Rosicrucian Digest, November 1955

8/12/2019 Rosicrucian Digest, November 1955

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O S I C R U C I A N

1955OVEMBER30c per copy DIGEST

Marriage of W itnd W isdom

d drama in modern

guise.

V A V

o Animalshink?rsthand observationshumanlike qualities.

V A V

onflict of

nterestse basis of strife.

V A V

e & tc v iu ta :

MysticismScienceThe Arts

V A V

TlcxtHuman

volution

V A V

ncient Culture


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PRID E THAT GOES WITH BELONGING .

M ens Style W om ens Style

( I l lu s t ra t ion twice aclu t t l s i ze)

I R fo lc c iu c itu t

H A V E Y O U e v er f el t a lo n e in a c ro w d ? D o

y o u r e a l i z e t h a t t h e r e i s a s il e n t w a y t o a v o i d b e -

i n g a s tr a n g e r a m o n g o th ers?

H e r e is a p ra c ti c a l w a y t o m e e t t h o s e w h o f i t

t h e m o o d o f y o u r l if e . T h i s p r a c t i c a l a n d s p e c i al

m e a n s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , p r e p a r e d e s p e c i a l l y f o r

y o u, is th e R O S I C R U C I A N E M B L E M .

I t i s a u n i v e r s a l s i g n f o r R o s i c r u c i a n s e v e r y -

w h e r e . T h i s e m b l e m i s d i s t i n c t iv e a s wel l a s c o n -

s e r v a t i v e m a d e o f 1 0 k g o l d a n d i n l a i d w i t h fin e

c o l ore d c na m e l . T h i s sma l l d i gn i f i e d ins i gn i a is

a p p r o p r i a te l y d e s ig n e d w i t h a tr ia n g l e s u r m o u n t e d

b y a n E g y p tia n c ro ss w ith a ro se in s c r ib e d in it s

c e n t e r .

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with screw back

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Se n d y o u r o r d e r a n d

r em i t t a n c e t o

R O S I C R U C I A NS U P P L Y B U R E A U

San Jose, California

U .S . A .

(Facfi m on il. l[. is page is clevotecJ lo the ex hib ition ol st ud en t su pp lies.)


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SONS OF THE DESERT

These Bedouins, whose lives are mostly nomadic, pause for a rest in one of the little villages on the bleakdesert near Bagdad. To a great ex tent, as in centuries past, the peace of the world rests in the hands of these

Arab peoples. A conflagration in the Nea r East can result i n a religious w ar th at could involve the politicaland economic interests of the major powers of the world.

(Photo by AMORC)


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ROSICRUCIAN DIGESTC O V E R S T H E W O R L D

I N T E R N A T I O N A L R O S I C R U C I A N

W O R L D - W I D E R O S I C R U C I A N

NOVEMBER, 1955Vol. XXXIII

Song of the Desert (Frontispiece)......... ................Thought of the Month: Metaphysics and Mysticism

Time of Harvest....................

Do Animals Think?

Questions .......................... ............................................

When the Shadows C o m e ........... ...........

Temple Echoes ............

Marriage of W it and Wisdom

The Human Side of Sir Isaac Newton

Conflict of Interests.....................................................

Cathed ral Contacts: Living Convictions

The Three O's ............

Architecture of Dreams ............................................

Well of Iniquity (Illustration)........ . ..............

Subscription to the Rosicrucian Digest, $3.00 (1/1/5 sterling) per year.

Single copies 30 cents (2/2 sterling).

Entered as Second-Class Matter at the Post Office of San Jose, Cali

fornia, under Section I 103 of the U. S. Postal Act o f Oct . 3, 1917.

Changes of address must reach us by the first of the month preceding

date of issue.

Statements made in this publication are not the official expression of

the organization or its officers unless stated to be official communications.

Published Monthly by the Supreme Council of

THE RO S ICRUC IAN O RDER AM O RC

ROS ICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE, CA LIFORN IA

EDITOR: Frances VejtasaCopyright, 1955, by the Supreme Grand Lodge of AM OR C, Inc. All rights reserved.


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T h e

R o s ic ru c ia u

D ig es t

N o v e m b e r

1955

THE

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

METAPHYSICS AND MYSTICISM

By THE IMPERATOR

P A R T T W O

h e worlds greates t l ivingrel igions incorporate and,

in m a n y r es p ec ts , d e -pen d on m y stic is m . T h e

term i s, however , com-m on l y s ubm er ged as i sth e p r a c t i c e b e n e a t hdogma which i s thoughtmore essent ial to the sur

sects par t icular rel igioussys tem. Th is is done, most of ten, be-cause mys t ic i sm can l ead the sp i r i tua ldevotee as t r ay f rom dogmat i sm and theform al church . Th e m ys t ic w i l l s ee thevalue of organized rel igion and wil l bethe las t to oppose i t. H ow ever , he w il lmos t of ten th ink of i t as unnecessarye i ther to the un fo ldm ent of h is sp i r i tua l

consciousness or his union with the Godtha t he conceives . H is a t t itude m ay bethat the formali t ies of theology are ad i s t rac t ion to h is more in t im ate r e la -t ion wi th the d iv ine . There a re thosew ho pu r s ue m ys t i c i s m and ye t f a i t h -ful ly par t icipate in some rel igious sect

because, b en ea th the la I te r s fo rm ali ti e sand t r ad i t ions , they have d i scovered thegolden thread of i t s p r i s t ine mys t ic i sm .I t i s to th i s tha t they consecra te them-selves.

The mys t ic i s no t one who th inks ofh imsel f as be ing omnisc ien t or havinghad con f e r r ed upon h i m s om e un i quespi r i tua l m ant le . Ra ther , he is of thebeli e f th a t he s ta nd s as a n i n d i v i d u a l in his divine or Cosmic connect ion. Hebeli eves th a t h is w o rsh ip of G od n eednot be through the medium of par t i c -u lar ind iv idual s or ins t i tu t ions . He con-ceives the spir i tual consciousness of hisbein g , ca ll ed soul, as being a direct

em anat ion of God. To preserve th isconnec ti on he t h inks no i n t e r m ed i a r yis necessary?. T hu s m an , a cco rd i ng tothe myst ic, has within himself a direct

nexus , a bond, w i th God. Th ere a re anu m be r of def in i t ions of mys t ic i smwh ich convey th i s concept . Perh aps theone we offer here embraces the essent ialp rin c ip le of all of them : M ysti c is mis m an s imm edia te aw areness of h isrelat ion to God. I t is a direct and in -t imate consciousness of the Divine

p resence .

T he t w o i m por t an t e l em en t s o f t h i sdef ini t ion are the words i m m e d i a t e a n d in t imate . T he form er i s to be con-s t rued as meaning tha t the r ea l i za t ionof God i s no t had through the ins t ru-

m en t o f a doctr ine or esoler ic s y m -boli sm . I t is n o t ju s t a co n te m p la ti onby w h ic h one f in a lly a rriv e s a t a con -clus ion or judgment of some exper ience.God, rather , becomes a point of knowl-edge, jus t as he is perceived, withoutthe necess i ty of l a te r ana lys i s upon theexp er ience had. Fo r analo gy. I lookout the w indow and see a t ree . M yi m m e d i a t e percept ion, the idea ar is ingout of my visual sensat ion, is tree. Iam no t lef t to the need of comparisonwi th any prev ious exper ience beforear r iv ing a t the not ion of my percep-

t ion. T he m yst ics know ledge of God,then, is as t ine as any other pos i t ivea n d i m m e d i a t e knowledge.

The l a t t e r word or the i n t i m a t e con-sciousness of God which const i tutes themys t ica l exper ience r e la tes to the sp i r -i tual self of m an. God is real ized byI he m y stic not in term s o f the qu alitiesof the senses; he doesnt know God as

vival of the


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f o r m , a s n a me , a s a n y k in d o f a d e -t e r m in a t i v e b e in g . T h e e x p e r i e n c e i so n e o f s e l f r e a c h in g o u t a n d r e a l i z in gi t s u n io n w i th i t s o wn s o u r c e , t h e d i -v in e , a n d i t i s t h a t wh ic h i s i n t ima te .

God i s no t conce ived as a r i s ing ou t o fsensa t ion , o r fee l ing , pa ra l le l to im pres -s ions one m igh t have o f the w or ld .W hen one i s consc ious tha t h is se l f hasf reed i t se l f o f phys ica l l imi ta t ions andhas a oneness , tha t i s , an absorp t ionin to t h e i n f in i t e , h e t h e n h a s m y s t i c a l lye x p e r ie n c e d Go d. I n o th e r wo r d s , w h e none has cas t o ff the res t r ic t ions o f tim ea n d space and i s no long er loca lized andsenses an a f f in i ty wi th a l l , he i s the ni n t i m a t e l y expe r ienc ing God . Such isn o t a n i d e a l b u t a n a c tu a l e x p e r i e n c ewhich i s te s t i f ied to by some of the

grea tes t minds and mora l i s t s o f a l l ages .T h a t e v e n s c i e n c e r e c o g n iz e s t h a t s u c ha n e x p e r i e n c e li es w i th in t h e r e a lm o fhu m an consc iousness, is expressed int h e w o r d s o f E d w a r d B u r n e t t T y l o r ,e m in e n t e th n o log i st : T h e r e a r e t im e swh e n p o we r s a n d imp r e s s io n s o u t o fth e c o u r s e o f t h e m in d s n o r m a l a c t io na n d wo r d s t h a t s e e m s p o k e n b y a v o i c ef r o m wi th o u t , me s s a g e s o f my s t e r io u sknowledge , o f counse l o r warn ing , seemto ind ica te the in te rven t ion , a s i t were ,of a second, superior soul .

W h a t i s th e m y s t ic s t r iv i n g f o r? T h eu l t ima te e n d o f t h e m y s t i c a l s t a te o fconsciousness is a u n i o n w i t h G o d , t h e

m o m e n ta r y a b s o r p t i o n o f S e lf in to t h eAb s o lu te . T h e m y s t i c , h o w e v e r , i s n o tnecessa r i ly an ascet ic . As a consequenceof the aff la tus of his soul , he does notd e n y th e wo r ld . H i s m y s t i c a l e x p e r i -ence i s a s ta te o f i l l u min a t io n . I t i s thegrea t ligh t of consc iousness. T h is re -d u c e d t o p r a c t i c a l t e r m s m e a n s u n d e r -s tand ing . T he my s t ic i s fo r t i f ied thenwi th a c la r i ty o f mind , se l f conf idence ,a n d a r e g e n e r a t e d p o we r o f h i s wh o le

se l f to cope be t te r wi th the p rob lemso f t h e wo r ld . T h e my s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c ep ro v id es n o t e sca pe b u t con so la ti on ,

c o mf o r t, a n d r e n e w e d v ig o r i n t h e s t r u g -g le wi th the a f fa i r s o f l ife .

