To Netnews Homepage Previous Next Index Table of Contents
Discipleship in the New Age I - Personal Instructions to Disciples - B.S.W.
December 1934 In my last instruction to you, brother of old, I told you to stand as a tower of strength to your brothers. With your usual prompt acceptance of any suggestions which seem to you intellectually and intuitionally constructive, you have sought to do this. But, my brother, there has been too much of the tower in your attitude and of the highly placed and rather separate Observer in the top of the tower. Perhaps my use of the word "tower" was to blame. Maybe my vision of you as a strong and steady helper, added to your innate isolation, swept you too far apart. The first ray disciple loves isolation. It is for him the line of least resistance. He is, as you know, normally the one who stands alone. This is his strength and it is also his weakness. He glories in detachment, e'en as you gloried inwardly over your power to adapt yourself to me, as the teacher assigned to you by your own Master. You liked the [626] facility with which you made the adjustment, did you not? It is not easy for the first ray disciple to learn attachment (of the right and spiritual description) any more than it is easy for the second ray disciple to learn detachment. Disciples on both those rays have an extreme lesson to learn in this connection; they have to approach the problem from differing attitudes, for the problem of attachment and of detachment is one. It is the problem of right values. The first ray type loves himself, his power and his isolation too much. The second ray type errs through deep attachment to others and through a too fluid inclusiveness which is expressed before the disciple understands the true nature of inclusiveness. The second ray type errs through fear of not being understood or not adequately loved, and cares too much what others may think of him and say of him. The first ray type errs in not giving enough thought to the reaction of others to what he says and does; he prides himself on his detached attitude and on his immunity from attachment; he likes to have his strength and isolation appreciated. One suffers from fear. The other from pride. You exact frankness, my brother, and give it in full measure; hence my frankness with you. It is this inner "isolation," deeply loved by you and fostered by early training and present circumstance which militates against your being telepathically sensitive to other people. Instead of so much "will to love," why not just love more simply? You and F. C. D. are extreme types on your specific rays. In him, the heart dominates, e'en though his wisdom is deep and his understanding rare. In you the head dominates, and you sit on the summit of your tower, whilst all the time the call of the heart sounds throughout your being and in your ears. Yet you fear to descend and walk among your fellowmen in loving identification with them. It is only through walking the dusty street of life with our brothers that we find ourselves passing eventually through the portal of initiation. And yet, brother of old, I have noted that, in moments of stress and of possible misunderstanding, you choose the heart way. Were it not so, I would not thus write. I would like to set you the task of writing an article on the use of love as an interpreter of men. I commend to you that [627] theme for meditation. You have power in writing and ability in the expression of the deeper truths through the medium of words and your field of service can be increased in this respect. Write, therefore, for the many who will listen to your words, and write with that understanding heart which is yours in full measure when you descend from your tower and give love both time and scope. May I point out to you also that a recognition of those ray problems and liabilities which exist in your own life and in the lives of those around you involves no criticism on my part or any on yours. The facts of nature exist; the wise man faces them, knowing them for what they are and he then endeavors to transcend them... May I ask you also to study again the last instruction which I gave you, for it still embodies much needed work. This new instruction is in the nature of a frank talk with a highly valued brother. And I do value you, my friend.
To Netnews Homepage Previous Next Index Table of Contents
Last updated Monday, May 11, 1998 © 1998 Netnews Association. All rights reserved.