By Gaile V. Campbell SECON EITION T!e epartment o" Education T!e T!eosop!ical Society in #merica Copyri$!t % &'(') *++, by t!e T!eosop!ical Society in #merica. #ll ri$!ts reser-ed. No part o" t!is study $uide may be reproduced in any manner .it!out .ritten permission e/cept "or 0uotations embodied in critical articles or re-ie.s. THE THEOSO1HIC#L SOCIET2 IN #3E4IC# epartment o" Education Email5 education6t!eosop!ical.or$ Contents Fore.ord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii 1re"ace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i- F4#G3ENT I Lesson & Vs. &7&8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . & Lesson * Vs. &97:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; Lesson : Vs. :(79( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &9 Lesson 8 Vs. 9;7;9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *: Lesson 9 Vs. ;(7&++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :+ F4#G3ENT II Lesson ( Vs. &+&7&&, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :, Lesson ; Vs. &&'7&:, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Lesson , Vs. &:'7&;+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9& Lesson ' Vs. &;&7&'9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (& F4#G3ENT III Lesson &+ Vs. &'(7**+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (, Lesson && Vs. **&7*8: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;( Lesson &* Vs. *8:7*(( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,8 Lesson &: Vs. *(;7*,: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '& Lesson &8 Vs. *,87:&( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '( Biblio$rap!y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &+8 ii Fore.ord The Voice of the Silence by H. 1. Bla-ats<y is a classic o" T!eosop!ical literature. It !as many dept!s o" meanin$ and is a ne-er7endin$ source "or study) meditation and spiritual inspiration. T!ere can be no sin$le interpretation to The Voice) and not all students .ill a$ree upon any one approac!. Students .!o .is! to understand somet!in$ o" its pro"ound spiritual teac!in$ must underta<e t!eir o.n searc! and disco-ery. =e are $rate"ul to Gaile V. Campbell "or pro-idin$ t!ese Study Notes, .!ic! .e !ope .ill !elp open t!e door to t!is precious $em o" .isdom "or ne. students. Ho.e-er) students are ad-ised to purc!ase t!eir o.n copy o" The Voice of the Silence) as t!is study $uide does not replicate t!e -aluable introductory material or t!e $lossary) bot! o" .!ic! contain in"ormation important to understandin$ t!e te/t. #lso) t!e reader is assumed to already !a-e a basic <no.led$e o" T!eosop!ical p!ilosop!y and terms. #$ain) t!is study $uide is not meant to be t!e de>niti-e approac! to The Voice) but simply t!e "ruit o" one student?s labor o" lo-e. #"ter students !a-e $one t!rou$! t!is entire study $uide) t!ey are encoura$ed to e/pand upon t!e ideas presented !ere and come to t!eir o.n reali@ations as to t!e deeper meanin$ o" The Voice. 3any o" t!e boo<s listed in t!e biblio$rap!y are .ort! readin$ as t!ey .ill pro-ide t!e reader .it! "urt!er insi$!ts and dept! o" understandin$. 3s. Campbell passed a.ay in &''+ at t!e a$e o" ,( in !er !ome at Cal$ary) Canada) but t!is online edition .ill assure t!at !er contribution li-es on. Not muc! is <no.n about !er e/cept "or t!at s!e .as an ardent student o" T!eosop!y) and also an artist .!ose paintin$s o"ten appeared in t!e $alleries o" Vancou-er and Toronto. T!e >rst edition o" Study Notes .as publis!ed by t!e T!eosop!ical Society in #merica?s epartment o" Education in &'(') but it .as not .idely distributed. I "elt t!at it .ould be use"ul to publis! an updated second edition. Errors in citations "ound in t!e >rst edition !a-e been corrected and a more complete biblio$rap!y added. Some o" t!e ori$inal commentary !as been ampli>ed sli$!tly to pro-ide $reater conte/t. In ot!er cases) a "e. obsolete re"erences !a-e been deleted. =!ere t!e .ord man appears in t!e te/t) it s!ould be interpreted in t!e non7$ender speci>c sense as indicatin$ t!e !uman bein$ or !uman race. I !a-e c!osen to ta<e t!e actual -erses o" The Voice "rom t!e &''* edition publis!ed by T!e T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House in =!eaton) Illinois. a-id 1. Bruce irector o" Education Aune *++, iii 1re"ace The Voice of the Silence .as one o" t!e last .or<s .ritten by 3adame H. 1. Bla-ats<y) aBectionately <no.n as CH1B.D S!e tells us t!at t!e contents o" t!e little boo< .ere deri-ed "rom The Book of the Golden Precepts) a .or< .!ic! is read by all mystic students in t!e esoteric sc!ools beyond t!e Himalayas. T!e ori$inal precepts are en$ra-ed on t!in oblon$s. Copies are -ery o"ten on discs or on plates) and are $enerally preser-ed on t!e altars o" temples. T!ey are .ritten sometimes in t!e Tibetan lan$ua$e) but mostly in ideo$rap!s. To read t!e pre"ace in its entirety .ould $reatly in"orm t!ose see<in$ to understand better !er .or<. The Voice of the Silence is an in-aluable source o" spiritual $uidance) "or it tells t!e aspirant !o. to be$in preparin$ !imsel" "or tra-elin$ t!e Great En<no.n. =!et!er or not t!e aspirant is ready to ta<e speci>c steps on t!is road matters little) "or t!e important t!in$ is to become ac0uainted .it! t!e si$nposts .!ic! .ill $uide t!e disciple alon$ t!e pat!less pat! at some "uture time in t!is li"e or in t!e ne/t. To understand t!e rules .ill add muc! to t!e student?s <no.led$e o" spiritual science. FGaile V. Campbell &'(' i- Introduction Eac! Fra$ment !as been di-ided into sections. It mi$!t be ad-isable Gbut not essentialH to !a-e t!e same edition o" The Voice of the Silence GT!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &''*H t!at .as used in preparin$ t!is study $uide. I" t!e edition used !erein cannot be obtained) t!e additional researc! to be done by t!e student .ill) in any case) pro-e re.ardin$. T!e t!ree Fra$ments contained in t!is boo< could be summed up as "ollo.s5 I Fra$ment One) called CT!e Voice o" t!e Silence)D points out t!e .ay) t!e met!od) by .!ic! an aspirant may be$in to prepare !imsel" "or meditation and disciples!ip. I Fra$ment T.o) called CT!e T.o 1at!s)D s!o.s t!e importance o" study) puri>cation o" t!e lo.er -e!icles) and de-otion in obtainin$ .isdom) and t!e c!oice bet.een t.o 1at!s. I Fra$ment T!ree) called CT!e Se-en 1ortals)D re-eals se-en <eys .!ic! open into a li"e o" responsibility and ser-ice .!ic!) it is said) .ill e-entually lead t!e disciple into union .it! !is !i$!er or inner Sel". & Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE Lesson & VOICE5 1. These instructions are for those ignorant of the dangers of the lower IDDHI. See H1B?s "ootnote in t!e $lossary o" The Voice of the Silence "or an e/planation o" t!e .ord iddhi. T!e lo.er psyc!ic "aculties re-eal t!e pre-iously undetected presence o" a -ast and complicated net.or< o" nonp!ysical li"e) includin$ <in$doms o" de-as and nature spirits) some o" t!em ad-erse to !umanity) as H1B tells us "urt!er on. #s H1B $oes on to say) t!ere are t.o <inds o" siddhis Gabnormal po.ersHF t!e spiritual and t!e psyc!ic. T!e spiritual po.ers may be uncommon and abnormal) but t!ey are po.ers .it! .!ic! .e s!all become better ac0uainted in t!e "uture .!en .e !a-e learned to use t!em) not only "or oursel-es) but also "or t!e bene>t o" !umanity. T!e t!ird ObKect o" T!e T!eosop!ical Society clearly ad-ocates t!at t!ose .!o .is! to learn s!ould Cin-esti$ate t!e une/plained la.s o" nature and t!e po.ers latent in !umanity.D T!e term Clatent po.ersD relates not only to -arieties o" e/trasensory perception but to t!e aut!entic and deeper po.ers o" t!e !uman spirit. VOICE5 2. He who would hear the voice of Nada, the Soundless Sound, and comrehend it, he has to learn the nature of Dhran. In !is boo< Letters That Have Helped Me) Aasper Niemand describes dharana as Cselectin$ a t!in$) a spot) or an idea to >/ t!e mind on.D Audit! Tyber$) in Sanskrit eys to the !isdom "eli#ion) describes it as Ct!e intense and steady mental concentration directed to some subKect o" t!ou$!t .it! t!e mind and !eart absolutely "reed at t!e time "rom t!e disturbances o" sense attractions.D Concentration) t!ere"ore) is re0uisite and must be $i-en e/clusi-ely to t!e c!osen obKect and not to t!e restless acti-ity o" t!e t!ree lo.er -e!iclesFt!e p!ysical) astral GemotionalH and lo.er mental bodies. 3editation s!ould be practiced .it!out causin$ strain to t!e body. =!en #nnie Besant .as >rst instructed by H. 1. Bla-ats<y) r. Besant be$an to meditate .it! $reat intensity) and !er teac!er interrupted !er by sayin$) C3y dear) you do not meditate .it! your blood -essels.D For t!ose o" us .!o are learnin$ !o. to meditate) it is * su$$ested t!at .e be$in by learnin$ !o. to protect oursel-es "rom t!e "orces t!at constantly bombard our -e!icles "rom .it!out. #nd so .e learn to .it!dra. into t!e center o" our bein$) a place .!erein no ot!er "oot !as trod) and ac0uaint oursel-es .it! t!e deep silence) .!erein d.ells t!e real CI.D T!is is most sacred $round. VOICE5 !. Having "ecome indi#erent to o"$ects of ercetion, the uil must see% out the rajah of the senses, the Thought& 'roducer, he who awa%es illusion. (. The )ind is the great Sla*er of the +eal. ,. -et the Discile sla* the Sla*er. #s .e are told) t!e mind is t!e ra$ah) t!e ruler o" t!e senses) and must be controlled. One o" t!e most eBecti-e systems "or $ainin$ control o" t!e mind is t!e ancient spiritual science o" 2o$a. T!e "act t!at t!is re0uirement is listed early on in The Voice s!ould be an indicator as to its importance. # prominent early T!eosop!ist) Ernest =ood) elaborates on t!is "urt!er in !is boo< Practical %o#a5 In yo$a .e are to $o beyond t!ou$!t) and to <no. t!in$s not in t!eir Ku/tapositions but in t!eir relations to primal unity. #nd so to learn to still t!e mind is t!e &rst daily e/ercise t!e disciple underta<es) "or con"usion o" t!ou$!t) .!ic! is constant mo-ement and c!an$e ta<in$ place in t!e mental body) is not t!e ideal atmosp!ere in .!ic! true meditation can ta<e place. VOICE5 .or/ 0 1. 2hen to himself his form aears unreal, as do on wa%ing all the forms he sees in dreams3 4. 2hen he has ceased to hear the man*, he ma* discern the 5678the inner sound which %ills the outer. T!is Cinner sound .!ic! <ills t!e outerD may be e/plained t!is .ay5 i" .e .ill listen to t!e -oice o" .isdom) .e .ill become increasin$ly t!e master o" oursel-es and our li"e) and t!en Ct!e inner soundD Gt!e >rst step in Budd!ic consciousnessH .ill put a stop to t!e outer clamor .!ic! directs t!e "e-eris! acti-ities o" our e-eryday li"e. Aust as a blind man !as no sense o" color) .!en .e a.a<en to a !i$!er and broader li"e) .e percei-e "or t!e >rst time t!e crus!in$ yet entirely unsuspected limitations under .!ic! .e !a-e pre-iously been li-in$. It !as been said t!at li"e is a sc!ool and .e are in t!is .orld to learn. =e be$in in <inder$arten to learn our #BC?s o" li"e. T!en) in t!e course o" time) .e later $raduate : .it! "ull <no.led$e o" t!e .orld and oursel-es) .it! t!e added <no.led$e o" .!at lies be!ind t!is po.er"ul and in!erent !uman ur$e to kno'5 VOICE5 9. Then onl*, not till then, shall he forsa%e the region of Asat, the false, to come unto the realm of Sat, the true. (sat is a Sans<rit term meanin$ t!at .!ic! is Cnot realD or Cdoes not endure.D Tyber$?s Sanksrit eys to the !isdom "eli#ion says t!at t!e term is $enerally used to describe t!e Cillusory or mLyL-i realms o" t!e mani"ested uni-erse) to t!e s!ado.y or reMectin$ side o" nature) and to t!e -e!icles and bodies t!rou$! .!ic! t!e Sel" e-ol-es.D Entil .e are able to !ear t!e inner -oice o" conscience and loo< upon li"e "rom t!e standpoint o" t!e !i$!er planes) .e !a-e no real $rasp o" t!e trut! underlyin$ t!is comple/ity o" mani"estation) .!ic! surrounds us on all sides on t!e lo.er planes. VOICE5 :. ;efore the soul can see, the Harmon* within must "e attained, and <eshl* e*es "e rendered "lind to all illusion. It is said t!at t!ere is a perpetual strain bet.een t!e astral GemotionalH and t!e mental bodies) bet.een t!e desires and t!e mindN neit!er o" t!ese bodies is in tune .it! t!e E$o Ga T!eosop!ical term "or t!e !i$!er Sel"H or prepared to act as its -e!icle. T!e E$o) .!ile enmes!ed in t!e personality) >nds it diOcult to learn .!en t!e mental and astral bodies are in a state o" con"usion and out o" !armony .it! t!e !i$!er Sel". #nd so) t!e ac0uirin$ o" <no.led$e is made more diOcult and t!e E$o $ains but a limited -ie. o" t!in$s to be learned. T!is is one o" t!e >rst lessons in see<in$ to tread t!e 1at!5 subduin$ t!e personal sel" or personality so t!at t!e c!annel bet.een it and t!e E$o becomes opened and .idened. T!e mind must be "ree to study) "or it is t!e brid$e lin<in$ t!e lo.er) peris!able part o" t!e !uman bein$ to t!e immortal E$o. It is only .!en personal and sel>s! desires cease to !a-e inMuence t!at t!e cacop!ony o" -oices "rom t!e outer .orld .ill no lon$er be in control o" our destiny. VOICE5 1=. ;efore the Soul can hear, the image >man? has to "ecome as deaf to roarings as to whisers, to cries of "ellowing elehants as to the silver* "u@@ing of the golden Are<*. 8 To be able to !ear t!e Cstill small -oice)D one must learn to become -ery 0uiet. #s lon$ as .e are busy reactin$ to outer stimuli) .e remain dea" to t!e Csoundless soundD mentioned in -erse *. =e !a-e to become dea" to t!e outer sounds be"ore .e can !ear t!e inner sounds. It !as been "ound t!at s!ortly be"ore $oin$ to sleepFor t!e >rst t!in$ in t!e mornin$ be"ore .e $et cau$!t in our daily routineFone is better able to settle do.n to a "e. minutes o" 0uiet meditation. #s one .riter !as said5 CHe .!o learns t!e secret o" bein$ nau$!t but a c!annel) and .!o abides still .it!in t!e secret place) can pass t!rou$! many a crisis .it!out undue s!atterin$ or pain.D #s The Voice tells us) d!arana Gintense concentrationH .ill assist in producin$ t!is stillness) and t!en t!e disciple .ill remain uns!a<en by all e/ternal t!in$s. 1aul Brunton) aut!or o" many esoteric boo<s says) C4e"er in.ards to t!e O-ersel") until t!e !abit becomes >rst t!ou$!t and second nature) .ea<enin$ t!e stren$t! o" dis!armonious and unpleasant emotions .!ic! are e-er attac<in$ us "rom .it!out.D VOICE5 11. ;efore the soul can comrehend and ma* remem"er, she must unto the Silent Sea%er "e united $ust as the form to which the cla* is modeled, is Arst united with the otterBs mind. It is .ritten t!at be"ore t!e soul can "ully compre!end t!e dri"t o" all t!e tuition .!ic! comes to it "rom .it!out) and t!e intuition .!ic! comes to it "rom .it!in) anot!er !armoni@in$ process must ta<e place) in .!ic! t!e mind $radually becomes attuned to t!e spiritual .ill G#tmaHF'hich #ives direction to !is li"e. =e must ne-er allo. oursel-es to become discoura$ed and "eel t!at .e are not ready or not suOciently ad-anced to be$in real study. # lay c!ela Ga probationary discipleH once .rote5 I belie-e it to be absolutely true t!at t!e sli$!test attention seriously paid to t!e instructions .ill $enerate results .it!in t!e spiritual principles o" t!ose .!o render itFcauses capable o" producin$ appreciable conse0uences in a "uture state o" e/istenceN t!at t!e smallest result establis!es a tendency in t!e direction o" spiritual ac!ie-ement. It !as also been said t!at it is diOcult "or t!e soul to tread t!e 1at! "or t!e >rst !al" o" t!e Kourney .!ile it is endea-orin$ to unite itsel" more and more .it! t!e Budd!i Gspiritual soulHFbut all t!e .or< is done under t!e direction o" t!e #tma) t!e se-ent! principle in t!e !uman constitution. T!e metap!or o" Ct!e "orm to .!ic! t!e clay is modeledD su$$ests a similar relations!ip bet.een our p!ysical "orm) t!e soul) and t!e CSilent Spea<erD t!at is .ort! ruminatin$ on. 9 VOICE5 12. .or then the soul will hear, and will remem"er. 1!. Cnd then to the inner ear will sea%8 TH7 D5IC7 5. TH7 SI-76C7 Cnd sa*/ 0 1(. If th* soul smiles while "athing in the Sunlight of th* -ife3 T!e CVoice o" t!e SilenceD is a mystical Gand parado/icalH term used to desi$nate t!e !i$!er Sel"Ft!at mysterious part o" us .!ic! is immortal and beyond t!e realm o" normal) daily consciousness. 2ou .ill note t!at t!e !i$!er Sel" and its -e!icles are all operatin$ in t!is .orld o" illusion .!ere !umanity learns t!e necessary lessons t!at .ill !elp $uide it on t!e return Kourney to t!e .orld o" Spirit) our ori$inal !ome. T!e poetic ima$ery o" Ct!e Sunli$!t o" t!y Li"eD re"ers to t!ose !appy times in li"e .!en "ortune smiles upon us) .!en .e "eel t!at all is ri$!t .it! God and t!e .orld. VOICE5 . . . if th* soul sings within her chr*salis of <esh and matter3 T!e t!ree -e!icles t!at constitute t!e personality Gp!ysical7emotional7 mentalH are) in trut!) a c!rysalis "rom .!ic! a butterMy is $radually "ormed. 3etap!orically) t!e soul?s residence in t!e p!ysical body corresponds to t!e caterpillar state. T!e soul s!ould endea-or to reali@e t!at it is independent o" t!ese temporary -e!icles. Once t!e soul kno's .!ere it is $oin$ and .!at it s!ould do) it is released in $reat measure "rom doubt and "ear. VOICE5 . . . if th* soul wees inside her castle of illusion3 if th* soul struggles to "rea% the silver thread that "inds her to the )CST7+3 %now, 5 discile, th* Soul is of the earth. To understand t!e conditions by .!ic! .e may ad-ance and ma<e real pro$ress) .e s!ould not allo. oursel-es to indul$e in >ts o" depression) sadness) or sel"7pity "or t!ese emotions deplete our ener$y. =e .ill cease to pander to t!e insatiable demands o" t!e personality i" .e desire to set oursel-es "ree "rom t!e innumerable ties t!at bind us to t!in$s t!at !a-e no lastin$ -alue) .!ic! pre-ent us "rom climbin$ up.ard into more rare>ed air) t!e natural place o" spirit. T!e Csil-er t!readD or cord is t!e emblem ( o" purity) .!ic! lin<s t!e soul to its di-ine counterpart. I" .e are to $raduate into a !i$!er state o" e/istence) t!en .e !a-e to .or< at stren$t!enin$ t!is lin< bet.een t!is .orld and t!e ne/t by t!e daily practice o" spiritual disciplines. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS 1. =!at are t!e t.o <inds o" siddhis Gabnormal po.ersH and !o. are t!ey diBerentQ 2. In t!e early sta$es o" learnin$ meditation) it is su$$ested t!at .e protect oursel-es "rom Cad-erse "orces.D Gi-e some e/amples o" "orces t!at .ould ot!er.ise distract t!e no-ice. :. In your o.n .ords) e/plain t!e meanin$ o" CBe"ore t!e soul can !ear . . .D 8. =!y is t!e soul c!aracteri@ed as bein$ Co" t!e eart!D in -erse &8Q 9. Consider !o. t!e .ords CindiBerent)D Cdea")D and CblindD relate to t!e attainment o" d!aranaQ RRRRRRRRRR T!e maturin$) sel"7e-aluatin$ person reac!es a point .!en !e "eels t!ere is more to !imsel" t!an !e !as t!us "ar come to <no.. T!ere be$ins an internal $ropin$) probin$) un.indin$ sta$e) not unli<e t!e stru$$les and emer$ence o" t!e Cne. bornD butterMy "rom t!e c!rysalis) or t!e un"oldment and appearance o" t!e "res!ly blossomed Mo.er. T!is is not a process o" s!ort duration "or a !uman bein$N it is a searc! t!at continues t!rou$!out our li-esFi" .e !a-e but t!e interest and moti-ation to <no. oursel-es and ot!ers better. GFrancis Sno.les) )iscoveryH ; Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One Lesson * VOICE5 1,. 2hen to the 2orldBs turmoil th* "udding soul lends ear3 when to the roaring voice of the great illusion th* Soul resonds3 when frightened at the sight of the hot tears of ain, when deafened "* the cries of distress, th* soul withdraws li%e the sh* turtle within the caraace of S7-.H55D, learn, 5 Discile, of her Silent Eod, th* Soul is an unworth* shrine. T!e Cbuddin$ soulD su$$ests t!e e-olutionary pro$ress o" t!e soul. T!ere are t.o $reat sta$es in t!e soul?s e-olution5 >rst t!e .ay o" "ort!$oin$ and second t!e .ay o" return. urin$ t!e many li-es comprisin$ t!e "ormer) t!e de-elopment o" personality ta<es place) alon$ .it! t!e accumulation o" <arma) as it pursues its restless and o"ten rec<less career in see<in$ satis"action "rom a myriad o" desires in t!e e/ternal .orld. Epon its return Kourney) t!e soul $radually turns its bac< upon t!e t!in$s t!at tend to !old bac< its pro$ress. #t t!is sta$e o" e-olution it proceeds to per"ect itsel". T!e description o" t!e soul t!at is "ri$!tened and unresponsi-e to !uman suBerin$ su$$ests t!ose mee< souls .!o) in t!eir i$norance) are a"raid o" ta<in$ on responsibility) !a-e no sense o" t!e oneness o" li"e) and cannot "ace up to t!eir <arma) t!ere"ore tendin$ to .it!dra. "rom li"e into a psyc!olo$ical cocoon) Kust as t!e tortoise .it!dra.s into its !ardened s!ell at t!e least si$n o" dan$er. VOICE5 11. 2hen waFing stronger, th* Soul glides forth from her secure retreat3 and "rea%ing loose from the rotecting shrine, eFtends her silver thread and rushes onward3 when "eholding her image on the waves of Sace she whisers, This is I,8declare, 5 Discile, that th* soul is caught in the we"s of delusion. Bein$ Ccau$!t in t!e .ebs o" delusionD re"ers to t!e sel"7deception associated .it! t!e personal nature. It !as been said) CT!e personality is not t!e true Sel") and T!eosop!y teac!es t!at it must not be allo.ed to set itsel" up as a candidate "or immortality and try to entrenc! itsel" a$ainst t!e ra-a$es o" use and time t!at beset all material t!in$s.D Voluntary e-olution is a deliberate trainin$ o" onesel" in t!e nobler 0ualities o" c!aracterN in-oluntary e-olution belon$s to t!e lo.er sta$es o" e-olution. =!en t!e spiritual entity brea<s loose "rom e-ery particle o" matter) only , t!en .ill it enter upon t!e Eternal and Enc!an$eable. In t!e H* P* Blavatsky +ollected !ritin#s, t!e e/istence o" t!e sil-er t!read is implicit .it!in t!e "ollo.in$ passa$e5 CE-ery mortal !as !is immortal counterpart) or rat!er !is #rc!etype) in !ea-en. T!is means t!at t!e "ormer is indissolubly united to t!e latter) in eac! o" !is incarnations) and "or t!e duration o" t!e cycle o" birt!sD G&859&H. In ,sis -nveiled) Bla-ats<y states) C=!en t!e s!inin$ t!read .!ic! lin<s t!e spirit to t!e soul) "rom t!e moment o" t!e birt! o" a c!ild) is -iolently snapped . . . t!e disembodied entity is le"t to s!are t!e "ate o" t!e lo.er animals TandU to $radually dissol-e into et!erD G&5:&9H. VOICE5 14. This 7arth, Discile, is the Hall of Sorrow, wherein are set along the 'ath of dire ro"ations, tras to ensnare th* 7E5 "* the delusion called Ereat Heres*. 19. This earth, 5 ignorant Discile, is "ut the dismal entrance leading to the twilight that recedes the valle* of true light8that light which no wind can eFtinguish, that light which "urns without a wic% or fuel. Here Ct.ili$!tD represents t!e astral and t!e lo.er mental planes) .!ereas t!e Cli$!t .!ic! burns .it!out a .ic< or "uelD points to t!e more rari>ed re$ion o" t!e t!e !i$!er Sel". Compare t!is to Stan@a :) slo<a ( o" The Secret )octrine .!ere it says) CT!e root o" li"e .as in e-ery drop o" t!e ocean o" immortality) and t!e ocean .as radiant li$!t . . .D G&5*'H. VOICE5 1:. Saith the Ereat -aw/8In order to "ecome the G6527+ of C-- S7-. thou hast first of Self to "e the %nower. HI reach the %nowledge of that Self, thou hast to give u Self to 6on&Self, ;eing to 6on&;eing, and then thou canst reose "etween the wings of the E+7CT ;I+D. C*e, sweet is rest "etween the wings of that which is not "orn, nor dies, "ut is the CJK throughout eternal ages. 2=. ;estride the ;ird of -ife, if thou wouldBst %now. 21. Eive u th* life, if thou wouldBst live. urin$ t!e e-olutionary sta$e in .!ic! !umanity a.a<ens) man becomes t!e t!in<er and <no.er. For some millions o" years on t!is eart!) !uman bein$s !a-e been actin$ and creatin$ causes stamped .it! t!eir indi-idual c!aracteristics) as .ell as racial and national causes t!at must be .or<ed out in use"ul e/perience. ' T!e CGreat BirdD o" .!ic! The Voice spea<s) is an esoteric symbol containin$ t!e implication o" time) since it is proceedin$ t!rou$! space. T!ose indi-iduals .!o !a-e passed t!e t!ird initiation are sometimes re"erred to as t!e Hamsa or s.an) because t!ey !a-e risen abo-e sel>s! desire and are t!ere"ore no more under t!e pull o" t!e eart!. # yo$i .!o bestrides t!e Hamsa is not aBected by <armic inMuences. The Voice ad-ises) CT!e Sel" o" matter and t!e SELF o" Spirit can ne-er meet. One o" t!e t.ain must disappearN t!ere is no place "or bot!D G-s. 9(H. #nd so) t!ere can be no !ed$in$ o" one?s bets) no straddlin$ t!e "ence. T!e .ord #E3Fo"ten spelled O3Fis used at t!e commencement o" e-ery $ood .or< or t!ou$!t) because it is a .ord o" po.er) symboli@in$ i-ine Creation. VOICE5 22. Three Halls, 5 wear* ilgrim, lead to the end of toils. Three Halls, 5 conLueror of Kara, will "ring thee through three states into the fourth and thence into the seven worlds, the worlds of +est 7ternal. T!e state o" Crest eternalD is reac!ed .!en t!e indi-idual consciousness is mer$ed in t!e Eni-ersal Consciousness. T!e Cse-en .orldsD Gi.e.) se-en planes o" bein$H su$$est .orlds o" rest eternalFt!e se-en sub7planes o" t!e #tmic plane) into .!ic! t!e #r!at be$ins to ascend. T!e t!ree states o" consciousness) or t!e t!ree Halls) may be described as "ollo.s5 I A#G4#T G=a<in$H5 =e are in t!is state .!en .e are $oin$ about our daily business on t!e p!ysical plane) .it! all our "aculties attuned to t!e endless stimulations and sensations pro-ided by t!e material .orld. I SV#1N# Greamin$H5 T!is state is not t!e result o" p!ysiolo$ical c!an$es ta<in$ place in t!e brain Glo.er mindH but t!e true e/periences o" t!e soul .!ile a.ay "rom t!e p!ysical body .or<in$ and learnin$ in t!e realm o" t!e astral and mental planes. It is one o" t!e subKecti-e states "ound in yo$a. I SESHE1TI Geep sleepin$H5 T!is is a state o" deep dreamless sleep) out o" .!ic! t!e candidate a.a<ens to remember not!in$ because !e !as $one into a second sleep) !a-in$ emer$ed into t!e ne/t set o" planes) to be conscious "or a time at t!at !i$!er le-elFt!is last e/perience bein$ too sublime an e/perience to recall at t!e p!ysical le-el. In yo$a it is considered to be a state o" indescribable peace and bliss. T!e student may read more about t!ese states in Aasper Niemand?s boo< Letters That Have Helped Me) .!ere !e states5 &+ T!e t!ree 0ualities are lo.er t!an a state called Turya) .!ic! is a !i$! state capable o" bein$ enKoyed e-en in t!e body. T!ere"ore in t!e state t!ere e/ists none o" t!e t!ree 0ualities) but t!ere t!e soul sees t!e t!ree 0ualities mo-in$ in t!e ocean o" Bein$ beneat!. T!is e/perience is not only met .it! a"ter deat!) but) as I said) it may be enKoyed in t!e present li"e) t!ou$! o" course consciously -ery seldom. VOICE5 2!. If thou wouldBst learn their names, then hear%en, and remem"er. 2(. The name of the Arst Hall is IE65+C6C78Avidya. (vidya is a Sans<rit term t!at literally means Cnon7<no.led$e)D but is $enerally translated as i$noranceN remo-e t!e pre>/ CaD and it becomes vidya) .!ic! means .isdom or sacred <no.led$e. In Sans<rit .ords) addin$ t!e pre>/ CaD to a .ord c!an$es t!e meanin$ to denote somet!in$ t!at is t!e opposite. VOICE5 2,. It is the Hall in which thou sawBst the