76 TheSpiritualLife.
service, and may injure where it fain would
help. So that we must not have devotion
unwedded to knowledge,for the knowledgeis
neededfortheperfectservice,andperfectservice
is the essenceofthe lifeofthedevotee. But
thegoal ofthe Path of Devotion isconscious
unionwiththesupremeSelfwhichisrecognised
asmanifestingthroughallotherselves,andthose
otherselvesare never leftout of thought until
the union of all selves is found in the One.
ForinthisPathof Devotionloveistheimpulse,
love that iseverseeking to giveitself to those
aboveit thatit may gain strength for service,
andtothosebelowinorderthattheservicemay
bedone. Sothatthetruedevoteehashisface
turned upward to those that are higher than
himself,thatsohemaygainfromthemspiritual
force,spiritualstrength,spiritualenergy,butnot
for himself,not thathe may be liberated; for
hedesiresnoliberationtillallsharehisfreedom;
notinorderthathemaygain,forhedesiresno
gain,saveashemaygive; notinorderthathe
may keep; but in order that he may be a
channel ofblessing toothers. So that onthe
PathofDevotiontheSouliseverturnedtothe
lightabove,not that itselfmaybeenlightened,
not thatitselfmayshine,but that it mayserve
asfocusandchannelforthatlight,topassiton
