What shall I do for God my Father? Sacrifice everything I hold dear to yet
greater perfection. Let the deadwood burn off, so that new growth can
prevail. That’s the terrible lesson of Cain and Abel, detailed in the discussion
of meaning surrounding Rule 7. What shall I do with a lying man? Let him
speak so that he may reveal himself. Rule 9 (Listen ...) is once again relevant
here, as is another section of the New Testament:
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:16-7:20).The rot must be revealed before something sound can be put in its place, as
was also indicated in Rule 7’s elaboration—and all of this is pertinent to
understanding the following question and answer: How shall I deal with the
enlightened one? Replace him with the true seeker of enlightenment. There is
no enlightened one. There is only the one who is seeking further
enlightenment. Proper Being is process, not a state; a journey, not a
destination. It’s the continual transformation of what you know, through
encounter with what you don’t know, rather than the desperate clinging to the
certainty that is eternally insufficient in any case. That accounts for the
importance of Rule 4 (Compare yourself ...). Always place your becoming
above your current being. That means it is necessary to recognize and accept
your insufficiency, so that it can be continually rectified. That’s painful,
certainly—but it’s a good deal.
The next few Q & A’s made another coherent group, focused this time on
ingratitude: What shall I do when I despise what I have? Remember those
who have nothing and strive to be grateful. Take stock of what is right in
front of you. Consider Rule 12—somewhat tongue-in-cheek—(Pet a cat
when you encounter one on the street). Consider, as well, that you may be
blocked in your progress not because you lack opportunity, but because you
have been too arrogant to make full use of what already lies in front of you.
That’s Rule 6 (Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world).
I spoke recently with a young man about such things. He had barely ever
left his family and never his home state—but he journeyed to Toronto to
attend one of my lectures and to meet with me at my home. He had isolated
himself far too severely in the short course of his life to date and was badly