Truth does not exist in this world.
There are many enquiring minds but few hungry souls. There are many people who are interested intellectually in the teachings, but few real seekers. There are many people who enjoy discovering new knowledge, but few in sincere search of Truth.
Some people assume that they can go from one teaching to another, collect bits and pieces from many of them, and thereby arrive at Truth. But if the mind is the one that collects the pieces, then the truths that are arrived at are dependent upon the capacity of the mind, and no mind is capable of encompassing transcendent, intuitional Truth. Rather, "mind" is precisely what is absent when Truth is arrived at. No amount of collecting pieces of knowledge is going to serve the purpose of arriving at a knowledge of the divine Reality.
Some people claim that they can connect with intuitional Reality by means of their reading and their study. But if they really did this, if they really had transcended intellectual knowledge through their studying, they would no longer need their books and their reading. For Truth would transcend all the knowledge that they had found within the books. They would then be focussed on that intuitional, divine Reality, and not further study. They would be looking for Truth and not the accumulation of knowledge. They would be focussed on the Wisdom that emanates from their own heart, and not upon any outer teaching.
Other people choose to delve deeply into their chosen teaching. Seeing that the writings they have are from some great teacher, initiate, or Master, they choose to hold those teachings above all others. They use the words as a touchstone; if something is in agreement with their teaching, then it is true, and if something is not in agreement with their teaching it is false. But again, if it is folly to imagine that the mind can encompass transcendent Truth, it is even greater folly to imagine that a book can. Such people lean on the teachings like a man with a broken leg leans on crutches. The books may be written by a Master or great initiate, but they are nevertheless at best guides for us to come into a direct realization of Truth, and we cannot accept any substitute, however accurate and mirrorlike that reflection may be.
For Truth does not exist in this world. It cannot be found in this realm of illusion, for anything that can be said within that realm must of necessity itself be illusion, and not divine Truth. Truth only exists in its own divine Reality, within the ineffable, transcendent, Universe. And that Universe can only be contacted through the heart.
The sacred books, then, are illusions. The thought forms that are conveyed by the books also exist within the realm of the personality, and are also illusions. The knowledge obtained by reading the books is also of the mind, and is also illusory. But the Word that emanates from the heart radiates from that inner, divine Universe that is beyond the veils of illusion. That Word is itself Reality. That Word is Truth. That Word is God.
Some say that it is dangerous to listen to the heart, for the heart might deceive us, and lead us astray. For even if the words are correct, they say, we might not interpret them accurately and thus be misled. It is safer, they say, to follow the books we know that are written by our Initiate. But this is like saying that the light of the sun cannot be seen, so we must trust to the light of the moon. Books can only at best be a reflection of the divine Reality; is it not the path of Wisdom to seek the source of Truth? The heart can indeed be known and listened to; that is the message of all the mystics down the ages. And if the message of the heart can be known, then no other message will serve. For what was true and appropriate a century ago, or a decade ago, or sometimes even a second ago, will not serve.
If we intend to meet, as some say they do, the "immediate need" and the Plan "as it exists today" then we must be capable of ascertaining that need and that Plan today. What was said yesterday about the Plan in books and words was wise and good yesterday, but may not be so today. Yet so many students determine what the Plan is by reading books that were written long before they were born. Is it not clear that the world has changed since then? That what would be of great service at one time would be wholly inappropriate at another? And that the only path to know what will serve in this moment is a direct appreciation of the heart, of Truth, and of the Plan that IS Truth in manifestation.
And still there are some that say to listen to the heart is wrong, for if we listen to the heart we are turning away from the sacred teachings, and just forming our own philosophy. We are only getting lost in our own imagination, they say. These people have not tried listening to the heart; they cannot speak from experience. For if they did, they would discover that listening to the Heart is to listen to the Christ within. And there is only one Christ consciousness. Thus when the heart is listened to by various people, they hear the same message, they discover the same Truth, and they connect to the same Reality. That Reality is the very source from which all the esoteric, gnostic, and occult teachings spring. That Reality is the everlasting fountain of knowledge that every Initiate has drawn from. Thus to follow the heart is not turning away from the teachings, but is instead fulfilling them, for all the esoteric teachings have proclaimed that the real Truth is esoteric, hidden, and a "mystery." When we discover the Truth in our hearts that mystery is uncovered, and the hidden and secret teachings of all the ages are revealed.
Then there is no longer any need to go out and search for truth. There is no longer much need to read books. There is no longer any concern about studying. For when the divine Knower within is contacted, we can trust that we will come into contact with all the divine Wisdom we need. The heart will reveal what is necessary for us to know. And that which we discover will be found to be every bit as revelatory as anything we have ever read in any book or heard from any Teacher, no matter what great Avatar wrote or said it.
There are those who say that this is all fine and well, but that they cannot hear what the heart has to say, and so it is easier and better for them to just read the books. What is missing here is earnest seeking. They don't really seek anything more than the books that they have, so they give up before they even start. They are often happy with their teaching, and are afraid that they will hear something they don't want to hear from the heart. But the heart can be heard. If we accept that it can be heard, then we must also accept that it can be heard by ourselves. The "voice of the silence" sounds louder when it is earnestly sought. Those who seek it lukewarmly will not hear much. Those who are satisfied with what they know will hear very little. Those without love will hear nothing at all. Only when we seek Truth and Reality without compromise, and understand that Truth cannot be ascertained in any other way, will we find the heart speaking to us clearly.