Because it is at first thus hard and toilsome to the lower self, it has sometimes been called by the very misleading title of “the path of woe;” but, as Mrs. Besant has beautifully written, “through all such suffering there is a deep and abiding joy, for the suffering is of the lower nature, and the joy of the higher. When the last shred of the personality is gone all that can thus suffer has passed away, and in the perfected Adept there is unruffled peace and everlasting joy. He sees the end toward which all is working, and rejoices in that end, knowing that earth’s sorrow is but a passing phase in human evolution.
“That of which little has been said is the profound content which comes from being on the path, from realizing the goal and the way to it, from knowing that the power to be useful is increasing, and that the lower nature is being gradually extirpated. And little has been said of the rays of joy which fall upon the path from loftier levels, the dazzling glimpses of the glory to be revealed, the serenity which the storms of earth cannot ruffle. To any one who has entered on the path all other ways have lost their charm, and its sorrows have a deeper bliss than the best joys of the lower world.” (Vâhan, vol. v., No. 12.)
Let no man therefore despair because he thinks the task too great for him; what man has done man can do, and just in proportion as we extend our aid to those whom we can help, so will those who have already attained be able in their turn to help us. So from the lowest to the highest we who are treading the steps of the path are bound together by one long chain of mutual service, and none need feel neglected or alone, for though sometimes the lower flights of the great staircase may be wreathed in mist, we know that it leads up to happier regions and purer air, where the light is always shining.
INDEX.
- Adept, [26], [95], [109], [127], [129], [133]
- Adeptship, [109], [115], [127]
- Anâgâmî, [124]
- Ânanda and the Buddha, [125]
- Angels and Gods, Hierarchies of, [7], [8]
- Angel Story, [42]
- Anuloma, [114]
- Arahat, consciousness of, [126]
- Arûparâga, [126]
- Asekha, [127], [129]
- Astral body, [36], [37]
- of children, [69]
- after death, [81], [82]
- active consciousness in, [37], [67]
- physical elements, no obstacle to, [99], [100]
- Astral world, power of thought in, [99]
- Athanasian Creed, [120]
- Avijjâ, [126]
- Awakening pupils on the astral plane, tests for, [99-100]
- Bhavagga, [119]
- Black magicians, [94]
- Bodies, effect of coarse ones, after death, [81]
- Buddha and Ânanda, [125]
- Buddhas, some in early races, from deva evolution, [28]
- Calmness, a requirement on the Path, [101]
- Children, useful as helpers, [69], [70]
- Consciousness, apart from physical body, [29], [33-37], [124]
- active astral, [37], [67], [68]
- of the Arahat, [126]
- buddhic, [121], [124], [126]
- Cyril, Angel Story, [42-48]
- Fire Story, [50-55]
- Two Brothers, [63-71]
- materialized form, [56], [58], [59], [60], [71]
- Dead entity, not realizing his death, [87]
- Devas, kinds of help given by, between incarnations, [26], [27]
- help on the mental plane, [27]
- supplied Buddhas in early races, [28]
- evolution of, [131]
- Discipleship, [109], [116], [118]
- Dreams, impressed on living, [85]
- Earthbound entitles, [83], [87]
- Story of a father, [84]
- Ego, [74], [82], [125]
- Eternal punishment, belief in, after death, [79]
- Evil, counteracting effects of black magicians, [94]
- Evolution, accelerated in lower kingdoms, [39]
- deva, [131]
- current of, too strong to resist, [83], [103]
- Faith, true meaning of, [122]
- Fifth Round, critical period of, [109], [119]
- Gotrabhû, [114], [119]
- Guardian Wall, [95], [131]
- Hell, effect of belief in, after death, [78]
- Holiness, four paths of, [109]
- Immortality of the Soul, [6], [7], [87]
- Initiation, [109], [114], [116], [119]
- Invisible Helpers, classes of, [25], [28]
- pupils of the Masters, [29]
- danger of repercussion, [58], [60], [61]
- work with the dead, [73], [83], [89]
- work hindered by fear, [74], [78], [80]
- methods of impressing the living, [14], [40], [73], [75], [85], [86], [92], [93], [94]
- spiritual instruction, given by, [89], [93], [94]
- qualifications necessary for becoming, [97]
