Letters on Occult Meditation

by Alice A Bailey

  3. A Branch that works with the fourth root-race and has two fourth root-race adepts at its head.

  4. A Branch in process of forming that will have its headquarters in the Occident at some place not yet disclosed. It has for its main object the instructing of those connected with the coming sixth root-race.

  These branches are and will be closely inter-allied and will work in the closest co-operation, being all focused and under the control of the Chohan at Shamballa. The heads of each of the four branches communicate with each other frequently and are really like the faculty of one stupendous university, the four schools being like the [305] various major departments of the foundations—like subsidiary colleges. The aim of all is the evolution of the race, the object of all is to lead all to the point of standing before the One Initiator, the methods employed are fundamentally the same, though varying in detail, due to the racial characteristics of the races and types dealt with, and the fact that certain schools work paramountly with one ray and others with another.

  The trans-Himalayan school has its adepts as known to you, and others Whose Names are not known.

  The southern Indian school has special work with the deva evolution, and with the second and third sub-races of the Aryan race.

  The Himalayan school works with the first, fourth and fifth sub-races.

  The fourth root-race branch works under the Manu of that race and his brother of the Teaching Ray. Their headquarters are in China.

  The Master R.— and one of the English Masters are concerning Themselves with the gradual founding of the fourth branch of the school, with the assistance of the Master Hilarion. Ponder on these imparted facts, for the significance is of profound importance.

  Tomorrow we will deal with the future. Today I have but imparted facts in present manifestation.

  September 28th, 1920.

  Today our second point comes up for consideration, and we shall in the elucidation of it enter into the realms of prophecy. I would here point out to you that the thing which is indicated as existing in the future may not always work out in detail as foreseen. I but seek to lay before you the big general plan in its outline. The working out in the future will depend upon the intuition or high [306] perception of the thinkers of the race and upon the ability of the incarnating jivas to seize upon the opportunities and fulfil their destiny.

  We touched yesterday upon the one fundamental school with its four branches. Today I would take up:—

  2 - The National subdivisions of the one school.

  At the outset I would point out to you that not every nation in the world will have its occult school. Only as the causal body of the national group has reached a certain rate of vibration will it be possible to found and institute these schools. Only as the educational work of the nation has reached a certain height will it be possible to use the mental equipment of the nation as a stepping stone for further expansion, and to use it as a basis for the occult school. And, curiously enough, only those nations which originally had a training school for the mysteries (with three exceptions) will be again, during the earlier stages, permitted national schools. The exceptions are:—

  1. Great Britain.

  2. Canada and the United States.

  3. Australia.

  And even these exceptions might be considered only one, the case of Australia, for the other two in Atlantean days had their occult foundations when they formed part of the earlier continent. In the turning of the wheel, earth itself reincarnates; places pass into pralaya and emerge into manifestation, holding within them the seeds that will eventuate in similar vibration, and bring into being again similar modes of expression, and similar forms.

  It will be found later on, when the Occult Schools are founded, that they will be situated where some of the old magnetism yet lingers, and where in some cases certain [307] old talismans have been kept by the Brotherhood with just this aim in view.

  Branches, affiliated with one of the four central divisions of the one occult foundation, will be found in the following countries:

  1. Egypt. This will be one of the later schools founded and will be profoundly occult and an advanced school in direct communication with the inner grades. This will be touched upon later.

  2. The United States will have a preparatory school somewhere in the southern part of the Middle West, and an extensive occult college in California in a place later to be revealed. This school will be one of the first started when the Great Lord begins His earthly career, and during the next five years the seeds of it may be laid if students rightly apprehend the work to be done.

  3. There will be one school for the Latin countries, probably in Italy or Southern France, but much depends on the political and educational work of the next ten years.

  4. Great Britain. At one of the magnetised spots in either Scotland or Wales, a branch for occult training will be begun before so very long, which will lay the foundation and embrace the curriculum for the earlier grades. After it has been in existence for a few years and has proved the effectiveness of its training, and after troubled Ireland has adjusted her internal problems, a school for the more advanced grades, and for definite preparation for the mysteries will be started in Ireland at one of the magnetised spots there to be found. This school will be very definitely a school where preparation for a major initiation may be taken, and will be under the eye of the Bodhisattva, preparing the pupil for initiation upon the second ray. The first school in Egypt will be for those who take initiation on the first ray in the Occident. [308]

  Those who take initiation on the line of the Mahachohan, or on the third ray, will take it at the advanced occult school in Italy. In this way the Occident will have its centre where active instruction may be given according to the three lines of approach, and which will give preparation in the inner mysteries.

  5. A preparatory occult school will be found, too, in Sweden, for those of the northern and German races who seek the Path, and when it has been extant for some time Russia may then be in a position to house the headquarters for the more advanced school affiliated to the preparatory one in Sweden. In connection with the Egyptian advanced school will be a preparatory one in Greece or in Syria.