T h e c o n t e st w i th l if e m a y a s s u m e anega t ive aspec t . Ins tea d o f con t inu ing

to su rm ou nt obs tacles by d i rec t confl ic tw i th th e m , o n e m a y a s s u me , a s a r e s u l to f h i s i l l u min a t io n , wh a t we wi l l t e r m

h e r e a negat ive a t t i tude . O n e m a y c om eto rea l ize the wor th lessness o f some-th in g u p o n wh ic h , p r e v io u s t o t h e my s -

t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , h e wa s c o n c e n t r a t i n ga l l h i s pow ers w i th fu t i l i ty . Th ere fore ,t h e m y s t i c a l l y e n l ig h t e n e d o n e c a n , a n df r e q u e n t ly d o e s , i n t h e p r a c t i c a l a p -p li c a tio n of h is u n d e rs ta n d in g , re o r ie n t

h ims e l f ; h e t h e n f o l l o ws a n e w c o u r s ein l i fe . St . A ug ustin e gives express ionto th is neg a t ive mys t ic i sm: G od is besta d o r e d i n s i l en c e ; b e s t k n o wn b y n e s -c ience ; bes t desc r ibed by nega t ives .

Reaching the Godhead

T o r e l a t e t h e my s t i c a l d o c t r i n e s o fa f e w r e n o wn e d my s t i c s w i l l f u r th e rd i s t i n g u i s h t h e n a tu r e o f my s t i c i s mf r o m me ta p h y s i c s , wh ic h i s t h e o b j e c -t ive o f th is d iscourse. Pe rh aps theteach ings tha t le f t the g rea tes t in f luence

u p o n l a t e r my s t ic a l d o c t r in e s w e r e t h os eof D ionys ius , the A reopag i te . H ow ever ,h i s wo r k s a r e s y n c r e t i c , b o r r o we d f r o mear l ie r teach ings o f the Eas t . One o fthe in f luences o f h is teach ings was ther e s u l t o f t h e mi s t a k e n i d e a t h a t D io n y -s iu s wa s t h e o n e wh o c o n v e r t e d P a u lto C hr is t ian i ty . A n ea r l ie r re l ig ioussect , during a council session at Con-s t a n t i n o p l e a b o u t 5 3 3 A .D . , t o s u b s t a n -t ia te some of i t s own c la ims , quo tedth e t e a c h in g s o f o n e D io n y s iu s wh o ,they asse r ted , was the B ishop o f Athensa n d h a d wo n P a u l t o t h e c a u s e o f

C h r i s ti a n i t y . T h e t i t le o f Ar e o p a g i t ewa s d e r iv e d f r o m th e s u p p o s i t i o n t h a tt h i s D io n y s iu s h a d p r e a c h e d t o P a u l o nth e s i t e o f t h e Ar e o p a g u s , a n a n c i e n tGr e e k c o u r t o n a h i l l a d jo in in g A th e n s .T h i s imp r e s s iv e p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t D i -o n y s iu s u n d o u b te d ly c a u s e d h i s wo r k sto be d i l ig e n t ly s tu d i e d . T h e y we r ee n l ig h t e n in g a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d i n to t h et e a c h in g s o f m a n y l a t e r s e cts .

M o d e m r e s e ar c h h as s h ow n t h a tt h e s e t e a c h in g s a c tu a l l y we r e wr i t t e na f t e r th e t im e o f P a u l . T h e y r e f e r , f o r

e x a mp le , t o C le me n t , t h e p h i lo so p h e r ,p re su m a b ly C le m e n t of A le x a n d r ia ;th is cou ld have been as la te as 233 A.D . ,l o n g a f t e r P a u l s e r a . F u r th e r , D io n y -s iu s r e f e r s to h i s my s t i c ma s t e r a n dg u i d e a s H i e ro t h e u s . T h i s n a m e m a ybe a c lu e to th e re a l a u th o rs h ip of th ewo r k s . I t is k n o w n th a t H ie r o th e u s wa sth e a s s u me d n a me o f a f a mo u s E a s t e r nmy s t i c , S t e p h a n B a r S u d a i l i , wh o wa sa s c r ib e a n d mo n k o f t h e f i f t h c e n tu r y .C o n s e q u e n t ly , i t i s a s s u me d th a t t h ewr i t i n g s p r e s e n t e d b y D io n y s iu s s a w


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TheRosicrucianDigestNovember1 9 5 5

l i g h t s o me t ime b e twe e n 4 7 5 a n d 5 2 5A . D .

Dio n y s iu s c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e g o d h e a dis a un i ty . I t is o n e beyond a l l d i f fe r -ence in qu a l i ty . H e a lso a f fi rms tha tth is godhead t ranscends a l l causes ; i t i ss u p r e m e unto i t se l f . In fac t , D io n ys iu s r e fe rs to i t a s the a l l super de i ty .

T h i s d e i t y i s i n s c r u t a b l e ; i t c a n n o t b ek n o w n b u t i t c a n b e r e a c h e d. T h e s ig -n i f icance he re i s tha t God l ie s ou ts idein t e l l e c tu a l b o u n d s b u t w i th in t h e c a t e -gory o f our deeper consc iousness . Di -onys ius ou t l ines , a t some leng th , thea f f i r m a t i v e a n d n e g a t i v ew a y s i n w h i c hth e g o d h e a d c a n b e r e a c h e d . H e d e -s c rib es t h e a f f ir m a t iv e w a y a s t h eg a th e r in g u p o f t h e r e v e l a t i o n s a n dmanifes ta t ions o f God , as God unve i l sh im s e l f . W e c o n s t r u e t h i s t o m e a n top e rc e iv e th e w o rk in g s of n a tu re , th ep h e n o m e n a o f th e w o rld , as o u tw a rdreve la t ions of God . T he s tud y o f them ,however , i s a c i rcu i tous approach tothe godhead . Th ese m ani fes ta t ions ofth e p o we r o f Go d , a c c o r d in g t o D io n y -s ius , a re a p rogress ion downwardth r o u g h a n in e f o ld r a n k o f a n g e l i c b e -ings. Th ese angelic or celest ia l beingsa re g rouped in to th ree t r iads , the f i r s tt r i a d c o n s i s ti n g o f t h e S e r a p h im , C h e r -u b im , a n d T h r o n e s ; t h e s e c o n d , Do mi -n a t io n s , V i r tu e s , a n d P o w e r s ; t h e t h i r d ,P r inc ipa l i t ie s , Archange ls , and Ange ls .T h e s e n a me s a r e s y mb o l i c o f d iv in e i n -

te l l igences tha t revea l in the descend ingp ro g ressio n a ll of th e fo rm s a n d ex p re s -sions of the godhead.

T h e w a y u p t o t h e g o d h e a d t h r o u g hth is d iv ine reve la t ion i s known as theCeles t ia l L adder . I t i s t h e n e g a t iv e wa ya n d i t i s t h e o n e wh ic h D io n y s iu s a p -p roves as th e m o st e ffe c ti ve ap p ro a c hto God. H e te rm s i t nega t ive , becauseth e s o u l i n a s c e n t m u s t negate , that is ,p u t asid e , a ll th e sen su a l aspects of li few h ic h m a y h in d e r i ts pr o g re s s. T h ea f f i r ma t iv e wa y i s me r e ly t h e s t u d y ,he te l l s us , o f dogmat ic t ru ths as la id

d o wn b y r e l ig io n , i n w h ic h m a n i s s u p -posed to h a v e fa i th a n d w h ic h , i t is o n lyp resu m e d , w ill le ad h im to th e godhead .T h e n e g a t iv e wa y , h o we v e r , i s t h e o n eo f in t im a te e x p e r i e n c e w i th Go d th r o u g hm edi ta t ion . Th is i s super io r becausema n d we l l s i n t h e s u p e r l u min o u sgloom of s i lence. U lt im ate success ish a d w h e n m a n a t t a in s a u n i o n a bo v ethoug ht . I t is the re , D ionys ius te l ls us ,

t h a t a l l k n o wle d g e p r e e x i st s . I n o the r wo r d s , we a r e o n e w i th d iv in e r e a l it y , t h e f o u n d a t io n f r o m wh ic h f l o w th

e lem ents o f a ll e lse tha t m an comes tk n o w.

W e a lso se lec t the doc t r ines oM e is te r E c k h a r t, a s t y p i f y in g p u rm y s t ic is m . H e w a s b o m J o h a n n e

E c k h a r t i n th e y e a r 1 2 6 0 ( ? ) i n G e rm a n y . H i s e a r ly e d u c a ti o n wa s i n c o n v e n t. S u b s e q u e n t ly , h e wa s i nf luenced by the s tudy o f the say ings oAlb e r t t h e Gr e a t a n d t h e wr i t i n g s oT h o ma s Aq u in a s . E c k h a r t , a p r o f o u nth in k e r , a ff ir ms t h a t w h a t m a n o r d inar i ly conce ives as God i s bu t thd iv in e n a tu r e m a n i f e s ti n g . B e y o n d th ireve la t ion i s the godhead , the deeped iv in e se lf , t h e im m a n e n t ca u se . T h id iv ine essence , the rea l godhead , canno t be revea led in i t s t rue s ta te . Iwo u ld b e i n c o mp r e h e n s ib le t o m a n . Ii s a b s u r d f o r m a n to s in g l e o u t a n ys t a t e o r c o n d i t i o n a n d t o s a y t h a t t h ais God . E ckh ar t dec la res : A l l th inga r e on e th ing . A l l tha t i s in the godhead i s one. T h e r e f o r e , we c a n s a y nth ing (no th ing by i t se lf ) i s God . His above a l l names , above a l l na tu re .

E c k h a r t s t r o n g ly c o me s o u t a g a in san an th ropomorph ic concep t ion o f Godw hich w as a courageous pos i t ion to takin h is t ime . H e dec la res tha t God han o th in k a b l e c h a r a c t e r . I f I s a y Gois good, i t is no t t rue ; fo r w ha t is goo

c a n g r o w b e t te r ; w h a t c a n g r o w b e t t e rcan g row bes t. No w, these th ree th ing(good , be t te r , and bes t ) a re fa r f romGod fo r he i s above a l l . One m us t nolose s igh t o f the fac t tha t , to Eckhar tGod i s an exper ience bu t He i s noknow able . Th is , o f course , seems an incongru i ty , un less one medi ta tes upoit . God becomes an object of consciousness to Himse l f and thus i s revea led tH i m s e lf . T h i s c a n m e a n t h a t t h e m i nor consciousness of God, i f you wil l , extends i tse l f in to m at te r , f ina l ly the re at a in in g t h e m o r t a l c o ns c io u sn e ss . W h e

ma n , t h e n , c o n c e iv e s Go d a n d e x p e r iences Him, the de i ty has , by tha t fac ta t ta ined selfconsciousness, has come tr e a l iz e H im s e l f. T h i s t h o u g h t is n oo r ig in a l w i th E c k h a r t . S e v e r a l e a r l i ef a m e d S u fi m y s t ic s ( M o h a m m e d a nhad expressed a s imi la r idea , in whichGod at ta ined selfconsciousness.

M e i s te r E c k h a r t r e l a te s t h a t t h it e mp o r a l wo r ld i s b u t a s h a d o w o f t h


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w or ld of ideasthi s is perhap s a P la-t on i c i n fl uence upon h i m . T he ph e -nom ena l wor l d i s bu t a d i s t o r t edr ep r e s en t a t i on o f t he pu r e t hough t o fGod. I n t he godhead , t he r e is no nu m -

b e r fo r h e is on e , bu t in t i m e and s pacethere are d iv is ions par t s . I f m y facewere e t erna l , and I he ld i t before at i me m i r r or , i t would be r ece ived int im e , ye t i t wou l d be e t e r na l . W hen ,in o the r words , one g lances in to a m i r -ror , w ha t he sees r efl ected there m ayseem f ixed in t ime; i t i s of the now.I t i s l i kewise l imi ted in space to the

p osit io n th a t i t is seen in th e m irro r .A c t ua l ly , howeve r , the ob jec t m ay haveexi s t ed for an e t ern i ty before i t wass ee n i n th e m i rr o r a n d m a y c o n ti n u eind efin itely afte r i t is so seen. So, too,

i t i s w i th God. H e is al l the thin gs ofthe w or ld as seen in the l im i ta t ions oft im e and s pace . God w i t h h i s na t u r e ,his essence, his godhead, i s in the souland ye t he is not the soul (he i s inf in i t e -ly m ore) . T he soul s ends back a d iv ineref lect ion to God so that they both arethe same light. T he wo rd or expressionof God becomes God.

