GOODASSOCIATION: AN ESSENTIAL DISCIPLINEFOR HEALTH
GoodAssociationPart 1
Oneofthemostimportantwaysofpromotingawarenessandconstantreflectionwhichwilldestroy
thenegativeimpressions(ari)inthedeepunconsciousmindiskeepingthecompanyofwiseteachers
orSages.InAncientEgypt,theTemplesystemservedthepurposeofinstructingaspirantsinthewis-
domteachings.Theinitiateswerethenallowedbackintotheworldonaregularbasisinordertotest
theirlevelofunderstandingandself-controlbypracticingtheteachingswhenconfrontedwithordin-
ary,worldlymindedpeople.TheTemplewasaplacewheretheinitiatecouldgoonaregularbasisto
receiveinstructionandcounselingonthecorrectapplicationoftheteachingsindaytodaylife.The
idea is reflected in the Ancient EgyptianStele of Djehuti-Nefer:
“Consumepurefoodsandpurethoughtswithpurehands,adorecelestialbeings,andbecome
associated with wise ones: sages, saints and prophets; make offerings to GOD...”
TheassociationwithSagesandSaints(GoodAssociation)isseenasaprimarywaytoacceleratethe
spiritualdevelopmentoftheaspirant.Again,thisisbecauseitisthenatureofthemindtoimitatethat
whichitfocuseson.AnimportantdefinitionofthesymbolsassociatedwithSma orSemaisto
renderclearorvisible .InancientEgypt,thegathering,assemblyorreunionwas
calledSmait ,andSmai isanamefortheTemple,thegatheringplace.In
Egypt,thepriestassumedtheroleofpreceptor,Sbai ,leadingtheinitiatetoun-
derstandtheteachingsofthehieroglyphs,topurificationofthemindandbodyandeventuallytointu-
itionalrealizationthroughthepracticeofmentalexercisesandtheapplicationofthewisdomteach-
ings.Inancienthieroglyphics,thescenessymbolizethiswheredeitiessuchasHeru,Djehuti,Anpu,
Hetheru,Aset,etc.,leadtheinitiatetomeetAsar(his/herHigherSelf).InIndia,thisprocessisknown
as“Satsanga”wheretheaspirantreceivesteachingfromtheGuru(SpiritualPreceptor)onacontinu-
ousbasis.InBuddhismtheprocessisknownasSanga.InChristianitythisideawasreflectedinthe
relationshipbetweenJesusandJohntheBaptistandlaterbetweenJesusandhisdisciples.Keeping
thecompanyofwiseonesisanimportantandpowerfultoolforspiritualdevelopmentbecausethe
natureoftheunenlightened(ignorant)mindallowsittomakesubtlemistakes,whichcanleadtheas-
pirantastrayfromthecorrectinterpretationoftheteachings.Thus,receivingtheteachingisthereal
force which causes transformation through a baptismal ritual, and not the ritual itself.
Therefore,theteacher,guru,priest,etc.,whois“close”totheDivine(enlightened)asitwere,isseen
asgreaterthantheDivinebecauseheorshecanleadtheaspiranttowardstheDivine(knowingwho
theDivineisandwheretheDivineisandhowtheDivineistobediscovered).Otherwiseitwouldbe
averydifficult,longandarduousprocessfortheaspiranttorealizethetruth.Itwouldtakemillionsof
incarnations,whereinuntoldsufferingswouldoccurintheprocessofgainingexperiences,which
would teach the proper way to discover the Self.