Sparing details, what was the appearance of Phyris after the flight of the years? When I left she was a bright, beautiful maiden, in the budding days of womanhood, having the divine, spiritual glory which characterizes the higher race of the perfect Human grade. How looked she now? Different only in the maturity of rounded womanhood, the prime which in Venus withers not with age, because there the animal is subdued, and there are no excesses, indulgences, nor any of that feverish grasping after unattainable things which the "children of a larger growth" who dwell in the human-animal plane of Earth to-day. Phyris, the dark-haired, starry-eyed girl who was yet more than a girl, was a woman divinely fair, was again before me. Again I beheld the sweetly natural, dignified mien that reminded me of the first time I ever saw Mol Lang, that air of quiet, but marvelous power. Enhanced by this appearance, as is a gem by its setting, her sweet, pure selfhood shone forth, that sweet spirit which in Phyris was divine, yet had lost none of the human characteristics which have rendered Jesus so dear to mankind. The spirit was there, the perfect human, also, but the animal, the nature of Man on Earth, was reduced to its place of servitude. When I met the fair, beautiful woman I was abashed. At that moment the tide of the years overflowed my soul and awed me. Sometimes I had known of Phyris when the Hesperian astral controlled me. But far oftener of later years, the years of duty, this astral did not come, and then I knew Phyris only as an ideal, and with the attributes of that ideal I tried to endue Elizabeth, and the failure was agony to me.
Briefly, how did Phyris appear after the passing years? When I left, she was a radiant, beautiful young woman, just entering adulthood, possessing the divine, spiritual splendor of the higher, perfected Human race. How did she look now? She had only changed in her maturity as a woman, reaching her prime—which on Venus doesn't fade with age. This is because there, the animal nature is controlled, and there are no excesses, indulgences, or frantic pursuit of unattainable things that plague the "grown-up children" living on Earth's human-animal level today. Phyris, the dark-haired, starry-eyed girl who was always more than just a girl, stood before me as a woman of divine beauty. Again, I saw her natural, dignified demeanor that reminded me of when I first met Mol Lang—that air of quiet yet remarkable power. This appearance enhanced her sweet, pure self, like a gem in its setting. Her spirit in Phyris was divine, yet retained all the human qualities that have made Jesus so beloved by mankind. The spirit was there, as was the perfect human, but the animal nature of Earth-bound Man was reduced to its proper, subservient place. When I met this fair, beautiful woman, I felt humbled. In that moment, the weight of the years overwhelmed my soul and filled me with awe. Sometimes, when the Hesperian astral controlled me, I had known Phyris. But more often in recent years—years of duty—this astral didn't come, and I knew Phyris only as an ideal. I tried to project those ideal attributes onto Elizabeth, and my failure to do so caused me great anguish.
Wonderingly, wholly delighted, I looked on Phyris now, nor deemed it lack of propriety that she should kiss me and 'whisper, "Home again," her eyes lighted with the peaceful joy reflected from my gaze.
Amazed and filled with delight, I gazed at Phyris. I didn't consider it improper when she kissed me and whispered, "Home again." Her eyes shone with the same peaceful joy that reflected in my own gaze.
No passion was in me, no prompting to be sentimental--no, that was gone with Earth's feverish dream.
I felt no passion, no urge to be emotional. Those feelings had vanished along with Earth's fleeting illusions.