light, in which thou livest and shalt die. T!e Hall o" I$norance is a metap!or "or t!e p!enomenal .orld o" t!e senses and o" terrestrial consciousness only. VOICE5 21. The name of Hall the second is the Hall of -earning. It is t!e Hall o" probationary learnin$. =e are all to$et!er on t!is planet to learn) and t!ose .!o .is! to tra-el more speedily do not .ait to be tested. T!ese souls are called sel"7startersN t!ey 'ill t!emsel-es to $o t!e ri$!t .ay about t!in$s) and do not .ait to be prodded by li"e. VOICE5 In it th* Soul will And the "lossoms of life, "ut under ever* <ower a serent coiled. It may be su$$ested t!at eac! CMo.erD pluc<ed in t!is desire7.orld !olds a necessary e/perience "or t!e soul .!o desired it. =!en a person is >lled .it! a stron$ desire "or some particular t!in$) t!at obKect must t!en !old some special lesson loc<ed up .it!in it "or t!at person. The Voice tells us t!at .e can create our && c!ances "or tomorro.) and "or our ne/t incarnation) by so.in$ t!e ri$!t seeds no.) today) "or "uture !ar-estin$. For as .e so.) so s!all .e reap. VOICE5 24. The name of the third Hall is 2isdom, "e*ond which stretch the shoreless waters of CGSHC+C, the indestructi"le .ount of 5mniscience. T!e Hall o" =isdom is a metap!or "or t!e !i$!er mental plane) Cbeyond .!ic! stretc! t!e s!orless .aters o" #<s!ara)D .!ic!) accordin$ to t!e $lossary) is t!e Cre$ion o" spiritual consciousness beyond .!ic! t!ere is no lon$er dan$erD "or t!ose .!o !a-e succeeded in reac!in$ it. Candidates "or t!e pat! o" yo$a in t!e 4aKa 2o$a sc!ools are al.ays trained to puri"y t!emsel-es mentally and emotionally. # 3aster can mo-e t!rou$! t!ese lesser .orlds in sa"ety) but neop!ytes lea-e t!emsel-es open to $reat dan$er i" t!ey meddle .it! t!e astral substance be"ore t!ey !a-e cleansed t!emsel-es "rom all impurities. T!e teac!in$s o" 1atanKali) t!e $reat Indian aut!ority on yo$a and concentration) ma<e t!e >rst t.o steps moral ones re0uirin$ de>nite pro$ress in t!ese be"ore t!e practices leadin$ to t!e siddhis or yo$ic po.ers are ta<en. For) as The Voice says) CT!ese instructions are "or t!ose i$norant o" t!e lo.er idd!iD Tsidd!isU. T!e dan$ers occur .!en .e start to culti-ate t!ese potent po.ers .it!in oursel-es be"ore .e are ready or .ort!y to possess t!em) "or t!e c!annel must be clean) else it attracts stron$) ad-erse) psyc!ic inMuences "rom .it!out. Ernest =ood !as called t!ese >rst steps CT!e Ten Commandments)D and !as translated t!em as t!e >-e restraints5 CT!ou s!alt not inKure) lie) steal) be inconstant) $reedyN and >-e obser-ances5 T!ou s!alt be clean) content) sel"7controlled) studious and de-oted.D VOICE5 29. If thou wouldBst cross the Arst Hall safel*, let not th* mind mista%e the Ares of lust that "urn therein for the Sunlight of life. T!is means t!at i" .e become too in-ol-ed .it! t!e transitory obKects o" t!is eart!) .e become entan$led and blinded to t!e t!in$s t!at really matter) suc! as t!e promptin$s o" conscienceFt!e Cstill small -oiceD t!at .!ispers "rom .it!in. VOICE5 2:. If thou wouldBst cross the second safel*, sto not the fragrance of its stuef*ing "lossoms to inhale. If freed thou wouldBst "e from the Garmic chains, see% not for th* Euru in those Ka*avic regions. &* T!e candidate does not lin$er too lon$ in t!e plane o" illusion) but li<e t!e bee !e ta<es t!e !oney Ge/perience and <no.led$eH and mo-es on) re"usin$ to become into/icated by t!e scent o" countless blossoms temptin$ly displayed be"ore !im on t!e lo.er planes. H1B e/plains t!e .ord CGuruD in t!is manner5 CT!e Initiate .!o leads t!e disciple t!rou$! t!e Sno.led$e !e imparts to !is spiritual) or second birt!) is called t!e Fat!er) Guru) or 3aster.D #nd so t!e E$o t!at .is!es to be assisted by a 3aster must -i-i"y t!e lin< bet.een t!e lo.er sel" and !i$!er Sel". T!e assistance t!at an aut!entic Guru $i-es .ould naturally be o" a -ery !i$! order t!at concerns t!e most unsel>s! part o" !uman nature. T!e 3aster .ould not be concerned .it! t!e re$ion o" illusion) t!e maya-ic re$ions. #s t!e old ada$e $oes) C=!en t!e pupil is ready) t!e 3aster appears.D VOICE5 !=. The 2IS7 567S tarr* not in leasure&grounds of senses. !1. The 2IS7 567S heed not the sweet&tongued voices of illusion. !2. See% for him who is to give thee "irth, in the Hall of 2isdom, the Hall which lies "e*ond, wherein all shadows are un%nown, and where the light of truth shines with unfading glor*. T!is could mean t!e second .irthF.!en only t!e innocent and pure in !eart may >nd union .it! t!e inner Sel". 3adame Bla-ats<y mentions t!is in The Secret )octrine5 CFor Aesus states repeatedly t!at !e .!o Vs!all not recei-e t!e Sin$dom o" God as a little child s!all not enter t!erein?D G*59+8H. T!e c!ild7state su$$ests utter selMessness) de-oid o" personality) and >nal union .it! t!e One. CT!e Hall .!ic! lies beyondD is a poetic metap!or "or a state o" spiritual consciousness) .!erein s!ado.s are un<no.n) .!ere i$norance and doubt e/ist no more. But .!at is meant by s!ado.sQ In !is boo< o" essays The +reative Silence) 4o!it 3e!ta says t!at t!e absence o" s!ado.s in t!e Hall o" =isdom means t!at C!ere .e no lon$er deal .it! idols and ima$es. T!e realm o" indirect perception !as been le"t be!indFt!e mind?s processes o" comparison and contrast are no moreF"or !ere t!e Vli$!t o" trut! s!ines .it! un"adin$ $lory?D Gp. 88789H. VOICE5 !!. That which is uncreate a"ides in thee, Discile, as it a"ides in that Hall. If thou wouldBst reach it and "lend the two, thou must divest th*self of th* dar% garments of &: illusion. Sti<e the voice of <esh, allow no image of the senses to get "etween its light and thine that thus the twain ma* "lend in one. CT!at .!ic! is uncreateD re"ers to t!e immortal) !i$!er Triad o" #tma7Budd!i7 3anas) as distin$uis!ed "rom t!e lo.er personality .it! its temporary -e!icles o" consciousness. T!ese -e!icles are created ane. "or eac! incarnation) .!ile t!e upper Triad carries o-er "rom one incarnation to t!e ne/t. VOICE5 Cnd having learnt thine own Ajnana, <ee from the Hall of -earning. This Hall is dangerous in its erAdious "eaut*, is needed "ut for th* ro"ation. ;eware, -anoo, lest da@@led "* illusive radiance th* Soul should linger and "e caught in its decetive light. T!e disciple .!o is a.are o" t!e enc!antment o" t!e lo.er planes Gt!e p!ysicalastral7 lo.er mentalH <no.s t!at t!ese realms are a trainin$ $round) or sc!ool) "or t!e $ro.t! o" t!e soul. It is t!rou$! a -ariety o" eart!ly e/periences .!ile embodied in a !ouse o" Mes! t!at t!e soul C$oes to sc!oolD and increases its store o" .isdom. The Voice continues to spea< o" t!is decepti-e li$!t. VOICE5 !(. This light shines from the $ewel of the Ereat 7nsnarer, >)ara?. The senses it "ewitches, "linds the mind, and leaves the unwar* an a"andoned wrec%. 3ara is a demon) an #sura) or Satan as t!e C!ristian .orld <no.s !imN !e represents t!e personi>cation o" e-il. Translated) t!e .ord means) CT!at .!ic! <illsD i.e.) t!at .!ic! <ills t!e soul) t!at .!ic! !inders our spiritual pro$ress. In esoteric p!ilosop!y 3ara is t!e personi>cation o" t!e <ind o" temptation t!at can blind t!e mind to all reasonN t!us pro$ress is delayed. 3ara is also re"erred to as Ct!e $reat testerD and plays an important role as a teac!er o" !umanity. VOICE5 !,. The moth attracted to the da@@ling <ame of th* nightlam is doomed to erish in the viscid oil. The unwar* Soul that fails to grale with the moc%ing demon of illusion, will return to earth the slave of )ara. &8 # .ise man <no.s t!at a !ot Mame can burn) .it!out puttin$ !is !and into itN only a "ool must ma<e t!is test. T!e la. o" <arma) .!ic! brin$s to men t!e e/perience t!at t!ey !a-e $i-en to ot!ers) is t!is bene"actor and ultimate liberator) not an instrument o" -en$eance or punis!ment) as many belie-e. T!ose .!o commit -iolent and t!ou$!tless deeds need a -iolent <ind o" e/perience to a.a<en t!em to t!e conse0uences o" suc! a .ay o" li"e. =!en) t!rou$! <armic retribution) a person !as suBered $reatly) !e or s!e .ill be$in to re"orm) t!an<s to t!e la. o" <arma) .!ic! is al.ays educati-e) ne-er puniti-e. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!at is t!e si$ni>cance o" t!e t!ree !allsQ *. =!at is t!e sil-er t!readQ :. Ho. do .e $o about ac0uirin$ true <no.led$eQ 8. In .!at .ays do our p!ysical senses decei-e usQ RRRRRRRRRR T!ere is a road) steep and t!orny) beset .it! perils o" e-ery <ind) but yet a road) and it leads to t!e -ery !eart o" t!e Eni-erseN I can tell you !o. to >nd t!ose .!o .ill s!o. you t!e secret $ate.ay t!at opens in.ard only) and closes "ast be!ind t!e neop!yte "or e-ermore. T!ere is no dan$er t!at dauntless coura$e cannot con0uerN t!ere is no trial t!at spotless purity cannot pass t!rou$!N t!ere is no diOculty t!at stron$ intellect cannot surmount. For t!ose .!o .in on.ards t!ere is re.ard past all tellin$Ft!e po.er to bless and sa-e !umanityN "or t!ose .!o fail, there are other lives in 'hich success may come* /Blavatsky, +ollected !ritin#s &:5*&'H &9 Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One Lesson : VOICE5 !1. ;ehold the Hosts of Souls. 2atch how the* hover oBer the storm* sea of human life, and how eFhausted, "leeding, "ro%en&winged, the* dro one after another on the swelling waves. Tossed "* the Aerce winds, chased "* the gale, the* drift into the eddies and disaear within the Arst great vorteF. T!e ima$ery o" s.ellin$ .a-es and >erce .inds su$$ests li"e on t!e astral and p!ysical planes) .!ere t!e $reater part o" !umanity e/ists .it!out a pattern o" li"e to "ollo.) or a star by .!ic! to steer its course. T!e diOculty is an o-erly deep en$rossment in t!e lo.er sel") t!is bein$ t!e cause o" t!e .orld?s misery. Here is a "ootnote "rom Letter (, o" The Mahatma Letters re$ardin$ 3ara and t!e !ost o" souls. CT!is 3ara) as you may .ell t!in<) is t!e alle$orical ima$e o" t!e sp!ere called t!e V1lanet o" eat!?Ft!e 'hirlpool .!it!er disappear t!e lives doomed to destructionD G"n. p. &'9H. H1B says5 CT!ese are t!e useless drones .!o .ill peris! by t!e millions durin$ t!e >"t! round.D T!is means t!e closin$ o" t!e door to "urt!er pro$ress in t!is 3an-antara. The Theosophical Glossary describes a 3an-antara as Ca period o" mani"estation) as opposed to 1ralaya Gdissolution) or restH) applied to -arious cycles) especially to a ay o" Bra!ma) 8):*+)+++)+++ Solar years.D VOICE5 !4. If through the Hall of 2isdom, thou wouldBst reach the Dale of ;liss, Discile, close fast th* senses against the great dire heres* of searateness that weans thee from the rest. True bene>t may only be e/perienced once .e !a-e reac!ed t!e t!ird spiritual sta$e) t!e place o" serenityFt!e CVale o" Bliss.D T!is serenity is t!e $oal o" bliss to .!ic! The Voice of the Silence is directin$ t!e candidateN !e or s!e is told t!at it can be reac!ed by >rst passin$ t!rou$! t!e Hall o" =isdom. T!e !eresy o" separateness means t!at .e cannot pro$ress on t!e 1at! .it!out t!e spirit o" brot!er!ood and o" cooperationN .it!out t!e opportunity to pass t!rou$! t!is planet) t!is sc!ool o" learnin$) .!ere ot!er men and .omen to$et!er .it! our o.n actions create circumstances to test us) .e .ould ne-er $raduate to !i$!er planes. &( VOICE5 !9. -et not th* Heaven&"orn, merged in the sea of )a*a, "rea% from the Jniversal 'arent >S5J-?, "ut let the Aer* ower retire into the inmost cham"er, the cham"er of the Heart and the a"ode of the 2orldBs )other. It .ould be .ise not to use our Hea-en7born "orce o" t!e Lo$os "or sel>s! purposes. # "ootnote in The Voice says t!e >ery po.er is Sundalini) .!ic! also means C.orld mot!er)D one o" t!e mystic 2o$ic po.ers) and t!at it is Budd!i .!ic! is considered as an electro7spiritual "orce) a creati-e po.er .!ic! .!en aroused into action can as easily <ill as it can create. In t!e se-enteent!7century boo< Le +omte de Ga.alis) .e are told t!at it is possible "or t!e saints to !a-e attained union .it! God t!rou$! t!eir de-otion and prayer moti-ated by a constant desire and aspiration to come closer to God?s la.. T!is dedication and constancy liberated a spiritual "orce in t!ese men and .omenFa li-in$ Mame t!at acted t!rou$! t!e i-ine in man) .it! or .it!out t!e conscious eBort o" t!e >nite mind. =e can t!us in sa"ety set "ree t!is $reat po.er o" Sundalini once .e are united .it! t!e !i$!er Sel". But to try to tamper .it! t!e po.er o" Sundalini be"ore one is ready is to court disaster. VOICE5 !:. Then from the heart that 'ower shall rise into the siFth, the middle region, the lace "etween thine e*es, when it "ecomes the "reath of the 567&S5J-, the voice which Alleth all, th* )asterBs voice. Only .!en t!e Guru >nds t!at t!e c!ela is ready "or serious de-elopment .ill ad-ice "or arousin$ Sundalini be $i-en under direct super-isionN ot!er.ise it can be a -ery dan$erous procedure) !a-in$ a serious and disrupti-e eBect on t!e psyc!ic nature. Sundalini rises t!rou$! t!e -arious "orce7centers <no.n as t!e c!a<ras until it reac!es t!e center bet.een t!e eyebro.s) .!en t!e c!ela is blessed .it! i-ine po.er. T!e "ourt! c!a<ra is centered in t!e !eart. T!e raisin$ o" t!e >re is re"erred to as bein$ CC!ristedD .!en t!e Sundalini !as been brou$!t into action. T!is is a state o" spiritual po.er also called t!e CSe-en Gi"ts o" t!e Holy G!ostD in t!e C!ristian system. It !as been said t!at t!e symbol o" t!e !uman bein$ is a treeN ima$ine t!en t!is tree as bein$ suddenly lit up by se-en colored li$!ts. T!is is t!e deeper meanin$ o" our C!ristmas tree5 t!e c!a<ras are t!e li$!ts and t!e star cro.nin$ t!e topmost pea< is t!e Star o" Initiation) t!e comin$ into a state o" $reat spiritual po.er. The Secret )octrine tells us t!at) once !a-in$ arri-ed at t!is ad-anced state) .e must $o still "urt!er) and must part "rom t!e si/ principles in order to center oursel-es entirely in t!e se-ent!. &; VOICE5 (=. MHis onl* then thou canst "ecome a 2al%er of the S%* who treads the winds a"ove the waves, whose ste touches not the waters. In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) Bla-ats<y tells us t!at echara GCs<y7.al<erD or C$oerDH is a 2o$i .!o !as become as one "ormed o" t!e .ind) as Ca cloud "rom .!ic! limbs !a-e sprouted outD a"ter .!ic! !e compre!ends t!e meanin$ o" t!e Cosmos and its .or<in$s. T!e p!rase) C.!ose step touc!es not t!e .aters)D re"ers to one .!o can tra-el in t!e astral body) symboli@ed by t!e e-er7c!an$in$ .aters. #t t!is sta$e) t!e 2o$i is deli-ered "rom all t!e p!ysical ills o" li"e) "rom t!e $allin$ po.er o" "ate) t!e rec<less caprice o" "ortune) and t!e $loom o" deat!. #s .e learned earlier) t!e 2o$i bestrides Hamsa) t!e s.an) out o" time and space. VOICE5 (1. ;efore thou setBst th* foot uon the ladderBs uer rung, the ladder of the m*stic sounds, thou hast to hear the voice of th* inner E5DN in seven manners. Be"ore a candidate may be$in to "unction at t!is !i$! le-el) !e must raise !is consciousness to t!e se-ent! 1rinciple) so t!at it be$ins to mo-e on t!e #tmic or Nir-anic 1lane) and t!ere prepare "or t!e >"t! initiation) t!at o" t!e #dept. T!e mystic sounds may be translated as t!e sounds !eard in t!e mysterious Voice o" t!e Silence) t!e -oice o" pure conscienceN t!ese sounds cannot be !eard .it! t!e p!ysical ear) "or t!ey are secretly $i-in$ $uidance "rom t!e spiritual plane. Let us $o still "urt!er in tryin$ to understand t!e meanin$ o" Ct!e ladder o" mystic sounds.D T!ese sounds are also called CstepsD or Csta$es)D by .!ic! t!e pil$rim slo.ly mounts t!is mystic ladder) $radually disen$a$in$ "rom t!e clutc!es o" t!e e-er demandin$ personality Gt!e lo.er sel"H) .!ic! is a -e!icle attuned to t!e outer .orld o" sensation. T!is lo.er -e!icle) i" properly directed) can be used .!en under control by t!e !i$!er Sel". Sris!namurti) in !is little boo< (t the 0eet of the Master) spea<s o" t!e body as t!e animal upon .!ic! .e ride) and t!at it must be cared "or) <ept clean and "ed) but not pampered) "or sel>s! desires and cra-in$s are but trappin$s to be dispensed .it!) once t!e $reat return Kourney is be$un. 1urity o" moti-e demands t!at .e tra-el li$!tly and learn to de-elop t!e po.er o" non7attac!ment. * T!e Hi$!er Sel" &, VOICE5 (2. The Arst is li%e the nightingaleBs sweet voice chanting a song of arting to its mate. (!. The second comes as the sound of a silver c*m"al of the Dh*OnPs, awa%ening the twin%ling stars. ((. The neFt is as the laint melodious of the ocean&srite imrisoned in its shell. (,. Cnd this is followed "* the chant of Dina. (1. The Afth li%e sound of "am"oo&<ute shrills in thine ear. (4. It changes neFt into a trumet&"last. (9. The last vi"rates li%e the dull rum"ling of a thundercloud. (:. The seventh swallows all the other sounds. The* die, and then are heard no more. T!e student may obtain a little more in"ormation as to t!e "ull esoteric meanin$ o" t!ese steps or sta$es t!rou$! "urt!er researc! in The Secret )octrine by Helena 1. Bla-ats<y and 0irst Principles of Theosophy by C. AinaraKadasa. It is said t!at t!ese sounds !eard by t!e soul could be li<ened to t!e Cmusic o" t!e sp!eres)D t!e sound o" t!e C.!irlin$ orbs in space.D T!e occultist belie-es t!at t!e t.el-e si$ns o" t!e Wodiac and t!e se-en planets "orm a soundin$ board and strin$s o" C#pollo?s se-enstrin$ed lyre.D E-idently t!e mystic enters into a r!yt!mic -ibration as t!e Hea-en7 =orld is entered) and it is t!en t!at t!e sounds o" t!e Inner =orld are !eard. T!is) I belie-e) is re"erred to as Ct!e #.a<enin$.D #nd in re"erence to Ct!e ocean sprite imprisoned in its s!ell)D per!aps Oli-er =endell Holmes !as !elped to e/plain t!is concept in !is poem CT!e C!ambered Nautilus.D He tells !o. t!e nautilus e/empli>es pro$ress in t!e e-olutionary plan as it constantly builds section a"ter sectionFeac! lar$er t!an t!e one be"oreFin a spiral s!ell) until at last it emer$es into t!e open) !a-in$ "ound its "reedom. T!e .ord CoceanD re"ers to t!e primordial ocean o" space) (kasha G.aterH bein$ t!e t!ird principle in t!e material cosmos on .!ic! Narayana) t!e sel"7born spirit mo-es. T!e !yanis are called t!e Se-en Sons o" Li$!t) stars t!at .atc! o-er t!e Se-en Sacred 1lanets o" t!e Eart!7C!ain. In GeoBrey Barbor<a?s boo< The )ivine Plan) t!e aut!or comments5 CAust as . . . one !yani !a-in$ particular sur-eillance o-er one $lobe and li<e.ise o-er one 4aceJin similar manner t!e !yanis o" t!e Se-en Sacred 1lanets act as Vprimaries? o-er t!e se-en principles o" man) one 1lanetary !yani "or eac! principleDGp *8;H. The Vina represents t!e astral plane. In re"erence to t!e sentence) CT!e se-ent! s.allo.s all t!e rest)D .e !a-e already learned t!at t!e si/ must be &' >nally mer$ed into t!e One. T!e number seven is used constantly) "or .e are li-in$ in a se-en"old .orld) and to arri-e at per"ection) .e !a-e to con0uer) or re>ne) t!e intermediate planes) steps up .!ic! .e must mount) to reac! t!e more spiritual ones. To "urt!er e/pand on t!is number se-en) let us recall t!e se-en sta$es o" !uman de-elopment. T!e teet! o" a c!ild appear in t!e se-ent! mont!N t!ey are s!ed at ; yearsN at t.ice ; puberty be$insN at t!ree times ; t!e mental and -ital po.ers are de-elopedN at "our times ; "ull stren$t! !as de-elopedN at >-e times ; t!e desires are most de-eloped. The Secret )octrine contains t!e ans.ers) but .!et!er or not t!ey are understood depends upon our spiritual de-elopment. VOICE5 ,=. 2hen the siF are slain and at the )asterBs feet are laid, then is the uil merged into the 567, "ecomes that 567 and lives therein. Once t!e c!ela !as subdued t!e senses and obtained control o-er t!e lo.er -e!icles t!rou$! t!e po.er o" spiritual .ill) t!en !e or s!e is ready "or ser-ice. T!e c!ela .ill t!en be use"ul to t!ose .!o are in c!ar$e o" t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan. T!e spar< Gt!e #tmaH .ill !a-e become as one .it! t!e Flame Gt!e 1aramatmaH. VOICE5 ,1. ;efore that ath is entered, thou must destro* th* lunar "od*, cleanse th* mind&"od* and ma%e clean th* heart. T!e Clunar bodyD is t!e astral "orm) t!e body o" desire) .!ic! is part o" t!e temporal man and not t!e companion o" t!e immortal Sel". Once not!in$ o" eart!?s pleasures can tempt !im) t!en only may t!e union o" mind) t!e !i$!er mind) and spirit ta<e place. A. C. Street) t!e aut!or o" The Hidden !ay (cross the Threshold .rites5 =!o ele-ates !imsel") isolates !imsel". #ny man .!o is bra-e enou$! to step aside "rom all con-entionalities o" t!e time and a$e) and) i" need be) to se-er ties o" "ormer "riends!ips and companions!ipFcon"essin$ t!at !e desires to be "ree "rom dar<ness o" t!e past and to !a-e some in"allible $uide in matters o" Spirit) Soul) and Trut! in t!e subKecti-e .orld) i" !e can de-ote time) patience) and silent meditation to t!e .or<) .ill >nd a ne. .orld) a !ei$!t o" compre!ension and ne.ness o" li"e o" .!ic! !e ne-er dreamed Gp. *8'H. VOICE5 ,2. 7ternal lifeBs ure waters, clear and cr*stal, with the monsoon temestBs mudd* torrents cannot mingle. *+ Li"e?s pure .aters are li<ened to a !idden sacred sprin$) .!ic!) once tasted) causes t!ose .!o >nd it to t!irst no more. VOICE5 ,!. HeavenBs dew&dro glittering in the mornBs Arst sun&"eam within the "osom of the lotus, when droed on earth "ecomes a iece of cla*3 "ehold, the earl is now a sec% of mire. For countless centuries in t!e East) t!e lotus !as been re$arded as a symbol o" spiritual consciousness. T!is sacred Mo.er !as its roots deep in t!e mud o" eart! Gt!e p!ysical .orldHN its stem rises up t!rou$! t!e muddy .ater Ganalo$ous to t!e emotional7desire natureH) .!ere t!e blossom) t!e end product o" $ro.t!) t!en opens to t!e rays o" t!e sun) symboli@in$ t!e spiritual Sel" $i-in$ "ort! its per"ume) .!ic! is a symbol o" radiant ser-ice o" t!e disciple in t!e t!ree .orlds. =e) as .e stru$$le e-er up.ard) are endea-orin$ to s!a<e oB t!e t!ic< coatin$ o" clay. CHea-en?s de.dropD is pure spirit) or pure consciousness) be"ore it !as become in-ol-ed in t!e t!in$s o" eart!. e. !as been mentioned in Sans<rit as 2E) meanin$ CbrilliantDFa Cdrop "rom Hea-enD or Csap o" t!e Supreme Spirit.D It is interestin$ to note t!at t!e .ord de' is Cornis! "or God) and t!at t!e Frenc! .ord "or God is )ieu. VOICE5 ,(. Strive with th* thoughts unclean "efore the* overower thee. Jse them as the* will thee, for if thou sarest them and the* ta%e root and grow, %now well, these thoughts will overower and %ill thee. ;eware, Discile, su#er not, eBen though it "e their shadow, to aroach. .or it will grow, increase in si@e and ower, and then this thing of dar%ness will a"sor" th* "eing "efore thou hast well reali@ed the "lac% foul monsterBs resence. T!e lan$ua$e !ere is 0uite dramatic) but t!at is necessary sometimes to ma<e a point. Let us read .!at C. =. Leadbeater) in The +hakras) !as to say on t!e subKect. T!ou$!t Mies li<e li$!tnin$ t!rou$! t!e subtle matter o" t!e mental plane) so t!e t!ou$!t o" t!e .!ole .orld on a certain subKect may easily $at!er in one spot) and yet be accessible and attracti-e to e-ery t!in<er on t!at subKect. #stral matter) t!ou$! so "ar >ner t!an p!ysical) is yet denser t!an t!at o" t!e mental planeN t!e $reat clouds o" Cemotion7"ormsD .!ic! are $enerated in t!e astral .orld by stron$ "eelin$s do not all My to t!e one7.orld7center) but t!ey do coalesce .it! ot!er "orms o" t!e same nature in t!eir o.n nei$!bor!ood) so t!at enormous and -ery po.er"ul Cbloc<sD o" "eelin$s are Moatin$ about almost *& e-ery.!ere) and a man may readily come into contact .it! t!em and be inMuenced by t!em. #nd so t!is .ould) I belie-e) re"er to t!e blac<) C"oul monster?s presence.D VOICE5 ,,. ;efore the m*stic 'ower can ma%e of thee a god, -anoo, thou must have gained the facult* to sla* th* lunar form at will. #ut!or 4oy 3itc!ell) in Throu#h Temple )oors, says One o" t!ese "orces) .e !a-e seen) is t!at serpent7"orce) as it is called) t!at in all esoteric sc!ools is depicted as risin$ out o" t!e eart!) passin$ t!rou$! t!e le$s into t!e body and lyin$ coiled around t!e epi$astric ple/us) etc. 1yt!a$oras says o" t!e Babylonian 3a$i G3a?KiH) t!at t!ey called t!e ma$netic currents o" t!e eart! serpents) and t!at t!ey possessed t!e po.er to direct t!em. T!e incorporeal >re o" t!e inner man t!ey called t!e Celestial Lion. T!ese t.o) t!e ascendin$ Serpent and t!e descendin$ Lion) t!ey said $enerated by t!eir meetin$ t!e "arces t!at "reed t!e candidate. #lso) in t!e boo< Le +omte de Ga.alis .e note t!at t!e lion represents t!e lo.er side o" !uman nature) t!at t!rou$!out anti0uity t!is symbol represented nature and t!e un$o-erned passions o" !umanityN so t!e <in$ o" t!e beasts) t!e lion) must be con0uered be"ore spiritual de-elopment is possible. T!us t!e >rst labor o" t!e Gree< Hercules Ga Sa-iorH .as to slay t!e lion) .!ic! symboli@ed !is lo.er nature. VOICE5 ,1. The Self of matter and the S7-. of Sirit can never meet. 5ne of the twain must disaear3 there is no lace for "oth. T!e aspirant .is!in$ to attain must c!oose bet.een t!e li"e o" t!e .orld and t!at o" t!e Spirit. It is useless and -ain to endea-or to unite t!e t.o) "or there is no room for .oth. Once t!e c!ela <no.s .!ic! pat! !e .is!es to ta<e) !e must t!en proceed .it! a >rm step. Consider t!is bit o" ad-ice le"t by t!ose .!o !a-e preceded us5 =!en .e t!in< .e are pro$ressin$) .e may be at a standstill) and .!en .e t!in< .e are not pro$ressin$) .e may be ma<in$ .onder"ul strides a!ead5 ** 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!at !appens to t!ose souls .it!out a star to $uide t!emQ *. =!at name is $i-en to t!e C>ery po.er)D t!e C!ea-en7born)D and t!e C.orldmot!erDQ :. Name some o" t!e t!in$s a candidate must do be"ore !e may be$in treadin$ t!e 1at!. 8. =!at is one o" t!e $reat stumblin$ bloc<s to union .it! t!e Sel"Q RRRRRRRRRR Come !it!er) you t!at .al< alon$ t!e .ayN See !o. t!e pil$rims "are t!at $o astray5 T!ey catc!ed are in an entan$lin$ net) VCause t!ey $ood counsel li$!tly did "or$et5 VTis true t!ey rescued .ere) but yet you see) T!ey?re scour$ed to boot. Let t!is your caution be. FAo!n Bunyan) The Pil#rim1s Pro#ress *: Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One Lesson 8 VOICE5 ,4. 