Fellowship of Cosmic Fire

Commentary Semester IV Section XII

TCF 453 – 465 : S4S12
19 March – 3 April 2007

(Most of the Tibetan’s text is put in font 16, to provide better legibility when projected during classes. Footnotes and references from other AAB Books and from other pages of TCFare put in font 14. Commentary appears in font 12.Underlining, Bolding and Highlighting by MDR)

It is suggested that this Commentary be read with the TCF book handy, for the sake of continuity. As analysis of the text is pursued, many paragraphs are divided, and the compact presentation in the book, itself, will convey the overall meaning of the paragraph.

  1. We continue with our consideration of the incoming seventh ray and its effect on the mind in the three evolutions.

[p. 453]

I do not purpose to say much anent human development as much has been already hinted at in the preceding pages, and a hint suffices for the true student,

  1. The true student catches the ‘scent’ of a possibility and follows that scent unaided. As students, we are not simply repositories of that which has been stated in the Teaching. We use what we receive as ‘directional impulses’, i.e., “hints”, to venture into fields of knowledge which have not yet been presented.

but it may be possible to state in broad outline the coming developments and to tabulate the results to be expected. Suggestions only are possible.

  1. DK carefully reiterates His contention that that which He presents to us is merely in outline form.
  2. We are speaking of developments or unfoldments which may be expected within humanity, coincident with the emergence into prominence of the seventh ray.

Development of etheric vision universally. This will be due to two causes:

  1. This is to be expected due to the vitalization of the ethers and the general sensitization of the eye.

First, the scientific recognition of the existence of the etheric levels, thereby freeing people from the onus of adverse public opinion, and enabling them to reveal what they have individually long realised.

  1. This development is in process; people discuss this ‘field of vision’ openly.

Etheric vision is comparatively common even now. But comment concerning it is rare, owing to the fear of criticism.

  1. Much has changed in the last eighty years. The matter is discussed widely and publicly. The concept of the aura and its potential visibility has permeated the public consciousness.
  2. The fear of criticism, however, still persists. A true disciple is neither the source of criticism nor is he afraid to face it.

Secondly, the increased activity of the devas of the ethers, which throws the matter of the etheric levels into more active vibration, with consequent reflex action on the eye of man.

  1. We have here a description of the activation of the ethers ‘from within’. The etheric field is more active, more vibrant and its impact upon the human perceptual mechanism more forceful.
  2. There is a direct connection between the ethers and the eye. The structural/functional nature of the etheric-physical eye is wholly adequate to perceive the factual nature of the ethers.

Increased mental activity and the spread of education (of the concrete mental kind) everywhere.

  1. The sign Aquarius is strongly conditioned by the fifth ray of mind and closely related, as well, to the third (to which the seventh ray of the Age is also closely related).
  2. Aquarius is an air sign. The other two air signs will increase in strength with the growth of the Aquarian influence. Air signs are closely related to mentality and represent the three aspects of mind:

1. Gemini, the TwinsMindCause of duality.

2. Libra, the Balances Supermind Cause of synthesis.

3. Aquarius, the Water-CarrierUniversal MindSoul. (EA 242)

This will result in:

Increased competition between units and between groups.

  1. The growth of mind and the growth of egoism are, at first, coincident. The concrete mind is, initially, a separative factor emphasizing the differences between people. The Leo factor (related to egoism and individualism) is also closely related (through the fifth ray) to the strengthening of the individualistic mind.
  2. Personalities compete; souls cooperate.

The organization of business on lines hitherto undreamt of.

  1. This development emerges with the increasing strength of the seventh ray. Already, trans-national business patterns are the norm. The ubiquitous Internet has contributed significantly to the transformation of business models.

The foundation of groups and aggregations of groups whose sole purpose will be to synthesise all the lines of human endeavour, and thus bring about unification of effort, and economy of force in the scientific, business, philosophic, educational, and religious worlds.

  1. Such groups are presently conceived but are not yet beneficently active. There are groups, however, tending in this direction.
  2. We must realize that Master R. (upon the seventh and third rays) is an expert at this type of synthesis.
  3. We notice how the factor of synthesis accords well with the Law of Economy. The seventh ray will bring increasing efficiency in all human undertakings.

The foundation of schools of medicine along new lines, whose purpose will be to study the etheric body, its relation to the dense physical body, and its function [Page 454] as the receiver, storer, and transmitter of the vital fluids of the system.

