World of the Soul
Author's Introduction
Chapter 1: The Search for Truth
Chapter 2: The Soul
Chapter 3: Life and Form
Chapter 4: The Constitution of a Human Being
Chapter 5: Awakening to the Soul
Chapter 6: Masters of the Wisdom
Chapter 7: Spiritual Hierarchy
Chapter 8: Hierarchies of Life
Chapter 9: History of the Soul
Chapter 10: The Path of Initiation
Chapter 11: First Initiation
Chapter 12: Second Initiation
Chapter 13: Third Initiation
Chapter 14: The Continuity of Revelation
Chapter Eleven
First Initiation
There are five major initiations. While there may be many lesser initiations in the process of human unfoldment, there are five that hold primary place in the transition from the human kingdom to the Kingdom of Souls. These are:
1. The Birth into the Spiritual Life
2. The Baptism of the Emotions
3. The Transfiguration of the Personality
4. The Crucifixion of the Soul
5. The Resurrection of the Monad.
The first initiation is the first step out of the human kingdom into the world of the soul and the Spiritual Hierarchy. It is the first milestone on the Path, and leads us through the "door of initiation" which eventually makes us a fully manifesting Spirit.
Symbolically the first initiation is called the "birth of the Christ in the cave of the heart" for it is the time when the inner Christ, the soul, becomes more active and begins making its impression upon us. It is a birth into a new, subjective world. Our heart and soul awaken to greater activity. The material world loses its allure and the spiritual world makes its presence felt, however dimly, within our lives. Over all our countless incarnations, during all our countless lives, all of the possibilities of the world have been tasted, experienced, and gone through, and they are now found to be insufficient. A new note, a new light, and a new task are required.
The Christ principle, the soul, has always been present within us, but has remained hidden and unexpressed due to an intense preoccupation with form life and daily living. When the personality life is proved to be empty of meaning, and when our consciousness rises above the attractions and preoccupations of daily living, then the soul can manifest its qualities of light, love, joy, peace, serenity, detachment, and spiritual persistence. These qualities, flowing through our personality, transform it into a suitable instrument of service to humanity and the planet.
When we take the first initiation we have set our feet unequivocally upon the path of spiritual growth. We find, as a result, that there is no turning back. The pleasures of the physical plane life no longer attract us as they did before, and the intense desires that have swept us up no longer can compel us as before. We may try to find enjoyment in the world, but we soon find it all relatively empty and purposeless. We may find that life has temporarily become dull, arid, and devoid of its former happiness. This is but an interlude between the experiencing of the pleasures of the personality life and the joy of the soul. It is transitional, and like the "dark night of the soul" it will be passed through and new happiness and joy will await us — but only when soul motive supersedes personality desire, and when our identification has moved out of the world of the personal into the impersonal.
The first initiation is the first expression of our own inner Divinity. This is forcefully brought to our attention through some life crisis, some major event that awakens us to spiritual realities. Prior to taking this initiation a battle occurs within our life. A great conflict rages between our lower nature and the higher. When we become aware of the issues involved and decide to support the higher principles in our thought, speech, and daily life, the battle is won. We pass through a "burning-ground," pass through the fires of purification, and enter into a new, reoriented life.
There then comes a sense of unity with all that is, a feeling of oneness with humanity, the world, and with the whole universe. A peace comes — after the trials and tribulations of the burning-ground — that reveal a new way of life, a new sense of purpose, and a new joy in spiritual living.
We may be an initiate even though we do not remember taking initiation, and this is for two reasons. First, if we went through the process of initiation in a previous lifetime, we would not remember the initiatory experience for the same reason that we do not remember the previous lifetime. Second, the first two initiations are taken on the emotional plane, that is, in the world of dreaming and sleep. The extent to which we are aware of the experience of initiation is thus dependent upon the extent to which we can bring through our dream life into our conscious brain awareness.
Those who take the first initiation, then, may have no knowledge at all of the ideas of principles presented in this book, but their lives are nevertheless filled with the purpose of achieving a spiritual life. We may only recall a tremendous shift in our lives, an awakening to a new understanding, and a change in our personal and spiritual values.