7re th* SoulBs mind can understand, the "ud of ersonalit* must "e crushed out, the worm of sense destro*ed ast resurrection. ,9. Thou canst not travel on the 'ath "efore thou hast "ecome that 'ath itself. Fi$urati-ely spea<in$) t!e 1at! in-ol-es t!e cruci>/ion o" t!e lo.er sel") t!ereby settin$ "ree t!e !i$!er Sel" t!at .e may "ollo. t!e road o" ser-ice or return to t!e Source) accordin$ to The Voice. T!e "ootnote reads5 T!is C1at!D is mentioned in all t!e 3ystic =or<s. #s Sris!na says in t!e 2naneshvari5 C=!en t!is pat! is be!eld . . . .!et!er one sets out to t!e bloom o" t!e East or to t!e c!ambers o" t!e =est) 'ithout movin#) O !older o" t!e bo.) is t!e travelin# in this road. In t!is pat!) to .!ate-er place one .ould $o) that place one1s o'n self .ecomes.D CT!ou art t!e pat!)D is said to t!e adept $uru) and by t!e latter to t!e disciple a"ter initiation. CI am t!e .ay and t!e 1at!)D says anot!er 3#STE4. VOICE5 ,:. -et th* Soul lend its ear to ever* cr* of ain li%e as the lotus "ares its heart to drin% the morning sun. 1=. -et not the Aerce Sun dr* one tear of ain "efore th*self hast wied it from the su#ererBs e*e. 11. ;ut let each "urning human tear dro on th* heart and there remain, nor ever "rush it o#, until the ain that caused it is removed. Compassion is essential "or t!e spiritual disciple. =e cannot close our eyes or turn a dea" ear to t!e suBerin$ o" eit!er man or beast. Li<e t!e lotus Mo.er t!at opens its !eart to t!e mornin$ sun) so must .e open our !earts to t!ose stru$$lin$ beside us in t!e dar<nessN t!us may our o.n pain be s!ared and so"tened in selBor$et"ulness. But it is not all pain and loneliness) "or as .e pro$ress on t!e 1at! .e be$in to "eel a $reat Koy in our !eart at comin$ so close to t!e !eart o" Nature and our "ello. tra-elers. =e are no. touc!in$ t!e 4eal) t!at .!ic! .ill ta<e us beyond t!e unreal) peris!able t!in$s o" t!is li"e. *8 VOICE5 12. These tears, 5 thou of heart most merciful, these are the streams that irrigate the Aelds of charit* immortal. BTis on such soil that grows the midnight "lossom of ;uddha more diQcult to And, more rare to view than is the <ower of the Doga* tree. It is the seed of freedom from re"irth. It isolates the Crhat "oth from strife and lust, it leads him through the Aelds of ;eing unto the eace and "liss %nown onl* in the land of Silence and 6on&;eing. T!e souls .it! t!e merci"ul !earts are t!ose .!o ne-er restN t!ey !a-e c!osen to "ollo. t!e pat! o" lo-e and ser-ice "or t!e sa<e o" suBerin$ man<ind. Not only are t!ese dedicated men and .omen .or<in$ out t!eir o.n <arma) but also t!ey are acutely a.are o" t!e suBerin$ o" ot!ers) and t!e pain .ei$!s !ea-ily upon t!em as t!ey scale t!e mountain to.ard #r!ats!ip and illumination. Once t!ey !a-e reac!ed t!at sta$e and are Cbestride t!e Bird o" Li"e)D no more eart!ly suBerin$ can be e/perienced) "or t!ey are outside t!e realm o" time and space. #t t!at point) t!ey !a-e become sel3ess. VOICE5 1!. Gill out desire3 "ut if thou %illest it ta%e heed lest from the dead it should again arise. 1(. Gill love of life, "ut if thou sla*est tanh, let this not "e for thirst of life eternal, "ut to relace the <eeting "* the everlasting. T!ose .!o !a-e set t!eir minds on t!e 1at! and >/ed t!eir eyes on t!e summit are a.are o" t!e obstacles t!at .ill .aylay t!em. #nd so t!e .arrior learns to be prepared. T!e .ord tanh4 means t!e lo-e o" li"e) t!e desire to $rati"y t!e sensesN t!ese are ties .!ic! bind and .!ic! must be $radually se-ered. Sris!namurti?s little boo< (t the 0eet of the Master is o" $reat !elp in understandin$ some o" t!e 0uali>cations needed "or treadin$ t!e 1at! t!at leads to.ard initiation. VOICE5 1,. Desire nothing. Chafe not at Garma, nor at 6atureBs changeless laws. ;ut struggle onl* with the ersonal, the transitor*, the evanescent and the erisha"le. #n aspirant) once !e !as c!osen t!e road !e .is!es to tra-el) accepts it c!eer"ully) <no.in$ t!at t!e Great La. is al.ays $ust. T!e real stru$$le is .it! t!e personality) .!ic! is e-er tryin$ to obtain sel"7satis"action t!rou$! t!e senses) and *9 .it! 3ara t!e tempter .!o .ill be up to all !is tric<sN t!ese become more subtle as t!e aspirant ad-ances) "or !e G3araH <no.s t!at t!e mind o" t!e pil$rim is on $uard and a.are o" !is presence. # "ourteent!7century boo< o" C!ristian mysticism) The +loud of -nkno'in#) oBers t!is ad-ice to t!e aspirant5 CLoo< a!ead no. and ne-er mind .!at is be!indN see .!at you still need) and not .!at you !a-eN "or t!is is !o. mee<ness is most 0uic<ly .on and de"endedD Gp. &&,H. VOICE5 11. Hel 6ature and wor% on with her3 and 6ature will regard thee as one of her creators and ma%e o"eisance. 14. Cnd she will oen wide "efore thee the ortals of her secret cham"ers, la* "are "efore th* ga@e the treasures hidden in the ver* deths of her ure virgin "osom. Jnsullied "* the hand of matter she shows her treasures onl* to the e*e of Sirit8the e*e which never closes, the e*e for which there is no veil in all her %ingdoms. It is .ritten) CNature is con0uered by obedience.D #ll t!e "orces .e use in modern li"e) suc! as electricity) !ydraulics) Ket propulsion) and solar po.er are e/amples o" our .or<in$ .it! nature) .it! t!e Great La.. =e are told a$ain and a$ain t!at i" .e .or< 'ith t!e la.s o" Nature) and not a#ainst them) .e e-entually $ain mystic po.ers not <no.n to t!e ordinary person. 1atanKali spea<s o" t!ese in t!e t!ird section o" t!e %o#a Sutras. T!ese po.ers are to be used e/clusi-ely "or assistin$ t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan and not "or sel>s! personal $ain. Nature is composed o" li"e as .ell as matter) consciousness as .ell as "orm) and it is t!rou$! sympat!etic "eelin$ t!at .e become attuned to t!e li"e t!at d.ells .it! ot!er "orms) .!et!er it be o" t!e !uman) animal) or plant <in$dom. Li"e e-ol-es and pro$ress t!rou$! a myriad o" "orms "rom t!e simple to t!e comple/. T!is may seem stran$e to some) but T!eosop!y aOrms t!at Ce-eryt!in$ in t!e Eni-erse) t!rou$!out all its <in$doms) is CONSCIOES5 i*e.) endo.ed .it! a consciousness o" its o.n <ind and on its o.n plane o" perceptionD GThe Secret )octrine) &5*;8H. T!ere"ore) indi-iduals .!o desire to be o" ser-ice to man<ind may !asten t!eir e-olution by puttin$ t!eir already $ained <no.led$e into practice) t!us !astenin$ t!eir pro$ress. T!e aspirant be$ins to build in t!e in-isible realms) by $i-in$ attention to t!e inner needs) by listenin$ to t!e .ee small -oice o" t!e inner Sel". It is said t!at once an indi-idual yearns to ser-e) it is instantly <no.n) and t!at !e must learn to !eed t!e CVoice o" t!e SilenceD .it!in !imsel") .!ic! .ill $uide !im in all !e s!ould do. T!ese "e. .ords e/plain it to per"ection5 CLet $o) and let God.D *( In The )ialo#ues of G* de Purucker) t!e aut!or points out t!at initiation is sel"con"erred5 C=!en one !as $one a!ead to t!e point .!ere !e is ready to recei-e more) !e .ill <no. it !imsel". Ot!er.ise !e is not ready to recei-e it . . . I <no. in my li"e I !a-e !al" a do@en times !ad to .ait years and stru$$le to reac! a certain point. T!en .!en I reac!ed t!ere) I <ne. "rom t!e in.ard burst o" illumination t!at I .as ready to recei-e) and I recei-ed.D G&589H. VOICE5 19. Then will she show thee the means and wa*, the Arst gate and the second, the third, u to the ver* seventh. Cnd then, the goal8"e*ond which lie, "athed in the sunlight of the Sirit, glories untold, unseen "* an* save the e*e of Soul. CT!e means and .ay)D as .ell as t!e C$ates)D .ill be "ully e/plained in t!e T!ird Fra$ment o" The Voice Glesson &+H. VOICE5 1:. There is "ut one road to the 'ath3 at its ver* end alone the Doice of the Silence can "e heard. The ladder "* which the candidate ascends is formed of rungs of su#ering and ain3 these can "e silenced onl* "* the voice of virtue. 2oe, then, to thee, Discile, if there is one single vice thou hast not left "ehind. .or then the ladder will give wa* and overthrow thee3 its foot rests in the dee mire of th* sins and failings, and ere thou canst attemt to cross this wide a"*ss of matter thou hast to lave th* feet in 2aters of +enunciation. ;eware lest thou shouldBst set a foot still soiled uon the ladderBs lowest rung. 2oe unto him who dares ollute one rung with mir* feet. The foul and viscous mud will dr*, "ecome tenacious, then glue his feet unto the sot, and li%e a "ird caught in the wil* fowlerBs lime, he will "e sta*ed from further rogress. His vices will ta%e shae and drag him down. His sins will raise their voices li%e as the $ac%alBs laugh and so" after the sun goes down3 his thoughts "ecome an arm*, and "ear him o# a cative slave. #t t!is sta$e o" t!e 1at!) t!e disciple !as to t!ro. oB in earnest t!e cruder and unre>ned part o" !is nature so t!at !e may tra-el t!e pat! more sa"ely. #s t!e disciple climbs t!e mountain into more rare>ed planes) !e may easily o-erloo< or "or$et t!e .ea<nesses t!at !a-e not as yet been completely rooted out o" t!e personal *; nature. I" i$nored) t!ese s!ortcomin$s .ill ine-itably cause critical problems .!en least e/pected. #n automobile .it! a minor .!eel ali$nment problem may seem to dri-e ade0uately at slo.er speeds) but .!en tra-ersin$ .indin$ roads at muc! !i$!er speeds) t!is sli$!t mec!anical Ma. becomes more pronounced and e-en dan$erous. Similarly) c!aracter Ma.s t!at .ould seem relati-ely minor to t!e man or .oman o" t!e .orld become seriousFe-en !a@ardousFto t!e disciple .!o blit!ely continues to i$nore t!eir presence .!ile scalin$ t!e "urt!er run$s o" t!e ladder. T!e ada$e Ct!e bi$$er t!ey are) t!e !arder t!ey "allD is supported not only by e/amples "rom t!e .orld o" sports) politics) and commerce) but also by sad and un"ortunate instances o" spiritual teac!ers t!at !a-e "allen into i$nominy and disrepute. VOICE5 4=. Gill th* desires, -anoo, ma%e th* vices imotent, ere the Arst ste is ta%en on the solemn $ourne*. 41. Strangle th* sins, and ma%e them dum" for ever, "efore thou dost lift one foot to mount the ladder. isciples .!o ma<e up t!eir mind to rid t!emsel-es o" t!eir .ea<nesses and culti-ate all t!at is noble and >ne .it!in t!emsel-es) .ill at >rst meet .it! muc! resistance and become discoura$ed. It is ine-itable t!at bot! t!e $ood and bad 0ualities .ill be brou$!t into acti-ity by t!e desire "or rapid spiritual pro$ress. T!is al.ays !appens .!en a person sincerely enters upon t!e spiritual 1at!) and it .ill !a-e to be dealt .it!. Suc! a person is .ell ad-ised to underta<e a study o" 2o$a. In Practical %o#a) Ernest =ood .rote) C2o$a in acti-e li"e consists o" body7 conditionin$) sel"7study) and attenti-eness to God. T!ese are t!e t!ree t!in$s to be practiced in e-eryday li"e) as yo$a in t!e midst o" actionD Gp. 8(H. VOICE5 42. Silence th* thoughts and AF th* whole attention on th* )aster whom *et thou dost not see, "ut whom thou feelest. #t t!is sta$e o" pro$ress) our tas< is to endea-or to >/ our attention on t!e !i$!er Sel") $i-in$ less and less t!ou$!t to t!e lo.er sel". In !is boo< Thou#ht 0orces) 1rentice 3ul"ord .rites) None o" us can e/pect to belie-e and li-e up to ne. la.s) principles or met!ods o" li"e all at once. T!ou$! con-inced o" t!eir trut! t!ere is an unyieldin$) stubborn part o" us .!ic! is !ostile to t!em . . . T!at part is our lo.er mind. T!ere is a supreme po.er and rulin$ "orce .!ic! per-ades and rules t!e boundless uni-erse) you are a part o" t!is po.er. 2ou as a part !a-e t!e "aculty *, o" brin$in$ to you by constant silent desire) prayer or demand) more and more o" t!e 0ualities) belon$in$s) and c!aracteristics o" t!is po.er. VOICE5 4!. )erge into one sense th* senses, if thou wouldBst "e secure against the foe. BTis "* that sense alone which lies concealed within the hollow of th* "rain, that the stee ath which leadeth to th* )aster ma* "e disclosed "efore th* SoulBs dim e*es. T!e CSoul?s dim eyesD re"ers to t!e soul?s $radual a.a<enin$ to t!e eternal -erities. To Cmer$e into one sense t!y sensesD is to lose onesel" completely) by a constant eBort to mer$e in t!e true Sel" all our oBerin$s o" eac! day. CSee< >rst t!e Sin$dom o" God) and its ri$!teousnessN and all t!ese t!in$s .ill be added unto you.D 3ara?s !osts !a-e less eBect upon us i" .e ma<e a !abit o" enterin$ our secret c!amber and communin$ .it! our i-ine Sel". VOICE5 4(. -ong and wear* is the wa* "efore thee, 5 Discile. 5ne single thought a"out the ast that thou hast left "ehind, will drag thee down and thou wilt have to start the clim" anew. To be in t!e position o" !a-in$ to Cstart t!e climb ane.D re"ers to t!e need to $ain control o" one?s t!ou$!ts) .!et!er it is in relation to our daily meditation or to our li"e as a .!ole) .!ic! .e are endea-orin$ to re>ne. To lose t!e t!read is to lose t!e r!yt!mFt!at dynamic "orce .!ic! !as been built up t!rou$! constant repetition. So it stands to reason t!at .!en t!is r!yt!m !as been bro<en .e must be$in all o-er a$ain. But .ise aspirants do not .aste precious time bemoanin$ t!e "act t!at time !as been lostN t!ey pic< up .!ere t!ey le"t oB and continues on t!eir .ay. VOICE5 4,. Gill in th*self all memor* of ast eFeriences. -oo% not "ehind or thou art lost. T!e Bible tells us t!at once a man !as put !is !and to t!e plo. and stops to loo< bac<) !e is not >t "or t!e Sin$dom o" Hea-en. T!e Budd!a listed doubt as one o" t!e Ten Fetters t!at bind us to t!e .orld o" samsara. In t!e classical 2o$a o" 1atanKali) doubt is listed as one o" t!e obstacles to Sel"7reali@ation. Be"ore t!e candidate ma<es t!e commitment to tread t!e 1at!) !e or s!e may entertain some measure o" doubtF 0uestions as to t!e -alue o" treadin$ t!e 1at!) .!et!er one is ready "or it) .!et!er *' one .ill ma<e t!e sacri>ces necessaryFbut once be$un in earnest) it is "atal to !arbor to suc! doubts. T!e prospecti-e candidate must deliberate upon and ans.er suc! doubts satis"actorily .efore ma<in$ t!e commitment to "or$e a!ead. #"ter one !as be$un treadin$ t!e 1at!) one sin$le doubt"ul $lance bac<.ard .ill only ser-e to delay one?s pro$ress. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!at must t!e disciple learn to do in order to tra-el t!e 1at!Q *. Name t!e acts o" compassion a c!ela must per"orm in order to understand !umanity?s $reat suBerin$. :. =!at act $enerates t!e seed o" "reedom "rom rebirt!Q 8. =!at are t!e t!in$s t!e disciple must try to C<ill outD in !imsel"Q 9. I" t!e disciple .or<s alon$ .it! Nature) !o. does s!e re.ard !imQ 6. I" t!e disciple enters occult li"e be"ore !e !as prepared !imsel" "or it) .!at .ill delay !is pro$ressQ RRRRRRRRRR Come !it!er) you t!at .al< alon$ t!e .ayN See !o. t!e pil$rims "are t!at $o astray5 T!ey catc!ed are in an entan$lin$ net) VCause t!ey $ood counsel li$!tly did "or$et5 VTis true t!ey rescued .ere) but yet you see) T!ey?re scour$ed to boot. Let t!is your caution be. FAo!n Bunyan) The Pil#rim1s Pro#ress :+ Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment One Lesson 9 VOICE5 41. Do not "elieve that lust can ever "e %illed out if gratiAed or satiated, for this is an a"omination insired "* )ara. It is "* feeding vice that it eFands and waFes strong, li%e to the worm that fattens on the "lossomBs heart. He .!o is see<in$ t!e Li$!t must e-er be on $uard a$ainst t!e traps and pit"alls .!ic! lie in .ait "or !im as !e labors up t!e sacred mountain) and t!e most dan$erous o" t!em is sel"7conceit) closely "ollo.ed by -anity and "alse pride. For) as .e are told o-er and o-er a$ain) t!e !i$!er .e climb t!e !arder .e s!all "all i" .e err. #s .e $ro. in understandin$ and compassion) .e become increasin$ly sensiti-eN it is t!is !ei$!tened de$ree o" sensiti-ity t!at ma<es us so pain"ully a.are o" our s!ortcomin$s and mista<es) and t!ereby causes acute suBerin$ to t!e aspirant. But as !e pro$resses !e becomes less and less attracted to t!e t!in$s o" t!is eart!) "or !e is be$innin$ to sense t!e stren$t! o" t!e spirit and t!e peace o" t!e soul as !e <eeps !is eyes >/ed upon t!e pinnacle o" t!e mountain. It is t!en t!at Satan G3araH is said to !ea-e a si$! o" relie" "or !e !as one soul less to tempt and taunt) and so lea-es t!e .eary but -ictorious pil$rim to proceed unmolested "or t!e remainder o" t!e Kourney. He <no.s t!at !is .or< is done and t!at t!e only enemy no. .ill be t!ose o" t!e pil$rim?s o.n ma<in$Fpride and t!e misuse o" spiritual po.er. I" 3ara and !is ser-ants o" dar<ness did not test and c!allen$e t!ose .!o desired to enter t!e realm o" t!e $ods) t!en .e s!ould !a-e but .ea<lin$s to .atc! o-er us and rule t!e .orlds. C!elas are .arned be"ore t!ey ta<e t!eir >rst step on t!e 1at! t!at it .ill not be easy) t!at it .ill be -ery diOcultN "or t!e ultimate stru$$le ta<es place not on some e/ternal battle>eld in t!e .orld) but .it!in t!e subKecti-e >eld o" one?s o.n consciousness. 3ara <no.s t!is) and !e is terrible in !is testin$) only $i-in$ up .!enFCCalm and unmo-ed t!e pil$rim $lidet! up t!e stream t!at to Nir-ana leads. He <no.et! t!at t!e more !is "eet .ill bleed) t!e .!iter .ill !imsel" be .as!ed. He <no.et! .ell t!at a"ter se-en s!ort and Meetin$ birt!s Nir-ana .ill be !is . . . D GThe Voice) -s. *';H. One -ersion !as it t!at t!is prince o" dar<ness) Satan) .as $i-en t!is Kob o" tryin$ souls) because o" past disobedience) and only by t!eir resistance to !im) could !e !ope to re$ain step by step !is place in t!e Hierarc!y o" #n$elic Bein$s. 3arie Corelli spea<s t!us o" t!e "allen #n$el on pa$e 89, o" !er contro-ersial no-el The :& Sorro's of Satan5 C#rise) Luci"er) Son o" t!e 3ornin$X One soul reKects t!eeNF one !our o" Koy is $ranted t!eeX Hence) and ariseXD #nd so) .e loo< upon t!e opposin$ "orces as t!e unconscious 0uic<ener) ma<in$ possible t!e birt! o" t!e spiritual nature in man. VOICE5 44. The rose must re&"ecome the "ud "orn of its arent stem, "efore the arasite has eaten through its heart and drun% its life&sa. To lin$er and mo-e about aimlessly at t!e "oot o" a mountain poses little dan$er) but .!en one !as made t!e eBort to climb !al".ay up t!e mountain) to lin$er and .aste time is ris<y and !a@ardous. T!e aspirant?s Kob is to !asten t!e union .it! t!e !i$!er Sel" be"ore t!e lo.er sel" s!ould depri-e t!e aspirant o" t!e .ill needed to stri-e "or.ard to t!e pinnacle o" Sel"7reali@ation. T!e meanin$ o" t!e statement t!at Ct!e rose must re7become t!e budD can be $leaned "rom t!e "ollo.in$ lines "rom t!e Stan@as o" @yan5 CI !a-e clot!ed mysel" in t!ee) and t!ou art my -e!icle to t!e day Vbe7.it!7us)? .!en t!ou s!alt re7become mysel" . . .D G;5;H. VOICE5 49. The golden tree uts forth its $ewel&"uds "efore its trun% is withered "* the storm. T!e C$olden treeD represents t!e enli$!tened !uman bein$) and t!e Ke.els !is se-en centers Gt!e c!a<rasH. Let us read .!at 4oy 3itc!ell !as to say about t!em in !is boo< Throu#h Temple )oors5 I"Fremember t!at t!e ner-es run t!rou$! t!e body and out to its sur"ace at e-ery pointF.e ima$ine t!e ner-es as dissected "rom t!e body and maintained in Situ .e .ould only !a-e a -astly intricate mes!7replica o" t!e $eneral "orm o" t!e body. T!is t!e Hermetic .riters said .as t!e outer and p!ysical mani"estation o" an inner mes! t!ey called T!e House o" Net) t!e !ouse o" .!ic! Tot!7Hermes .as master. T!at is to say) t!at o" a subtler $rade o" matter t!an t!e ner-es) and correspondin$ in e-ery detail o" s!ape and position to t!em) is anot!er mes!) a true one o" .!ic! t!e p!ysical ner-es are only t!e ima$e. T!is) t!ey said) is t!e core or armature o" t!e double) t!at subtle body .!ic! is t!e central "actor in all mystery systems) t!e body o" t!e resurrection. Furt!er on !e says5 To t!e clair-oyant eye) !o.e-er) t!e true ner-es are said to be radiant .it! li"e and color and t!e coursin$ ener$ies .e <no. only by t!eir eBects are described as bein$ luminous currents passin$ to and "ro alon$ t!e real Nadis o" t!e subtle :* body. =!ere .e !a-e a t!read o" ner-e >bre) t!e subtle mes! s!o.s a s!inin$ t!readN .!ere t!ere is a ple/us or $an$lionFcalled also a lotus Ke.elFt!ere is in t!e inner body a bri$!t) starry centre. T!is is .!y t!e et!eric double !as been called) time out o" mind) t!e astral or sidereal body) as !a-in$ a starry radiance. CBe"ore its trun< is .it!ered by t!e storm)D su$$ests t!at t!e disciple s!ould be$in .or<in$ on !is -e!icles in order to re$ain !is God!ead be"ore t!is 3an-antara comes to an end) .!en t!e lon$ CsleepD G1ralayaH o-erta<es !im. T!ese $reat cycles may be compared to our seasons in .!ic! sprin$ brin$s "ort! li"e and .inter .it!dra.s it a$ain into !er bosom. T!ose souls .!o are indiBerent to t!e callin$ o" t!eir Hi$!er Sel-es) H1B re"ers to as Cla$$ards5D #s t!e la$$ards in a race stru$$le and plod in t!eir >rst 0uarter .!ile t!e -ictor darts past t!e $oal) so) in t!e race o" immortality) some souls outspeed all t!e rest and reac! t!e end) .!ile t!eir myriad competitors are toilin$ under t!e load o" matter) close to t!e startin$7point. Some un"ortunates "all out entirely) and lose all c!ance o" t!e pri@eN some retrace t!eir steps and be$in a$ain. G,sis -nveiled) &5:8(H. VOICE5 4:. The uil must regain the child-state he has lost, Mere the Arst sound can fall uon his ear. T!e Cc!ild7stateD could mean t!at t!e personality !as no more inMuence o-er t!e indi-idual Gt!e E$oH and t!at !e stands be"ore t!e 3aster in all !is purity) innocent o" any e-il. T!en) and t!en only) is t!e aspirant ready "or "urt!er spiritual <no.led$e. T!ere is also anot!er meanin$ "or t!e c!ild7state) .!ic! is t!at CLittle OnesD in t!e Gospels re"ers to t!e initiates o" .!om Aesus .as one. 1aul is re"erred to in t!e Talmud as CLittle One.D The Voice a$ain re"ers to t!e Csound.D T!e sound t!at "alls upon t!e ear o" t!e aspirant may be re"erred to as t!e se-en"old mystery o" initiation. Orp!eus) accordin$ to The Secret )octrine G*59*'H) .as a $reat teac!erN !e tau$!t !armony and .as usually depicted .it! a se-en7strin$ed lyre) a symbol o" t!e se-en"old mystery. VOICE5 9=. The light from the 567 )aster, the one unfading golden light of Sirit, shoots its e#ulgent "eams on the discile from the ver* Arst. Its ra*s thread through the thic% dar% clouds of matter. T!e !i$!er Sel" is e-er s!eddin$ its bene>cent beams on t!e disciple) and it is "or t!e aspirant to be on t!e alert to catc! t!e Mas!es o" inspiration t!rou$! !is intuition. :: To still t!e mind and to <eep it as limpid as a mountain stream is one o" t!e lessons t!at The Voice tries to impress upon us. VOICE5 91. 6ow here, now there, these ra*s illumine it, li%e sunsar%s light the earth through the thic% foliage of the $ungle growth. ;ut, 5 Discile, unless the <esh is assive, head cool, the soul as Arm and ure as <aming diamond, the radiance will not reach the chamber, its sunlight will not warm the heart, nor will the m*stic sounds of the C%Oshic heights reach the ear, however eager, at the initial stage. CT!e mystic sounds)D or melody !eard by t!e ascetic at t!e be$innin$ o" !is cycle o" meditation) comes "rom t!e #<as!ic !ei$!ts) t!e primary substance o" .!ic! et!er is one o" t!e lo.er mani"estations in our solar system. #ir is t!e Great Breat! in #<as!a) and it is t!at .!ic! $i-es rise to t!is "eelin$ o" touc! Gt!e inner touc!H to .!ic! The Voice re"ers in t!e ne/t "e. para$rap!s. VOICE5 92. Jnless thou hearest, thou canst not see. 9!. Jnless thou seest thou canst not hear. To hear and see this is the second stage. In Talks on the Path of 5ccultism) .e learn t!at unless t!e candidate is responsi-e to t!e inner -oice) and t!at unless !e understands t!e spiritual la.s and loo<s upon t!in$s .it! t!e eyes o" spirit) !e .ill ne-er see t!e outer t!in$s as t!ey really are. To alternate bet.een meditation and li"e e/perience re0uires a balanced interplay o" t!e inner and t!e outer. T!e +loud of -nkno'in# su$$ests t!at t!ere are t.o li-es to be li-ed simultaneouslyFone o" contemplation and t!e ot!er o" an acti-e nature) t!e acti-e nature bein$ t!e lo.er) and contemplati-e t!e !i$!er. CIt is t!e nature o" t!e acti-e li"e bot! to be be$un and ended in t!is li"e. Not so) !o.e-er) o" t!e contemplati-e li"e) .!ic! is be$un in t!is li"e and s!all last .it!out endD G*5 &:;H. CHi$!erD and Clo.erD in t!is conte/t are not peKorati-e termsN bot! aspects are necessary) but C!i$!erD and Clo.erD "ul>ll diBerent "unctions. VOICE5 9(. 2hen the discile sees and hears, and when he smells and tastes, e*es closed, ears shut, with mouth and nostrils stoed3 when the four senses "lend and read* are to :8 ass into the Afth, that of the inner touch8then into stage the fourth he hath assed on. In order to become ac0uainted .it! t!e inner Sel") t!e aspirant must learn to .it!dra. .it!in and $i-e !isY!er .!ole attention to t!e Voice) .!ic! abides in t!e silence. T!e "ollo.in$ may be o" interest in $ettin$ to understand t!e inner meanin$ o" t!e Csenses5D I Si#ht J a symbol o" perception o" t!e trut! by t!e intellect or t!e soul. I Hearin# J t!e intuiti-e perception o" t!e trut! "rom .it!in t!e soul. I Smell J a state .!erein t!e aspirant learns somet!in$ "rom t!at inner condition. I Taste J a state in .!ic! t!e aspirant .e#ins to kno' somet!in$ o" t!is inner state. I Touch J !e is no. in touch .it! t!is inner state or conditionN !e no. <no.s. =!en a man or .oman kno's) !e or s!e becomes t!e La.. VOICE5 9,. Cnd in the Afth, 5 sla*er of th* thoughts, all these again have to "e %illed "e*ond reanimation. T!is rat!er dramatic lan$ua$e re"ers to t!e necessity o" eliminatin$ all undesirable t!ou$!ts "rom one?s mental >eld. 91. 2ithhold th* mind from all eFternal o"$ects, all eFternal sights. 2ithhold internal images, lest on th* Soul&light a dar% shadow the* should cast. 94. Thou art now in DHR+C6R, the siFth stage. E-ery sense on t!is plane Gt!e si/t! sta$eH !as to be silenced be"ore t!e ne/t plane Gt!e se-ent! sta$eH may be reac!ed. It is t!is se-ent! sta$e t!at is t!e most spiritual and is t!e source o" intuition. In t!e openin$ passa$e o" The Voice) i" you remember) is t!is admonition5 CHe .!o .ould !ear t!e -oice o" Nada) t!e soundless Sound) and compre!end it) !e !as to learn t!e nature o" !arana.D =!en !arana is reac!ed and mind ceases to "unction in relation to t!e t!in$s o" t!e e/ternal .orld) .!en .e !a-e closed it out and entered into our o.n secret c!amber) t!en t!e se-ent! sense can be reac!ed. #s men and .omen pro$ress in t!eir e-olutionary pil$rima$e) t!e intuiti-e po.ers increase) and t!ey rely less and less upon t!e >nite mind "or assistance) "or t!ey are be$innin$ to recei-e instruction strai$!t "rom t!e Source) "rom t!e O-er7sel". :9 VOICE5 99. 2hen thou hast assed into the seventh, 5 ha* one, thou shalt erceive no more the sacred three, for thou shalt have "ecome that three th*self. Th*self and mind, li%e twins uon a line, the star which is th* goal, "urns overhead. The three that dwell in glor* and in "liss ine#a"le, now in the world of )a*a have lost their names. The* have "ecome one star, the Are that "urns "ut scorches not, that Are which is the JOdhi of the .lame. 1assin$ "rom concentration G!aranaH to meditation G!yanaH) t!e aspirant enters t!e Budd!ic consciousness. T!is state is t!en CT!ysel".D T!e lo.er mind GmanasH !as been silencedN t!e mind7principle !as been raised to t!e plane o" Budd!i) so t!at no. t!e t.o are Cli<e t.ins upon a line.D T!e star t!at Cburns o-er!eadD is t!e star o" initiation) Ct!e T!ree in One.D VOICE5 9:. Cnd this, 5 Sogi of success, is what men call Dh*ana, the right recursor of Samadhi. #s e/plained in t!e "ootnote o" The Voice) !yana is t!e last sta$e be"ore t!e >nal one on t!is eart!) unless t!e candidate becomes a "ull 3a!atma. T!e 4aKa 2o$i) t!e aut!or says) is yet spiritually conscious o" t!e .or<in$s o" !is !i$!er principles) but one step more) and !e .ill be mer#ed into the 5ne. T!is is Samad!i) t!at Cstate in .!ic! t!e ascetic loses complete consciousness o" e-ery indi-iduality includin$ !is o.nD "or !e !as become t!e #LL. VOICE5 :=. Cnd now th* Self is lost in S7-., thyself unto THSS7-., merged in THCT S7-. from which thou Arst didst radiate. :1. 