I n a m o s t a d m i r a b l e w a y , E c k h a r ts t r ikes back a t those to whom God i s

b u t a p ra c tica l ad v an ta g e . H e d erid est hos e who l ook upon God a s bu t a

b u lw a rk ag a in s t fea r, d is ease , a n d d e a th th ose w ho see in H im no o th e r en dwhen l i f e i s comfor table and secure .He says succinc t ly : Some people arefor see ing God wi th the i r eyes , as theycan see a cow (which thou loves t forthe mi lk , and for the cheese , and forth ine own prof i t ) . Thus do a l l t hosewho love God for the sake of outwardr i ches o r i nwar d com f or t ; t hey do no tlove ar ight , but s eek only themselvesand t he i r own advan t age .

The F l em i s h m ys t i c , Ja n va n R u ys broeck, was b om in 1293, in a l i tt l e

v i ll age o f h i s own nam e . H e so a r -r anged h i s doct r ines as to out l ine pro-gres s ive s t eps by which the mys t i ca lun i on w i t h t he Abs o l u t e i s t o be a t -t a ined . H i s f o r m a l educa t ion was li m -i t ed but h i s na t ive in te l l igence was ofthe h ighes t order . In f ac t, h is conceptsare a t t imes so subt l e tha t they aredi ff icult for m an y to com prehend. H ehad s tudied L at in suf f ic i ently to becomea pr i est . A t the age of s ix ty , he r e t i r edwi th severa l companions to a fores t tom edi t a te . I t is r e l a t ed tha t s evera l

m onks ca l led upon h i m t he r e t o de te r -m i n e h o w t h e y m i g h t b e c o m e s a c r o -s anc t i n t he i r th i nk i ng and l iv i ng . H erepl i ed: You are as holy as you des i r eto be . Thi s answer seeming to i r r i t a t e

t he m onks , he f u r t he r e l uc i da t ed : Is a i d t ha t your ho l i nes s was t ha t wh i chyou des i r ed i t t o be ; in o ther words ,i t i s in propor t ion to your good wil l .E n t e r i n t o your s e lf , exam i ne yo ur goodwi l l , and you have t he m eas u r e o f yours ta t e . H e was te l li ng them t ha t the r ei s r ea l ly no f ixed s t andard of goodnessb y w h ic h m e n can a ll be ju dg ed alike .I t i s the mot ive , the ef for t , ana the s in-ce r i ty t o a t t a i n m or a l i ty w h i ch de t e r -m i nes w he t he r one i s t r u l y ho l y . Eachof us i s the bes t judge as to whetherou r conduc t i n t h a t d i r ec t ion r ep r e s en t s

our super ior e f for t .Ruysbroeck, in making a concept of

God an i nd i v i dua l t h i ng , concur s w i t ht he m odem Ros i c r uc i an doc t r i ne on t hesubject . Of this he says : T he soulf inds God in i t s own depths . God sufficesfor a l l , and every spi r i t , according tot he m eas u r e o f i ts love, has a m an ne rm o r e o r l es s profound of seeking Godin i t s ow n depths . Th i s para l l e l s theRos icrucian precept of God of ourhea r t s . Each w ho has a love o f t hedivine, that i s , consciousness of the

Cosmic , expresses i t i n accordance wi ththe unfoldrnent of h i s own spi r i tua lconsciousness. T his , the n, is a persona lm easure of God. I t is t rue , as Ruys -

bro eck says, th a t th e soul fi nds Godi n i ts own dep t hs . As D i onys ius r e -f er r ed to a ce les t i a l l adder , so Ruys -

bro eck uses th e a n a lo g y of a sp ir it u a ll adde r by w hich m an s consc iousnessascends to the Absolute . Th i s ascens ioni s accompl i shed in three s tages . T h ef i rs t is w ha t he r efer s to as the act ive l i fe. Th i s a l ludes to those ou tward ac t swh i ch s i gn i f y ou r i n t en t i on t owar d ac -

qui r ing a h igher s t a t e of sp i r i tua l con-sc iousness. I t i s m arke d by ab s t inencef rom sensual appeal s , r es t r a in t of ourappet i t es , and a gradual s e l f denia l .T hi s ac t ive l i fe i s ma ni fes t by pos i tiveacts as vi r tuous deeds .

The second s t age Ruysbroeck des ig-na t e s t he i nward l i f e . Deeds are nolonger ne cessary to indica te o nes m ora lor sp i r i tua l in t ent ion . There i s nolonger a need of p i t t ing wi l l aga ins thabi t and former ways of l i f e . Rather ,t he pu r pos e now becom es i nhe r en t . I t

[40 7}


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^Uimz o f cJfaxutBy A a r o n G. C o h e n , F. R. C .

Wh e n h u m i l i ty o rg r a t i t u d e to uch esm an s he ar t , he becomes

p le as in g to bo th G od an dm a n k i n d .

S O M E a r e s a d d e n e db y th e clo sin g in of a u -t u m n , b u t w e n e e d n o t

be, if w e accep t th e in -s p i r i n g l e s s o n s o f t h e

p ro v id in g lo ve of God,

because th e h a rv e s t p il esa r e h i gh a l ong t he r oad -s ide , developed by thew orker s in the f i e lds . W ecan ha r d l y t h i nk o f t h i sw i t hou t paus i ng t o dwe l lon t he boun t y o f na t u r e .From the seeds , one r eapsab un dan t d iv i dends. One g r a i n o f w hea t

p ro duces sta lk s w it h h u n d re d s of g ra in s ;a ke r ne l o f co r n b r i ngs f o r t h a m u l t i -tude l ike the or ig ina l one to nour i sh

b o th m e n a n d ca tt le ; a p u m p k in se ed

p ro duces a h u g e p u m p k in ; on e ap p les eed p r oduces a t r ee wh i ch bea r s ha r -ves t a f t e r harves t of de l i c ious r ed ap-

p le s. H o w th e n do w e q u es ti o n th ep ro v is io ns o f o u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e rwhen we w i t nes s a l l t h i s ?

W H A T E V E R g oo d w e a r e i ns p ir edto accompl i sh has wi th in i t t he idea ofthe seed of i t s accompl i shment ; butm a n r e m a i n s u n g r a t e fu l , a n d t h e w o r d so f J e r em i ah 8 : 20 r ing ou t , Th e ha r ves ti s pas t , t he s u m m er is ended , and w eare not s aved. Yet c rea t ion con t inuesto b les s us , so l e t us t ru ly apprec ia t e

our s upp l y , f o r t he l aw

is Give and i t sha l l begiven unto you. Br ief lyexpressed , tha t to whichwe give our loving a t -te n tio n w i l l p r o d u c ea b u n d a n t l y , t h i s i s t h eL A W O F T H E H A R V E S T,

f o r m a n is a p a r t n e r w i thGod, c rea ted to be thec o w o r k e r . W e m u st

p a y t h e r e n t f o r t h es pa c e w e o c cu p y . W h ygarb our se lves in the robeo f p o l it e n e s s s a y i n g , t h a n k y o u t o t h et r ades m an , t he pos t m an ,o r t he bus d r i ve r m er e l ybecause i t is th e cus to m

to be poli te? Fre qu en t ly , we g ive to thepo or ju s t to sa tis fy self . . . fo rg e tf u l oft h e f a c t t h a t n o t W H A T w e g iv e o u tb u t w h a t w e t r u ly sh a re is im p o rta n t.

I t i s f i t t i ng t o m agn i f y t he Lor d f o r

a l l t he good tha t comes to us! In suf -f e r i ng , when p r ope r l y m ed i t a t ed upon ,t he r e a r e m an y b l e ss ings and va l uab l elessons , even in the loss of a dear one.W h e n r i g h t l y accepted , we r ece ive a

b le ssin g as w e t u r n in o u r m o u rn in g toa id o ther s ; an d, ins t ead of b i t te rness , weacqui re compass ion, humi l i ty , and love .

M a y w e a l l t ra v e l f o rw a r d b y m a k -i ng each day a day o f g r a t i t ude i n s t eadof r egre t , envy, or s e l f p i ty ; as we dothi s , t here wi l l f low through our ce l l san ef fu lgence of Cosmic force to be t t e ro u r h e a l t h a n d e n r i c h o u r d a y s.

V A V

In the i r r e l a t ions wi th in the s t a t e , men should be hones t , not a lone because of

m oral edic t bu t because i f t he y are no t they s t rike a t the exi s tence of soc ie ty

upon wh i ch t hey depend f o r g r ea t e r pe r s ona l exp r es s i on .

V a l i d i v a r


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o f h a v in g l e a r n e d t o r e a d E n g l i sh .There i s s t rong ev idence o f in te l l igen tt ransm iss ion o f knowledge . Bu t eventha t cou ld no t be se t fo r th as an ou t -s t a n d in g e x a mp le o f a n ima l t h in k in g .

N o w as to th e beaver, th is w o n d e r-f u l a n ima l p l a y e d a v e r y a c t i v e p a r tin the ea r ly h is to ry o f th is con t inen t .T h i s a p p l i e s mo r e t o C a n a d a t h a n t oth e Un i t e d S t at es . T h e g r e a t H u d -s o n s B a y C o mp a n y wa s c h a r t e r e d

b y K in g C h arle s I I , in M a y 1670, fo rthe purpose o f t ra f f ick ing in beaverpe lt s . A c e n tu ry o r m o re ago th is p o w -

e r f u l C o mp a n y i s s u e d i t s o wn mo n e y .T h e c o in s we r e o f b r a s s a n d t h e y d idn o t b e a r e i t h e r d e c ima l o r s t e r li n gva lues . T he va lue o f these b rass tokenswas expressed in beav er sk ins. Fo r a l -

mos t 300 years the beaver , by h is wi lesa n d c u n n in g , h a s b e e n a b l e t o h o ld h i so wn a g a in s t t h e tr a p p e r . A r e c e n t C a -n a d i a n g o v e r n me n t r e p o r t s u g g e s t s t h a tt h e r e a r e a t p r e s e n t mo r e b e a v e r i nC a n a d a t h a n i n 1 6 70 . I f t h e b e a v e rh a d b u t o n e o r t w o n a r r o w a n d p r e -s c r ib e d me th o d s o f o u twi t t i n g t h e t r a p -

p e r , th e t ra p p e r w o uld h a v e sensedth e m lo n g ag o a n d t a k e n f u l l a d v a n t a g eo f t h e m.

