To put the matter as simply as possible - too simply to be
entirely exact, yet near enough to the truth to be clarifying and helpful - it is this
magnetic potency, this dynamic active and energizing will, which enables the Hierarchy to
move forward upon the eternal Path. Its functions might be listed as follows:
- It is the connecting energy which comes from Shamballa and "enlivens"
(literally and occultly understood) the Ashram of Sanat Kumara. It is, in one sense, the
higher correspondence to the prana which "enlivens" the dense physical body of
man.
- It is the stimulating factor which produces cohesion among the various Ashrams, and is
one of the sources of hierarchical unity. Putting it in other words, it is the service of
the Plan which binds the seven Ashrams, with their subsidiary Ashrams, coherently into the
one great Ashram. The Plan is the expression of the Purpose or the Will of God.
- This Shamballic magnetism not only relates the Ashrams to each other, but it is also the
potency which evokes the will or the first ray nature inherent in every man but which is
only consciously and definitely unfolded within the periphery of the great Ashram.
- In a mysterious sense, it is the life of that seed or germ which will come to fruition
in the third solar system:
- In the "center which we call the race of men" the potency of intelligence
(developed in a previous solar system) is brought to fruition and the stirrings, of the
potency of love are felt.
- In the "center which is nearest to the Lord" the potencies of intelligence and
love are expressed, and at the third initiation the magnetic pull of the potency of will
is felt. [377]
- In the "center where the will of God is known" the intelligent loving Master,
now responsive to the energy of the will, is faced with the seven Paths whereon that will
can come to fruition and the "units of love can be transferred because they also will
and know." They can then form part of the third solar system which will be definitely
under the influences coming from the cosmic mental plane, just as, in this solar system,
the energies coming from the cosmic astral plane have been the major influence.
All this is, of course, an inadequate expression of abstruse truth. The cosmic astral
plane is not an illusion, as is the astral plane with which we are all so unhappily
acquainted. The reason for this lies in the fact that all our planes constitute the cosmic
physical plane and are therefore regarded - as far as three worlds of human evolution are
concerned - as illusion, for the dense physical substance is not a principle.
This you have oft been told. The cosmic astral plane is a reservoir of love energy,
pouring into two of our planes which constitute part of the cosmic etheric body - the
monadic plane and the buddhic plane.
- It is that which permeates the radiation from the Hierarchy to which humanity is
responsive. No disciple or aspirant can be drawn into the periphery of the Hierarchy, and
from thence into an Ashram, without finding that his will nature is being affected. It
will only show itself at this stage as persistence and determination. Persistence is a
quality of life and related to immortality, whilst determination is the lowest aspect of
the will. Their development produces a reorientation which becomes a permanent attitude,
and the disciple then becomes responsive not only to the "vitalized radiation"
coming from the periphery of the Hierarchy but also, in an increasing measure, to the
"magnetic pull" which emanates from the Hierarchy itself, and in particular from
the Ashram to which he must eventually find his way.
If you will make a close study of all the above information, you may find some measure
of enlightenment. It is the great simplicities which must be ever kept in mind: the [378]
three great divine aspects, the septenates of the evolutionary process, the divine
qualities or principles, and the relation of energy to force. With these clearly held in
mind, the detail is of small moment; the intuition rapidly assimilates and relates the
detail, if there be need to do so, to the manifesting whole.
To return
to our theme, which is the expression of the great Ashram through the medium of the seven
Ashrams, it is this magnetic energy of the first aspect which is found at the heart of the
seven Ashrams, energized and enlightened from the reservoir of will energy found at the
heart of the great Ashram itself. This reservoir is fed from the "center where the
will of God is known," and the directing agent of this energy, within the Hierarchy
itself, is the Christ and His two Associates, the Manu and the Mahachohan. The forty-nine
subsidiary Ashrams (not all of which are yet functioning) are energized by the potency of
will from the reservoir of energy at the heart of each major Ashram, these in their turn
being fed from the central reservoir. The correspondence of this in the human centers is
called the "jewel in the lotus."
Let us now study the formation of the great Ashram and then (this will have more
meaning for you) the gradual formation of the seven Ashrams under direct ray activity.
This process lies in the past history of humanity and I shall only briefly touch upon it.
Once formed, it became the task of these seven Ashrams to produce the forty-two Ashrams.
These seven Ashrams express ray qualities, and the whole forty-nine are expressive of the
forty-nine fires, referred to in The Secret Doctrine; through these fires, the God
of Fire seeks to make Himself known. |
