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The Occult Law of Sacrifice The fourth sacrifice is to the animals. By protecting, feeding and taking care of animals we help their progress. On the ladder of evolution they occupy a lower step, but that does not justify us to destroy them. On the contrary, we owe a duty to them. They, as beasts of burden, have for ages been a constant and faithful aid to man in civilizing himself. Had it not been for the ox, the horse, the camel and the elephant, mankind would have remained at a standstill. Had it not been for the sheep and goats, you and I could not have made ourselves warm by clothing made from their wool, and still how selfish must be those men and women who simply through force of habit and custom directly encourage the killing of these creatures and use their flesh as food. Let them stop for a moment to think how ungrateful they are when they use animal flesh as food. If mankind has received so many benefits from the animal kingdom, let us return them by being kindly to them, by taking care and attending those that are suffering.
The fifth sacrifice that man has to perform is for himself-by devoting some time, energy and money for study and spiritual benefit. It is the Higher Self of an individual that has made it possible to elevate him from the archaic condition to the human condition. The gratitude which the individual owes to the Higher Self is boundless, and if he has reached the human stage which presents him with so many opportunities for unfolding its faculties, let him use no time in making the best use of them. Let him devote some time every day for study, for rending, for concentration and for the perfect recognition of the Higher Self. Let him spend some money for books and for study. Let him help others in making it convenient for them to learn the higher truths. Let him assist those who are helping others. A person desiring by study to benefit himself without caring for his brethren is better than one who cares not to study at all, but under any circumstances let all people learn something about the higher possibilities within themselves.
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