The beaver owes h is ex is tence toth e f a c t t h a t h e i s a wo n d e r f u l e n g in e e r .I t i s t r u e t h a t mo s t b e a v e r b u i ld t h e i rd a m s a n d w i n t e r l o d g e s i n m u c h t h es a me wa y . H e r e th e i r i n s t i n c t n o d o u b t

p la y s a n im p o r ta n t p a r t . B u t th e d a m ,p o nd , lo dges, a n d ru n w a y s of th e b e a -v e r a r e o f mo r e c o mp l i c a t e d c o n s t r u c -t ion t h a n t h e w o r k o f a n y o th e r a n ima l .Suppos ing a sudden emergency a r i ses ,in connec t ion wi th th is compl ica tedc o n s t ru c t io n . S u p p o s in g t h a t e m e r g e n -cy i s so lved by the sudden app l ica t iono f s o me n e w f a c to r t h a t a s to n i s h e s t h ehu m an observer . I s tha t ins t inc t o r i si t t h o u g h t?

Before I desc r ibe one ou ts tand ing ex-a m p le t h a t c a me to m y d i r e c t o b s e r v a-t ion some years ago I wi l l endeavorto g iv e a wo r d p i c tu r e o f h o w th eaverage beaver goes to work .

Ski l led iMbor

I n t h e e a r l y a u t u m n , i f a b ea v e rco lony becomes a b i t overc rowded , af e w p a i r s , ma le a n d f e ma le , w i l l l e a v eth e p a r e n t a l h o me a n d s t a r t o u t o nth e i r o wn . T h e mig r a t i n g b e a v e r w i l lc o n d u c t t h e i r l i v e s i n mu c h th e s a me

m a n n e r a s b e a v e r h a v e d on e sin ce ma nf i r s t b e c a me a c q u a in t e d w i th t h e s em a r v e lo u s a n im a l s . A q u i e t s t re a mflowing th rough a b i t o f woodland , we l ls tocked wi th b i rch and aspen t rees , i s

an idea l hom es i te . Th e beaver des i rea p o n d b u t a p o n d o f wh ic h t h e y a r efu l ly fam i l ia r w i th a ll the de ta il s . Toassure tha t qua l i f ica t ion , the beaverc re a te t h e i r o w n p o n d b y d a m m i n g t h es t re a m. T h r o u g h c o u n t le s s g e n e r a t io n sth e b e a v e r h a v e l e a r n e d t h a t l o g s w i ths h a r p e n e d p r o j e c t i n g tw ig s w i l l a n c h o rthem se lves to the s t ream f loor i f p lacedin p o si ti o n i n a p r o p e r m a n n e r . T h elogs are place d across the s tre am floors o t h a t t h e s h a r p e n e d tw ig s a r e a l l

p o in te d d o w n s trea m . T h e te n d e n c y ofth e r u n n in g wa te r i s t o d r iv e t h e tw ig s

in to t h e mu d f l o o r a n d a n c h o r t h ef o u n d a t io n . M u d i s t h e n p i l ed o n t h etw ig s a n d a s e c o n d l a y e r o f p r e p a r e dlogs i s p laced in pos it ion . M ore m uda n d mo r e s h a r p e n e d tw ig s b u i ld t h ed a m h i g h e r a n d h i g h er . I t m a y r ea c ha f i n is h e d h e ig h t o f a n y th in g f r o m f o u rto f i f teen fee t , depend ing upon the s izeo f t h e p o n d r e q u i r e d .

The beaver i s a s t r ic t vege ta r ian . Hism a in f oo d is t h e b a r k o f t h e a s p e n a n db ir ch . T h e b u sy b eav er , a f te r th e co m -p le tio n of th e d a m a n d th e re su ltin gp o nd , la y in a p le n tifu l su p p ly of su chlogs on the f loor o f the pond . W henwin t e r s e t t l e s u p o n th e l a n d s c a p e t h eb ea v e r w ill b e p riso n e rs in th e ir o w nfor t if ica t ion . T he n ex t p iece o f con-s t ruc t ion i s a con ica l p i le o f mud whiche x t e n d s a f e w inches above the pond w a t e r l ev e l. On th i s m o u n d th e y c o n -s t r u c t a s e mic i r c u l a r c o v e r in g o f i n t e r -wo v e n tw ig s . W h e n th e f ir s t f r o st a p -p ea rs th e b e a v e r covers th e se tw ig s w ithw e t m u d a n d t h e m u d f r e e z e s , r e i n -f o r c e d b y t h e i n t e r tw in e d tw ig s , i n to aso lid w a l l . A l i t t l e ven t ho le i s le f t in

th e v e r y t o p o f t h e s t r u c tu r e a n d atu n n e l i s d u g f r o m th e m u d f lo or t og ive easy swimming access to the ponda n d t h e s u p p l y o f food on the pondfloor.

Du r in g t h e w in t e r , wo lv e s a n d o th e rh u n g r y C a r n iv o r a w i l l c o me a n d s me l lt h e b e a v e r i n t h e i r c oz y h o me . T h eth ick w a l l o f f rozen m ud baf fles a l l e f -f o rt s t o r e a c h t h e t e m p t in g me a l . D u r -in g t h e e a r ly s p r in g t h e y o u n g a r e b o r n .M o r e mo u n d s w i ll e v e n tu a l l y b e b u i l ti n t h e p o n d . W h e n th e c o lo n y b e co me s


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overcrowded, the excess popula t ion w i lll eave to s t a r t dam cons t ruc t ion a l l overagain .

I am fu l ly aware tha t th i s i s ins t inc t .T he beave r depa r t i ng f r om t he ove r -c r ow ded co l ony know exac t l y w ha t t odo and how t o go abou t t he cons t r uc -t ion of a new homes i te , p rovid ing tha t

no unus ua l f ac t o r s en t e r i n t o t hep ro b le m .

Engineers Outwitted

N o t f a r fro m a ra n g e r s c e n te r inA l gonq u i n P a r k , the r e w as a v e r y s w i ft -l y m ov i ng s tr eam . T he banks w e r et eam i ng w i t h t he m os t t em p t i ng f ooda pa i r o f beave r had eve r seen. T h ew a t e r i n t he s t r eam w as m ov i ng s o f a s tt h a t w i t h i n t h e m e m o r y o f m a n n ob eav e r h a d a ttem p te d to d a m it .

O n e la t e s u m m e r m o r n i n g a r a n g e r

r e t u r n e d t o t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d r e -p o rte d th a t tw o b eave r w e re s ta r tin gwork on a dam across th i s s t r eam. Theo t he r r ange r s l aughed a t t he poo r be -n i gh t ed beave r. F a ncy t r y i ng to damand con t r o l t ha t s t ream . T he beave rwould need a b ig rock t i ed to i t s t a i l tos ave i t s e l f f r om be i ng w as hed dow n-s tr eam . I t w as fu l l y expec ted t ha t t her u s h i ng w a t e r w ou l d w as h a l l t he f oun -da t i on w or k aw ay and s how t he s e an i -mals how fool i sh they rea l ly were .

A f ew days l a t e r t he r ange r r epo r t edt o h i s com pan i ons t ha t t he beave r haderec ted the two s ides of the dam to ahe igh t of abou t s ix fee t. T he y had l e f tt he cen t r a l po r t i on open and t he w a t e rwas rush ing through in suf f i c ien t vo l -um e an d f o rce t o ope r a te a s m a l l hyd r o -e lec t ri c pow er p lan t . Th e o ther r ang er scame to v iew th i s oddi ty and dec laredt ha t t he beave r w ou l d neve r be ab l eto c lose tha t gap and crea te a pond.

T w o m o r n i n g s l a t e r t h e r a n g e r r e -t u r n e d h u r r i e d l y t o h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d ,a l m os t b r ea t h l e s s f r om r unn i ng , an -n o u n c e d t h a t t h e b e a v e r n o t o n l y h a d

closed the gap but had comple ted thedam . T h e f r enz ied w a t e r o f a few daysago w as r unn i ng ove r t he dam a s gen t -ly as a spr ing breeze .

T h i s w as t oo m uch f o r t he o t he rr ange r s . I n a body t hey hu r r i ed to t hescene. As the y looked the y took offt he i r ha t s and s c r a t ched t he i r heads .

F a r u p s t r e a m , w h e r e t h e r e h a d b e e n

a s ha r p bend i n t he pa t h o f t he r u s h -i ng w a t e r , t he beave r had qu i ck l y bu i l ta t e m p o r a r y d a m w h i c h h a d c h ec ke dt he w a t e r dow n t o a t ri ck l e f o r a fewhour s . W i t h tha t a ccom pl is hed t heyhad r u s hed i n and c l o s ed t he cen t r a lopen i ng i n the i r m a i n dam . H e r e w asa p iece of r ea l en gineer s bra inw orkno t ins t inc t . I f th i s was not t h o u g h ta n d brains , w ha t w as i t ?

3Ian vs. Wolf

O n e a u t u m n S u n d a y a f t er n o o n , i nt he s am e a r ea i n w h i ch t hos e beave rhad exhib i t ed th i s wonder fu l p iece ofengineer ing sk i l l , I was wi tness to anac t o f deep t hough t and g r ea t b r ave r yon the pa r t of a shewolf. I f this deedh a d b e e n p e r f o r m e d b y a h u m a n i nw ar t i m e , t he ac t o r w ou l d have beenen t i t l ed t o t he m eda l s t ha t a r e g r an t ed

for ou t s tand ing ac t s of courage , bu t th i sb e in g o n ly a shew o lf th e in c id en t w asm er e l y p u t dow n t o one o f t hos eth ings . T he d i scussion of the inc ident ,a f t e r i t was a l l over , l e f t the impress iont ha t t he an i m a l had u s ed b r a i n pow erf a r and beyond i n s t i nc t .

I w as s pend i ng t he w eek end w i t hone of the sen ior r anger s of the Park .A b o u t t w o t h i r t y t h a t S u n d a y a f t e r -noon, he dec ided to ge t ou t the canoeand take a genera l look around h i s a rea .

I suggested that he take his r i f le .

V is i tor s a re no t permi t t ed to br ing f i r e -a r m s i n t o t he P a r k a r ea bu t t he r ange r shave r i f l es to keep the wol f popula t iondow n du r i ng t he w i n t e r s ea son . T h er ange r l ooked i n t he m agaz i ne o f t her i f l e and noted there were f ive cart ri dges. H e r em ar ked t ha t t ha t w ou ldbe m o re th a n a m p le a m m u n itio n fo ra n y n e e d t h a t m i g h t a r i s e .

As we paddled a long on the sur faceo f t he qu i e t l ake w e no t i ced t w o youngladies a lso in a canoe; they w ere ma k-ing f r an t i c e f for t s to r each us as qu ick-

ly as possib le . W he n we drew a longs idethem, i t was not dif f icul t to see thatt hey w e r e f ri gh t ened . T hey s a i d t ha tt hey had s een a l a r ge num ber o f dee rt r ave l ing a t g rea t speed as thoughs om e t h i ng w e r e chas i ng t hem . T her a n g e r , a s s u r i n g t h e m t h a t t h e y w e r ei n no dange r , s ugges t ed t ha t t hey pad -d le qu ie t ly a long to the i r lodge . Af ter


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s e v e r a l y a r d s h a d s e p a r a t e d t h e t w ocanoes , ne conf ided in me tha t wem i g h t b e s o r ry f o r n o t b r i n g i n g t h ecar t r idge be l t w i th us . Sou nds likethe wolves a re s ta r t ing ea r ly , he sa id .

