Sartorius - The Higher Spiritual Knowledge

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The

HIGHER SPIRITUAL

KNOWLEDGE

LAWRENCE & MICHAEL SARTORIUS

Este libro fue pasado a formato Word para facilitar la difusin, y con el propsito deque as como usted lo recibi lo pueda hacer llegar a alguien ms. HERNN

Para descargar de Internet: Biblioteca Nueva EraRosario Argentina

Adherida al Directorio Promineo

FWD: www.promineo.gq.nu


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CONTENTS:

Chapter One: A WIDER VISIONChapter Two: CREATIONChapter Three: EVOLUTIONChapter Four: VIBRATION & DENSITYChapter Five: GUIDES & MASTERSChapter Six: THE LEARNING PLANETChapter Seven: KARMA & REINCARNATION

Chapter Eight: DEATH & REVIEWChapter Nine: BIRTH & GROWTH

Chapter One:A WIDER VISION

http://think-aboutit.com/Spiritual/higher_spiritual_knowledge.htm

We are living in times of increasing doubt and uncertainty.There is a widespread feeling that the old order of society is breaking down, that the forward development of

our civilization has come to a dead-end. The certainty and enthusiasm of the 1950s and 60s, the visions of a"brave new world", of stunning ultra-modern architecture, exciting new transport systems and bold urban

designs - all this has faded, our creativity and "future vision" have reached an all-time low. In architecture wehave returned to a pastiche of the 1930s and 40s. And the grand visions of fast monorails speeding usmagnetically between cities have been quietly dropped, while in 1994 our present "transport system" produced41,000 deaths and 5 million injuries in the USA alone with an officially estimated cost of $170 billion in trafficcongestion and accidents.

Despite efforts, more often cosmetic than real, to tackle environmental pollution and degradation, we continueto destroy rain forests at an accelerating rate; the food we eat and the ground in which it is grown are subject toever-increasing pollution by toxic chemicals, and progressive destruction of the ozone layer has turned even thesimple act of sunbathing into a cancer-threatening danger. In the detail of everyday life the deterioration ofsociety is equally visible. Violence, vandalism and disrespect for law-and-order are on the increase, so also isthe use of drugs and the proliferation of sexually-transmitted diseases.

Political leaders no longer lead, and governments appear increasingly ineffective. As the International Institutefor Strategic Studies points out in its 1995 Strategic Survey, "alliances lack direction; so do nation states, which

are themselves weakening as institutions. In most countries, weak leaders are balanced atop shakygovernments."

Life should, in theory at least, get better year by year. In the USA and a growing number of other developedcountries, statistics show that the next generation will, for the first time in history, be worse-off than the presentone. This reflects both an economic and an environmental deterioration, to which many would add the loss ofmoral standards and old-fashioned family values.

America's growing sense ofmalaise is reflected in the gambling fever currently sweeping the nation, with over42 million regular gamblers and more than 400 casinos newly established across the country. Architect ErrolBarron comments philosophically inArchitectural Record(March 1995):

There is a frantic exuberance to the national enthusiasm for gambling, a devil-may-care attitude associatedwith the kinds of baroque behavior found in societies harboring an ill-defined but palpable sense of desperation.One is reminded of Venice in the 18th century, with its great outpouring of architectural extravagance, just as itsdays of mercantile superiority were waning. While too convenient to cite here, ancient Rome also comes to

mind. And there is our fin-de-sicle premonition that something very big is happening: ill-defined and perhapsmalevolent.

Deep down, many of us harbor a fundamental feeling that there will be, and has to be, a significant change toour whole way of life before the new millennium begins.

In the search for answers and viable alternatives people are turning in ever-increasing numbers to new waysof thinking, eating, healing and living, and are seeking a wider view of spiritual knowledge.

Care for our total planetary environment, reduction of pollution, protection of forests, waters and endangeredspecies have become major themes in news coverage and politics; recycling programs are growing everywhere,and environmental action groups are increasing in number, size and influence. We have become more sensitiveto the feelings of others, for those with mental or physical disabilities, for the rights of those yet unborn, and forthe well-being of animals. Though we still eat meat in massive quantities, factory farming is coming underincreasing pressure to reform and is already severely limited in Sweden; and the wearing of animal furs isdefinitely no longer in fashion.

Whole food products, stores and restaurants have blossomed; "light" menus, salad bars and vegetariandishes are readily available; and vegetarianism, once thought "cranky", is now widely accepted as more andmore people choose to eat "lighter", reject "factory farming" and the killing of animals for food. Walking, jogging

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and biking are popular everywhere, fitness centers and diet groups are spreading, and there is a growinginterest in all manner of new-old therapies for mind control and bodily coordination.

A whole range of non-establishment medicine is likewise gaining in popularity, including acupuncture, herbalremedies, radionics, faith healing, and others far too numerous to list. Many deal with the physical body, but inways different from traditional western medicine; others deal with the spirit, or with our etheric or astral bodieswhich western thought is only now beginning to recognize. Westerners in increasing numbers are opening theirminds to concepts from the eastern religions such as reincarnation, Karma (the Law of Cause and Effect) andthe co-existence of higher levels of evolution.

A growing number of people are learning to "tune in" to their Intuition or Inner Guidance through the multipleconcept of reflection, introspection, meditation and "listening to the inner voice". It has long been accepted thatsuch practices form a part of many people's private lives, a part which they may have preferred to keep tothemselves. But surprisingly perhaps, this concept is now taking its place in the mainstream of Americanbusiness management.

Business schools from Harvard to the University of Southern California are including exercises in reflection intheir required course-work. Mainstream corporations such as AT&T, PepsiCo, Hoechst Celanese and Aetna areintegrating various forms of introspection-training into management development programs.

Even Fortune magazine, traditionally the voice of American business in its more aggressive, material-achievement aspects, has taken up the theme. Leaders Learn to Heed the Voice Within (August 22, 1994)reads more like something from a New Age newspaper:

"Learning to reflect takes a lifetime, but it is built on regular - preferably daily - practice. Whatever you do toget in touch with yourself - and it could be anything from jogging to psychiatry to woodworking to meditation - doit for its own sake. If you give yourself to the process, goals will come to realization by themselves. The clarityand contentment we seek lies deep inside us all."

As we learn to become more intuitive we are also awakening to and accepting ideas and concepts outside therange of normal physical experience: extra sensory perception (ESP), astrological predictions, past-liferegressions through hypnosis, and the channeling of messages from those "passed over to the other side" orfrom Guides on Higher Spheres.

Acceptance of life after death has grown considerably in the last two decades. Raymond Moody's book LifeAfter Life deals with the afterlife as experienced by those who have been through clinical death then returned tolife. Their stories give support to the existence of life after death by their very consistency of detail. Opinion pollshave since estimated that over eight million Americans have had "near-death" experiences.

Even the existence of life, and not just life but friendly life, on other planets has gained a wide acceptance.When "flying saucers" were first reported in the early 1950s, those who claimed to have seen them or to havehad contacts with visitors from other planets were generally regarded by friends and neighbors with ridicule andmistrust, and by governments with suspicion. A recent Gallup Poll reported that one-half of American citizensnow believe in UFOs and one in eleven reports a personal sighting. Currently over 10,000 cases of UFOsightings a year are reported worldwide.

To gain a deeper insight into these new avenues of thought and lifestyle we need to expand our awarenessinto areas previously explored only by dedicated specialists, areas not considered "scientific" by our establishedwestern thinkers, areas perhaps familiar to us only as names shrouded in mystery. This is the HigherKnowledge of spiritual worlds, of mystics, occultism and the ancient oriental philosophies. Once consideredalien, even dangerous by "established" religion, this kind of knowledge is now gaining ever-wider acceptance aswe become more and more open-minded - and indeed, as we feel the need to search ever more diligently foranswers which many of the "established" faiths fail to provide.

In concluding this brief introduction one might only add that nothing need enter your mind without yourconsent. One should always keep an open mind, but open to consideration of possibilities. Ultimately it is foreach individual to judge the worth of any teaching, and even more importantly, whether it is relevant and has

meaning for YOU personally at this moment in time and at this stage on your life's path.It is our hope that you may find something of value to you here.

Chapter Two:CREATION

The origin of all creation is thought. Nothing can exist or be created or manifested without having its primeorigination in thought form. This we can see in our everyday lives and activities, from social plans and workschedules to the design of a product or a building. Nothing can be brought into physical manifestation withoutfirst being conceptualized in thought form. First we plan; then we create.

Thought is a force, a power which precedes all action, all creation at whatever level. And the Origination of allThought is the Being whom we call God, our prime Creator.

