 54. Evolution |
For each soul seeks expression. And as it moves through the mental associations and attributes in the surrounding environs, it gives out that which becomes either for selfish reactions of the own ego or – to express – or for the I AM to be at-one with the Great I AM THAT I AM.
What then are the purposes for the activities of an entity in a material plane, surrounded with those environs that make for self-expressions or self-activities in the various ways and manners?
What meaneth these? That self is growing to that which it, the entity, the soul, is to present, as it were, the Great I AM in those experiences when it is absent from materiality.
These become hard at times for the individual to visualize, that the mental and soul may manifest without a physical vehicle. Yet in the deeper meditations, in those experiences when those influences may arise when the spirit of the Creative Force, the universality of soul, of mind – not as material, not as judgments, not in time and space but of time and space – may become lost in the Whole, instead of the entity being lost in the maze of confusing influences – then the soul visions arise in the meditations.
And the centers becoming attuned to the vibrations of the bodily force, these give a vision of that as may be to the entity an outlet for the self-expressions, in the beauties and the harmonies and the activities that become, in their last analysis: just being patient, long-suffering, gentle, kind.
These are the fruits of the spirit of truth; just as hates, malice and the like become in their growths those destructive forces in creating, in making for those things that are as but tares, confusions, dissensions in the experiences of an entity.
Those then are the purposes of the entrance of an entity into a material plane; to choose that which is its ideal.
Then ask thyself the question – gain the answer first in thy physical consciousness: "What is my ideal of a spiritual life?"
Then when the answer has come – for it has been given by Him that is Life, that the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, is within; and we view the kingdom of God without by the application of those things that are of the spirit of truth – these then answered, ye seek again in the inner consciousness: "Am I true to my ideal?"
These become then the answers. This and that and the other' never as pro and con. For the growth in the spirit is as He has given; ye grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding.
How? As ye would have mercy shown thee, ye show mercy to those that even despitefully use thee. If ye would be forgiven for that which is contrary to thy own purposes – yet through the vicissitudes of the experiences about thee, anger and wrath give place to better judgment – ye, too, will forgive those that have despitefully used thee; ye will hold on malice. For ye would that they Ideal, that Way ye seek, hold no malice – yea, no judgment – against thee. For it is the true law of recompense; yea, the true law of sacrifice.
For not in sacrifice alone has He sought His judgments, but rather in mercy, in grace, in fortitude; yea, in divine love.
The shadows of these are seen in thy inner experience with thy fellow man day by day. For ye have seen a smile, yea a kind word, turn away wrath. Ye have seen a gentleness give hope to those that have lost their hold on purpose, other than the satisfying of an appetite – yea, other than satisfying the desires of the carnal mind.
Hence as ye give, ye receive. For this is mercy, this is grace. This is the beauty of the inner life lived.