  You have, therefore, the following schools as planned, and must bear in mind that the schools wherein the preparatory work and earlier grades are found will be first in order of time, and are in process of founding now, or will be founded during the period immediately preceding the Coming of the Great Lord. The founding of others will be definitely the outcome of His work, and that of His Masters, and will depend upon Their decision as to the success of the earlier endeavour.

  Preparatory Grades Advanced School

  1. Greece or Syria leading to Egypt

  2. Middle West, U.S.A. California

  3. Southern France Italy

  4. Scotland or Wales Ireland

  5. Sweden Russia

  6. New Zealand Australia

  [309]There is also planned a preparatory school for the advanced egos of the fourth root-race. This will be under the Manu of that race and will be situated in Japan, with its most esoteric branch in western China. This makes the seventh in the group of schools outlined.

  It is not purposed as yet to have branches in Southern Africa or Southern America. Their day is not yet, but comes in the next cycle.

  Now, I would earnestly call to your attention that the schools will make but small beginnings and will be launched in a way that will appear at first as too unimportant to be noticeable. A beginning will be made with members of the different occult schools, such as the esoteric sections of the Theosophical movement, and others. The work in Britain, America and Australia is already in process of inception, whilst that in Sweden will shortly be on foot. The others will follow at slightly later dates.

  This much of the plan has been permitted publication as an incentive to all of you to study with greater aspiration and to work with more strenuous application. Each and all has his place in the plan would he
but qualify by doing the necessary work. That work should be:—

  An endeavour to recognise the Divine within each one. In this manner the true occult obedience, which is an essential in all occult training, will be fostered and developed, being not based, as is so oft seen, on personality, but on that instinctive realisation of a Master, and the willing following that comes from the recognition of His powers, the purity of His life and aims, and the profundity of His knowledge.

  An endeavour to think in group terms and clearly for oneself, not depending upon the word of others for clarification. [310]

  An endeavour to purify and refine all the bodies and make them more reliable servants.

  An endeavour to equip throughout the mental vehicle and to store within it the facts upon which extended knowledge may be based.

  If these things are done great will be the day of opportunity.

  October 2nd, 1920.

  In the rigid disciplining of yourself comes eventual perfection. To the disciple nought is too small to undertake, for in the rigid adjustment of the details of the lower world life comes, at the end, attainment of the goal. The life of the disciple becomes not easier as the Gate is neared, but ever the watch must be more thorough, ever right action must be taken with no regard to result, and ever each body in all its aggregate of detail must be wrestled with and subjugated. Only in the thorough comprehension of the axiom “Know thyself” will come that understanding that enables man to wield the law and know the inner working of the system from the centre to the periphery. Struggle, strive, discipline, and rejoicingly serve with no reward save the misunderstanding and the abuse of those who follow after—this is the role of the disciple.

  Today we will deal with our third point.

  3 - The Location, personnel, and building of the occult school.

  Here at the outset I would remind you that much which might be said by me on this matter must remain unsaid for lack of the ability to comprehend. I might lay down certain approximate rules, and make certain fundamental suggestions that may find their place in the [311] final working out. I can lay down no rule that must be kept. Such is not the occult law. In the establishment of these occult schools in their two divisions, preparatory and advanced, in the different designated centres under one of the four branches of the one fundamental School of Occultism, the work will begin in an inconspicuous manner, and those pupils and advanced egos whose work it is to make the necessary beginning must find out for themselves the method, place and manner. All must be wrought out in the furnace of endeavour and experiment, and the price paid will be high, but only that which is thus wrought out provides the residue or nucleus upon which the further work may be based. Mistakes matter not; nought but the fleeting personalities suffer. What does matter is lack of aspiration, inability to attempt, and incapacity to learn the lesson that failure teaches. When failures are regarded as valuable lessons, when a mistake is deemed but a warning signal that averts from disaster, and when no time is ever lost by a disciple in vain despair and useless self depreciation, then the watching Teachers of the race know that the work the Ego seeks to do through each expression on the lower plane goes forward as desired, and that success must inevitably eventuate. We will here take each detail of our subject, as enumerated above, by itself.

  The Location. This is a matter of very real importance but differs according to the need of finding a situation whereon to found a preparatory or an advanced school. Generally speaking (for national requirements vary much), the school for the preparatory work will be situated within reasonable distance of some big centre or city, whilst the school for the advanced grades will be more isolated, and not so easily accessible.

