The Ideal Disciple
A reader gives this quote from DK:
“When love for all beings, irrespective of who they may be, is beginning to be a realized fact in the heart of a disciple, and yet nevertheless love for himself exists not, then comes the indication that he is nearing the Portal of Initiation, and may make the necessary preliminary pledges. […] If he cares not for the suffering and pain of the lower self, if it is immaterial to him whether happiness comes his way or not, if the sole purpose of his life is to serve and save the world, and if his brother’s need is for him of greater moment than his own, then is the fire of love irradiating his being, and the world can warm itself at his feet. This love has to be a practical, tested manifestation, and not just a theory, nor simply an impractical ideal and a pleasing sentiment.” Initiation Human and Solar, Page 193
He then makes this comment:
“I think I understand the concept that DK is trying to get across here, but is anyone ever TRULY this altruistic? I think maybe a lot of people WANT to be like this but when the chips are ACTUALLY down, find themselves acting somewhat differently. What person of reason does something that he not only sees absolutely no benefit to self in but even detriment to self? Absolute altruism – seeking benefit to other in total disregard for self – as the above DK quote sounds, makes as little sense to me as does absolute selfishness. Does one ever act in total disregard for self?”
JJ: That was a beautiful quote from DK. I sense that it was worded as it was to stress the ideal attitude of the disciple toward service, which is basically this:
If the need comes down to his or her personal desires or the greater good of humanity or the group, he will choose the group.
Does this mean that he has no thoughts of his personal destiny, personal satisfaction and individual joy?
No. It does not mean that at all as evidenced by the Tibetan himself who wrote:
“Joy settles as a bird within the heart but has winged its way from the secret place within the head. I am that bird of joy, Therefore, with joy I serve.” Discipleship In the New Age Vol 1 Pg 158
The disciple places service of the whole above service to the individual self because he realizes that this is the true path to joy. It is as Jesus said that only by losing our life can we find it. Even so, by placing individual happiness last can we be the first to become that bird of joy.
One could say that the disciple has the ultimate self interest in mind because service without thought for the lower self brings the greatest possible joy and happiness to the whole of the individual.
Even the Master himself realized this as stated in the scriptures:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)
So what was it that gave Jesus the power to endure the cross?
It was “the joy that was set before him.”
Even Jesus himself did not relinquish self-desire without a struggle. In the Garden of Gethsemane when he realized the pain he would have to endure he pleaded with the Father, “if it be possible remove this cup.”
Neither he or any other disciple goes through the Fourth Initiation without blinking and questioning, but in the end, he expresses this toward higher will:
“Not my will, but thine be done.”
DK indeed expressed the ideal, but even the ideal disciple does not move forward without thinking of self. What he will do is to always proceed toward the good of the whole, but sometimes after a serious internal cross examination of the sacrifices involved and questioning the necessity of the sacrifices along the way.
The disciple realizes that he is a valuable tool for the work itself and you do not throw away a thing of worth for something of little value. The sacrifice of the disciple should have a good chance of producing fruit of equal or greater value than the worth of the sacrifice itself.
The Highest Religion
Another reader asks this: “I am also interested in the groups opinion of The Book of Mormon. Do members here consider it a work of scripture?”
JJ: The group as a whole only has one belief:
“The highest religion is truth, whatever that is.”
The Keys was started by Rick Audette who doesn’t particularly like Mormonism, and was not intended to be a group to draw anyone of any particular belief, except for those who are searching for greater light.
Presently, I would guess that maybe a third of the members have some type of LDS background in their lives. We get quite a few questions related to LDS teachings, but we do not seek to be an LDS or any other religious group. The group as a whole sees all the churches as a kindergarten experience. Some things we learned there are useful, but we want to concentrate on the quest for knowledge not sought in the major religions.
Reader: “How would it compare to wisdom literature. For example, I place The Bible, The Koran and the Bhagavad Gita above works such as ‘Seth Speaks,’ Madam Blavatsky, ‘A Course in Miracles’ and other channeled works.”
JJ: I’d put them all in a similar category as far as truth goes. You have to study them all in the light of the soul. If one group of teachings rings highly true with your inner guidance then it is logical to give them some preference for a source of truth.
Reader: “I am not familiar with DK writings but it appears from the messages I have read here that it is also a channeled work. By ‘channeled’ I mean that the mouthpiece for the work is in a trance state and a particular advanced being speaks though that person.”
JJ: The only work you mentioned received in the trance state was Seth. The DK writings were received in a similar manner that Joseph Smith received his; except that Alice A. Bailey wrote them down herself as she received them, so obviously no trance state was involved. She carefully explains the telepathic method by which she received the messages.
In the trance state astral entities from the spirit world or thoughtforms are contacted. Some are more intelligent than others, but they are not masters. Christ and the Holy Ones associated with Him work through a higher form of either impression or mental telepathy.
I would invite you to read the Bailey works as they take you way beyond anything else offered from an extra human source.
Reader: “Under this definition, The Book of Mormon is somewhere in between The Bible and the channeled works listed above.”
JJ: The Book of Mormon is far from unique in the method of reception as the works of Alice A. Bailey, “A Course in Miracles,” “The Koran,” and works of Madam Blavatsky were received in a similar manner in full consciousness.
Myself and other members sometimes quote from the scriptures of the world, but any writing from any source that emphasizes some truth is considered a positive thing.
“The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.” — William Hazlitt (1778 – 1830)
July 7, 2009
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