W e h a d n o t w a it ed l on g w h e n w et o o n o t i c e d d e e r r u n n i n g f r a n t i c a l l y .There was a b i t o f a h i l l to the le f t o fthe lake , and we c l imbed th i s e leva t ionto look a roun d . A swam p wi th f loa tingis lands in i t was on the o ther s ide ofthe h i ll . W e counted e leven wolvesm a k i n g t h e i r w a y c a r e f u l l y a c r o s s t h i st reacherous foo t ing . T he rang er usedup his f ive shots and f ive wolves fel l tohis a im . One shewolf seemed to sensetha t we were ou t o f bu l le ts . She tookup a pos i t ion be tween the f ive fa l len

com panions and ourse lves . T he res t o fthe pack , those no t h i t , commenced tore t race the i r s teps and ge t ou t o f dan-ger . W e p icked up a couple of s tou t

b oughs to a c t as c lu bs a n d pro ceededd o w n t h e h i l l t o e x a m i n e w h a t w e w e r econvince d was a successful ki l l. As wed r e w n e a r , t h e s h e w o l f c a m e t o w a r dus w ith fangs exposed. She s toppeda b o u t tw e n t y f e e t f r o m u s . I f w e

b ra n d is h e d o u r c lu b s a n d to ok a ste po r t w o f o r w a r d s h e r e t r e a t e d a s i m i l a rd i s tance . I f we fe ll back a ya rd o r sos h e a d v a n c e d t h e s am e a m o u n t . T h i s

p e rfo rm a n c e w e n t o n fo r h a lf a n h o u ro r m o r e . T h e n t h e w o l f t u r n e d a n dm a d e h e r w a y o v e r t h e s w a m p a squick ly as possib le . W e advanced totake s tock of the f ive members of the

p ack w e h a d sh ot. T h e y w e re n o w h e reto be seen. W hi le the ag i le shewol fwas engaging our a t ten t ion to the fu l l ,t h e w o u n d e d m e m b e r s o f t h e p a c k h a ds l o w l y p i c k e d t h e i r w a y t o h i g h e rground leav ing a few spots o f b loodt o m a r k t h e w a y o f th e i r g oi ng .

W h e n w e r e t o ld t h is s t o r y , b ac k a t

the ran ge rs she l te r, none of the o therrangers could reca l l a demons t ra t ion of

b ra v e ry a n d fo re th o u g h t to e q u a l th a tta le o f the shewol f . I t is un l ike ly tha tt h e w o l f h a d e v e r b e e n i n a s i m i l a r

p re d ic am e n t. S he e v id e n tly k n e w th a t,g i v e n t i m e , t h e w o u n d e d m e m b e r s o fd i e p a c k c o u l d m a k e t h e i r w a y t os h e l te r a n d r es t . W a s t h a t a n a c t o fs e ri ou s a n d q u i c k t h i n k i n g ? T o m y w a yo f r e c k o n i n g i t w a s c e r t a i n l y a p a r t a n d

b ey o nd in s tin c t.

V A V

2 .U C 4 t 6 (M &

The questions in this column are two ofmany submitted by readers. They have beenchosen as of sufficient general interest towarrant inclusion here.

Question: What is meant by AMRA?Answer: Th e Law of AmRa originated inEgyp tian antiquity. The ancient Egyptianswere learned in the mystic philosophies andcosmogonies. The very highest symbolicalname which helped to explain the abstractoriginal creation of the world was AmmunRa. This AmmunRa was late r abbreviatedto AmRaa law was evolved from sym-

bolizing and the meaning or ig inal ly attachedto this Egyptian God.AmRa then was the highest conception ofall giving. AmRa gave of itself freely.Therefore, the Law of AmRa admonishedthe mystics to give of themselves freelypar ticularly if any problem, pray er , or

petition is answered . According to the Lawof AmRa, one should give systematically tosome unselfish cause. The Law of AmRahas come to be known in Christianity astithing. Actu ally it is a gracious responsein appreciation of a gift of life and creationfrom powers beyond our comprehension.

Question: Describe the Mithraic Mysteries.

Answer: The tenets of the Mithraic M ys-teries contained the highest occultism; theywere of Persian origin. M ithra the per-sonification of Light was worshipped as ason of God years before the Christian era.Mithraism was carried into Asia Minor bythe Magi. It subsequently traversed a widegeographical area and became an immenseinfluence in the Roman world. Mithraismis said to be the only sect in the historyof thought with which Christianity had toengage in mortal combat. It almost over-came Christianity and did exert a forma-tive influence on Christian doctrine, such asthose relative to the end of the world andthe powers of hell. M ithra endowed theeart h with a ll of its benefits. He was theM ediator betwixt God and man. His creedpromised resu rrec tio n to a happ y fu tu re life.His life was similar to that of Christs; yet,M ithra cam e first by 500 years. His follow-ers were initiated and passed under hisdivine protection regardless of rank or race.


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/2i L S k adowi. (loftiE.B y D r . H . S p e n c e r L e w i s, R . F . C .

(From the Rosicrucian Digest, October 1933)

Since thousands of readers of the Rosicrucian Digest have not read many of the earlierarticles of our late Imperator, Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, we adopted the editorial policy of

publish ing each mon th one of his outstanding articles, so th at his tho ughts would con tinueto reside within the pages of this publication.

was very m u c h i n t e r -es t ed in an ed i to r i a l

t h a t a pp e ar ed i n t h eAugust , 1933, i ssue ofthe exce l l en t Br i t ish p ub-lication, T h e O c c u l t R e -v i e w . I t s edi tor ia ls area l w a y s i n t e r e s t i n g a n dlea rned , and occas iona l ly

touch upon some o f t hevery deep p r inc ip l es o fmys t i c i sm.

T h i s e d i t o r i a l co m-m e n t s u p o n a t y p e ofm ala i se w h ich i s p r ev -a l e n t a m o n g p e o p l e w h oa r e m a k i n g p r o g r e s sa long the pa th o f sp i r i t -ua l o r mys t i ca l deve lop-m e n t , a n d w h o s e i n n e rl ives a r e v iv id and in t ense . I amh a p p y t h a t t h e t e r m s v i v id a n d i n t ensew e r e u s e d b e c a u s e I t h i n k t h a t t h e y

best desc ri be th e cla ss of in d iv id u a lswho a r e mos t suscep t ib l e t o t he exper i -ence o f t h i s s t r ange and pecu l i a remot ion .

M a n y s tu d e n ts w h o h a v e m a d e s om ep ro g re ss in s p ir i tu a l a n d m y s ti c a l de -v e l o p m e n t h a v e c o m m e n t e d o n t h e f a c ttha t a s t he i r l i ves become more a t -t u n e d w i t h t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d m y s t i c a lp ri n c ip le s s u r ro u n d in g ex is te nce , th emore in t ense and the more v iv id seemto be thei r react ions to both the joysan d sor rows of l ife . I t is a comm onexpress ion fo r t he t r u ly devou t and

se r ious s tude n t o f my s t ic i sm to say tha t ,one o f t he fi rs t a nd mos t no t i ceab leman i f es t a t ions o f a change t ak ing p l acew i t h i n i s t h a t o f a m o r e k e e n a p p r e -c i at io n , a m o r e s y m p a t h e t ic u n d e r s t a n d -ing o f t he so r rows and the sadnesso f h u m a n ex i s t ence , wh i l e a t t he samet ime the joys and l i gh te r t h ings o fl i f e seem to qu icken a who lehea r t ed

response f rom wi th in toa g r ea t e r deg ree thanever before . One s tude ntexpressed i t th is way:the sun l igh t danc ing w i thi t s beams upon the f loorm a y s e e m t o p l a y af a n t a s y o f l i g h t a n d h a r -m o n y f o r o n e s a m u s e -

m e n t, a n d e v e n t h elaughter of a l i t t le babem a y b e c o m e a c a p t i v a t -ing , en th r a l l i ng , and dy-namic in f luence , wh i l et h e m e r e t h o u g h t o f i g -n o r a n c e a n d m e n t a l d a rk -n e s s i n t h e l i v e s o fh u m a n b e i n g s m a y b r i n ga n o v e r p o w e r in g d e-

p re ssio n.Such persons l ive the fu l lness of l i fe

i n a n a d d i ti o n a l a n d m e n t a l s en s e. T h e ys w i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h l i k e a p e n d u l u m

f rom the ex t r eme degree o f so r row tothe ex t r eme degree o f happ iness . Theyare eas i ly moved f rom one p l ane andone degree o f emot iona l r e sponse to an -o the r . T h i s is because the i r inn e r l ivesa r e t r u l y v i v i d a n d i n t e n s e and f i l ledw i th a fu l lness of soul exper ience.

Bu t t he ed i to r o f t h i s Br i t i sh maga-zine a lso cal l s a t tent ion to somethingtha t i s genera l ly he ld in sec r ecy amongthose who have advanced in mys t i ca ls t u d y . H e s p e ak s f r a n k l y a b o u t t h e i n -ev i t ab le po r t ion o f t he m ys t i c s j ou rneywhen the sun seems to se t and the day

seems to end, and the footsteps of thes t u d e n t l e ad h i m g r a d u a l l y i n to t h en i g h t t im e of h i s o n w a r d m a r c h . T h eed i to r says tha t t h i s pe r iod o f deepen-ing shadows is of ten cal led by var iousn a m e s , a n d m o r e f r e q u e n t l y r e f e r r e dto , in the language of the Chris t ian m y s t ic s , a s t h e d a r k n i g h t . A m o n gthose who a r e no t Chr i s t i ans , and


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among the Or ienta l s especia l ly , th i sperio d is k n o w n as th e jo u rn e y th ro u g h t he shadows . A nd in some of the Ros icrucian documents i t i s r e fer red to asthe obscure n ight . I t i s t ru e tha t th i s

p eri od som eti m es la s ts fo r a few m o n th s ,an d somet imes even a year . I t i s th i s

perio d to w h ic h m a y be ap p li ed th et e r m malaise.

I w a n t t o q u o t e f u r t h e r f r o m t h eexcel lent edi tor ial : I t i s character is t ic ,howeve r , t ha t whe t he r o f l ong o r s ho r tdura t ion , f ew, i f any, pass through i tw i thou t com pl a in t , and no am oun t o fr eas s u r ance by ano t he r ava i l s t he s u f -f erer . I t is imposs ib le to convince h imt h a t A u F o nd , a ll is w ell. . . . W h o ist he r e i n who m t he i n ne r l if e has reached

any appr ec i ab l e s t age o f deve l opm en tw h o h a s n o t e x p e r i e n c e d t h a t n u m b -nes s and deadnes s w i t h i n , wh i ch t akesaway a l l z e s t f o r t hos e m a t t e r s wh i ch ,i n t n e o r d i n a r y w a y , o n e w o u l d c o n -s ider most wo rth wh i le? . . . Som ehow ,however , the t rue d i sc ip le s t rugglesm an f u l l y t h r ough t hese pe r iods o f i nn e rda r knes s w i t hou t en t i r e l y l o s i ng t ouchw i t h t h e i n n e r c e r t a i n t y t h a t h e i s o nt h e r ig h t t ra c k ; t h a t n o m a t t e r h o wa p a t h e ti c a n d e v e n a v e rs e h e m a y fe e l ,deep down i n h i s hea r t he k n o w s t h a tt he s hadow t ha t f a l l s upon h i m i s ca s t

f r om wi t hou t . Here indeed i s the es sent i a l poin t for

cons tant cons idera t ion by the d i sc ip le .I do no t ag r ee w i t h t he ed i t o r i n t h i nk -ing tha t a l l d i sc ip les , and especia l lyt hos e who en t e r t ne s hadows f o r t hef i r s t t ime, a lways know or a lways f ee lconv i nced t ha t t he s hadow f a l l s upont hem f r om w i thou t . I t ha s been ou rexper i ence in as s i s t ing thousands ofs tuden t s t h a t a t t h is c r i t ic a l t i m e wemus t cons tant ly r eas sure the d i sc ip let ha t m os t o f t he s hadow i s no t caus ed

b y in n e r cond it io ns . A n d even in m a n ycases where there i s the be l i e f tha t theshadow i s cas t f rom extern al cond i tions ,or causes , there i s occas ional ly an ac-com pany i ng be l ie f t ha t the s hadows andt he da r knes s em ana t e fr om s om e ev ilsource be ing per sonal ly d i r ec ted towardthe good and wel fare of the d i sc ip le .I t i s at this point of the disciples spi r i t -ua l j ou r ney t ha t he i s ea s i l y t em pt edt o g i ve unneces s a r y and o f t en exag-gera ted cons idera t ion to the poss ib leex i s t ence o f t he i m ag i na r y power a t -t r ibuted to Black Magic .