Thought is the precursor of action, the origination of Creation. But Thought of itself is not Creation. Our plans

and designs remain as ideas until they are given form and reality. The sculptor needs clay in which to mold hisvision; building materials give physical form to the architect's plans.

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Thought itself, be it an artist's, an industrial designer's, a city planner's, or the Prime Creator's Thought, doesnot create. Until our thoughts and plans are given material form they remain as dreams.

This principle has a universal validity. Without form or materiality, the Force of Thought emanating from theCreator into the surrounding Void would be dissipated, its energy lost in the vastness of space. In order for PureThought to be manifested as Creation, a base of materiality must be brought into being.

Occult science teaches that there is a "barrier" surrounding the Source of Prime Thought, or the "Being" whomwe call The Creator. This barrier, long known as the Ring-pass-not, was put in place by the Creator to functionas a "reflector", causing the Creator's outgoing Force of Thought to return back to its Source.

The "distance" between the Thought-Center and the Ring or barrier is such that the Ring is able to contain theCreator's Thought-Energy, and reflectit back at a strength sufficient to create matter. This distance is not fixed;at first close to the Godhead, it is constantly expanding with the increasing power and substance of a growingCreation.

The outward projection of the Force of Thought against this barrier together with its returning reflection createsa cycle of outgoing and incoming thought-energy. The continuous repetition of this cycle in turn manifests as apositive-negative vibratory frequency which can give materiality to thought.

The interaction of these two opposing directions of force locks up areas of magnetic stability, which in turnallows matter to become established at fixed points. And the alternating push-pull action gives rise to theelectro-magnetic phenomenon that creates magnetic attraction-repulsion between bodies; when a positive-negative magnetic force is maintained it can cause bodies to maintain fixed distances between each other.

The outgoing and incoming waves of this positive-negative force permeate the whole of creation as a rhythmicto-ing and fro-ing, a vibratory action expressing itself in all created matter and life-forms. Herein also lies theorigin of the two opposing polarities that exist throughout Creation: the outgoing, orpositive force, and thereturning, negative force. A positive-negative polarity of force exists as a fundamental principle of the Cosmos.Everything is composed of a duality of force, the positive force always opposed by a negative force. Thenegative force acts as a thrusting-block enabling the positive force to manifest.

Thus a base of materiality is brought into being within the barrier, orRing-pass-not; the imposition of Thoughton this base matter can then manifest in the form we know as Creation. Thought provides the Plans, while themateriality created by the repeating vibratory cycle of outgoing and returning Thought provides the "buildingblocks" of Creation.

As the out- and in-flowing vibration of Thought extends farther outwards from its Source into ever-increasingaccumulation and complexity of thought, its vibration rate progressively slows down. This progressive reductionin vibratory rate in turn causes Pure Thought to manifest in different forms dependent on its "range" or distancefrom the Thought-Center.

Three principle "ranges", levels or planes may be identified as the Light Plane, the Etheric Plane and thedense Physical Plane.

The first "range" of expansion outwards from (yet still closest to) the Godhead lowers the vibratory frequencyof Prime Thought to the vibratory frequency of Pure Light. At this high spiritual level it is expressed as a golden-white luminance radiating from the Center of Thought, manifesting as a vibratory positive-negativeelectromagnetic light-force.

This powerful radiation of Pure Light is the creative and cohesive power which binds together the verysubstance of Creation. It is the positive-negative electro-magnetic energy which permeates and maintains themost basic forms of matter, without which "matter" would disintegrate. This force or energy holds together theelectrons and protons oscillating around a nucleus to create an atom, the atoms which group to form largermolecules, and the aggregations of molecules which themselves make up the various forms of solid matter.

The same basic pattern is repeated on an ever-expanding scale throughout Creation. It is this magnetic LightForce which holds planets in orbit around their central nucleus, the sun, to form a solar system. Numerous solarsystems are held in orbit around their own central sun to form a galaxy; thousands of galaxies orbit a yet greater

central sun to form a universe, and ultimately the twelve universes orbit around the Central Sun of our Cosmos,the Light/Thought Being who is our prime Creator.Once the base material of matter had been brought into being, the Creator birthed elements of His own Light-

cells as evolving Light Beings, particles of His own Spirit. Thus "launched" into the as-yet-formless fund ofmatter, the Light Beings began, with the Creator's guidance, to co-create liquid and solid forms, and the simpleliving organisms of plants and insects.

The Light Beings were birthed in groups, or "waves". The first wave of Light Beings co-created on the highspiritual Light Plane nearest to the Godhead. Known as the Elohim, these early pioneers of creation developeddescending hierarchies of Beings who would in turn delegate the creation of over twelve universes, eachcontaining millions of galaxies and even more solar systems with inhabited planets.

The Creator also birthed a hierarchy of angels and archangels as a separate stream of creation, to manage,nurture and assist in the co-creation of all forms of created matter in the various Universes. They serve asdedicated and unswerving Servants of Creation, not having been given the latitude of free choice to explore

paths outside of the Creator's Evolutionary Plan with which future souls would be endowed.Under the angels' continuing command and direction on lower levels of creation, are the Devic and ElementalKingdoms whose duty is to assist the growth and maintenance of the Mineral and Plant Kingdoms, as well as

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our own physical bodies. These are the Nature Spirits, Elementals and Fairies visible to those humans withpsychic sight.

The process of co-creation through the combining of Thought with Materiality was "handed down" by theCreator to his own created Beings. Through the further expansion of their own Thought into greater self-contemplation, complexity and detail, the "elder", or first-born Beings of Light brought into existence a series ofdescending planes of lowered vibrational frequency and correspondingly higher density.

The next major step down from the high spiritual planes of Pure Light is the Etheric Plane.The Etheric Plane manifests as an electro-magnetic fluid or continuum, which occult science recognizes as

the ether penetrating all celestial bodies and forms of matter. This lower vibratory frequency can be understoodas a form of electrical fluid with positive and negative poles, similar in pattern to electricity. The componentatoms of this fluid can then be coalesced into forms of solid matter, though more tenuous and less solid than thedense physical matter which we experience here on Earth.

At this etheric level, the early co-creative Light Beings used their own powerfully directed Thought-force toorganize the atoms of the etheric fluid into various etheric creations of matter: the kingdoms of mineral, plant,animal and human life which were to form the worlds of matter on the Etheric Plane.Having experienced creation and existence at the etheric level, these Light Beings then sought to explore and tolearn from worlds of matter of a greater complexity and density, expanding their own Thought-force into furtherdetail. This produced an even lower level of vibration rate with a correspondingly denser aggregation of atoms:the dense Physical Plane, the level on which Planet Earth now exists.

When these pioneering co-creators began work on this dense physical vibratory level with its greater atomiccomplexity, they were able at first to create only primitive "blobs" of matter: amoebas and simple plant life.Subsequently they improved and further developed their creations by adding complexity, detail and refinement.The results of their work can be seen in the amazing variety, color and beauty of mineral, plant and animal lifenow surrounding us in the physical world of Earth. Though we may thoughtlessly imagine that they "justhappened", each tree, flower, butterfly, animal, and human embodiment has at some time been designed andcreated by the Light Beings in co-creation with the Creator and His angelic bands.

In these worlds of matter now capable of sustaining more complex lifeforms, new waves of souls wouldcontinue the process of creation, but now with an added dimension encompassing awareness of self,alternatives, choices, learning, experience, and ultimately wisdom.

As the later waves of souls or spirits descended, and continue to descend into the worlds of matter,experiencing and being affected by the increasing vibrational density and complexity, they develop a growingsense of individuality separate from the Creator's own consciousness.

This sense of individual identity, of Self as distinct from the Flow of Creation, develops into a conflict betweenSelf and Unity, between Matter and Spirit. This conflict is the central element in Evolution as experienced hereon Earth. It is a result of, or an expression of, the Creator's gift of free choice (or "free will") which allows theoutgoing, exploring souls to experiment and to seek their own evolutionary paths separate from the Creator'sown pre-determined Will and Consciousness.

Through this process they gain wisdom by making choices and learning from the effects of those choices; theCreator's awareness is expanded as their experiences are fed back to Him; and their acts of co-creationcontinue to expand the Creator's Cosmos yet further into the surrounding deep Void.

aving experienced the interactions of Spirit with Matter and the sensation of Self, the evolving souls eventuallygain the wisdom necessary to choose the "right path" through their own experience and motivation. They canthen begin their return to Unity with the Godhead and all other forms of Creation and thus complete thisparticular cycle of their evolution. It is to this strand of creation/evolution that we on Earth presently belong.

