The PerfectMan. 249
planted in western soil,but nativeonly in far
easternlands. Thisidealispartofalltrueand
spiritualChristianity,andthebirthoftheChrist
ineachChristian soul istheobjectofChristian
teaching. Theveryobjectofreligionistobring
about this birth, and if it could be that this
mystic teaching could slip out of Christianity,
thatfaithcouldnolongerraisetodivinitythose
whopractiseit.
The first of the great Initiations is the
birth of the Christ, of the Buddha, in the
human consciousness, the transcending of the
{-consciousness, the falling awayof limitations.
Asiswellknowntoallstudents,therearefour
degrees of developmentcovered bytheChrist-
stage, between the thoroughly good man and
thetriumphantMaster. Eachofthesedegrees
is entered by an Initiation, and during these
degreesof evolutionconsciousnessistoexpand,
to grow,toreachthe limitspossible within the
restrictions imposed by the human body. In
thefirst of these,thechange experiencedisthe
awakeningofconsciousnessinthespiritualworld,
intheworldwhereconsciousnessidentifiesitself
with the life, and ceases to identifyitself with
theformsin whichthe lifemayatthemoment
be imprisoned. The characteristic of this
awakening is a feeling of sudden expansion,
s