How familiar all things appeared when at last I was come home. For six Hesperian months I did nothing but wander in my psychic form in this Elysium, this stellar garden of the Hesperides. In the other time most of my visit was spent in the company of Sohma or Mol Lang. But now Sohma was otherwise engaged. Mol Lang, too, was occupied in the work that attracted him, that of guiding, teaching and helping mankind, en masse, as well as individually; that portion of our race yet on Earth. Unconscious of his agency, or of how, with others equally great, Mol Lang was influencing the affairs of men, these men on Earth went on with their doings, fondly thinking that themselves were doing all. How little humanity on Earth knows that it is thus guided. Yet our Father gives it to His occult children to lead their lesser brethren, just as He gave it to Jesus, one of the Sons of Light, higher than any other, who was an incarnation of the Christ. Perhaps human acts were not, are not, guided individually, as a rule, although exceptions exist. But just as shot, running in grooves, is checked by the leaden pellets before and behind, so the acts of one man depend on the acts of others; these on others still, until finally it appears that the mass is influenced in the whole, and every individual in the mass has his or her acts unconsciously controlled by what are termed circumstances, fates, adverse or propitious, inexorable, the grooves in which they run. That is to say, humanity is ordered in its action by what may be named the Universal Karma. So long as men grope in the dark, ignorant of occult laws, so long must they produce this inexorable karma. It is fate, self-made, running from life to life, incarnation after incarnation, unavoidable, for it is horn of the infraction of the laws of the Creator. Even Mol Lang, before he passed and triumphed at the Crisis, to which I was soon to come, and which he experienced a century ago, was controlled by the great, Universal Karma. But in passing that ordeal he passed from finite life to everlasting, and became a law unto himself. And then, free of karma, he returned to minister to those bound by circumstances. Mol, Lang was become more than man. He had taken of the Tree of Knowledge, also of the Tree of Life. Such as he utilize the elementals, those non-human, non-embodied powers of the air. They find in mankind the tendency to sin, and use it, so that the erring ones mount the ladder on rungs, each of which is a conquered fault. The great religious movements, wars, and the fields of commerce, all furnish experiences for mankind. Do some seem cruel, evil? Yet each is a part of the scheme of the Creator, each is a tool in the hands of His ministers, and all teach that except a man, as part of the Eternal Whole, works for that Whole, subduing the selfish animal in himself, he can in no wise come to the Father.
How familiar everything looked when at last I had come home. For six Hesperian months I did nothing but wander in my psychic form in this Elysium, this starry garden of the Hesperides. On my other visit I had spent most of my time with Sohma or Mol Lang. But now Sohma was busy elsewhere. Mol Lang, too, was occupied in the work that drew him: guiding, teaching, and helping mankind, both as a mass and one by one, that part of our race still on Earth. The men on Earth were unconscious of his agency, and of how Mol Lang, with others equally great, was influencing the affairs of men. They went on with their doings, fondly thinking that they themselves were doing it all. How little humanity on Earth knows that it is guided in this way! Yet our Father grants it to his occult children to lead their lesser brethren, just as he granted it to Jesus. Jesus was one of the Sons of Light, higher than any other, and was an incarnation of the Christ. Perhaps human acts were not, and are not, guided one by one as a rule, though there are exceptions. But think of shot running in grooves, each pellet checked by the lead pellets in front of it and behind it. In the same way, the acts of one man depend on the acts of others, and theirs on others still. Finally it appears that the mass is influenced as a whole. Every individual in the mass has his or her acts unconsciously controlled by what are called circumstances, fates, adverse or favorable, inexorable. These are the grooves they run in. That is to say, humanity is ordered in its action by what may be named the Universal Karma. As long as men grope in the dark, ignorant of occult laws, they must produce this inexorable karma. It is fate, self-made, running from life to life, incarnation after incarnation. It is unavoidable, for it is born of breaking the laws of the Creator. Even Mol Lang was controlled by the great Universal Karma, before he passed and triumphed at the Crisis. He went through it a century ago, and I was soon to come to it. But in passing that ordeal he passed from finite life to everlasting life, and became a law unto himself. Then, free of karma, he returned to serve those bound by circumstances. Mol Lang had become more than man. He had taken of the Tree of Knowledge, and also of the Tree of Life. Beings such as he make use of the elementals, those non-human, non-embodied powers of the air. They find in mankind the tendency to sin, and use it, so that the erring climb the ladder on rungs, each of which is a conquered fault. The great religious movements, wars, and the fields of commerce all furnish experiences for mankind. Do some seem cruel, evil? Yet each is part of the Creator's scheme, and each is a tool in the hands of his ministers. And all teach this: unless a man, as part of the Eternal Whole, works for that Whole, subduing the selfish animal in himself, he can in no way come to the Father.