Creation is thus an ongoing process of continual birth and growth of ever-increasing diversity and complexityin which we, the human inhabitants of Earth, are not simply passive recipients but active co-creators. Indeed it ishere on Planet Earth that the combination of extreme vibrational density with the gift of free choice gives us an

even wider scope for the creation both of "good" and "evil".This "gift" of free choice may be seen as a curse when we view the damage we have done with it. But wemust also see the positive side of its potential as we recognize and develop man's individual Earth-boundcreativity in the fields of architecture, art, music, literature and ideas. And even the "evil" that we do will teach usvaluable lessons, resulting in an ever-deepening wisdom. Ultimately we must come to see free choice and ourcreative potential as those on higher levels already see it: a cosmic gift, given to us as an experiment in DivineCreation.

As we learn to discriminate between the Path of Self-interest and the Path of the Universal Law, so we grow inthe wisdom of experience. With that wisdom we will ultimately become "qualified" to co-create on higher levelswith the power, the privilege and the responsibility of independent judgment. Though this state of wisdom mayas yet be a long way off, we may nevertheless hold it before us as an inspiration and a shining objective.

This Earth is a very special place. You have been given the supreme gifts of the God-head: divinity, creativity,and free choice. You are, in essence, Gods in the makingand this Earth is a school for Gods. You are highly

privileged to incarnate on her, to be a part of the school of Earth and to advance your spiritual consciousnessthrough the exercise of those Cosmic talents. There are many beings on other planets who are not permitted toachieve consciousness in this way. You may now see why Earth is looked upon with envy by the other planetsin the Solar System for they do not all possess that potential. You have, in fact, the potential and the destiny to

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outstrip every other plane of consciousness within this Solar Body if only you could but harness your being anddirect it with wisdom and love.

The Master ZEN TAO, channeled through the Ramala Centre, Glastonbury in The Wisdom of Ramala - TheC.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., Saffron Walden, Essex - 1986

Chapter Three:EVOLUTION

Creation is an expansion of the Creator's thought and self-awareness. Evolution is another aspect of thisexpansion. Through the process of Evolution, individual souls, each a part of the Creator's Consciousness,embark on a journey of exploration and growth, ultimately returning to unity with the Creator in the fullness ofwisdom and experience.

The Soul's evolutionary journey begins with the development of an awareness of self as an individual entity.The ego-self gradually becomes more assertive, gaining strength and widening its field of exploration. As itdescends into the worlds of density and matter, self-awareness becomes ego-centeredness, developing adesire for personal superiority and self-aggrandizement, perhaps gained through aggression and violence.When the possibilities of ego-development have been fully explored the soul begins its return journey,culminating in its eventual re-unification with the Creator as a fully evolved soul. Throughout this journey theindividual soul is growing in knowledge, while the continuous feedback of evolving souls' experiences to theGodhead further expands the Creator's own knowledge and awareness.

Evolution is a process of learning and developing. On our journey we may take the short or the long route, wemay take "right" paths and "wrong" paths; but ultimately every path is the right path, for all lead throughexperience back to Unity. Thus we are all evolving, learning, growing in wisdom and understanding whether weknow it or not, whether we choose it or not, at whatever stage of the evolutionary cycle we may presently findourselves. All experience be it "good" or "bad", even the "non-experience" of apparent stagnation, all is learning,and all learning contributes to growth and evolution.

Whilst the resultant accumulation of wisdom and understanding is ultimately rewarding, its lessons can bepainful, particularly if they are not approached and accepted in the right spirit. A clear understanding of theprocess of evolution, together with its associated Law of Karma, or Cause and Effect, can clarify many of thehuman mysteries and frustrations of life on Earth, thus helping us to learn and to grow without unnecessarysuffering.

The Evolutionary Cycle can be visualized in the form of an arc extending out from, then back to the Creator'sThought Center. There are thus two major phases in the total evolutionary "journey". The first is a movement

away from Unity with the Creator, descending into worlds of greater density and complexity of matter,developing individuality and a sense of ego. At the bottom of the cycle the second phase begins: the returnmovement out of the dense worlds of matter as we begin to reject the more extreme forms of ego-centerednessand self-interest, seeking instead to join together once again in unity with all Creation and with our Creator.

As the evolving souls complete their evolutionary journey, they return to unity with the Godhead enriched withthe deep wisdom gained through experiencing the alternatives of "good" and "evil", of ego-centeredness versusrespect for and cooperation with others, of perceived short-term gain to self versus the universal path of HighestWisdom. They are ready then to undertake further evolutionary service at higher levels on behalf of theirCreator. As Higher Beings and Masters they may offer their advice and wisdom to individuals or worlds. Somewill be entrusted with the high honor of ensouling a planetary body as a Planetary Being or the even higheroffice of a Sun Being. Thus Evolution becomes a continuation of Creation.

As we, the evolving souls, embark on the journey of evolution we are provided with the necessary "equipment'to facilitate the gaining of wisdom.

Prime Thought emanates from the Creator as a continuous "River of Thought" in the creation and sustenanceof the Universe. Its basic nature is the magnetic quality of Love. Love is the cohesive force which the Creatorprojects throughout creation; it draws all creation back into the center of His Unity and reflects the essentialnature of His Being. When this Love passes through individual souls it finds expression as emotion, theexperience of feelings manifesting as positive and negative: love and hate, attraction and repulsion.

It is this positive-negative emotional experience which provides the impetus for the expansion of learning.Without the addition of feelings and emotion to pure thought, there would no awareness of "good" or "bad", nomeans of discrimination, no means of learning from life's mistakes and successes, and thus no evolutionaryprogression or expansion of the individual consciousness.

It is through the emotions that we experience the joys and the sorrows of our actions; it is through theemotions that we feel sympathy with others. It is through our emotions that we experience the kindness, andthoughtlessness of others. It is through the emotions, as well as the intellect, that we feel anger at perceivedinjustice, or approval of right conduct.

In addition to emotion, we are endowed with reason and intuition. With the power ofreason we can analyzeeach situation and the pain or happiness which it produces for ourselves or for others, forming essential

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intellectual conclusions as to the appropriateness of specific courses of action. And through our intuition we areable to seek and obtain guidance from higher levels of wisdom.

Thus prepared we set out on the great Journey of Evolution. As the individual soul or spirit descends intoworlds of increasing density and matter, it develops correspondingly an increasing sense of individuality.

During the descent of Spirit, often called the downward arc, there is not only a tendency towards greatermateriality, the Spirit in-volving itself in Matter in order to learn to receive impressions through it, but there isalso a tendency towards differentiation, the stream of Divine Life dividing and sub-dividing itself into an ever-increasing number of streamlets and units of consciousness.

The Solar System - Arthur E. Powell - Theosophical Publishing House London Ltd.

By descending into progressively denser and denser matter, the soul experiences an increasing detachmentboth of contact with, and knowledge of, the Higher Spheres. At the same time the soul is experiencing a senseof separation from other souls and a corresponding increase in the awareness of self which in turn develops intoego-centeredness. This increasing sensation of self is reinforced by the need to satisfy the requirements of aphysical body in a world of dense matter where food and protection from the elements are essential to survival.Thus the soul+body combination is forced to focus on self-preservation which can easily become competitiveand exploitive in relationships with others pursuing similar objectives. The nature of the dense physical bodyitself can also lead to the various temptations of sensuality, the so-called "sins of the flesh".

This potent combination of the effects of physical matter, ego-centeredness and bodily demands, first createsthen enhances to an extreme degree the conflict between Ego and Unity, between Self and the Flow ofCreation. This inherent conflict in turn provides the many complex opportunities for the exercise of our Creator'sgift of free choice (or "free will") which allows the evolving soul to explore paths and directions of evolutionalternative to the Highest Wisdom, and to experience and learn from their effects.

Indeed we are forced to confront, and to learn from the results of all our actions; this "law" is expressed in theoccult wisdom and oriental philosophies as the Law of Karma, namely that we must experience, fullycomprehend and assimilate the effects of all our actions both good and bad before we can continue to the nextlesson or experience. Every thought, every action has its effect which we must ultimately experience and learnfrom. Similarly everything that happens to us has its cause, and that cause can ultimately be seen to originatefrom our own past action or thought. Cause and effect. Everything existing now is the result of past actions,good or bad; and the future will be the result of present actions.

By experiencing the effects of its actions the evolving soul learns to discriminate between "good" and "evil" inthe sense of those actions pursuing, and those actions opposing the path of Highest Wisdom; those actionspromoting self and ego versus those actions reflecting the greatest universal good; those actions which arecreative, and those actions which are anti-creative, or destructive.

