Introduction

It must be understood from the very outset that the 'will and the way' referred to in this chapter is the 'will and the way' of the All-Father, GOD, the Generator, Organizer, and Destroyer of all that there is.1 This `Will and Way' of life is flawlessly demonstrated by the life and teachings of Yashua or Jesus the Christ of the Holy Bible; it shall be presented as the ultimate science, the esoteric or spiritual science of life.

From the very beginning the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Creator in His wisdom, had willed into activity and motion, by the power of the word, a perfectly ideated and evolving creation. Of the four basic elements - Fire, Air, Water, and Earth - He created this planet that we call Earth; a creation incidentally, that must eventually realize the Creator's ultimate design, because His will cannot be frustrated. The ‘will and the way' for man to overcome this Earth Realm or Earth School was ordained by the Infinite Consciousness of the All-Father from the time of creation. God made no mistake as some would have us believe.

Besides the Messiah: Yashua or Jesus the Christ* of the New Testament, who represents the way whereby the will, power and activity of the All-Father are manifested in and through man, the way has also been demonstrated in the Bible by the High Priest Melchisedeck of the Old Testament, who saw not death.2 The Christ-man or Divine-man is God's ultimate plan for man; the Christ-man overcomes sin, sickness as well as death, the last sting of this Earth Realm or kingdom. There always have been doubting Thomases but even they, as Thomas of the Bible, may satisfy their doubts by reading, understanding and most importantly endeavoring to live the life science, with faith, as presented in this chapter entitled: The Will and the Way. This chapter represents a synthesis of Esoteric Teachings that are dealt with at length in other books relating to Truth and the esoteric laws of life.

"In My Father's house are many mansions."3 So said the Messiah, Yashua or Jesus the Christ. All that exists, both in the visible and invisible realms or mansions, is of substance. Our universe is divided into seven different planes or realms of substance as illustrated in diagram I; the mansions or realms of the All-Father's House. The realms or mansions may be described as follows:

7. Seventh Realm or Mansion - This is the realm or mansion of the Physical Spirit substance, which is formative and limited, the upper part of which is made up of etheric spirit substance and the lower part comprised of dense spirit substance; this is the realm of our dense material Earth where gases, liquids and solids are made manifest.4

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It should be noted that there is no arbitrariness in the divisions of the Seven Realms in that the substance of each of these realms "is amenable to laws which are ..... inoperative in" other realms.5 In the Physical Spirit Substance Realm for example, especially in the lower part, that is, in the dense spirit substance that forms our Earth, "matter is subject to gravity, contraction and expansion;" by contrast, in the Desire Spirit Substance Realm concepts such as heat and cold, contraction, expansion, distance and time are almost non-existent and are of no relevance. In the Desire Spirit Substance World or Astral Realm "forms levitate as easily as they gravitate."6

The substance of those Seven Realms of necessity varies in density, the Etheric or Physical Spirit Substance Realm being the densest, the most crystallized, the slowest in vibration. Gaseous, liquid and solid substances (in that order), are the three densest substances of our Etheric or Physical Realm. In that there are seven Realms and each Realm is sub-divided into seven sub-divisions, then, that makes solid substance the forty-ninth modification of God's Absolute substance (7X7=49). Solid substance is therefore the densest of all substances.7

From the above, it is clear that all creation came about by God, the Creator, ideating and differentiating the various realms or mansions within His Infinite Ocean of Spirit Substance, that is, as He in His Omniscience knew was necessary for the perfection and realisation of His evolutive scheme.8 Hence, during the creative process, immutable laws were promulgated by the Infinite Consciousness of the All-Father to this end.

In order to give the reader a greater sensitivity to those Realms and hopefully in time a working knowledge thereof, the following short explanation is given of the Seven Realms mentioned above:

(1) The First Realm or Mansion or the Absolute Substance Realm

All that will be said of this Absolute Substance Realm, besides what has been said earlier, is that it is the Realm of God; the Realm of the All-Father and All-Mother. From this Realm all things come.9 This Realm consists of seven sub-divisions or regions. From the lower sub-divisions of this Realm comes the highest aspect of the Christ Spirit.10

(2) The Second Realm or Mansion or the God Substance Realm

In our day of creation, God the All-Father, the Primordial Builder of the Cosmos, felt the creative urge and ideated what He desired and the ultimate results. Having done this, He projected the Word - rhythmic sound and tone carrying the particular rate of vibration, activity and motion - that would cause the differentiation of Centres of Energy or Force within "His Absolute Substance", in the form of a matrix or pattern ideated.11 It must be remembered that the Bible states that "God was the Word", and the word was life and the life became the light of man and the world.12 The initial differentiated vortices or centres of God are the Virgin, Christ or Divine Spirits, the Divine Sparks from the Infinite Flame, "the Begotten of the All-Father and Creator". These Christ Spirits, "Begotten of the All-Father" begin from this Realm to extend their consciousness downward through the various Realms of creation, eventually to descend into the Etheric or Earth Realm or plane of Physical Spirit substance.13

(3) The Third Realm or Mansion or the Universal Christ Substance Realm

This Universal Christ Substance Realm or Divine Spirit Realm is the Realm that has the highest spiritual effect on man.14 It is the spirit substance that pervades, interpenetrates and thereby correlates the planets of all Solar Systems including ours It must be realized that this perfect, Universal Christ Substance Realm, with all its attributes of universality, is the last Realm within which the differentiated Divine Sparks or Christ Spirits on their descent to the Etheric or Earth-Realm will so easily realize this natural, perfect, universality and love because they are still in and of this Universal Christ Substance Realm.

Although the Divine Sparks are differentiated from the All-Father they are still unconscious to a great extent of this differentiation and separateness.15 In that Realm the Christ or Divine Spirits although filled with universal consciousness are not conscious of their separateness; for that matter, they are not self-conscious or aware of their separateness from the rest of creation.16

It must be remembered that God makes no mistakes and therefore made no mistake then, now, nor shall He ever. Hence by Divine Ordination, the Christ Spirits, Divine Sparks of the Infinite Flame, descended to the lower and more consolidated Realms of God whereby consciousness, and a free and wise exercise of divine will, power and activity could be experienced by the Immortal Christ Spirits throughout all the Realms of the Father's Creation; and most importantly experiencing life on Earth, esoterically known as the Earth School-Room or Realm.17

Incidentally, the substance of the Universal Christ Substance Realm is the only substance continuous throughout space, for that matter, throughout the Cosmos. It is 'the bread' or 'substance' of life; the building-block substance of all creation. It is the only substance that is intimately connected to all the Realms below as well as to those above.18 It is the substance upon which the Sons and Daughters of the Light can feed, the Cosmic Fire of God, the Infinite Light which kindles the Divine Fire within us. The Living Flame that spiritualises our body-temples, creating immortality from that which was mortal; bringing back home to God (the Absolute One, the Infinite Consciousness, the All-Father of all that there is), another prodigal son or daughter. This is a very potent Realm in the process of our development and eventual evolvement into divinity; we would do well to think about, attune to, and consciously imbibe this substance into our very being; let it nourish our souls and sustain our bodies.

(4) The Fourth Realm or Mansion or the Life Spirit Substance Realm

It is in this Life Spirit Substance Realm that the vibration of the Absolute Substance has become slow enough or dense enough to allow the Virgin or Christ Spirits to feel the differentiation brought about by the Will, Power and Motion of The All-Father. Hence, although they still feel that universality or consciousness of the Universal Christ Substance Realm, they are endowed in this Realm with a sense of separateness, of 'self', of individuality; it is in this Realm that the seed of the enduring Divine Life Spirit was born. The seed of the Divine Life Spirit is the vitalizing essence that organizes, sustains and vitalizes the sheaths or bodies of the Christ or Divine Spirits through the ages as they descend into the lower, slower vibrating, formative Realms of Creation, such as our Earth Realm.

However, although self-consciousness is experienced by the Christ-Spirits in the Life Spirit Substance Realm, this Realm is a universal one and there the Divine or Christ Spirits still feel a "oneness" or universality with all things.19 The Life Spirit Substance Realm is said to be "common to and interpenetrating all the planets of our Solar System." 20 This vitalizing life sustaining substance Realm is important because it allowed the Christ Spirits to realize two aspects of their 'being', the 'universal' and the 'individual'.21 They were still aware of their universality but pleasantly conscious of their individuality. The Divine Life Spirit is said to be the centre of divine, altruistic love, which is the most potent 'cure-all' substance, the most powerful energising force by which all problems are overcome and all things are sustained and harmonized.22

(5) The Fifth Realm or Mansion or the Mind Spirit Substance Realm

The Realm of Mind Spirit Substance is subdivided into seven modifications of mind spirit substance. It is in the three lower subdivisions of this realm that the Infinite Spirit Substance becomes formative. The first three upper sub-divisions of this Realm are formless. 23

This Realm of mind substance or thought substance is a pulsating flow of mind and spirit substance, wherein, more specifically in the subtler, formless, upper three subdivisions, the germinal ideas of all form originate; be it in the form of mineral, plant, animal or man. It is the soil within which all ideas germinate, be they good or bad ideas; all seeds of desire and emotions originate here. 24

As indicated above the Absolute God substance has been modified sufficiently to make form possible. Hence the archetypes of all desire, passion, emotion, energy, thought and all forms of material phenomena that we perceive are ideated and in fact take shape here.25 The matrixes or archetypes of all creation take place here.

It should be noted that the first three upper subdivisions of this Realm, comprised of formless, mind spirit substance are referred to as the region of abstract thought; the region of the most refined mind spirit substance. The fourth subdivision of this Realm is referred to as the "Great Divide" or "Record of Nature".26 This subdivision of the Mind Spirit Substance Realm is aptly called "the Great Divide" as all above this region is formless while all below is formative. Here the formless substance World meets and flows into the formative substance World in a lemniscate or figure 8 fashion; the forces and currents of life cross-over and run into each other. This subdivision which represents the centre or meeting place of the upper and lower vibrating currents of the Spirit World is also, as indicated above, referred to as "the Record of Nature" or "the Akashic Records": the substance upon which all the imprints of life are stored like film-transparencies. This subdivision is said to be the focusing point or lens through which the Spirit World mirrors itself into the formative or material World.

The lowest three subdivisions of the Mind Spirit Substance Realm as indicated before are the real region where the archetypes, matrixes or molds of all form created by God or man take shape;27 the realm of concrete thought.

The beauty and power of this Mind Spirit Substance Realm cannot be overstated. All desire seeds or seed ideas of Man planted in this field in time must bear fruit. Hence plant good thoughts with faith; and good results are yours in visible, material form.

(6) The Sixth Realm or Mansion or the Desire Spirit Substance Realm

This Realm or Mansion of God, the Desire or Astral Realm is one of great activity, relevance and influence at this juncture of man's development. Our desires, which gain their substance from this spiritual Realm, tend to hold sway and dominate our intellect, soul and heart. Our heart centre always influences us to live love, not carnal love, but altruistic love. Hence when we do not always do right in any given situation; when we fail to do what we ought to do; when we fail to live love, it is our carnal, selfish, fearful, hateful, egotistic desires that gain their substance in the three lower realms of the Desire or Astral Realm that dominate our will, power and activity.