2here is th* individualit*, -anoo, where the -anoo himselfT It is the sar% lost in the Are, the dro within the ocean, the ever&resent +a* "ecome the Cll and the eternal radiance. #s .e be$in to reali@e t!at t!e personality is merely t!e e$ocentric VI)? and .e be$in to raise our center o" consciousness to t!e !i$!er Sel") t!ere comes a sta$e .!en .e disco-er) as a "act o" e/perience) t!at t!at our consciousness is Vyou? not VI?. T!is may sound li<e nonsense to t!e rational mind) but many mystics o" -arious reli$ious traditions !a-e !ad e/traordinary e/periences in .!ic! t!e sense o" :( personal sel" melted a.ay and .as replaced by a -ery real sense o" bein$ part o" somet!in$ muc! bi$$er and e/pansi-e) and it is in suc! transcendent e/periences t!at t!e lo.er sel" becomes lost in t!e !i$!er Sel". In ot!er .ords) .e !a-e used t!e lo.er mind7-e!icle to reac! t!e !i$!er. =e cannot possibly attain to spiritual "reedom .it!out t!e !elp o" t!e lo.er sel") but >rst .e must discipline and train it to ser-e t!e needs o" t!e E$o) or Soul. VOICE5 :2. Cnd now, -anoo, thou art the doer and the witness, the radiator and the radiation, -ight in the Sound, and the Sound in the -ight. :!. Thou art acLuainted with the Ave imediments, 5 "lessed one. Thou art their conLueror, the )aster of the siFth, deliverer of the four modes of Truth. The light that falls uon them shines from th*self, 5 thou who wast discile, "ut art Teacher now. T!e C>-e impedimentsD are t!e <no.led$e o" misery and trut! re$ardin$ !uman "railties) oppressi-e restraints) and t!e absolute necessity o" separation "rom all ties o" passion) and e-entually o" desire. T!e Four Noble Trut!s) as tau$!t to t!e .orld by t!e Lord Budd!a) .ere5 &H Sorro.) *H Sorro.?s Cause) :H Sorro.s Ceasin$) and 8H t!e =ay.D Budd!a endea-ored to s!o. man<ind !o. to !a-e a !and in its o.n Sarma) t!us !elpin$ to pre-ent muc! blunderin$ alon$ t!e .ay) so.in$ t!istle7seed and "ore-er reapin$ t!istles. T!e Four Noble Trut!s may be "ound in Sir Ed.in #rnold?s The Li#ht of (sia Gp. &,:7&,,H. VOICE5 #nd o" t!ese modes o" Trut!5 J :(. Hast thou not assed through %nowledge of all miser*8 Truth the ArstT :,. Hast thou not conLuered the )arasB Ging at Tsi, the ortal of assem"ling8truth the secondT :1. Hast thou not sin at the third gate destro*ed and truth the third attainedT :4. Hast not thou entered Tau, the 'ath that leads to %nowledge8the fourth truthT :; H1B says in a "ootnote t!at C. . . t!e "our modes o" trut! are) in Nort!ern Budd!ism5 u) suBerin$ or miseryN Tu) t!e assemblin$ o" temptationsN Mu) t!eir destructionsN Tau) t!e pat!.D VOICE5 :9. Cnd now, rest Bneath the ;odhi tree, which is erfection of all %nowledge, for, %now, thou art the )aster of SC)CDHI8the state of faultless vision. T!e name Budd!a comes "rom t!e .ord Budh meanin$ Cto a.a<enD and si$ni>es Ct!e Enli$!tened OneDN t!is includes e-ery soul .!o !as -an0uis!ed i$norance and ac!ie-ed supreme .isdom. T!e ascetic !as become one .it! t!e #LL) !e !as returned "rom .!ence !e came. He met !imsel" on t!e pat!) !e tau#ht !imsel" on t!e pat!) and !e .ecame t!at pat!) all a part o" !imsel". VOICE5 ::. ;eholdU thou hast "ecome the light, thou has "ecome the Sound, thou art th* )aster and th* Eod. Thou art THSS7-. the o"$ect of th* search/ the D5IC7 un"ro%en, that resounds throughout eternities, eFemt from change, from sin eFemt, the seven sounds in one, the D5IC7 5. TH7 SI-76C7 1==. Om Tat Sat (um Tat Sat is one o" t!e Great Trut!s o" t!e Hindus. T!e .ord (um) sometimes pronounced 5m) is used at t!e be$innin$ and end o" e-ery $ood .or< or t!ou$!t) because it is a .ord o" po.er) symboli@in$ i-ine Creation GTat means CT!atDH. T!ere"ore C#um Tat SatD means CT!at .!ic! is 4eal.D 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!at role does 3ara play in our daily li-esQ *. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e $olden tree and its Ke.el7budsQ :. =!at is t!e diBerence bet.een a 3an-antara and a 1ralayaQ 8. =!at does Cc!ild7stateD meanQ 9. =!y is a balanced interplay o" acti-ity and contemplation necessaryQ (. Ho. is t!e lo.er sel" necessary in !elpin$ us to attain enli$!tenmentQ :, Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T.o THE T=O 1#THS Lesson ( VOICE5 1=1. Cnd now, 5 Teacher of Comassion, oint thou the wa* to other men. ;ehold, all those who %noc%ing for admission, await in ignorance and dar%ness, to see the gate of the Sweet -aw <ung oenU T!is Second Fra$ment opens .it! t!e Guru Gteac!erH addressin$ t!e candidate .!o is nearin$ t!e summit o" t!e 1at!) .!ere !e .ill !a-e to ma<e a c!oiceN and t!e 0uestion arises5 .ill t!e disciple $o on.ard into Nir-anic Bliss) !eedless o" t!ose le"t be!ind Mounderin$ in t!eir i$norance) or .ill !e turn bac< "rom t!e t!res!old and !elp !umanityQ T!is is t!e c!oice o" t!e t.o 1at!s. VOICE5 The voice of the Candidates/ 1=2. Shalt not thou, )aster of thine own )erc*, reveal the Doctrine of the HeartT Shalt thou refuse to lead th* Servants unto the 'ath of -i"erationT T!e candidate is not as yet too sure .!ic! 1at! !e s!ould ta<e. It is said t!at) as t!e Lord Budd!a sat under t!e Bod!i tree on t!e mornin$ "ollo.in$ !is illumination) !e doubted .!et!er t!e .orld .ould understand t!e <no.led$e !e .is!ed to impart to it. Suddenly !e !eard a -oice as o" t!e eart! in pain .!ic! cried5 CSE4EL2 I #3 LOST) I #N 32 C4E#TE4ES5 O SE14E3E) LET TH2 G4E#T L#= BE ETTE4ED GBoo< t!e Se-ent!) The Li#ht of (sia, p.&9:H. VOICE5 Vuoth the Teacher/ 1=!. The 'aths are two3 the great 'erfections three3 siF are the Dirtues that transform the "od* into the Tree of Gnowledge. T!e t.o 1at!s) .rites H1B) are de>ned t!us5 CT!e open 1at! is one tau$!t to t!e layman) t!e e/oteric and t!e $enerally acceptedN .!ile t!e Secret 1at! is one t!e nature o" .!ic! is e/plained at initiation.D T!e Secret Heart o" t!in$s is re-ealed in :' t!e esoteric doctrine) touc!in$ on t!e inner mysteries. C?T!e Tree o" Sno.led$e? is a title $i-en to t!ose .!o !a-e attained to t!e !ei$!t o" mystic <no.led$e.D T!e tree also represents manF.it! !is roots deep in t!e mire o" eart!7li"e subKectin$ !im to t!e ra-a$es o" time) .!ile !is branc!es stretc! !ea-en.ard) e-er aspirin$ to.ard t!e God!ead. T!ere is a tree in ancient symbolism depicted .it! its roots in !ea-en) and its branc!es stretc!ed do.n to.ard eart!. T!is tree su$$ests spiritual unionN !a-in$ passed beyond t!e need "or eart!ly sustenance) it s!o.ers its "ruits upon all .!o need spiritual $uidance. T!ere is no more t!ou$!t o" sel"N at t!is sta$e the 'hole of humanity is part of himself. VOICE5 1=(. 2ho shall aroach themT 1=,. 2ho shall Arst enter themT 1=1. 2ho shall Arst hear the doctrine of two 'aths in one, the truth unveiled a"out the Secret HeartT The -aw which, shunning learning, teaches 2isdom, reveals a tale of woe. T!e Ct.o 1at!s in oneD are e/plained as t!e open Ge/otericH and t!e closed GesotericH) or .!at are sometimes re"erred to as t!e !ead and t!e !eart doctrine. T!e >rst is "urt!er e/plained as bein$ t!e pat! o" !ead7learnin$) .!ile t!e doctrine o" t!e Secret Heart is t!e pat! ta<en by a "uture sa-ior o" man<ind. T!e t.o pat!s are one to be$in .it!) but t!ey separate .!en t!e c!oice bet.een t!e t.o !as to be made) .!et!er to enter t!e .ell7earned Bliss) "ree at last "rom t!e .orld?s turmoil) or to turn "rom t!e t!res!old .!ere -ictory is .it!in $rasp) to return to !elp t!e .orld. CT!e La. .!ic! . . . teac!es =isdom re-eals a tale o" .oe.D It is not an easy La.) "or t!ere is muc! sacri>ce re0uired) in "act) a complete renunciation o" t!e personal sel" is necessary in order t!at t!e disciple?s -e!icles be rendered absolutely pure to recei-e t!e $uidin$ po.er o" t!e Supreme. T!e Ctale o" .oeD teac!es t!at t!e $reat suBerin$ o" man<ind is due to i$norance) and t!is causes !umanity?s $reat pain. VOICE5 1=4. Clas, alas, that all men should ossess Cla*a, "e one with the great Soul, and that ossessing it, Cla*a should so little avail themU =e are told t!at eac! one o" us is a ray o" #laya) a spar< o" i-inity. =e are all lin<ed to t!e Eni-ersal Soul G#layaH) also called t!e O-ersoul by 4alp! =aldo Emerson and 1aul Brunton. =e are all lin<ed to t!e Eni-ersal Soul) t!e 3aster Soul or #tma. CEac! man)D says H1B) C!a-in$ a ray o" it in !im) and bein$ supposed to be 8+ able to identi"y !imsel" .it!) and to mer$e !imsel" into it.D E-ery animate and inanimate t!in$ possesses a spar< o" t!is Li$!t) .!ic! .ill one day Gin some "uture 3an-antaraH be "anned into a $reat Mame) as t!e i-inity ens!rined .it!in e/presses itsel" more and more. T!en indeed) .ill t!ere be a -eritable !ea-en on eart!. To possess t!e seed GpotentialH o" i-inity .it!in us) and yet do not!in$ about it) is .!at is bein$ deplored !ere in -erse &+;. VOICE5 1=9. ;ehold how li%e the moon, re<ected in the tranLuil waves, Cla*a is re<ected "* the small and "* the great, is mirrored in the tiniest atoms, *et fails to reach the heart of all. Clas, that so few men should roAt "* the gift, the riceless "oon of learning truth, the right ercetion of eFisting things, the Gnowledge of the non&eFistentU #laya) t!e Eni-ersal Soul) is t!e root and basis o" allN in-isible and incompre!ensible to !uman eye and intellect) it can reMect only its o.n reMection) not itsel". T!e >nite mind) .e are told) cannot $rasp t!e occult meanin$ o" t!ese mysteries. =e must learn to still our t!in<in$ be"ore .e may <no. t!e incompre!ensible) as parado/ical as t!at may sound. T!e moon) accordin$ to t!e Secret )octrine) is a "ormer li-in$ planet) t!e literal mot!er o" our planet eart!) "rom .!ic! its substance .as deri-ed. T!e reader may !a-e noticed by t!is time t!at t!ere is muc! repetition in The Voice) purposely so) in order to impress a trut! upon t!e mind. VOICE5 Sait! t!e pupil5 1=:. 5 Teacher, what shall I do to reach to 2isdomT 11=. 5 2ise one, what, to gain erfectionT 111. Search for the 'aths. ;ut, 5 -anoo, "e of clean heart "efore thou startest on th* $ourne*. ;efore thou ta%est th* Arst ste learn to discern the real from the false, the ever&<eeting from the everlasting. -earn a"ove all to searate Head&learning from Soul&2isdom, the 7*e from the Heart doctrine. CNo occult pro$ress is possible "or man .!ile !e is e/tremely i$norant)D so say t!e aut!ors in Talks on the Path of 5ccultism. T!ey $o on to say t!at) !o.e-er muc! one may be intellectually de-eloped in ot!er areas) .it!out <no.led$e o" t!e 1at! and t!e Trut!) it is not possible to ad-ance in t!e realm o" t!e occult. 8& T!eosop!y tells us o" t!e $reat destiny a.aitin$ us all) and so it is absolutely necessary t!at .e put our <no.led$e into practice and be$in to "an t!at inner Mame. In 1atanKali?s speci>c sense) 2o$a is t!e ma$ic .and) a process by .!ic! .e can c!an$e oursel-es) t!at is to say) to $et our lo.er -e!icles under control) so t!at t!ey lea-e us "ree to proceed on t!e 1at! unmolested. 2o$a is a system .!ereby per"ect !armony is establis!ed bet.een t!e lo.er sel" and t!e E$o) or !i$!er Sel". VOICE5 112. Sea, ignorance is li%e unto a closed and airless vessel3 the soul a "ird shut u within. It war"les not, nor can it stir a feather3 "ut the songster mute and torid sits, and of eFhaustion dies. T!e E$o) t!e soul) !as to be culti-ated li<e anyt!in$ else) and it needs t!e pure air o" spirit) t!e atmosp!ere o" aspiration and o" !i$! t!ou$!t in .!ic! to $ro.N "or not to aspire to $reater !ei$!ts is to remain eart!7bound) burdened .it! mundane and pedestrian t!ou$!ts t!at cannot rise to t!e le-el .!ere an$elic inMuences are "elt. VOICE5 11!. ;ut even ignorance is "etter than Head&learning with no Soul&2isdom to illuminate and guide it. CHead7learnin$D alone is not enou$! "or t!e pil$rim on t!e 1at!. Let us read .!at A. Sris!namurti says in (t the 0eet of the Master5 T!e .isdom .!ic! enables you to !elp) t!e .ill .!ic! directs t!e .isdom) t!e lo-e .!ic! inspires t!e .illFt!ese are your 0uali>cations. =ill) =isdom and Lo-e are t!e t!ree aspects o" t!e Lo$osN and you) .!o .is! to enroll yoursel-es to ser-e Him) must s!o. "ort! t!ese aspects in t!e .orld. Gp. ;&H VOICE5 11(. The seeds of 2isdom cannot srout and grow in airless sace. To live and rea eFerience the mind needs "readth and deth and oints to draw it towards the Diamond Soul. See% not those oints in Mayas realm3 "ut soar "e*ond illusions, search the eternal and the changeless SCT, mistrusting fanc*Bs false suggestions. T!e aspirant needs pointers) intuitional ideas) to dra. !im up.ard. 1aracelsus re"erred to t!em as t!e C1rimordial Essence)D a spiritual "orce) in-isible) incompre!ensible) .!ic! is in-ested .it! t!e ori$inal po.er o" li"e) .it!out "ormF t!e matri/ o" all created t!in$s. T!ey are t!e seeds out o" .!ic! all creatures !a-e 8* $ro.n. T!ese points) or ideas) must be o" an intuitional nature) and t!ey must be "ree o" illusion. VOICE5 11,. .or mind is li%e a mirror3 it gathers dust while it re<ects. It needs the gentle "ree@es of Soul&2isdom to "rush awa* the dust of our illusions. See% 5 ;eginner, to "lend th* )ind and Soul. T!e mind must be "ree "rom cluttered t!in<in$ i" it is to recei-e spiritual $uidance) Kust as t!e p!oto$rap!er?s plate is prepared to recei-e an impression. H1B says t!at t!e metap!or o" dust on t!e mirror represents t!e accumulated preKudices) illusions) and "ancies t!at cloud our astral and mental bodies. T!ese) s!e says) are obstacles to our pro$ress. VOICE5 111. Shun ignorance, and li%ewise shun illusion. Cvert th* face from world decetions3 mistrust th* senses, the* are false. ;ut within th* "od*8the shrine of th* sensations8see% in the Imersonal for the eternal man3 and having sought him out, loo% inward/ thou art ;uddha. I" .e are serious about treadin$ t!e 1at!) .e do not .aste muc! time on t!e tri-ialities t!at ma<e up most popular "orms o" entertainment. Time is precious and not to be .asted. Aust as an at!lete in trainin$ "or competition .ill curtail sociali@in$ and ot!er di-ersions o" time and ener$y) t!e true aspirant .ill approac! t!e 1at! .it! t!e same de$ree o" seriousness and dedication t!at a pro"essional at!lete does .!en in trainin$. =e all !a-e our allotted time durin$ an incarnation to do .it! as .e please5 .e are "ree to idle in t!e mar<et place and "ritter our time a.ay in "ri-olities and -acuous pursuits) or .e ma<e t!e decision to s!oulder our <arma bra-ely as .e place our "eet >rmly on t!e pat! leadin$ !ome. VOICE5 114. Shun raise, 5 Devotee. 'raise leads to self&delusion. Th* "od* is not self, th* S7-. is in itself without a "od*, and either raise or "lame a#ects it not. 3any people !a-e been spoiled by undue praise) "or it o"ten leads to pride) and as t!e sayin$ $oes) pride $oet! be"ore a "all. T!e personality must ta<e a bac< seat i" t!e disciple .is!es to culti-ate t!e inner Sel". To repeat as o"ten as .e can) CNot my .ill) but T!ine be done) O Lord)D is a $ood practice. 8: VOICE5 119. Self&gratulation, 5 discile, is li%e unto a loft* tower, u which a haught* fool has clim"ed. Thereon he sits in rideful solitude and unerceived "* an* "ut himself. T!e simile o" a to.er is indeed a $ood one) "or pride does tend to s!ut an indi-idual a.ay "rom t!e rest o" !umanity. But do not con"use t!is pride o" isolation .it! t!e $enuine need "or solitude) to study and meditate .it!out interruption or distraction. Temporary periods o" solitude are absolutely necessary in our spiritual de-elopment) but t!at is -ery diBerent "rom t!e "eelin$ o" separateness and aloo"ness "ostered by pride. =e cannot possibly $o do.n into t!e cro.ded mar<etplace and teac! ot!ers until .e oursel-es !a-e ac0uired some measure o" .isdom and $ained control o-er oursel-es. For t!is) .e need to set aside a "e. minutes eac! day "or sel"reMection and meditation) alon$ .it! time to read boo<s suc! as The Voice of the Silence and ot!er spiritual $uideboo<s. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!ic! 1at! belon$s to t!e octrine o" t!e HeartQ *. =!at is t!e Sans<rit .ord "or t!e Eni-ersal SoulQ :. =!at does t!e .ord Cyo$aD meanQ 8. o does t!e symbol o" an i-ory to.er representQ RRRRRRRRRR T!e time arri-es in !uman e-olution) !o.e-er) .!en t!e t!rust o" Spirit) t!e call and pressure o" t!e a.a<ened 3onad7E$o) so aBects t!e personal man t!at !e e/periences bot! dissatis"action .it! e/istin$ limitations and aspires to pea<s o" !i$! ac!ie-ement. Slo.ness o" pro$ress and paucity o" attainment ir< a.a<ened man. E$o7impelled) !e t!en determines to tra-el s.i"tly) to ac!ie-e mi$!tily) to con0uer sel" or die. FHodson) GeoBrey. The Path to the Masters of the !isdom 88 Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T.o Lesson ; VOICE5 11:. .alse learning is re$ected "* the 2ise, and scattered to the 2inds "* the good -aw. Its wheel revolves for all, the hum"le and the roud. The Doctrine of the 7*e is for the crowd, the Doctrine of the Heart for the elect. The Arst reeat in ride/ ;ehold, I %now, the last, the* who in hum"leness have garnered, low confess, thus have I heard. CT!e $ood La.D plays no "a-oritesN it Kud$es bot! t!e innocent and t!e $uilty .it! utmost impartiality) care"ully .eedin$ out all t!at is in opposition to a soul?s $ro.t!. False learnin$ is <no.led$e .it!out .isdom. True <no.led$e leads to .isdom) and t!ere is .isdom in bein$ !umble) "or by learnin$ t!e lessons o" !umility) .e "acilitate t!e soul?s "urt!er $ro.t!. T!ose .!o are inMated in t!eir $reat opinion o" t!emsel-es are not able to see t!e misery o" t!e .orld) and so .ill not be o" use in !elpin$ t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan. VOICE5 12=. Ereat Sifter is the name of the Heart Doctrine, 5 discile. T!e C!eart doctrineD is called t!e CGreat Si"terD because) as .e .or< in t!e .orld in t!e manner in .!ic! it directs) t!e mista<es .e ma<e are $radually si"ted out and remo-ed t!rou$! t!e "aculty o" t!e intuition. =e can ta<e a creati-e part in s!apin$ our o.n <arma and become t!e captain o" our soul) i" .e .is! to do so. #nd so .e are no lon$er sla-es to our personality. VOICE5 121. The wheel of the good -aw moves swiftl* on. It grinds "* night and da*. The worthless hus%s it drives from out the golden grain, the refuse from the <our. The hand of Garma guides the wheel3 the revolutions mar% the "eating of the Garmic heart. I" .e learn to understand t!at t!e La. is absolutely Kust) t!en .e t!orou$!ly understand t!e meanin$ o" cause and e6ect and re"use to bemoan our "ate. Sarma is o"ten depicted as a "orm o" retribution "or past misdeeds) but it may be more 89 appropriate to -ie. it as a "riend comin$ to teac! us a muc!7needed lesson. To <no. .!ere .e err is to ma<e a c!an$e "or t!e better) as t!is e/tract "rom Ao!n Blo>eld?s The !heel of Life points out5 CHell is -ery real) ma<e no mista<e. To be in !ell means to be s!ut oB "rom <no.in$ t!e Trut!) "rom <no.in$ t!at it is closer t!an !ands or "eet) t!at t!e =!eel is o" your o.n ma<in$ and is spinnin$ at your o.n be!est t!rou$! your o.n i$norance) and $i-in$ it li"e.D T!is t!ou$!t must !a-e caused many a t!ou$!t"ul indi-idual to c!an$e t!eir pattern o" li-in$. VOICE5 122. True %nowledge is the <our, false learning is the hus%. If thou wouldBst eat the "read of 2isdom, th* <our thou hast to %nead with CmritaBs clear waters. ;ut if thou %neadest hus%s with Ka*aBs dew, thou canst create "ut food for the "lac% doves of death, the "irds of "irth, deca* and sorrow. CTrue <no.led$eD teac!es immortality o" t!e soul .!ile C"alse learnin$D is merely t!e empty outer !us<s o" intellectual <no.led$e. T!ere are t!ose .!o enKoy ostentatious displays o" <no.led$e t!at t!ey !a-e ac0uired. T!is is not t!e case "or t!ose .!o are too busy puttin# into practice .!at t!ey !a-e learned. C#mrita?s clear .atersD is t!e Eli/ir o" Li"e) t!e .ater o" immortality. CT!e birds o" birt!) decay and sorro.D spea< o" many "uture incarnations o" suBerin$) until man<ind reali@es its i$norance and be$ins to see< true <no.led$e) .!ic! re-eals a 1at! t!at .ill set all "ree. Once !umanity be$ins to set into motion constructi-e causesFt!e eBects o" ad-erse <arma .ill be$in to cease. VOICE5 12!. If thou art told that to "ecome Crhan thou hast to cease to love all "eings8tell them the* lie. 12(. If thou art told that to gain li"eration thou hast to hate th* mother and disregard th* son3 to disavow the father and call him householder3 for man and "east all it* to renounce8tell them their tongue is false. 12,. Thus teach the Tirthi%as, the un"elievers. Candidates .!o are ad-ancin$ rapidly must not despise and i$nore t!ose .!o are as yet unde-eloped. I" t!ey s!ould "eel superior in any .ay to ot!ers) t!ey .ould >nd t!emsel-es in $reat dan$er o" losin$ $round t!at !ad been $ained by many years o" !ard .or<. Bra!man mon<s .ere called Tirthikas) unbelie-ers) because t!ey did not "ollo. t!e precepts o" Budd!a. 8( VOICE5 121. If thou art taught that sin is "orn of action and "liss of a"solute inaction, then tell them that the* err. 6onermanence of human action, deliverance of mind from thraldom "* the cessation of sin and faults, are not for Deva 7gos. Thus saith the Doctrine of the Heart. Inaction does not belon$ in t!e li"e o" t!e disciple on t!e 1at!. isciples!ip is not an e/cuse to escape "rom t!e .orld) .!et!er it is a literal .it!dra.al into some remote and unin!abited area) or a psyc!olo$ical pullin$ bac< "rom t!e rest o" !umanity. #ction in-ol-es t!e application o" <no.led$e to daily li"e) out o" .!ic! comes e/perience and understandin$. T!e Ce-a E$osD are reincarnatin$ E$os .!o aspire to !elp t!e .orld. It is said t!at t!ere is not an o-erabundance o" E$os ready "or special teac!in$ and trainin$. 1er!aps an earnest desire to be o" "uture ser-ice to !umanity .ill inspire some aspirants to be$in sel"7trainin$N t!is inner resol-e .ill automatically place t!eir "eet upon t!e 1at!) and t!eir Kourney is be$un. VOICE5 124. The Dharma of the 7*e is the em"odiment of the eFternal, and the non&eFisting. T!e .ord C!armaD may be translated as meanin$ CdutyD or Cbelie")D or a c!osen .ay o" li"e) a pat!. VOICE5 129. The Dharma of the Heart is the em"odiment of ;odhi, the 'ermanent and 7verlasting. T!e octrine o" t!e Heart is t!e teac!in$ o" .isdom enablin$ t!e disciple to understand !is or !er place and .or< in t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan. VOICE5 12:. The -am "urns "right when wic% and oil are clean. To ma%e them clean a cleaner is reLuired. The <ame feels not the rocess of the cleaning. The "ranches of a tree are sha%en "* the wind3 the trun% remains unmoved. CT!e LampD Gt!e soulH is able to spread its radiance in t!e .orld i" t!e lo.er -e!icles are clean and "ree "rom a$itation. CT!e MameD Gt!e #tmaH bein$ a part o" i-inity cannot possibly e/perience anyt!in$ o" a lo.er nature. =e !a-e to raise oursel-es up to t!at plane or state. 8; VOICE5 1!=. ;oth action and inaction ma* And room in thee3 th* "od* agitated, th* mind tranLuil, th* Soul as limid as a mountain la%e. In order to "or$et t!e personality and pro$ress more rapidly) bot! t!e daily acti-ities and inner de-elopment must come under t!e inMuence o" t!e !i$!er Sel") !elpin$ to pre-ent t!e mista<es so easily made by t!e lo.er sel". VOICE5 1!1. 2ouldBst thou "ecome a Sogi of TimeBs CircleT Then, 5 -anoo/8 C# yo$i o" Time?s circleD is one .!o is .illin$ to remain in t!is .orld in order to !elp !umanity. To see< liberation solely "or one?s sel" is to i$nore t!e suBerin$ o" ot!ers. But) says The Voice) t!ere is "ree c!oice. VOICE5 1!2. ;elieve thou not that sitting in dar% forests, in roud seclusion and aart from men3 "elieve thou not that life on roots and lants, that thirst assuaged with snow from the great +ange8"elieve thou not, 5 Devotee, that this will lead thee to the goal of Anal li"eration. It is .ritten t!at sel"7denial .it!out $ood .or<s is o" no -alue. Solitude !as -alue in t!at it allo.s "or a period o" sel"7searc!in$ -ery necessary to t!ose .!o are see<in$ to tune in to t!e !i$!er Sel" and listen to t!e Voice o" t!e Silence. But to .it!dra. "rom t!e .orld?s turmoil merely to -e$etate and li-e a li"e o" ease .ould certainly delay t!e soul?s $ro.t!. VOICE5 1!!. Thin% not that "rea%ing "one, that rending <esh and muscle, unites thee to th* silent Self. Thin% not, that when the sins of th* gross form are conLuered, 5 Dictim of th* Shadows, th* dut* is accomlished "* nature and "* man. To $o-ern t!e body is necessary) but to torture it .it! ascetic practices is "oolis!. It is more important t!at .e learn to o-ercome t!e cra-in$s o" t!e lo.er nature) .!ic! stand in t!e .ay o" spiritual de-elopment. Be"ore t!e s!ip o" t!e soul can enter t!e sea o" .isdom) t!e anc!or o" personality must be dislod$ed "rom t!e eart!) 8, allo.in$ it to sail "ort! in "reedom upon t!e c!artless .aters o" #<s!ara) t!e re$ion o" "ull spiritual consciousness. VOICE5 1!