Discipleship - Group Relations - 2

As the aspirant progresses he not only balances the pairs of opposites, but is having the secret of his brother's heart revealed to him. He becomes an acknowledged force in the world and is recognised as one who can be depended upon to serve. Men turn to him for assistance and help along his recognised line, and he begins to sound forth his note so as to be heard in deva and human ranks.

This he does-at this stage-through the pen in literature, through the spoken word in lecturing and teaching, through music, painting and art. He reaches the heats of men in some way or another, and becomes a helper and server of his race.

Two more characteristics of this stage might here be mentioned:-

The aspirant has an appreciation of the occult value of money in service. He seeks nothing for himself, save that which may equip him for the work to be done, and he looks upon money and that which money can purchase as something which is to be used for others and as a means to bring about fruition of the master's plans as he senses those plans.

The occult significance of money is little appreciated, one one of the greatest tests as to the position of a man upon the Probationary Path is that whyich concerns his attitude to and his handling of that which all men seek in order to gratify desire. Only he who desires naught for himself can be a recipient of financial bounty, and a dispenser of the riches of the universe. In other cases where riches increase they bring with them naught but sorrow and distress, discontent, and misuse.

At this stage also the aspirant's life becomes an instrument of destruction in the occult sense of the term. Wherever he goes the force which flows through him from the higher planes and his own inner God produces at times peculiar results upon his environment. It acts as a stimulator of both the good and the evil. The lunar Pitris, or little lives which form the bodies of his brother and his own body, are likewise stimulated, their activity is increased and their power greatly aggravated. This fact is used by Those Who work on the inner side to bring about certain desired ends. This is also which often causes the temporary downfall of advanced souls.

They cannot stand the force pouring into them, or upon them, and through the the temporary over-stimulation of their centres and vehicles they go to pieces. This can be seen working out in groups as well as individuals. But, inversely, if the lunar Lords,or lives of the lower self, have een earlier subjugated and brought under control, then the effect of the force and energy contacted is to stimulate the response of the physical brain consciousness and the head centres to egoic  contact.  

Then the other wise destructive force become a factor for good and helpful stimulation, and can be used by those Who Know how, to lead men unto further illumination. All these steps have to work out on all three lower planes, and in the three bodies, and this they do according to the particular ray  and sub-ray.
in this fashion is the work of the disciple carried out.

Thus is he brought -through right direction of energy and wise manipulation of force currents-to the Portal of Initiation, and he graduates from the Hall of Wisdom, that Hall wherein he gradually becomes "aware" of forces and powers latent in his own Ego and egotic group, wherein the force of the egoic group is his for the using, for he can now be trusted with, some part of the energy of the Planetary Logos, and thus be enabled to carry forward the plans of that Logos for evolution.

It would be well to remember that disciples on the first ray understand discipleship largely in terms of energy, or force, or activity, whilst disciples on the second ray understand it more in terms of consciousness or initiation. hence the divergence of expressions in ordinary use, and the lack of comprehension among thinkers. It might prove useful to express the idea of discipleship in terms of the different rays - meaning by this, discipleship as it manifests on the physical plane in service:

Remember carefully that we are here dealing with disciples. Later on as they progress, the various lines approximate and merge. All have been at one point the magicians, for all have passed upon the third ray. The problem now is concerned with the mystic and the occultist, and their eventual synthesis. A careful study of the foregoing will lead to the realisation that the difficulties between thinkers, and between disciples of all groups, consist in thier identitying themselves with some form, and in their inability to understand the different points of views of others.

As time elapses, and they are brought into closer relationship with the two Masters with whom they are concerned (their own inner God and their personal master), the inability to cooperate and to merge their interests in the good of the group will pass away, and community of endeavour, similarity of object, and mutual co-operation, will take the place of what is now so much seen, divergence. We might well ponder on this, for it holds the key to much that is puzzling and, to many, distressing.

Reference: Initiation Human And Solar : Alice A Bailey