THE RAYS OF ANCIENT GREECE, by Dr. R. F. Newbold
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FOR THE WORK OF THE NGWS
...The emergence of the New Group of World servers today is an indication that there are enough egoic ray types in physical manifestation, and that a sufficient number of personalities are responding to soul contact, so that a group can be formed that can be definitely impressed as a group. This is the first time that such a situation has been possible. Up till this century, individuals could be impressed, here and there, in different parts of the world, and at widely separated times and periods. But today a group can respond and their numbers are relatively so great that there can be formed upon the planet a group composed of a number of persons of such radiatory activity that their auras can meet and contact each other. Thus one group—subjective and objective—can be functioning.
There are today enough centres of light, scattered all over the world, and enough disciples and aspirants, that the little beams or threads of light (speaking symbolically) which radiate from each of them, can meet and interlace, and form a network of light in the world. This constitutes the magnetic aura of the New Group of World Servers. Each individual in the group is sensitive to the Plan, either through his own personal knowledge through contact with his soul, or because his intuition tells him that what the Group, which attracts him, accepts as its immediate work is for him true and right, and with it all that is highest and best in him can cooperate. Each individual in that Group will work in his own particular surroundings according to his ray and type. That again will be coloured by his race and nation. But the work is the better carried forward as the units in the Group meet the [Page 140] need in their own peculiar environment, in the manner that is, for them, the simplest and best way, belonging as they do by habit and training in that particular setting. This should be remembered.
(A.A.B., Esoteric Psychology, v.II)
THE NATIONS AND THE RAYS
In connection with this discussion which governs and influences the leading nations of the world, the student should bear in mind the fact that all are today primarily conditioned by the Law of Cleavages; however, advanced groups in every nation are beginning to respond to the Law of Understanding. This is a law which will eventually emphasise the eternal brotherhood of man and the identity of all souls with the Oversoul. This will be recognised in the racial consciousness, as well as the oneness of the Life which pours through, permeates, animates and integrates the entire solar system. This Life functions in and through all planetary schemes, in all their kingdoms of forms and with all that can be included under the phrase "form life." That phrase contains three basic ideas: the ideas of life, of form and of evolution.
The functioning of the Law of Loving Understanding will be greatly facilitated and speeded during the Aquarian Age which we are considering; it will eventuate later in the development of a world-wide international spirit, in the recognition of one universal faith in God and in humanity also as the major expression of divinity upon the planet and in the transfer of the human consciousness from the world of material things to that of the more purely psychic. This will lead in time and inevitably to the world of spiritual realities. It should be remembered that (for advanced humanity) the sequence of the recognition of these expansions of consciousness is as follows:
1. The world of psychical living. This requires the recognition, by the brain consciousness, of the need for mental and spiritual control, as the first step.
2. The world of mental unfoldment.
3. The world of the soul or ego, the individualised man. When these recognitions are established in the aspirant, then there comes the recognition by the disciple of the Master Who should guide him.
4. The control of the physical plane life by the soul.
5. The functioning and the utilisation of the psychic powers and their place and part in the field of intelligent service.
6. The interpretative faculty of the illumined mind.
7. An inspired creative life upon the physical plane.
In that development of the racial consciousness, the process does not necessarily follow the above seven stages and sequence. This is owing to the stimulation and consequent sensitising of the form aspect through the increased radiation and potency of the dynamic New Group of World Servers; their ranks are filled by those who have passed, or are passing, through the stages of aspirant and disciple, thus learning to serve. Psychic unfoldment in the masses parallels the spiritual unfoldment of advanced humanity....
Today there are many thousands coming under the influence of this Law of Loving Understanding. Many in every nation are responding to the broader synthetic brotherly note, but the masses as yet understand nothing of this. They must be led in right ways gradually by the steady development in right understanding of their own nationals. Bear this in mind, all of you who work for world peace and right human relations, for harmony and for synthesis.