Many hundreds of thousands of people have taken the first initiation. This initiation is, in any case, only the beginning. It is, so to speak, an acknowledgment that we seek to tread the Path, and thus it allows us to participate in the life of the Spiritual Hierarchy. The first initiation is, however, not considered very significant in terms of the entire path of spiritual evolution. It is only a beginning, a start, and a commencement of a very long process.
The first initiation may be described in the following ways:
- The awakening of the Christ principle.
- The stimulation of the mental principle so that we begin to live fully in the world of thought rather than only in the world of desires.
- A first, tenuous contact with the world of the Spiritual Intuition. This results in an ever-increasing reorientation toward the spiritual and away from the material things in life. This sensing of the Spiritual Intuition is what is called "spiritual instinct."
- The dedication of the physical plane life to the development of Spirit.
Those who have taken the first initiation are characterized by a transcendence of physical plane desires and habits. Addiction to food, drink, drugs, sex, and physical violence must be overcome. The desire must be gone and the lure totally departed.
For us as first degree initiates, physical plane addictions and desires no longer have the power to control our life in any respect. This is the first, foremost, and most necessary characteristic of the first initiation. It is unfortunately true that not all initiates live up to this standard, for we are not totally liberated upon all levels until the fourth initiation. Nevertheless, this is the important, guiding factor for this initiation. No one is passed through the door of initiation when their physical appetites may yet control them. Thus when we achieve the first initiation we have largely overcome our physical plane cravings, desires, and limitations.
For the first degree initiate, there is a positive intention to be obedient to the will of the soul. If we as initiates have shortcomings, we do not try to hide them. We do not say that we are something that we are not. We are thus characterized by all the good virtues of truthfulness, honesty, integrity, forthrightness, courage, and humility. These are taken for granted in this whole process, for no initiation is possible without the cultivation of spiritual virtues and personal purity of life.
In general, following this initiation, we are characterized by the following qualities (though of course not everyone will follow the same path of development or express the same energies):
- Freedom from physical plane addictions.
- A longing for human good and concern about human welfare.
- The urge to discipline ourselves in order to attain a greater beauty of life. An absolute determination to tread the way of light and follow the path as best we can.
- A reorientation toward spiritual things and away from material things. There is an intensive struggle to grow into the spiritual life. There is a recognition that there is more to life than the physical, material world, more to living than outer, mundane affairs, and we are consumed with an effort to find and express that inner light. The soul, therefore, assumes more and more influence in our daily life.
- A longing for peace and right human relations.
- A revolt against materialism and conventionality.
- Intense aspiration.
- A life conditioned by love.
- A conscious effort to tread the Path of spiritual growth and to emulate the Christ, the Buddha, Krishna, or whoever represents to us the living principle of illumination and spiritual Being.
To achieve initiation it is not enough to be a normal, good human being. It is not enough to cultivate virtue. It is not enough to be curious and inquisitive about things esoteric and occult. Only living the life will bring us to the door of initiation. Only obedience to the soul will allow us to pass through that door. It takes a firm belief in the inner spiritual reality, a determination that holds nothing back, and a willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of the light within. Few have the capacity for the life of initiation. Yet there are those in every age who have walked the path and passed through the door, and to them the inner light that was once dim and wavering has become the infinite Light.
Previous — End of Chapter Eleven — Next
Author's Introduction
Chapter 1: The Search for Truth
Chapter 2: The Soul
Chapter 3: Life and Form
Chapter 4: The Constitution of a Human Being
Chapter 5: Awakening to the Soul
Chapter 6: Masters of the Wisdom
Chapter 7: Spiritual Hierarchy
Chapter 8: Hierarchies of Life
Chapter 9: History of the Soul
Chapter 10: The Path of Initiation
Chapter 11: First Initiation
Chapter 12: Second Initiation
Chapter 13: Third Initiation
Chapter 14: The Continuity of Revelation