As two natures, the physical and spiritual, meet and mingle in the constitution of man, so do his faculties, capacities, and powers mingle and function on the two planes, the physical and the spiritual, though very largely on the former, with the great majority in any age or time.
There is implanted in the very foundation of man's being the idea or the consciousness of a separable soul. It would seem to be an intuition, for with nearly every people of which we have any knowledge, no matter how near the animal plane, the belief or the folklore of a separable soul exists, in many cases held to be separable during life, and in most cases believed to survive the death of the physical body. (See folio editions of Herbert Spencer's "Descriptive Sociology," and Chapter XIII, herein.)
It has generally been held by scientists and commentators, that this intuition, or belief, results largely from dreams.
To say that dreams, in general, are mere fantasies, or the results of imagination, and have no real basis in consciousness, is folly; for dreams are of many kinds, and present great varieties.
They are, moreover, both reminiscent and prophetic, sometimes moving like any other conscious experience, from fact to fruition, and in others, we are unable to relate them to any other conscious experience.[1]
Hypnosis and Telepathy are related to the same states, so much so, that the modern scientist has been constrained to coin two new terms to avoid endless repetitions, viz.: "subliminal" and "supraliminal" states of consciousness.
Bearing in mind all these subjective states and experiences, including the whole range of so-called mediumship, the _theorem_ of the Masters and adepts of all ages may be made exceeding plain.
[Footnote 1: For a very valuable and suggestive treatise on "Sleep," see F. W. H. Myers "Human Personality," Chap. IV.]
It consists in the _dominance of the Will_ over all conscious states.
This is the _Alpha_ and the _Omega_--the principle, the potency, and the act--of Mastership.
The mind of the Master no longer drifts in a boundless sea of fantasy, but with rudder and compass, he guides his ship whithersoever he would go.
This does not mean that there are not still degrees and related states and conditions of consciousness in his experience.
It does mean, however, that all these states and conditions, with all his faculties, capacities, and powers, are _co-ordinated_, not only in his _awareness_ of them as a whole, but in the exercise of each and its relation to the others, dominated by his own Will.
He has "Mastered" them, and can incite or repress them, while they can no longer dominate him. Can the reader imagine such a degree of _Self-Control_?
This, however, is but the beginning, as the "Secret of Power," and by no means the end.
Controlling the phases and forms of consciousness, there comes next the determination to extend their boundary and to _refine and elevate the powers of the Soul_.
In the first case, that of co-ordination, the ancient Wisdom admonishes the student or _chela_ to "_make the mind one pointed, like a light burning in a quiet place_." Light a candle and put it in a corner where no draught can reach it, and the flame will seem as though cut out of solid fire, and "one pointed."
It is at the point of refining and elevating the individual consciousness that Ethics or Morals come in. It is just at this point also that the _Path_ is determined.
What our ancient Brothers called "the power of Will and Yoga"--self-control--_may_ ignore Ethics. Here the paths separate, and are called "the Right-hand Path" and "the Left-hand Path," determining the "White" and the "Black Magician," about whom so much is said in all ancient scriptures and traditions regarding "Sorcery" and "Black Magic,"
of which Egypt and Rome and Modern Mediumship and Hypnotism, are illustrations.
The _supreme importance_ of this natural division or "parting of the way"
reveals the real and final reason why the Masters of the "right-hand path"
conceal their knowledge from the profane and reveal it only after an ethical formulary has been learned and once for all _ingrained_.
The "Thugs" of India are no more an idle dream nor a bugaboo to frighten children and old women than are the Mafia and the Roman Jesuit to-day.
In Egypt the time came when these "Black Magicians" dominated the people and drove out those of the right-hand path who built the great pyramid and gave to Egypt the wisdom and glory of its prime.
The consciousness and power of these evil men, however, was limited to the lower planes. Whenever they wished to transcend these lower planes they were powerless. Hence arose the _Sibyl_; young boys or virgins were hypnotized, and being pure, they could thus be inducted into a somewhat higher plane. (See Mabel Collins' "Idyll of the White Lotus.")