The soul thus gains a greater depth of wisdom than would otherwise be obtained by following the "straight andnarrow path". It is only through a knowledge of "evil", both its causes and its effects, that the evolving soul cancomprehend "good" in the full and genuine knowingwhich comes of physical and emotional experience. Forlearning does not come without suffering; indeed experiencing the ill-effects of inappropriate actions is theessential key to learning, and thus an important element of evolution.

The concentration by the ego on self-motivation and self-interest which is the dominant feature of the lowerend of the evolutionary journey leads inevitably to competitive mutual conflict, as each ego-individual tries toprofit from and "get the better of" others. This explains why political and social relationships on Earth havetended to dominate human thought and group activity. It also explains why we have thus far failed so abysmallyto live at peace with one another. The simple rule of correct political behavior, namely that we do nothing whichis harmful to others, is accepted on almost all worlds except Earth.

This self-centered concentration on developing an individuality at the expense of others has led to most of the

problems experienced by humanity throughout Earth's history. And it has caused many souls to "fall" evenfurther. Through negative deeds and thoughts manifested in various forms of oppression, murder, torture andperversion, these souls ultimately find themselves enmeshed in the darker, denser, worlds of what we call the"Underworld" or "Hell" when they leave the Earth plane.

Some particularly strong-willed "rebel" souls have attempted to create their own self-dominated worldsseparate from the evolutionary plan of the Creator. They seek constantly to gain power and advancementthrough the enslavement and perversion of those weaker than themselves, and through this process they createdark, twisted worlds, cut off from the Worlds of Light. Within these fortified worlds of their own creation theyremain as undisputed masters.

These dark and negative souls, collectively known in the occult world as the Forces of Darkness, are mastersof a body of planets and peoples in our universe which are constantly seeking to take over and control weakerworlds. In the distant past they have been partially successful in taking over Planet Earth and have sinceremained as a powerful force in the background, using their dark influence as the power behind various

oppressive regimes and self-willed leaders to promote wars, conflict and oppression.In our particular universe these Dark Forces are generally held in check by the stronger and more numerousIntergalactic Forces of Light. This has not been without drama however, and there have been some major inter-

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stellar battles in the universe between the Forces of Light and the Forces of Darkness. Ultimately however, theForces of Light must always triumph, for this is the destiny of Creation.

Those who have given themselves to the Worlds of Darkness are also learning from their experience;eventually they tire of the constant conflict and depravity that exists in such narrow worlds and start to lookupwards once again to the Realms of Light. As they begin to seek the Light, they will always be assisted byHigher Beings. These errant souls will eventually rediscover the true flow of evolution, returning much the wiserindeed, for even these extreme expressions of "evil" contribute to the knowledge, learning and experience whichforms the very essence of evolution.

As we experience the wars and conflicts, between nations and ethnic or religious groups across the world, inpolitics and commerce at national or community level, and in our own families or within ourselves, we eventuallycome to a true understanding of the nature and fruitlessness of self-motivated aggression, of actions basedpurely on individual self-interest exercised at the expense of others.

In the growth of this realization, be it individually or collectively, we are coming to the end of the downward arcof evolution, the phase of competitive individuality.

This is the critical turning point, the point of balance, where downward movement into separateness and awayfrom the Creator makes a turn, becoming the upward path to unity with the Creator and with all of life. From thispoint we begin to see the advantages of collaboration and cooperation, of mutual respect and mutual assistanceas we begin the upward evolutionary phase, as we move towards an increased cooperation and a growingsense of unity with all Creation.

This point of turn is also, not surprisingly, the point of major conflict within each soul and collectively insocieties and nations. At this critical time the choices inherent in our world of duality are magnified: SelfversusUnity, and Spirit versus Matter. Here too the Forces of Darkness redouble their efforts to deflect us from thepath to Unity.

This is the great battle of the Universe, the tremendous conflict between Spirit and Matter. In this part of theField is the point of balance. The Spirit, coming into innumerable relations with Matter, is at first over-powered;then comes the point of balance, when neither has the advantage over the other. Then slowly the Spirit beginsto triumph over Matter, so that, at the end of this stage, Spirit is the master of Matter, and is ready for theascent.The Solar System - Arthur E. Powell - Theosophical Publishing House London Ltd.

It is this turning point, this "point of balance" in the evolutionary cycle that Humanity on Earth has reached atthe present time.

In the return phase now confronting us we will gradually learn to abandon individual self-assertion as we movetowards the increasing light of cooperation and consideration of others, so that we may eventually live and worktogether as a harmoniously unified brotherhood.

This requires that we make a shift of consciousness away from the perception of self as an individual self-contained unit responsible only to itself. We need to develop a perception of self as a component of a widergrouping: harmonizing within the family and community, collaborating rather than competing in the productiveservice of our "work", respecting all of human life and ultimately all of Creation. We must learn to transmute ourself-interest into care and concern for others, working together cooperatively with our fellow humans as well asthe animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, not seeking to take advantage of another for one's own benefit.

The "return to unity" does not imply that the individual becomes "a cog in a wheel", but rather a wise,experienced, compassionate, thinking, contributingcomponent of a wider, ultimately universal grouping. Thoughwe are joining not separating, unifying not compartmentalizing, each Soul remains an individual consciousnessenriched with its own personal accumulation of experience and wisdom.

Finally the soul returns to unity with all other lifeforms and the Creator, endowed now with a fully developed

consciousness and awareness of life in all its myriad aspects, having above all learnt the understanding of both"right" and "wrong" which allows us to make informed decisions in accordance with the true direction ofevolution. Thus we return to unity, but now aware of unity as individuals.

During the upward arc, when differentiation has been finally accomplished by the division of the Divine Lifeinto separate human entities, the tendency is towards unity, as well as towards greater spirituality. In this stagethe Spirit, having learnt perfectly how to receive impressions through matter, and how to express itself throughit, and having awakened its dormant powers, learns to use these powers rightly in the service of the Logos.The Solar System - Arthur E. Powell - Theosophical Publishing House London Ltd.

While the development of individuality is a necessary part of the process of evolution, we may wish to remindourselves from time to time that fundamentally we are all a part of, and at one with all of Creation. This greattruth is something we can easily forget, enmeshed as we are in a world of individuality and separateness. Butthe recollection of our true underlying unity with all Creation can give comfort in times of stress, providing asense of context and reality as well as guidance.

We all are interlinked with one another and with all of life and all of Creation since we are all children of thesame Creator, all made of the Creator's substance. We are also interlinked through a continuous "River ofThought"; for all the creations and experiences of ourselves and our fellow evolving souls at all levels are fedback into that River of Thought, back to the expansion of the Creator's awareness.

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Thus we are all inter-linked both through a shared origin, and through the continuing River of Thought:humans with humans and with every particle, rock, plant, animal and insect. And we are all intimately linked withour Creator, for we are a part of His Life-substance, and He is always in touch with our every experience. Weare our Creator, experiencing and learning from the journey of evolution.

Know that you are not - and never have been separate from your Source. You truly have never been separatefrom each other. You have never really been separate from all of the brothers and sisters you have on countlessplanets throughout your galaxies. You have never been separate from any creature of your planet. Not separatefrom your Sun and your Moon; not separate from any leaf, or blade of grass, or flower that blossoms in yourgarden. You have forgotten, that is all, and in your pain and in your judgment of who you are, you have closed

down. You have forgotten that who you are is God/Goddess smelling the rose of the vibrancy and excitement ofthis dimension of reality.

The Master P'TAAH of The Pleiades, channeled by Jani King, in The P'taah Tapes: An Act of Faith - TriadPublishers Pty Ltd, Cairns, Queensland, Australia - 1991

Chapter Four:VIBRATION & DENSITY

The illusion of separateness which appears as an integral part of present human experience arises from ourearthly pre-occupation with self, and the density of the Earth environment in which we live. Both these factorstend to close us off from one another and from the higher worlds of Creation. An opening of awareness to the

unseen worlds around us is an important element in New Age thinking; this requires that we draw from occultscience more detailed information on the nature of vibrations and densities, so that we may understand in turnthe different levels or planes of existence.

Occult science explains that matter is made up of various groupings and combinations of atoms with theirorbiting electrons and protons, all of which oscillate about each other in a positive-negative vibratory movement,maintaining a magnetic spacing from each other.