About 112 Earth days. A year on Venus is 224.7 Earth days.
Revelation 22:14
"Except by My Path," says the Savior.
"Only through My way," says the Savior.
If Sohma and Mol Lang could no longer be with me as companions, who then could? Phyris. She became my tutor, my guide, and led me farther on towards the point where soon I must take the Key and enter alone on the dread struggle, with only my faith in God to sustain me.
If Sohma and Mol Lang could no longer be my companions, who could? Phyris. She became my mentor and guide, leading me closer to the moment when I would have to take the Key and face the daunting challenge alone, with only my faith in God to support me.
One day Mol Lang said, "Phylos, come with me."
One day Mol Lang said, "Phylos, come with me."
I went to his special apartments. There he said:
I visited his private quarters. He said to me there:
"Hitherto thou hast but an astral body, but now thou needest a physical body as a base of action, for now must thou learn of thine own self. Sleep, that I may gather material atoms about thine astral."
"Until now you have had only an astral body. But now you need a physical body as a base of action, for now you must learn about your own self. Sleep, so that I may gather material atoms around your astral body."
I immediately slept, as I lay on the couch where he had bidden me recline. When I awoke be was regarding me, and, for a moment forgetful, I sat up.
I fell asleep right away on the couch where he had told me to rest. When I woke up, he was watching me. For a moment, I forgot where I was and sat up.
"Arise," said Mol Lang. I obeyed, and found myself clothed in flesh. Thus I became a Hesperite. I was now of the same apparent age as Phyris, and was thereby seemingly dispossessed of some twenty-five years. Before any lengthy period there came to shine in me somewhat of the Spirit-nature, and as the same ego shone in Phyris, so therefore we grew into similitude of each other. Because of this indwelling Spirit, Nature was become an open book, and occult wisdom addressed me from all sides. Soon I could leave the body at will. Other steps succeeded, and I grew with marvelous rapidity to know many of the minor things reserved by our Father for His aspiring children.
"Wake up," said Mol Lang. I obeyed and found myself in physical form. I had become a Hesperite. I now appeared the same age as Phyris, seemingly losing about twenty-five years. Soon, I began to embody some of the Spirit-nature, and as Phyris and I shared the same inner self, we grew more alike. This spiritual awakening allowed me to understand nature deeply, and occult wisdom spoke to me from everywhere. I quickly learned to leave my body at will. Other abilities followed, and I rapidly gained knowledge of many of the lesser mysteries our Father reserves for His eager children.
With me now was abiding a Voice, and as it demanded of me, I answered and knew. It said:
A Voice stayed with me, and as it questioned me, I responded with certainty. It spoke:
John 16:13
"What is heredity?"
"What is heredity?"
And I answered from my spirit, knowing this thing:
And I answered from my spirit, for I knew this thing:
"Heredity is the sum of experience which the souls of men carry from one life through devachan into reincarnation. It is in nowise transmitted from parent to child, but its leading trait is attracted by the like trait in the parents. The lesser traits are educed by cultivation, or else lie dormant, according to environment."
Heredity is the accumulation of experiences that souls carry from one life through the afterlife into their next incarnation. It isn't passed down from parent to child. Instead, a soul's dominant traits are drawn to similar traits in its parents. Less prominent characteristics are either developed through nurture or remain inactive, depending on the environment.
Again the Voice said:
Once more, the Voice spoke:
"It is not well; thou who hast reaped, must now saw. I am the Eternal Spirit in thee; obey me. Thou art now able to stand in my presence; able to see; able to hear; able to speak; conqueror of desire, attainer of self-knowledge. Thou hast seen thy soul in its bloom, heard the voice of Peace. Go thou and read my writing in the Hall of Learning, which is My Works. Read.
