation with that group. That means valuing the teaching, even if it is being provided to you at no charge.

Never make the assumption that all the costs are covered. In most cases there is a significant need for funds that are covered by the leaders and a few close associates. A few carry the burden so that many can learn. But this is not right relation, it creates a great deal of stress and strain that could be alleviated if more were to give a little and according to their means.

Give where you receive spiritual sustenance and training. Give in right relation and according to your means.

So how do we find money to give to the work of those spiritual organizations that claim our allegiance and to the work of the New Group of World Servers. For most people, disciples or not, income and expenditures are closely matched and there is apparently little room for generosity. But in most cases the desire nature expands to meet income - extra funds are spent on clothes, on dinners out and on vacations.

The truth is that to find money to give, we must give something up.

Since the desire nature expands to match or exceed our income to have money at the end of the week or month, something must be sacrificed.

Then do what DK suggests – offer it up this saved money to the work of the Hierarchy at the end of the week or month. Pick at least two organizations – an esoteric/spiritual one and a New Group of World

Servers - an NGO that you respond to and give to both. DK states that whether the sum is large or small it can be an attractive and magnetic unit in the Masters' plans. Be generous – if it doesn’t hurt a bit then you haven’t really dug into your desire nature and have not really sacrificed. Be Joyful – don’t give begrudgingly give happily to the work and the Hierarchy.

Let’s model our lives on the spiritual disciples who went before - through emulating their harmlessness of thought, word and deed and their spontaneous and joyful generosity, we too can become fit instruments for service along the lines of the ashram to which we are affiliated.

Thank-you for your attention.

I would like to conclude my talk with the Mantram/Affirmation of the Disciple:

“I am a point of light within a greater Light.
I am a strand of loving energy within the stream of Love divine.
I am a point of sacrificial Fire, focussed within the fiery Will of God.
And thus I stand.

I am a way by which men may achieve.
I am a source of strength, enabling them to stand.
I am a beam of light, shining upon their way.
And thus I stand.

And standing thus revolve
And tread this way the ways of men,
And know the ways of God.

And thus I stand.”

Freda Kemp