All atoms, and the matter which they constitute through their cohesive groupings, are vibrating at differentfrequency rates dependent on their complexity and density; a low frequency allows a dense grouping of atoms,a higher frequency creates a less dense, more spaced-out and refined matter. This in turn reflects their distancefrom the Creative Thought-Center; the refined matter of higher frequency vibration is nearer the Center, whilethe denser matter of lower frequency exists at the "outer edges" of the evolutionary range farthest from theCenter. Within this continuous spectrum, it is convenient to identify the three major divisions of vibratoryfrequency.

At the outer extremity of the range farthest from the Thought-Center is the dense Physical Realm which is ourpresent Earth level. Moving in towards the Center we find the next major vibration level, less dense and moretenuous in the spacing of its atoms; this is the Etheric Realm (also known as the mental level), on which most ofour neighboring planets in our solar system reside. Nearest to the Central Godhead of Pure Thought we find theHigher Spiritual Realms of Light, which are home to the Ascended Masters and Angelic Beings.

Within these three broad density levels of physical, etheric and spiritual, occult science identifies sevensubdivisions, or intermediate levels. It is also explained that while our conscious earthly experience manifests atthe densest level, all of the different densities co-exist and find expression in our bodies and the world aroundus.

The occultist finds thatphysical matter exists in seven sub-grades or orders of density: Solid; Liquid;Gaseous; Etheric; Super Etheric; Sub Atomic; Atomic. Particles of all these grades enter into the composition ofthe body, the physical vehicle. The physical body however, has two well-marked divisions; the Dense Body,composed of solids, liquids and gases, and the Etheric Body, or Etheric Double as it is frequently called,

consisting of the four finer grades of physical matter. Every solid, liquid and gaseous particle of the physicalbody is surrounded with an etheric envelope: hence the Etheric Double, as its name implies, is a perfectduplicate of the dense form. In size it projects about one quarter of an inch beyond the skin. The Etheric Double by A.E. Powell, Theosophical Publishing House, London

Between this physical and the etheric, the next major level, there is an important intermediate level: the astralrealm, composed of lower-vibration etheric matter. This is the seat of our emotions, senses and memory, andthe level on which our subconscious mind works, recording all our thoughts and experiences into the etherwhere it is stored in a celestial memory-bank (the Akashic Records) for our later retrieval and review. Thesubconscious on the astral level also acts as an inner voice, conscience, or agent of intuition as a guide for ourearthly consciousness. The astral plane is usually the first level on which we arrive after the transition we call"death".

Since most illnesses originate in mental or emotional disorder they first manifest at the etheric level before

transmitting themselves to the physical body. Many New Age healing therapies and practises such as radionicsand spiritual healing are applied at the etheric level, and can thus be conducted from a distance without any

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physical contact between healer and patient. Healing is effected by transmission through the finer etheric matterthat interpenetrates the physical and which is not subject to the same physical limitations.

What is known to New Age Thought as Higher Knowledge exists on the higher etheric and spiritual planes. Itcan be communicated down to Earth by Beings living on the higher vibrational levels who transmit their thoughtsdirectly to a trained Earth mind known as a channel. This process is only possible through Earth channels whohave undertaken training in opening their higher spiritual centers either in this life, or more usually over longperiods in past lives. It is equally important when "opening to channel" to set aside one's earthly emotions andpreconceptions which might otherwise color and distort the communication. These openings to the reception ofhigher-level transmissions allow us to receive channeling either in a state of trance, or in more developed cases,directly into the conscious mind as words or thoughts, or as automatic writing.

We on planet Earth exist on the dense physical level with a relatively low rate of vibration. Our vision orperception along the total vibration scale is restricted to a limited range extending from the low frequencies ofsound (16 to 20,000 cycles per second), to the higher visible light frequency spectrum of the physical levelranging through red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet to the point where our vision ceases at the ultra-violet light level. We are unable to see the higher-vibration worlds which surround and interpenetrate us unlesswe ourselves can raise our own vibration levels to their higher level. Similarly we can only see Beings from otherplanets or their space craft when they choose to lower their vibration levels down to our own dense physicallevel.

If we now view the evolutionary path in the context of vibratory levels, we begin the evolutionary journey onthe high soulic spiritual plane, traveling down through the etheric (mental), and the astral (emotional) levels. Thefirst half of the evolutionary cycle thus takes the soul down into denser and denser matter, in which theindividualization of the soul is developed. As the soul passes down through progressively denser realms itmanifests in correspondingly coarser bodily form, finally arriving upon the lowest frequency level, the physicalrealm, which we experience here on Planet Earth.

The Spirit World has as many distinct planes of existence as an onion has skins, each forming an outerprotecting skin to the previous one and providing a means of contacting the experiences which that particularplane has to offer. These planes are co-existent with our physical world, invisible to our slow reacting sense ofsight, yet as real as the invisible waves which carry our radio programmes.

As a Spirit descends, plane by plane, into the depths of experience, a body, complete with the organs ofsense suitable for manifestation in that particular sphere, has to be donned in order that those senses mayrespond to the vibration of things comprising that sphere.

Without such a garment it would not be found possible either to express oneself or to receive impressions inlocal surroundings, and the experiences in that particular plane would be fruitless.

Full Cycle by Ripley Webb - Marcus Books, Queensville, Ontario, CanadaUnknown to us at our earthly physical level there are whole worlds of higher vibration rates, and Beings within

them, which we can neither see nor touch. Since their vibration rates are higher, making their bodies less densethan ours, they are able to interpenetrate us without our even being aware of their presence. This often puzzlingidea can be readily understood if we bear in mind that all "solid" matter is in fact composed of atoms with"spaces" around them.

It is of course, well known that even in the hardest substance no two atoms ever touch one another, the spacebetween two adjacent atoms being in fact enormously larger than the two atoms themselves. Orthodox physicalscience long ago has posited an Ether which interpenetrates all known substances, the densest solid as well asthe most rarefied gas; and just as this Ether moves with perfect freedom between the particles of densestmatter, so does Etheric matter interpenetrate it in turn, and moves with perfect freedom among its particles.Thus a Being in the etheric world might be occupying the same space as a Being living in the physical world; yeteach would be entirely unconscious of the other, and would in no way impede the free movement of the other. The Astral Bodyby A.E. Powell, The Theosophical Publishing House, London

Vibration rates existing either above or below our limited visible spectrum, though unseen, can often beexperienced by those sensitive to their influences. People with heightened extrasensory perception can oftensee "ghosts", visible to them as a nebulous form which has the ability to pass right through them and other solidobjects. Even those not accustomed to extrasensory perception may sometimes be aware of a person or placehaving good or bad "vibes"; this is because we can sense, on higher more intuitive levels, the vibrations beinggiven out around us.

This difference in density and vibrational levels can also explain why it is that when we send Earth spaceprobes to neighboring planets we appear to see no form of life. The Beings who inhabit these planets, togetherwith the surrounding vegetation and other lifeforms, no longer exist on the dense vibratory level which remainsat the planet's old physical surface. They live on a higher, more tenuous vibratory level which we cannotperceive, though it is perfectly solid to them. Their "world" is located on a higher plane surrounding the planet, aworld through which our spacecraft unknowingly pass on their way to the planet's old physical crust.

One of many well-known channels communicating transmissions from etheric levels is Tuella, whose

published channelings include messages from a group of interplanetary spaceships on station within our solarsystem known as the Ashtar Command. In her book Ashtar -A Tribute, Tuella clarifies the nature of the ethericvibration level by asking Space Commander Ashtar the following:

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Tuella: "From your statement that you are etheric, am I to presume that you have evolved beyond the stage ofa physical body?"

Ashtar: "Correct. I do not possess a physical casing of the dense type such as yours. I am definitely etheric,as are all people on other planets in this solar system. However, this does not mean that we are invisible toeach other as we are to you under normal circumstances. We see each other and live much as you do, but wedo not have this dense physical casing which you possess. The advantages, benefits and comforts of this livingare enormous, and the irritations of the fleshly envelope are most uncomfortable. Unless we choose to convertthe vibrational frequency of our bodies to one which is visible to your optics, we remain invisible to your people.Highly evolved people, with a good psychic eye as you call it, can sometimes see us in vaporous form, although

we may be invisible to other Earthlings in the same location. When your clairvoyants travel to our civilizations onother planets, they see and are able to interpret our lives because they are not using their physical eyes buttheir astral or psychic sight, to which we are visible just as though we were physical."

Tuella: "I am puzzled by the nature of etheric matter. For example, there is one case on record where one ofour jet aircraft flew right through a space ship without hitting anything solid whatever. Are your ships made of avaporous substance, or are they a different form of Earthly matter?"