Like all the other Mansions or Realms referred to above, the Desire Spirit Realm is subdivided into seven (7) sub-divisions. The first three higher subdivisions are crucial to man's self-realisation. They are referred to as Organic or Soul-Power spirit substance, Light spirit substance and Life spirit substance.28 Hence the organic power substance is the seventh or highest subdivision of this Desire Realm; the organic light substance is the sixth subdivision and the organic life substance is the fifth subdivision of this Desire Realm. These three upper subdivisions are referred to as "The First Heaven." In those three subdivisions all is positive and cohesive; the place of attraction, cohesion and construction. Everything in this First Heaven is imbued with abundant life, love, harmony, joy and peace. If anyone wants to be filled with these God-like virtues one must feed on these three upper subdivisions of this Desire Realm.29

More will be said later of these three upper subdivisions in relation to the soul's experience in the after-life in the World of the Unseen, that is, after what we call death. After the first three subdivisions of this Realm to wit, Organic Power, Organic Light and Organic Life (the First Heaven), there is the "Great Divide" or "Borderland" sub-realm or region. This is the region of indifference and inaction or interest and action.30 Considering there can be no manifestation without generating interest in the object of your desire, one must be aware of this Great Divide or "Borderland"; this sub-realm or region is the battle ground of interest and indifference, action and inaction. There will be no creation and success without generating interest and right desire. It is useful to remember that generating interest and desire (emotion), increases the mind's power to transmit thoughts as well as to receive them (thought waves); whatever knowledge that is required is magnetized to anyone that seeks it with all his or her heart, soul and mind: 'seek and you shall find,' 'knock and it shall be opened unto you.'

As intimated above, the three lower subdivisions are the sub-realms of lower desires, fear, turmoil, sickness, pain, selfishness, greed, hatred, suffering, phantasmal and demoniac spirits and the desires that satisfy the relentless reaper, death. Here, the battle of Armageddon is fought daily within the temples of all Initiates on the Path of Truth.

It must be understood that in this Realm, depending on whether the initial impulse for an idea was from the Christ mind or the mortal (carnal) mind, the final result will be either good or bad, constructive or destructive. If it originated in the Christ-Spirit mind, it will gain its desire substance from the three higher subdivisions of this Realm, and the manifestation will be imbued with organic Power, organic Light and organic Life, the substances of the First Heaven; the result of this manifestation will therefore be positive and enduring; it will assist you in realizing your true Self, the Christ within you, the Eternal "I".31 If the thought or idea originated in the mortal or carnal mind, the idea will gain its desire substance from the three lower subdivisions of the Desire Realm where all is discord and confusion; where the Law of Repulsion and Dissolution holds sway. In that the idea is from the mortal or finite mind, which is limited and by and large carnal, the idea or materialized manifestation of it will be one of limitation and degradation, and therefore must ultimately be destroyed and dissolved into primal spirit substance; in time better use may be made of the substance when and where required.

Incidentally, it is in the three (3) lower subdivisions of the Desire Realm where one finds the proverbial hell and purgatory.32 This will be elaborated on later. Hence always remember, if interest is engendered in something and such interest has flowed from the mortal or carnal mind the action or end-product will ultimately be evil or deleterious to your well-being ; whereas, if the interest engendered has come from your Christ Spirit or mind, then the action or ultimate product will be good, uplifting, beneficial to your well-being, putting you steadfast on the path to God.33

(7) The Seventh Realm or Mansion or the Physical or Etheric Spirit Substance Realm

This Realm is the one that grants vitality to all chemical life forms. It may be referred to as the Etheric or Physical Realm; some of it can be seen and some of it cannot be seen by the optic senses. Our Earth and its atmosphere are comprised of the substances that make up the fifth, sixth and seventh subdivisions of this Etheric Realm. The subdivisions of this Realm from the highest vibrating substance to the lowest vibrating substance are as follows: (1) reflecting ether, (2) light ether, (3) life ether, (4) chemical ether, (5) gaseous substance, (6) liquid substance and (7) solid substance. The denser substances, such as solids, liquids and to a certain extent gases are all visible to the optic senses; whereas the more subtle substances such as reflecting ether, light ether, chemical ether and life ether are all invisible.

Obviously, we humans feel most comfortable with the substances numbered (5), (6) and (7) namely, gases, liquids and solids. Our physical bodies that we see and identify with, are comprised of those three substances.

It is noteworthy that the highest vibrating substance of this Realm, the Reflecting Ether, is a secondary memory of nature. All ideas are imprinted in this etheric subdivision and can be seen reflected in this fluidic substance by those who have eyes to see. This is the substance-medium whereby thoughts are transferred and imprints or impressions are made on the brain. Many a medium gains his information from this reflecting ether; all that we think about is reflected here. It must be remembered however that the ultimate true Record of Nature, is in the Mind Substance Realm, more specifically, the fourth subdivision thereof, "the Great Divide," mentioned earlier.

The next in line is the Light Ether. This Etheric substance is directly related to the five basic senses of sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing. It is also directly related to regulating the temperature within any material form and controlling the colouring in all life forms. Light ether is crucial in promoting the circulation of fluids or sap in plant, animal and human life.34

The Life Ether is the next Etheric substance. This substance is directly related to reproduction, propagation and the sustenance of all life forms in the physical world that we live in. It is closely related to certain substances of the Life Spirit Substance Realm.35

After the Life Etheric substance comes the Chemical Etheric substance. This substance is the force behind the basic elements of the physical world.36 It is directly involved in the assimilation of nutritive elements from food and the elimination of waste. 37

The three remaining subdivisions are comprised of the substances that we human beings are most accustomed to, that is, gases, liquids and solids. Gas, which is a substance like air, neither solid nor liquid, makes up the next subdivision of the Etheric Realm. In the air that we breathe, there are several gases: oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen to name but a few. After this subdivision comes liquid substance. The majority of our Planet Earth is comprised of this substance; so too are our bodies that seem to be quite solid. Finally, there is solid substance; as solid as rock. Solids as indicated before are the slowest vibrating God substance of creation; the slowest vibrating substance of the Etheric or Physical Realm.

Having explained the subdivisions of the Physical or Etheric Realm, it must be understood that although the Realm has been subdivided, those substances interpenetrate each other. For example, air and gas interpenetrate water or liquid, and liquid can be placed into a solid like a glass, or made to interpenetrate solids like lime-stone and wood; lime-stone and wood being quite porous. Likewise, Etheric spirit substance is interpenetrated by all the more subtle substances, such as, desire spirit substance, mind spirit substance, life spirit substance and Christ spirit substance.

(1) Introduction

The above was a brief, but hopefully understandable explanation of the seven Realms or Mansions of The All-Father's House.38 Having dealt with the Macrocosm, that is the Seven Mansions of God's Creation, we will now deal with the Microcosm, that is, the human body-temple and its seven inner realms or chakra centres; that body within which the Eternal Christ-Spirit dwells. Hence, we read: "Know you not that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"39 also "behold the Kingdom of God is within you."40 With that in mind, being temples of "the living Christ-Spirit of God", the interrelationship of what we call "the Spirit", "the Soul" and "the Body" should be understood and therefore will now be explained.

In Esoteric parlance God's creation called 'man' is made up of a threefold Spirit, that is, the Divine Spirit (the heavenly Father), the Life Spirit (the Son) and the Human Spirit (the holy Spirit or holy ghost); that is the triune God that must be realized 'in man'. That Spirit collectively called the Christ or Virgin-Spirit sustains man and makes man's whole life possible; it links man to the Messiah, Christ Jesus/Yashua, as well as to the Absolute One, the All-Father, the God of all Creation.

This threefold Christ Spirit via the mind lives and experiences life in a threefold body. From the interaction of the threefold Divine-Spirit on the threefold body, the Divine Spirit extracts as pabulum a conscious Soul from the Dense or Physical body, the Life Spirit extracts an intellectual Soul from the Vital Body, and the Human Spirit extracts an emotional Soul from the Desire body. Hence succinctly, a threefold Spirit begets a threefold Body and this fusion by the grace of God begets a threefold Soul. To this effect see diagram II below. 41

Diagram II

More will be said later of this interaction between the Spirit, Soul and Body, but what is important at this juncture, is that the terms and inter-linkages are understood. Before we deal with the bodies of Man, to wit, the physical or dense body, the etheric or vital body and the astral or desire body, it should be noted that each of those bodies is linked to a person's threefold Spirit by what is referred to as 'seed or permanent atoms'. For example, a seed atom links the dense body to the Divine Spirit or Father aspect of the Triune Christ Spirit; a seed atom links the vital body to the Life Spirit or Son aspect of the Triune Christ Spirit; and a seed atom also links the desire body to the Human Spirit or Holy Ghost aspect of the Christ Spirit. More will be said later about the location of each seed atom and its importance.42

(2) The Bodies Of Man

(a) The physical or dense body

Briefly, from the exterior, the human temple or dense body is comprised of a head, torso, arms, hands, legs, and feet. The head, which is the potential 'realm of heaven' in Man, is the foremost or upper part of the body containing the brain, sense organs and the mouth. The torso is the trunk of the human body, apart from the head and limbs. The arms are the upper limbs and the legs are the lower limbs; the lower limbs being basically for support and locomotion.

The body described is the body we perceive with the five basic senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Those five senses belong to the physical body or temple. It is of interest to note that the physical description of the human body in the paragraph above doesn't seem very different from any animal creation of God; although, on closer scrutiny, even physically, there are serious differences. The major difference, however, is the divine potentiality of the human being; this will be thoroughly discussed below. Before moving on, it is important to note that all that we perceive as our physical body is comprised of either gaseous, liquid or solid substance; in esoteric parlance, as indicated before, 'the gaseous, liquid, and solid substance body' is known as the 'Dense body'.

Inside that physical exterior, which is covered by skin and hair, there is an endocrine system, a nervous system and an array of organs, a skeletal structure to assist us in walking upright, meridian lines of energy, nadis (not seen by the optic senses), and seven centres or vortices of electro-magnetic energy called chakra centres or padmas (also not visible to the optic senses). These seven centres or realms within the human body (the microcosm), correspond to the seven Realms of God's Creation (the macrocosm). Hence the esoteric saying: 'as above, so below.' Before delving further into the seven realms or centres of force within the human body (the chakra centres), we will deal briefly, first with the endocrine system and then with the nervous system.

The endocrine system is described by some as 'the power behind the throne'.43 This ductless gland system is closely linked to our nervous system and the seven chakra centres within our temples of flesh. The glands of the endocrine system starting from the head and going downwards are as follows: the pineal gland, the pituitary gland, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the thymus gland,44 the pancreas, adrenal or suprarenal glands and the gonads or sex glands.45

If one wants to enjoy good health, the proper functioning of the endocrine glands is essential and by and large they can be said to control our growth, size, metabolism, our emotional balance and vitality;46 the proper functioning of the endocrine glands or system is also essential for realising mental balance and in time transcendence of the mind.47 As can be seen in diagram III below,48 the pituitary and pineal glands are in the head; the thyroid, parathyroid and thymus glands are in the area of the neck and chest; the adrenal/suprarenal glands, the pancreas and the spleen are in the area of the abdomen or solar plexus; and the gonads, ovaries or testes as the case may be, are to be found in the pelvic area.

The endocrine system and by extension the more subtle seven chakra centres, are closely related to the body's nervous system. For example, both the endocrine system and the nervous system assist the body to adjust and deal with external stimuli in our environment. The nervous system works through nerve impulses or stimuli similar to electricity; and the endocrine system works through hormonal secretions that are transported throughout the body via the blood. The electrical nerve stimuli are quick and short-lived but the hormonal influence is slower, more all-embracing and enduring.

What may be seen as an intriguing link between the body's nervous system and the Seven Realms of creation, with its forty-nine subdivisions of the Absolute substance of God, is reflected in the sympathetic nervous system; this system has a cluster of nerves in the area of the heart consisting inter alia of a chain of nerve ganglia on either side of the spinal or vertebral column. From the chain of nerve ganglia, fibres are distributed throughout the body-temple. For example, to the heart and larynx, to the heart and thyroid, to the heart and lungs, to the stomach and abdominal organs, and finally, to the pelvic organs. These ganglia, from the head downwards, are said to be forty-nine in number; seven of them being of special importance.49 The consistency of the numbers in italics with the seven Realms or Mansions of God and the forty-nine subdivisions of the absolute spirit substance reflects yet another similarity between the microcosm: the human body, and the macrocosm: the Realms or Mansions of God, the Cosmos.

