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Esoteric Psychology I - Section Two - I. The Seven Creative Builders, the Seven Rays
The Fourth Ray of Harmony through Conflict Special Virtues: Strong affections, sympathy, physical courage, generosity, devotion, quickness of intellect and perception. [206] Vices of Ray: Self-centeredness, worrying, inaccuracy, lack of moral courage, strong passions, indolence, extravagance. Virtues to be acquired: Serenity, confidence, self-control, purity, unselfishness, accuracy, mental and moral balance. This has been called the "ray of struggle" for on this ray the qualities of rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia) are so strangely equal in proportion that the nature of the fourth ray man is torn with their combat, and the outcome, when satisfactory, is spoken of as the "Birth of Horus," of the Christ, born from the throes of constant pain and suffering. Tamas induces love of ease and pleasure, a hatred of causing pain amounting to moral cowardice, indolence, procrastination, a desire to let things be, to rest, and to take no thought of the morrow. Rajas is fiery, impatient, ever urging to action. These contrasting forces in the nature make life one perpetual warfare and unrest for the fourth ray man; the friction and the experience gained thereby may produce very rapid evolution, but the man may as easily become a ne'er-do-well as a hero. It is the ray of the dashing cavalry leader, reckless of risks to himself or his followers. It is the ray of the man who will lead a forlorn hope, for in moments of excitement the fourth ray man is entirely dominated by rajas; of the wild speculator and gambler, full of enthusiasm and plans, easily overwhelmed by sorrow or failure, but as quickly recovering from all reverses and misfortunes. It is pre-eminently the ray of color, of the artist whose color is always great, though his drawing will often be defective. (Watts was fourth and second rays.) The fourth ray [207] man always loves color, and can generally produce It. If untrained as an artist, a color sense is sure to appear in other ways, in choice of dress or decorations. In music, fourth ray compositions are always full of melody, and the fourth ray man loves a tune. As a writer or poet, his work will often be brilliant and full of picturesque word-painting, but inaccurate, full of exaggerations, and often pessimistic. He will generally talk well and have a sense of humor, but he varies between brilliant conversations and gloomy silences, according to his mood. He is a delightful and difficult person to live with. In healing, the best fourth ray method is massage and magnetism, used with knowledge. The method of approaching the Path will be by self-control, thus gaining equilibrium amongst the warring forces of the nature. The lower and extremely dangerous way is by Hatha Yoga.
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