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Discipleship in the New Age II - Talks to Disciples - Group Instruction
Everywhere, however, the newer type of groups are slowly being gathered together. Have you ever realized (I seek here to make you think and reason) that a group composed entirely of people upon the same ray, and who were also at exactly the same point in evolution, would be relatively futile and useless? Such a group would lack dynamic - the dynamic which comes into expression when many and different ray qualities meet and combine. When you speak of an Ashram being a first or a second ray Ashram - to mention only two out of the seven - it is essential that you bear in mind that though its members may have the same basic soul ray, they are apt to be found on one or other of the six subsidiary subrays; there is also a constant shifting of people as they make true progress from a minor ray to a major ray or (for service reasons) on to a different subray of their own ray; this is a point which is very apt to be forgotten. It is wise to realize that an Ashram is composed of disciples and initiates of all degrees. It is this interplay of diverse elements that enriches an Ashram and tends inevitably to successful service in the three worlds. I am anxious to see the group, with which I have been undertaking an occult experiment for the Hierarchy, hold together. When I say this, I refer not only to the few of you who are now active (and perhaps patting yourselves on the back for your steadfastness!), but also to the inactive members, to those likewise who of their own free will dropped out, those whom perforce I myself had to drop, and those also [108] who are functioning upon the other side of the veil. I have asked A.A.B. to send each of you a complete list of all who were in the earlier groups as well as those who were or are in the reorganized group. The names will be sent to you without comment and without addresses. I would ask you on one day each month - the day of the full moon - to sit down and mention each of these names of your co-disciples in the light, sending out light and love to one and all. This will strengthen the relation of you all to each other and it will also create an energy body - an etheric body - for the entire subjective group and will integrate them closely as time goes on, restoring those who broke away and strengthening those who unfortunately proved themselves to be weak. This entire problem of group integrity and personnel synthesis (if I may coin such a phrase) is at this time presenting a major problem to the Hierarchy. It is based, as you see, on the point in evolution which humanity has reached. There are many millions today - and this may surprise you - who have already achieved a definite measure of permanent personality integration. They are people in the fullest sense of the term although they may yet be lacking any contact with the soul or any desire for such contact. This means that they are relatively dominant men and women in their own setting, environment or milieu; they therefore constitute a problem in this preparatory cyclic era because they refuse - usually quite unconsciously - to form part of any group; they seek ever the position of leader. This is true of spiritual aspirants just as much as it is true of workers and group leaders in any other phase of human thought and procedure. Therefore we ask: How can we create extra-ashramic groups out of aspirants and disciples who primarily value spiritual status, kudos or an elevated position? We cannot. All we can do is to train aspirants in recognized group requirements. We must also point out to them the dangers of mental pride, detail to them their personality limitations and the difficulties of true spiritual leadership, and then plead with them to mind their own business where each other is concerned and ask them to serve the human race; this of course means, incidentally, serving the Hierarchy and thus [109] demonstrate their ability to work within an Ashram. Disciples - in the earlier stages - are apt to be didactic; they like to express in words their profound understanding of occult truth and thereby, in reality, establish their superiority over non-esoteric students, and in so doing (again incidentally) antagonize those they otherwise could help. They like to show their unique familiarity with hierarchical principles but, as they are not yet living those principles, they hinder more than they can help; at the same time, through self-discovery, they learn much thereby. They believe that in expressing their knowledge of petty and unimportant details anent the lives and methods of the Masters, a high point of spiritual understanding and development is thereby indicated. This is not by any means the case. In the last analysis, it indicates a superficial sense of false values, and seventy per cent of their information is wrong and of no importance. I feel it necessary to emphasize the unimportance of their claims to information because the work of the Masters and their freedom to serve humanity as they desire have been greatly hindered by these foolish thought-forms and by the preconceived ideas of well-intentioned aspirants. The Masters very seldom resemble the theories, the pictures and the information which is so frequently circulated by the average aspirant. This whole business of occult gossip and of misinformation governs the majority of the many little occult groups. Until groups are formed which consist of disciples and senior aspirants who possess self-ascertained knowledge and who are capable of correct interpretation of the occult facts, and who are also endowed with the rare group virtue of silence, we shall not have the desired externalization of the Ashrams. I would have you think on these matters and prepare yourselves for a better and sounder appreciation, plus a more adequate meeting of hierarchical requirements in your next incarnation. And now, my brothers and co-workers, I leave you to work, serve and study; by that last word, I mean reflect and think. I would commend to your consideration (because you cannot as yet think truly constructively, but only imaginatively) [110] the place in this hierarchical planning, adjusting and aligning that my Ashram should take and of your part in it, as an individual and as a group, above all. I ask your aid so that one of the newest Ashrams may play a good part in the group of Ashrams, gathered around that of the One who was my Master, the Chohan K.H. There has been much pressure on you this year; I have seen and noted it; the group - as a group - has done better this year than for some years past, and I have seen a deepening of devotion and a strengthening of conviction. Failures, where they may be found, need not persist, for the group love can offset them all; personality weaknesses, mistakes and faults are overlooked and forgotten in the urgency of human need; they do not even penetrate into the Ashram. I would ask you to remember this, and with humility in your hearts, persistence in your efforts and love to all men, pass on your way. Let love play its part in all your lives and all your interrelations as it must and does in the Hierarchy; look upon the Ashram to which you are affiliated as a miniature Hierarchy and model your efforts upon what you have learned anent the Hierarchy; count all things but loss unless they are productive along the line of service to humanity, and become increasingly factual in your attitude to all disciples and to the Hierarchy. The coming cycle is momentous in its offering of opportunity, and I would have you - again as individuals and as a group - measure up to this chance. Fix your eyes on human need and your hand in mine (if I may speak thus to you in symbols) and go forward with me to greater influence and deeper usefulness. [113]
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