Ways of Service in the World Today

Taken from Ways of Service in the World Today – Illumination Series – A White Eagle Teaching

We wait in the stillness of the spirit to receive the spiritual outpouring from the Centres of Love, Wisdom and Power. We give ourselves to the Christ love and power. We resign ourselves to the Light of Christ….

We are united, recognising that our neighbour, whatever his path of approach, in common with ourselves, desires to find God and to serve. In this fellowship we include, not only the human, but the humbler brethren of the animal and nature kingdoms – all living things. And we raise our hearts to the discarnate, recognising the service which they also render to humanity.

There are those ever seeking a channel through which they can serve the great Plan of Evolution. If we consider Brotherhood, we must of necessity recognise the Brotherhood of Men and of Angels, since as man aspires to the higher realms and opens the spiritual centre within his heart, we all as that within his brain, he will be used increasingly in service, becoming a channel through which the Wiser Powers, so gentle and yet so perfect in method, will make contact with man. So long as man in his arrogance rejects the wisdom of the Elder Brethren, so long will man stumble and fall into illusion; even into the “Bottomless Pit’ referred to in Revelation – the pit of intellectual pride; which while questioning and denying most things, derides the Wisdom of the Ages, the Secret Doctrine of Life. Thus man descends and in mental arrogance, materialism and so-called science gnashes his teeth in baffled despair.

This is no new truth. Throughout the ages have the Brethren of the White Light appeared, in differing forms, clothed in different personalities, to draw aside the veil, to reveal the waiting heart and the humble searcher the secret ways of God, the universal powers which can be tapped only by those who have opened the secret chamber of the heart – the Temple, the Holy of Holies. This present Age brings increased facilities, greater opportunities to discriminate between the true and false; and only through such diligent and humble search will man find that which he seeks.

“Ways of Service in the World To-day’ is the subject chosen. Let us look out upon the world conditions about us and see cruelty, unkindness and disease! Such conditions result from impurity within the Soul of Humanity. The most of us concentrate upon the outside of the cup, omitting to observe the filth of the interior. All suffering to-day originates from the divine Law broken by man in his greedy search for self-expression, although all may not find this statement acceptable; but we discriminate between self-expression and selfless, God or Christ expression through man. We agree that in the process of Evolution man has concentrated upon self as he journeys upward. But Selfhood will in turn give place to the God-influence which has three main modes of expression – power, wisdom and love; and the power aspect is that which has and will force man forward and onward, to soul-growth or love of power so often betrays itself, overgrowing, overpowering and choking the flowers of the soul with weeds. Evil results from misuse of power, but proves necessary at times; but after a certain stage of evolution there awakens another aspect in man to bridle or transmute power abused – the Love, the Wisdom aspect… the Love-aspect being Christ.

War, pestilence, greed – all result from breaking the Law of Love; and man by suffering must learn to listen to the Elder Brethren, who from time to time restate, restate, restate the simple truth.

Then what of ways of Service to relieve suffering, to help the younger brethren towards harmony and happiness, towards Christ, the ultimate? The path is very difficult to find and being found, very difficult to walk steadfastly, because there is so much to befog the vision. The only way to maintain foothold and to progress is by following, not this or that sensation, interest or creed; but by entering the chamber within, by praying with all one’s strength to the Wisdom of God. When light comes, it will not be due to intellect alone, but to that which urges man to love all creatures.

How is one ensnared in the entanglements of mind and body to find this inner light? How can one be sure that one has found truth? One thing is essential – Purity. Here we have many problems; what is means by purity of life? Acetism? – a withdrawal from contact with all worldliness? Not so, for we have reached the next spiral of evolution, and the aspirant today is not concerned with monastic or ascetic life as of old, but rather called to mix with humanity, mingling with the bringing through into the minds of those he meets the light of the Ages. This same light must burn brightly in the man, so that its influence may bring healing.

Purity of the vehicles of the spirit is a necessity of you would serve. We do not advise drastic changes in the life-habits, but consider well these words that follow.

The brotherhood of man with the animal kingdom! Those who love creatures given life by God find cruelty impossible, cannot slay wantonly or indeed shed such innocent blood except in cases of sheer necessity. Then indeed the animals serve in the only way they can so serve, by rendering up life itself! Take though – with so many healthful and pure foods as an alternative, is it still necessary to slay and eat your brother?

One way of service is to ever express love towards the animal kingdom, not aggressively, but gently, by thought and by example. It is not enough to say “I cannot bear to witness cruelty’! Set about doing your part, influences from within, to contribute forbearance, kindness, love that will replace cruelty. Refuse to accept with complacence the habits and customs by which men exploit the weak and helpless.

Look out upon world-wide suffering… aye, no country is inviolate. See needless cruelty and oppression inflicted upon the coloured races! Can you endorse or participate in the antagonism too common between the brother of the white, the brown or red skin? No matter whether you consider the native savage, ignorant, cruel and this you cannot judge – you should spontaneously love and accept from your heart him of the dark skin as being your brother, and possibly your teacher… for if he be not your teacher, then yours is the obligation to help him upwards towards the light.

We have referred to the purification of the subtler bodies or vehicles of which the spirit makes use. Purity does not result only from change of diet, nor is this the only method. It is more important still to aspire continually in thought, to refuse to look crucially or despairingly upon either individuals or a suffering world; to ever know that God reigns omnipotent. His laws absolute, His love infinite and that all things must work together for good for him who loves God.

Our thoughts are powerful instruments for good or evil. Daily as thoughts go forth, vibrating light and love, they construct; they bring closer contact with beings on the higher planes. Purer thoughts will attract the pure, and nobler stronger helpers will companion you. So aspire to purity of thought and purity of body – the latter resulting from the purer food which will be your choice. Continual ablutions should become a daily habit, since the body must be kept free from all contamination, for if unclean, neglected or over-driven, it becomes useless for the work of the Elder Brethren. It is thus your duty, if you would serve humanity, to live harmoniously, moderately, purely. If we ask too much, then aspire to overcome gradually the lower instincts, so that in time you attain these great ends.