"It is not well. You who have reaped must now sow. I am the Eternal Spirit in you. Obey me. You are now able to stand in my presence, able to see, able to hear, able to speak. You have conquered desire and attained self-knowledge. You have seen your soul in its bloom, and heard the voice of Peace. Go and read my writing in the Hall of Learning, which is my Works. Read.
"To stand--is to have confidence. To hear--is to have opened the door of thy soul. To see is to have attained perception of My Works. To speak--is to have gotten the power of helping others. To have conquered desire-is to have acquired control of self. To have self-knowledge-is to have come unto Me, whence thou art able impartially to view the personal man that was thyself. To have seen thy soul in its bloom-is to have had a momentary glimpse of that transfiguration which shall eventually make thee more than Man.
To stand firm is to have confidence. To truly listen is to open your soul. To see clearly is to understand My works. To speak with purpose is to gain the power to help others. To overcome desire is to master self-control. To know yourself is to connect with Me, allowing you to view your former self objectively. To witness your soul in full bloom is to glimpse the transformation that will elevate you beyond human limits.
"Stand aside in the coming battle, and though thou fightest, be not thou the warrior. Look for Me, and let Me fight in thee. Obey My orders for battle. Obey Me as if I were thyself. My orders thy desires--for I am thyself, yet infinitely more than thee. Look for Me, lest in the fever of battle thou pass Me. I will not know thee if thou knowest not Me. If thy cry come to Me, lo! I will fight in thee and will fill the void in thee. Then shalt thou be unwearied. Without Me thou shalt fall; with Me thou canst not fall, for I am the Spirit.
"Stand aside in the coming battle. And though you fight, do not be the warrior yourself. Look for me, and let me fight in you. Obey my orders for battle. Obey me as if I were yourself. Let my orders be your desires, for I am yourself, yet infinitely more than you. Look for me, so that you do not pass me by in the fever of battle. I will not know you if you do not know me. If your cry comes to me, see! I will fight in you and fill the emptiness in you. Then you will be unwearied. Without me you will fall. With me you cannot fall, for I am the Spirit.
"Listen now to the song of life in thy heart. Say not, 'It is not there.' Listen deeper. This song is in every breast; it may be obscure, yet it is there. Not the most wretched outcast but it is in him, for all are children of the Father, which is I. Listen to My Song, for while thou art yet but man, I shall not speak continually, and thy strength must sometimes be in memory of Me. Inquire now of the Earth-matter; of the air, of the water, the wind; and seek the treasurers of the snow. My Peace I give unto thee."
Listen to the song of life within your heart. Don't say, "It's not there." Listen more closely. This song exists in every person; it may be hard to hear, but it's always present. Even the most downtrodden have it, for all are children of the Father, which is I. Listen to My Song, for while you are still human, I won't always speak directly, and your strength must sometimes come from remembering Me. Now, explore the Earth's elements: the soil, the air, the water, the wind; and seek the treasures hidden in the snow. I give you My Peace.
At last I saw; I heard; and, my friend who readeth this, I speak. My words go to the multiplication by types, and then by myriad copies through the world, to be known by those that "seeing, see and comprehend." And with each copy shall go my love and greater, mine eye shall note each hungered seeker for the truth, and, be it in the palace, or cottage, there, too, will I be, not figuratively, but my Spirit.
At last I saw. I heard. And, my friend who reads this, I speak. My words go out to be multiplied by type, and then in countless copies through the world, to be known by those who "seeing, see and comprehend." And with each copy will go my love. And more than that, my eye will note each seeker hungry for the truth. Whether it is in a palace or a cottage, I will be there too, not figuratively, but my Spirit.