  Let us look into this for a moment. One of the fundamental things that the novitiate has to learn is to find his [312] centre within himself, independent of surrounding circumstances, and preferably in spite of surrounding circumstances. The centre must be found to a considerable degree before he can pass on to the more advanced grades and work in the second school. The preparatory school above all things concentrates on the development of the threefold lower man, and his training in service. The advanced school definitely prepares for Initiation, and is concerned with occult lore, with the impartation of cosmic truth, with the abstract development of the pupil, and with work on causal levels. One can be best accomplished in the world of men and through contact with the world; the other demands necessarily an environment of comparative seclusion and freedom from interruption. We might express it thus:—the preparatory grades deal with the kingdom of God within, whilst the advanced school expands that training into one which includes the kingdom of God without. Therefore the first will be situated amongst the working sons of men, so that by his reactions and interactions in association with them, in service and struggle, the pupil may learn to know himself. The other will be for those who have somewhat mastered these things, and are ready to learn more of other evolutions and of the cosmos. Until a man is master of himself to a considerable degree he may not safely work, for instance, with the deva or angel evolution. In the preparatory school he learns this mastery; in the more advanced school he can thus be trusted to make other contacts than the human. In both these schools, the basic instruction is meditation in all its grades. Why? Because in occult schools information, clear instructions, or a conglomerate of facts are never given, nor are the exoteric textbook methods ever employed. The whole aim is only to put the student in the way of finding out for himself the needed knowledge. [313] How? By developing the intuition through meditation, and by the attainment of that measure of mental control that will permit the wisdom of the Triad to pour down into the physical brain, via the causal. Therefore, in the preparatory school emphasis will he laid on the meditation that concerns the mind, and the teaching embodied in this book will be applied. This necessitates an environment wherein many and varied human contacts will he made, and where the concrete knowledge of the world of men will be easily available (music, libraries, and lectures), for in the preparation of true occult training the astral and mental equipping of the student will be one of the first considerations. When this has been somewhat accomplished, and when the clairvoyant head of the school sees that the rounding out of the lower auric egg approaches the desired point, then the pupil will pass into the more advanced school, and will be taught how from his stable centre to contact the cosmic centre, and from the point within himself to expand his consciousness till it touches the periphery of the system macrocosmic, and embraces all that lives—lives in an occult sense. This necessitates, during the period of training, comparative seclusion, and this the advanced school will provide. Therefore the preparatory school will be located near some large city, preferably near the sea or some large expanse of water, but never within the city; it will be on the confines of the centres of learning within the city and will be readily accessible. The advanced school will be far from the crowded places of the earth and preferably in a mountainous region, for the mountains have a direct effect on the occultist and impart to him that quality of strength and steadfastness that is their predominant characteristic and must be that too of the occultist. The sea or expanse of water close to a preparatory school will convey to his [314] mind a constant reminder of the purification which is his paramount work, whilst the mountains will imbue the advanced student with cosmic strength and will hold steadily before him the thought of the Mount of Initiation which he aims soon to tread.

  Tomorrow we will take the important factor of the personnel and faculty of the school and the types of building.

  October 7th, 1920.

  We deal today with that portion of our third point in the letter on “Future Schools of Meditation,” which deals with the Personnel of the School.

  This term includes both those who supervise and those who are under supervision, and the subject is necessarily large. As said in the earlier parts of this letter, the schools will be in two divisions wherever situated:—

  a. A preparatory school for the e
arlier grades in occult instruction, and situated preferably near some large expanse of water and near some central city.

  b. An advanced school for the later grades, which will definitely prepare the way for initiation, and train pupils in occult lore.

  As you will consequently see, the personnel of both schools will necessarily differ, as will the curriculum. We will deal with each type of school separately, and lay down certain fundamentals which must be looked for in instructors and instructed.

  The Preparatory Occult School. This—to the outer world—may appear not so different from an ordinary college. The differences will not be recognisable at first to the man of the world, though the differences will be there, and will demonstrate themselves in the school work, to the pupils, and on the inner planes. The fundamentals as regards the instructors are as follows:— [315]

  The Head of the school will be an accepted disciple; it is essential that the Master, Who is back of the work of any particular school, should be able at all times to tap the consciousness of that school as focussed through the disciple. This Head will be able to act as a medium of communication between the students and the Master and as a focal point for His force to flow through to them. He must be consciously able to function on the astral plane at night and to bring the knowledge through to the physical brain, for part of his work will be with students on the astral plane, guiding them to the Master's ashram at certain intervals for specialized work. He will have to train them too in this conscious functioning.

  Under him will work six instructors, of whom one at least must be a conscious clairvoyant, and able to assist the Head with his information as to the auric development of the students; he must be able to gauge the colors and expansion of the students' vehicles, and co-operate with the Head in the work of expanding and attuning those vehicles. These instructors must be on the Probationary Path and earnestly devoted to the work of assisting evolution and devoted to the service of some one Master. They must and will be carefully chosen so as to supplement and complement each other, and in the school will form a miniature hierarchy, showing on the physical plane a tiny replica of the occult prototype. As their work will be largely to develop the lower mind of the pupil and to link it up with the higher consciousness, and as the focal point of their endeavour will be the rapid building-in the causal body, they will be men of erudition, and of knowledge, grounded in the knowledge of the Hall of Learning, and able to teach and to compete with the trained teachers of the world universities. [316]