Incidentally, the sympathetic nervous system and the para-sympathetic, make up the autonomic nervous system; this system is entirely involuntary and is concerned with the automatic regulation of certain internal organs in the body and their functions. The cerebro-spinal or central nervous system on the other hand, consists of the brain and spinal cord and can be viewed as the voluntary nervous system. Before moving on to the seven chakra centres it should be noted that the voluntary nervous system is closely related to the desires of man.50

We will now deal with the seven chakra centres or vortices of force within the human body. These centres have been referred to in most religious and arcane writings; usually reflected in allegory and symbolism, their existence was understood and taught by all high cultures (civilizations). With reference to the seven vortices of spiritual-electromagnetic-energy oscillating within the human body, the Bible indicates: "Wisdom has built her house, and she has hewn out her seven pillars."51 Similar symbolism is used in Solomon's temple. The temple itself is equated to the central pillar or tree; while its two pylons Yakhin and Boaz, on the right and on the left, "represent the tree of good and evil", the positive and negative forces of life.52

The seven centres are also referred to in the Bible as the book with seven seals (Rev.5:5), the seven lamps (Zech.4:2) and the seven eyes of the Lord (Zech. 4:10). There are other references to those seven centres of light in the Christian Bible; there are also many references to the more complete idea of the proverbial tree and serpent, which represents the spine (the bony serpent), the cerebro-spinal (voluntary) nervous system, its electro-magnetic (spiritual) counterpart, the seven chakra centres and the kundalini or the Christ Fire or Light in Man. To this effect one should read Genesis 3, where the 'serpent' and 'the tree in the midst of the garden' are first mentioned; read too, Numbers 21:9, where Moses made a brazen serpent, which he set on a pole; as well as, Numbers 17:8 where the seven centres are referred to as buds on the rod of Aaron, which bloomed blossoms and almonds. The budding and blossoming referred to being the opening of the chakra centres by illumination or the realization of Christ consciousness;53 this is when the Mystic Marriage referred to in the Bible takes place.54

The references to 'the tree in the midst of the garden', and to 'the fruit and the serpent' all relate to the spine, the chakra centres and the Christ serpentine force or fire within Man; this fire or flame of life is all-pervasive and eternal throughout all Creation. This was the same eternal flame or fire that encircled the bush on the Mountain of God, but did not consume it; that engulfed Moses, but did not harm him; that not only purified Moses but exhilarated him; that inspired him to take off his shoes so as to place his feet firmly on "holy ground".55

In Eastern Philosophy and Yoga those seven centres of force or chakra centres within the human body-temple are commonly referred to as the Muladhara Chakra (Root Centre), the Svadhisthana Chakra (Pelvic Centre), the Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Centre), the Anahata Chakra (Heart Centre), the Vishudha Chakra (Throat Centre), the Ajna Chakra (Brow Centre), and finally the Sahasrara Chakra (Crown of the Head Centre).

The Muladhara Chakra (Root Centre), which is located at the base of the spine, is generally portrayed as a lotus with four petals. The Christ Serpentine Force or Kundalini lies dormant there and the positive and negative currents that run on either side of the spine, known as the ida and pingala nadis, also meet the central sushumna nadi here at the base of the spine. Its symbolical element is the Earth (soil) and its colour is golden-yellow.

The Svadhisthana Chakra (Pelvic Centre), which is located close to the sexual organs, is portrayed as a lotus with six petals. This chakra is within the Shushumna Nadi. Its symbolical element is water (liquid) and its colour is milky white like a conch shell.

The Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Centre), which is located in the area of the navel or solar plexus, is portrayed as a lotus with ten petals. Its symbolical element is fire and its colour is crimson red.

The Anahata Chakra (Heart Centre), which is located in the area of the heart, is portrayed as a lotus of twelve petals. Its symbolical element is air and its colour is a mild smoky colour. Incidentally, the seed atom of the Dense body, which links the Divine Spirit to the Dense body, is said to be located in the left ventricle of the heart.56

The Vishudha Chakra (Throat Centre), which is located in the area of the throat, is portrayed as a lotus with sixteen petals. Its symbolical element is the ether and it is a play of colours like the sea, but is mostly perceived as blue.

The Ajna Chakra (Brow Centre), which is located in the area between the eyebrows, is portrayed as a lotus with two petals. Its symbolical element is mental or mind substance and its colour is silvery white. This Chakra is really within the Shushumna nadi and represents the "Third Eye" centre.

The Sahasrara Chakra (Crown of Head Centre), which is located at the top or crown of the head, is said to be the seat of the positive pole; the realm of Vishnu,57or in Christian parlance, the Realm of the Heavenly Father, the Christ or Solar Being in the human temple. This chakra centre is portrayed as a lotus with a thousand petals. When this centre is reached by the Christ or kundalini Force, the individual will realise Christ consciousness or super-consciousness; in yoga parlance - nirvana: a state of wisdom, understanding and bliss that is only experienced when one's consciousness is voluntarily immersed into God's Infinite Sea of consciousness. This is brought about through the purifying fire of prayer and meditation, which centres one's heart and mind on God. By the means of prayer and meditation one's desires are washed clean and one's dedication to God is made complete.58

Before dealing with the other, finer or more subtle bodies of Man that interpenetrate the dense or physical body, it would be remiss of me not to point out two things. One is, that the Caduceus of Hermes, represented by a rod or staff and two entwined serpents, is yet another illustration of the symbolical tree and serpent; the Caduceus of Hermes is mentioned as it is often used today as an emblem or insignia on many medical vehicles and pieces of medical equipment throughout the World. The other is that although we have been brought up to think of the dense body as a biochemical mass, we must consciously realize its electro-magnetic nature as well. For example, it is intriguing to note that although we tend to think of food as either proteins or vitamins or minerals, at the end of the day, the cells of the dense or physical body select from the blood the ions necessary to replace those ions used in the living process.58a As we all know "an 'ion' is an electrically charged particle, consisting of one or more atoms carrying a unit charge, or a multiple";58b and ions are referred to as the carriers of the electricity of life.58c.

As a natural corollary of the above, the blood or liquid light or fire (as it is referred to in esoteric law), that feeds the cells of the physical or dense body, must be kept pure by frugal eating, fasting, the use of herbs and exercise, especially breathing exercise.58d Hence, all on the Path of Truth are humbly advised to do the exercise called "the Complete Breath" on a daily basis. It is done as follows: Sit erect and quietly so that you can consciously put your mind on breathing deeply, completely and rhythmically. Start the cycle of breathing exercise by consciously exhaling as slowly and completely as you can through your nose. It should be noted that your diaphragm should lift upwards and your stomach should sink in slightly as you complete your exhalation. After your exhalation there will be a natural pause before you inhale slowly, filling the lower portion, then the mid and upper portions of your lungs. Initially, as you inhale your diaphragm should relax downwards and your stomach should bulge out slightly.

This slow, complete inhalation and exhalation described above should be consciously continued for 10-20 minutes. This can be done every morning and afternoon or whenever required. If your mind drifts as you do your breathing exercise, ‘seed’ your mind with the thought of exhaling "fear" and inhaling either "health", "strength", "confidence", "power", "Christ Spirit" or whatever you so desire.

2. The Vital or Etheric body

There are some who are of the view that the seven chakra centres described earlier, are really an aspect of man's vital or solar body as distinct from his bio-chemical dense body. This view is certainly correct; however, those centres of energy are undeniably an integral part of the physical or dense body's electromagnetic make-up. The vital body should therefore be seen as the 'electrical' or 'solar' power source that enlivens our nervous system and vitalizes our dense bodies.

The Vital or Etheric body realizes complete organisation and vitality in the seventh year of one's life; it interpenetrates the physical or dense body and if one has 'eyes to see', or with the use of a Kilner Machine, named after the doctor who created it, one can see the etheric lines of energy emanating through the pores of the skin.59 Those initiates who may want to develop the ability to 'see' their Etheric or Vital body as well as that of others should read - History and Power of the Mind by Richard Ingalese; The Vital Body by Max Heindel; Man Visible and Invisible by C.W. Leadbeater; You-Forever by Lobsang Rampa (especially pp.27-28); and The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

One's state of health can also be ascertained by means of the Vital or Etheric Body; if an organic part is not healthy the etheric lines in that area of the body are weak and bent, as distinct from being vibrant and straight.60 Incidentally, the etheric substances working within the body assist in converting food into blood, which is aptly called 'the liquid fire of life'.61

The Vital Body, like the Etheric Realm of the Macrocosm described above, is comprised of the following substances: chemical ether, life ether, light ether and reflecting ether. It must be remembered that the highest vibrating etheric substance, the reflecting ether, is a rudimentary record of nature and hence your thought imagery can be seen imprinted in your reflecting ether; these imprints form part of your "aura", which will be discussed below.62

Your next highest vibrating etheric substance is your light ether. The light ether is crucial to the functioning of the physical senses, the circulation of liquids and the regulation of temperature in the body. The life ether substance is next and as reflected in its name is involved in ensuring the propagation of life through reproduction.

Finally, the slowest vibrating etheric substance that completes the Vital body is the chemical ether; the chemical ether is intimately related to the elements of the Earth. The Etheric or Vital body, which interpenetrates the gases, liquids and solids body is essential to the life and vitality of the dense or physical body.

The reflecting ether and the light ether are referred to as the 'marriage garment' or 'the ghost body' in esoteric parlance. They are called the 'marriage garment' because this is 'the garment' used when 'the Spirit-Soul' moves around in the higher Realms above the 'material world'; the 'material world' being the gaseous, liquid and solid substance world. On the other hand 'the ghost body' idea came about because the reflecting and light ether of a deceased person are what people see when they see the 'ghost' of someone. The reflecting ether and light ether, which are emitted from a person, are the exact image or replica of the physical or dense body, hence another reason for the term 'ghost body'.

Although whole books have been written about the Vital or Etheric body only certain essential facts will be presented here; hopefully, they will be sufficient to give the reader an understanding of the importance of the Vital body. In Esoteric law it is taught that true development on the spiritual path must begin with an understanding and strengthening of one's Vital body. It is the foundation upon which the physical temple for the Christ-Spirit is built. In a person who is more earthbound, the chemical and life ether form the bulk of that person's Etheric or Vital body, whereas, in a person who is more dedicated to truth and spiritual matters, the light and reflecting ethers form the bulk of that person's Etheric or Vital body; usually such an individual is quite indifferent to material wealth and extravagance.

Besides referring to the two higher ethers as the "marriage garment" and "ghost body", some refer to these two higher ethers as the "Soul body". These two important etheric substances are closely related to the conscience of a person and by extension the virtue exhibited in that person's life; this will be elaborated on later when dealing with the cycle of life.63

Incidentally, before making some closing comments about the Etheric or Vital body, it should be remembered that a child's Etheric or Vital body is not organised (although it is present), until the child is seven years of age; until that time the child draws from the Etheric or Vital substance Realm of the Macrocosm.64 As life progresses and the child matures into an adult and the adult in turn matures into an Initiate, work must be done on purifying and spiritualising the Vital body.

This spiritualising or purifying process is greatly assisted and enhanced by living love, altruistic love: doing for others, being of service to others without expecting anything in return; or at least 'doing unto others what you would have them do unto you': a theme which is to be found in the teachings of all the leading religions of the world. This adds lustre to the Soul.65 Other effective ways of advancing your cause on the path of life are to purify the Vital body through consistent prayer, the use of lofty, ennobling affirmations, harmonious chants, fragrant incense and spiritual rituals; even rituals as simple as making the sign of the cross.