I had gone into a lonely mountain spot to hear this Voice, and now as I walked, a Being not Man joined me. Its presence was one of light and glory and goodness. With it came Mol Lang, saying:
I had gone to a lonely spot in the mountains to hear this Voice. Now, as I walked, a Being that was not Man joined me. Its presence was one of light and glory and goodness. With it came Mol Lang, saying:
"This is one of the Beings of Good. Behold, Phylos, our Father's House hath many Mansions, and in these are Beings created by Him, and endowed with volition like as Man, yet they are not human, never were, nor ever will be. Man shall be perfect when the Spirit of the Father entereth him. Then shall he know all things, and be perfect. What is perfection? Absolute harmony with His Infinite Creation. So there may be perfect men; also perfect Beings which are not Men, as this one with us. This is a Good Being. But there is an opposite in the Things of the Creation. There are perfect Evil Beings, which likewise are not, never were, nor ever will be human. What are these? They are in perfect harmony with the laws of their existence, but those laws and their conditions are absolutely opposed to ours, and to good. Hence such are inimical to our life and so, evil. Yet this sort seek us not, nor we them. In the scheme of Creation evil and good are evenly balanced. What disturbs, harmony with us, therefore, disturbs them by disadjustment of balance. Hence they seek not our harm. But Satan, know ye him? He was an Angel of Light, fallen, and come to so much the greater fall in that his height was so lofty. He is a rebel, and out of harmony.
"This is one of the Beings of Good. See, Phylos, our Father's House has many Mansions. In these are Beings he created and gave a will, as he did Man. Yet they are not human, never were, and never will be. Man will be perfect when the Spirit of the Father enters him. Then he will know all things, and be perfect. What is perfection? Absolute harmony with his Infinite Creation. So there may be perfect men, and also perfect Beings that are not Men, like this one with us. This is a Good Being. But there is an opposite among the Things of Creation. There are perfect Evil Beings, which likewise are not human, never were, and never will be. What are these? They are in perfect harmony with the laws of their existence. But those laws and their conditions are absolutely opposed to ours, and to good. So such Beings are hostile to our life, and therefore evil. Yet this kind does not seek us out, nor we them. In the scheme of Creation, evil and good are evenly balanced. So whatever disturbs harmony with us also disturbs them, by throwing the balance out of adjustment. That is why they do not seek our harm. But Satan, do you know him? He was an Angel of Light, fallen, and his fall was all the greater because his height was so lofty. He is a rebel, and out of harmony.
Luke 12:48
"Life, Phylos, is limited, for it is but the action in the Mansion of Human environment. But existence is not limited. Hence this Good Being with us is not Life, but of Existence. See, It goes. This is Its symbol, and the name of Its Mansion tri. And when thy trials are thickest, draw about thee on the ground that figure and stand in it; go not out, but call on the Father. He will send His tri Beings to aid thee. Peace go with thee."
"Life, Phylos, has boundaries, as it's merely action within the realm of human experience. Existence, however, is boundless. This benevolent being with us isn't Life, but part of Existence. Look, it's leaving. This is its symbol, and the name of its realm is tri. When your challenges become overwhelming, draw this symbol on the ground and stand within it. Don't step out, but call upon the Father. He'll send his tri Beings to help you. May peace be with you."
Mol Lang disappeared, and I was alone.
Mol Lang vanished, leaving me by myself.
Men dread most those insidious diseases, which attack not openly, but the weakest and most unguarded point. So, in the last, final Trial of the Crisis, I should be likewise insidiously attacked by the Satanic hosts. Earth has tried me during many lives; now was to come a trial greater than Earth. The attacks of mere human error differ from that of the well-organized, intelligent assault of those to whom evil has become natural, to Lucifer and his fellow-rebels.
People fear hidden diseases most—those that strike unexpectedly at our weakest points. Similarly, in the final test of the Crisis, I would face a subtle assault from Satan's forces. Earth has challenged me through many lifetimes, but now I faced a trial beyond earthly struggles. The mistakes of humans pale in comparison to the calculated, intelligent attacks of those who embrace evil—Lucifer and his rebel allies.
Of what nature is this Trial of the Crisis? It is the deciding whether in the long series of incarnate lives the soul has improved its opportunities for good; if it, in the main, followed the Path which Jesus pointed. If so, it has or will have strength to cope with the best efforts of the Satanic foe. If not, it must fall and die the second death. His incarnate life made the soul forgiving of all wrongs, forgetful of selfish interests, helpful to those having less light, more gloom, misery and sin to encounter, a self-contained nature? Has it become like the Man of Sorrows, full of faith, hope and charity? Then it hath beard the Voice, and will not fail. But if the soul is not like that, then, although it have the prophetic sight, and knoweth all things, though it have faith to removing mountains, yet shall it be only the more like Satan, and the worse its fate.