(. The "lessed ones have scorned to do so. The -ion of the -aw, the -ord of )erc*, erceiving the true cause of human woe, immediatel* forsoo% the sweet "ut selAsh rest of Luiet wilds. .rom Cran*a%a He "ecame the Teacher of man%ind. Cfter Wulai had entered the 6irvana, He reached on mount and lain, and held discourses in the cities, to Devas, men and gods. CT!e Lion o" t!e La.D is one .!o !as con0uered !imsel". T!e Lion represents t!e lo.er nature) .!ic! !as been subdued by t!e immortal Sel") and t!is allo.s t!e Solar Force to "ree t!e candidate "rom li"e as an ordinary man or .oman. T!e candidate !as become an e/traordinary indi-idual able to .ield t!e scepter o" po.er "or $ood. #ranya<a is a "orest d.eller. Aulai is t!e name "or Tat!a$ata) a title applied to e-ery Budd!a) .!ic! means C!e .!o !as "ollo.ed in t!e steps o" !is predecessors.D Ce-as) men and $odsD all see< to bat!e in t!e stron$ and beauti"ul auras o" t!e Enli$!tened Ones. T!e e-as) Gods) and C!o!ansFbein$ rulers o" principalities) ominions and T!rones) etc.) o" t!e !ea-enly statesFare t!e conscious) intelli$ent 1o.ers in Nature .!ic! e-er see< to ser-e t!e Budd!as. =e are told t!at Gautama t!e Budd!a .ent into t!e "orest to meditate) and t!ere He seated Himsel" under a Bod!i tree resol-in$ to attain illumination. Let us read .!at The Li#ht of (sia !as to say5 CT!en !e aroseFradiant) reKoicin$) stron$F Beneat! t!e Tree) and li"tin$ !i$! !is -oice Spa<e t!is) in !earin$ o" #ll Times and =orlds5 3#N2 # HOESE OF LIFE H#TH HEL 3EFSEESING EVE4 HI3 =HO =4OEGHT THESE 14ISONS OF THE SENSES) SO44O=7F4#EGHTN SO4E =#S 32 CE#SELESS ST4IFE5 BET NO=) THOE BEILE4 OF THIS T#BE4N#CLEFTHOEX I SNO= THEEX NEVE4 SH#LT THOE BEIL #G#IN THESE =#LLS OF 1#IN) NO4 4#ISE THE 4OOF7T4EE OF ECEITS) NO4 L#2 F4ESH 4#FTE4S ON THE CL#2N B4OSEN TH2 HOESE IS) #N THE 4IGE71OLE S1LIT5 8' ELESION F#SHIONE ITX S#FE 1#SS I THENCEFELIVE4#NCE TO OBT#IN.D F#rnold) Sir Ed.in. The Li#ht of (sia) Boo< t!e Si/t!. VOICE5 1!,. Sow %indl* acts and thou shalt rea their fruition. Inaction in a deed of merc* "ecomes an action in a deadl* sin. (t the 0eet of the Master ad-ises t!e aspirant to do ri$!t "or t!e sa<e o" ri$!t) and .or< "or t!e sa<e o" .or<) .it!out any desire to see t!e results or outcome o" t!ose actions. #s disciples on t!e spiritual pat!) t!is "rame o" mind trains us to become increasin$ly selMess and !umble. #nd it is also our duty) continues t!e aut!or o" t!at spiritual $uideboo<) to inter"ere in cases o" cruelty to eit!er man or beast. #nd) to carry t!is still "urt!er) !e su$$ests t!at .e "eel "or t!ose people .!o are $uilty o" cruel acts) "or t!ose people !a-e created -ery bad <arma "or t!emsel-es. I" t!ey can be s!o.n t!e error o" t!eir .ays) some $ood .ill !a-e been accomplis!ed. VOICE5 Thus saith the Sage. 1!1. Shalt thou a"stain from actionT 6ot so shall gain th* soul her freedom. To reach 6irvana one must reach Self& Gnowledge, and Self&Gnowledge is of loving deeds the child. H. 1. Bla-ats<y says in The ey to Theosophy t!at CT!eosop!y is t!e 0uintessence o" duty)D as it teac!es us to reali@e our o.n inner po.ers) !o. to culti-ate t!em) and t!ereby attain .isdomFnot "or sel") but in order to !elp man<ind. VOICE5 1!4. Have atience, Candidate, as one who fears no failure, courts no success. .iF th* SoulBs ga@e uon the star whose ra* thou art, the <aming star that shines within the lightless deths of ever&"eing, the "oundless Aelds of the Jn%nown. Students .!o are tryin$ to do $ood .or<) but >nd t!e opposin$ "orces too $reat) .ill not be disappointed or lose coura$e i" t!ey understand t!at all eBort put "ort! into spiritual .or< produces a proportionate result) alt!ou$! t!e result may be un<no.n to t!em. #nd so) re$ardless o" success or "ailure) t!e aspirant to $odli<e .isdom pus!es on. 9+ VOICE5 1!9. Have erseverance as one who doth for evermore endure. Th* shadows live and vanish3 that which in thee shall live for ever, that which in thee knos, for it is %nowledge, is not of <eeing life/ it is the man that was, that is, and will "e, for whom the hour shall never stri%e. =e are told t!at our personalities Gs!ado.sH come and $o) do some .or<) learn some lessons) and t!en -anis!) t!at only t!e E$o GsoulH endures "ore-er. T!is means t!at .e can continue to learn and impro-e li"e a"ter li"e) and so any $ood .or< t!at is done by a discipleFe-en i" !e comes into t!e .or< late in li"eFis carried o-er into t!e ne/t incarnation .!ere t!e impulse to continue t!e .or< .ill be "elt at an early a$e. T!ere is also $reat bene>t deri-ed "rom t!e stay in e-ac!an GHea-enH) .!ere t!e disciple continues !is .or<) de-elop !is .ill) and trans"orms all !is e/periences into eternal concepts and "aculties .!ic! reMect !is i-ine Nature. 3uc! o" t!e abo-e in"ormation .as ta<en "rom 0irst Principles of Theosophy by C. AinaraKadasa. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!y is discrimination so necessary .!en ac0uirin$ <no.led$eQ *. =!ic! doctrine assists us in steerin$ our o.n <armic courseQ :. =!at does a %o#i of Time1s +ircle meanQ 8. =!en is an i-ory to.er necessaryQ 9. =!at does CLion of the La'D meanQ (. =!y is action necessary to $ain our "reedomQ RRRRRRRRRR 1lu$ t!y lo. sensual ear) .!ic! stuBs li<e cotton T!y conscience and ma<es dea" t!ine in.ard ear) Be .it!out ear) .it!out sense) .it!out t!ou$!t) #nd !ear<en to t!e call o" God) C4ETE4NXD Our speec! and action is t!e outer Kourney) Our inner Kourney is abo-e t!e s<y T!e body tra-els on its dusty .ayN T!e spirit .al<s) li<e Aesus) on t!e sea. FT!e 3ystic =ay 9& Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T.o Lesson , VOICE5 1!:. If thou wouldBst rea sweet eace and rest, Discile, sow with the seeds of merit the Aelds of future harvests. Cccet the woes of "irth. Sarma) as .e <no.) is created by our daily t!ou$!ts and actionsN so i" .e .is! to Creap s.eet peace and rest)D .e must learn to $o-ern our t!in<in$ in order to set into motion t!ose causes t!at .ill brin$ us peace o" mind) rat!er t!an ad-erse conditions .!ic! .ould tend to slo. do.n our spiritual pro$ress. VOICE5 1(=. Ste out from sunlight into shade, to ma%e more room for others. The tears that water the arched soil of ain and sorrow, "ring forth the "lossoms and the fruits of Garmic retri"ution. 5ut of the furnace of manBs life and its "lac% smo%e, winged <ames arise, <ames uriAed, that soaring onward, Mneath the Garmic e*e, weave in the end the fa"ric gloriAed of the three vestures of the 'ath. 1(1. These vestures are/ 6irmana%a*a, Sam"hoga%a*a, and Dharma%a*a, ro"e Su"lime. The Voice repeatedly admonis!es t!e disciple to "ore$o !is o.n peace and rest in order to !elp ot!er see<ers >nd t!eir .ay. By assistin$ ot!ers) t!e disciple !elps t!em to e-entually teac! in t!eir turnN t!us more room is made for others. O" pain and sorro.) .e are ne-er $i-en more t!an .e can bear) as t!e Lords o" Sarma are Kust. Once t!e lessons o" !uman e/istence !a-e been learned) t!e disciple can loo< "or.ard to a ric! !ar-est) "or t!e sli$!test eBort to raise !imsel" is kno'n and bene>cent "orces rus! to !elp !im. T!e student is ad-ised to re"er to H1B?s $lossary note :8 "or Fra$ment T!ree) .!ere additional in"ormation is $i-en on t!e t!ree -estures. VOICE5 1(2. The Shan!na ro"e, Mtis true, can urchase light eternal. The Shangna ro"e alone gives the 6irvana of destruction3 it stos re"irth, "ut, 5 -anoo, it also %ills8 comassion. 6o longer can the erfect ;uddhas, who 9* don the Darma%a*a glor*, hel manBs salvation. ClasU shall S7-D7S "e sacriAced to Self3 man%ind, unto the weal of JnitsT 1(!. Gnow, 5 "eginner, this is the O"en 'CTH, the wa* to selAsh "liss, shunned "* the ;odhisattvas of the Secret Heart, the ;uddhas of Comassion. # "ootnote in t!e $lossary o" The Voice says t!e CS!an$na 4obeD is a metap!orical re"erence to t!e ac0uirin$ o" .isdom t!at accompanies t!e destruction o" t!e personality once Nir-ana is entered. Literally) it is t!e robe o" t!e neop!ytes GcandidatesH. T!e stoppin$ o" rebirt! means t!e balancin$ o" <arma and t!e destruction o" personality by 0uenc!in$ all desire) includin$ t!at o" li"e itsel") in order to mer$e into t!e #LL. T!is ad-ice) o" course) is meant "or t!e disciple .!o is nearin$ t!e pea< o" attainment. CSel>s! bliss)D as The Voice states) may appear to be sel>s! "rom our point o" understandin$) but actually not!in$ can possibly be sel>s! on t!e !i$!er planes) "or as consciousness ascends to t!ose rare>ed planes) it necessarily becomes more re>ned) selMess) and uni-ersal in scope. #nd so .e may understand t!e meanin$ as one .!o see<s union .it! t!e #LL) instead o" remainin$ be!ind to !elp ot!ers. But !a-in$ "ound t!at bliss t!rou$! many incarnations o" suBerin$) t!at soul !as surely earned t!e peace it sou$!t. T!e c!oice o" .!et!er to enter Nir-ana or to "orsa<e it is a matter o" our o.n c!oosin$. VOICE5 1((. To live to "eneAt man%ind is the Arst ste. To ractice the siF glorious virtues is the second. T!ere is a re"erence to t!ese -irtues at t!e be$innin$ o" t!e Second Fra$ment G-erse &+:H t!at tells o" t!e si/ $lorious -irtues trans"ormin$ t!e body into t!e tree o" <no.led$e) one o" t!e systems t!at can brin$ out t!e $odli<e 0ualities in an aspirant. T!ese si/ transcendental -irtues) t!e 1aramitas) are listed as5 c!arity) morality) patience) ener$y) contemplation and .isdom. VOICE5 1(,. To don 6irmana%a*aBs hum"le ro"e is to forego eternal "liss for Self, to hel on manBs salvation. To reach 6irvanaBs "liss, "ut to renounce it, is the sureme, the Anal ste8the highest on +enunciationBs 'ath. =!at $reater sacri>ce can a man or .oman ma<e t!an to lay do.n !is or !er li"e "or !umanityQ # potential sa-ior o" t!e .orld $ladly sacri>ces t!e lo.er sel" in order 9: to ser-e t!e !i$!er) because suc! an act is not e/perienced as a !ards!ip or pri-ation but as a moment o" indescribable and intensely sublime Koy. VOICE5 1(1. Gnow, 5 Discile, this is the Secret 'CTH, selected "* the ;uddhas of 'erfection, who sacriAced The S7-. to wea%er Selves. To.ard t!e end o" t!e T!ird Fra$ment) t!e .arrior .!o nears -ictory is petitioned) CCan t!ere be bliss .!en all t!at li-es must suBerQ S!alt t!ou be sa-ed and !ear t!e .!ole .orld cryQD T!ese are indeed tellin$ .ords) .!ic! cannot "ail to reac! t!e !earts o" all t!ose .!o contemplate a li"e o" ser-ice. VOICE5 1(4. Set, if the Doctrine of the Heart is too high&winged for thee, if thou needest hel th*self and fearest to o#er hel to others8then, thou of timid heart, "e warned in time/ remain content with the 7*e Doctrine of the -aw. Hoe still. .or if the Secret 'ath is unattaina"le this da*, it is within th* reach tomorrow. -earn that no e#orts, not the smallest8whether in right or wrong direction8can vanish from the world of causes. 7Ben wasted smo%e remains not traceless. C harsh word uttered in ast lives, is not destro*ed "ut ever comes again. The eer lant will not give "irth to roses, nor the sweet $essamineBs silver star to thorn or thistle turn. I" .e s!ould >nd t!at t!e Cdoctrine o" t!e !eartD is too diOcult "or us to "ollo.) .e must not despair. =e are .ell ad-ised to Kust <eep on .or<in$ and learnin$) "or t!e li"e o" t!e personality is Kust one day in t!e $reater li"e o" t!e soul. One day) .!et!er in t!is incarnation or t!e ne/t one) .e s!all reac! t!e position .!ere t!e CidealD .ill be per"ectly natural and comparati-ely easy to do. No sincere eBort passes un!eeded by t!e Silent =atc!er .it!in. GeoBrey Barbor<a .rites in Man1s Potent 0orce5 CT!e remar<able t!in$ is t!at at any moment alon$ t!e pat!.ay o" li"e an indi-idual !as t!e po.er o" c!oice F!e !as t!e ability to !e. a ne. pattern "or !imsel"Fi" !e so c!oosesXD Gp.8;H =e must ne-er) e-er) t!in< t!at anyt!in$ is impossible to us) "or t!ere is not!in$ impossible to t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in. Students "re0uently as<) C=ould t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in be interested in our e-eryday problemsQD It !as been .ritten t!at t!ere is not!in$ t!at !appens in t!is .orld .it!out t!e i-ine Sel" <no.in$ about it) because .e li-e and mo-e and !a-e our bein$ in t!at One Sel". T!ere"ore) it stands to reason t!at our 98 daily problems) .!et!er small or lar$e) are <no.n) and it is up to us to turn to t!e source o" =isdom) .!ere Sno.led$e is unadulterated and Lo-e is all7 embracin$. VOICE5 1(9. Thou canst create this da* th* chances for th* morrow. In the Ereat Wourne*, causes sown each hour "ear each its harvest of e#ects, for rigid Wustice rules the 2orld. 2ith might* swee of never erring action, it "rings to mortals lives of weal or woe, the Garmic rogen* of all our former thoughts and deeds. I" .e ta<e ad-anta$e o" t!e opportunities and c!allen$es pro-ided by t!is CdayD Gour present incarnationH) .e t!en lay t!e $round.or< "or t!e opportunities and c!allen$es o" t!e Cmorro.D Gour ne/t incarnationH. T!e CGreat AourneyD re"ers to t!e $rand) aeonian Kourney o" our soul?s cyclical descent into t!e .orlds o" matter and t!e correspondin$ ascent to conscious union .it! t!e i-ine Source. =e are all ma<in$ t!is lon$ pil$rima$e) and in time .e s!all all become Sel"7reali@ed bein$s) "ully conscious o" our true spiritual nature. VOICE5 1(:. Ta%e then as much as merit hath in store for thee, 5 thou of atient heart. ;e of good cheer and rest content with fate. Such is th* Garma, the Garma of the c*cle of th* "irths, the destin* of those, who, in their ain and sorrow, are "orn along with thee, re$oice and wee from life to life, chained to th* revious actions. 1,=. Cct thou for them toda*, and the* will act for thee tomorrow. =!en .e oBer assistance .!ere !elp is truly needed) and $i-e our com"ort and encoura$ement to t!ose .!o suBer) .e are assistin$ our "ello. pil$rims .!o) in turn) may !elp us in our time o" need. =e must be Co" $ood c!eer)D no matter .!ere .e >nd oursel-es in t!is incarnation) "or t!e "abric o" our present incarnation !as been .o-en by our actions in pre-ious li-esN .e cannot c!an$e t!e past but .e can certainly determine !o. .e s!all meet t!e present. It ser-es no purpose to .eep and moan about our present lot in li"e. T!e .ise ones .ill buc<le do.n and put t!eir !ands to t!e loom) and be$in to .ea-e t!eir "uture destinies .it! con>dence. VOICE5 1,1. BTis from the "ud of +enunciation of the Self, that sringeth the sweet fruit of Anal -i"eration. 99 To .or< .it! no t!ou$!t o" personal $ain but "or t!e ad-ancement o" all is to taste Ct!e s.eet "ruit o" >nal Liberation.D T!e temporal sel") or t!e personality) must no lon$er !a-e t!e po.er to control our e-ery desire. VOICE5 1,2. To erish doomed is he, who out of fear of Kara refrains from heling man, lest he should act for Self. The ilgrim who would cool his wear* lim"s in running waters, *et dares not lunge for terror of the stream, ris%s to succum" from heat. Inaction "ased on selAsh fear can "ear "ut evil fruit. T!e disciple .!o !esitates to !elp !is brot!er because !e is uncertain as to .!et!er or not !e s!ould) lac<s con>dence in !imsel". I" con"ronted .it! a soul in distress) .e must immediately do somet!in$ about t!e situation. T!e Koinin$ o" !ands) t!e .as!in$ o" one anot!er?s .ounds) reKoicin$ in our nei$!bor?s $ood "ortuneFt!ese acts are prompted by t!e true spirit o" brot!er!ood. Eac! time a deed o" mercy is per"ormed) a lin< o" eart!ly bonda$e is .ea<ened. VOICE5 1,!. The selAsh devotee lives to no urose. The man who does not go through his aointed wor% in life8has lived in vain. SelMessness) .e learn) is t!e <eynote o" a disciple?s li"e. # disciple is one .!o is practicin$ t!e disciplines t!at .ill allo. t!e i-ine Spar< .it!in to s!ine "ort! in all its splendid $lory. From t!e standpoint o" disciples!ip) not to !a-e learned t!is basic spiritual trut! durin$ t!is li"etime is to !a-e .asted muc! -aluable timeN but t!en) all is not lost) "or .e can be$in t!is .or< ane. in t!e ne/t li"e. 1,(. .ollow the wheel of life3 follow the wheel of dut* to race and %in, to friend and foe, and close th* mind to leasures as to ain. 7Fhaust the law of Garmic retri"ution. Eain Siddhis for th* future "irth. T!e Lords o" Sarma) .e are told) see t!at eac! person is $i-en t!e conditions t!at are best suited to t!eir $ro.t! and t!e particular .or< needed "or t!eir pro$ress. T!e man or .oman .!o per"orms !is or !er daily duties .ell .ill $radually be entrusted .it! more important ones. T!e indi-idual .!o ma<es t!e best o" t!e a-ailable opportunities .ill "acilitate t!e creation o" ne. opportunities. Conscientious .or<ers are $reatly needed by t!ose .!o are $uidin$ t!e destiny o" our planet eart!. To e/!aust our <arma in t!is li"e) .e !a-e to "ace up to conditions and not >$!t or resist 9( t!em) because t!ey are o" our o.n ma<in$. =e must try to ma<e ri$!t all in!armonious conditions in our immediate surroundin$s and in our relations!ips .it! ot!ers. To $ain merit "or our ne/t li"e) .e are e-er on t!e alert to be o" assistance to t!ose .!o are in need o" !elp) .!et!er it be o" t!e p!ysical <ind or spiritual. =e s!ould also be e-er ready to treat .it! care t!e animal and plant <in$doms. T!is may sound -ery demandin$) and it is) because t!e pat! o" disciples!ip sets -ery !i$! standards. I" it .as easy) .e .ould !a-e all reac!ed enli$!tenment by no.. VOICE5 1,,. If Sun thou canBst not "e, then "e the hum"le lanet. C*e, if thou art de"arred from <aming li%e the noon&da* Sun uon the snow&caed mount of urit* eternal, then choose, 5 6eoh*te, a hum"ler course. Lastin$ .or< is built in secret) "or it is done alone .it! but one .itnessFt!e !i$!er Sel". I" .e cannot attain in t!is li"e) .e s!all at least !a-e $ained muc! $round) enablin$ us to be o" some assistance in t!e e-olutionary plan. T!e spiritual momentum .e $enerate in t!is li"e .ill carry "or.ard to t!e ne/t. =e are told t!at t!ere are times .!en) unbe<no.n to !im) a Neop!yte is used "or some special .or<. Sometimes .e may not <no. !o. use"ul .e are as c!annels) and in some "uture li"e .e may .onder .!y .e are suddenly blessed. =e .ill !a-e earned t!at blessin$ because not!in$ comes to us by accident. VOICE5 1,1. 'oint out the 2a*8however diml*, and lost among the host8as does the evening star to those who tread their ath in dar%ness. #ll t!e $reat teac!in$s ad-ise t!ose .!o !a-e !ad t!e $ood "ortune to !a-e ac0uired a measure o" spiritual <no.led$e to be e-er ready to pass .!at t!ey can to ot!ers. By raisin$ t!ose around us) .e raise oursel-es. H1B once said t!at e-ery person .!o dra.s t!e breat! o" li"e aBects t!e mental and moral atmosp!ere o" t!e .orld) and !elps to color t!e day "or t!ose about !im by .!at !e says and does. VOICE5 1,4. ;ehold )igmar, as in his crimson veils his 7*e swees over slum"ering 7arth. ;ehold the Aer* aura of the Hand of -haga eFtended in rotecting love over the heads of his ascetics. ;oth are now servants to 6*ima left in his a"sence silent watchers in the night. Set "oth in Galas ast were "right 6*imas, and ma* in future 9; Da*s again "ecome two Suns. Such are the falls and rises of the Garmic -aw in nature. H1B) in !er "ootnote) states t!at Mi#mar is Tibetan "or t!e planet 3arsN Lha#pa is 3ercury) and Nyima is t!e Sun. S!e also tells us in The Secret )octrine t!at CE-ery !ea-enly body is t!e temple o" a $od) and t!e $ods t!emsel-es are t!e temples o" GOD G&59;,H. # p!ilosop!er once .rote) CEac! o" t!ese stars is a reli$ious !ouse.D E-idently .e o.e more t!an .e ima$ine to t!e planets o" t!is solar system. Eac! diBerent race) !a-in$ been born under t!e inMuence o" a certain planet) recei-es "rom t!at planet !elp) instruction) and certain c!aracteristics. T!e planet 3ercury) accordin$ to The Secret )octrine GStan@a &5* o" #nt!ropo$enesisH) recei-es se-en times more li$!t and !eat "rom t!e Sun t!an does t!e eart!N per!aps t!is is t!e reason "or t!e ascetic recei-in$ added stren$t! and protection. #ll li"e is Mu/ and c!an$e5 nations rise and "all) and be$$ars c!an$e places .it! <in$s. It seems intended t!at all li"e s!ould e/perience e/pansion o" consciousness. 1lanets are also subKect to t!is <armic la.) and so may Cin "uture Vays? a$ain become t.o Suns.D VOICE5 1,9. ;e, 5 -anoo, li%e them. Eive light and comfort to the toiling ilgrim, and see% out him who %nows still less than thou3 who in his wretched desolation sits starving for the "read of 2isdom, and the "read which feeds the shadow, without a Teacher, hoe, or consolation, and8 let him hear the -aw. T!e Teac!er no. tells t!e candidate !o. to assist t!ose .!o are in need o" spiritual $uidance. VOICE5 1,:. Tell him, 5 Candidate, that he who ma%es of ride and self®ard "ond&maidens to devotion3 that he, who cleaving to eFistence, still la*s his atience and su"mission to the -aw, as a sweet <ower at the feet of Sha%*a&Thu"&a, "ecomes Srota"atti in this "irth. The Siddhis of erfection ma* loom far, far awa*3 "ut the Arst ste is ta%en, the stream is entered, and he ma* gain the e*esight of the mountain eagle, the hearing of the timid doe. T!e Cs.eet Mo.erD laid at Ct!e "eet o" S!a<ya7T!ub7paD Ganot!er epit!et "or t!e Lord Budd!aH is an oBerin$ o" ser-ice to t!e Teac!er. Some people >nd t!e #ncient =isdom easy to di$est) "or t!ey) "ortunately) !a-e <no.n and .or<ed .it! t!e Great 9, La. in "ormer li-es. T!ey may e/pect to reco-er more speedily t!e ac0uired <no.led$e o" pre-ious e/istences) "or t!e learnin$ t!ey under$o in t!is li"e is initially a recapitulation o" earlier .or< done in pre-ious incarnations. CT!e eyesi$!t o" t!e mountain ea$leD and Ct!e !earin$ o" t!e timid doeD are representati-e o" inner "aculties t!at are bein$ slo.ly de-eloped by t!ose .!o are a.are t!at Cto !ear and seeD need not necessarily re"er to actions o" t!e p!ysical sense or$ans. Consider t!is biblical passa$e GI Cor. *5'H5 CEye !at! not seen) nor ear !eard) neit!er !at! it entered into t!e !eart o" man to concei-e t!e t!in$s .!ic! God !at! prepared "or t!em t!at lo-e Him.D =!en Ct!e >rst step is ta<en)D "e. disciples loo< bac<) because it is t!e inner Sel" t!at !as made t!is decision) and t!is inner Sel" is a "ormidable opponent o" t!e lo.er sel". VOICE5 11=. Tell him, 5 Csirant, that true devotion ma* "ring him "ac% the %nowledge, that %nowledge which was his in former "irths. The deva&sight and deva&hearing are not o"tained in one short "irth. True de-otion means li-in$ in suc! a .ay as to culti-ate only t!ose t!in$s in oursel-es t!at .ill brin$ to "ruition t!e innate po.ers o" t!e E$o) t!e Eternal Sel". T!e true student .ill) at e-ery step o" t!e .ay) admit no compromise bet.een ri$!t and .ron$. T!e pat! !e treads is ra@or s!arpN t!ere are no !al" measures. CFor t!e $ate is narro. and t!e road is !ard t!at leads to li"e) and t!ere are "e. .!o >nd it.D E-eryt!in$ t!e disciple does must .e ri#ht) "or to become one .it! t!e $reat E-olutionary 1lan and to assist in t!e $reat .or<) !e must be utterly pure in !eart and mind. T!is means adoptin$ an attitude o" complete selMessness) !a-in$ no ulterior moti-es "or sel"7$lori>cation or sel"7ad-anta$e. VOICE5 111. ;e hum"le, if thou wouldBst attain to 2isdom. 112. ;e hum"ler still, when 2isdom thou hast mastered. In an article entitled CT!e 3ystery T!at Is 3an)D Gordon 1lummer assures us t!at C# man o" ea$er mind .!o can $rasp concepts o" t!ou$!t utterly beyond t!e a-era$e is t!e more !umble) because !e is more a.are o" t!e limitless e/tent o" t!e un<no.n. T!e circum"erence o" !is circle) !is !ori@on o" t!ou$!t) is so muc! -aster and "or t!at reason !e stands in re-erent a.e be"ore t!e presence o" t!e En<no.nD GTheosophia) =inter &'(:7(8H. 9' VOICE5 11!. ;e li%e the 5cean which receives all streams and rivers. The 5ceanBs might* calm remains unmoved3 it feels them not. T!e candidate must remain calm as !e mo-es amon$ t!e disturbin$ inMuences o" t!is .orld) permittin$ none to a$itate !im. In t!is manner !e trains !is lo.er -e!icles to respond solely to t!e commands o" t!e !i$!er Sel". VOICE5 11(. +estrain "* th* Divine th* lower Self. 11,. +estrain "* the 7ternal the Divine. T!e !i$!er Sel") or E$o) s!ould be allo.ed to control t!e lo.er sel". T!e E$o) t!en) may more easily come under t!e inMuence o" t!e 3onad) t!e i-ine Sel". See 0irst Principles of Theosophy by AinaraKadasa) C!apter (. VOICE5 111. C*e, great is he, who is the sla*er of desire. 114. Still greater he, in whom the Self Divine has slain the ver* %nowledge of desire. 1upils .!o are see<in$ to o-ercome t!eir .ea<nesses must constantly $uard t!e lo.er -e!icles "rom bein$ cau$!t in t!e net o" un.anted !abits. Cleanliness Fnot only out.ardly but also in.ardlyFis necessary i" t!e pupils .is! to re>ne t!eir lo.er natures. VOICE5 119. Euard thou the -ower lest it soil the Higher. T!e i-ine spar< .it!in eac! one o" us can do not!in$ "or us unless .e >rst ma<e oursel-es ready "or its un"oldment by entertainin$ only t!ose t!ou$!ts and emotions t!at mer$e t!e lo.er sel" .it! t!e !i$!er Sel". VOICE5 11:. The wa* to Anal freedom is within th* S7-.. 14=. That wa* "egins and ends outside of Self. Sal-ation or attainment rests solely .it! t!e indi-idual) as .e !a-e "ree c!oice eit!er to li"t oursel-es out o" i$norance or remain unenli$!tened. Verse &;+ points out t!at our release "rom <armic mista<es and i$norance o" our di-inity may be (+ obtained only by reac!in$ out.ard) by identi"yin$ oursel-es .it! all t!at li-es) and t!ereby $radually "reein$ oursel-es "rom t!e con>nes o" our lo.er nature. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!y must man learn to $o-ern !is t!in<in$Q *. =!at are t!e si/ $lorious -irtuesQ :. =!at must man learn to do in order to $ain meritQ 8. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e CGreat AourneyDQ 9. =!y are spiritually ad-anced persons more !umbleQ RRRRRRRRRR Trut! is .it!in oursel-esN it ta<es no rise From out.ard t!in$s) .!ate-er you may belie-e. T!ere is an inmost center in us all) =!ere trut! abides in "ullnessN and around) =all upon .all) t!e $ross Mes! !ems it in) T!is per"ect) clear perceptionF.!ic! is trut!. # baZin$ and per-ertin$ carnal mes! Blinds it and ma<es all error5 and) to SNO=) 4at!er consists in openin$ out a .ay =!ence t!e imprisoned splendor may escape) T!an in eBectin$ entry "or a li$!t Supposed to be .it!out. F4obert Bro.nin$) D1aracelsusD (& Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence 7 Fra$ment T.o Lesson ' VOICE5 141. Jnraised "* men and hum"le is the mother of all +ivers, in Tirthikas roud sight3 emt* the human form though Alled with CmritaBs sweet waters, in the sight of fools. 2ithal, the "irth&lace of the sacred rivers is the sacred land, and he who 2isdom hath, is honoured "* all men. C#mrita?s s.eet .atersD is t!e essence o" Li"e itsel". To all t!ose .!o see< !er out) s!e con"ers Immortality. T!e "e. .!o !a-e recei-ed enli$!tenment are sou$!t and !onored by all man<ind. T!e Tirt!i<as) accordin$ to t!e "ootnote in t!e $lossary o" The Voice) are Bra!manical sectarians beyond t!e Himalayas .!o are called in>dels by t!e Budd!ists. T!e adKecti-e CproudD could be translated as meanin$ Csel>s!.D VOICE5 142. Crhans and Sages of the "oundless Dision are rare as is the "lossom of the Jdum"ara tree. Crhans are "orn at midnight hour, together with the sacred lant of nine and seven stal%s, the hol* <ower that oens and "looms in dar%ness, out of the ure dew and on the fro@en "ed of snow&caed heights, heights that are trodden "* no sinful foot. T!ese sa$es) .!ose numbers are usually small) are sometimes called C!ildren o" Li$!t. T!e Csacred plantD represents !umanity) .!ic! !as its roots deep in mot!er eart!) usin$ t!e nouris!ment "or its $ro.t!) .!ile t!e branc!es reac! !ea-en.ard) aspirin$ e-er up.ard to.ard its ri$!t"ul place in t!e !ierarc!y o" $lorious bein$s. T!e symbol o" man is eit!er a tree or a Mo.er) and t!e branc!es or t!e petals $i-e "urt!er in"ormation as to !is $ro.t! in t!e -ast mystery o" t!e Great E-olutionary 1lan. Spea<in$ "urt!er about t!ese sa$es) 1aracelsus .rote5 T!ey li-e in -arious parts o" t!e .orld) and do not meddle .it! politicsN t!eir business is to do as muc! $ood to !umanity as it is in t!eir po.er) and to drin< .isdom "rom t!e eternal "ountain o" Trut!. T!eir number is small. Some li-e in Europe) ot!ers in #"rica) but t!ey are bound to$et!er by t!e !armony o" t!eir souls) and t!ey are t!ere"ore as one. T!ey understand eac! ot!er) (* alt!ou$! t!ey spea< in diBerent ton$ues) because t!e lan$ua$e o" t!e sa$es is spiritual perception. GHartman) ::,H VOICE5 14!. 6o Crhan, 5 -anoo, "ecomes one in that "irth when for the Arst the Soul "egins to long for Anal li"eration. Set, 5 thou anFious one, no warrior volunteering Aght in the Aerce strife "etween the living and the dead, not one recruit can ever "e refused the right to enter on the 'ath that leads toward the Aeld of ;attle. Be"ore >nal liberation is ac!ie-ed and #r!ats!ip is .on) t!ere are many birt!s to be li-ed t!rou$!. T!e 3aster S.H. once said) CT!ere are only t.o <inds o" people) t!ose .!o <no. and t!ose .!o do not <no..D In esoteric .ritin$s) t!e >rst are metap!orically re"erred to as Ct!e li-in$D and t!e latter as Ct!e dead.D VOICE5 14(. .or, either he shall win, or he shall fall. 14,. Sea, if he conLuers, 6irvana shall "e his. ;efore he casts his shadow o# his mortal coil, that regnant cause of anguish and illimita"le ain8in him will men a great and hol* ;uddha honour. 