I t i s neces s a r y f o r t he p r ope r gu i d -ance o f the d is c ip l e t o have h i m un de r -s t and tha t the darkness i s of Cosmicdecree , and i s good in i t s in t ent and

p u rp ose , a n d is t r u ly a n ex pe ri en ce

t h r ough wh i ch t he d i s c i p l e m us t pas sas par t of h i s in i t i a t ion and de-velopment .

Doubt and Speculation

I t i s t r ue t ha t a t t i m es a pa r t o f t hes hadow i s o f ten a cond i ti on t ha t , w r ong-l y i n t e r p r e t ed a s be i ng a pa r t o f t heshadow, i s t r aceable to sheer i l l hea l th ,or to phys ica l condi t ions wi th in thehu m an body . I t is f o r t h is rea s on t ha tthe R os icrucian sys tem of ins t ruc t ionand gu i dance p l aces s o m uch em phas i supon t he i m por t ance o f s e l f t r ea t m en t ,o f good hea l t h , an d a p r ope r knowl edgeof the causes of d i sease and the i r psy-chica l or m ys t i ca l cure . I t is perha psf o r t he s am e r eas on t ha t s om e Or i en t a lschool s and sys tems have p laced em-

p h as is u p o n th e b e li e f th a t th e d is c ip leon t he pa t h s hou l d r e f r a i n f r om t he e a t -i ng o f m ea t , t he d r i nk i ng o f ce r t a i nl iquids , the par t aking of cer t a in foods ,and t he i ndu l gence i n ce r t a i n f unc t i onsand em ot i ons o f t he hu m an s yst em .Bel i ef in ce l ibacy, r es t r i c t ed d ie t , t he

p ra c tic e of deep b re a th in g , a n d v a r i -

ous o ther specia l f ea tures have foundt he i r way i n t o s om e Or i en t a l s ys -t ems sole ly as a means of preservingnot only good heal th , but a l so a l a rgea m o u n t o f t h a t c r e a t i v e p o w e r w i t h mt he hu m an bo dy wh i ch i s s upposed to

r even t an y f o r m o f il lne s s, o r phys i ca leplet ion.

Bu t i t ha s been p r oved i n t he l ongexpe r i ence o f W es t e r n w or l d adep tsth a t m an y of these r es t r ic t ions in (ne tand s uppr ess ions o f na t u r a l i ndu lgencesh a v e t en d e d t o c r e a te a n a b n o r m a l p h y s -i ca l cond it ion t h a t m akes t he i nd i v i dua las r eadi ly suscept ib le to th i s condi t ioncal l ed malai se a s wou l d any ex t e r na l ,Cosmic, or sp i r i tual cause. Fo r thisr e a s o n t h e u n i v e r s a l a n d g e n e r a l p r o -h i b i ti on ag a i ns t t he e a t ing o f m e a t , ando t he r m or t a l o r na t u r a l i ndu l gences ,has been e l i m i na t ed f r om a l l o f t hemos t modern and mos t e f f i c i ent sys temsof m ys t ica l gu idance . Th e ind i v i dua lr a t he r t h an t he c la ss m u s t be cons ide r ed,a n d t h e r e a r e f e w i n d e e d w h o r e q u i r esuch s t r i c t r e forms , and such prohibi t edcourses in l i f e as were out l ined for the


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mass in t he anc i en t be l ie f s . N orm alhea l th i s r eq u i r ed fo r t he d i sc ip le , r a th e rt h a n a n a b n o r m a l s t a t e o f s u p p o s e d

p u ren ess a n d e x tre m e s p ir i tu a li ty .D ur ing th i s pe r iod o f t he obscure

n i g h t there i s a sense of unrest , ofd o u b t, a n d s p e c u la t iv e i n q u i r y . T h e

m i n d b e co m e s i n d i ff e r e n t a t t im e s r e -ga rd ing a l l t h ings mys t i ca l , sp i r i t ua l ,a n d o c c u l t , w h i l e a t a n o t h e r m o m e n tt h e m i n d s e e m s t o b e k e e n l y a n a l y t i c a land c r i t i ca l , and f inds h igh ly co lo r ed ,and a r t i f i c i a l l y i n sp i r ed r easons fo rdoub t ing the s ince r i t y , wor th iness , ando the r benef i t s i n any o the r cour se o fs p i r it u a l a n d m y s t i c a l s t u d y . T h e v e r yt e a c h e r s w h o h a v e b e e n t h e i n s p i r a t i o no f t h e s t u d e n t s u d d e n l y a p p e a r t o t h ed i sc ip l e a s doub t fu l cha r ac t e r s . T he i rgood mo t ives a r e q ues t ioned ; F r i endsh ipseems to be o f l e ss va lue than he r e to -

fo re , and the vo ice o f t he t em pte r seemse s p e c ia l ly k i n d a n d t h o u g h t f u l . T h e r ecomes a lso a sense of depressed spi r i to f l one l iness and in f e r io r i t y , o r t he r em a y s u d d e n l y a r i s e t h e g r o te s q u e f i g u reo f s u p e r i o r it y w i t h a g r e a t ly e x a g g e r -a t e d e g o t r y i n g t o p r o c l a i m i t s s u p e r -qua l i t i e s and incon tes t ab le r i gh t t o l ookw i th d i sda in on a l l t ha t has beenl e a r n e d , a n d u p o n a l l w h o c l a i m t o b emys t i c gu ides and d i r ec to r s .

I t is d u r i n g t h i s p e ri o d th a t m a n yd i sc ip l es a rb i t r a r i l y s top the i r p rogress ,and seek con tac ts w i th o the r s who have

a l s o h a l t e d a n d a r e d w e l l i n g i n t h eshadows . By find ing conf i rma t ion o fthe i r doub t s and f a l se be l i e f s i n t heexper i ences o f o the r s , t hey come to thee r roneous conc lus ion tha t t he i r p r esen ta t t i tud e is co r r ec t. T he y res ign f romal l up l i f t ing con tac t s, aband on the i rs tud ies , and th row themse lves in to thedeeper shadows o f t he b l ack n igh t o fd e s p o n d e n cy . T h e r e a r e s o m e w h o f in dw h a t t h e y i n t e r p r e t a s a r e li e f f ro m t h emalai se b y t a k i n g t h i s r e v e r s e a t t i t u d ea n d a b a n d o n i n g t h e i r j o u rn e y . T h e yf e e l t h a t t h e y h a v e t a k e n t h e m s e l v e s

ou t o f a dep lo r ab le s i t ua t ion , and haveb ro u g h t th em se lv es som e n e w deg reeof f reedom.

In re s ign ing t he i r s tud ies and d i sas -soc i a t ing themse lves f rom the i r schoo lo f th o u g h t o r h e l p , t h e y b o a s t t h a t t h e ywish to be f r ee sou l s and can no longerf ind happ iness and peace in t he a ssoc i -a t ions and in t he p r esc r ibed s tud ies t ow h i c h t h e y h a v e b e e n d ev o te d . I t

w o u l d s ee m t h a t t h e m o m e n t a r y e ff ec to f th e c h a n g e t h a t t h e y a r b i t r a r i l y b ri n gin th e i r li ves m i s leads them in to th ink -i n g t h a t t h e y h a v e t h r o w n o f f s o m eshack les and nave b roken the bonds tha th e l d t h e m a s s la v e s, b u t w e k n o w o n l ytoo we l l t ha t t h i s f a l se i n t e rp r e t a t ion i s

qu ick ly fo l lowed by a g r ea t e r deg ree o fd e s p o n d e n c y a n d u n r e s t , and tha t t hecondi t ion which fol lows is p i t i fu l . Hereindeed comes the t ime fo r t he t e s t o fm a n s v a n i t y a n d a t r i a l o f h i s e x ag -gerated ego.

Battl e of Sell

I t i s a t t h i s t i m e t h a t t h e t r u l y d e -sponden t and t r u ly he lp l ess d i sc ip l ef i n d s t h a t h e n e e d s m o r e t h a n e v e r t h ec o m p a n i o n s h i p a n d g u i d a n c e t h a t h e

h a s r e c e n t l y a b a n d o n e d . B u t r a t h e r t h a nadmi t t he e r ro r o f h i s ways , t he poor -

ness o f h i s j udgm en t , t he subm iss ion tothe vo ice o f t he t empte r , and the weak-ness o f h i s own sp i r i t ua l f o r t i t ude , herefuses to wr i te to h is teach er , h is lead-er , h is guide, and his associa tes , andask fo r r eadmiss ion to t he i r compan ion-sh ip and r e ins t a t em en t i n to the i r r anks .Somet imes yea r s pass be fo r e these pe r -sons come to a fu l l real izat ion of thee r r o r t h e y m a d e i n a b a n d o n i n g t h e i r

p ro g re ss d u r in g th e h o u rs of th e sh ad -ows and o f t he weakness t hey a r e d i s -

p la y in g in h e s ita t in g to s te p b o ld lyback on th e p a th ag a in an d b rin g to

a n e n d t h e c o n t i n u o u s l y d a r k e n i n ghour s .

T h e r e i s a l w a y s g r e a t j o y i n t h ehea r t s o f l eade r s and t eacher s when onelos t d i sc ip l e i s r edeemed o r vo lun ta r i l yr e tu rn s . Th ere is no obscure da rknessa n d n o s h a d o w o n t h e p a t h h a l f a s d e -p re ss in g as th e p e ri o d of m e la n ch o li atha t enve lops the s tuden t who i s tem pted

b y th e co n d it io n s of th e sh adow toabandon h i s s tud ies and f r ee h imse l ff rom the in f luences cons t an t ly u rg ingh i m f r o m w i th i n a n d f ro m w i th o u t .Once the inne r se l f has become con-

sc ious o f t he p a th w i th a l l i ts j oys andsor rows , and has un fo lded and deve l -o p e d t h r o u g h t h e c h a n g i n g e m o t i o n sa n d sw a y in g inf luences, i t i s cast in tothe dep ths o f g r ea t es t da rkness and theabyss o f con s t an t t u rm oi l by i ts d i sas s o c ia ti o n fr o m t h e a t t u n e m e n t a n d c o n -t a c ts t h a t m e a n so m u c h t o i t.

