Initiation 101

2003-1-27 13:20:00

Glenys made some good points to which I will respond. She writes:
I agree with you although I don't think anyone has suggested that 'rich and famous' has to be a feature of initiates. Otherwise none of us would have any hope of making the grade :-)

DK talks about the special category of initiates called 'world disciples'. These are initiates who are well known because they have served the world in one way or another and, more often than not, in a public way. The politicians JJ brought up are a good examples.

But most initiates plug away in the background and those around them never know that they are servants of life.


JJ:
You are on the right track here. For one thing, there are not enough rich and famous positions to accommodate all upcoming initiates and, then too, many of the rich and famous are not initiates.

Actually, the initiate is more likely to be infamous and low on funds than rich and famous.

The thread that runs through the work of all initiates is that they will be working with great focus on initiating service to the world. The greater the initiate, the greater will be the vision and the work.

I will add this. An initiate of the fourth degree or higher is usually working with initiating service with world wide effect so these people will generally attain world wide recognition. This will change though as more fourth degree initiates appear.

Some initiates do work behind the scene and create an effect as powerful as others who are well known. DK tells us the disciple must be prepared to work for no recognition on the physical plane if this is what the situation requires. On the other hand, during other times recognition is essential to get the job done. The principles are black and white, but the rules are not.

Glenys:
Overnight I thought about my statement that only a Master can accurately judge a person's level of development and decided that was a little too unequivocal. Certainly that's what the esoteric literature says but really, anyone with soul contact and/or a higher initiate could discern an initiate, especially if they are in the 'world disciple' category, like Churchill. So when JJ says someone is an initiate I tend to take notice.

JJ:
Let us look at the principle here which is this. A person can recognize those of his own consciousness and below. Even a Dark Brother can recognize and understand his own.

An aspirant can recognize other aspirants and those who are not aspirants. A first degree initiate can recognize (and understand) others of the first degree and aspirants and non-aspirants. And so it goes up the scale to a Master who is a fifth degree initiate or above. He can recognize and understand his own and all those below him.

But those who have not attained in consciousness cannot on their own, correctly judge the higher. He may have a revelation of the higher or he may be taught about the higher and have an intellectual grasp. He can also gain understand by using the Law of Correspondences. In this way he may have some understanding, but not a full comprehension because of a lack of experience with the higher consciousness.

Many beginners on the path think they are about as high as they can get and understand the full range of consciousness. These people would be embarrassed if they knew their true situation.

Glenys:
But it is a rocky road for lesser mortals and I agree with you (John C), that discussing people's spiritual status and degree of soul contact as is fraught with difficulties.

JJ:
Good point. This is why the only initiates I will identify are either dead or do not know I exist and this is for teaching purposes.

If I were to say that Glenys is X degree, John Y degree and Rick Z degree, this would open a can of worms that would destroy the group.

I may identify group members who are working on initiating something, but this only means they are headed the right direction and this alone gives no indication of their status.

As soon as the thought of status becomes a major point in our consciousness the effectiveness and progression is reduced to near zero. We must forget ourselves and become emerged in the saving work for which humanity pleads. In this there is joy and if the disciple has as much joy as he can handle then only his direction has meaning - not status.

Glenys:
One final comment - I have never yet met an initiate who has avoided the scars of battle. The battle is part of the deal, even if it is battle with themselves :-)

JJ:
Another good point on which many New Agers are deceived. To pave a new road to freedom one must blast away a mountain of resisting rock.