Ashtar: "We have all the elements you know on Earth, and many more. The etheric form of metals differs in itsatomic and molecular structure from Earth made metals. For example, the distance between the nucleus andthe orbiting electrons of the etheric iron is much greater than in iron as you know it on Earth. This permits theatoms of Earthly steel to pass right through the atoms of etheric steel in such a way that nothing happens toeither form of steel. The etheric form of steel enjoys a higher vibratory rate than Earthly steel and therefore isnot apparent to Earthly vision or, if you prefer, physical eyesight.

Because of our knowledge of Universal Law, our very being consists of a higher level of vibration than youpeople of Earth. You see, every particle of the Universe consists of molecules whose center contains an atomaround which electrons and protons revolve. Each molecule of a different molecular structure vibrates at adifferent frequency. The inside of a molecule is identical in makeup to the Universe. Planets revolve aroundcentral suns; solar systems around galaxies; galaxies, around a central sun. Each molecule vibrates atwhatever frequency seems appropriate for our existence.

As one becomes more spiritual in nature, thinking only of the welfare of others and not of power and greed,the higher the molecules of one's being will vibrate. As we know in our dimension, it is possible for thesemolecules to vibrate so rapidly that the frequency becomes pure light. This is why we call ourselves the Forcesof Light. We depend on the light from The Source -The Creator, God, for our existence."

Ashtar: A Tribute -compiled by Tuella - Guardian Action Publications - 1985. Republished 1995 by Inner LightPublications, New Brunswick NJ, USA.

Thus the student of New Age Thought, though perhaps unable to see or to sense the presence of Beingsexisting on other vibratory levels, can now at least comprehend their existence. As our evolution progresses, aswe move to higher levels of being, a wider range of perception will open up to us. But even now, indeedparticularly now as we struggle through the denser realms of our evolutionary journey, an expanding awarenessof higher realms can open our intuition to the many sources of guidance and wisdom available to us.

Chapter Five:GUIDES & MASTERS

At the start of our evolutionary journey as evolving spirits, we are created out of and as a part of our Creator'sown Being; we are particles of His own Spirit and Thought Force. We are birthed in "waves", small groups of adozen or so souls created at the same moment in time. The individual members of these small groups remainlinked throughout their evolutionary cycle as soulmates, incarnating together in the denser worlds as life-partners or friends, quite often reincarnating over and over as part of an extended family.

Prior to its downward descent into matter, each soul is split into two separate halves: a negative and a positivepolarity - female and male. These two eternally joined souls are called twin souls.

Each individual twin-soul is endowed with a predominantly male or female polarity, each acting as a balancingforce to the other. This inherent division into two opposite but magnetically attractive polarities provides thenecessary impetus towards a later re-unification of the two souls. It also promotes a desire within individualsouls to seek ultimate unity with all other souls and thus a return to the Unity of the Godhead.

As their evolution progresses, each of the twin-souls gradually develops a greater balance between the twopolarities or genders. Sometimes souls will switch genders for an incarnation in order to learn the qualities of theother polarity; this explains the varying difficulties of sexual identity which many people experience on Earthduring those incarnations when they are inhabiting a body of an opposite and unaccustomed gender.

As the twin souls approach the end of their evolutionary journey they will have learnt to balance the positiveout-going/forcefuland the negative receptive/nurturing qualities of their two polarities. In this way each becomesan androgenous (male/female) Being, though they will both continue to retain for some time a certain element of

their original polarity. They are thus re-united with one another at the level of the Godhead as close halves of asingle spirit, now as totally balanced beings, but each bearing the additional depth of understanding containedwithin the female or male characteristics.

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When one twin-soul chooses to incarnate on Earth at the dense physical level to learn the harsh and difficultlessons of this planet, the other usually remains behind on a higher plane in order to provide a spiritualconnection and assistance from a more elevated standpoint. Nevertheless there are occasions, such as duringan important joint mission on Earth, when twin souls arrange to meet and share an Earth incarnation together.Unless they choose to be born as close relatives or twins, the time and place of their first meeting on the densephysical level is always pre-arranged in the Higher Spheres before incarnating. Such reunions of love at firstsighttouch a fundamental note of human longing and feature in many of Earth's great love stories.

Even when we may not be destined to meet our twin soul here on Earth, it is likely that some of our soul-mates, members of our original soul group, will be those with whom we are closely associated as family orfriends during Earth incarnations.

Before the soul becomes split as twin souls, a portion of the still-unified soul known as the Higher-Selfremainson the High Spiritual Realms nearest to the Godhead. The duty of this higher-self is to accumulate and recordall the evolutionary experiences gained by the two evolving twin souls, and where possible, to transmit thisstored knowledge back down to them as an inner voice of conscience, to assist them in taking the coursesappropriate for their further development.

The two twin souls thus share a common higher-self residing on the High Spiritual Realms near to theGodhead. The great Masters stress this connection in their teachings, together with its implication that we can,with intent and suitable training, obtain access to all the highest spiritual knowledge available in the Cosmos byturning inwards in quiet contemplation and connecting with our higher-self.

The higher-self also provides each of its twin souls with a continuity of skills between incarnations. Thiscontinuity of development and attainment may explain why some people are born with exceptional naturaltalents, in the field of healing or science perhaps, or as musical child-prodigies.

To further guide and watch over us during our incarnations here on Earth, each of us has two guardianangels. One is masculine in vibration, working on the positive radiation of spiritual power and linking with usthrough the region of the pituitary gland. The other is feminine in vibration, working on the negative or receptiveradiation, the radiation of spiritual wisdom, and linking or communicating with us through the region of pinealgland.

Though our two guardian angels are with us at all times, they are particularly close when we first incarnateinto the physical body and up to the age of seven; young children do indeed see their guardian angels as theystand over them protecting and guiding them.

In addition to our two guardian angels, we also have another being usually known as a Guide or a Doorkeeperwho protects and guides us as we walk our path in life. A guide is a soul of considerable evolution who has livedmany lives on the Earth and understands the nature and the restrictions of physical life. Your guide may beassisting you as a result of a debt owed to you or an older association with you; however your guide can alsolearn by living your experiences and learning lessons indirectly through you.

While our guardian angels and our guides are ready to advise and assist us at all times there are twoimportant qualifications. First, they will not normally interfere unless we ask their help, for they must respect ourfree will. Second, we should not assume that "whatever we ask will be given"; we must remember that higherbeings have a higher, wider vision, and they will not "help" us to do something which is not for our highest good.This is not a "betrayal", but rather a reflection of the fact that their links with us were formed and exist on thehigher, soul level. At this level they, and we too, know what is best for our highest good.

Apart from the personal help and advice we may receive as individuals, wisdom and guidance are also madeavailable to the world in its wider context by Higher Beings known as Masters.

A Master may give his counsel unseen, perhaps guiding the voice or the hand of a prophet; or a Master mayincarnate on Earth, giving through his life an example to mankind. A Master incarnate on Earth may even be"overshadowed" by a yet greater Master who, with his "junior's" consent, acts and speaks through him. TheMaster Jesus-Sananda was himself overshadowed in this way during the last years of his ministry by The

Christ, the highest embodiment of the Creator. Thus "Jesus Christ" should not be thought of or referred to asone single "person", but rather as the Master Jesus-Sananda, for a time overshadowed by The Christ.Masters are great Beings with a high degree of wisdom and consciousness. They fulfil Universal Service.

They do not belong, they are not linked, to any individual soul on the Earth as are your Guardian Angels andyour Guide. They serve a far greater cause, and when they come to this Earth they come not for the individualbut for Humanity as a whole. They will, however, speak through inspired channels to give messages toHumanity. When they are incarnate on the Earth, they come to serve Humanity and to bring wisdom andknowledge to the Earth as a whole. They are not concerned with the individual, but with the Greater Plan. It isthrough the Masters that Knowledge for this Earth is revealed and given to Mankind, and that the Plan for thisEarth is revealed and carried out.

RAMALA - channeled by the Ramala Centre, Glastonbury, in The Revelations of Ramala - The C.W. DanielCo. Ltd., Saffron Walden, Essex - 1978

There is indeed a wealth of advice and assistance available to those who seek it in peace of mind and humilityof spirit. New Age Thought teaches that through a process of bodily lightening, detachment from ego-centeredness and a greater awareness of the Universal Unity, we can open to worlds beyond our presentlimited perception of "reality" and learn to receive the higher knowledge, the wisdom of our guides and the great

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Masters. And it may be said without exaggeration that "we need all the advice and assistance we can get", forthe incarnations we experience here on Earth are the most difficult and testing in all of our evolutionary journey.

