The true spiritual schools on this planet teach the following basic principles:
The Parenthood of God
The Brotherhood of Man
The constant evolution of all living things towards the perfection within the consciousness of the Divine Parent
The Eternal Presence of the Living Christ
Knowing the difficulties arising from ignorance of Cosmic Laws, the Great Teachers left guidelines to follow for those who desired to align themselves with the truths of being or, in common language, to become disciples of The Way or Living Stream of Life.
Thus meditative systems and ceremonies were established and these proved to be great helps in keeping the mind fixed on its goal: we find by experience that the human phase of mind is very forgetful and unreliable as a means of understanding Divine Truth, therefore by these helpful systems we learn how to slowly integrate all departments of our life into the Cosmic Reality. In this process the human phase of mind becomes a tool rather than a faction with seemingly awkward tendencies. Also, to avoid crystallisation of ideas, the spiritual schools continually update their material to conform to the ever-awakening consciousness of mankind. Set rituals can very often stifle one’s free expression and so these are kept to the minimum. Our own rituals and ceremonies must then contain the relevant material in line with that which we wish to achieve.
There can be some misunderstanding regarding the idea of keeping a discipline as well as allowing a free expression. One might say, “How can I express myself freely when the church requires a strict discipline to God?” What we are taught is that our way of life is not like other professions in the world because we seek to be ‘unworldly’ in the sense that we follow a different set of guidelines. What we are free in is the reality of being ourselves, and we come to learn that this freedom is the experience of being ‘free’ from the turmoil and cares which beset those following the dictates of the world. ‘The Way’ is the real and lasting way to freedom. Whilst we take on the responsibility of helping others we release our inner selves and discover a world within with lasting values which remain unaltered by the clamour of secular standards. The discipline is the way – or pathway – leading out of the transient joys and worries, the constant see-saw of a hectic life, to a more balanced understanding, giving an assurance of the things which constitute the reality of life.
There is a pattern of life which remains true to its nature known as Divine Love. From the Hierarchy down to the teachers of mankind this Love is held in deep respect and in all circumstances this Love is never known to fail. It never fails inasmuch as that which will occur when It is invoked will be right for the individual, or individuals, no matter what circumstances appear to the senses. The outcome of allowing this Love full sway gives rise to the opportunity to know and experience that which one really desires. “Trust the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire” is the message of the Psalmist (Psalm 37). We really come to understand another kind of freedom.
What do we need to take a new look at in this day and age?
Marriage: A new understanding of marital love needs to be taught. The Church dogma that “what God has put together let no man put asunder” has proved in many cases that a religious ceremony does not mean that God has joined the pair together. We understand that whatever God joins together cannot be put asunder. So a new teaching on love, sex and family is in need of being released to priests, then to responsible people.
Death: “This is Life Eternal” taught Jesus. Thus in this eternal life we journey from experience to experience. When we understand the continuity of life we know that the person who appears to die is going on to new vistas. It is those who are left who need comfort and support in learning of the Love which binds people together forever.
The Christ The Anointed – referring to absolute Sovereignty as of the Kings of Old who were all “anointed Sons of God.” The Christ represents the Perfected Soul – or the Soul which has risen above all limitations of the flesh as taught by Jesus the Galilean. Jesus, the Greek form of Jehshuah, means ‘Redeemer’. Therefore Jesus Christ refers to the fact that the discipline of Perfection releases us from human bondage and frees us as Sons of God. Jesus Christ being the keyword (Logos).
The Devil: God created no harmful thing, neither does God demand loyalty nor does He/She punish for sin. The Devil is no more than the active destructive forces set into motion by man himself. Man is responsible for his own selfish striving and exploitation of all things in nature.
On the Initiatic Path we should be prepared also to sacrifice all our “sacred cows” and be not dismayed by those who claim oneness with the Universe yet abhor those who come to true knowledge because these claimants say that one can never be too sure, or know, what is true and what is illusion for, they say, Truth is elusive. We admit that Truth is elusive but the Great Teachers assured us that It can be known and that we can come to prove for ourselves that a very deep understanding of Truth can be known – otherwise there could be no Illumination or Enlightenment or overcoming of human weakness or unreliability.
We also know, as we have mentioned, that we can set energies and forces for ourselves in the future, and we KNOW that there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way of coming into this knowledge at a quicker rate than if we have to learn by trial and error. The Sacred Schools have always taught this way: they do not charge fees for the teachings or arrange costly seminars, you only pay for books and food, but they do select their pupils and turn away those who do not seek the right things. The ancient mystery schools were always run by the Priesthood, for Priesthood is in itself the path of service. However, in this day and age the subjects originally taught by the priests have become secular forms of study such as mathematics, medicine, hygiene, astronomy and the arts and inventive sciences; but any of these disciplines without priesthood usually results in their misuse as we can see from the over-commercialisation rampant today. The Priest King of old was an initiate of every school of thought and was expected to rule with compassion and justice. Sometimes human desires overcame those with earlier weaknesses and chaos resulted. What we should learn firstly is that we should be responsible persons and our human requirements come second being “Divine in our divinity and human in our humanity.”
“Jesus saw himself as a forerunner of a future, Christed humanity. He lived the life in the flesh, to which all human souls may aspire. The initiate Christi is the Gate, the Way, the pattern and template of the Higher Nature that lies dormant in most of humankind, yet must be awakened, practiced and refined in flesh….
“Humanity is destined for spiritual maturity in which it serves as the fingers, hands, and voice of the Higher Nature. Humanity is indeed a divine heir of God, for it is emerging as from the state of puberty into the responsibility of full adult maturity as co-creator with God.” – Life in Flesh by Dr. Lewis Keizer.