Again, the Members of the Hierarchy are not only sensitive to
impression from the two other planetary centers (Shamballa and Humanity), but They are
acutely aware of the Forces of Evil which are fighting furiously against the
externalization of the spiritual work. The energy which cosmic evil generates is active
along three main channels:
- From the center of cosmic evil upon the cosmic astral plane. Of this center you can know
nothing, and its emanations and its magnetic aura can only be understood and recognized or
interpreted by the senior Masters and by initiates of still higher rank. As the potency of
the astral plane (which is so familiar to us all) weakens, and glamor and illusion are
negated by a rapid spiritualizing of humanity, the power of cosmic evil will
correspondingly weaken and the Forces of Evil will be unable to reach the planet with
their present easy effort. It is against the impact of this emanating evil that the
Hierarchy stands in protection of humanity. Hitherto it has been the task of Shamballa,
working through the Hierarchy, to protect humanity from the "intention to
destroy" of the cosmic Forces of Evil, but - in the coming cycle and as a result of
the triumph of the Forces of Light in the world war - the potency of Shamballa can be
combined with that of the "protecting Agents of Light."
- From the Black Lodge which is the externalization of the center of cosmic evil on Earth.
Just as the White Lodge is the representative or correspondence of the cosmic center of
light upon Sirius (the true Great White Lodge), so the Black Lodge is also representative
of ancient and cosmic evil. The Black Lodge is also far more advanced in externalization
than is the White Lodge, because materialism and matter are, [689] for it, the line of
least resistance. The Black Lodge is therefore far more firmly anchored upon the physical
plane than is the Hierarchy. It requires a much greater effort for the White Lodge to
"clothe itself in matter and work and walk on material levels" than for the
Black Lodge. Owing, however, to the spiritual growth of mankind and to the steady, even if
slow, orientation of mankind to the spiritual Hierarchy, the time has come when the
Hierarchy can materialize and meet the enemy of good upon an even footing; the
Hierarchy need not be further handicapped by working in substance whilst the Forces of
Evil work both in substance and in matter. Once the reappearance of the Christ and of the
Hierarchy is an accomplished fact, these Forces of Evil face sure defeat. The reason for
this is that the trend of human living and thought is turning steadily towards the
subjective spiritual values, even if these values are interpreted in terms of material
well-being at present and of better living conditions for all - with peace and security
also for all. The Black Lodge or the planetary center of evil works almost entirely upon
the astral plane, and is impressed directly and guided in detail from the cosmic astral
plane.
- From the negative or purely material forces of the planet, which are not necessarily
either good or bad but which have been used instinctually and oft unconsciously by
humanity for purely material ends, and are therefore basically anti-spiritual and subject
to the influence of human desire - a desire oriented towards selfishness, and therefore
towards separateness. This form of evil is being combated today by the New Group of World
Servers. Of this battle you know something because every thinking man and woman is
immediately implicated.
I have spoken of the evil present in the planet in very simple terms, and there are
phases of it to which I have not referred; the interlocking and interpenetrating of the
grades of evil are far more numerous and intricate than you surmise.
In summing up, I would say that the present reorientation of the Hierarchy, in
relation both to Shamballa and to [690] Humanity, ushers in the cycle of complete defeat
of cosmic evil upon our planet, leaving only an isolated and weakened Black Lodge to die a
slow death; this permits the purification of human desire to such an extent that
"matter will be redeemed by the sacrificial will of Those Who know, by the
will-to-good of Those Who are, and by the goodwill of those sons of men who have turned
their faces to the light and who in turn reflect that light."
As all
disciples know, one of the problems with which they are constantly confronted is an
extreme sensitivity to the thought currents of those with whom they are immediately in
contact. The more advanced the disciple, the greater is his problem. The theory that if
one lives and works on a high level of consciousness one is immune to that which emanates
from the lower level does not in practice hold good. The occult law proclaims that the
greater can always include the lesser, and just as that is true of the planetary Logos
(Who is the sumtotal of all lesser forms within His manifested universe), so the same law
applies also to all human beings. The disciple, therefore, can always include that which
emanates from those who are below him on the ladder of evolution. The more a disciple is
under the influence of the Law of Love, the more easily does he tune in and absorb the
thoughts and register the desires of those around him, and particularly of those who are
tied to him in the bonds of affection and of karmic relation. As disciples proceed from
initiation to initiation, the will aspect fortifies the intellect and directs the
expression of the energy of love, and thus the problem lessens, for the initiate learns
certain protective rules which are not available to the neophyte. The latter must
learn, first of all, how to identify himself with others, as the basis of a higher identification
which conditions the senior initiates in the scale of being. |