  1. The development of etheric medicine is already incipient among progressive physicians and health practitioners.
  2. This development is natural with the emergence of the seventh ray; the seventh ray is directly correlated with the etheric body as is the sign Aquarius, now emerging into increasing prominence.
  3. We remind ourselves of three of the major functions of the etheric body in relation to the vital fluids of the system:
  4. To receive
  5. To store
  6. To transmit

The foundation of the new church, which will be no longer along devotional and idealistic lines but which will be an outgrowth of the old idealism, demonstrating through mental forms.

  1. The sixth ray approach to religion will be outgrown, but idealism will not be entirely abrogated but, rather, expressed through mental forms. Aquarius, we must remember, is, in its own right, a sign of great idealism.
  2. It must be realize how very much the seventh ray is, among other things, a mental ray. We can see this in its relation to the third ray of intellect, for Master R., with a number of His initiates, transferred onto the third ray.

When, for instance, the Master R. assumed the task of Mahachohan or Lord of Civilisation, His Ashram was shifted from the seventh Ray of Ceremonial Order to the third Ray of Active Intelligence; the majority of those who have taken the second and the third initiations were transferred with Him under what might be called a "special dispensation"; the rest of the members of His Ashram remained for tuition and training in service under that Master Who took His place as the central point of the seventh ray Ashram. (DINA II 383)

  1. As well, the placement of the seventh ray as the fifth ray of Brahman emphasizes its relation to mentality.
  2. The seventh ray, really, is a synthetic ray, related significantly to all three major rays:
  3. Like the first ray it is strong and firm in the execution of will.
  4. Like the second ray it promotes linking and coherence.
  5. Like the third ray it excels in the art and science of manifestation. This requires the intelligent coordination of forces.

It will have for its basis the scientific recognition of the unseen world and its due appreciation and apprehension by means of accurate scientific ceremonial.

  1. We note that we are not dealing only with the recognition of the unseen worlds but with the “scientific recognition” of those worlds.
  2. We see again the blending of the fifth and seventh rays, for the ceremonial in which the seventh ray excels will be executed with scientific accuracy.
  3. The words are arresting and point the way to the future: “accurate scientific ceremonial”.
  4. Let us envision the eventual nature of the New World Religion according to Master DK’s prophesies.

This ceremonial of the universal church—being founded on the mental unity of all peoples—will not be ceremonial as it is now understood, as it will be the guarded, guided, scientific utilisation of sound and color to bring about certain desired ends, such as

  1. We will have a “universal church”, meaning that it will apply to all human beings. It will also reflect the universality of the sign Aquarius (in which sign it will be founded).
  2. The unity of all peoples will be appreciated mentally (Venus, Mercury) and not merely felt. Today, many people feel their unitive relations with other, but do not understand the factual nature of the unity they feel.
  3. We can see that initiates and, perhaps, even Masters will be involved in the preparation and presentation of such scientific ceremonies, as the ceremonies will be both “guarded and guided”.
  4. Nothing will be left to chance in the utilization of those “spiritual numerals”, sound and color.
  5. We can see how the fourth ray (also a linking ray and directly related to the appreciation and utilization of sound and color) will play into the performance of such ceremonies.
  6. The fifth ray approach will also be indispensable as those who prepare and perform these ceremonies will have to know exactly what they are doing.
  7. We can understand that the ‘religion’ practiced in the “universal church” will be an approach combining buddhi and manas, and will not be an astral religion (touched in its best moments by buddhi).
  • The aligning of the Ego,
  1. Properly executed ceremonial work has this often unrealized potential.
  2. Correct alignment depends upon the utilization of proper frequencies and the invocation of the Ego through sounds and colors attuned to its quality. We all know that certain vibrations invoke the higher Ego and others definitely militate against contact with its influence.
  • The influencing of groups,
  1. Group energies are marshaled in properly executed ceremonial work and these energies can be transmitted to other groups.
  2. A group resonance created can be entrained, and other groups can be induced to fall into new and useful rhythms.
  3. The groups practicing ‘religious ceremonial’ will, themselves be powerfully influenced as the higher energies pour into the group aura. Those who have participated in ritual work (somewhat along the lines suggested) know this influence to be both factual and powerful.
  • The making of contact with the Occult Hierarchy,
  1. Today this is done largely through meditation, but if to meditation, scientific ceremonial procedures are added, the vehicular interference which so often prevents direct contact can be negated.
  2. Through ceremonial work, the necessary vacuum to evoke higher energies can be created.
  3. Scientific ceremonial work is much based upon the utilization of admissible frequencies and the expulsion of that which is not formally appropriate. It is a process which enhances resonance between the invocative group and the higher group being invoked—in this case, the Spiritual Hierarchy.
  • The co-operation with the devas in order to further the constructive ends of evolution,
  1. The devas respond immediately to sound and color. The correct pitch and key will be musically applied to invoke and sustain cooperation with certain groups of devas. The correct shade and hue of color will be similarly utilized.
  2. Clearly, scientific knowledge of the nature of particular kinds of devas will be indispensable.
  3. Occult ceremonial will be a method through which the Builders—deva and human—can successfully work.
  • and many other objects which will grow out of the scientific comprehension of the constitution of man, the nature of vibration or radioactivity, and the demonstrated reality of the hitherto metaphysical hypothesis and religious dogma of the unseen world of thought and of spiritual existence.
  1. The beneficent results will arise because of the following:
  2. Scientific comprehension of the constitution of man
  3. Understanding of the nature of vibration
  4. Understanding of the nature of radioactivity
  5. The demonstration of the reality of the unseen worlds.
  6. We can see that the seven rays will be responsible for the ‘lifting of the veil’ which, presently, prevents general acknowledgement of that which the occultist considers as real. Humanity’s attention has been confined mostly to the sphere of the lowest senses. Human consciousness has lived in a circumscribed prison of limited perception. All this is soon destined to change and with this change will come entirely new methods of relating to the dense physical plane and to what we customarily call ‘normal living’.
  7. So far the main results of the incoming seventh ray have been listed as:
  8. Development of etheric vision universally
  9. Increased mental activity
  10. These categories have been sub-divided and further results related to each have been examined.
  11. The third major result relates to the way in which the Path may be approached. “Increased facility in approaching the Path”.

