Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tt00168)

Pat F. wrote:

>> "In occultism a most solemn vow has to be taken never to use any powers
>> acquired or conferred for the benefit of one's own personal self...I have
>> taken that vow,
>
>    Tell me something:  does this mean that the GdeP passage I quoted is
>not for everyone, but Adepts only?

Dear Pat,

What I mean is that there is a moment in the life of an initiate travelling
his path to Adeptship when Nature begins to unfold its mystery, when he has
acquired Siddhis, any slight misuse of this power means disastrous
consequences. Since he has not completely eradicated the sense of 'self' and
see clearly into the complicate working of Karma there is a possibility to
misuse that power. The above mentioned vow is taken as a precaution not
to fall into the abyss of Black Magic and he has to left the burden of
caring for himself to destiny, that is why Jesus accepted his cross, why
Ramakrishna and other saints did not pray for the healing of their fatal
diseases even when fervently asked by their disciples.

The action of an Adept is different, his acts are always en rapport with
Universal Mind, there is no vow to bind him and the more spiritual he
becomes the less can he meddle with mundane gross affairs, hence the
situation to defend himself does not arise. Even when he seemingly defend
his physical vehicle by ordinary or occult means it is simply because that
temporary cloak still has some uses to him or other Adepts for the benefit
of humanity

I'm not sure whether this meaning is the same as what GdeP tried to convey
in the quote.

As to the Indian story of a sage and a snake, the version I like was told
by JMH, the Adept in "The Initiate".

" There was once a large snake, who lived in a tree by the roadside, and
amused itself by attacking and killing every passer-by. One day a great
sage came along, and asked it why it took delight in such evil deed,
pointing out that suffering to itself could accrue sooner or later as the
result: so that the snake promised to refrain from attacking people in
future, and the sage went on his way. In a few weeks' time, however, the
sage came back again, and, finding the snake in a sorry plight, asked it
what was the matter. Then the snake said, 'O, sage! I took your advice,
and see the result -when I ceased to attack the passers-by, they attacked
me instead, and reduced me to this. 'Ah!' answered the sage, with a smile
of compassion, 'I told you, merely not to molest them; I did not tell you
not to frighten them, if they tried to take a mean advantage of you.'"

Hope we do not repeat the mistake of that poor snake. :-)

Best,
Visanu