- Jesus and S. John, [125]
- Kamaloka, factors deciding length of stay in, [81], [83]
- entity in, not realizing death, [87]
- Kâmarâga, [124]
- Knowledge, kind required on the Path, [100], [102]
- Karma, interference with another’s, impossible, [30], [80]
- illustrated by Angel Story, [48]
- how carried out by Masters, [21]
- determines possibilities of becoming helpers, [70]
- inevitable catastrophes, [73]
- ties of karma, in astral work, [48], [55]
- after death, [81]
- of the Invisible Helpers, [93], [98]
- Kârmic obligations, [98]
- Love, [103], [125], [128]
- Maggo, [118]
- Mâno, [126]
- Manus, some from deva evolution, [28]
- Manodvâravajjana, [111]
- Materialists, after death, [87]
- Materialization, three kinds of, [57]
- production of, at séances, [59], [60]
- matter for, where drawn from, [59]
- economy in using force for, [58]
- exceptional cases of, [61], [62], [65], [67], [71]
- knowledge necessary for, [71]
- in cabin of sinking ship, [76]
- in railway carriage, [23]
- Materialized body not injured by fire or water, [61], [77]
- Masters training Helpers, [28], [60], [95], [97], [102], [106], [121], [125], [132]
- guarding an advancing soul, [21]
- Lords of Compassion, [64]
- felt as a Presence, [66]
- restrictions placed upon Helpers by, [88]
- confidence in, [114]
- and pupils, love between, [125]
- Medium, possibilities of repercussion, [59], [60]
- occasional good work done by, [86]
- dangers of communication through, [87], [90]
- Memory, waking, of night’s experience, [37]
- waking, caused by great shock, [67], [68]
- of teachings received after death, [90]
- Mental plane, work upon, [111]
- Mind, effect of attitude of, after death, [81], [82], [87], [89]
- how easily influenced, [92]
- helps in problems of study, [93]
- Mother-love, value of, [14], [32], [128]
- Mumukshatva, [114]
- Nature-spirits, help to man, rare, [31]
- Nirmânakâyas, [95], [131]
- Nirvâṇa, [118], [126], [127], [130]
- Parikamma, [112]
- Path, The, [94], [97], [106], [107], [113]
- four means of reaching, [108]
- three divisions of, [109]
- of holiness, four stages of, [109]
- probationary, [110], [116]
- official period of, [109], [132]
- Patigha, [124]
- Personality, [123], [125], [133]
- Phala, [118]
- Prayer, answer to, [11], [12], [93]
- Proofs, phenomenal, forbidden, [88]
- Psychic faculties, [123]
- Purgatory, teaching of, helpful, after death, [79]
- Qualifications for becoming Invisible Helpers, [97-106]
- Repercussion, when possible, [56], [58], [59], [60]
- Rounds, critical period of Fifth, [109], [119]
- Seventh, [109]
- Rûparâga, [126]
- Saddhâ, [114]
- Sakadâgâmî, [123]
- Sakkâyadiṭṭhi, [120]
- Salvation, origin of Christian idea, [120]
- Samâdhâna, [114]
- Samo, [113]
- Saṃyojana, [118], [122]
- Séances, [57], [59], [60], [86], [90]
- Self-control, qualification required, [98]
- Seventh Round, [109]
- Shatsampatti, [113]
- Sîlabbataparâmâsa, [120]
- Single-mindedness, qualification required, [97]
- Sotâpatti or Sohan, [119], [121]
- Stories of Invisible Helpers, saved from fire, [9], [10], [11], [48]
- saved from falling into a well, [14]
- saved from drowning, [12]
- saved from being injured by horses, [15]
- saved from being lost in the woods, [16]
- saved from massacre, [40]
- help given in cabin of sinking ship, [76]
- help given an earth-bound father, [84]
- help given materialistic scientist, [88]
- help given in catastrophes, [72], [73]
- help given drowning man, [75]
- rescue from a mob, [20]
- rescue from falling over a cliff, [43]
- warnings given the author, [19]
- warnings to captain of a boat, [72]
- the two brothers, [63]
- protection in railway carriage, [23]
- release from astral world, [90]
- Suggestion, power of, [92-93]
- Teachings given by Invisible Helpers after death, [82], [83], [89], [90], [91]
- during life, [92], [93]
- Tests of earth, water, air and fire, [99]
- Thought, power of, on astral plane, [99]
- Titikkhâ, [113]
- Uddhachcha, [126]
- Upachâro, [113]
- Uparati, [113]
- Vairâgya, [113]
- Vichikichchhâ, [120], [122]
- Viveka, [112]
- Warnings given by Helpers, [19], [72], [90], [94]
- Will, power of, over matter, [61]
- man’s, never dominated by Helpers, [92]
- cosmic, not to be overcome, [83], [103]
- free, of the Asekha, [129]