It is taught that the best times to effectively use affirmations are just before you drift off to sleep and just after you awake; although when you have learnt to use affirmations, that is, by using them consistently over a period of time, they can be used at any time of the day with tremendous positive effect.66 An example of a simple ancient affirmation worthy of repetition by Christians or followers of Yashua, which will purify the Vital Body, is as follows: 'Oh *(my Christ/Yashua), I am blended with You so that forever I go forth in Thy Light. Thanks and Praises!'

The seed or permanent atom that links the Life Spirit to the Vital Body is said to be located in the solar plexus; however, the solar energy from the sun that feeds the Vital or Etheric Body enters the physical body via the etheric counterpart of the physical spleen. Some teach that the object of life in this time is oneness or union with Christ through purification of the Vital Body.67

(c) The Desire or Astral body

The desire or astral body of a person is comprised of desire spirit substance. This spirit substance is the spirit-force behind all activity and motion in one's life; this desire substance manifesting positively as organic Power, Light and Life is said to be "God in action".68 The seed atom of the desire body that links the Human Spirit to the Desire body is said to be located in the vortex of the liver and by extension the blood.69

The desire or astral body of a person becomes completely organised and strong around the fourteenth year of life; some say the fourteenth year signals the birth of the desire body. 70 The desire or astral body comprised of desire spirit substance interpenetrates the Etheric or vital substance body as well as the physical or dense substance body. After seven years of rapid physical growth, when the Etheric or vital substance body held sway between the ages of seven and fourteen, the desire substance body comes into its own between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one. From then on personal desires dramatically increase and puberty takes its course.71

An intense drama of life takes place in those formative years of maturity. It is a period when you are usually wild with desires, yet filled with utopian thoughts of purity, perfection and idealism - an idealism that unfortunately fades and in many instances dies with age. This period of fourteen to twenty-one is also the beginning of strong physical attraction to the opposite sex; during that period the pituitary and thyroid glands become more active and the sexual glands in both males and females mature - the circulation of blood is said to increase in the pelvic region during this period allowing for easy sexual arousal.72 This is a period of intense emotional development and social interaction. Those years are 'the foundation years' in the development of a person's desire body; crucial years when a person magnetizes, according to his thoughts and desires, the desire spirit substances of either the higher region of the Desire World or Realm or the lower vibrating substances of the lower regions of the Realm.

Throughout a person's life his desire body is dominated either by the higher substances of the Desire Realm or World, that is, the spirit substances of organic power, light and life or the lower substances of that Realm or World. A person who has through his hard-earned experience, purified his thoughts and desires, tends to reflect this improvement by his words and deeds; hence in that person's desire-body, the more subtle, refined desire spirit substances of the higher regions of the Desire Realm or World replace the lower vibrating desire substances that had formerly prevailed in that person.

The desire body of any person who goes through bad experiences in his life, as we all do, tends to impress the idea of revenge in the form of memory upon the vital body of that person. During a person's life this must be overcome. One must learn as the Lord's Prayer: "The Our Father" dictates - to forgive our debtors (which purifies our vital bodies), and to stay out of temptation. Desire is the great allurement or tempter of humanity. Hence we must gain control of our desire body if we are to successfully purify our Vital and Physical Bodies.

The best methods recommended to conquer the relentless ebb and flow of desires, especially the warped and degrading ones, are said to be the art of prayer, concentration and meditation. In the Holy Bible we read the following: "pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."73

Some prefer concentration upon high ideals, or the use of mantras in meditation or Yantras, as those methods tend to be cold and unemotional, whereas, prayer tends to be emotional. Be that as it may, emotion is not inherently bad, because emotion and desire are the vortices of force behind all thoughts and actions; if those thoughts and actions are wholesome and in harmony with God's will (which is love ) - then a great degree of positive power and activity will be generated by them; if those thoughts or actions on the other hand are degrading to the higher nature in Man (the Indwelling Christ/the divinity-within) then, emotion will just increase the negative and detrimental effect of those thoughts and actions.

At such times it is wise, as indicated above, to pray relentlessly, with faith, that we 'be not led into temptation'; this is the part of "The Our Father" taught by Christ that is dedicated to the purification of the desire body.74 Incidentally, for those who do not know what a mantra is – it, (referred to in the paragraph above), is a sound vibration (with a specific meaning) based on the sounds of the Universe and the chakra centres within Man; and a Yantra is said to be a "machine" or tool in a specific form or shape, which when concentrated upon, has a tremendous calming, purifying and strengthening effect on the mind and desire body.75

If constant prayer is the method of choice, it should preferably be prayers to do the will of God and devoted to high ideals and not merely for personal gain, fame, material wealth or power; because as valid as those prayers are, they will not purify the desire body of the individual. That is why some people prefer concentration and meditation to effectively purify the desire body as distinct from prayer which is emotional and often involves personal desires; however as indicated above, prayers filled with emotion to do God's will: "Thy Will be done" - are excellent in tempering and balancing the desire body of an individual.

On our path of life our desire for love must eventually move beyond the type of love that is a mere yearning for physical attachment or control and possession of another person's body (lust), to true altruistic love, which is to do good for others without expecting anything in return. Our desire for wealth and power should be to better serve others and for ensuring the general upliftment of all humanity.

The wisdom of Antiquity and Esoteric Law teaches that the desire body is ovoid in shape and luminous in appearance; it encircles the vital and dense bodies like the albumen encircles the yolk of an egg.76 The desire body grows as one develops on the Path; and those of Saints are said to be truly beautiful, radiant and luminous.

As indicated before as one progresses the purer, brighter substances of the higher subdivisions of the Desire Realm prevail in one's desire body as distinct from the murky substances of the lower subdivisions of the Realm.77 The desire body possesses important centres of perception, which manifest, when active, as vortices within the desire body. In most people those centres are latent; in an advanced Initiate on the Path of Truth, the vortices or centres rotate from left to right or clockwise.78

It should always be remembered that the desire substance body is the counterpart of the Emotional Soul and the Human or Holy Spirit within the human (body) temple;79 and further as pointed out earlier, we humans are comprised of a three-fold Christ-Spirit that is infused into a three-fold body, which in turn realises and enlivens a three-fold Soul. All of us have to eventually purify our desire body and perfect our Emotional Soul; when that 'washing of the feet', or 'washing of the carnal desires' takes place, we become illumined or enlightened by the Human or Holy Spirit.

This unity with the Holy Spirit is well portrayed in the Christian Pentecost, with the 'tongues of fire' on the heads of the Apostles; the heads and faces of the Apostles shone with light as they spoke so that all could understand them. The race and language differentiation melted away when unity with the Holy Spirit was realised by the Apostles.

The complete Religion or Path as taught and demonstrated by Yashua or Jesus the Christ taught unity with the Higher Self within Man, that is, the Triune Christ-Spirit within: the Father (the Divine Spirit), the Son (the Life Spirit) and the Holy Ghost (the Human Spirit) within the Body-Temple. The triune Christ-Spirit is represented within the 'vestal cup' (the skull or head of the physical body), by the 'Third or Inner Eye' centre (located between the eyebrows), the Pituitary gland and the Pineal gland respectively.

Our vestal cup (cranium/skull) overflows when the Triune Christ-Spirit is realized in the heavenly sphere within us (the head) whilst we are here on Earth. As Paul, the Apostle said : "Christ must be formed in you".80 As an assistance on the Path, we must affirm good and illumined desires and always visualize that which we affirm; make all affirmations in the name of Christ. That way the will, power and activity of the Christ-Spirit will be stirred into action and all base or carnal desires will be overcome.

Accepting that our physical body (our gases, liquids and solids body, which is but a vibration of substances kept together by the Christ-Spirit), has a particular sound or tone according to our mental, physical and spiritual state of being, it must be realised that everytime one overcomes a desire that would have led to eventual death of the physical body, a higher energy, tone or vibration is realized in the body. If that higher note or tone is struck and maintained the warped desire or sin is overcome, never to return. 'The last Trump' in the Bible refers to your last keynote to desires and things of the 'world'. Sin after sin is overcome until death is swallowed up in defeat.81

A great deal more could be written about the Desire body, but suffice it to say that enough has been said to give you, the reader, the Seeker of Truth, an insight and attunement to your Desire body, as well as, hopefully, a greater ability to direct your desires in a more positive way that will certainly hasten the realization of God's grace.82

Having dealt with the Three-fold body of Man, that is, the Dense or Physical Body, the Vital or Etheric Body and the Astral or Desire Body, it must be reiterated that the Three-fold Body only enjoys and experiences life through the power, love and spirit-essence of the Christ or Divine Spirit. The (Three-fold) Christ Spirit infused into and enlivening the (Three-fold) body produces an evolving (Three-fold) Soul (the Persona); that Soul or person treads the path of life, evolving to perfection daily, until what we call death takes place. At that juncture the essence or seed-atoms of the Christ Spirit and Soul depart from the Body and the silver cord is severed. When this happens, the dead physical body is thereafter entombed in the womb of Mother Earth, where it is usually encircled by flowers and moistened by tears. We will now deal with the cycle of life.

Earlier in this Chapter, the Realms or Mansions of God's Creation were simply explained and illustrated. In our present stage of development, the more crystallized aspects of the Etheric or Earth Realm are perceived by our optic and other senses, but there are other Realms or Mansions of God in what is called 'the Unseen World'. In the Holy Bible we read - "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."83

Unfortunately, most of us, once we get a name-tag, fall prey to seeking wisdom, happiness and success outside of ourselves. We become ensnared in satisfying our five basic senses, that is, the sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch; this we do with the able and game assistance from our five motor organs, to wit, our hands, feet, vocal chord, sexual and excretory organs.84 We forget very quickly that we really belong to and ultimately are the Divine Sparks or Christ-Spirits that manifest on Earth in temples of flesh made up of the sap of earthly parents; when we realize this in every fibre of our human form, we will know the fullness of God's grace in our lives by overcoming this Earth as Christ Jesus/Yashua did almost two thousand years ago. However, until this conscious awareness becomes common-place, the norm will be to manifest in a very limited way as Mr. A, Miss B or Mrs. C for some seventy years and due to sin (living contrary to God's way or laws), go through a physical death.

We will therefore deal with the cycle of life beyond physical 'death' through the various Realms or Mansions of God until "rebirth into the physical world for a new life experience."85 I know that the last ten words may come as a surprise for some of you because you may not know of or accept rebirth or reincarnation of the Spirit-Soul, but this will be dealt with immediately after dealing with the Spirit-Soul's 'life' after 'death'.

When one has through physical, mental and spiritual abuse of the physical body or through trauma or accident brought an end to his or her physical life on Earth, one is said to have 'died'; somatic death is said to have taken place. As indicated above, in most cases, we, Earth-bound Souls, in our present state of non-being, destroy our dense, physical temples in seventy years; and amazingly, some of us even destroy them in less time, that is, despite God's perfect physical design.

At the time of death the Spirit-Soul leaves the gases, liquids and solids dense body: the bio-chemical-physical body. After leaving the physical body, the Spirit-Soul (along with the higher vibrating, subtle bodies: the vital body, the desire body and the mind) hovers above the dense, physical body connected by the silver cord for about three days;86 during this time the consciousness of all that transpired during that life is absorbed from the etheric or vital body and stored in the seed atom of the desire body. Hence, it is advised that the dense body should not be buried or otherwise disposed of prior to three days after its death so that a proper record of past experiences or 'record of life' as it is called, can be made. This is necessary if one is to benefit fully from his or her life experiences and the 'purgation' process, which will be discussed below.

In the Bible, Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12, verse 6 we read of "the silver cord" as follows: "Or....the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken,....Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." The silver cord is said to have "a glistening silvery appearance".87 The silver cord connects the Spirit-Soul to the dense, physical body throughout life and as indicated above, up to three days after somatic death.