T h o s e s t u d e n t s w h o r e m a i n f ir m a n ds t ead fas t , however , a l l f i nd tha t t he


19/44

obscure n ight i s a p p r o a c h i n g t h e m a g -n i f i cen t dawn t ha t l i e s j u s t beyond t hebo rd erl in e . I t w o u ld a p p e a r th a t inacco rdance w i th t he d e t e r m i na t i on , t hes incer i ty , and devot ion of the d i sc ip le ,

the hours of the obscure n ight a r es hor tened and b r ough t t o an end . O n l yt h o s e w h o r e m a i n f i r m a n d h a r k e n t ot he a s s u r ances o f t he i r gu i des andt eache r s eve r com e t o r ea l i ze t ha t du r -ing th i s passage of the n ight one of thegreates t bat t les of the personal sel f i s

be in g fo u g h t a n d w on. A s th e e d ito r sop ro p e r ly sta te s in h is ed it o ria l: In th eth ick of the f ight tha t suf ferer f a i l s tosee tha t the l as t dregs of s e l f a re be ing

p u rg ed . N o t u n ti l th e fe e t h av e tro d d e nm an y a l ong m i le on t he P a t h i s i t pos -s ible to real ize in consciousness the i l -

l u s o r y na t u r e o f t hos e m oods wh i chassa i l t he aspi r ant , but so long as herefuses to be defl ected f rom h i s t ruei n t e r na l cou r s e s uch t r i a l s a r e r ea l l y asource of s t r ength .

To s t uden t s youn g and o ld , and t hos enew o r l ong upon t he pa t h , l e t t h i s bea no t e o f w ar n i ng . As we jou r n ey a shu m an be i ngs , a s ide f r om an y o f ou rspecial cour ses of s tud y, we pass throu ghdays and n i gh t s o f expe r ience . Th ecourse of a norm al l i fe f rom bi r th tot r ans i t ion i s fi ll ed w i th da yt ime s of

b r ig h t a n d h a p p y expe ri ences , an dnignt t ime s of sadness. N ei the r w eal th ,wor ld ly power , soc ia l pos i t ion , nor anyh u m a n o r e a r t h l y c r e a t i o n c a n p r e v e n tt he chang i ng expe r i ences i n t he cour s eof l if e . I t is but na tura l , t herefore , toexpec t t ha t du r i ng one s deve l opm en tt he r e w i ll com e a ti m e w hen t he f i rs tday s journey wi l l come to an end, andt he s un w i l l s e t f o r awh i l e and t hen i gh t t i m e s hadows w i ll ga t he r t o ob -s cu r e t he way , and da r ken ou r s i gh t .

The d i s c i p l e s hou l d have no m or e

reason for abandoning h i s cour se in l i f ea t t h i s t i m e t han he has f o r abandon i ngh i s ex i st ence on ea r th w hen t he s hadowsof the sky become deeper and the c lose

of day br ings obscur i ty to h i s wor ld lys ight . For , j us t as the t emp ter s an dagencies of evi l ga ther together andres ide in the dark p laces of the n ight -t ime of our wor ld ly cour se , so the in-

vi s ib le t em pter s an d agencies of esoteri cevi l res ide in the shadow's of the spi r i t -ua l n i gh t . T hey s eek t o l u r e t he devou to n e f r o m t h e P a t h , a n d t o t e m p t h i mi n to b y w a y s . T h e y u r g e h i m to a b a n d o nhi s d ir ec t cour se . T he y inf luence h i st h i nk i ng and h i s j udgm en t . T he y o ff era b r i gh t e r l i gh t gua r an t eed t o b r i ng ab r ig h te r d ay .

They s peak g l i b l y o f f r eedom o f t hes ou l. Th ey s uggest t ha t the i nde pend en tway , t he new way , t he open , v i r g i n ,u n t r a m m e l e d p a t h t h r o u g h a n i m a g -i n a r y c o u n t r y o f u n e x p l o r e d m a r v e l s

w i ll be t he r i ches t i n i t s r ewar ds . Th eyp o in t o u t th e tr ib u la tio n s th a t h av ea l r e a d y b e e n e n d u r e d , a n d e n l a r g et h e m i n to m o u n t a i n s. T h e y s pe a k w o rd so f doub t r ega r d i ng t he s i nce r i t y , andthe goodness of those who are yourcom p an i ons and yo ur gu ides. Th eye l abor a t e upon t he f a i l u r e s you m ayhave had , and t hey f os t e r t he l i t t l ed o u b ts t h a t m a y h a v e c o m e to y o u , a n dm at u r e t hem i n t o enorm o us size. Bu tt h e y n e v e r e x p l a i n w h y t h e y c o m e t oyou as emissar i es of grea ter r ewardsand r i che r bene f i t s and ye t dwe l l on l yi n t he shadows . T he y neve r exp l a inw h y t h e y a r e n o t f o u n d a n d m e t w i t hi n t he h i gh l igh t s o f li fe , and i n t he day -l ig h t o f y o u r jo u r n e y . T h e y d o n o t r e -veal themselves as par t of the shadow,b u t le av e y o u to d is cover th is a f te r yo uh a v e j o i n e d w i t h t h e m i n t h e i r w o r kof c r ea t i ng unhapp i nes s , un r e s t , anddi scontent . For th i s r eason your eyesshould be kept looking forward , ant i c -i pa t i ng t he dawn t ha t l i e s beyond t hen i gh t , and your ea r s and hea r t l i s t en i ngto the voices of those who s ing the i r

songs and spel l t he i r themes of inspi r a-t ion i n t he day t i m e , a nd i n t he g l o r iousl ight tha t precedes the i r f a l se , ever ob-scure n ight .

V A V

A kind act should close the mouth of him who does it and open the mouth ofhim who receives it. an Ita lia n proverb


20/44


e p t e m b e r a n d O c to b e r a r ea lwa y s p o p u la r a s R a l lym o n t h s . T h i s y e a r m a n yLodges concluded success-fu l ra l l ie s dur ing thosem onth s. As is a lso usua l ,the off icers a t Rosicruc ian

P a r k a t t e n d e d w h e n e v e rposs ib le . T h e Im p e ra to r ,

. M . Lew is , was the fea -tu red speaker a t the Que tza lcoa t l LodgeR a l ly i n M e x ic o C it y. T h e G r a n d M a s -te r , F r a te r Rodm an R . C lay son , v is i tedS o u th e r n C a l if o r n ia . T h e Gr a n d S e c re -t a r y , F r a t e r H a r v e y M i le s , m a d e a t o u ro f Lo d ge s a n d C h a p te rs i n W e s t e r nC a n a d a. T h e G r a n d T r e a s u r e r , F r a t e r

J a me s R . W h i tc o m b , a d d re s s ed me m -bers a t ra llie s in D ay to n , O hio ; D e tro it ,M i c h ig a n ; a n d N e w Y o r k C i ty .

V A VE a r th q u a k e s a r e a l i t t l e l i k e Ne wE n g la n d w e a th e r a c c o rd in g t o M a r kT w a in s r e p o r t : E v e r y b o d y t a lk s a b o u tth e m b u t n o th in g t oo m u c h c a n b e d o ne .S o me n in e t h o u s a n d a r e r e p o r t e d e v e r yyea r no t a l l in C a l i fo rn ia , however .They a re , the re fo re , to be c lassed asn o r m a l o c c u rr e n ce s . T h e y a r e t h eear th s method o f keep ing i t s ba lance .W h e r e v e r h ig h m o u n t a in s r u n s te e p lyin to the sea , the se ismic i ty o r tendencytow ard sh i f t ing i s g rea te r . Th is is thecase a long the Pacif ic Coast of the

U n i t e d S ta te s . T h e r e c e n t q u a k e a b o u tw h i c h m a n y m e m b e r s w e r e c o nc e rn e dwa s n o t i n a n y s e n s e t o b e me n t io n e da lo n g wi th t h e T e h a c h a p i o n e o r t h e1906 p r ize upheava l which leve led SanFranc isco . A nd a re nt we g lad i t was nt![ T h o s e p a r t i c u l a r ly i n t e r e s t e d mig h tw a n t t o c o n s u l t t h e i r D ig est files for twoart ic les on the subject : Psychic Effecto f E ar thqu akes (Aug . , Sep t. 1945) and

E a r th q u a k e s a n d Ne r v o u s R e s p o n s e s ( J u n e 1 9 4 6 ) . ]

V A VVis i to rs to the cur ren t d isp lay in the

Ros ic ruc ian Egypt ian , Orien ta l M u se umwere g iven ano ther a r t l e sson in Sep-

t e mb e r . T h e f ir s t tw e n ty p a in t in g s o fartists wo r th y o f r e c o g n i t i o n sele cte db y th e M u se u m P u rc h a se F u n d w ereon d isp lay . Th e purpose of such a fund ,es tab l i shed by Glor ia Vanderb i l t S to -kowski , i s to encourage con tempora ryar t i s t s re s iden t in the Uni ted S ta testh r o u g h p u r c h a s e o f t h e i r wo rk . E v e n -tua l ly , i t i s hoped , museums wi l l se lec tp ic tu re s fo r th e ir p e rm a n e n t coll ecti onsfrom this approved stockpile . Recog-n i z e d a u th o ri t ie s h a d c h o se n t h e s e tw e n -ty p a in t i n g s a s o u ts t a n d in g a n d f o r t h a treason the show was ou ts tand ing .

The response o f mos t v is i to rs con-t i n u e d t o b e i n t e l l e c tu a l r a th e r t h a nemot iona l and psycho log ica l b ias wasno t lack ing . Ho w ever , in mo s t casesou t r igh t a spers ion was fo res ta l led byth e b r o a d Ho g a r th i a n c a r i c a tu r e b yB e n ja min Ko p ma n e n t i t l e d Ga l l e r y Visi tors . W i th r is ib i li t ie s s t ir red , theo ther o f fe r ings became more in t r igu ing .E mo t io n a l l y e v o c a t i v e we r e L a r r y R iv -ers T h e B u r i a l and Rober t De Niro sCruc i f ix ion . P a u l M o m m e r s W h i te I n -terior a n d W i l li a m C o n g d o n s Verona

p ro v ed p rov oca ti ve , a n d H a r r y Ja c k -

sons u t te r ly abs t rac t T a l l B lu e wasesthe tical ly a t tract ive . Some offerings

were de f in i te ly fo r the in i t ia te a l though

o n e l a y m a n f o u n d R a lp h D u C a s se s

C h in e s e Do g , M e n u c h e m Ye k ta i s P in k

T a b l e , and Att i l io Salemmes H a lf Past

T h r e e o r i g in a l a n d w r y ly a m u s in g .

S p o n s o r e d b y t h e Ame r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n

of Ar ts , the exh ib i t wi l l be wide ly


21/44

s hown t h r oug hou t t he S t a te s . I t is de -c idedly wor th see ing.

V A VI n S e p t e m b e r, S o ro r M a r g a r e t C h a m -

b e rla in , w h o h as serv ed so f a i th fu l ly as

Colombe Cou nselor for a per iod of moret han f ou r yea r s , r e s i gned he r du t i e s .I t was w i t h genu i ne r eg r e t t ha t t heen t i r e st a f f bade he r goodbye. SororJ o s e ph i n e W a m k e n , P a s t M a s t e r o fJohn ODonnel l Lodge of Bal t imore , hasa l r eady begun he r du t i e s a s So r o rC ham ber la in s successor . T hu s the l a -

b o r of lo ve becom es a p a t te rn w ovenb y m a n y lo y a l h an ds .