What is the nature of this Trial of the Crisis? It decides whether, in the long series of incarnate lives, the soul has made good use of its opportunities for good, and whether, on the whole, it followed the Path that Jesus pointed out. If so, it has, or will have, strength to meet the best efforts of the Satanic foe. If not, it must fall and die the second death. Has its incarnate life made the soul forgiving of all wrongs, forgetful of selfish interests, and helpful to those with less light and more gloom, misery, and sin to face? Has it made it a self-contained nature? Has it become like the Man of Sorrows, full of faith, hope, and charity? Then it has heard the Voice, and will not fail. But if the soul is not like that, then even if it has prophetic sight and knows all things, even if it has faith to remove mountains, it will only be the more like Satan, and its fate the worse.
Luke 20:35-36
Revelation 20:15
"Go into the Holy Place."
"Enter the sacred area."
Luke 4:2
And I, knowing obedience, went into a room built of stone, apart from the house. Then was I in the Presence where I had been as Zailm when Priest Mainin was blasted: It was the Presence of the living Christ. It was Man, yet more, for it [SYMBOLIC PICTURE IN THE "HOLY PLACE"] was the Spirit; as much more than Man as the sun is more than a glow-worm. Then a wondrous Voice said:
And I, knowing obedience, went into a stone room built apart from the house. Then I was in the Presence where I had been as Zailm when Priest Mainin was struck down. It was the Presence of the living Christ. It was Man, yet more, for it [SYMBOLIC PICTURE IN THE "HOLY PLACE"] was the Spirit, as much more than Man as the sun is more than a glow-worm. Then a wondrous Voice said:
"Be not afraid; it is I."
"Don't be afraid. It's me."
Around that Holy Place were forms of fire. Ink and paper can give little idea of the semblance. Yet look at the picture and try, with my aid, to see. The bolt blazed as a thing of flame, so also the Great Star and all the lesser ones. The Leaf was as life, and the cross the open Way, to the House thereof, while the Ring, I knew, symbolized the Eternal One, endless, beginningless. The Book was the Word, and it blazed with scintillant, crimson flame. But over all, a Personified Presence, was the Eye, the Eternal, sleepless, omnipotent omniscient Supervisor. So stood I in the presence of the Father, made manifest for me. As I remained, I knew all things of His Works, for the Spirit entered in. But not to abide, for as yet the Trial was not come to pass.
Surrounding that sacred place were forms of fire. Words alone can't fully capture the sight, but examine the image and try to envision it with my guidance. The bolt shone like a flame, as did the Great Star and all the smaller ones. The Leaf represented life, while the cross symbolized the open path to its dwelling. I understood the Ring to represent the Eternal One, without end or beginning. The Book embodied the Word, blazing with sparkling crimson flame. Above all, personifying a presence, was the Eye—the Eternal, ever-watchful, all-powerful, all-knowing Observer. Thus I stood before the Father, made visible to me. As I remained there, I gained knowledge of all His Works, for the Spirit entered me. But it didn't stay, as the Trial was yet to come.
For weeks I stayed in the Holy Place, and came not out to eat or drink, for I was wholly sustained by the Spirit. At the day of the Great Peace this Spirit must enter in and I be in It and It be in me forever more. But no guide could exist, no law for the Trial, except my strength of ages. Even the Spirit would be veiled in that ordeal.
For weeks I remained in the Holy Place, sustained entirely by the Spirit, without need for food or drink. On the day of the Great Peace, this Spirit must become one with me, and I with It, for eternity. Yet, in this Trial, I would have no guide and no rules to follow, relying solely on my age-old strength. Even the Spirit would be hidden during this challenge.