There is much talk about liberty and freedom, but in the main, those who cry out for these are under the illusion that these indicate a further degree of licentiousness. For some, the idea of free speech, democracy, and a broad-minded community reaches no further than a desire to express their own self-importance, to flout their own inadequacies of adaption to life and to acquire the toleration of their own personal weaknesses. This is true, in a sense, of the worldly understanding for where a person desires to be free he believes his freedom lies in acquiring what is called “material” fulfilment. One believes that if he [was] able to speak his mind on any point, act in any way he likes that he is free. Experience has however proved that this is not necessarily so. As long as we court aspirations in the light of sensual pleasures or achievements we still remain bound by them and instead of having one “chain” on our ankles, we become mentally chained also.
Those who believe that they can obtain peace, either in themselves or between nations or groups, by using force or evoking violent demonstrations are still victims of their illusions and remain tied to the old order of things. A real and lasting peace can only be experienced when the individual has been able to discipline his own weaknesses and is able to express the peaceful conditions desired in his own life.
The freedom that is obtained by understanding the Truth about life is real freedom. First of all, we are free from all the worldly conditions. Not in the sense that we are free from the body but that we can enjoy the needs of the body without having to worry about them. Because we know that bodily needs must come to pass we use them wisely for we understand that it is the right use of these needs we find ourselves as the evidence of Reality. Bodily needs are the life itself being expressed for our enjoyment and not for our enslavement. A right perspective of life gives a wider freedom and when we are able to divorce ourselves from worldly standards we are free to choose our own destiny without impediment. A destiny wherein we can gain freedom from want, and wanting, freedom from disease by understanding its nature and in fact freedom from almost any condition that the average human comes up against which causes him concern.
To some, this is an impossible situation – and almost a fancy dream, but we say, that theirs is the dream and ours is the reality. To argue that one has to suffer to mature in life shows a lack of understanding of the nature of life. It is a fact that thousands are starving and thousands are diseased – but it is not the fault of a shortage of food or that germs have caused the diseases. These, alone, have come about by man by his own greed and by the false science he calls “economics”. Troubles are not sent to us as a punishment for wrong doing but are the effects showing themselves of false philosophies and theories. Because all our thoughts must find expression in our experiences so do false values express themselves in false experiences. The unrest of the present day has come about by the masses being “taken in” by the evil doctrines of “free speech”, “broad-mindedness” and “sensationalism” and the “with it” outlook. Cheapness and Filth have become the “art” and “beauty” of this present short period. We are compassionate towards all those who, when the glamour of these things has worn off, will find but an empty shell.
True religion, through the ages, has been the only means through which real freedom was obtained. You might say, “there are many other systems”. If you examine closely the teachings of “these other systems” you will find that they consist of ideas borrowed from the great teachers – given other terminologies and coupled them with their own opinions. One can change words easily enough but no-one can change the eternal principles of Truth. What is, for example, psychology but the knowledge of the soul? What is psycho-cybernetics but a programming of right responses? What is “humanism” but a search for “right” conditions? The perfect basic principles of these beliefs are all to be found in any of the teachings of the main religious systems. Not that we hold with the organisations proclaiming the teachings but
that they understand the teachings they are supposed to support. Organisations are made up of human beings who far from understand the nature of their own beliefs. The errors of today seem to be that these religious bodies are pandering to the ways of the world instead of upholding their own principles as clouded as they may be. They cry for answers and receive none – yet, in the simplest form, does the teachings they profess to follow contain them. The answers are not in the doctrines and dogmas but in the practice of the principles of the Love of God and the understanding of Truth about Life. Their freedom, wholeness and joy is there in all its glory just waiting to be used. Until man seeks his freedom in the “vaults of heaven” the scales will not fall from his eyes. It is no use seeking our answers through political systems, social orders, scientific theories, medical successes or psychic researches for these are all speculations gained through the senses. Man, inwardly, knows that his answers are contained in the Truths taught by the great teachers yet he continues to hoodwink himself with his own opinions. Whilst he must grow and gain experience in this world of effects it is sheer stupidity to ignore the basic principles of Truth as a foundation on which to operate our world affairs. Either man refuses to trust this Truth or he loves to bemoan his unhappiness. It is only in daring to apply the Divine Principles that one learns of their power in all conditions.
We will now discuss a few points of interest to students of rituals of whatever sort.
If we sit in a dark room we are aware of darkness, then, if we switch on a small pocket torch we see a ray of light penetrating the darkness. There are those who argue that darkness is nothing in itself – but we say that since you were aware of it it must be something. Likewise, the ray of light made you aware of both light and darkness at the same time.
We use this illustration to point out that both that which we call “light” and “darkness” are realities at this level of consciousness, that is, in the world of senses. The darkness, being feminine, appeared inert. The ray of light, being masculine, penetrated it. We could not have been aware of one without the other. Remembering this principle it helps one to acquire this “balance” which is much spoken of in this work. What we mean by this is that in the male aspect the feminine aspect is required in the way of grace, charm and love of beauty. In the female the male aspects are made manifest in stability, self-control and practicality. The cultivation of both these aspects is necessary before one, of either sex, can have any real success in ceremonial work. After what has been said previously you might have gained the impression that we were entirely against ceremony or ritual because we mentioned that the energies used were the already radiated forces from those present but we agree that where a ritual or ceremony is correctly designed to impress the memory with the Eternal Principles it helps the persons present to get a glimpse of what Reality might mean therefore helping to increase their faith.
Now in these matters there are those who claim that they are “Brothers of Light” and those who say that there are “Brothers of Darkness” and a nonsensical war is waged mentally by both parties. There is no need to wage this war since both sides are only operating in the world of effects and since, as we have pointed out, that if you maintain your faith in the Reality that exists behind all Life then you can remain immune from either. No-one can hurt or destroy the real man. Likewise, can no-one bring any good to anyone. All these things exist in the world of effects and it is a matter of what kind of experiences you want for in whichever case you will fall under the Laws of Life. If you are a member of any “magical school” always remember that you should be there because you want that experience only – it will not help you realise any more than that which you are already aware, neither will it give you any powers other than that which are generated during ritual for whatever purpose. You are free to enjoy beautiful ceremonies anywhere of whatever sort provided that you understand that you are working entirely in the world of effects and the results will be in that field only – it will not help you to learn any more about yourself – also, that it is possible to produce any effect you wish under the right conditions provided that you have the right intentions and not to impose your movements upon others. The forces at your disposal will
never harm you provided you act in sincerity and purity and that you are aware of your own invincibility. From the level of the “Melchisedek” consciousness you can quickly dispel any of the effects produced by ritual whether “good” or “bad” so you will see that you can always be in control of any situation for in everyday living we are continually a “magician” producing our own experiences whether we like them or not. When one has acquired the Art of Melchisedek Priesthood he stands above all that which is in the sensual world – in fact the sensual world is subject to him and those who call themselves “magicians” respect him for they can gain from his assistance.
The ceremonies USED in true religion should be based upon the right principles so that they help people to remember their responsibilities and their true nature and not to be always grovelling to an unknown God.
To succeed in this work of perfection you will have to drop the idea that things have to be “overcome”. Life is to be lived and expressed from within. To battle about in the field of senses brings rounds and rounds of disappointments and failures but in the knowledge of your already perfect, invincible, state and by adhering to the principles of the universe you will achieve all things for the earth will remain under your feet. Then, in the words of Jesus, “Then shall the righteous shine as the sun in their heavenly Father’s realm”.