All of the great nations are controlled by two rays, just as is the human being. With the smaller nations we need not concern ourselves. All the nations are controlled by a personality ray, which is the dominant potent and main controlling factor at this time, and by a soul ray which is sensed only by the disciples and the aspirants of any nation.
This soul ray must be evoked into an increased functioning activity by the New Group of World Servers, for this is one of their main objectives and tasks. This must never be lost to sight.
(A.A.B., The Destiny of the Nations, pp.47-49)
REJOICING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE AGELESS WISDOM
An address presented at the opening plenary session of the Fifth
Annual Conference of the University of the Seven Rays
By Michael D. Robbins, Ph.D.
The Master Morya places Beauty at the foundation of the Teaching. Why Beauty? What is Beauty? Essentially, Beauty defies description. Beauty is such an intangible. It has been said to reside in the "eye of the beholder," as well as in the eye of the "ideal observer." But the quality of beauty is so
synthetic, so elusive, that it is almost impossible to put into words.Nevertheless, many of the greatest thinkers have sought to describe it, or have spoken of its undeferrable value. Let us listen
to the words of a Master Who, in some of His most significant incarnations was deeply
associated with Beauty and the Beautiful. Then, perhaps, we shall understand a little
more.Agni Yoga (546): Each transport before beauty gathers the seeds of light. Each admiration of nature creates a ray of victory. Long ago Isaid: "Through beauty thou hast the light." Is it possible that We say it only for pleasure? Each indication has undeniable importance.
Agni Yoga (28): Beauty is born through the lightning of thought.
Agni Yoga (67): How to awaken devotion? By goal-fitness. How toimprove the quality? By reverence for mastery. How to awaken creation? By the desire for beauty.
Agni Yoga (98): Know how to inject the Teaching into each thought. Know how to array your forces as on a battle field. Know how to regard gratitude as the union of joy and beauty.
Agni Yoga (68): Out of the usual one may evoke the sparks of beauty.
Agni Yoga (337): Beauty does not tolerate ugliness.
Agni Yoga (26): Truly, each Teacher rejoices at the limitless beauty of the far-off worlds and suffers over the stunted stupidity of incarnated bipeds.
Hierarchy (177): One should learn tofeel oneself beyond trivial usualness and to adhere in spirit to the manifested world of Beauty.
Agni Yoga (72): Can we believe that for the sake of the beauty of creation you have burned your outworn garments?
Agni Yoga (568): Who then can sense the beauty of Cosmos? Whoever has heard the music of the spheres even once will understand the earthly imperfection produced by the present
state of humanity.
Agni Yoga (385): The correct word is difficult to find, but still more difficult
is the beauty of silence.
Agni Yoga (62 1): The pledge of the Teaching is the joy of the spirit.Creation is goal-fitted when the
striving spirit, aspiring toward the manifestation of Beauty, realizes Infinity.
Hierarchy (108): Verily, it was rightly said about the significance of the fundamental principle of Our Work. Beauty has been proclaimed, therefore let us safeguard its foundation. Pearls must be guarded!..
Hierarchy (1): They will ask, "On what is the Stronghold of the Brotherhood built?" Answer, "On the doctrine of the heart, the doctrine of labor, the doctrine of beauty, the doctrine of evolution, the doctrine of tension the most vital doctrine….
Thus is Beauty understood by a great Chohan upon the first Ray of Will and Power.NSee now the contrast in the words of one Who speaks and writes upon the second Ray of Love Wisdom, the Ray of Meticulous Entirety.
