September 10, 2024

12 Keys of Discipleship

The Disciple Will Be an Initiate

Within many organizations an initiate is one who obeys certain programs, learns certain keys, codes or signals and progressions from one step to another within an organization. This is not what we are talking about here.

We are looking at the actual principle behind the process of initiation itself and this has little or nothing to do with learning some code or process or going to some school. The principle is this. An initiate is one who initiates.

If therefore one is considered a high initiate in some organization, but does nothing to actually initiate or assist in initiating some new benefit for humanity then he or she is not an initiate according to the principle itself.

The initiate’s work must not depend on someone else or even God telling him what to do. Instead, the seeker must learn the power of self-initiated effort. He must participate in a work that will initiate the forward spiritual evolution of humanity.

How does the disciple use his power of initiation to do this?

A member gave this answer: “Instead of waiting around for God or ‘the Masters’ to call him to some ‘holy mission,’ he sees a task that needs doing and calls himself to it.”

Good concise answer. When I was young and constrained by the church I used to pine for other times in history when there was opportunity to initiate as any self-initiating in the current church can get you in trouble. There you are just expected to just obey.

As I was on the threshold of gaining some enlightenment on this issue, I read an inspiring statement from Jesus in the Aquarian Gospel. There he talked about progression along the path and when the initiate forges ahead he leaves the crowds behind. At the point of initiation, he will often be alone while the masses are in the background merely trying to do what they are told.

This helped me awake to this fact: “The more it appears that there is nothing new to initiate, the stronger is the need and the greater is the opportunity to create anew.”

It was a great joy for me to throw off the shackles that held me bound and then forge ahead as seemed good to my own soul.

Suppose the initiate looks at the situation of the planet and concludes that there is only a handful of great works that are even possible to initiate in his lifetime. He recognizes his own limitations (which is important) and realizes that he has not the internal resources to spearhead the work or do it alone.

How then should he use his power of initiation?

The disciple may not be in a situation or have the know-how or resources to initiate a monumental work to change the world. If he sees that he is unable to create great change or initiate a great work the worst thing he can do is to throw his hands in the air and do nothing.

Instead, each seeker must assess himself and then ask himself what he can realistically do to serve. There is always something. If he cannot find anything then he is not looking.

One quality that the accepted disciple has registered in his psyche is this. He wants to create change beyond that which affects his individual self, his family or community. He desires to create the most far-reaching change that is possible — preferably something that will affect the whole world. On the other hand, few disciples have the ability to spearhead such a work. What can they do then to serve as the feel impressed from within?

First, he or she must pick their area of interest. Is it politics, spirituality, education, science or what?

For most of this group it would be spirituality and for others politics or another field.

Once the seeker has identified his areas of interest, he then needs to survey the ideas circulating in the world and pick one that has the greatest possibility to create the desired change. Finally, he needs to support that work according to his talents and capacity to serve.

He can serve with his labor and his financial resources. It seems in this age that the greater is the light available the more difficult it is to gather the finances necessary to make a difference.

One thing that each person with power to initiate can do is start or participate in a group. There are many people in groups on the internet who are looking for greater light and knowledge.

We all know that starting a worldwide or national organization is difficult indeed. Starting any group centered around new ideas is difficult and tests the power to initiate in any seeker. If he has ideas to start something new and good then this will require great effort. Most will not take this path, but will seek out some group endeavor that will benefit the world and seek to support it as much as possible.

The disciple can always initiate if he persists, holds his vision and does not give up. If he does not have the talent others will come forth who can help get the job done.

In conclusion, the most important thing the initiate or disciple can realize is that an initiate initiates. The would-be disciple must therefore ask — what can I initiate or assist to initiate that will benefit the largest number of people?

Check out this video Anni West made on my teachings on initiation: