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Discipleship in the New Age I - Personal Instructions to Disciples - D.P.R.
January 1934 BROTHER OF OLD: Like other disciples and like all true aspirants, you have had much to discipline you lately, and many opportunities have been offered to you wherein you may demonstrate endurance. The particular group test has touched you not. It did not and would not constitute for you a test, but your test has been the holding of the attitude of steadfast endeavor in the face of circumstance, and of demonstrating not only endurance but loving detachment and joy. What happens to the personality is, in the last analysis, of small moment. The attitude assumed towards all happenings and the methods employed in handling them is that which is of moment. Skill in action is always needed, my brother, and for you in this life it must ever be the demonstration of skill in emotional reaction, and not so much the expression of efficient dealing upon the physical plane. The achievement of physical efficiency is not for you a problem. The achievement of emotional detachment and consequent right use of subjective force is still a problem to you. There is no hurry or rush, my brother. Progress is being made and you will know the joy of eventual liberation from this limitation. One day at a time, perfectly lived, with each hour beautifully rounded out, is your sole responsibility. Look not so much into the future with speculation or with [385] foreboding, nor even with hope, which is but a form of optimistic speculation. Live today as your soul dictates and the future will round out itself in fruitful service. You are stronger than you anticipate and have reserves upon which you can draw. These reserves will not fail you when you call upon them, nor will I, your brother and friend, nor will your group brothers. Forget not this, but relax and rest back on the strength which is in you and which surrounds you. I seek not to change your meditation, except to substitute a different visualization exercise for the one now being followed. Visualize yourself as standing to one side of a vast field of closed lotus buds which rest on their broad green leaves. Above you is the blue of heaven and ahead of you - across the field of buds and leaves and on the far horizon - is a golden gate, with the two halves of its door closed. Then picture yourself as watching the slow opening of the buds, until little by little, the field changes from green to gold, and all that can be seen is a mass of golden flowers, wide open in the sun. Then imagine yourself, my brother, putting a foot upon the field and finding, instead of the mud and water which had been anticipated, a firm Path which appears before you as you advance, dividing the field into two halves, and leading straight to the golden gates. As you advance along this path, imagine the two halves of the gate slowly opening as you go forward in confidence, looking at the gate and not at your feet. What you see within that portal and what interpretation you give to this symbolic work is for you to discover. You may ask: Of what use is this particular type of meditation to me? Two main uses, my brother. First, it trains you in the use of the creative imagination (which is an aspect of the intuition) and, secondly, it lifts you out of the rut of heavy mundane work with which you are of necessity so constantly occupied and brings to you refreshment and realization of the subjective world. Leave care and worry behind you as you walk through your [386] field of lotuses and for a few minutes each morning, center your consciousness outside your personality life. The effect upon your daily life and service if you can really accomplish this exercise will be far more potent than you can possibly anticipate.
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