A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p.597-598:
"It is not easy for us to do more than grip as a mental concept the fact that the rays, schemes, planets, chains, rounds, races and laws form a unit; seen from the angle of human vision the confusion seems unimaginable, and the key of its solution to be so hidden as to be useless; yet, seen from the angle of logoic sight the whole moves in unison, and is geometrically accurate. In order to give some idea of the complexity of the arrangement, I would like here to point out that the Rays
themselves circulate, the Law of Karma controlling the interweaving.For instance, Ray I may pass around a scheme (if it is the paramount Ray of the scheme) with its first sub ray manifesting in a chain, its second in a round, its third in a world period, its fourth in a root race, its fifth on a sub race, and its sixth on a branch race This gives us some idea of the vastness of the process, and of its
wonderful beauty. It is impossible for us, sweeping through on some one Ray,
visualize or in any way apprehend this beauty; yet, to those on higher levels and with a wider range of vision, the gorgeousness of the design is apparent."
I could go on. This shows somewhat the manner in which the Master Djwhal Khul beholds and appreciates the Beauty of Cosmos. Try as we might, the very essence of Beauty cannot be captured in those poor things called words. In a moment of purest Beauty, one is rendered speechless. Haven't we experienced this? But perhaps a few words can point in the direction where the essence of Beauty can be found. Let us muse together on Beauty.
Beauty is a condition of relationship that is inherently attractive and arresting. Beauty compels contemplation. It enraptures and arrests the gaze. When confronted by trueBeauty, One cannot avert one's eyes. It captivates all the senses, the mind, the consciousness. It is a great magnetic and motivating force that leads all towards fulfillment and ultimate consummation. The word consummation is particularly related to the experience of the Beautiful. The fourth great plane of Nature, the buddhic plane, the plane of Pure Reason and Pure lntuitive Love is for humanity, at once the Plane of Beauty and the Plane of Consummation. In Beauty there is a great finality. There is closure. Beyond the attainment of Beauty one cannot rightly proceed, otherwise Beauty is destroyed. How significant it is that the planet of Beauty, Venus, is the ruler of the sign of balance,
Libra, for there is no Beauty without some form (however subtle or unusual) of balance or
equilibrium, and if aesthetic equilibrium is violated, Beauty vanishes instantly. How significant, also, that this same planet of Beauty is exalted in Pisces, the sign of consummation and finality, beyond which it is impossible to proceed without undertaking a new creative impulse in Aries.
In the last analysis, Beauty has the last word. When Beauty has been achieved, perfection has been reached, and nothing more need be said. As a matter of fact, the only word
which can rationally and reasonably follow the attainment of true Beauty is the Word of Destruction, for the fourth Ray of Beauty is closely allied with the First Ray of Destruction, even as the Law of the Soul ruled by the fourth Ray is the Law of Sacrifice (The Law of "those who choose to die"), linking it irrevocably, again, to the First Ray. In Beauty, then, there is perfection. Let us think about the sequence of steps in consciousness leading to perfection, regarding perfection as the consummation of Beauty. In this sequence the Number 4 (the fourth ray being the Ray of Harmony, Beauty and Art) is inescapably involved. Each of the physical senses has its higher points of emanation upon the higher planes and sub planes of our cosmic physical plane. The sense of physical taste is the fourth sense to be found upon the physical plane, and it
leads to the exercise of taste upon the astral plane, and this is called imagination (which is,
correspondingly, the fourth astral sense). Taste upon the mental plane is known as discrimination, a power found upon the fourth sub-plane of the mental plane. In the ascending sequence, discrimination is followed by pure intuition upon the fourth sub-plane of the buddhic plane (which is the fourth systemic plane), and finally, and most revealingly, intuition is followed by the great
psychic power called perfection upon the fourth sub-plane of the atmic plane - the Nirvanic
plane.
In the achievement of Beauty there is a great synthesis - a sense of perfect balance and
consummate finality. The words of Hamlet (one of the greatest fourth ray characters in all
dramatic literature) apply directly to the understanding of Beauty, for Beauty is, indeed, "a consummation devoutly to be wished.The number 4, we know, is the number of conflict and of "pain." And humanity, ruled by the pain-filled sign Scorpio, is the FOURTH Creative Hierarchy in which pain is uniquely experienced. How fascinating that the fourth great purpose of Sanat Kumara is called: "The mysterious purpose which has necessitated the calling into activity the Principle of Pain."….