Chapter Six:THE LEARNING PLANET

Many people living on Earth believe it to be a place of perfection. They complain when things are difficult or gowrong, often becoming angry, cursing Creation, even threatening suicide. But Earth is not a place of perfection,

it is a planet of learning. Moreover its lessons and the conditions in which its people must confront them areamong the most demanding and testing in the entire scheme of evolution. Acceptance of this fact reinforced byan understanding of its divine purpose can make life much easier, and help to ensure that we gain the mostevolutionary benefit from Earth's lessons.

Evolution in the first half of its cycle is movement away from the Unity. The farther we journey away from theUnity, the Creative Center, the denser the level on which we live and function. This has the multiple effect ofweakening our connection with the Highest Wisdom while at the same time enhancing the sensation of self withits temptations of worldly wealth, power and influence. In the denser atmosphere, actions become slower andheavier, and the body creates its own demands for gratification through various forms of sensation-motivatedexcesses. It is generally accepted that Planet Earth represents one of the farthest points from the Center, andthus the level of greatest density.

The extreme density surrounding this phase of our evolution on Planet Earth also creates a "veil" surroundingand constricting our present field of vision and awareness, rather like a dense fog. We are unable to perceive

life on other levels, or even to communicate telepathically with the animal and bird lifeforms who share ourplanet. This veil of non-vision also conceals from us both our preceding incarnations and our future, our livesbefore birth and beyond death. That is why we cannot consciously and normally recall past lives, review ourfuture path, contact those "passed over" or higher Beings living on higher vibrational levels.

The "veil" is a natural manifestation of the density of life on our planet; but paradoxically it is also necessaryfor our "peace of mind", as Tendor, a spirit guide from the Higher Spheres of Earth, explains.

If incarnating spirits on Earth could carry with them even a faint recollection of the joys and beauties of theSpiritual Sphere it would make it impossible for them to remain in tenancy of a physical body. To drink deepfrom the cup of experience it is necessary to contact life in its lowest form of manifestation. In order to do thisyou have to slow down your vibrations to a very slow rate and come under the cumbersome laws which governthat form of matter. To one who remembered what life really is, the ache to return would be so intolerable thatno spirit could hold down an Earthly body. It is a merciful provision of God that such memories are temporarilyveiled.

Full Cycle by Ripley Webb - Marcus Books, Queensville, Ontario, Canada

The veil and the sensation of separation, while essential to the "Earth Experience", are illusions, not reality.We are forever linked to the Creator, to our past and future, and to those above who stand always ready to helpand guide us. It is important to remember, especially during our more difficult periods of Earth incarnation, thatwe have never been nor can ever be separate from our Creator and from all of Creation above and below us.

Yet this "forgetfulness" of reality is a necessary part of our evolution and our learning experience. Our world ofindividuality, separateness and strife may well be an "illusion" as Buddhism and many occult philosophies tellus; but it is an illusion which must appear real to us if we are to learn from it.

As we watch a drama unfold on television we may well remain detached, reminding ourselves that "it's only astory"; but by maintaining such detachment we will gain no benefit from it. It is possible to learn by readingstories or observing enactments of the lives of others, but we can only do this through full emotional involvementwith the story, its characters and their predicaments, their hopes and their failures. Similarly in "real life" it is the

very collective act of turning illusion into reality which makes learning possible on the physical and emotionalplane.

This apparent "contradiction" between illusion and reality is paralleled by another contradiction often arguedhere on Earth: the nature of Good and Evil.

In the sense that all is learning, all is evolution, there is no evil, for it is precisely through the experience ofalternatives that we learn to choose the Highest Wisdom through our own volition, understanding andmotivation. In this sense there can be no good or evil, only evolution, and the learning, experience and wisdomwhich it imparts.

But to us here on Earth, Evil is the path of self, of ego, of separation from the rest of Creation, a separatenessleading us into exploitation and conflict in our relationships with one another, and the abuse of the planet andthe animal kingdom which we consider to exist purely for our personal exploitation and gratification.

In contrast, the path of Good is found in placing the self not above, nor below others, but among them,respecting them as we would have them respect us. And this applies equally to all life-forms. The worm's life

may be unimportant to you, just as your life is incomprehensible to the worm; but the worm's life is important tothe worm, just as yours is to you. From this basis of equality we can then develop the concept of service toothers, graduating ultimately to the radiation ofunconditional love which is the mark of Higher Beings.

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Good and Evil are very real to us here on Earth, and must remain so. Thus we need to maintain a difficult"balancing act".

On the one hand we must strive to comprehend and remain constantly aware of the ultimate objectives forwhich we must aim: namely the Universal Laws of Right Conduct and Highest Wisdom. As we do so we attemptto avoid and reject the opposites of self-centeredness and ego-motivated aggression.

On the other hand as we inevitably "fall" into wrong thought and wrong actions we can at least learn fromthem by making ourselves fully aware of their effects upon ourselves and other life-forms around us, andultimately rejecting them in full understanding. In this way we are enriched by the experience of "evil" and itsconsequences.

Throughout the journey of evolution we are faced with choices. Indeed without free choice the very concept ofevolution could not come into being. We cannot become individuals following the path of Highest Wisdomthrough personal conscious choice until we have experienced the alternatives and their effects. Free choiceallows the individual to choose between the path of Highest Wisdom and the path of Self, then having done so,to experience to the full the consequences of each decision.Many of the great masters, teachers, and occult traditions confirm that here on Planet Earth free choice is put toits greatest test under the most difficult conditions.

When you come to look at the Earth and, in particular, at the actions of Humanity on its surface, here youwitness only disorder. Why should this be so? It is because Humanity has been given the divine gift of freechoice and so can create the nature of its own world. Obviously, this must fall within the evolutionary cycle andthe destiny of the God or Lord of this solar system; but within those broad restrictions Humanity can choose thenature of its evolutionary path.

RAMALA - channeled by the Ramala Centre, Glastonbury - The C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., Saffron Walden, Essex

Through free choice we create for good or evil, and having done so we must then experience the results ofour creation. This is a continuing process and exists throughout the spectrum of life. We make choices andcreate the results from moment to moment and from life to life, both as individuals and collectively ascommunities, nations, races, and religious groupings. We can escape neither choice nor the results of it. Wecan only observe, experience, assimilate, and learn from our choices and the effects which they have onourselves, on other living beings and on our planetary home, then having learned and gained in wisdom, amendour future conduct accordingly.

As we experience the trials and tribulations of Earth we are often moved to ask why we are undergoing suchmisfortunes. In reality it is we who have chosen both our Earth incarnation and its specific circumstances. All thedifficult confrontations in our lives have been pre-planned by us with the help of our Guides on the HigherPlanes and with our total agreement, so that we may confront, overcome and learn from them. Rejecting,opposing or failing to fully embrace the lessons we have come to learn will only delay the process and causeunnecessary pain. By recognizing and contemplating our errors and assimilating the lessons to be learned fromthem, we can flow with the learning process and derive the maximum benefit from what is universally regardedon other levels as a unique learning environment.

Earth is a planet of learning, not a planet of perfection. But its imperfections are of our own making and it istherefore within our power, individually and collectively, to rectify them.

Chapter Seven:KARMA & REINCARNATION

Evolution involves learning through choice, and on Earth free choice is exercised in its most extreme formunder the most difficult conditions.

On higher levels of being it is possible to see in a single moment the probable outcomes of various alternativepaths. Thus it is a simple matter to make the right choice. But the Earth phase of evolution is clouded by the"veil of unknowing", hence it is not possible for us to look into the future. We on Earth must learn by the morearduous process of physical experience; we must make choices, weigh up the perceived advantages to self andto others, then experience the consequences of our choices.

Central to the concept offree choice is the Law of Karma, or the Law of Cause and Effect.The Law of Karma is also known as the Law of Balance. In the process of living, evolving, experimenting and

learning, our actions affect others either harmfully or beneficially, thus incurring numerous and often complexdebts. The Law of Karma requires that the effects which our actions have on others, including the animal, plantand mineral kingdoms, must always be balanced. When we harm others we incur a debt. When others harm usthey incur a debt. Debts for good or evil, owed to us or by us, must be paid. Similarly, when you injure yourself,perhaps through mis-use of the physical body, you create an imbalance, a debt to yourself which must be repaidby your comprehension and rejection of such actions. All, in the end, must balance.

Through this Law of Balance, or Cause and Effect, we experience and learn from the results of our chosenactions and those of others.

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From wrong actions taken in specific sets of circumstances, wrong effects follow; we must then revisit andrecreate those sets of circumstances again and again until, having learnt from the ill effects of taking the wrongpath, we choose the right path. This is the Law of Karma. Tests will be repeated until they are "passed" by ouracknowledgment, acceptance and assimilation of the lesson to be learnt. Challenges will be repeated until theyare overcome. This process can take place as a short lesson lasting one moment or one day; or it can takeplace over a lifetime, or several lives, several incarnations. But lessons must inevitably be learnt.