141. Cnd if he falls, eBen then he does not fall in vain3 the enemies he slew in the last "attle will not return to life in the neFt "irth that will "e his. # disciple must not $i-e in to "eelin$s o" discoura$ement or depression i" !is pro$ress seems slo.) because lon$ be"ore !e become a.are o" it) t!e p!ysical brain) as .ell as t!e subtle emotional and mental -e!icles) are slo.ly becomin$ or$ani@ed and sensiti@ed to t!e !i$!er -ibratory rate o" spiritual consciousness. I" one !as enou$! "ait! in t!e po.ers o" t!e !i$!er Sel") !e or s!e .ill reali@e t!at t!ere is acti-ity o" a "undamental and spiritual nature $oin$ on) e-en t!ou$! it may be totally unpercei-ed by t!e personal nature. #ll t!e disciple !as to do is to so. t!e ri$!t seed and .ater t!e plant dailyN t!e rest is in t!e !ands o" t!e !i$!er "orcesFt!e i-ine Sel". T!e candidate .!o t!in<s !e is tra-elin$ at too slo. a pace may) in "act) be doin$ -ery use"ul .or< on t!e inner planes. #ll eBort produces results) e-en i" .e cannot -isibly see t!ose results. T!e disciple s!ould not be concerned .it! seein$ t!e results o" !is .or< or -alidatin$ !is personal pro$ress) "or t!at brin$s t!e "ocus o" attention bac< to t!e personal sel") and t!at is counter7producti-e. I" .e do not reali@e our !i$!est spiritual aspirations in t!is li"e) .e s!all no doubt carry "or.ard (: into t!e ne/t incarnation all .e !a-e learned and made our o.n) "or not!in$ is lost or o-erloo<ed in t!e $reater sc!eme o" t!in$s. VOICE5 144. ;ut if thou wouldBst 6irvana reach, or cast the ri@e awa*, let not the fruit of action and inaction "e th* motive, thou of dauntless heart. # disciple does not tread t!e pat! o" !oliness in order to $ain !is o.n sal-ationN !is moti-e is a muc! $rander one t!an t!at. 149. Gnow that the ;odhisattva who li"eration changes for +enunciation to don the miseries of Secret -ife, is called, thrice Honoured, 5 thou candidate for woe throughout the c*cles. In t!is conte/t) C.oeD means t!e ta<in$ on o" t!e sorro.s o" t!e .orld) as do t!e Sa-iors) until t!e end o" t!is cycle. #ll $reat men and .omen !a-e t!e .el"are o" !umanity at !eartN t!ey !a-e become) sometimes un<no.n to t!emsel-es) c!annels t!rou$! .!ic! t!e !i$!er po.ers can do t!eir .or< on eart!. VOICE5 14:. The 'CTH is one, Discile, *et in the end, twofold. )ar%ed are its stages "* four and seven 'ortals. Ct one end8"liss immediate, and at the other8"liss deferred. ;oth are of merit the reward/ the choice is thine. T!e 1at! becomes t.o"old a"ter t!e disciple !as reac!ed enli$!tenment. He no. !as to c!oose bet.een liberation "or !imsel") .!ic! is t!e ne$ation o" birt!s and deat!s "or !imsel") or returnin$ to t!is dar< planet a$ain and a$ain in order to !asten t!e enli$!tenment o" !umanity) in t!is .ay !elpin$ to s!orten t!e cycle o" dar<ness. VOICE5 19=. The 5ne "ecomes the two, the O"en and the Secret# The Arst one leadeth to the goal, the second, to Self&Immolation. T!e 1at! is one) on up to t!e -ery pinnacle) .!en it suddenly branc!es out into t.o more pat!s. T!e .arrior !as to c!oose) and must not be critici@ed i" t!e c!oice s!ould be liberation. But t!e soul t!at c!ooses to "ore$o its o.n "reedom in order to return to !elp t!e .orld is lauded by all o" Nature "rom mineral to #n$el. (8 VOICE5 191. 2hen to the 'ermanent is sacriAced the )uta"le, the ri@e is thine/ the dro returneth whence it came. The O"en 'CTH leads to the changeless change86irvana, the glorious state of C"soluteness, the ;liss ast human thought. 192. Thus, the Arst is -I;7+CTI56. In order "or an aspirant to ac0uire $odli<e .isdom) !e $radually casts aside all eart!ly desires) reali@in$ t!at all t!in$s o" t!is eart! pass a.ay in time. He sees t!at !e !as been li-in$ under a delusion o" separateness and t!at only t!in$s o" t!e spirit are eternal. #nd so) !e see<s t!e pat! leadin$ to Ct!e c!an$eless c!an$eDF but t!en) is t!is t!e c!oice o" !is soulQ VOICE5 19!. ;ut 'ath the Second is8+76J6CICTI56, and therefore called the 'ath of 2oe. 19(. That Secret 'ath leads the Crhan to mental woe unsea%a"le3 woe for the living Dead, and helless it* for the men of Garmic sorrow, the fruit of Garma Sages dare not still. T!e C1at! o" =oeD describes t!e suBerin$ t!at arises "rom deep compassion "or !umanity. T!e disciple sees all t!e pain and sorro. o" t!e .orld t!at !a-e been brou$!t about by !uman i$norance. Handel?s Messiah elaborates on t!e suBerin$s o" a $reat Sa-ior) Aesus. T!ere !a-e been many sa-iors and t!ere .ill be more be"ore t!is cycle is completed. It is t!ou$!t by many t!at t!e li"e o" an #r!an is total sadness. Since !umanity must learn t!rou$! pain and an$uis!) $reat souls !a-e to descend to !umanity?s le-el in order to be understood) but t!eir inner sel-es are lin<ed .it! t!e inner planes and t!ere"ore are in t.o places at once) .or<in$ amon$ man<ind and !a-in$ t!eir main e/istence amon$ t!e an$els. T!ere"ore) <no.in$ .!at man<ind is missin$) an #r!an !as cause to .eep) "or at !is $reat sta$e o" ad-ancement !e sees -ery clearly .!at !umanity could be doin$ to a-oid its misery. But once a person suBerin$ abKect misery cries out "or !elp and assistance) t!ere is !elp "ort!comin$N "or t!ese $reat souls are e-er .aitin$ to be o" assistance and to teac! .!at t!ey <no.. SuBerin$) t!ere"ore) seems to be a necessary catalyst until .e see< to <no.N to learn to <no. oursel-es is t!e be$innin$ o" true <no.led$e and t!e end o" suBerin$. (9 VOICE5 19,. .or it is written/ teach to eschew all causes3 the rile of e#ect, as the great tidal wave, thou shalt let run its course. #s .e so.) so s!all .e reapN .e must see t!at t!e seeds are all $ood) t!at t!e "ruit and t!e Mo.er be use"ul to our spiritual pro$ress. =!ate-er cause is set in motion returns to t!e creator o" t!at cause. VOICE5 191. The 5en 2a*, no sooner hast thou reached its goal, will lead thee to re$ect the ;odhisattvic "od* and ma%e thee enter the thrice glorious state of Dharma%a*a which is o"livion of the 2orld and men for ever. T!ere is no sel>s!ness attac!ed to t!e !arma<aya state) to t!e one .!o c!ooses to enter Nir-ana. But t!e one .!o dons t!e Nirmana<aya robe) .!o renounces Nir-ana) is $reatly needed by t!e !ierarc!y in order to !elp >ll t!e reser-oir o" spiritual "orce "or use by t!e #depts. VOICE5 194. The Secret 2a* leads also to 'aranirvanic "liss8"ut at the close of Galas without num"er3 6irvanas gained and lost from "oundless it* and comassion for the world of deluded mortals. 199. ;ut it is said The last shall "e the greatest, Samyak Sambudda, the Teacher of 'erfection, gave u his S7-. for the salvation of the 2orld, "* stoing at the threshold of 6irvana8the ure state. T!e .arrior) alt!ou$! re"usin$ to enter C1aranir-anic blissD in order to return to assist suBerin$ man<ind) may claim !is re.ard at t!e close o" numerous Salpas Gcosmic cyclesH .!en !is .or< is completed. CSamya< SambuddaD is anot!er name "or t!e Lord Budd!a) .!o is said to be able to mo-e to ot!er $lobes o" our planetary c!ain. VOICE5 19:. Thou hast the %nowledge now concerning the two 2a*s. Th* time will come for choice, 5 thou of eager Soul, when thou hast reached the end and assed the seven 'ortals. Th* mind is clear. 6o more art thou entangled in (( delusive thoughts, for thou hast learned all. Jnveiled stands truth and loo%s thee sternl* in the face. She sa*s/ 1:=. Sweet are the fruits of +est and -i"eration for the sa%e of Self3 "ut sweeter still the fruits of long and "itter dut*. C*e, +enunciation for the sa%e of others, of su#ering fellow men. CT!e se-en portalsD are "ully e/plained in t!e T!ird Fra$ment. T!e aspirant to $odli<e .isdom is no. nearin$ t!e crucial part o" !is Kourney. He !as been $i-en .!at <no.led$e !e is able to !old and understand at !is le-el o" consciousness. No. t!e mind o" t!e aspirant s!ould be muc! clearer t!an be"ore) as !e !as stood "ace to "ace .it! Trut! and learned <no.led$e o" t!e Ct.o =ays.D VOICE5 1:1. He, who "ecomes 'rat*e%a&;uddha, ma%es his o"eisance "ut to his Self. The ;odhisattva who has won the "attle, who holds the ri@e within his alm, *et sa*s in his divine comassion/ 1:2. .or othersB sa%e this great reward I *ield8 accomlishes the greater +enunciation. 1:!. C SCDI5+ 5. TH7 25+-D is he. To $i-e up one?s li"e t!at ot!ers mi$!t li-e is t!e ultimate sacri>ce. But in so doin$) t!e Bod!isatt-a unites !imsel" .it! t!e =orld Soul .!ose .ill it is to raise t!e consciousness o" all t!at li-e and ma<e up t!e li"e o" t!is planet eart!. VOICE5 1:(. ;eholdU The goal of "liss and the long 'ath of 2oe are at the furthest end. Thou canst choose either, 5 asirant to Sorrow, throughout the coming c*clesU . . . 1:,. 5) DCW+C'C6I HJ). T!e aspirant to sorro. !as o" !is o.n "ree .ill turned !is bac< upon !is o.n liberation and .ill no. return to s!oulder t!e sorro.s o" t!e .orld. # "riend and dedicated T!eosop!ist) .!o !as le"t t!is eart!ly plane) once said t!at COm -aKrapani !umD mi$!t be translated to mean CTrut! "allen into t!y t.o !ands.D (; 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!ere is t!e birt!place o" t!e sacred ri-ersQ *. =!o are t!e Cli-in$D and t!e CdeadDQ :. Name t!e 1at! .!ic! leads to t!e chan#eless chan#e. 8. =!ic! 1at! leads to renunciationQ RRRRRRRRRR Startin$ upon t!e lon$ Kourney immaculateN descendin$ more and more into sin"ul matter) !a-in$ connected !imsel" .it! e-ery atom in mani"ested SpaceFt!e Pil#rim) !a-in$ stru$$led t!rou$! and suBered in e-ery "orm o" li"e and bein$) is only at t!e bottom o" t!e -alley o" matter) and !al" t!rou$! !is cycle) .!en !e !as identi>ed !imsel" .it! collecti-e Humanity. T!is) he has made in his o'n ima#e. In order to pro$ress up.ards and !ome.ards) t!e CGodD !as no. to ascend t!e .eary up!ill pat! o" t!e Gol$ot!a o" Li"e. FThe Secret )octrine) &5*(, (, Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T!ree THE SEVEN 1O4T#LS Lesson &+ VOICE5 1:1. J'CDSC, the choice is made, I thirst for 2isdom. 6ow hast thou rent the veil "efore the secret 'ath and taught the greater Sana. Th* servant here is read* for th* guidance. CEpadyaD means a spiritual preceptor) a Guru) or 3aster) .!o ta<es pupils .!o .is! to tra-el t!e 1at! and .!om !e belie-es can be trained to be o" some special ser-ice. T!e $reater 2ana) as H1B e/plains it) is one o" t.o sc!ools o" learnin$ in Budd!ism5 t!e 3a!ayana Gt!e $reater 2anaH is called t!e $reat -e!icle) t!e Hinayana) t!e smaller -e!icle. Today) t!e term CT!era-edaD is used in place o" t!e CHinayanaD as t!e latter is percei-ed to be peKorati-e by its practitioners. #nd no. t!e Epadya) t!e Teac!er) is about to tell t!e aspirant .!at lies a!ead o" !im. VOICE5 1:4. MTis well, Shrava%a. 'reare th*self, for thou wilt have to travel on alone. The Teacher can "ut oint the wa*. The 'ath is one for all, the means to reach the goal must var* with the 'ilgrims. CS!ra-a<aD re"ers to a listener) one .!o sits at t!e "eet o" !is Teac!er) absorbin$ suc! spiritual <no.led$e as !e may be able to understand) a"ter .!ic! !e is told to $o "ort! and test t!e <no.led$e !imsel" in !is daily li"e. T!e c!ild cannot sit at t!e <nee o" its mot!er all !is li"eX #lt!ou$! t!e 1at! is one "or all) .e eac! "ollo. it at our leisure) in our time) and in our o.n particular .ay. =e all belon$ to one o" t!e se-en rays) and .ould t!ere"ore approac! t!e 1at! diBerentlyFbein$ dra.n to particular .or< and to a special Teac!er) on t!at ray. T!is may be t!e reason .!y .e !a-e "ree c!oice) allo.in$ us to "ollo. t!e needs and aspirations o" our o.n souls. E-en .it!in t!e same ray7type) t!e teac!in$ is adapted to indi-idual needs. =e read t!at a 3aster may send one o" !is pupils into seclusion and anot!er out into t!e .orld. #nd a$ain) !e may $i-e one t!e satis"action o" <no.in$ t!at !e is bein$ tau$!t and lea-e anot!er .it!out t!at <no.led$e "or a $reat len$t! o" time. #nd so) t!e ans.er is5 study and (' .or< "or t!e sa<e o" ac0uirin$ .isdom "or its o.n sa<e) and not "or some special reason o" your o.n. # sincere aspirant ne-er loo<s "or t!e results. VOICE5 1:9. 2hich wilt thou choose, 5 thou of dauntless heartT The Samtan of e*e Doctrine, fourfold Dh*ana, or thread th* wa* through 'aramitas, siF in num"er, no"le gates of virtue leading to ;odhi and to 'ra$na, seventh ste of 2isdomT T!e aspirant is as<ed .!ic! o" t.o met!ods !e is $oin$ to c!oose. T!e Paramitas are si/ transcendental -irtues5 c!arity) morality) patience) ener$y) contemplation) and .isdom. CSamtanD is a Tibetan .ord meanin$ a state o" meditationN C"our"old !yanaD denotes "our steps ta<en in meditation. =e came across t!e "our modes o" trut! in t!e >rst Fra$mentFsymboli@ed by t!e .ords Su) Tu) 3u) and Tau. T!e CEye octrineD is said to mean do$ma) t!e dead7letter "orm "or t!ose .!o are content .it! e/oteric "ormulas. VOICE5 1::. The rugged 'ath of fourfold Dh*ana winds on uhill. Thrice great is he who clim"s the loft* to. 2==. The 'aramita heights are crossed "* a still steeer ath. Thou hast to Aght th* wa* through ortals seven, seven strongholds held "* cruel craft* 'owers8assions incarnate. T!e C1aramita !ei$!tsD are said to !a-e se-en portals t!rou$! .!ic! t!e candidate !as to stru$$le .it! temptation) and t!is can only be done in t!e .orld o" people) in t!e stream o" li"e .!ere our <arma !as placed us. It is said t!at bot! t!e C"our"old !yanaD G"our sta$es in meditationH and t!e C1aramitasD are necessary to t!e .ell7rounded spiritual li"e. T!e "ormer deals mainly .it! meditation and t!e second .it! our actions and moti-es. T!e re>nin$ o" our personality is most important) as it inMuences t!e inner man at all times. Bot! action and inaction must >nd room in us) a time "or .or<in$ at .!at .e !a-e learned) and a time "or contemplatin$ t!e trut! o" .!at .e <no.. Our lo.er nature does not die easilyN it !as an elemental consciousness o" its o.n and also .is!es to li-e. VOICE5 2=1. ;e of good cheer, Discile3 "ear in mind the golden rule. 5nce thou hast assed the gate Srotaatti, he who the stream hath entered3 once th* foot hath ressed the "ed ;+ of the 6irvanic stream in this or an* future life, thou hast "ut seven other "irths "efore thee, 5 thou of adamantine 2ill. T!e >rst $ate teac!es c!arity and compassion) and .it! t!ese t.o rules .e be$in our KourneyN .e enter t!e stream o" li"e in preparation "or a li"e o" altruistic ser-ice. Once .e !a-e ta<en t!is step) it is said t!at .e t!en !a-e only se-en more incarnations) and maybe less) be"ore .e attain to Sel"!ood. =!et!er t!is period o" se-en incarnations s!ould be ta<en literally is a matter o" some debate amon$ esoteric students. # little !andboo< o" $reat -alue as .e be$in t!e Kourney is (t the 0eet of the Master. T!e teac!er continues5 VOICE5 2=2. -oo% on. 2hat seeBst thou "efore thine e*e, 5 asirant to god&li%e 2isdomT T!e aspirant ans.ers5 VOICE5 2=!. The cloa% of dar%ness is uon the dee of matter3 within its folds I struggle. ;eneath m* ga@e it deeens, -ord3 it is diselled "eneath the waving of th* hand. C shadow moveth, creeing li%e the stretching serent coils. . . . It grows, swells out and disaears in dar%ness. Once t!e aspirant be$ins to tread t!e 1at! in earnest) bot! t!e best and t!e .orst tendencies in !is nature rise to t!e sur"ace) and t!e a$e7old stru$$le bet.een $ood and e-il "orces is on. To <no. our stren$t!s and our .ea<nesses is !al" t!e battle. 3uc! o" t!e lo.er nature may be re>ned .it! $ood actions and "ait! in t!e Sel") .!ic! is e-er .it! usFbut not seen. T!is "ait! can dispel doubt and "ear i" .e but allo. it to. Fait! is a <ey t!at opens all doors. =!en a person decides to !asten !is pro$ress) !e ma<es a decision t!at c!an$es !is .!ole li"e. #t a time li<e t!is) t!e disciple needs t!e <ind and understandin$ t!ou$!ts o" ot!ers) "or !e is no lon$er li-in$ by t!e super>cial con-entions o" !is social en-ironment. T!is tends to increase !is diOculties. But t!ose .!o <no. t!at t!is is a deep and -ery personal $earin$ o" a soul ea$er to tread a ne. pat!) despite t!e obstacles) stand by and de"end t!e disciple?s ri$!t to do .!at !e "eels !e must. T!is is true brot!er!ood. T!e Guru continues5 ;& VOICE5 2=(. It is the shadow of th*self outside the 'ath, cast on the dar%ness of th* sins. T!e disciple ans.ers5 VOICE5 2=,. Sea, -ord3 I see the 'CHX3 its foot in mire, its summits lost in glorious light 6irvanic. Cnd now I see the ever narrowing 'ortals on the hard and thorn* wa* to Wnana. T!e >rst "e. portals appear .ide and easy o" access) but t!e rest stretc!in$ into t!e distance loo< narro.N t!is causes t!e disciple to "eel discoura$ed. T!e .ord 2nana could mean understandin$) <no.led$e) or enli$!tenment. His $uide $oes on to say5 VOICE5 2=1. Thou seest well, -anoo. These 'ortals lead the asirant across the waters on to the other shore. CT!e ot!er s!ore)D a p!rase t!at is used "re0uently) !as t.o meanin$s5 one is t!at bet.een li"e and deat! t!ere is a ri-er or ocean and souls are "erried across to t!e ot!er s!ore a"ter deat!N t!e second meanin$ is t!at .!en a soul steps out "rom $eneral e-olution) .!ic! it !as completed) and be$ins t!e li"e o" an #dept) t!at soul c!ooses to return "rom t!e ot!er s!ore in order to !elp man<ind. VOICE5 7ach 'ortal hath a golden %e* that oeneth its gate3 and these %e*s are/8 2=4. 1. DC6C, the %e* of charit* and love immortal. CanaD does not mean mere c!arity in t!e sense o" $i-in$ almsN it is utter readiness to $i-e o" one?s sel") and to "or$i-e t!ose .!o do not understand our moti-es. To sacri>ce our time) ener$y) and t!ou$!t to t!is end is to learn c!arity in t!e uni-ersal sense. VOICE5 2=9. 2. SHI-C, the %e* of Harmon* in word and act, the %e* that counter"alances the cause and the e#ect, and leaves no further room for Garmic action. CS!ilaD is ri$!t conduct) ri$!t action) and usin$ our en-ironmentFin .!ic! <arma !as placed usFin order to close our <armic account as 0uic<ly as possible. ;* T!us) t!e aspirant ac0uires added "reedom and opportunity to ser-e .it!out t!ou$!t o" sel". VOICE5 2=:. !. GSHC6TI, atience sweet, that nought can ruYe. CSs!antiD means a state o" indiBerence to t!e .orld?s barbs and criticism. T!is is not a "eelin$ o" sel"7ri$!teousness but one o" peace) brou$!t about t!rou$! t!e <no.led$e t!at no thin# can !urt t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in) .it! .!ic! t!e aspirant is endea-orin$ to lin< !imsel". VOICE5 21=. (. DI+CEC, indi#erence to leasure and to ain, illusion conLuered, truth alone erceived. CVira$aD or CVaira$yaD means utter desirelessness) .or<in$ "or t!e sa<e o" obtainin$ .isdom in order to be prepared "or some special ser-ice in t!e $reat e-olutionary plan. T!ere .ill be no personal $lory in t!is) "or as t!e aspirant pro$resses) !e becomes more and more impersonal) bein$ mo-ed mainly by t!e -ision o" a ne. .orld .!ere i$norance !as no place. VOICE5 211. ,. DI+SC, the dauntless energ* that Aghts its wa* to the suernal T+JTH, out of the mire of lies terrestrial. CViryaD is t!at stren$t! and ener$y t!at carries eac! one o" us "or.ard) accordin$ to our "ait! and eBort) and at our o.n pace. No man or .oman can tell .!ere !e or s!e standsN to desire to <no. .ould be mere -anity. T!e true disciple stru$$les on in !umility .it!out .orryin$ about !is personal pro$ress. VOICE5 212. 1. DHSC6C, whose golden gate once oened leads the 6ar$ol toward the realm of Sat eternal and its ceaseless contemlation. C!yanaD is a state attained t!rou$! meditation. Only in silence can t!e aspirant !ope to recei-e $uidance) .!ic! is o" an intuitional nature. It is true t!at e-en amid t!e turmoil o" t!e mar<etplace) a person may recei-e enli$!tenmentN but "or t!e student) t!e disciple) t!ere are rules to be "ollo.ed. T!e .ord CNarKolD means a saintly person. ;: In re$ard to t!e >rst si/ o" t!e 1aramitas) 4o!it 3e!ta obser-es t!at t!e >rst t!ree are oriented to.ard t!e outer .!ile t!e second $roup o" t!ree points to t!e inner. T!e outer instruments T1aramitasU deal .it! t!e pattern o" be!a-ior) .!ile t!e inner instruments deal .it! t!e source or t!e bac<$round o" be!a-ior. In ot!er .ords) t!ese instruments deal .it! t!e structural and t!e "unctional) t!e "orm and t!e li"e) aspects o" t!e mo-ement o" t!e spiritual pil$rim on t!e 1at! o" 1er"ection. Aust as li"e and "orm must co7e/ist) similarly t!e inner and t!e outer instruments must remain to$et!er. T!e one is tan$ible) t!e ot!er is intan$ible. T!e pattern or be!a-ior is somet!in$ tan$ible) .!ile t!e bac<$round or t!e source o" be!a-ior is somet!in$ intan$ible. But let not t!e spiritual pil$rim commit t!e mista<e o" re$ardin$ t!e intan$ible as unreal. =it!out t!e presence o" t!e intan$ible bac<$roundFt!e SourceFt!e tan$ible pattern o" be!a-ior becomes only an empty "orm. T!is is one o" t!e $reatest pit"alls on t!e 1at! o" 1er"ection. GThe +reative Silence) p. &*;H VOICE5 21!. 4. '+CW6C, the %e* to which ma%es of a man a god, creating him a ;odhisattva, son of the Dh*anis. C1raKnaD is a state .!ere =isdom !as become a part o" t!e li"e be!ind t!e "ormN t!is 0uality ma<es t!e Bod!isatt-a. C!yanisD are i-ine intelli$ences. VOICE5 21(. Such to the 'ortals are the golden %e*s. #ccordin$ to The Secret )octrine t!ere are se-en <eys o" interpretation to e-ery symbol and alle$ory. In t!e September7October &'(: issue o" The +anadian Theosophist 4. 3ac!ell .rites) CIt is a -ery old idea t!at man passes t!rou$! -arious $ate.ays on t!e pat! o" e-olution) and t!at eac! $ate !as its <ey. T!e <eys !a-e to be "ound) and t!en t!ey !a-e to be turned in t!e loc< be"ore t!e $ate can be openedD Gp. ,*H. VOICE5 21,. ;efore thou canst aroach the last, 5 weaver of th* freedom, thou hast to master these 'aramitas of erfection8the virtues transcendental siF and ten in num"er8along the wear* 'ath. 211. .or, 5 discileU ;efore thou wert made At to meet th* Teacher face to face, th* )CST7+ light to light, what wert thou toldT ;8 It stands to reason t!at i" a pupil .is!es to ma<e contact .it! !is 3aster) !e must >rst endea-or to re>ne and puri"y !is -e!icles t!rou$! practice o" t!e perfections) as little conscious contact can be made bet.een a coarse personality and a spiritually re>ned Bein$. To meet t!e 3aster Cli$!t to li$!tD e/presses a .onder"ul idea. =!en t!e pupil comes into touc! .it! !is 3aster?s consciousness) it is said t!at t!eir auras blend and ma<e a .onder"ul li$!tX VOICE5 214. ;efore thou canst aroach the foremost gate thou hast to learn to art th* "od* from th* mind, to dissiate the shadow, and to live in the eternal. .or this, thou hast to live and "reathe in all, as all that thou erceivest "reathes in thee3 to feel th*self a"iding in all things, all things in S7-.. [\ be able to Cpart t!e body "rom t!e mindD is to "or$et t!e lo.er sel" in an eBort to rise and lin< up .it! t!e !i$!er mind) .!ic! is t!e brid$e .!ic! lin<s t!e t.o) t!e "inite and t!e in"inite. C[\ li-e in t!e eternalD is to be able to Kud$e t!in$s al.ays "rom t!e standpoint o" t!e eternal. VOICE5 219. Thou shalt not let th* senses ma%e a la*ground of th* mind. Encontrolled t!in<in$ can delay spiritual pro$ress. VOICE5 21:. Thou shalt not searate th* "eing from ;7I6E, and the rest, "ut merge the 5cean in the dro, the dro within the 5cean. 22=. So shalt thou "e in full accord with all that lives3 "ear love to men as though the* were th* "rother&uils, disciles of one Teacher, the sons of one sweet mother. T!e disciple o" today reali@es t!at to stand alone) indiBerent to .!at is $oin$ on in ot!er parts o" t!e .orld) is impossibleN !e <no.s t!at personal in-ol-ement is imperati-e. #nd so !e 0uietly and consistently $oes about t!e business o" preparin$ !imsel") not only "or !is o.n $ro.t! but to be ready to ser-e t!e spiritual needs o" !is "ello.man. In ser-in$ ot!ers) t!e disciple ser-es !is !i$!er Sel". ;9 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!y is it necessary "or a disciple to practice t!e 1aramitasQ *. Gi-e t!e names o" t!e t.o sc!ools o" learnin$ in Nort!ern Budd!ism. =!y is t!e term CHinayanaD no lon$er used by practitioners o" t!at sc!oolQ :. =!y is it t!at .!en an aspirant decides to tread t!e Holy 1at! o" #ttainment t!e best and .orst in !is nature rise to t!e sur"aceQ 8. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e $olden <ey t!at opens t!e $ate o" esirelessness. 9. Interpret t!e meanin$ o" t!e S!ila <ey. RRRRRRRRRR Go) sei@e "ast !old o" t!e s<irt o" <no.led$e) For learnin$ .ill con-ey t!ee to e-erlastin$ abodes. See< nou$!t but <no.led$e i" t!ou art .ise) For it is ne$lect"ul to remain .it!out .isdom. From learnin$ t!ere .ill come to t!ee per"ection as re$ards reli$ion and t!e .orld. FSadi1s Scroll of !isdom ;( Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence 7 Fra$ment T!ree Lesson && VOICE5 221. 