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LETTER LIII
THE ARCHIVES OF THE SOUL
I have spoken of a
determination to visit other planets when my work of writing these letters is
ended; but I must not neglect to say that I consider such journeys to and fro in
the universe of far less spiritual value than those other journeys which I have
made and shall make into the deep places of my own self. Travelling in actual
space and time is important to a man, that he may gain knowledge of other lands
and peoples, see the differences between these peoples and himself, and learn
the causes thereof; yet quiet meditation is even a greater factor in growth. If
a man whose spiritual perceptions are open can do but one of these two things,
it would be better for him to sit in a cabin in the backwoods and seek in his
own soul for the secrets which it guards, than to travel without such
self-examination to the ends of the earth.
Get acquainted with your own soul.
Know why you do this or that, why you feel this or that. Sit quietly when in
doubt about any matter, and let the truth rise from the deeps of yourself.
Examine your motives always. Do not say, “I ought to do this act for such and
such a reason; therefore I do it for that reason.” Such argument is
self-deception. If you do a kind act, ask yourself why. Perhaps you can find
even in a kind action a hidden motive of self-seeking. If you should find such a
motive, do not deny it to yourself. Acknowledge it to yourself, though you need
not advertise it on the walls of your dwelling. Such a secret understanding will
give you a greater sympathy and comprehension in judging the motives of others.
Strive always for the ideal; but do not label every
emotion as an ideal emotion if it is not really that. Speak the truth to
yourself. Until you can dare to do that you will make little progress in the
quest of your own soul.
Between earth lives is a good time to meditate, but one should form
the habit of meditation while in the flesh. Habits formed in the flesh have a
tendency to continue after the flesh is laid aside. That is a reason why one
should keep as free as possible from physical habits.
If my charming acquaintance who comes every night to
her husband to write love messages through his hand would spend the greater part
of her time in acquiring knowledge of this new world, so that she could
enlighten him, then might their communion be an unmixed good; but I fear it is
not so. Therefore I shall look for her again, and give her some fatherly advice.
She has a quick and receptive mind, and I think she will listen to me. He would
be interested in her experiences, if for no other reason than because they are
hers. Yes, I shall have to find her again.
I have made wonderful discoveries in the archives of my own soul. There I
have found the memories of all my past, back to a time almost unbelievably
distant. In seeing how the causes set up in one life have produced their effects
in another life, I have learned more than I shall learn on my coming tour of the
planets.
Everything exists in the soul; all knowledge is there. Grasp that idea if
you can. The infallible part of us is the hidden part, and it is for us to bring
it to light. Do you understand now why I advise the disembodied to break away
from the distractions and the dazzling mirages of the earthly life? Only in the
stillness of detachment can the soul yield up her secrets. It is not that I am
indifferent to earthly loves; on the contrary, I love more deeply than ever all
those whom I loved on earth; but I realise that if I can love them wisely
instead of unwisely, it will be better both for them and for me.
Yet the call of the earth is loud sometimes, and my heart answers from this
side of the veil.
LETTER LIV
LETTER LII |