The silver cord is similar in many ways to the umbilical cord that attaches the baby to its mother until it is severed and the baby's separate existence on Earth begins. Likewise, when your silver cord is snapped the Spirit-Soul begins a journey or another form of life in the Unseen World of God. Before dealing a little more with the record of life, it should be noted that whenever the Spirit-Soul and the more subtle (etheric and desire) bodies hover outside the dense body, like when one becomes unconscious (be it by electrical shock or otherwise), the body can be resuscitated; consciousness is regained because there is a re-entry of the Spirit-Soul and the more subtle bodies into the dense, physical body. This has happened many times when accidents have occurred or when people go into a coma, but the important thing to remember is that in all those cases, the silver cord has not been severed; those people who go through these experiences usually have interesting stories to tell about their 'out of body experiences' as they are called in common-day parlance. In considering what has been said above relating to the silver cord diagram V should be looked at.

Incidentally, the record of life referred to in the text above, begins to be imprinted on the reflecting ether and seed atom of the Vital Body from the first breath of life and only ends when the last breath is taken. During life we get impressions from around us via the air and etheric substances we breathe, even if we are not consciously aware of it.

Around three days after the somatic death of the dense or physical body the silver cord weakens and then snaps. At that point, the spiritualized aspects of the two higher vibrating elements of the etheric body (that is, the reflecting and light ether - referred to earlier as "the Ghost body"), the desire body, and the Spirit-Soul depart from the denser or physical body. The Spirit-Soul with the subtle, Solar body, moves quickly to the lower regions of the astral or desire World or Realm. This is the Region referred to as "Hell" and "Purgatory".

Before dealing with the purgation process a few words are in order about the dense or physical body that lies entombed in the elements of the Earth as well as the two lower elements of the etheric body, that is, the chemical and life ether; those two lower elements of the etheric body hover just above the grave for those who have eyes to see. The deterioration of the entombed dense body is said to be reflected by the degeneration of its chemical and life etheric substances. Both the 'dead' (gases, liquids and solids) dense body, as well as the chemical and life etheric substances related to it, degenerate and lose their organisation by returning to their original elements from which they came. Years after burial of the dense body, there is sometimes little left to reflect that a body was buried there.

We can now deal with the Spirit-Soul's journey through the three lower regions of the Desire realm. Here, the Spirit-Soul starts to go through a panorama of his or her life, more specifically of all the "wrong" that was committed whilst alive on Earth. Without the ensnarement of flesh, the Spirit-Soul's sense of "right" and "wrong" is much sharper and clearer. The 'panorama' of life's unloving or wrongful thoughts, words and deeds, which caused suffering and distress, flows like a film before the Spirit-Soul; the last wrongful act is seen and dealt with first, and the first wrong action is dealt with last. All the pain and suffering caused is felt; great lessons are learnt here from past wrongs; the anguish and even hidden hurts inflicted are felt by the Spirit-Soul that inflicted them. If your wrong actions caused suffering to many, your suffering shall be great.

Fortunately, events take place in the desire World with great rapidity. Those 'sins' or 'transgressions of God's Laws' are purged from the Spirit-Soul. Of necessity those painful experiences leave an indelible mark on the conscience or mind substance of that Spirit-Soul. The Spirit-Soul moves on to the First Heaven after a thorough purgation process, akin to going through the 'fire' so to speak in the lower three regions of the Desire Realm. It must always be remembered that all people that die, even those referred to as saints (as good as they, undeniably, were), die because of 'sin' (transgression of God's Laws); 'the wages of sin is death'.88

Before dealing with the first Heaven, it must be understood that the Spirit-Soul, after being purged of 'sin' in the lower regions of the Astral or Desire Realm, passes through the 'Borderland' region of the Desire Realm.89 Usually, little time is spent in this Borderland region in transition to the First Heaven. The only Spirit-Souls that are said to spend considerable time here are materialists who did not necessarily hurt many or any people whilst on Earth, were maybe quite honest, but thought little or not at all of spiritual things or of God; and others, who did not accept the reality of life after physical death; all those Souls tend to wander around here aimlessly; some in a very confused state, until they gradually realize their folly.

The First Heaven has been dealt with much earlier90 hence it is sufficient to remind the reader that this Heavenly Region is comprised of three substances: Organic Power, Light and Life and all is positive and harmonious here. The Spirit-Soul's desire body tends to be smaller and more refined here because it has been purified by the purgation process; the purging process in the lower regions of the Desire Realm effectively etches indelibly onto the permanent seed-atom of the desire body the sufferings caused and also imparts the quality of right feeling which acts as a deterrent to similar misdeeds in the future.91

All is joy and peace when the Spirit-Soul reaches the three upper regions of the Desire Realm because again the Spirit-Soul's panorama of life experiences is rolled back. In contrast to the purging process - of being shown all the pain and suffering caused - the experience of seeing and feeling the joy and happiness you caused to people whilst on Earth is beyond comprehension. Any kind look, gesture or act of benevolence and love shown during one's Earth-life will be felt here; nothing is missed, all the energy and exhilaration generated will be felt.92

Hence, you are advised, when on Earth to live clean because your benevolence and good works shall follow you.93 Obviously, those selfish Spirit-Souls, who were miserly with their love and gave very little, experience little joy here. It should be noted that one does not have to possess a great degree of material wealth to give. Further, giving a person money for example is not bad, but this may just make the person dependent upon you; hopefully your assistance should help the individual in time to help himself or herself, as the case may be. However, all of us can give a kind look, a sympathetic or empathetic ear to a person’s problems, or can give good, loving advice, or an expression of confidence or loving helpfulness when another is in need.94 This is crucial as you tread the path of life. Remember, there is great spiritual power in giving.

Due to the plasticity of the desire stuff of this Realm, any beautiful thing envisaged is an instant reality. Incidentally, children who die before the birth of the desire body (around the age of fourteen) usually await rebirth here. They go through no real purgation process; usually they are met by Spirit-Souls who were related to them in their last life on Earth or failing this, by others who loved to "mother" children; even on Earth we all know many people like this.95 Before moving on to the Second Heaven, which is located in the Realm of Mind, it should be remembered that the Desire Realm is known as the Realm of Colour.96

The Spirit-Soul now moves on to the Realm of Mind, which is known as the Realm of Tone; it is the ultimate Realm of music and harmony, a musician's paradise. It is interesting to note that when many materialistic Spirit-Souls depart from their physical bodies (at the time of physical death) many of them are said to go through a time of total unconsciousness; and when semi-consciousness returns it takes some time for them to realize that they no longer have physical bodies and have very little of their vital-substance-bodies remaining. Hence, there is said to be a kind of sleep or unconscious stage when materialistic Spirit-Souls make their transition from Earth to the Desire Realm.

In contrast, when Spirit-Souls make their transition from the First Heaven in the upper regions of the Desire Realm to the Second Heaven in the lower regions of the Mind-substance-Realm, this is done in an ecstatic state of complete consciousness and tranquillity. This conscious transition and the attendant "peace and silence" is called "The Great Forever" or " The Great Silence."97 The feeling of being completely alone yet unafraid fills the consciousness of the Spirit-Soul; no longer possessing a physical body, a vital body, nor a desire body, the Spirit-Soul moves about in the sheath of mind, which includes the seed atoms of the three discarded bodies.

The Second Heaven, also referred to as the region of concrete thought, is located in the region of the formative mind substances. Here, the symphony of sounds and tones, with each tone having a colour, gives the Spirit-Soul an intimate awareness of the link between sound, tone and colour; every tone creates a colour; and it is the variety of tones that create all physical forms and manifestations; the archetypes of those forms are eventually crystallized into gaseous, liquid and solid manifestations. Here too, the Spirit-Soul becomes acutely aware that the formative process is directly related to sound and tone referred to in the Bible as the "Word".98 Having no mouth the Spirit-Soul also realizes with great certainty that every thought is a vibration with an attendant tone, which is in itself accurate and formative.99

The Second Heaven is the region where the third attribute of the All-Father - "Activity" - manifests in all its glory; here, there is an incessant ebb and flow of sound, tone, colour and activity. The Spirit-Soul is said to do a great deal of preliminary work with the archetypes of force on the environment to be used in its next sojourn on Earth. The good deeds of the past life are permanently incorporated into the mind as "right thought". The seed atom of the dense body transmits all the consciousness that it appropriated from the dense body to the Divine or Universal Spirit; the seed atom of the vital body transmits all the consciousness and data appropriated from the vital body to the Life Spirit; and the seed atom of the desire body transmits all the emotional power that it managed to appropriate from the desire body to the Human Spirit. It is therefore in the second heaven that the seed atoms of the three-fold body transmit all the consciousness or data from the last life to the Three-fold Spirit. The Spirit-Soul is now ready to move onto the Third Heaven.

The Third Heaven is located in the higher region of the Mind- substance-Realm; the region of abstract thought and formless mind substance. Here the Spirit-Soul is formless, because even the sheath that encircled the mind in the second Heaven no longer exists. The Spirit-Soul in this formless Realm becomes "one with the Universal life of the All-Father."100 Here, the seed atoms of the dense, vital and desire bodies become imbedded in the Divine or Universal Spirit, Life Spirit and Human Spirit respectively. The three-fold Christ Spirit, the true child of God has come home with the quintessence of his physical experience and consciousness on Earth; through that means the Christ child has accumulated first hand experience and knowledge of this sphere of the All-Father's Creation.

Here, the Spirit-Soul or Christ-Spirit-Soul is indelibly blessed by the All-Father and rests for a period to gather strength for another Earth life, when as Mr. A or Miss B, he or she will hopefully overcome that Earth Realm by the realisation of the Mystic Marriage. The mystic union or marriage of the Christ Spirit and Soul must be realized while living in a dense body on Earth; that is the ultimate "Crown of Glory". When that happens even the dense body is spiritualised and vibrates at the level of the vital body. It is said that the essence of right thought and right feeling from past experience is infused into the Spirit-Soul for future right thoughts, words and deeds. The Spirit-Soul will be much more au courant with the laws and forces of life and so should do much better in overcoming in the next life.

Before dealing with the return journey back to the Earth Realm, when a Spirit-Soul incarnates in the temple of flesh (when a baby is born), it is now necessary to deal with the reality of what is referred to as "reincarnation" or the doctrine of "rebirth".

