114 ROSICRUCIANCOSMO-CONCEPTION
acts as an impulse to good and a deterrent from evil in the
future. Here the panorama of the past again unrolls itself
backward, but this time it is the good acts of life that are the
basis of feeling. When we come to scenes where we helped
ot hers we realize a new all t he joy of help ing which was ours
at the time, and in addition we feel all the gratitude poured
out to us by the recipient of our help. When we come to
scenes wher e we wer e help ed b y ot hers, we again feel all the
gratitude that we then felt toward our benefactor. Thus we
see the importance of appreciating the favors shown us by
others, because gratitude makes for soul growth. Our
happiness in heaven depends upon the joy we gave others,
and the valuation we placed upon what others did for us.
It should be ever borne in mind that the power of giving
is not vested chiefly in the monied man. Indiscriminate
giving of money may even be an evil. It is well to give
money for a purpose we are convinced is good, but service
is a thousandfold better. As Whitman says,
Behold! I do not give lectures, or a little charity;
When I give, I give myself.A kind look, expression of confidence, a sympathetic
and loving helpfulness—these can be given by all regardless
of wealth. Moreover, we should particularly endeavor to
help the needy one to help himself, whether physically,
financially, morally, or mentally, and not cause him to
become dependent upon us or others.
The ethics of giving, with the effect on the giver as a
spiritual lesson, are most beautifully shown in Lowell's “The
Vision of Sir Launfal.” The young and ambitious knight, Sir
Launfal, clad in shining armor and astride a splendid