But equally, just as Beauty is associated with pain and division, it is associated with joy and re-union and at-onement. In so many ways Beauty is the Great Attractor, the Cosmic Magnet. The words of the Goethe, perhaps fourth-ray Germany's supreme poet/dramatist, captured the allalluring
magnetism of Beauty when he said, ”Das Ewig-Weiblich zieht uns hinan." (The Eternal Feminine draws us onward.") Had he felt the influence of the Mother of the World? In true Beauty, the number 4 is transformed into the number 2 (for the 4 is alower aspect of the 2). Both the 4 and the 2
carry the note of Beauty - 4 in the sevenfold system, and 2 in the threefold. In attempting to understand the relation of the 4 and the 2, of Beauty to Love Wisdom, let us simply review a
significant name of the Great Second Ray: it is called the Ray of the Divine Pattern or of
"Beauty in Relationship.”…..This is why Beauty and the Law of Attraction (the
Second Great Law) are so closely related, for the Law of Attraction unites all. Beauty reigns
on the plane of union (the buddhic plane), [and the Law which governs Beauty is the Law of Magnetic Control (this Law being an aspect of
the Law of Attraction).]
The great fourth ray poet John Keats contributed immortal words to our understanding of Beauty.
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. And "A thing of beauty is a joy forever; Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”
"Ode to a Grecian Um"
Here, then, is the link between Beauty and Joy. Beauty so enraptures us, makes us so content with itself, brings us to such a state of at least temporary completion, that there is found a path to the eternal. And for a moment the things which thwart the spirit – which confine the all-expansive thrust of the spirit, which ever longs to find "eternity in an hour" - these things are set aside, and in Beauty, the spirit does commune with eternity. These moments of the realization of the eternal are
the very stuff of joy and even of bliss. In Beauty the spirit expands, the little self is forgotten, and this is joy. Thus it is that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever." Notice how the concept of eternity is
reflected in the word forever. In Beauty we transcend time. We know that in the realm of the soul, there is a state of timelessness. We know well of the happiness of the personality and the joy of the soul. The personality is timeconditioned. Archetypally, it is ruled by Saturn, the Lord of Time and of concretion. But the soul state borders on timelessness; it is Uranian, Neptunian, transcendent. Joy,
timelessness, the negation of limiting selfhood, and Beauty are all correlated concepts. ….When the Beauty of Cosmos resides in our minds and hearts, our lives are inevitably uplifted…. So, friends, can we measure everything against the BEAUTY OF COSMOS? Can we keep this as one all synthesizing concept? When we are weighed down by the sordid, the mundane, the limiting, the frustrating, the slow-moving, the resistant, can we banish our irritation, our I and our fragmented
consciousness by affirming to ourselves with the Master Morya, "How beautiful is everything!"
As we listen to these words of Beauty from the Old Commentary, words with which the Tibetan Master closed his masterpiece, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, let us be sensitive to the concepts of Joy, Wisdom, Beauty and Perfection. Most appropriately, He entitles this concluding section, FINALE.
The morning stars sang in their courses. The great paean of creation echoeth yet, and arouseth vibration.There comes cessation of the song when perfection is achieved. When all are blended into one full chord, the work is done. Dissonance in space soundeth yet. Discord ariseth in many systems. When all is resolved into harmony, when all is blended into symphony, the grand chorale will reverberate to the uttermost bounds of the known universe. Then will occur that which is beyond the comprehension of the highest Chohan the marriage song of the Heavenly Man.
Let us meditate upon Divine Beauty.
References
1. A.A. Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire. New York: Lucis Publishing Company, 1962.
2. Agni Yoga, Agni Yoga Society, Inc., New York, 1938.
3. Hierarchy, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, 1931.