5f teachers there are man*3 the )CST7+&S5J- is one, Cla*a, the Jniversal Soul. -ive in that )CST7+ as ITS ra* in thee. -ive in th* fellows as the* live in IT. First) .e learn about lo-e and <indness at our mot!er?s <nee) and t!en .e are tau$!t our #BC?s in elementary sc!ool. Later .e are tau$!t at !i$! sc!ool and per!aps in t!e uni-ersityFbut t!e $reatest o" all teac!ers is t!e Eni-ersal Soul) .!ic! is e-er present be!ind t!e scenes o" e-ents) as .e <no. t!em. T!e <arma t!at eac! soul brin$s .it! !im into eac! incarnation is at .or< brin$in$ to !im t!ose t!in$s t!at !e !as nurtured) and <eepin$ "rom !im t!ose t!in$s t!at !e !as a-oided. #nd so) <arma is a -ery personal and Kust t!in$) yet at t!e same time -ery impersonal. Since .e are interconnected at some le-el .it! all t!at li-es) .e are at all times aBectin$ and colorin$ t!e .!ole in subtle and e-en unpercei-ed .ays by our t!ou$!ts and our actions. #nd so) our indi-idual <arma is inter.o-en .it! t!e <arma o" t!e .!ole planet. VOICE5 222. ;efore thou standest on the threshold of the 'ath3 "efore thou crossest the foremost Eate, thou hast to merge the two into the 5ne and sacriAce the ersonal to S7-. imersonal, and thus destro* the ath "etween the two8Antahkarana. It is possible "or a person) durin$ t!is li"etime) to $et in touc! .it! t!e Hi$!er 3anas G3indH t!rou$! t!e (ntahkaranaFt!e brid$e bet.een t!e lo.er mind and t!e !i$!er. T!e !old t!at t!e reincarnatin$ E$o !as o-er its lo.er -e!icles is normally only -ery partial) but .!en t!e E$o and t!e lo.er personality are in !armony) t!e brid$e bet.een t!e t.o ceases to e/ist) "or t!e lo.er !as Clet $oD and become an inte$ral part o" t!e Hi$!er 3anas. VOICE5 22!. Thou hast to "e reared to answer Dharma, the stern law, whose voice will as% thee at th* Arst, at th* initial ste/ ;; 22(. Hast thou comlied with all the rules, 5 thou of loft* hoesT 22,. Hast thou attuned th* heart and mind to the great mind and heart of all man%indT .or as the sacred +iverBs roaring voice where"* all 6ature&sounds are echoed "ac%, so must the heart of him Mwho in the stream would enter,B thrill in resonse to ever* sigh and thought of all that lives and "reathes. C!armaD re"ers to a person?s o.n special .or<) t!e pat! c!osen by !im .!ic! may lead to ser-ice accordin$ to !is talent and spiritual a.areness. To enter upon t!e pat!less 1at! is to lose all personal identity in order to identi"y .it! t!e o-erall 1lan. CT!e sacred 4i-er?s roarin$ -oiceD is said to be t!e <eynote o" Nature. In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) H1B points out t!at it Cis a .ell <no.n "act in p!ysical science as .ell as in occultism) t!at t!e a$$re$ate sound o" NatureFsuc! as is !eard in t!e roar o" $reat ri-ers) t!e noise produced by t!e .a-in$ tops o" trees in lar$e "orests) and t!at o" a city !eard in t!e distanceFis a de>nite) sin$le tone o" 0uite an appreciable pitc!.D Eac! one o" us $i-es oB -ibrations created by a color and a sound) as do t!e animal) -e$etable) and mineral <in$doms. VOICE5 221. Disciles ma* "e li%ened to the strings of the soulechoing $ina3 man%ind, unto its sounding "oard3 the hand that swees it to the tuneful "reath of the E+7CT 25+-D&S5J-. The string that fails to answer Mneath the )asterBs touch in dulcet harmon* with all the others, "rea%s8and is cast awa*. So the collective minds of %anoo-Shravakas. The* have to "e attuned to the Jadh*aBs mind8one with the 5ver&Soul8or, "rea% awa*. #t >rst t!e pil$rim -entures "ort! on t!e 1at! ea$erly and Koy"ully) but t!e -ision may soon "ade) resultin$ in a $eneral sense o" .eariness and loss o" !eart. S!ould t!is !appen) t!e teac!in$s .ill come to t!e pil$rim?s aid) remindin$ !im t!at Cno eBort) not e-en t!e smallest) is e-er lost)D "or durin$ t!e s!ort period o" earnest eBort !e put "ort! in t!e be$innin$) !e made $reat strides "or.ard. I" "or some reason !e cannot continue at t!is pace) it is a pity) but) as The Voice continues to stress) t!e smallest eBort is ne-er lost and .ill bear "ruit in li"etimes to come. =e are tau$!t not to be aBected by moods) as t!ey .aste t!e soul?s precious time. I" .e mista<enly "all into i$norance) .e do not sit and .eep) but immediately rise and use t!e $olden <eys. ;, VOICE5 224. Thus do the ;rothers of the Shadow8the murderers of their Souls, the dread Dad&Duga clan. T!e pil$rim .earin$ t!e bad$e o" lo-e and c!arity is no. allo.ed to pass t!e >rst $ate. VOICE5 229. Hast thou attuned th* "eing to Humanit*Bs great ain, 5 candidate for lightT 22:. Thou hastT . . . Thou ma*est enter. Set, ere thou settest foot uon the drear* 'ath of sorrow, Mtis well thou shouldBst Arst learn the itfalls on the wa*. T!e candidate is as<ed .!et!er !e is prepared to sacri>ce all !is time and li"e in order to !elp !umanity. I" !e is) t!en !e may enter) "or all .!o enter must ser-e. CT!e pit"alls on t!e .ayD are mainly 0ualities o" a personal nature) ones t!at !e is aimin$ to replace .it! impersonal and uni-ersal ones. T!e disciple reali@es t!at !e cannot place !is "oot upon t!e 1at! be"ore !e !as learned t!e rules. #s The Voice repeats) !e !as to become t!e 1at! itsel" be"ore !e is .ort!y o" ser-in$. Once t!e aims are understood and put into practice) all c!an$esN t!e 1at! becomes clear) and t!e pil$rim) $uided by !is staB o" <no.led$e) proceeds .it! radiant !appiness. VOICE5 2!=. Crmed with the %e* of Charit*, of love and tender merc*, thou art secure "efore the gate of Dana, the gate that standeth at the entrance of the 'CTH. =e !a-e learned about t!e Golden Seys. )ana) t!e <ey o" C!arity and Lo-e) means not only t!e $i-in$ o" alms and donations to .ort!y causes) but actual participation in t!e .or< o" compassion. T!e $i-in$ o" onesel" in ser-ice is one o" t!e <eys to spiritual pro$ress. #s it says in (t the 0eet of the Master) CTo "eed t!e poor is a $ood and noble and use"ul .or<N yet to "eed t!eir souls is nobler and more use"ul t!an to "eed t!eir bodies. #ny ric! man can "eed t!e body) but only t!ose .!o <no. can "eed t!e soul. I" you <no.) it is your duty to !elp ot!ers to <no.D Gpp. &;7 &,H. VOICE5 2!1. ;ehold, 5 ha* 'ilgrimU The ortal that faceth thee is high and wide, seems eas* of access. The road that leads therethrough is straight and smooth and green. MTis li%e a sunn* glade in the dar% forest deths, a sot on earth ;' mirrored from Cmita"haBs aradise. There, nightingales of hoe and "irds of radiant lumage sing erched in green "owers, chanting success to fearless 'ilgrims. The* sing of ;odhisattvasB virtues Ave, the Avefold source of ;odhi ower, and of the seven stes in Gnowledge. T!e disciple must be in !armony) not only .it! t!e $reat purpose o" t!e 3aster) but also .it! !is brot!er disciples. He .ill be $i-en .or< to do) t!en tested) and i" "ound .antin$ !e .ill be o-erloo<ed until suc! time as !e !as learned t!e "undamental lesson in .or<in$ in !armony .it! ot!ers and in per"ormin$ e/cellently .it! .!at !e !as. CLanoo7S!ra-a<asD are t!ose .!o !a-e entered .illin$ly upon t!e pat! o" serious disciples!ip. VOICE5 2!2. 'ass onU .or thou hast "rought the %e*3 thou art secure. CT!e Brot!ers o" t!e S!ado.)D or t!e 4ed Caps) are usually called blac< ma$iciansN t!ey use t!eir considerable innate po.ers "or sel>s! purposes. # "ootnote by H1B says) T!e Bhons and )u#pas) t!e sect o" t!e C4ed Caps)D are re$arded as t!e most -ersed in sorcery. T!ey in!abit =estern and Little Tibet and B!utan. T!ey are all Tantri<as. It is 0uite ridiculous to >nd Orientals .!o !a-e -isited t!e borderlands o" Tibet) suc! as Sc!la$int.eit and ot!ers) con"usin$ t!e rites and dis$ustin$ practices o" t!ese people .it! t!e reli$ious belie"s o" t!e Eastern Lamas) t!e C2ello. Caps)D and t!eir Nar$ols or !oly men. VOICE5 2!!. Cnd to the second gate the wa* is verdant too. ;ut it is stee and winds u hill3 *ea, to its roc%* to. Ere* mists will overhang its rough and ston* height, and all the dar% "e*ond. Cs on he goes, the song of hoe soundeth more fee"le in the ilgrimBs heart. The thrill of dou"t is now uon him3 his ste less stead* grows. 2!(. ;eware of this, 5 candidateU ;eware of fear that sreadeth, li%e the "lac% and soundless wings of midnight "at, "etween the moonlight of th* Soul and th* great goal that loometh in the distance far awa*. T!e Cmoonli$!tD o" t!e soul is said to s!ine .it! a reMected li$!t "rom t!e Lo$os) and not!in$ must be allo.ed to come bet.een) else t!e soul .ill be le"t in dar<ness. ,+ VOICE5 2!,. .ear, 5 discile, %ills the will and sta*s all action. If lac%ing in the Shila virtue,8the ilgrim tris, and Garmic e""les "ruise his feet along the roc%* ath. oubt as to !o. to pro$ress paraly@es t!e pil$rim?s sli$!test eBort. So !e meditates on t!e .isdom o" t!e <ey o" S!ila) .!ic! teac!es !armony o" .ord and act and .!ic! counterbalances cause and eBect. T!us) .it! a mind re"res!ed) !e proceeds. VOICE5 2!1. ;e of sure foot, 5 candidate. In GshantiBs essence "athe th* Soul3 for now thou dost aroach the ortal of that name, the gate of fortitude and atience. CSs!anti)D t!e <ey o" patience and "ortitude) opens t!e t!ird $ate. #nd as The Voice tells us) steady ent!usiasm is needed) "or spasmodic ent!usiasm is apt to .ea<en t!e disciple?s eBorts in t!e lon$ run. # s!ort7li-ed burst o" ent!usiasm .ill spur us on "or t!e moment) but !o. "ar .ill it carry usQ =e need to sustain our steady pro$ress up t!e mountain .it! a sublime patience t!at does not loo< "or 0uic< and easy results. To use t!e analo$y o" t!e runner) .!at is needed is not t!e psyc!olo$y o" t!e runner .!o does only s!ort sprints) but t!e -ery diBerent attitude o" t!e marat!on runner .!o paces !imsel" "or t!e lon$ !aul. VOICE5 2!4. Close not thine e*es, nor lose th* sight of Dor$e3 )araBs arrows ever smite the man who has not reached Dairag*a. 3ara?s arro.s Gt!e temptations t!at t!e disciple must o-ercomeH are e-er .aitin$ to smite Gentice or testH t!e candidate .!o !as not as yet risen abo-e personal desire. T!e disciple?s talisman GorKeH is !is >/ed attention on t!e Lo$os) t!e Supreme Budd!a o" Ct!e iamond Heart)D in .!ose all en-elopin$ lo-e t!e pil$rim bat!es. T!e aspirant .!o continues to stru$$le up.ard) indiBerent to all obstacles) is lo-in$ly protected by t!e !i$!er intelli$ences .!ic!) .!en necessary) .ard oB e-il "orces. #ssistance is sometimes $i-en to an earnest pil$rim .!o !as not as yet o-ercome entirely !is indiBerence to pleasure and to pain GVaira$yaH. VOICE5 2!9. ;eware of trem"ling. B6eath the "reath of fear the %e* of Gshanti rust* grows/ the rust* %e* refuseth to unloc%. ,& 2!:. The more thou dost advance, the more th* feet itfalls will meet. The ath that leadeth on, is lighted "* one Are8the light of daring, "urning in the heart. The more one dares, the more he shall o"tain. The more he fears, the more that light shall ale8and that alone can guide. .or as the lingering sun"eam, that on the to of some tall mountain shines, is followed "* "lac% night when out it fades, so is heart&light. 2hen out it goes, a dar% and threatening shade will fall from thine own heart uon the ath, and root th* feet in terror to the sot. T!e only "ear in all t!e .orld) said t!e Stoic p!ilosop!er #ntoninus) C. . . is t!at !e !imsel" s!ould "ail to use to t!e "ull all !is -irtues and po.ers "or $ood.D Fear) t!ey say) is a "orm o" sel>s!ness. #nd so) .!en .e become less sel"7 centered) .e be$in to destroy t!e cause o" our misery. CT!e li$!t o" darin$D is t!e .ill to be$in and to "ollo. t!rou$!. To do) to dareFis a motto .ritten across t!e .arrior?s s!ield. CT42)D said one o" H1B?s Teac!ers. T!is encoura$ement .as not meant only "or t!e "e.) but also "or t!ose .!o "elt an ur$e to be$in ac0uaintin$ t!emsel-es .it! t!e CstepsD and C-irtuesD and ot!er soul7e0uipment necessary to an earnest aspirant. VOICE5 2(=. ;eware, discile, of that lethal shade. 6o light that shines from Sirit can disel the dar%ness of the nether Soul, unless all selAsh thought has <ed therefrom, and that the ilgrim saith/ I have renounced this assing frame3 I have destro*ed the cause/ the shadows cast can, as e#ects, no longer "e. .or now the last great Aght, the Anal war "etween the &i!her and the %oer Self, hath ta%en lace. ;ehold, the ver* "attleAeld is now engulfed in the great war, and is no more. Sel"7doubt is t!at Clet!al s!adeD .!ic! paraly@es t!e .ill and pre-ents t!e disciple?s "urt!er pro$ress. =e are told t!at all ad-erse "orces are o" our o.n ma<in$N t!ey are our only enemies. But once .e "ace up to t!em) and <no. t!em "or .!at t!ey are) t!ey lose t!eir po.er o-er us) "or to .it!dra. our attention "rom t!em is to depri-e t!em o" li"e "orce t!at $i-es t!em a li"e o" t!eir o.n. T!e Cbattle>eldD is .it!in oursel-es) .!ere t!e !i$!er and t!e lo.er are stru$$lin$ "or supremacy) sometimes re"erred to as t!e Csacred .ar.D VOICE5 2(1. ;ut once that thou hast assed the gate of Gshanti, ste the third is ta%en. Th* "od* is th* slave. 6ow, for the ,* fourth reare, the 'ortal of temtations which do ensnare the inner man. Ss!anti teac!es t!e aspirant patience and calmness) t!us pre-entin$ !is bein$ t!ro.n oB balance. T!e "orces o" e-il Gi$noranceH are al.ays .aitin$ "or an opportunity to undermine t!e "oundations o" Good. T!is is t!eir Kob. T!e pil$rim is no. about to "ace t!e C1ortal o" temptations.D VOICE5 2(2. 7re thou canst near that goal, "efore thine hand is lifted to uraise the fourth gateBs latch, thou must have mustered all the mental changes in th* Self and slain the arm* of the thought sensations that, su"tle and insidious, cree unas%ed within the SoulBs "right shrine. #t t!is sta$e t!e aspirant is e-er mind"ul o" t!e subtle mo-ements o" mind. =atc!"ulness is t!e <ey.ord !ere) lest upon nearin$ t!e $oal) t!e pil$rim rela/ !is !old upon t!e lo.er sel") .!ic! is e-er on t!e alert "or opportunities to lure !im bac< to !is old .ays. T!e temptations o" t!e mind are e-en $reater t!an t!ose o" a more p!ysical nature. VOICE5 2(!. If thou wouldBst not "e slain "* them, then must thou harmless ma%e th* own creations, the children of th* thoughts, unseen, imala"le, that swarm round human%ind, the rogen* and heirs to man and his terrestrial soils. Thou hast to stud* the voidness of the seeming full, the fullness of the seeming void. The Voice says t!at t!e disciple must not allo. any t!ou$!t o" self to enter !is consciousness at t!is critical sta$e. I" .e do not .ant to be imprisoned or inMuenced by t!e base and dar< t!ou$!ts o" ot!ers) .!ic! >ll t!e atmosp!ere) .e must counteract t!em by $eneratin$ positi-e ones. In ,sis -nveiled) H. 1. Bla-ats<y spea<s o" unseen "orces t!at see< to trip up t!e pil$rim on !is .ay5 CIn t!e East t!ey are <no.n as t!e VBrot!ers o" t!e S!ado..? Cunnin$) lo.) -indicti-e) and see<in$ to retaliate t!eir suBerin$s upon !umanity) t!ey become) until >nal anni!ilation) -ampires TandU $!oulsD G&5:&'H. T!ese pernicious inMuences can only be eBecti-e .!ere t!ere is .ea<ness. 1urity o" !eart and mind GpurposeH is t!e s!ield t!at protects t!e .arrior "rom t!ese ad-erse "orces. ,: 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. Name some o" t!e $olden <eys. *. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e >rst <ey) in Sans<rit. :. Gi-e t!e name o" t!e last <ey) in Sans<rit. 8. =!at is t!e C#nta!<aranaDQ 9. =!y is it important to learn t!e rules be"ore enterin$ upon t!e 1at!Q (. =!at are t!e eBects o" "ear upon t!e candidateQ (. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e Csacred .arDQ =!en a man !as mastered !imsel") !e is per"ectly at ease in cold) in !eat) in pleasure or pain) in !onor or in dis$race. FB!a$a-ad Gita ,8 Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T!ree Lesson &* VOICE5 5 fearless Csirant, loo% dee within the well of thine own heart, and answer. Gnowest thou of Self the owers, 5 thou erceiver of eFternal shadowsT CT!e Heart CenterD .rites H. 4!odes =allace in !er boo< Ho' to 8nter the Silence Cis t!e center "or re$eneration. T!is) t!e dar< incubatin$ c!amber .!ere t!e synt!esis o" emotion and .ill is consummated. T!is) t!e #ltar .!ere consumin$ >res transmute disease and po-erty into li"e and muni>cence. T!is) t!e Transition Center "rom li"e to li"eD Gp. &&&H. VOICE5 2((. If thou dost not8then art thou lost. =e must learn t!e needs o" t!e !i$!er Sel" Kust as .e <no. about t!ose o" t!e outer personality. T!e needs o" t!e inner Sel" must necessarily be o" a spiritual natureN t!ere are -irtues to be ac0uired and speci>c <eys to be used be"ore .e can stand "ace to "ace .it! our true Sel". 3abel Collins says in !er boo< Throu#h Gates of Gold5 T!e $od) $i-en !is ri$!t place) .ill so inspire and $uide t!is e/traordinary creature) so educate and de-elop it) so "orce it into action and reco$nition o" its <ind) t!at it .ill ma<e you tremble .!en you reco$ni@e t!e po.er t!at !as been a.a<ened .it!in you. VOICE5 2(,. .or, on 'ath fourth, the lightest "ree@e of assion or desire will stir the stead* light uon the ure white walls of Soul. The smallest wave of longing or regret for Ka*aBs gifts illusive, along Antahkarana8the ath that lies "etween th* Sirit and th* self, the highwa* of sensations, the rude arousers of Ahankara8a thought as <eeting as the lightning <ash will ma%e thee th* three ri@es forfeit8the ri@es thou hast won. 2(1. .or %now that the 7T7+6C- %nows no change. ,9 #s you may !a-e already noticed) t!ere is constant repetition as to bein$ pure in t!ou$!t and constant in actionN to lose t!e r!yt!m is to bac<slide. #nd so) t!e disciple is constantly reminded to <eep !is eyes on t!e $oal. T!e (ntahkarana is t!e brid$e) t!e !i$!.ay bet.een t!e !i$!er Sel" and t!e lo.er sel") .!ic!) i" ne$lected) is .ea<ened by $natli<e t!ou$!ts t!at pre-ent t!e disciple?s consciousness "rom crossin$ t!e brid$e. T!e Eternal does not MuctuateN it is silent) deep) and c!an$eless. VOICE5 2(4. The eight dire miseries forsa%e for evermore. If not, to wisdom, sure, thou canBst not come, nor *et to li"eration, said the great -ord, the Tathagata of erfection, he who has followed in the footstes of his redecessors. 2(9. Stern and eFacting is the virtue of Dairag*a. If thou its ath wouldBst master, thou must %ee th* mind and th* ercetions far freer than "efore from %illing action. Budd!ists list t!e ei$!t dire miseries as malice) slot!) pride) doubt) desire) delusion) i$norance) and "uture li-es. C. =. Leadbeater obser-es in Talks on the Path of 5ccultism, Vol.* t!at it may seem stran$e to list C"uture li-esD as one o" t!e dire miseries. He e/plains t!at t!is is because eart!ly li"e is misery .!en compared .it! t!e sublime Koys o" t!e !i$!er planes. Vaira#ya is t!e "ourt! $ate) indiBerence to pleasure and to pain. To <ill all action .ould be to stop pro$ress) to stop impro-in$N t!is .ould indeed pre-ent t!e disciple "rom reac!in$ !is $oal. VOICE5 2(:. Thou hast to saturate th*self with ure Cla*a, "ecome as one with 6atureBs Soul&Thought. Ct one with it thou art invinci"le/ in searation, thou "ecomest the la*ground of Samvriti, origin of all the worldBs delusions. To saturate onesel" in Cpure #layaD is to blend utterly .it! pure t!ou$!t) "or God7Consciousness is e-ery.!ere. E-ery bus! is a>re .it! GodN stri<e a stone and it .ill re-eal a spar<. I" t!e >re o" t!e sun .ere to be e/tin$uis!ed .e .ould all peris!N i" t!e >re o" spirit t!at animates man .as to be continually ne$lected) it too could $o outN t!is .ould be a spiritual deat!. H1B says t!at Samvriti is only Crelati-e trut!.D VOICE5 2,=. Cll is imermanent in man eFcet the ure "right essence of Cla*a. )an is its cr*stal ra*3 a "eam of light immaculate within, a form of cla* material uon the ,( lower surface. That "eam is th* life&guide and th* true Self, the 2atcher and the silent Thin%er, the victim of th* lower Self. The Soul cannot "e hurt "ut through th* erring "od*3 control and master "oth, and thou art safe when crossing to the nearing Eate of ;alance. T!e soul?s pro$ress is pre-ented only by t!e disciple?s ne$lect o" !is <armic duties) t!e 0uality o" !is t!ou$!ts and actions) and in not "ully understandin$ t!e <no.led$e .!ic! eac! $olden <ey possesses. T!e personality peris!es a"ter eac! incarnationN a ne. $arment GbodyH is ours at eac! ne. birt!. T!e E$o lasts t!rou$! .!ole series o" !uman incarnations but t!e 3onad lasts lon$er. T!e CGate o" BalanceD is t!e 1armita o" Ss!anti) Cpatience s.eet) t!at nau$!t can ruZe.D VOICE5 2,1. ;e of good cheer, 5 daring ilgrim to the other shore. Heed not the whiserings of )araBs hosts3 wave o# the temters, those ill&natured Srites, the $ealous -hama*in in endless sace. In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) t!e L!amayin are described as Celementals and e-il spirits ad-erse to men.D T!ey are said to be en-ious o" !umans and t!eir bodies Gmental) emotional and p!ysicalH) .!ic! are $i-en t!em to use in t!e process o" ad-ancin$ to !i$!er sp!eres. T!e L!amayin) or elementals) !a-e t!e po.er to instill "ear in a pil$rim but not!in$ moreN t!e pil$rim !as to <no. t!is be"ore !e starts on !is Kourney lest !e be t!ro.n oB course by 3ara?s !osts o" tempters. VOICE5 2,2. Hold ArmU Thou nearest now the middle ortal, the gate of 2oe, with its ten thousand snares. T!e Cmiddle portalD as .e !a-e already learned is called Vaira#ya) and t!e aspirant is endea-orin$ to >t t!e <ey to t!e loc< o" CindiBerence to pleasure and to pain.D Here temptation !as a t!ousand "orms) and 3ara .ill use t!em all. T!e role o" temptation is necessary and enables only t!e stron$ to pass t!rou$! t!ese portals) .!ic! lead to spiritual ric!es and po.ers beyond ima$inin$. VOICE5 2,!. Have master* oBer th* thoughts, 5 striver for erfection, if thou wouldBst cross its threshold. #t t!is point) a candidate could ima$ine t!at !e or s!e .as pro$ressin$ -ery .ell .!en t!ey .ere not) or t!ey could also ima$ine t!at t!ey .ere "ailin$ .!en in trut! ,; t!ey .ere succeedin$X #nd so) t!e ad-ice to aspirants at all times is to !a-e complete mastery o-er t!eir t!ou$!ts. VOICE5 2,(. Have master* oBer th* Soul, 5 see%er after truths und*ing, if thou wouldst reach the goal. 2,,. Th* Soul&ga@e centre on the 5ne 'ure -ight, the -ight that is free from a#ection, and use th* golden Ge*. T!e description C"ree "rom aBectionD means t!at be"ore t!e pil$rim is able to cut !imsel" asunder "rom t!e pull o" eart!) !e must !a-e ac0uired a uni-ersal sense o" lo-eFt!e <ind .!ic! does not diBerentiate) and embraces all bein$s. In trut!) not!in$ is really separated) "or all bein$s and all t!in$s abide in t!e One. VOICE5 2,1. The drear* tas% is done, th* la"our well&nigh oBer. The wide a"*ss that gaed to swallow thee is almost sanned. E-en at t!is $reat !ei$!t t!e soul still labors) and temptations may still lur< around t!e corner. But t!e soul bra-ely pus!es on .it! eyes >/ed upon t!e $oal. VOICE5 2,4. Thou hast now crossed the moat that circles round the gate of human assions. Thou hast now conLuered )ara and his furious host. #s t!e disciple nears spiritual -ictory) care must be ta<en t!at t!e lo.er -e!icles are not o-erstrained "or t!ey are necessary to attain t!e >nal -ictory. VOICE5 2,9. Thou hast removed ollution from thine heart and "led it from imure desire. ;ut, 5 thou glorious com"atant, th* tas% is not *et done. ;uild high, -anoo, the wall that shall hedge in the Hol* Isle, the dam that will rotect th* mind from ride and satisfaction at thoughts of the great feat achieved. T!e .arrior is .ell on t!e .ay no.) !a-in$ o-ercome muc! in !is lo.er natureN but t!ere are still temptations) t!ose o" t!e mind bein$ especially subtle. #nd so) t!e aspirant is cautioned to Cbuild !i$! t!e .all t!at s!all !ed$e in t!e Holy Isle.D T!is ,, Isle can be e/plained as an area o" metap!ysical "orcesFa center o" po.er $radually built up .!ic! becomes t!e "ocus o" t!e soul?s acti-ities. T!is is sometimes called t!e C4in$71ass7NotD and reMects t!e ultimate limits o" understandin$ possible to any indi-idual by reason o" !is e-olution. VOICE5 2,:. C sense of ride would mar the wor%. C*e, "uild it strong, lest the Aerce rush of "attling waves, that mount and "eat its shore from out the great 2orld )a*aBs 5cean, swallow u the ilgrim and the isle8*ea, even when the victor*Bs achieved. E-en at t!is !i$! le-el) t!ere can still e/ist a subtle sense o" pride at !a-in$ pro$ressed t!is "arFand pride bein$ a personal attribute) belon$s to t!e t!in$s o" t!e eart! and must t!ere"ore be le"t be!ind. VOICE5 21=. Thine Isle is the deer, th* thoughts the hounds that wear* and ursue his rogress to the stream of -ife. 2oe to the deer that is oBerta%en "* the "ar%ing Aends "efore he reach the Dale of +efuge8Wnana )arga, ath of ure %nowledge named. =oe to !im .!o is sidetrac<ed by passin$ t!ou$!ts) .!ic! delay t!e pil$rim "rom reac!in$ t!e CIsleD .!erein d.ells t!e Sel". Once t!is !oly isle is reac!ed) not!in$ can come near or !arm t!e -ictorious pil$rim. T!e C!oundD yelpin$ at t!e !eels o" t!e deer represents conscience) e-er $oadin$ t!e pil$rim on in t!e di-ine 0uest o" Sel"!ood. No person can e-er truly rest until !e !as placed !is "oot on t!e pat! o" return. i-ine unrest .ill pla$ue !im until !is eyes searc! "or t!e summit o" t!e !oly mountain. T!e "ollo.in$ passa$e "rom Francis T!ompson?s poem CT!e Hound o" Hea-enD describes t!is -a$ue yearnin$ and unrest. I Med Him) do.n t!e ni$!ts and do.n t!e daysN I Med Him) do.n t!e arc!es o" t!e yearsN I Med Him) do.n t!e labyrint!ine .ays O" my o.n mindN and in t!e mist o" tears I !id "rom Him) and under runnin$ lau$!ter. Ep -istaed !opes I spedN #nd s!ot) precipitated) #do.n Titanic $looms o" c!asm]d "ears) From t!ose stron$ Feet t!at "ollo.ed) "ollo.ed a"ter. ,' VOICE5 211. 7re thou canst settle in Wnana )arga and call it thine, th* Soul has to "ecome as the rie mango fruit/ as soft and sweet as its "right golden ul for othersB woes, as hard as that fruitBs stone for thine own throes and sorrows, 5 ConLueror of 2eal and 2oe. Anana 3ar$a is t!e pat! o" true kno'led#e. =!en t!e pain o" ot!ers and t!eir needs become more important t!an our o.nFand all ot!er li"e .!ic! 3ot!er Nature !olds dearFt!en t!e !ei$!tened sensiti-ity o" our soul .ill be an indication t!at .e are ready to ser-e. VOICE5 212. )a%e hard th* Soul against the snares of Self3 deserve for it the name of Diamond&Soul. 21!. .or, as the diamond "uried dee within the thro""ing heart of earth can never mirror "ac% the earthl* lights, so are th* mind and Soul3 lunged in Wnana )arga, these must mirror nought of )a*aBs realm illusive. Ciamond SoulD is an appellation meanin$ per"ection) a title t!at is commonly $i-en to t!e Supreme Budd!a. It is also $i-en to t!ose .!ose .!ole personality !as been mer$ed in Anana 3ar$a Gtrue <no.led$eH) t!ereby becomin$ one .it! t!e si/t! and se-ent! 1rinciples) #tma and Budd!i. VOICE5 21(. 2hen thou hast reached that state, the 'ortals that thou hast to conLuer on the 'ath <ing oen wide their gates to let thee ass, and 6atureBs strongest mights ossess no ower to sta* th* course. Thou wilt "e master of the sevenfold 'ath3 "ut not till then, 5 candidate for trials assing seech. T!e trials and diOculties are not so $reat as to be impossible to o-ercome. T!ese "urt!er trials are o" a <ind un<no.n to t!e personality and only <no.n to t!e E$o) or !i$!er Sel". For) in t!is pil$rima$e o" t!e soul) a"ter t!e lo.er sel" is >rst con0uered) t!e E$o must $o on to scale "urt!er !ei$!ts) ones un<no.n to t!e personality. But i" t!e >rst part o" t!e Kourney !as been .ell understood and !as pro-ided t!e pil$rim .it! t!e necessary spiritual <no.led$e and stren$t!) t!e rest o" t!e climb .ill be .ort!.!ile) .!ate-er t!e cost. '+ VOICE5 21,. Till then, a tas% far harder still awaits thee/ thou hast to feel th*self C--&TH5JEHT, and *et eFile all thoughts from out th* Soul. 211. Thou hast to reach that AFit* of mind in which no "ree@e, however strong, can waft an earthl* thought within. Thus uriAed, the shrine must of all action, sound, or earthl* light "e void3 eBen as the "utter<*, oBerta%en "* the frost, falls lifeless at the threshold8so must all earthl* thoughts fall dead "efore the fane. T!e candidate !as no. reac!ed t!e sta$e .!ere any random t!ou$!t .ould mar "urt!er pro$ress. #s The Voice says) CT!e mind is t!e $reat slayer o" t!e 4eal. Let t!e disciple slay t!e slayer.D Once !a-in$ arri-ed at t!is sta$e o" deep meditation) any t!ou$!t .ould stir t!e steady Mame and mar "urt!er pro$ressF"or in t!e Silence) CT!e Eternal <no.s no c!an$e.D 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. Name t!e ei$!t dire miseries. *. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" t!e Cot!er s!oreQD :. Name t!e <ey to t!e 3iddle 1ortal. 8. =!at is meant by t!e CHoly IsleQD 9. =!at does Anana73ar$a meanQ RRRRRRRRRR T!e race o" man<ind !as its "oot!old on t!e eart! in p!ysical li"e. #nd t!e "eet .it! .!ic! !e stands or mo-e on eart! must be .as!ed in t!e blood o" t!e !eart be"ore !e can stand in t!e presence o" t!e 3asters. T!e !i$!er sel" is t!at .!ic! stands) <eepin$ its !old upon t!e p!ysical li"e by dominatin$ its bodily "orm. #nd .!en it !as ac0uired po.er and stren$t! by standin$ amid t!e turmoil o" t!is lo.est >eld o" action) it desires to ma<e t!e $reat essay) and >nds it can only do so by destroyin$ t!ose .eeds .!ic! $ro. ric!ly in t!e t.o lo.er >elds o" its nature. It is not $rie" or sorro. or suBerin$ .!ic! ma<es t!e !eart o" t!e =arrior bleedN !e !as tau$!t !imsel" to endure t!ese uns!a<en. It is t!e dra.in$ out o" t!e !eart t!e source o" e-il and e/pun$in$ it. T!is is li<e dra.in$ t!e -ery li"e7blood) and o"ten it may seem too $reat a strain upon t!e .!ole nature to be endured. 