* * *

Ano t he r depa r t u r e o f a s t a f f m em bermer i t s a valete ac plaudi te: F r a t e rOronzo Abbatecola , for some year s s t a f f

ar t i s t, d i r ec tor of the A r t Ga l l ery , andins t ruc tor of a r t i n R.C.U. r e turned toLos Angeles to devote h imsel f moreful ly to crea t ive work. Le aving as hed i d s o m uch o f h i m s e l f and h i s wor ki n Ros i c r uc i an Pa r k , he w i l l i n no w i s ebe fo rg o tt en .

V A VE v e r y s c ho o lb o y k n o w s a b o u t H e n r y

W a d s w o r th L o n gfe ll ow s e x p e r i e n c ew i th an a r r ow . I f I we r e a Longfe l low( w h i c h I a m n o t ) a n d i f p o e t r y h a ds pace i n t he D i ges t ( wh i ch i t ha s no t ) ,

I cou ld w ax eq ua l l y l y r ic abou t a l e t te ra n d w h a t h a p p e n e d t o i t : I w ro te a l e tt e r i n f o r t y n i ne t o M . H . V . i n w h i ch

I a sked th a t sh e a n sw e r m e. T h e y ea rs d i s s o l ved bu t no ans wer came , so 1decided that the mai l s were to b lame.Thi s mor n i ng , t hough , w i t h gr ea t s ur -

p ris e I f in d th a t M s a n sw er befo re m e

lies. S i x yea r s , we m us t rem em ber , iss ti ll du ra t ion of consc iousness an d them a i ls do go t h r ough . Th i s m ay en -c o u ra g e i m p a t i e n t N e o p h y t e s w a i t in gt o hea r f r om t he i r C l a ss m as te r s.

V A VSince the ar t i c l e , Bees and RoyalJe l ly , in the Augus t , 1955 D ig est ,b ro u g h t such li v e re sponse , i t m ig h t bewe l l to i n f o r m t he r eade r s t ha t re s ea r chi s going on in numerous p laces , inc lud-i ng Co l um bi a U n i ve r s i ty , Cor ne l l U n i -ve r s i ty , T he Can ce r I n s t it u t e o f M i am i ,Texas A. & M. Col l ege , and by suchi nd i v i dua l s a s Dr . T . H . M cGavack a tF l o w e r F i f t h A v e n u e H o s p i t a l i n N e wYork, Profes sor G. F . Townsend of theO n t a r i o A g r ic u ltu ra l C o l le g e , a n dW er n e r W ol ff , P r o fe s s o r o f Ps ycho logy

a t Ba r d Co ll ege , An nanda l e On Hud s on ,N ew Y ork . T h e la s t n a m e d is in te r -e s t ed i n ca r r y i ng ou t s om e expe r i m en t sw i t h r oya l j e l l y f r om a ps ycho l og i ca lv iewpoint .

So much ef for t should br ing some en-l i gh t en i ng i n f o r m a t i on on nu t r i t i on andt he wor k o f t he bee .

V A VD j aka r t a , J ava , is now t he See o f t he

Gr and Lodge o f AM ORC i n I ndones i a .U nd e r a s pec ia l d i spens a t ion c ha r t e ri s s ued by t he I m per a t o r , Ra l ph M .

Lewi s , t he Gr and Lodge has been r e -es t abl i shed wi th the fu l l conf idence andcoop era t ion of th i s jur i sd ic t ion . T heG r a n d M a s t e r is T j ia V o n T j a n . A l lm em ber s l iv i ng i n I ndones i a o r v i si ti ngt ha t a r ea a r e i nv i t ed t o m ee t w i t h t he i rb re th re n a n d a ssis t th e m in sp re ad in gRC L i gh t .

G I FT SUG G ESTI O NS

When you cant think of quite what to send a Rosicrucian friend or relative, RE

SURE, and send a gift certificate. The Rosicrucian Supply Rureau has designed a dis-tinctive certificate which resembles a check. It can l ater be redeemed a t face value fordues, fees, or for any item in the Rosicrucian Supply Rureau. In this way, you r friends

receive a gift of their own choosing.

Issued in amounts of $1.00 or more, these certificates will be mailed to you or directlyto the person for whom they are intended, as you wish. Simply send us the name andaddress of the person who is to receive such a gift, together with the money to be

given. Address:

R O S I C R U C I A N S U P P L Y B U R E A U

Ro s i c r u c i a n P a r k S a n J o s e , C a l i f o r n i a


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Marriage of Wit and WisdomBy M y r l L e w a r k B r is to l , M. A., F. R. C.

he literary antiquary, like

any collector of antiques,sometimes finds himself,to his great satisfaction,in possession of a set ofsomething: for instance,a set of books, not iden-tical, not by the sameauthor, n o t p r i n t e d i n t h e

same shop nor in the same halfcentury,and yet essentially the same, bookswhich belong together.

S uch a se t i s a t r i ad o f d ram at i cre l i c s o f t he 16 th cen tu ry , da t ed r e -spect ively 1540, 1570, and 1579. Theyare l ike c lay vesse ls found by di f ferentl i t e r a ry a rcheo log is ts i n va r ious k i t chenm iddens , i.e., in th is case , auc t ion sa les .A l though they a re no t a l ike in co lo r ,shape , o r decora t ive de t a i l , t hey bea rthe m ark o f t he sam e p o t t e r s thum b.

T h e y a r e c a l l e d , f r o m t h e n a m e o fthe ch ie f cha rac t e r , t he W i t P l a y s .W h a t a r e th e y ? T h e li t e r a r y c ri ti c,tha t sc ient i f ic wolf in the poet ic sheepfold, classifies the m as i n t e r l u d u s moral i s . N o t i n g c e r t a i n f a m i l y r e s e m -

b la nces, w h ic h E liz a b e th a n d ra m a in -he r i t ed f rom som e source , he m igh tw e l l dec l a re the W i t P l a y s t o be a r e -m o t e an c e s to r o r ra t h e r , t h e i m m e d i -a t e fo rebea r of the S hakespea re P lays :a nice , despera te subjec t for a graduatethesis! Or , to descend to the dep th ofa b s u r d i t y , t he se d r am a tic r em a i n s,w h i c h r e v e a l t h e E l i z a b e t h a n m i n d i nt h e m a k i n g , m i g h t e v e n f u r n i s h t h ep re te x t fo r a n a m a te u r l i te r a r y p sy -cho log i st l ike m yse l f t o exc la im , W ha th a v e w e h e r e ? A h a ! A y o u n g J u n g !

w h i c h w o u l d f u r n i s h t h e i n c e n t i v e f o r

a q u i c k m u r d e r .Al l levi ty as ide , there i s some excusefo r r ead ing these p l ays by the l i gh t oDr . Jungs analyt ica l psychology, fort h e r e a s o n t h a t y o u c a n r e a d a l m o s tany th ing by i t , and fo r t he spec ia l r eas o n t h a t t h e p l a y s b r i n g u p t h e c h a ra c t er is ti c al ly J u n g i a n p ro b le m oopposi tes , which of course i s Jungson ly by the r igh t o f r e d i scove ry ; t heageold problem i t se l f has been exhum ed , and k i cked a round in one gu i seor ano the r , by eve ry ph i losopher f romA ugu s t ine to Z w ing l i. B e a s su red thaI have n o in t en t ion o f t ry in g to ana lyzem uch l e s s psychoana lyze , t he W i tP la y s. N e i the r do I p ropose to t r acet h e i r l i t e r a r y p r o g e n y , t h o u g h I a msure the y w ere qu i t e p ro li fi c . I havethe wi t , for once , to forego what I haveno t t he w i sdom to execu te .

Another col lec tor of ant iqui t ies , thel i t e r a ry an th ropo log i s t , m igh t se i ze upo n t h e W i t P l a y s as specimens of a

p rim itiv e in it ia to ry representa t ion der ived f rom the anc ien t M ys te r i e s , r e ferable to H om osa p ien s R osic rucia nus

S pying them am ids t a heap o f rubb le ,h e w o u l d p r o c la i m w h o c o u ld p r e v e n

h im ? tha t these sm a l l d ram a t i c p iecesa re ve r i t ab l e gem s adorn ing the corpusrel ict i of ear ly Secre t Socie t ies in England , t ha t t hey a re vesse l s o f t r ansm iss ion, the 16th century vers ion of thea r c h e t y p a l q u e s t e n a c t e d i n t h e G r e e kr i t u a l d r a m a s .

In the p resence o f so g rave a p robabi l i ty , le t us t ry not to be facet ious .O ne f ac t i s und en iab le : T he W i t P l a y s


23/44

a r e d i dac t i c i n pu r pos e , and t ha t pu r -pose is n o le ss th a n to te a c h th e a d -m on i t i on wh i ch was ca r ved above t he

p o r ta l o f th e T e m p le to A po llo D io ny susa t D elphi , l oca ted a t the foot of M t .Pa r nas s us , and wh i ch f o r m s t he t i t l eof tha t grea t phi losophica l poem of the16 t h cen t u r y , N o sce T e ip s u m , b y S i rJ ohn Dav i e s ; and wh i ch , i ndeed , i n -f o r m s t he m odem ph i l o s oph i ca l t each -i ng and t he t he r apeu t i c p r ocedur es

b ased u p o n i t of D r. C a rl G u s ta v J u n g Know Thyself.

These l i t t l e a l l egor i es do not depic t ,as Dr . Jungs numerous volumes do,the colossa l s t ruggle be tween the Egocons c i ous nes s and t he m ons t e r s wh i chl u r k i n t he dep t hs o f t he Uncons c i ous .T he y a i m t o po r t r ay t he e f fo r t o f i nna t e

in te l l igence to achieve i t s h ighes t pos -s ib le express ion . T he re is a g ian t m on -s ter on the he ight s , as wel l as one int he dep t hs , who b l ocks t he pa t h andseeks to des t roy everyone who aspi r est o appr oach t he hous e of W i sdom . W i t,t he s u i t o r f o r t he hand o f W i s dom , i sn o m a t c h f o r t h a t m o n s t e r i n b o d i l ys t reng t h , bu t he does f ind a way . H eou t w i t s h i m .

These exact t i t l es and publ i sher s ofm o d e m e d i t i o n s w i l l e n a b l e a n y o n ewho m ay be i n t e r e s t ed t o cons u l t t hem

f ur t he r :1 The Moral Play of W it and Science

(1540), by John Redford, edited by JamesOrchard H a lliw e ll , printed for TheShakespeare Society, London, 1848. Shake-speare Society Publications, No. 37

2 The Marriage of W it and Science (1570)(Anonymous)

3 A Contract of Marriage Between W itand Wisdom (1579), both edited by JohnS. Farmer, printed for The Early EnglishDra ma Society, London, 1908. Ea rlyEnglish Dramatists, Series 4

The se t t ing for a l l t hree p lays i sb ased u p o n th e l it t le m ic ro cosm , th e

m i nd a s t he i m age o f a wor l d l y k i ng -dom. Ju s t as by the do ct r ine of cor re-s pondences

Documents

Rosicrucian Digest, November 1955