The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

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

Free download pdf