3abel Collins) 5ur Glorious 0uture '& Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T!ree Lesson &: VOICE5 ;ehold it written/ 214. 7re the gold <ame can "urn with stead* light, the lam must stand well guarded in a sot free from all wind. 7Fosed to shifting "ree@e, the $et will <ic%er and the Luivering <ame cast shades decetive, dar% and everchanging, on the SoulBs white shrine. Here steadiness o" mind leads to t!e Virya 1ortal) .!ere t!e =ill) t!e dauntless ener$y) >$!ts its .ay to t!e supernal trut!. CTo reac! t!is Fount o" o-ercomin$ po.er)D says Helen 4!odes =allace in Ho' to 8nter the Silence) Cre0uires t!e !i$! potential o" lo-e to.ard God. T!us .e are c!allen$ed at t!e -ery outset to produce a moti-e po.er ade0uate to climb t!e spiritual !ei$!ts. T!e ne. .orld to .!ic! !e see<s admittance is $uarded by la. . . . It cannot be bou$!t) nor caKoled) nor intimidated nor commanded. 3an earns it by placin$ !is o.n li"e in sacri>ceD Gp. &;'H. VOICE5 219. Cnd then, 5 thou ursuer of the truth, th* )ind&Soul will "ecome as a mad elehant, that rages in the $ungle. )ista%ing forest trees for living foes, he erishes in his attemts to %ill the ever&shifting shadows dancing on the wall of sunlit roc%s. #t t!is critical sta$e) t!e mind7body may rise up and resist as ne-er be"ore) "or it is a stru$$le to t!e deat!. T!e candidate) i" not "orti>ed .it! uns!a<able sel"con>dence) mi$!t ima$ine all <inds o" obstacles bloc<in$ t!e .ay) .!ere t!ere are) in "act) none at all. # lac< o" "ait! and a $roundless "ear can undo muc! $ood .or<. VOICE5 21:. ;eware, lest in the care of Self th* Soul should lose her foothold on the soil of Deva&%nowledge. 24=. ;eware, lest in forgetting S7-., th* Soul lose oBer its trem"ling mind control, and forfeit thus the due fruition of its conLuests. '* 241. ;eware of changeU .or change is th* great foe. This change will Aght thee o#, and throw thee "ac%, out of the 'ath thou treadest, dee into viscous swams of dou"t. Ce-a7<no.led$eD re"ers to <no.led$e o" t!e i-ine 1resence underlyin$ all mani"estation. T!ere is a measure o" dan$er !ere) .!erein t!e candidate desires to <no. !o. "ar !e !as pro$ressed on t!e 1at!) because curiosity o" t!is <ind may cause t!e candidate to lose !is "oot!old on t!e 1at!. T!ere is anot!er .arnin$ "or t!ose .!o are nearin$ t!e $oal) and t!at is to keep the rhythm) not to c!an$e t!e basis) t!e essential attitude) .it! .!ic! t!ey started. T!ey must be constant) e-er buildin$ t!e up.ard spiral) "or to "alter no. .ould brea< t!e r!yt!m and t!e .or< .ould !a-e to be started all o-er a$ain. But i" t!is should !appen) t!e aspirant is ad-ised not to moan and resort to sel" pity) but endea-or to pic< up t!e r!yt!m a$ain .it!out any .aste o" time) and be"ore lon$ !e is on !is .ay a$ain. 242. 'reare, and "e forewarned in time. If thou hast tried and failed, 5 dauntless Aghter, *et lose not courage/ Aght on and to the charge return again, and *et again. 24!. The fearless warrior, his recious life&"lood oo@ing from his wide and gaing wounds, will still attac% the foe, drive him from out his stronghold, vanLuish him, ere he himself eFires. Cct then, all *e who fail and su#er, act li%e him3 and from the stronghold of *our Soul, chase all *our foes awa*8am"ition, anger, hatred, eBen to the shadow of desire8when even *ou have failed. . . T!e "earless .arrior >$!ts on) no matter .!at t!e cost no.) "or !e is too "ar alon$ t!e 1at! to turn bac<. Better to "all >$!tin$ t!an to turn bac< in "ear. For !is "oes) .!ic! !e !as .ell ni$! con0uered) .ill not return to taunt !im in t!e ne/t incarnation. His battle .ill be .on .!en once a$ain !e treads t!e 1at!. The Voice stresses t!e "act t!at not t!e smallest eBort is e-er lost) t!at .e can create t!is day Gin t!is incarnationH c!ances "or t!e morro. Gour ne/t li"eH. VOICE5 24(. +emem"er, thou that Aghtest for manBs li"eration, each failure is success, and each sincere attemt wins its reward in time. The hol* germs that srout and grow unseen in the discileBs soul, their stal%s waF strong at each new trial, the* "end li%e reeds "ut never "rea%, nor can the* eBer "e lost. ;ut when the hour has struc% the* "lossom forth. ': #s you may !a-e obser-ed) The Voice repeats o-er and o-er a$ain t!at i" t!e candidate s!ould "ail) ne-ert!eless) !e !as $ained $round. Failure is possible) but it is not "or nau$!t i" t!e candidate tries a$ain and re"uses to $i-e up. #ll t!e eBort put "ort! in learnin$ to .or< .it! compassion and understandin$ and selMessness !as already become a part o" !imsel". Not!in$Fno oneFcan depri-e a soul o" t!ose t!in$s t!at it !as earned) "or t!ose t!in$s .!ic! it !as earned t!rou$! sel"7 sacri>ce are in-iolable. CT!e !oly $ermsD Gto use 1lato?s termH are spiritual ideas and aspirations. VOICE5 24,. ;ut if thou camest reared, then have no fear. 241. Henceforth th* wa* is clear right through the $irya gate, the Afth one of the Seven 'ortals. Thou art now on the wa* that leadeth to the Dh*ana haven, the siFth, the ;odhi 'ortal. 244. The Dh*ana gate is li%e an ala"aster vase, white and transarent3 within there "urns a stead* golden Are, the <ame of 'ra$na, that radiates from Ctman. =it! dauntless ener$y t!e pil$rim pus!es on) "or no. !e is nearin$ t!e end o" !is Kourney and -ictory is at !and. He enters t!e >"t! $ate o" Virya) lea-in$ be!ind t!e plane o" illusion. He is no. about to enter t!e si/t! $ate o" !yana) a"ter .!ic! t!ere is only one more to enter. )hyana is t!e CBod!i 1ortalDN !ere is .!ere per"ect =isdom e/ists. T!e Calabaster -aseD indicates t!e Budd!ic body or s!eat!s .!erein burns a steady $olden li$!tN t!e lamp !as been lit. VOICE5 249. Thou art that vase. 24:. Thou hast estranged th*self from o"$ects of the senses, traveled on the 'ath of seeing, on the 'ath of hearing, and standest in the light of Gnowledge, Thou hast now reached Titi%sha state. 29=. 5 6ar$ol, thou art safe. Ha-in$ created a Budd!ic body) a body o" Li$!t) t!e candidate is no more entan$led in t!e mes!es o" !is lo.er sel") "or !e is no. blessed Gt!rou$! !is o.n eBortsH .it! per"ect indiBerence to pleasure and to pain. T!e suBerin$ o" eart! t!rou$! i$norance !as come to an end. T!e CTiti<s!a stateD Gsupreme indiBerenceH !as been reac!ed) and t!e NarKol Gone .!o !as attained t!rou$! contemplationH is allo.ed to pass on in sa"ety. For as t!e "airy tales tell us) only t!e "e. bra-e ones are '8 able to scale t!e mountain pea< and enter t!e impre$nable abode t!at lies at t!e summit. But .ill t!ey .is! to stayQ VOICE5 291. Gnow, ConLueror of Sins, once that a Sowanee hath crossBd the seventh 'ath, all 6ature thrills with $o*ous awe and feels su"dued. The silver star now twin%les out the news to the night&"lossoms, the streamlet to the e""les riles out the tale3 dar% ocean&waves will roar it to the roc%s surf&"ound, scent&laden "ree@es sing it to the vales, and statel* ines m*steriousl* whiser/ C )aster has arisen, a )CST7+ 5. TH7 DCS. # So.anee Ga Srotapatt^H is one .!o practices So.an) t!e >rst pat! in !yana. GeoBrey Barbor<a says in The )ivine Plan) CSrotLpatti is t!e state o" entry into t!e current leadin$ to t!e VOcean)? !ence t!e >rst o" t!e "our pat!s to Nir-anaD Gp. 8:;H. T!ere"ore) a So.anee is one .!o !as entered t!e current leadin$ to Nir-ana. T!e Csil-er starD is t!e Star o" Initiation. C3aster o" t!e ayD is one .!o is sa"e in t!e present e-olutionary cycleN one .!o !as attained to -ictory o-er !imsel" durin$ t!is cycle o" rounds and races) and is ready to enter into ot!er e/istences beyond our <en. =!en a soul rises to t!is $reat !ei$!t o" attainment) all sentient bein$s and t!e matter .!ic! ma<e up mot!er eart! sense a stirrin$ o" ne. li"eN t!e eart! !as recei-ed a ne. impetusN anot!er sa-ior is born .!o .ill brin$ peace and lo-e and t!us assist t!e Hierarc!y in speedin$ up t!e e-olution o" t!e planet. VOICE5 292. He standeth now li%e a white illar to the west, uon whose face the rising Sun of thought eternal oureth forth its Arst most glorious waves. His mind, li%e a "ecalmed and "oundless ocean, sreadeth out in shoreless sace. He holdeth life and death in his strong hand. 29!. Sea, He is might*. The living ower made free in him, that ower which is HI)S7-., can raise the ta"ernacle of illusion high a"ove the gods, a"ove great ;rahma and Indra. No he shall surel* reach his great rewardU T!e symbol o" t!e East is o"ten used to typi"y t!e position o" t!e Great =!ite Brot!er!ood. T!e adKecti-e C.!iteD is a time7!onored symbol t!at !as o"ten been used to indicate purity and spiritual 0ualities. It !as not!in$ to do .it! s<in color or et!nicity. T!e Ctabernacle o" illusionD is manN only t!rou$! !uman eBort can a soul '9 reac! Sel"7Sno.led$e. T!ere is no ot!er .ay to reac! union .it! i-inity t!an t!rou$! understandin$) and a !uman bein$ is t!e only creature made in t!e ima$e o" God and) t!ere"ore) a.le to seek and to >nd union .it! Him. T!e darin$ pil$rim !as tra-eled "ar) and t!ere is no limit to t!e !ei$!t to .!ic! !e may no. rise. He .ill be able to lea-e t!is dar< planet be!ind !im and $o on !is $lorious .ay. Bra!ma and Indra represent $reat creati-e "orcesF$ods. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS 5 &. =!at is t!e meanin$ o" e-a7<no.led$eQ *. Name t!e si/t! $ate. :. =!y is Cr!yt!mD necessary to spiritual pro$ressQ 8. =!at is t!e Titi<s!a stateQ 9. =!at is t!e Srotapatti stateQ RRRRRRRRRR T!rou$! $reat cycles o" time successi-e incarnations in $ross matter may yet be !is lotN but !e no lon$er desires t!em) t!e crude .is! to li-e !as darted "rom !im. =!en !e ta<es upon !im man?s "orm in t!e Mes! !e does it in t!e pursuit o" a di-ine obKect) to accomplis! t!e .or< o" Ct!e 3asters)D and "or no ot!er end. FLi#ht 5n The Path '( Study Notes on The Voice of the Silence J Fra$ment T!ree Lesson &8 VOICE5 29(. Shall he not use the gifts which it confers for his own rest and "liss, his well&earnBd weal and glor*8he, the su"duer of the great DelusionT #$ain) The Voice repeats t!e $reat c!oice "acin$ t!e candidate. =ill !e claim !is .ell7earned re.ardForFturn !is bac< upon t!e pri@eQ VOICE5 29,. Nay, 5 thou candidate for 6atureBs hidden loreU If one would follow in the stes of hol* Tathagata, those gifts and owers are not for Self. 291. 2ouldBst thou thus dam the waters "orn on SumeruT Shalt thou divert the stream for thine own sa%e, or send it "ac% to its rime source along the crests of c*clesT I" !e .ould "ollo. in t!e steps o" Budd!a) all t!e po.ers t!at .ill be besto.ed upon !im must be used in selMess ser-ice. T!ese po.ers) o" course) are really sel"besto.ed) i.e.) earned t!rou$! a pure and dedicated li"e. #ll t!is po.er lies dormant .it!in t!e sleepin$ blossoms) .!ic! are our c!a<ras. =e are told t!at 3ount 3eru or Sumeru) is called t!e 3ount o" t!e Gods) a source "rom .!ic! Mo.s all spiritual <no.led$e) and .!ic! continues to Mo. into and t!rou$! e-ery member o" t!e Brot!er!ood and must e-entually reac! e-ery possessor o" t!e i-ine Spar<. #nd so) in order to carry on t!e $reat .or<) t!e candidate is e-er on t!e alert in .atc!in$ and a.aitin$ opportunities to pass on t!e <no.led$e !e !as $ained. T!us t!e stream continues to Mo. "reely "or all .!o see< to 0uenc! t!eir t!irst "or spiritual <no.led$e. VOICE5 294. If thou wouldBst have that stream of hard&earnBd %nowledge, of 2isdom heaven&"orn, remain sweet running waters, thou shouldBst not leave it to "ecome a stagnant ond. '; Once t!e candidate !as contacted t!e i-ine Source) and it !as started to Mo. "reely t!rou$! !im) it .ould be un.ise to bloc< it oB by any sel>s! moti-e. He s!ould be constantly a.are t!at !e is but an instrument "or its passa$e to t!e .orld. 299. Gnow, if of Cmita"ha, the ;oundless Cge, thou wouldBst "ecome co&wor%er, then must thou shed the light acLuired, li%e to the ;odhisattvas twain, uon the san of all three worlds. #mitab!a is t!e Cun7measurable) bla@in$) splendour in boundless spaceD .!ic! mani"ested in Gautama Budd!a and in ot!er CSons o" Li$!t.D CT!e Bod!isatt-as t.ainD in one sense re"ers to t!e t.o Great Brot!ers) t!e Lord Gautama and t!e Lord 3aitreya) .!o represent t!e middle principle in t!e Hierarc!y) t!e "ormer dealin$ .it! t!e !i$!er .orlds) and t!e latter turned do.n.ards to deal .it! t!e personalities o" t!e lo.er planes. T!e Cspan o" all t!ree .orldsD re"ers to t!e terrestrial) astral) and spiritual planes. T!is may !a-e somet!in$ to do .it! t!e t!ree7 cro.ned !eaddress .orn by t!e popes) si$ni"yin$ t!eir <no.led$e o") and rulers!ip o-er) t!e t!ree planes. T!ese symbols are -ery ancient and !a-e been <no.n only to t!e "e.. VOICE5 29:. Gnow that the stream of suerhuman %nowledge and the Deva&2isdom thou hast won, must, from th*self, the channel of Cla*a, "e oured forth into another "ed. 2:=. Gnow, 5 6ar$ol, thou of the Secret 'ath, its ure fresh waters must "e used to sweeter ma%e the 5ceanBs "itter waves8that might* sea of sorrow formed of the tears of men. T!e Cstream o" super!uman <no.led$eD re"ers to t!e =isdom o" t!e Gods) e-a7=isdom. T!is super7<no.led$e creates a Csuper7man.D He is no. a s!ep!erd see<in$ !is Moc<. His eye is sin$le) .it! no ot!er t!ou$!t but to !elp suBerin$ man<ind climb out o" dar<ness into li$!t. VOICE5 2:1. ClasU when once thou hast "ecome li%e the AFBd star in highest heaven, that "right celestial or" must shine from out the satial deths for all8save for itself3 give light to all, "ut ta%e from none. 2:2. ClasU when once thou hast "ecome li%e the ure snow in mountain vales, cold and unfeeling to the touch, warm and rotective to the seed that sleeeth dee "eneath its ', "osom8Btis now that snow which must receive the "iting frost, the northern "lasts, thus shielding from their shar and cruel tooth the earth that holds the romised harvest, the harvest that will feed the hungr*. He .!o !as attained to t!e position o" a S!inin$ One must) li<e a star) s!ed !is bene>cent rays upon all man<ind) as<in$ not!in$ in return. T!e aspirant is un"eelin$ only in t!e sense t!at !e !as learned) by "ocusin$ !is mind upon t!e spiritual Sel") to .it!dra. unnecessary attention "rom !imsel". #nd so) .!en trouble comes !is .ay) !e is not aBected in t!e .ay an unenli$!tened person .ould be) "or !e understands t!at suBerin$ is brou$!t about by .ron$ t!ou$!t and .ron$ action. #n aspirant is $lad to "ace up to !is bad <arma) "or t!en !e can be$in to replace it .it! $ood. He is e-er mind"ul o" t!e deity in man) and t!ere"ore e-er ea$er to assist !is brot!ers in re$ainin$ t!eir $od!ead. VOICE5 2:!. Self&doomed to live through future Galas, unthan%ed and unerceived "* man3 wedged as a stone with countless other stones which form the Euardian 2all, such is th* future if the seventh gate thou assest. ;uilt "* the hands of man* )asters of Comassion, raised "* their tortures, "* their "lood cemented, it shields man%ind, since man is man, rotecting it from further and far greater miser* and sorrow. In t!e $lossary o" The Voice) H1B describes t!e Guardian =all as C. . . t!e .all o" protection. It is tau$!t t!at t!e accumulated eBorts o" lon$ $enerations o" 2o$is) Saints) and #depts) especially o" t!e Nirmana<ayasF!a-e created) so to say) a .all o" protection around man<ind) .!ic! .all s!ields man<ind in-isibly "rom still .orse e-ils.D T!e Secret )octrine says t!at all t!e e-ils are man7made) e-er since man became 3an) and .as able to t!in<. #nd so it is su$$ested t!at .e s!ould endea-or to raise our t!in<in$ in order to .ea<en t!e attraction o" t!ese lo.er "orces. VOICE5 2:(.2ithal man sees it not, will not erceive it, nor will he heed the word of 2isdom . . . for he %nows it not. 2:,. ;ut thou hast heard it, thou %nowest all, 5 thou of eager guileless Soul. . . . . and thou must choose. Then hear%en *et again. '' 3an is slo. to see t!e Li$!t. =e are still da@@led by t!is .orld o" illusion .it! its myriad enticements. But in time) t!e circus o" t!is li"e .ill be$in to pall) and .e .ill loo< "or somet!in$ more stable. T!e a.a<ened ones <no. t!at t!e sublime Koys o" t!e spiritual li"e out.ei$! t!e temporary pleasures o" .orldly e/istence. VOICE5 2:1. 5n SowanBs 'ath, 5 Srotaatti, thou art secure. C*e, on that Karga, where nought "ut dar%ness meets the wear* ilgrim, where torn "* thorns the hands dri "lood, the feet are cut "* shar un*ielding <ints, and )ara wields his strongest arms8there lies a great reward immediately "e*ond. In t!e abo-e -erse) t!e .ord C3ar$aD re"ers to t!e pat! o" !oliness. Only t!e most selMess and dedicated can tread t!is pat!) "or it demands all that you are) and no !al" measures. To $i-e up all is to $ain all. T!e re.ard a.aitin$ t!e inner man cannot be ima$ined by ordinary men. VOICE5 2:4. Calm and unmoved the 'ilgrim glideth u the stream that to 6irvana leads. He %noweth that the more his feet will "leed, the whiter will himself "e washed. He %noweth well that after seven short and <eeting "irths 6irvana will "e his. . . . 2:9. Such is the Dh*ana 'ath, the haven of the Sogi, the "lessed goal that Srotaattis crave. T!e candidate arri-es at t!is state not only t!rou$! selMess deeds o" lo-e and c!arity) but also by t!e 1at! o" !yana GmeditationH) t!rou$! .!ic! !e steadily .or<s !is .ay up.ard to t!e Budd!ic plane. VOICE5 2::. 6ot so when he hath crossed and won the Cr*ahata ath. !==. There Glesha is destro*ed for ever, TanhaBs roots torn out. ;ut sta*, Discile . . . Set one word. Canst thou destro* divine C5)'CSSI56T Comassion is no attri"ute. It is the -C2 of -C2S8eternal Harmon* Cla*aBs S7-.3 a shoreless universal essence, the light of everlasting +ight, and Atness of all things, the law of love eternal. &++ CSles!aD is lo-e o" t!e pleasures o" t!is eart!) and Ctan!aD is t!e desire to li-e in p!ysical "orm. Compassion stands !ere as an abstract impersonal la. .!ose nature is absolute !armony. VOICE5 !=1. The more thou dost "ecome at one with it, th* "eing melted in its ;7I6E, the more th* Soul unites with that which IS, the more thou wilt "ecome C5)'CSSI56 C;S5-JT7. To become CCompassion #bsoluteD is to "eel t!e utter need to communicate t!is compassion to all man<ind so t!at t!ey also may learn to "eel merci"ul and tender to.ard t!eir brot!ers and all t!e ot!er <in$doms o" nature. VOICE5 !=2. Such is the Cr*a 'ath, 'ath of the ;uddhas of erfection. T!e C#rya 1at!D is t!e ori$inal <no.led$e as tau$!t by t!e #ryans) and as "ollo.ed by Budd!a and t!e 3aster Aesus. VOICE5 !=!. 2ithal what mean the sacred scrolls which ma%e thee sa*T !=(. 5KU I "elieve it is not all the Crhats that get of the 6irvanic 'ath the sweet fruition. !=,. 5KU I "elieve that the 6irvana&Dharma is entered not "* all the ;uddhas. E-en an #r!at could "ail on t!e Nir-anic 1at!) "or !e must continually practice t!e Virtues and <eep in mind t!at it is not he t!at is in a state o" becomin$ but t!e i-ine Sel" .it!in) .!ic! is $radually ta<in$ o-er. #nd so !umility is more necessary as !e ad-ances on t!e 1at!. T!ey say t!at t!e Nir-anic 1at! is not entered by all t!e Enli$!tened Ones) as many pre"er to remain in t!e lo.er realms in order to inMuence t!e souls o" men. VOICE5 !=1. Sea3 on the Cr*a 'ath thou art no more Srotaatti, thou art a ;odhisattva. The stream is crossBd. BTis true thou hast a right to Dharma%a*a vesture3 "ut Sam"hoga%a*a is greater than a 6irvani, and greater still is a 6irmana%a*a8the ;uddha of Comassion. &+& T!e pil$rim GSrotapattiH .!o >rst entered t!e stream !as no. become a Bod!isatt-a) a potential Budd!a. He is told t!at once !e !as attained to t!e )harmakaya -esture GstateH !e !as a ri$!t to renounce all relations .it! eart! li"e and mer$e .it! t!e Eni-ersal Consciousness. But !e is also earnestly entreated to consider t!e t.o ot!er states or bodies) t!e Sam.ho#akaya and Nirmanakaya. T!e Samb!o$a<aya is t!e same) says H1B) but .it! t!e additional luster o" t!ree per"ections) one o" .!ic! is entire obliteration o" all eart!ly concerns. #nd t!e Nirmana<aya is t!e et!ereal "orm .!ic! one .ould assume .!en) lea-in$ !is p!ysical) !e .ould appear in !is astral bodyF!a-in$ in addition all t!e <no.led$e o" an #dept. T!e Bod!isatt-a de-elops it in !imsel" as !e proceeds on t!e pat!. Ha-in$ reac!ed t!e $oal and re"used its "ruition) !e remains on eart! as an #deptN and .!en !e dies) instead o" $oin$ into Nir-ana) !e remains in t!at $lorious body !e !as .o-en "or !imsel") in-isible to uninitiated man<ind) to .atc! o-er and protect it. VOICE5 !=4. 6ow "end th* head and listen well, 5 ;odhisattva8 Comassion sea%s and saith/ Can there "e "liss when all that lives must su#erT Shalt thou "e saved and hear the whole world cr*T T!e .arrior listenin$ to !is !eart) .!ic! is no. in tune .it! all suBerin$ men and creatures) cannot turn a dea" ear to t!eir cry "or !elp. One senses all t!rou$! The Voice an undercurrent o" pleadin$) o" !ope) t!at .!en t!e pil$rim >nally reac!es !is $oal) !e .ill not "or$et t!e suBerin$s o" t!e .orld. VOICE5 !=9. 6ow thou hast heard that which was said. !=:. Thou shalt attain the seventh ste and cross the gate of Anal %nowledge "ut onl* to wed woe8if thou wouldBst "e Tathagata, follow uon th* redecessorBs stes, remain unselAsh till the endless end. T!e Theosophical Glossary translates Tat!a$ata as C!e .!o is) li<e !is predecessors Gt!e Budd!asH and successors) t!e comin$ "uture Budd!a or =orld7Sa-iour.D To C.ed .oeD is to remain to !elp t!is Cdar< planetD eart! Duntil t!e $rass itsel" be enli$!tened.D VOICE5 !1=. Thou art enlightened8Choose th* wa*. &+* !11. ;ehold, the mellow light that <oods the 7astern s%*. In signs of raise "oth heaven and earth unite. Cnd from the four&fold manifested 'owers a chant of love ariseth, "oth from the <aming .ire and <owing 2ater, and from sweet&smelling 7arth and rushing 2ind. !12. Har%U . . . from the dee unfathoma"le vorteF of that golden light in which the Dictor "athes, C-- 6CHJ+7Bs wordless voice in thousand tones ariseth to roclaim/ !1!. W5S J6T5 S7, 5 )76 5. )SC-;C. !1(. C 'I-E+I) HCTH +7TJ+67D ;CCG .+5) TH7 5TH7+ SH5+7. !1,. C 672 C+HC6 IS ;5+6. . . . !11. 'eace to all bein!s. H1B .rites) CMyal.a is our eart!Fpertinently called VHell)? and t!e $reatest o" all Hells) by t!e esoteric sc!ool.D #nd s!e $oes on to say) CT!e esoteric doctrine <no.s o" no !ell or place o" punis!ment ot!er t!an a man7bearin$ planet or eart!.D #nd so) .e !a-e "ollo.ed t!e earnest pil$rim step7by7step) "rom >rst settin$ "oot on t!e pat! to !is >nal enli$!tenment) and .illin$ sacri>ce. 4EVIE= PEESTIONS5 &. =!at does t!e CSacred StreamD representQ *. =!at is t!e CGuardian =allDQ :. T!e pil$rim ad-ances t!rou$! action and inaction. E/plain t!is. 8. =!at is meant by CCompassion #bsoluteDQ 9. =!at is t!e C#rya 1at!DQ (. =!ic! C-estureD is c!osen by an #r!an or sa-iourQ RRRRRRRRRR I s!ould li<e to end t!is series o" lessons on The Voice of the SilenceF.!ic! it is belie-ed .as one o" H1B?s last .or<sFby 0uotin$ t!e "ollo.in$ passa$e. Her messa$e in essence is timeless) and is as a clarion call to present day T!eosop!ists e-ery.!ere. T!ere is a road) steep and t!orny) beset .it! perils o" e-ery <indFbut yet a roadFand it leads to t!e Heart o" t!e Eni-erse. I can tell you !o. to >nd &+: T!ose .!o .ill s!o. you t!e secret $ate.ay t!at leads in.ards only and closes "ast be!ind t!e neop!yte "or e-ermore. T!ere is no dan$er t!at dauntless coura$e cannot con0uer) t!ere is no trial t!at spotless purity cannot pass t!rou$!) no diOculty t!at stron$ intellect cannot surmount. For t!ose .!o .in on.ards) t!ere is re.ard past all tellin$N t!e po.er to bless and sa-e !umanity. For t!ose .!o "ail) t!ere are ot!er li-es in .!ic! success may come. FThe Secret Gate'ay) H.1. Bla-ats<y &+8 Biblio$rap!y #rnold) Sir Ed.in. The Li#ht of (sia. 1!iladelp!ia) 1#5 a-id 3cSay Company) nd. Barbor<a) GeoBrey. The )ivine Plan. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'(&. JJJJ. Man1s Potent 0orce* Ne. 2or<5 Green.ic! Boo< 1ublis!in$) &'9(. Besant) #nnie and C. =. Leadbeater. Talks on the Path of 5ccultism. : -ols. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'(97&',+. Bla-ats<y) Helena 1etro-na. The Voice of the Silence. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &''*. JJJJ. H* P* Blavatsky +ollected !ritin#s. &9 -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'((7'&. JJJJ. ,sis -nveiled. * -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &';*. JJJJ. The Secret )octrine. : -ols. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &';'. JJJJ. The Theosophical Glossary* Los #n$eles) C#5 T!eosop!y Company) &';:. JJJJ. T'o Books of the Stan9as of )9yan* #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'8+. Blo"eld) Ao!n. The !heel of Life: The (uto.io#raphy of a !estern Buddhist. Boston) 3#5 S!amb!ala 1ublications) &',,. The +loud of -nkno'in#. Ed. Aames =als!) S.A. Ne. 2or<5 1aulist 1ress) &',&. Collins) 3abel. 5ur Glorious 0uture: The ,nterpretation of Li#ht on the Path. Edinbur$!) Scotland5 T!eosop!ical Boo< S!op) &'&;. JJJJ. 5ur Glorious 0uture: The ,nterpretation of Li#ht on the Path. Edinbur$!) Scotland5 T!eosop!ical Boo< S!op) &'&;. JJJJ. Throu#h the Gates of Gold. London5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ Society) &'&:. Corelli) 3arie. The Sorro's of Satan of the Stran#e 8;perience of 5ne Geo6rey Tempest, Millionaire. 1!iladelp!ia) 1#5 A. B. Lippincott Company) &,'9. e Villars) #bbe N. e 3ont"aucon. Le +omte de Ga.alis. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$) &'';. Hartman) Fran@. The Life and )octrines of Philippus Theophrastus, Bom.ast of Hohenheim, no'n .y the Name of Paracelsus. Ne. 2or<5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ Company) &'&+. AinaraKadasa) C. 0irst Principles of Theosophy. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'(:. Sris!namurti) A. (t the 0eet of the Master. =!eaton) IL5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'(;. &+9 3ac!ell) 4. C4eincarnation5 T!e Hope o" Humanity.D The +anadian Theosophist 88) no. 8 G&'(:H5 ;'. Mahatma Letters to (* P* Sinnett from the Mahatmas M* and *H* Transcribed by #. 4. Bar<er. Ed. Vicente Hao C!in) Ar. 3anila) 1!ilippines5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'':. 3e!ta) 4o!it. The +reative Silence: "e3ections on the Voice o" t!e Silence. #dyar) C!ennai5 T!eosop!ical 1ublis!in$ House) &'9;. 3itc!ell) 4oy. Throu#h Temple )oors: Studies in 5ccult Masonry. Toronto) Ontario5 Bla-ats<y Institute 1ublications) &'*:. Niemand) Aasper. Letters That Have Helped Me. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$) *++;. 1lummer) Gordon. CT!e 3ystery t!at is 3an.D Theosophia *+) no. : G&'(:H5 ;. 1uruc<er) G. de. The )ialo#ues of G* de Purucker. : -ols. 1asadena) C#5 T!eosop!ical Eni-ersity 1ress) &'8,. Street) A. C. The Hidden !ay (cross the Threshold or the Mystery !hich Hath Been Hidden for (#es from Generations. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$) &''(. Tyber$) Audit!. Sanskrit eys to the !isdom "eli#ion. San ie$o) C#5 1oint Loma 1ublications) &',8. =allace) Helen 4!odes. Ho' to 8nter the Silence. =!ite>s!) 3T5 Sessin$er 1ublis!in$) &'';. =ood) Ernest. Practical %o#a: (ncient and Modern. Ne. 2or<5 E. 1. utton) &'8,.