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APRIL, 1972
145
they would descend into a lower form of life ; perhaps into a bad human form or into the animal kingdom, or even worse.
The natural law which governs our conditions of rebirth and our circumstances in life, etc., is only a matter of cause and effect. It is called the law of karma and can be made to work either for or against us, just as we choose.
The main thing to remember is, the more we 'enlighten' ourselves of the forces of darkness (matter), the more does the soul-nature reveal itself, and we have the power of making for ourselves the very best conditions of life and happiness. This power is within us, all the time, and can be developed with self-knowledge and the effort of self-realization.
Self-realization :
There are comparatively very few people in the world who realize their divine nature. The ideals of the modern world scarcely permit this knowledge becoming general, and certainly the present ways of living make it very difficult for the voice of truth to be heard.
In a civilization where a quick wit, a polished tongue and a smart outfit are the standards of judgment-permitting self-gratification and money-grabbing to masquerade as culture—it is hardly likely we shall find any sense of divinity: indeed, it seems almost irreverent to associate the term divinity with the former thought.
Truth and humbug cannot flourish together. Diplomacy often furnishes good examples of the modern art of saying one thing and meaning another. Even in our individual relationships we find that conceit, resentment, deception and covetousness all bask in the sunshine of suave speech. Let us rid ourselves of these deluding passions, so as to establish in our hearts the noble qualities of humility, patience, truthfulness and self-denial, for they are the characteristics of true culture.
This can only be done successfully in the light of true knowledge ; knowledge of the highest ideal of life-divinity or self-realization. Before this sublime state of the soul can be fully understood, it is first necessary to know the fundamental principle that is always guiding the enlightened soul on the path of self-realization.
The one great thing that makes for self-relization is the cultivation of universal love, which gradually releases the higher spiritual vibrations of the soul. This is the root-principle of true religion.
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