T.N.G. SIGNS
OF THE TIMES - N.M. July 17,
2004 (#134)
Greetings
from Russell's Remnant:
www.oocities.org/dkone_us
Geoffrey Hodson’s Teachings – Part 1
Geoffrey Hodson was a very learned teacher in the Theosophical
Society. Dr. Russell Whitesell
recommend that his TNG read Hodson – especially his esoteric Bible books. This was done, and the following ideas
were taken from a dozen or so of Mr. Hodson’s books:
The mental,
emotional and physical bodies of man are built of a subtle kind of matter which
has inherent tendencies that resist manifestation of spiritual will, purest
wisdom and unrestricted intellectual activity.
The
penetrating gaze of spiritually illumined man perceives the hollowness of
material things, the instability of all temporal power, and the deceitfulness of
all external glory.
Living in
the presence of the teacher is for such men and women the most desirable of all
modes of living – indeed the only one.
Light-bearers must deliver the truth, come what may.
No increase in shining is obtained from prayers
to the Sun.
When the
mental attitude is right, then, however gradually, all else will become
right.
Spiritually
illumined man knows that life itself will abundantly provide for all his
needs. He leaves this to the
life-force work while he sets himself to greater illumination. He is trusted to intelligently apply the
qualities of dispassion and detachment concerning material things and rewards.
“One having authority” refers to
an agent and representative of the Brotherhood of illumined men and women who
have been initiated into the Great Mysteries, a small company. These representatives have a great
exponent of it’s esoteric wisdom.
The “centurion” is a superior
soldier in command of those still in the ranks, representing one somewhat in
advance of the race.
Keep your
mind wholly upon the spiritual life and the Master. There are others whose task it is to
perform the more worldly and material duties.
In occultism even a person’s
given and family names are regarded as important and are used carefully.
Poverty, when deliberately chosen
by the disciple, expresses both a state of consciousness and a state of
evolution in which desire has been reduced to a minimum and possessiveness and
acquisitiveness are displaced by an increasing degree of disinterestedness
concerning his person and his own personal life.
The disciple is consequently
counseled to employ great discrimination in the choice of those to whom he
offers the treasures of spiritual wisdom.
Externally the very aura of the
spiritually awakened person may irritate those who pay attention to him, while
his mode of life, his speech, and expressive high idealism may antagonize
people. Disciples become the
special target of the dark lords enmity and attack.
The cross which every true disciple and initiate must bear is isolation,
censure, disgrace and scorn. Whips,
crown of thorns, nails and spear are real and partly symbolize the effects of
the thoughts, words, and deeds of unillumined mankind.
Mental perceptiveness without
esoteric teachings inevitably appear to be the sheerest folly, the uttermost
stupidity.
The so-called prophet (trained
occult seer) lives a secret life shared only by fellow disciples. In varying degrees of awareness, he is
acting under his Master’s orders.
In his Master’s name, he is a helper, healer, and teacher of his
fellowmen. Indeed only those like
him, treading the narrow way, can participate in and comprehend a state of
consciousness and a mode of life appropriate to discipleship.
“Without honor in his own country” symbolically refers to the state of
mind of the recipients of spiritual wisdom.
“Bread” is interpreted as both knowledge itself and the kind of
nourishment to the mind, which enables it naturally to perceive and appreciate
metaphysical ideas. “Fish” stands
for the condition in which the oneness of all life and the consequent spiritual
unity of all beings are realized as experiences in
consciousness.
Unleavened bread may be regarded as unsymbolic literal literature.
The rich young ruler felt himself
unable at that time to meet the tests, particularly that of dispassion.
When of his own choice a man becomes an occult sage, his self-command is so great that he remains unmoved by the antagonism which his greatness evokes and undisturbed by cruel revelry, with which the scorn is accompanied.
The planets in their courses
combine to arouse and stimulate that side of your soul which craves for union
with the All.
Aim higher, ever higher, aim to
be a God. The further you expand
and the purer you become, the greater will be the measure of truth which you can
receive. Keep you mind always at
concert pitch, thinking constantly on the highest and noblest subjects in your
leisure time.
Ice-cold impersonality must
characterize all your relationships, especially with those who love you and to
whom you are especially drawn. Give
the warmest possible friendship, yet within remain emotionally and mentally
aloof as leader, teacher, and friend to all. Thus is a great leader born.
Welcome the
storms and storm-bringers. A blow
is required to cause the spark to leap out of the flint. The Adept is fashioned from the man
under the hammer blows of Thor.
If we only
knew what awaits us, we would not hesitate a second.
It is only necessary to accept invitations as they come – know and say one word: “Inevitability.” I trust Life.
There are
two classes of souls: those who have surrendered and those who have not.
The shortest, quickest path is to make mistakes and learn from them. Most probably, in the long run, there are no mistakes. For every mistake is right action in embryo. Our own mistakes must be seen as mistakelessness-in-the-becoming.
Life opens the door of opportunity and there is no need of “thought for the morrow.” Life will not fail to offer us opportunities, especially if our work is for others.
The teacher
of axioms is always on safe ground.
Conceal all strong points until action demands their employment.
Burning-glass
intensity is the secret of success.
Until one is
an Adept, things are rarely, if ever, going well.
Think of yourself as what you want to be. Thought is the sculptor. Visualize yourself just as you want to be – form the habit of thinking of yourself in that way only.
In Occult
homeopathy, recognition is given to the hidden Life and its nature spirit and
angelic representatives in every chemical product. In Occult Astrology, recognition is
similarly given to the Archangelic Regents of stars and planets and Their
cohorts whenever a natal or a progressive horoscope is studied and expounded.
Part 2 next
month…