Margrave, in Bulwer's "Strange Story," is a fine picture of an "adept of the left-hand path." He would sacrifice the whole human race in order to gain his personal and selfish ends, just as would "Mother Church" to-day.
The Master of the White Lodge would readily lay down his life for the benefit of his fellowmen. Herein is the vital difference.
Here lies the meaning and the complete antithesis represented by _Christos_ and _Satan_. Both names are generic and Avataric, and yet, may be personified.
This elevating and refining process to which I have referred is not a matter of sentiment or emotion, but a matter of fact, with a definite, scientific formula.
In a previous chapter belief in the existence AND SEPARABILITY OF THE HUMAN SOUL HAS BEEN SHOWN to be virtually universal, and in some cases, even with people of very low development, the belief is held that the soul may be separated from the body and reunited again during life.
This is, however, a _belief_, and proves nothing as to _fact_, _science_, and _law_, beyond the existence of the belief, with all the appurtenances, concomitants, and subjective experiences of individuals thereunto belonging.
We thus arrive at the real _theorem_ as a cold psychological problem.
Can the existence and separability of the soul of man, during his physical embodiment on earth, and its survival of the death of the physical body, be scientifically demonstrated as a _fact_?
If so, then the principles involved, the methods employed and the whole _modus operandi_ must be capable of exact, scientific formulation, the same as any other theorem of science.
Furthermore, granting that this is true, and that it can be done according to exact formulary, the value, the effect of such a demonstration upon the character and the normal faculties, capacities, and powers of the individual who undertakes and accomplishes such a demonstration, must be revealed and taken fully into account.
Does it elevate or degrade him? Is it in line with normal evolution, and therefore, potentially the birthright, and finally, through spiritual evolution, the higher destiny of all men?
Nor is this all. The effect of the existence of such Knowledge and of its teaching, upon communities, as a substitute for blind superstition, credulity, or belief, must also be taken into account.
It may thus be seen how much even beyond the mere _fact_ of demonstration, is included in this transcendent problem; this question of all ages, "If a man die, shall he live again?" or, "Does the real man ever die at all?"
Now it is a demonstrated fact, proven in every case of a genuine Master, and held inviolable in the "Greater Mysteries" of every age and time, that the ethical question above raised, as to the effect upon individuals and society, _comes first_, and is made a _test_ of the "first step" in the way of demonstration.
This is the meaning of the oft repeated quotation, the candidate for initiation must first be "worthy and well-qualified, duly and truly prepared."
This comprises and constitutes the "Lesser Mysteries," as in the School of Pythagoras, viz.: the instruction of the neophyte in ethics or morals.
Nor is this instruction sufficient in any case. The candidate must himself demonstrate that he has absorbed, apprehended, and utilized such instruction by "_Living the Life_."
In other words, it must have become so ingrained in his character as to govern absolutely all his acts and impulses to action, i.e., automatic, habitual, and natural.
In the School of Natural Science this comprises and constitutes the "Ethical Section of the General Formulary."
In the School of Pythagoras we are informed that students sometimes remained for years in the "outer court," and sometimes they failed entirely and hopelessly, and went back to the outer world. Whereupon a white stone was erected to their memory as though they were dead. They were indeed, for the time being, dead to the School.
This fully answers the ethical question as to the effect of this real knowledge on the individual and on mankind.
The real Master sees to it that all that precaution can provide, or human wisdom can suggest, is done to insure beneficent _use_ of the knowledge gained.
It is here that "degrees" in initiation become a necessity. Every step, or passage of the candidate from a lower to a higher degree, is marked and determined finally and solely by his "proficiency in the preceding degree."
The question of Morals, or the ethical effect, therefore, is pre-determined, and as far as possible, solved first.
But even with all this wise precaution, the unprepared and the unqualified have sometimes entered the outer courts; and when compelled at last to reveal their character, have turned to rend their teachers, and have done their utmost to destroy the School and demoralize mankind.
If these moral renegades could only realize the _meaning to themselves_ of thus entering the "Left-hand Path" of devolution and of starting voluntarily "down the deep descent," as portrayed in Dante's "Inferno," or in Ahrinzeman, they would, indeed, hesitate long before "turning to the left," for inevitable destruction lies that way.