The spiritual life

124 TheSpiritual Life.

dents mayberemlndeci-though thesubject is

too large a one to be entered on here-that

man's consciousness is astral, at the present

stageofevolution.) Theaspirantmaytherefore

comfort himselfwhen an apparently causeless

gloom descendsupon himwith the knowledge

thatheisexhaustingsomeof hiskarmichabili-

ties,and that the payment of karmicdebts is

neverdemandedtwice.

Secondly,theaspirantisseekingtopurifyand

ultimatelytodestroythepersonality. Pleasures

increaseandintensifythelifeofthepersonality,

while pains diminish it. His own deliberate

willhasoffered the personalityasasacrificeto

the Lord of the Burning-ground, and if the

sacrificebeaccepted,theflamefallsanddevours

it. Whatcause for sorrowishere? Butthe

fire, as it burns up the dross of personality,

settingfreethepuregoldofthelife,mustneeds

bring keen suffering to the life which is thus

rapidly purged from elements that have for

millenniumsformed part of its being, mingling

withallits activities. And here comes inthe

peril which makes spiritual darkness so fatal.

Can the aspirant hold out while the dark fire

burnsupthatwhich seemsto behisverylife?

Canhebear the strain,live through thedark-

ness, and be found, when it lifts, still at his