Reincarnation refers to a Spirit-Soul's return to the etheric or material World from the Spirit World for experience and consciousness that can only be obtained and realized in the material World on Mother Earth. Mother Earth, it must be remembered, represents the most crystallized of the spiritual substances of God. The Spirit-Soul, known as a human being or person when incarnated on Earth, goes to Earth in the same way that a person goes to school, returning home every day or at the end of every term or academic year, as the case may be.101

Usually, in the educational institutions of this world, if a student fails to "fight the good fight" by passing the required exams, he or she is given another opportunity to repeat the exams, sometimes more than once, if necessary; and further, all those students who passed the required exams for a particular class also return to school but to be promoted to a higher form or class to be further educated. This promotion, as we call it, continues until the student has 'fought the final good fight' and has passed the final exams of that institution and graduates from it. If that person ever returns to that institution he or she may return as a teacher but certainly not as a student. Nevertheless, that person may go to another institution of higher education to learn certain lessons that the previous institution could not teach.102

Similarly, the Spirit-Soul comes to Earth and keeps returning until all the lessons of time have been learnt: the Spirit-Soul having fought "the good fight" on Earth realizes the "Crown of Glory".103 A human being receives the "crown of glory" when the mystic marriage of the Christ (the Bridegroom) and the Egotistic Self (the Bride) takes place on Earth;104 then and only then, is this Earth School-room and its final 'sting', death overcome. Death can only be overcome here on Earth, not as a 'duppy' in the sky. Having passed his or her final exams, so to speak, that Spirit-Soul can be said to have graduated from this Earth-Realm and from then has access to the other Mansions or Realms of the All-Father's House or Creation.105

The truth is, although many people of the western world may know very little about reincarnation, most leading religions have taught reincarnation. For example, if you read the writings of some Jewish authorities, such as, Moses Gaster, Ph.D., who was once chief Rabbi of the Jewish Congregation of London, and vice-president of the Royal Asiatic Society, reincarnation is reflected as an accepted principle of life on Earth; the cycles of life or reincarnation was the acknowledged process of purification culminating in the perfection of the Spirit-Soul on Earth.106

Reincarnation has been the acknowledged means of human evolution. Millions of people know the truth of reincarnation and of the law of "consequence" or karma: 'as you sow so shall you reap';107 and they have been greatly assisted in understanding life and its seeming inconsistencies. It also assisted them in doing what they ought to do in any given situation, which is, living love; that which is from the heart. The early Christian Church acknowledged and taught the doctrine of reincarnation; this is not surprising in that the Christian Religion is an outgrowth or flowering of Judaism, the Jewish religion. The early church fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria and Origen, both of the 3rd century accepted reincarnation; so did St. Augustine and St. Jerome of the 5th century.108

The Church eventually decided however that the doctrine gave too much time for the realisation of salvation and further it did not enhance the doctrine of divine atonement; a doctrine that must be grasped and accepted by all good Christians in one 'quick' lifetime. Because, according to church dogma, if you are not blessed by knowing Jesus Christ/Yashua as your Messiah and Saviour in the one (in some instances very short) life afforded you, you are unfortunately doomed forever (sorry, lad/lass). Some may say: 'Not very loving or illumined to say the least'.109

Incidentally, as a matter of historical interest, Empress Theodora, the powerful and some would say notorious lady of Europe,110 also had tremendous influence on de-emphasizing the knowledge of reincarnation in the Western World. She influenced her husband, Emperor Justinian, to ensure in 553 A.D., at the 5th Council of Constantinople that the doctrine of reincarnation was dropped from orthodox Church doctrine.111 The equitable doctrine of "Divine Justice" or "Karma" was too much for her; she certainly did not want her just deserts: she did not want 'to reap what she had sown'- not in this life or in any future life for that matter. There was then a vain effort to expunge the doctrine from the Bible. I say vain effort in light of the following abundantly clear references that still remain in the Bible: Malachai 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13; 11:1-15; Luke 7:27-28 and as regards Karma one should read Genesis 9:6, 2 Cor.5:10 and Revelations 13:10. Some of these citations are discussed below.

For excellent presentations on the subject of reincarnation one can read the book "Mansions of the Soul" by Spencer Lewis Ph.D., F.R.C, as well as the Chapter entitled "Reincarnation" in the book "Teachings of the Secret Order of the Christian Brotherhood" by Edward Lewis Hodges M.A., M.D., Ph.D112 and the Chapter entitled "Rebirth and the Law of Consequence" in the book "The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception or Mystic Christianity" by Max Heindel.113

Despite the fact that some of us who think of ourselves as Christians have not been made aware of the Biblical references to reincarnation cited above, it must be remembered, that the doctrine of reincarnation was accepted by the Jews.114 It existed from time immemorial, before the coming of Yashua/Jesus the Christ, hence there was no need for him to belabour the point or criticize it as it did not detract from the main principle of his teaching, which was and is: the energy and life-force engendered by "selfless love". The doctrine of Reincarnation enhances the spirit of understanding and love.

For those who have 'eyes to see and ears to hear' some of the passages cited above are now elaborated upon: In the Old Testament we read in Malachi 4:5- "Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Hence, John the Baptist (the returned Elijah) was sent "before the coming ...of the Lord", as the forerunner of Christ Jesus/Yashua, the Messiah or Massu.115

To prove the above one merely has to read Matthew 17:10-13. "And his disciples asked him (Jesus/Yashua), saying, why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already and they knew him not! Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist."

Further, Matthew 11:7-10 indicates: "And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitude concerning John. What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in King's houses. But what went ye out ... to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a Prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, "Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee."..."And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was..to come. He that hath ears to hear let him hear."116 For a further reference to John the Baptist being the reincarnation of Elijah one should also read Luke 1:13-17. It should be noted that the original spelling of "Elijah" and his disciple "Elisha" is used in the Old Testament, but was changed by the Greek translators in the New Testament into "Elias" and "Eliseus" respectively.117

An intriguing insight into an individual's conscience is given by an understanding and appreciation of the doctrine of reincarnation. The conscience of each individual is said to be "the fruit of mistakes in past earth lives, which in future guides the spirit aright and teaches it how to avoid similar missteps. Virtue, being the essence of all that was good in former lives, ..... acts as encouragement to keep the spirit ardently upon the path of aspiration." 118

Certainly Jesus the Christ/Yashua did not and would not expound the unloving, bigoted view that by dint of one sometimes very brief or long lifetime, a Soul is either condemned or blessed for eternity, that is, regardless of the cultural, environmental and other variables relating to opportunity that exist. There always have been many paths to God; all narrow but existent from the beginning of time. Arguably, to the Christian and followers of Yashua, the path of Christ is the easiest because it is open to all and he takes the yoke from off your back if you just allow him; this atonement comes about by faith (substance) in his divine sacrifice for your sins. According to your faith (substance)119 in his name, his life and resurrection, a quickening of 'the Christ spirit in you' takes place. When, as indicated earlier, the "Bride" (the Ego or Persona that you identify with by a name tag given to you at birth), by faith submits to and becomes one with the "Bridegroom", (the Christ/divinity that must be realized in you), then you will be 'one with your Christ-within'(the "Door" to the All-Father); and simultaneously, one with your Messiah, Christ Jesus/Yashua: Yeshai. From then you will be a realized Son or Daughter of the All-Father and will have access to all mansions of the All-Father's Creation; there will be no need for rebirth (reincarnation) to overcome this Earth school-room. In the words of a modern day prophet and Nazarene, Bunny Wailer, "changing names fool the innocent."120

The essence of life is to know what the purpose of life is. If one does not understand the purpose of life, one is like an individual walking aimlessly in circles. If one accepts that life is a spiritual journey in the temple of flesh, one quickly realizes that to live love is the only way to overcome this School called Earth, the only way to realize one's divine potential; the only way to realize that peace and happiness we desire so badly. One has to become centred in the eye of his or her being, wherein dwells the Christ or Divine Essence within; 121 'the doorway' to the All-Father.

When one accepts the spiritual nature of the purpose of life on Earth, a purpose which culminates ultimately with conscious attunement with God, one is then influenced in his views of law, politics, economics, education, development and life in general. One who is thus conscioutised, ultimately judges all things by the principle of love, be it in the realm of politics, economics or law; one always is influenced by what is just, fair and equitable in any given situation. All things must be seen and developed in a way to assist all humanity to be victorious in overcoming this Earth-Realm. Morality, ethics and doing that which you ought to in any given situation should be taught as the basis of this victory in life. People must see this and understand why this is so.

It is important therefore, that in the education process, besides teaching people English (and other languages), History, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology, Sociology and other worthwhile subjects, they must be taught the truth about God's laws including the fundamental laws of "love" and "as you sow so shall you reap" and "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you". That form of education is essential if people want to develop a viable and enduring society.

It is noteworthy that most great civilizations or high cultures, at their zenith, had developed great spirituality and devotion to God as well as a conscientious work ethic and a moral code to guide their daily lives; this seems to be the recipe for wholesome development and success. As soon as a reversal of those values set in, so did decadence, decay and rapid decline. It must be realized that moral codes that have evolved in all cultures of humanity have usually been based on God's spiritual or natural laws: eternal truths that can be found in every leading religion of the world.

Having dealt with the cycle of life and reincarnation, we can better appreciate the physical birth of a 'living Soul' on Earth. When Mr. A or Miss B decides to continue their spiritual journey on Earth so as to overcome that School-Room or Realm by realizing the fullness of God's grace (the Christ or divinity within), the Spirit-Soul finds an environment most conducive to working out his or her destiny, as the case may be. The environment of necessity includes the parents and country where the Spirit-Soul hopes to incarnate.122

With the above having been decided, when the prospective parents are joined in sexual union, just prior to conception, the seed atom of the dense body, which is part of the incarnating Spirit-Soul, enters and quickens a sperm cell, a positive nucleated element of the potential father; this quickened sperm cell in turn fertilizes the negative ovum of the potential mother. The operation of the Christ or Divine principle in the seed atom of the dense body is crucial in successful conception; for that matter, the life-giving principle in the four seed atoms of the Christ Spirit makes the life of Mr. A or Miss B possible as will be elaborated on below.123

Undeniably, the biological or earthly parents contribute significantly to the gases, liquids and solids, bio-chemical body, which is the flesh, blood and bones body: the physical temple of the Spirit-Soul. But as indicated above, even in creating the physical temple, the seed atom of the dense body, which is an atom of the Christ Spirit, must quicken the male seed otherwise conception and ultimate birth of a human being would not occur.

Likewise, it is the seed atom of the vital body, the desire body and the Mind that allows the three other vehicles or bodies of the Spirit-Soul to be developed and perfected on Earth. As indicated before, the dense or physical body is complete at birth, the vital or etheric body is born at age seven, the desire or astral body at age fourteen (puberty), and the mind substance vehicle or sheath at age twenty-one. Each one of us if we honestly observe our own lives, will notice or would have noticed, as the case may be, those changes in vitality, desire and intellectual maturity around those times in our lives; each change occurring seven years apart.

From the above, it is clear that we truly belong to the Christ or Divine Spirit from birth.124 However, in the noisy confusion of life, we lose track of this; but when as adults we eventually, consciously become aware of this in every fibre of our human form, by the grace of God, the "Mystic or Spiritual Marriage" takes place; perfection and union with the Infinite Consciousness of the All-Father becomes a living reality through the realized Christ within the holy temple of flesh; spiritualisation of the molecular or Atomic structure takes place here on Earth and you are thus 'translated'.125

As indicated at the beginning of this Chapter the doctrine or science of spiritualising the physical temple through the Christ-within was not only taught but demonstrated by Yashua or Jesus the Christ. He taught his disciples and close associates that the seed or permanent atom of the dense body dwells in the left ventricle of the heart like a tiny flame of life;126 each time the heart beats, according to the purity of a person's blood127 and thoughts,128 the fire or flame of life is transmitted throughout a person's physical body. By this method the physical temple is quickened and spiritualised,129 achieving a similar vibration to that of the etheric or vital body. By this method, ordained incidentally by the All-Father, death loses its sting. The molecular structure, having been spiritualised can be re-assembled by the Spirit-Soul whenever it is necessary to manifest itself on Earth to do God's Will. A realized son or daughter of God has access to all the mansions of the All-Father's House. This is the All-Father's plan for all of us - not some of us. And so it is! Praise God. Hence, we read: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth (again) until Christ be formed in you"130

All who require light on the path of life have an earnest desire for "the Word", be it the spoken or written word; spiritual nourishment via the word is always necessary to the Initiate on the Path. The Bible, for example, is considered by Christians and other adherents to be the inspired word of God. Others consider the Osirian Text, the Coming Forth by Day, the Torah, the Talmud, the Upanishads, the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Holy Quran, the Kitab-i-iqan (and many other sacred writings that are deserving of the utmost respect and admiration) as their sacred book of Divine guidance.

Most of the great Messengers, Masters, Prophets and Avatars taught the inner esoteric Truths of life via symbology and allegorisms (parables).131 True, most of the Bible can be taken literally, referring to historical happenings and personalities as well as future events (prophecy); however, to the Initiate on the Path, esoteric truths of the Will and the Way are presented in symbology and allegorisms (parables) throughout the Bible. To the Initiate on his spiritual journey on Earth, gaining an understanding of the inner meaning of the Bible, the inner mysteries of life, is light and nourishment on the Path: sustenance for the Soul. Some would say that seeing the Bible as merely historical events, personalities and prophecy is the crude understanding, the outer layer of the Bible; whereas, seeing the eternal truths reflected in the symbology and allegorisms in the Bible about realising the Inner or Eternal Self, the Christ, the Elohim is the subtle understanding or inner essence of the Holy Book. These priceless truths are for every man or woman 'who has eyes to see and ears to hear'; all those who desire with all their heart that their will becomes one with God's Will; to those people all things will become possible. We are therefore humbly advised to keep our Bible or other sacred Book enshrined in a special yet accessible place in our home so that we can nourish our Soul on a daily basis.

