Nature of the Soul: Lesson 4

Nature of the Soul: Lesson 4

Lucille Cedercrans

We now come to the third inherent characteristic of the Soul found manifesting in the perfected instrument:

3. INTELLIGENT ACTIVITY: This third attribute is somewhat difficult to describe, for it is an abstraction difficult to put into concrete form, and yet it is the form the activity of ｅxpression takes. We have defined Divine Will as being the motivating impulse for evolution or ｅxpression; Divine Love Wisdom as being the quality of ｅxpression and Intelligent Activity as the form ｅxpression takes.

In order to better understand this concept let us consider for a moment the universal Law of Economy. This is the Law of the negative electron, and has to do with the intelligence of substance. In terms understandable to the aspirant, this means that all substance is intelligent; that it is motivated by Law of Economy; held together by the cohesive quality of Divine Love; and swept into activity; the form that activity takes being this third characteristic - intelligence in controlled motion.

The atom of substance we recognize as being the intelligence of substance held in form by a directing Will and the attractive quality of Love. The atomic structure is the blueprint, the framework of the dense form itself. It is the thoughtform which has been precipitated into the physical plane, causing the existence of the dense form for just as long as its existence is maintained by the attention of the Soul.

To avoid later confusion let us establish these facts:

1. That all substance is actually energy, intelligent by nature and in constant motion.

2. That all form is constructed around a framework, this framework being the atomic structure.

3. That the individual consciousness works through three types of atomic structure, namely:

a. the physical atom,
b. the astral atom,
c. the mental atom,

having therefore, three energy bodies of contact with the world in which he lives.

In the life of the aspirant, Intelligent Activity manifests first as apparent chaos. This is the result of an activation of old forms, plus a mental awakening. The individual has been undergoing a series of experiences which in one sense are not seen, they are felt - in pleasure, pain, happiness, sorrow, loss, gain, etc. Very often these experiences appear to be unrelated and without meaning. Then one day the individual suddenly awakens to the facts of life, so to speak. He realizes that everything he has undergone has been for a definite purpose. He sees a pattern and realizes the Soul as its motivating cause.

He awakens mentally, taking a mental (note the difference between mental and emotional) interest in what is going on about him.

At the same time he is the recipient of a flow of Divine energies pouring down from the Soul through the various aspects of the personality. This energy activates the undesirable as well as the desirable, causing a growth of all that lies within the total state of consciousness.

As it passes through the mental aspect, thoughts of self as well as thoughts of service expand and grow into manifestation. The tendency to analyze, so evident in the concrete mind, comes out as criticism, superiority, superficial judgment, etc. The mental body is activated and the individual becomes aware of his own thought life.

As it passes through the emotional nature, all the desires and ambitions still remaining are fanned into a flame and rise in conflict with the newly awakened aspiration. Very often the student is amazed to find emotions he had never before realized, almost overwhelming him. The so-called good and bad arise in all their power to confront him.

As it passes through the physical aspect and into the environment, the effects are usually many and varied; for here in concrete form the mental state of consciousness and the emotional conditions are precipitated. There may be an appearance of numerous small illnesses, or even a serious illness; while there may be and often are healings which appear miraculous to the onlooker.

In the beginning the manifestations seem to be in a state of upheaval, as one opposing the other. They are in reality signs pointing out the path for the aspirant.

This is the point of danger for the beginner, the trial accompanying initiation. The result of this trial depends upon the ability of the aspirant to maintain the attitude of the observer and so become a center of stability; and this, of course, is dependent upon his polarization.

Polarization is the focal point of attention, that aspect of the personality in which the individual lives and from which he directs activity.

The entire work in this stage is to shift the polarization from the emotional nature to the mental aspect and to bring the personality, focused in the mental instrument, under the guidance of the spiritual Soul.

An individual who is focused in the emotional nature is controlled by his emotions, and influenced by the emotions of others. He is buffeted about by the energies of this aspect, which you will remember, constitute the power aspect of manifestation. He is controlled by power on the rampage, so to speak, and cannot from here see with that clear, inner vision, because he is blinded by his own desires and various feelings. He is lost in the midst of illusion, actually a part of that illusion, because he is, after all, only an actor in a great play, unaware of himself as an actor. He is suffering the triumphs and the tragedies of the role he plays, unaware of his true identity.

Many students reading this lesson will wonder how to do this work of lifting the polarization without direct contact with the teacher. I shall answer that question in several ways:

1. Let us understand that any one aspiring to the Soul is in direct contact with a teacher, namely his own Soul; and by continued aspiration he will soon come to recognize the contact.

2. The aspirant is enabled, through his right aspiration, to contact higher levels of awareness and from these levels draw down those concepts of Truth which provide a sure foundation for his later understanding.

3. The aspirant learns to recognize experience as a great teacher and through his efforts to live the Truth which he has grasped, he develops in the school of experience a consciousness rich in understanding. He does this deliberately, in full awareness of the activity, and his every-day-life becomes a thing of beauty, regardless of appearances.

It is not easy, my brother, as nothing is really easy until it has been passed over and become in essence an integral part of the individual. The aspirant, however, who has reached the point of observation which enables him to see those of his activities that are reactions to the form side of life, has within him the ability to lift his polarization into the mental aspect of his nature. Those are the individuals I am most desirous of reaching. For them I am writing the following instruction. Others who do not understand or perhaps cannot accept that which they are reading will nonetheless profit, in that they are undergoing preparation for this phase of growth in the very act of reading.

Those for whom this is a definite light on the horizon, study the following carefully and in application expand that light:

1. DECENTRALIZE YOURSELF. You have for a long period of time been the center of your own little stage. This has been good and has been instrumental in past growth, however, it is now an impediment to your further progress.

You have, if your past development has been correctly impulsed, acted solely in response to selfish motives. All of your so-called altruistic tendencies, your loves, sympathies, etc., have been revolving around you. In a sense the entire universe has, in your mind, been revolving around you, constructed with no other purpose than to aid or hinder you.

To clarify this concept, ask yourself the following questions:

1. The love of my life, has it really been directed outside of myself to others or has the relationship been based upon the desires of my personality? Have I loved, giving freedom to the loved one, or has my love taken the form of chains binding others to me for my own satisfaction?

Remember that true love asks no reward, not even love returned.

2. The enemies in my life, why have I had them? Why have I ever felt resentment for others: Has it not been because I, the little I, felt alone and badly treated? Did I ever put myself in the shoes of the other and consider myself from his point of view?

The Christ said, "Love your enemies."

3. The tragedy of my life, the loved ones who have passed, why do I mourn? Is it really for them, or is it for myself?

Yes, you have long been the center of your own specially constructed stage. Almost every activity has been but the response of the personality to its own form nature. It has assumed such importance in your eye as to completely separate you in awareness from your brother. What is a selfish motive but that which sets you apart from others?

It takes courage, my brother, to answer those questions and to face the picture of yourself that you portray.

2. ESTABLISH THE ATTITUDE OF THE OBSERVER. Lift yourself out of the emotional nature. Realize that it is a distinct aspect of your personality and that it will continue its usual activities without your help. Just sit back and watch it react to conditions. Observe its habits, its sudden storms, its great elations, its likes, its dislikes. Keep completely apart from this suddenly strange aspect of yourself and learn through observation its purpose, and eventually how it can be controlled.

As you do this you will suddenly discover the cause of much that has happened to you. Your life will quickly assume a definite pattern and above all you will learn that you are not your emotions.

All of the above is Intelligent Activity. When you can see it as that then you are one step closer to the consciousness of the manipulator, rather than that of the manipulated. Think on this for it is important.

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