Applying the Lion Principle
Question: You emphasize looking on the Christ within others and overlooking the personality. Does this mean a true disciple will always be at peace with no negative feelings?
To help to clarify this subject let me ask several questions and then answer them.
If you have soul contact, have the ability to hold your mind steady in the light and to focus on the soul in your brethren will you not see another person’s faults?
Answer: Soul contact does not make you blind. Instead, you will see the faults of others more clearly than ever. The difference between one in the soul and one in the personality (as far as seeing goes) is that the one in the soul will see the true faults of others and not reflect his own weaknesses in others. He will see true flaws rather than illusionary ones and be aware of how a correction can be made.
Question: So, will this person be as critical as the next guy and try to straighten his brother out through criticism?
Answer: He who looks upon the soul will give much less criticism than the brother in the personality, even though he sees more. The big question he will ask himself is “Will criticism help and is it prompted by my soul?” Nine times out of ten the answer will be no and the disciple will merely bide his time and wait until such a discussion will do some good. That time usually comes when the brother comes to him and asks for his opinion or advice.
Unsolicited advice or criticism, even if it comes from a Master or archangel, is usually rejected and not appreciated.
Question: Will this person be hurt or disturbed by the faults and errors of another?
Answer: As a basic rule the disciple will not take anything personally. It matters not whether he is insulted, shunned or disparaged. He will look at the offending brother the way an intelligent person does a wild animal, such as a lion. You don’t hate the lion because it roars at you or even if he would eat you if he has the chance. Instead, you recognize the lion for what he is and you realize the roars are just part of his makeup and stay out of his way so he does not eat you.
When you look at the life essence of the lion you realize you can have affection for him and even totally accept his place in the scheme of things.
Even so, our brothers and sisters have many faults, but they are what they are and the wise will look upon their souls and see the dominating good that is driving them. If they roar they will not be offended. That does not mean they will accept the roars. The disciple has as much right to peace in the outer world as the next guy and he has a perfect right to avoid contact or closeness with those who grate on his personality or slow him down.
He may withdraw, but he will not hold a grievance. The key to not holding a grievance is what we might call the Lion Principle. People and lions are what they are and we should not hate them for being so. We can accept them for what they are but deal with them wisely so no harm will come.
Question: Will this person be kind to those who abuse him?
Answer: Yes, unless directed otherwise by his own soul – which is rare.
Here is a great scripture on this principle:
“Now power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile– Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou has reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.” D&C 121:41-46
Question: Will such a person never experience negative emotions toward others?
Answer: One who looks upon the soul can still feel negative feelings toward others, but such occurrences will not be very frequent. When this does happen, he will not deny those feelings and pretend they do not occur because he considers himself enlightened. Instead, he will accept them and view them from the vantage point of the observer. He will realize that his true self is not his emotions and observe his emotions as he would a wild lion and then decide how to render the emotions and situation harmless. Within a short time, through the guidance of his soul, he will diffuse the negative emotions to make way for continued focus upon the soul of others.
Even when suffering the greatest of offenses, the disciple will not react as his emotional body dictates. Instead, he will connect with his soul through the mind and decide how to respond and that response will always be the most harmless path he can discern.
Environmental Enlightenment: (As of 1997) Standing timber in the United States has already increased by 30% since 1950. There are now 60 tons of timber for every American. Tree-ring studies further confirm this spectacular increase in tree growth rates. It has also been found that mature Amazonian rain forests are increasing in biomass at about two tons per acre per year. A composite of 279 research studies predicts that overall plant growth rates will ultimately double as carbon dioxide increases. LINK
Aug 4, 2006
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