Theos-Talk Archives (March 2004 Message tt00155)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "netemara888" <netemara888@y...> 
wrote:
> Maybe it would help you to read some of the Esoteric Psychology 
books 
> by AAB in which they describe the rays and the personalities and 
the 
> flaws associated with those rays. There is a great deal of 
discussion 
> about intellectual pride in the second ray. This is also a quality 
of 
> the mind itself.
> 
> In other words as long as there is mind in matter there will be ego 
> and pride in some individuals. Find out about your own rays 
> personality flaws. That will be an eye opener for ya. And if you 
say 
> you have NO flaws then that too is a form of ego and arrogance.
> 
> Some of the stupidest people I've ever met were also extremely 
> humble. You can have it, I think it is overrated.
> 
> Netemara

Very interesting comment. Thanks indeed. Actually she seems to have 
assigned intellectual pride to the third and not the second ray. I 
looked up the "rays" in the book and finally found the section you 
referenced. It should be said this is one of the books in which 
Bailey felt the need to promote her antiSemitic sentiments, which in 
itself seems to void the claim that it was written by a "Tibetan." 
It makes little sense that a monk sequestered in the mountains of 
Tibet would be obsessed with what at the time was a purely European 
system of prejudice. Anyway this is typical of the kind of internal 
evidence which seems to moot the hook's claims.

Here is Bailey's system of rays, vices, and virtues. Of tthe 
theoretical underpinning of these claims is in the book I have not 
read that far yet. It is not clear from this excerpt how one would 
determine which "ray" a specific person belongs to. I hope it is not 
too arrogant of me to share this with anyone who might be 
interested. It is an arrogant thing to do, but those who benefit 
might be able to firgove.

Words from this point forward are those of AAB. This section does 
not contain any of AAB's hateful content:

--------------------------------
Esoteric Psychology
Section Two
The Seven Creative Builders, the Seven Rays

Analysis of the Rays and Their Expression,
from an Earlier Manuscript.
There is a vast fund of interesting knowledge as to the action and 
results of the ray activity in the lower kingdoms of nature, but on 
this point no details can be given; and the following summary of what 
we have been told is necessarily imperfect and admits of endless 
amplification.

First Ray of Will or Power

Special Virtues:
Strength, courage, steadfastness, truthfulness arising from absolute 
fearlessness, power of ruling, capacity to grasp great questions in a 
large?minded way, and of handling men and measures. 

Vices of Ray:
Pride, ambition, wilfulness, hardness, arrogance, desire to control 
others, obstinacy, anger.

Virtues to he acquired:
Tenderness, humility, sympathy, tolerance, patience,

The Second Ray of Love?Wisdom

Special Virtues:
Calm, strength, patience and endurance, love of truth, faithfulness, 
intuition, clear intelligence, and serene temper.

Vices of Ray:
Over?absorption in study, coldness, indifference to others, contempt 
of mental limitations in others.

Virtues to be acquired:
Love, compassion, unselfishness, energy.

This is called the ray of wisdom from its characteristic desire for 
pure knowledge and for absolute truth ? cold and selfish, if without 
love, and inactive without power. When both power and love are 
present, then you have the ray of the Buddhas and of all great 
teachers of humanity, ? those who, having attained wisdom for the 
sake of others, spend themselves in giving it forth. The student on 
this ray is ever unsatisfied with his highest attainments; no matter 
how great his knowledge, his mind is still fixed on the unknown, the 
beyond, and on the heights as yet unscaled.

The Third Ray of Higher Mind

Special Virtues:
Wide views on all abstract questions, sincerity of purpose, clear 
intellect, capacity for concentration on philosophic studies, 
patience, caution, absence of the tendency to worry himself or others 
over trifles.

Vices of Ray:
Intellectual pride, coldness, isolation, inaccuracy in details, 
absent?mindedness, obstinacy, selfishness, overmuch criticism of 
others. 

Virtues to be acquired:
Sympathy, tolerance, devotion, accuracy, energy and common sense. 
The Fourth Ray of Harmony through Conflict

Special Virtues:
Strong affections, sympathy, physical courage, generosity, devotion, 
quickness of intellect and perception.

Vices of Ray:
Self?centeredness, worrying, inaccuracy, lack of moral courage, 
strong passions, indolence, extravagance.

Virtues to be acquired:
Serenity, confidence, self?control, purity, unselfishness, accuracy, 
mental and moral balance.

The Fifth Ray of Lower Mind

Special Virtues:
Strictly accurate statements, justice (without mercy), perseverance, 
common sense, uprightness, independence, keen intellect.

Vices of Ray:
Harsh criticism, narrowness, arrogance, unforgiving temper, lack of 
sympathy and reverence, prejudice.

Virtues to be acquired:
Reverence, devotion, sympathy, love, wide?mindedness.

The Sixth Ray of Devotion

Special Virtues:
Devotion, single?mindedness, love, tenderness, intuition, loyalty, 
reverence.

Vices of Ray:
Selfish and jealous love, over?leaning on others, partiality, self?
deception, sectarianism, superstition, prejudice, over?rapid 
conclusions, fiery anger.

Virtues to be acquired:
Strength, self?sacrifice, purity, truth, tolerance, serenity, balance 
and common sense.

The Seventh Ray of Ceremonial Order or Magic

Special Virtues:
Strength, perseverance, courage, courtesy, extreme care in details, 
self?reliance.

Vices of Ray:
Formalism, bigotry, pride, narrowness, superficial judgments, self?
opinion over?indulged.

Virtues to be acquired:
Realization of unity, wide?mindedness, tolerance, humility, 
gentleness and love.