Since ancient times the distinction between exoteric Christianity and esoteric Christianity has been made. Certainly, the Alexandrian School of North East Africa made such a distinction and so did Origen, himself an African. Origen, born in 185 AD, was one of the most distinguished theologians of the ancient Christian Church. Although Origen was eventually disowned by Christendom during the middle ages when the world was plunged into a spiritual abyss ("the Dark Ages"), the Encyclopedia Britanica describes Origen’s character as "blameless" indicating that "there are few church fathers whose biography leaves so pure an impression on the reader."132 St. Augustine, another African, was the only other church father and theologian who may have been as distinguished and influential in developing the theology and religious science of the early Christian Church.133

We read in the Bible - "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables."134 We also read - "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them (the multitude), as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his Disciples."135 Similar statements can be seen in many other areas of the Bible, such as, Matthew 13:11, Luke 8:10, Romans 11:25, 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 4:1, 13:2, 14:2, 15:51, Ephesians 1:9, 3:3, 3:4, 3:9, 5:32, Colossians 1:26, 1;27, 2:2, 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 1 Timothy 3:9, 3:16, Revelations 1:20, 10:7, 17:5 and 17:7. The word "mystery" when used in the Bible did not mean some strange occurrence, but "that which is known only to the initiated."136

The first esoteric key to the Initiate is that although stories in the Bible may refer to historical events, nations, races and personalities, at the same time, they can relate to happenings within our being on the path of unfoldment. The Apostle Paul not only understood this but reflected this in his teachings. To Paul the Nativity of Christ was not merely an event that occurred in Bethlehem but the experience of humanity as well as the individual Initiate who gradually awakens to the reality of the redemptive power of the Christ within. Thus he wrote .."I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" and also ".....this mystery...is Christ in you, the hope and the glory".137

Incidentally, the need for veiling the esoteric truths in narratives of history, places and personalities was to prevent the premature awakening of certain innate powers within "uninitiated" people (hard-hearted, carnal materialists), who would merely use those powers for selfish purposes to the detriment of others and eventually (by dint of the law of Karma) to the detriment of themselves.138

The second esoteric key to the Initiate is that places (e.g. "the Red Sea", which symbolises salt, matter, a material problem139 and "Egypt", which symbolises spiritual bondage unless we are referring to the story of the flight of Jesus to Egypt, which refers to his visit to the Mystery School of Egypt for Initiation and Mastership),140 and personalities (e.g. Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdaline, whose personalities are dealt with below) in the Bible represent states of consciousness or qualities of character;141 and by extension, clashes between personalities represent the struggle between the Christ, divine mind (the higher mind and intuitive nature) and the arrogant, carnal mind (the lower, base, animal mind); or simply put, between the higher spiritual nature and lower physical nature in Man. An epic example of the foregoing is the struggle between the shepherd boy David (the higher, spiritual, intuitive mind that shepherds our thoughts: our sheep)142 and the giant Goliath (the excessively arrogant carnal mind that eventually must be destroyed). Those states of consciousness, qualities of mind or character-types as reflected by personalities in the Bible do not only relate to the internal struggles within the individual initiate but sometimes also refer to humanity generally in a certain era of development when that state of consciousness, quality of mind, character-type or behavioural pattern was exemplified.

When the central personality being portrayed in a story is a normal human being, the usual, slow spiritual evolvement of every day (materialistic) humanity is being described. When the personality and events relate to a semi-divine being the hastened or enhanced progress of the initiate on the path of spiritual self-realisation is being described. Finally, when the experiences of an Avatar are spoken of, or those of divine conception or descent, this refers to humanity in the later phases of God's human evolutive scheme when humanity will go through certain inner experiences and realise perfection as divine beings, or it may refer to individual initiates who are advanced Souls within whom "the Mystic Marriage" (Mastership) takes place during their sojourn on Earth. Those keys are not only relevant to the Bible but to many eternal parables and allegories in other sacred writings.143 It must be remembered that God is the underlying Essence of all religious thought and the Eternal Truth underlying all religion; the spiritual or golden thread to be found throughout all sacred writings.

States of consciousness or qualities of character are well reflected in the Biblical personalities such as Mary, the mother of Jesus (Yashua), whose virtues of selfless love, devotion and humility are an example to all of us; of Mary Magdalene and Peter, in whom the potential for transmuting human frailty into ultimate sainthood is exemplified; of the two sisters Martha and Mary, representing both sides of the coin or character-types, the busy (materialistic) Martha, who was filled with the cares of the world, and Mary, on the other hand, who was more interested in pursuing the Word, the Spirit, the contemplative nature within herself. The comment of the Messiah to Martha, on the face of it, may look to some as an unfair rebuke, but in fact it merely reflects an esoteric truth that one must seek first and foremost spiritual truth: Wisdom - and all material things requested, as long as it is for a wholesome purpose required by you,144 shall come to you to bless and sustain you; not to whip, worry and destroy you, as some ill-gotten, material possessions do when obtained by greed, selfishness, or by some other clearly immoral means. All these attributes of character seen in the Biblical personalities referred to above can be found in each individual or can be seen emphasised more in one individual than another.145

The accounts in the Bible of Christ and the twelve Disciples refer esoterically to the twelve major character types, attributes or potentialities exemplified in the Astrological Zodiac Signs as well as within each living Soul on Earth. The closeness of the twelve Disciples to the Divine Teacher reflects a high state of spiritual evolution or refinement of character; when the twelve Disciples or qualities of character are disciplined (discipled) by the Centrifugal Figure, Christ Jesus (the Messiah), or the Indwelling Christ realised within one's bodily temple, the Christ Spirit in the Disciples of the Bible or within the true devotee or initiate, as the case may be, will be awakened from sleep as reflected in the ship in Galilee, when a great storm arose and Christ was awakened by the Disciples;146 or will be born as reflected in the Mystic Nativity, when "Christ" is said to "be formed in you."147 When this discipleship (discipline) is realised the initiate is perfected "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."148

The third esoteric key to the Initiate is that each narrative reflects a graphic description of the stages of the Spirit-Soul’s evolutionary journey to the Promised Land (Christ or Cosmic Consciousness). In using this third key each narrative can be interpreted from at least two perspectives.149 The first is the normal process of evolution along the wide and heavily used way or path of the majority and the second is the 'straight and narrow way' or path of the minority; hopefully the 'straight and narrow path' will become the path of the majority, that is, if those living Souls of the present era have ears to hear.150

The parable of the sower who encountered various soil and environmental conditions is a beautiful example of the above. As explained by the Messiah to his Disciples privately, the environment and soil conditions and the results that followed from the sowing can be related to the spiritual receptiveness or lack of it, as the case may be, of individual Souls or of humanity generally at certain stages of development.151

The Biblical narrative of the ten virgins spoken of in Matthew 25:1-13, refers on one hand to those living Souls on the Path of life (the five foolish Virgins), who are not sufficiently evolved to respond to and receive the higher spiritual impulses from the higher Self, the bridegroom or Christ-within (these Souls show little interest in spiritual matters); and on the other hand, to those other living Souls (the five wise Virgins), who are sufficiently evolved and disciplined to respond to the higher spiritual stirrings of the Christ-Spirit culminating in the mystic marriage of the mortal and immortal natures in Man; mortality is thus raised to immortality through the grace of God, which is the Divine Essence or Christ-Spirit within the body-temple. When this is fully and consciously realised in the hearts and minds of all of us living Souls, then, God's grace in us will be fulfilled. All marriages referred to in the Bible relate to the same mystic marriage; this will be elaborated on further below.152

The fourth esoteric key to the Initiate is that certain physical objects, words, actions and numbers have specific esoteric or symbolic meanings that can be applied throughout the Bible according to the context. A few examples are as follows:

(a) "water" and its associations at a macrocosmic level esoterically refers to all-pervading life, Universal or Cosmic space; and at a microcosmic level, according to the context, to the emotions within a living Soul153 or when referred to as "wells of water, rivers of water, still waters, pools of water, springs and brooks"154 - to spiritual refreshment or life-force to the Soul;155

(b) "air" generally refers to the intuition and "fire" to the mind; however, quite often fire also refers to the creative life-force of "the Word", "the Logos" as well as the creative Christ or Serpentine force within Man, which is frequently represented as a serpent or dragon in some Ancient Sacred writings;

(c) "city" represents a state of consciousness in Man and reference to "mountain" or "mountains" means spiritual ascent, an elevation of consciousness; this is in keeping with the second esoteric key, above, which indicates that references to places reflect a state of consciousness.

(d) "feet" refer esoterically to the desires of the Initiate: by a man's desires you know him; hence, for example, we read of the Master, Jesus washing the feet of his Disciples, which symbolically means that the Disciples' grosser attributes and desires (their desires of the World) were washed clean by the Massu and their desires were therefore no longer of this World but one-pointed on God; hence you are said to be in this world, but not of this world;

(e) "flesh" (which is sometimes referred to as "meat") of a divine Being esoterically refers to "spiritual truth and God's natural law";

(f) "blood" symbolizes the eternal outpouring of "divine life by which the Universe and Man are spiritually sustained;"156 it always symbolises life in its divine sense, the eternal Christ substance of life; the wholesome eternal life force that cannot die, for there is no death in life; only evil can be destroyed.157 Hence the sprinkling of the blood on the door posts represents the sprinkling of the Christ blood or Christ life at the doorway of our consciousness whereby the angel of death (evil, destructive thoughts and actions, sin, which bring about death) cannot enter our minds and lives.

(g) "the act of the eating of such flesh and the drinking of such blood" signifies the Initiate's conscious absorption of Eternal Truth as well as the "conscious coalescence with the one life of the Universe......unity with its Source."158

(h) "seven" is the spiritually perfect number; the sacred wisdom is said to have seven layers, there are seven Realms or Mansions of creation, there were seven days of creation "and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day". Solomon's temple was built in seven years;159 there are seven chakras or vortices of force in Man; in Revelations there were seven stars, seven churches, the dragon had seven heads and seven crowns, there were seven angels, seven golden vials, seven Mighty Spirits before the Throne, and seven mountains. In Daniel the furnace was to be heated seven times ................ before Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego were joined by a fourth, who appeared like the Son of God;160 likewise, the walls of Jericho were encircled on the seventh day for seven times before they came tumbling down. Man is said to have a sevenfold nature, and esoterically, the number seven is symbolized by the square and the triangle; the triune Christ or divine Spirit enters the square or "four-sided city of Jerusalem" (the lower self and physical body) and spiritualises it into New Jerusalem: the three sided triangle merges or marries the four-sided Square and becomes seven; the Egyptians expressed this sacred number in the structure of their pyramids; a pyramid was built with triangular sides on a four-sided base; with the apex or 'eye' of the pyramid pointing to the heavens.161 The Bible is replete with the use of the number seven in this esoteric manner.162

(i) "forty" is another of the many esoteric numbers utilised throughout the Bible and means - a time of probation, preparation, waiting and purification. The flood is said to have lasted forty days and Moses and the Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years; Joshua had to wait until he was forty years before he was fit to become leader of Israel and the children of Israel were delivered to the Philistines for forty years; Mary and Joseph waited for forty days before Christ was presented in the Temple and Moses, Elijah and Jesus the Christ (Yashua) fasted in the wilderness for forty days.163

We will now deal with a few Biblical narratives in Genesis, Exodus and Revelations reflecting the esoteric or inner meaning to all Initiates of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. To my mind there is no better place to start than the Adam and Eve story.