Similarly our "good" actions, actions which show respect for other lifeforms, those "random acts of kindness"which benefit others, set in motion a positive chain reaction.

The Law of Karma works "automatically". We magnetically attract to ourselves "bad" experiences when wehave a need to learn from them. Likewise when we do not need to learn a particular lesson, we will not betouched by danger or evil. We resonate magnetically towards good and bad experiences, drawing them to uswhen we have need to learn from them.

Do not see karma only as a plus or minus column in a divine accountant's book in which is recorded what youowe to someone because of the wrong that you have done them! It does not work in that way. It is rather ateaching process in which you learn from what you have done. It is you that has created those ripples on thepond of life and they will in turn affect you. The purpose of karma is not punishment. It is rather a process ofbalance and education.

The Master ZEN TAO, channeled by the Ramala Centre, Glastonbury, in The Revelation of Ramala & TheWisdom of Ramala - The C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., Saffron Walden, Essex

On higher levels the process of evolution takes place as an unbroken continuity of conscious awareness. AtEarth level however, the difficulties of Earth life and the physical aging of the dense Earthly body placelimitations on the length of Earth timespan during which we can tolerate life. This in turn necessitates that we"die", review our life from a higher level, then return for another cycle of birth and life. This cycle of birth and re-birth is known as reincarnation.

Reincarnation is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth undertaken on lower planes such as Earth, in which wepass from spiritual realms down through the Veil to those areas of dense physical incarnation cut off from directcontact with the Higher Realms. We do this in order to learn "in isolation" the type of lessons which can only belearned in such worlds. Each lesson must be thoroughly learnt, and the Law of Karma requires that we repeatthis process of reincarnation until we have mastered the particular lessons involved at this level.

Earth is a school, and you learn even when making mistakes. If you face a test and fail, you have to take itagain. So if you have lessons to learn in one life which you fail to learn, then in another life you will bepresented with those lessons again; for you cannot progress -and all life is an upward progression, an upwardspiral -until you have learned those lessons.

You have a test to pass, one which you have set yourself to accomplish. When you pass depends upon theeffort you make. If you do not pass the test in one experience you will have other chances of doing so. You willalways find fresh opportunities opening out before you. In time you will accomplish what you set out to do,however many distractions may deter you from your object. The power of the Spirit can and will win in the end.It is like a powerful magnet drawing you on. It is the effort that counts; the responsibility is yours, no other canaccomplish your mission for you. The scales of Divine Justice are accurately balanced, there must be nothingowing if you are to progress.

TENDOR, a Spirit Guide, in Full Cycle by Ripley Webb - Marcus Books, Queensville, Ontario, Canada

Each new incarnation is planned in advance with the help of one's spiritual guides and masters. A review ofpast faults and weaknesses is made in close consultation with one's guides, and plans are made for majoropportunities to occur during the forthcoming lifetime for testing and overcoming those various weaknesses.These events can appear to occur quite arbitrarily and unexpectedly during that lifetime, and some will even bequite traumatic, causing the personality to blame the "fates" for any "misfortune". And yet all these events will

have been planned previously on higher levels to manifest at some time during the soul's earthly lifetime by thesoul itself and are not, as might appear to us at the time, the result of an arbitrary whim of an uncaring Fate orGod.

When incarnating on Earth the soul makes a contract with itself and with its spiritual guides and the Lords ofKarma to undertake an Earth life of a certain duration in order to learn specific lessons.

If the incarnated soul finds the lessons too difficult and decides to terminate that life prematurely by suicide,the lessons are not thereby avoided, only postponed. The soul will have to go through the lengthy process ofdeath and rebirth again in order to return and live out those remaining years and learn those lessons previouslyavoided. This explains why we have a deep-rooted instinct that suicide is fundamentally wrong; not only is it abetrayal of one's higher-self's evolutionary plan, but it is also a misuse of the facilities and opportunities given tous by our Creator and His Hierarchy.

A wider understanding of the multiple concept of free choice, karma and re-incarnation will make it easier forus to understand in turn the "drama of life" and the fundamental nature of suffering.

The drama of life has a purpose: It is to teach, to evolve our consciousness. Everything that happens on theplane of Earth happens not by chance but because we have attracted it to ourselves through our behavior in thisor in past lives, and have consciously accepted the challenge it represents. It is widely understood that theconcept of free will allows us to choose how we will react to given circumstances; it is important to realize

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however, that we also exercise free will in our choice of the challenges we agree to undertake during eachincarnation. Through free will we choose our challenges and lessons; through free will we choose how we reactto them.

It is difficult for those who do not accept the concept of reincarnation, of life after life after life, to see howsuffering can be regarded as an evolutionary process. But when reincarnation is accepted as an integral part ofone's view of evolution, it is easy to understand that we bring into being with each new physical body all that wehave created in other Earth lives, and on other levels of existence beyond the physical plane of Earth. We bringwith us not only our spiritual wisdom, but also the sins of the past, the lessons we have not learnt, the karma weowe both to ourselves and to others. So as we advance through the life which we now lead we will automaticallyattract to ourselves the lessons which we have chosen to learn, the karma we have chosen to transmute.

Thus there is no such thing as a tragedy by chance. Everything that happens on the plane of Earth hasreason, has purpose. We live in a world in which many people apparently experience great tragedies. Tragedycomes to people either because they chose it for their destiny path or because it will present them with a lessonin life which they have yet to learn. Tragedy is the working-out of cause and effect; as we experience the effects,so we learn to change the cause. The experience of tragedy also teaches sympathy and compassion, the abilityto accept and absorb the minor imperfections others, that they may in turn do the same for us.

If there is one point which I would like to emphasize now, it is this: thatsuffering is chosen by yourself. It isnot given to you by your Creator as a punishment. It is chosen by you, willingly, as a lesson to learn, as a lessonwhich your soul needs at this particular point in its evolution.

The Master ZEN TAO in The Revelation of Ramala & The Wisdom of Ramala channeled by the RamalaCentre, Glastonbury - The C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., Saffron Walden, Essex

Chapter Eight:DEATH & REVIEW

Death is an integral part of evolution in our present earthly phase. It is important that we develop anunderstanding of its function and significance so that when the time comes the process can take placesmoothly, and indeed joyfully.

Accounts of death have been given by persons still living, those who have undergone certified clinical death,then returned to life. These are known as "near-death experiences" and many have been documented in recentyears. The experiences recounted show a remarkable consistency in certain fundamental respects: the sense ofbeing in a bright tunnel, the presence of a great light at the end of it, a remarkable clarity of thought, strongfeelings of warmth and love. Many report experiencing panoramic memory, a moving recollection of their entirelife story. Individual cases of "near-death experiences" are recounted in Raymond Moody's book Life After Life

and clearly indicate that "death" is not the "eternal blackout" which some people thoughtlessly assume.There are indeed numerous sources of teaching which describe the process of death and the various paths

which may be taken thereafter, from ancient Tibetan manuscripts to contemporary accounts given throughtransmission by those who have passed over.

Those who are mentally prepared and "die in peace" are likely to leave the dead physical body in fullconsciousness, able to observe the soul-self's departure as it rises gently above the now discarded physicalcasing. It is usual for a spiritual guide to be on hand to greet the arriving soul, leading him or her to the higherspheres. Alternatively, the departing soul may travel alone rapidly through a bright tunnel towards an intenselight, to emerge in a world full of brilliant colors and scenes of great beauty.

The time and place of death is known well beforehand by the Spiritual Hierarchy as well as by the incarnatedsoul's own higher-self as part of the agreement made with the Lords of Karma and one's spiritual guides beforeincarnation. Relatives and former friends who have already passed over are alerted to an impending transition,and will be on hand to greet one's arrival on the new plane.

At the critical moment of death we are assisted by an Angelic Being, known as an Angel of Mercy, who hasbeen charged with the special responsibility of cutting the life-cord, an etheric cord that connects our physicalbody with our higher spiritual bodies.

Ripley Webb"s book "Full Cycle"gives a description of an Angel of Mercy attending the passing of an elderlylady named Martha at her death-bed on Earth, as seen by Michael and his guide Raphael after they haddescended from the higher spiritual realms to witness the event.

The centre of the room was occupied by a bed on which lay the figure of a woman of about seventy years.Round the bed were a doctor, a nurse, and a man and woman who w

Documents

Sartorius - The Higher Spiritual Knowledge