Increased facility in approaching the Path. This will be based on the fact that so many of the then existent humanity will have personal knowledge of the ruling powers and forces,

  1. Under the influence of the seventh ray, the Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet will be a personally experienced reality to many. The Spiritual Hierarchy and the initiates and devas associated with Them are “the ruling powers and forces”.
  2. We all know the seventh ray is a ray of rules and (as a reflection of the first ray) is a ray of power as well.
  3. We are speaking of the cycle in which the seventh ray is expressing during the Aquarian Age.

will perhaps be on the Probationary Path, or will be initiates of the first degree.

  1. This is the spiritual status that may be expected for many during the coming Age.
  2. On the basis of references alone, it is difficult to determine whether the Probationary Path begins with the first initiation or somewhat precedes it. We might say that an early phase of the Path of Probation must necessarily precede the first initiation but that that Path begins in earnest with the first degree, at which time one becomes a probationary disciple. A true disciple is an accepted disciple (a stage usually entered a number of lives after the first degree has been taken).

Thus the present scepticism will become non-existent.

  1. It is the seventh ray, influencing many towards materialism, which can also be instrumental in its destruction.

The dangers then will be along other lines—those incident to the very influence of this ray itself:

  1. Always there will be dangers. Dangers present themselves in the form of forces which are uncontrolled and which therefore menace valued structures and relationships.

the dangers of crystallisation into form so that the true spiritual devotee may become rare, and the scientific aspirant will take his place.

  1. To be a “spiritual devotee” is of value, but may necessitate the presence of the sixth ray (which will become increasingly rare)—though not necessarily in its influence upon personalities.
  2. The seventh ray may be called the ‘Ray of Crystallization’. Not only is Uranian energy involved in seventh ray processes, but Saturnian energy (ruling the entire cosmic physical plane—the seventh cosmic plane—and the systemic physical plane—again the seventh, and Vulcanian energy associated with the mineral kingdom—a kingdom which, by one method of counting, is the seventh.)
  3. There is nothing wrong about the development of the scientific aspirant unless the energies of love and rightful reverence become excessively suppressed, thus creating an imbalance.
  4. The Tibetan has attempted to assure that the cultivation of white magic will proceed in such a manner as to balance the inevitable growth of magic quite devoid of ‘heart’. The danger involved in this kind of magic (and it almost inevitably will be practiced given the nature and general point of development of the incoming seventh ray souls) must be obvious.

[Page 455]

The true occultist is a scientist and a devotee, and where these two are not merged, we have the mystic and the man in danger of black magic, being governed by the intellect and not by selflessness;

  1. This is the danger of dichotomization. The mystic is unbalanced in his approach to divinity, but so is the strictly intellectual aspirant.
  2. As we well know, aspirants can deviate from the “Good Path” and veer off in the direction of black magic if heart development does not wean them from selfishness.
  3. The intellect alone (supporting, as it does, egoism) tends to be the enemy of selflessness.
  4. So, we see that a balance will be much needed in coming centuries. May we expect that the relative prominence of the air sign Libra will assist in developing the necessary balance?

there are dangers incident also upon contact with the deva evolution and the knowledge of the powers and forces made available through their agency.