I had interesting glimpses of those who were “working with themselves.” One who was considered “eminent” in art on Earth was cutting, carving, breathing upon an image of himself.
“What is he doing?” I exclaimed, now really surprised.
“Removing the angularities and errors of his own nature: jealousy of other artists, the deepest scar; selfish love of human praise—that overweening desire for adulation; unwillingness to accord to others appreciation of their true merits,” replied the Guide.
Later, I saw that artist self-renovated, and one whom he had envied derided and scorned, when both were in Earth life, working together, producing, through artist minds on earth, works that possess the merits of both with the added tone of harmony; the strength of one being merged in perfect accord with the grace and loveliness of the other, blending in wondrous works of Beauty.
This was a wonderful lesson, serving to illustrate that at first, and possibly for some time after entering spirit life one’s chief occupation is—or should be—removing one’s own limitations; but this cannot begin until one is aware that one has the imperfections; to be conscious of one’s faults is half the remedy.
Bodily imperfections, infirmities and disease, unless retained psychologically by having constantly encroached upon the mind, or deformities that are dwelt upon mentally, are dropped with the body; but such infirmities of mind as are born of an undue “egotism,” undue self love, (the capital “I” around which the universe revolves), must be removed before the spirit can enter upon real work. As with artists so with those eminent in science or any department of human thought and endeavor; the truly Great are ever the most humble; realizing that however much they know, and however clearly they can think “the universe is full of things we do not know”; as one of the great ones aptly said.
I had met one—a brilliant mind—who in Earth life was gifted in many ways, chiefly mathematics. He had breakfasted on billions, dined on duodecillions, supped on sepdecillions, he wrote to the rythm of “logarithms,” and worshiped at the shrine of the calculus! I tried to imagine what he might be doing. Perhaps he was measuring the immeasurable or calculating the uncalculable! I saw him! Where was his Observatory? Where his maps, charts, instruments? The answer swept over and through me with a great thrill.
The knowledge that comes to the spirit is instantaneous—if one is ready—how can one use even the most perfect instrumentalities and methods when time and space are eliminated? Truth is perceived: in homely phrase “No ladder for the air men,” “no mathematics for the soul!” I never could have imagined how quickly he would “perceive.” He had attained the real knowledge of wisdom and love.
The poet-prophets of the world, those who have sung in immortal verse the Truths of the Skies: Truths of Freedom, Justice, Love, Spiritual Exaltation, moved by the theme of their songs, using their art as a setting to the Jewel of Truth, these endowed ones knew that without the inspiring theme, the words, the rythm would be empty bubbles, glittering nothings.