In Genesis we read: "Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." The Mesopotamian word ADUMAH, ADAM or ADM in Hebrew, represents the number 9 and means "of the ground"164 or "child of black clay";165 hence, we read in Genesis that God "formed man out of the dust of the ground" (the rich, black soil of Mother Earth, which is filled with heat and electro-magnetic energy from the sun and all the necessary chemical elements), "and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul."166 Esoterically, as the name relates to humanity, Adumah or Adam (ADM) symbolises the original human family when humanity, in keeping with God's creative evolutionary impulse, was in its infancy, totally pure and unconscious of things of the flesh. This period of innocence represents the time before the separation of the sexes when human beings were said to be passionless, androgynous beings, who were self-reproductive.167

The Adamic era and even for some time after the separation of the sexes (reflected by the story of God causing a deep sleep to come over Adam whereby one of his "ribs" - more accurately one of his sides with the more feminine attributes - was taken), can be seen as a period of innocence similar to the period between the birth of an individual to the time just before puberty. This is reflected when we read that God "closed up the flesh...thereof. And with the rib, which the Lord God had taken from Man, made He woman, and brought her unto man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.......And they were both naked, the man and his wife and were not ashamed."168 Their lack of shame at their nakedness reflects an innocence and purity of mind: the carnal or lustful aspect of sexuality had not yet taken hold of humanity. Humanity is said to have performed the act of fecundation (sex) within a natural cycle of life influenced by the positioning of planets around the sun; for some time this innocence and attunement with natural law continued and human beings were almost unconscious of the sex act; some may say they were so attuned to the higher spheres and laws of life that they lived like automatons under God's immutable, natural laws.169

In that the story of Adam and Eve is dealt with in the Chapter 3, to wit, "Beyond the veil of history", suffice it to say here that the temptation of the more intuitive, sensitive, Eve (the female) and the eating of the proverbial apple represents a lowering of spiritual consciousness to a lower plane of physical consciousness (esoterically, this can be taken to refer to the individual initiate or to humanity generally during that era); this was brought about by self-willed, physical indulgence, which reflected behaviour outside the natural rhythms or cycles of the spheres and contrary to the natural laws of human existence. After the abuse of the creative force, the eating of the forbidden fruit, they realized their nakedness, and lost their power of divine attainment and their gift of eternal life.170 Hence by the sweat of their brows they thereafter lived to sustain and support the off-spring, in some cases, of their indulgence, who incidentally carried within them the ignorance (lack of right knowledge and attitude) of their 'flesh and blood' earthly parents.171

The Cain and Abel story as reflected in the Bible may seem quite unfair to some people, if taken at its face value. But like many stories throughout the Bible besides the historical or prophetic aspect there is also the dual esoteric understanding that refers to the spiritual and psycho-physical development of humanity at a certain period in time as well as to the spiritual and psycho-physical development of the individual on the Path of self-realisation; the Path that leads to the conscious realisation of the Christ or divinity within: Christ consciousness, the door through which you must pass to get back to God, the All-Father. Incidentally, this is the same door through which Jesus the Christ passed to become one with his All-Father whilst here on Earth.

With the above having been said "Cain" who is represented as the tiller of soil, refers to the more physical, masculine, sons of fire type, the head or mind type; those who were and those who still are more influenced by reason and materialism. That nature or emphasis can be seen in individual character-types or experienced within each individual, to a lesser or greater extent.

Relating the name Cain to humanity generally, it represented humanity's total immersion into the material, physical world when they lost their attunement to things of the spirit; they lost their birth-right to eternal life; a time when humanity developed the concrete mind at the expense of the heart or the spiritual side of their nature. As indicated above, "Cain" represents the 'head' or 'reason', the sons of fire; whereas "Abel" on the other hand represents, the 'heart', (the feminine) or spiritual side, the sons of water.172

"Abel" it must be remembered was a "keeper of sheep" like David; and keepers of sheep in the Bible always represent purity of thought, innocence, pertaining to the heart, the more feminine or intuitive nature. Hence, the offerings of the heart (Abel) given in faith and love were acceptable to God whereas the offerings of the head (cold intellect, reasoning and materialism - Cain) were not acceptable nor pleasing to God.

It should be noted that Cain, the head, the cold, selfish intellect, kills Abel, the heart, and great misery sets in;173 hence when the selfish, reasoning mind dominates the heart (the love nature) in an individual or humanity generally, misery is the result. Hence, Cain and Abel represent types of humanity at different eras of time as well as qualities of character to be found in each of us.174

The idea of the voice of Abel crying from the ground represents the unhappy heart or spirit being engulfed by the earth or ground (the physical body) whereby the heart or spirit is dominated by the 'heartless' mind or intellect; the heart or spirit therefore cries out for release from such materialistic bondage. Eventually, the heartless intellect or intellect without heart always brings pain and suffering until one realises the futility of putting one's faith in materialism and carnality, that is, as distinct from things of the heart, the spirit or of God.175

Cain's movement in consciousness to the land of Nod, as distinct from a mere physical movement of Cain to a place called Nod, means a time of mental and physical unrest and trouble. As indicated above 'the head without the heart' brings about spiritual and physical imbalance and trouble; as a consequence going to the land of Nod means that one's consciousness is lowered. But suffering and pain always follow such lowered states of consciousness; and suffering and pain tend to assist us in changing our evil ways, hence, Cain, the head, the intellect, started to cultivate the more feminine aspect, the heart, and began to nurture the spiritual and altruistic aspect of his nature. Thus we read that Cain knew his wife who bore him a son called Enoch, a name that represents wisdom, a state of high consciousness; hence we read that Cain built a city and as indicated before "a city" means a state of consciousness.176 From the foregoing we learn that through experience and suffering wisdom can be realized within the very centre of our being. It is what we make of experiences that counts; what we get out of them. Do we learn from our mistakes and become better people for those experiences? At the end of the day that is what will give us the crown of glory - the faith (which is of substance), in good over evil and in love vanquishing hate; that is what will make us rapidly move forward in our glorious journey in realizing God's will 'within us' on Earth.

Remembering always that all sacred writings, like an onion, have several 'layers' (meanings) and that all narratives must be understood and realized within our own beings, the Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel saga of the Bible can be esoterically internalised and summed up as follows: Adam represents within the initiate the pure Monadic Ray or Christ Spirit; Eve, the Soul or Ego encased in the solar and physical body; Cain, the intellect, reasoning, the brain, body consciousness, carnality and materialism; and Abel, spiritual awareness, the heart, the intuitive nature, faith substance and spirituality. Incidentally, for those who have ears to hear, the mere incarnation of the Spirit-Soul in the mire of clay (the dense, physical body) symbolises a burial in the ground (an entombing) until the deadening effect is overcome and the Spirit re-attains his spiritual glory, bringing home with him to the Almighty (the All-Father), the pristine, perfected Soul (the Bride).177

Another narrative we will deal with briefly is the Biblical story of the Patriarch, Noah. Besides reflecting the history of the descendants of Adam and Noah, Chapters 5 to 10 of Genesis reflect the epochs of Man. Each "begat" or generation indicates a principle or phase of human development; a state or quality of consciousness. The basic character or principle exemplified by the patriarch is the key to what was the emphasis of human development during that epoch.178 Hence Noah and those like him represent the pioneers of the human race who managed to conquer the carnal or lower nature by building "the Ark or Soul Body of the Initiate",179 'the Marriage Garment' or 'Solar body' of the Indwelling Christ (divine) Spirit; over time, those pioneers or "Sons of God" eventually married "the daughters of men": this reflects marriage (merging) with the more carnal minded, flesh, blood and bones consciousness, which resulted in the gradual decline spiritually of the human race. Noah and those like him however represented those dedicated to the Path that did not yield to carnality and abject materialism. Noah is said therefore to have walked with God.180 By building an "Ark", a marriage garment or solar body,181 by pure living, the initiate cum Master rises above the flood waters of passion and emotion; hence the "Ark" comes to rest on Mt. Ararat. The door of the "Ark" to the Initiate is the spleen (or more specifically, the etheric double of the spleen), where solar energy from the sun enters the "Ark" (the solar body); and the window of the "Ark" is in the head, more specifically, "the parietal occipital suture, where the Ego (Soul) enters and leaves the body in sleep and at death."182

A helpful, yet easy to remember esoteric insight into Noah and the flood is that it also refers to the spiritual evolution of Mankind. "The animals" in the Ark represent the lower, animal, or carnal nature in Man that must be transmuted to the higher, divine, immortal nature or Self represented by "Noah and his family"; "the Ark" represents the Solar Body or Marriage Garment of the perfected Soul that successfully rides "the flood waters covering the Earth" (the earthy, animal passions). This is accomplished by sublimating and transmuting those forces, whilst on Earth, into high spirituality and mental illumination represented by "the Mountains of Ararat".

Another insight into interpreting an aspect of Noah and the flood story is that the "raven" represents the intellect and reasoning - and the "dove" represents the intuition and the will (the divine or spiritual aspect in Man); incidentally, the concept of doves and the like flying through the air reflects that the Soul is pursuing, or experiencing a higher state of spiritual consciousness. By using the intellect and reasoning alone (the raven), one will not attain or experience Truth and spiritual awareness, one needs to also use the intuition and the will (the dove) for one to realize, whilst on Earth, spiritual truth, life and illumination within one's being (Mastership or Christ-consciousness); the intuition and the will go beyond the intellect and become one with the universal life force (symbolised by the dove eventually returning with the olive branch: which signifies "peace" that passeth all understanding).183

The Noah narrative also represents to all who have eyes to see the life cycle or some may say 'the after-life experience', starting from the Spirit-Soul's conscious experiences immediately after physical death until rebirth on Earth in another temple of flesh. For example, when the Spirit-Soul takes leave of the physical, dense body, the Spirit-Soul spends some time in the Astral or Desire Realm, where as indicated earlier in this chapter,184 there is a precipitation or flood of one's past deeds and experiences; so -called good and bad karma. This part of the cycle is represented by the flood waters; it is a rapid, intense, emotional experience.

Fairly soon after physical death, but for the Desire seed-atom (the pure, spiritualised, desire essence), the Spirit-Soul is basically purged of its desire substance; thereafter, the Spirit-Soul experiences a unity and peace (a loving dispassion), in the subdivisions of the Desire Realm described earlier in the chapter as the First and Second Heavens. Here, all is peace, an ecstatic calm. This represents the period in the Noah story when the rain was restrained and the waters were abated;185 a state of mental and spiritual equilibrium.

The period of the Spirit-Soul's journey in the Third and final Heaven (which is located in the three higher subdivisions of the Mind Substance Realm), is represented in the Noah story by the Ark coming to rest on the Mountains of Ararat.186 Here, remember, the divine, three-fold Spirit imbued with the essence of the seed-atoms of the Soul, becomes one with the Universal Spirit of the All-Father. The eventual emergence of Noah from the Ark and the descent from the mountains to lower ground represents the Spirit-Soul's descent to Earth for rebirth. This cycle of life is continued until perfect Christ or divine consciousness is realized whilst the Spirit-Soul is in the temple of flesh on Earth. Incidentally, the rainbow in the Noah story represents the bridge or link between the two lives, as well as a covenant between God and Humanity to unite the mortal self with the immortal, spiritual, Self: the Christ that must be realized in you by the grace of God, the All-Father of all creation.

Finally, in esoteric ethnology and history, the Noah epoch also represents the time of the Atlanteans spoken of in Chapter 3. Some refer to them as the Fourth Root Race, who abused both their psychic and material powers for selfish and aggressive ends; eventually, this behaviour of necessity brought about their own end via the proverbial floods referred to by all ancient cultures