There are four phrases which have for long been bandied about among so-called occultists and esotericists. They are:
- glamor,
- illusion,
- maya and the expression,
- the dweller on the threshold.
They all stand for the same general concept or some differentiation of that concept. Speaking generally, the interpretations have been as follows, and they are only partial interpretations, and are almost in the nature of distortions of the real truth, owing to the limitations of the human consciousness.
Glamor has oft been regarded as a curious attempt of what are called the “black forces” to deceive and hoodwink well-meaning aspirants. Many fine people are almost flattered when they are “up against” some aspect of glamor, feeling that their demonstration of discipline has been so good that the black forces are interested sufficiently to attempt to hinder their fine work by submerging them in clouds of glamor. Nothing could be further from the truth. That idea is itself part of the glamor of the present time, and has its roots in human pride and satisfaction.
Maya is oft regarded as being of the same nature as the concept promulgated by the Christian Scientist that there is no such thing as matter. We are asked to regard the entire world phenomena as maya and to believe that its existence is simply an error of mortal mind, and a form of autosuggestion or self-hypnotism. Through this induced belief we force ourselves into a state of mind which recognizes that the tangible and the objective are only figments of man’s imaginative mind. This, in its turn, is likewise a travesty of reality.
Illusion is regarded rather the same way, only (as we define it) we lay the emphasis upon the finiteness of man’s mind. The world of phenomena is not denied, but we regard the mind as misinterpreting it and as refusing to see it as it is in reality. We consider this misinterpretation as constituting the Great Illusion.
The Dweller on the Threshold is usually regarded as presenting the final test of man’s courage, and as being in the nature of a gigantic thought-form or factor which has to be dissipated, prior to taking initiation. Just what this thought-form is, few people know, but their definition includes the idea of a huge elemental form which bars the way to the sacred portal, or the idea of a fabricated form, constructed sometimes by the disciple’s Master to test his sincerity. Some regard it as the sumtotal of a man’s faults, his evil nature, which hinders his being recognized as fit to tread the Path of Holiness. None of these definitions, however, give a true idea of the reality.
I would point out here that (generally speaking) these four expressions are four aspects of a universal condition that is the result of the activity – in time and space – of the human mind. The activity of MINDS! Ponder on this phrase for it gives you a clue to the truth.
The Problem of Illusion lies in the fact that it is a soul activity, and the result of the mind aspect of all the souls in manifestation. It is the soul which is submerged in the illusion and the soul that fails to see with clarity until such time as it has learnt to pour the light of the soul through into the mind and the brain.
The Problem of Glamor is found when the mental illusion is intensified by desire. What the Theosophist calls “kama-manas” produces glamor. It is illusion on the astral plane.
The Problem of Maya is really the same as the above, plus the intense activity produced when both glamor and illusion are realized on etheric levels. It is that vital unthinking emotional MESS (yes, brother of old, that is the word I seek to use) in which the majority of human beings seem always to live.
The Dweller on the Threshold is illusion-glamor-maya, as realized by the physical brain and recognized as that which must be overcome. It is the bewildering thought-form with which the disciple is confronted, when he seeks to pierce through the accumulated glamor of the ages and find his true home in the place of light.
The above are necessarily only generalizations, and the result also of the activity of the analytical mind, but they serve to embody a part of the problem in words and to convey to your minds a definite thought-form of what we shall later discuss in detail.
As to the causes of this world condition, what can I say, brother of mine, which will convey meaning to your minds? The cause lies far back in the consciousness of the “imperfect Gods.” Does that sentence really mean aught to you? But little, I fear. We must descend into the realm of greater practicality and only deal with the matter as far as it concerns humanity. Planetary illusion will later be briefly dealt with, but the immediate problem before man and the significant contribution of the disciple is the dissipation of much of the glamor in which mankind is immersed and which, during the coming Aquarian Age, will largely disappear in connection with the astral life of the race. The point I would here make is to call attention to the fact that it is in meditation and in the technique of mind control that the thinkers of the world will begin to rid the world of illusion. Hence the increasing interest in meditation as the weight of the world glamor is increasingly realized, and hence the vital necessity for right understanding of the way of mind control.
Another point which should be noted is that in the crystallization of this material age comes the great opportunity to strike a deadly blow on the planetary Dweller on the Threshold. The reaction at this time, through the stress of circumstances, is bringing about a more spiritual understanding and a reorganization of human values, and this is part of the process whereby a vital part of the world glamor may be dissipated – if only all men of goodwill within the world aura adhere to their appointed task.
When the Buddha was on Earth and achieved illumination, He “let in” a flood of light upon the world problem through His enunciation of the Four Noble Truths. His body of disciples and His nine hundred arhats formulated those four great truths into a structure of dogma and doctrine that – by the power of collective thought – has greatly helped in the attack upon the world illusion. Today the Christ is carrying forward the same great task and in the spiritual significance of His imminent Coming (and in the language of symbolism) He and His nine thousand arhats will strike a second blow at the world glamor. It is for this that we prepare. Only the intuition can dispel illusion and hence the need of training intuitives. Hence the service you can render to this general cause by offering yourselves for this training. If you can overcome glamor in your own lives and if you can, therefore, comprehend the nature of illusion you will help in
- The destruction of the dweller on the threshold,
- The devitalizing of the general maya,
- The dissipation of glamor,
- The dispelling of illusion.
This you have to do in your own lives and in the group relation. Then your more general contribution will help in the wider human issues. The acuteness of the intellect, and the illumination of the mind, plus love and intention will accomplish much. To this service, I reiterate my call. During the next few months I would suggest that you do three things:
- Define in your own words and as the result of meditation, your understanding of the four expressions with which I have been dealing. I ask for a real analysis and not just four sentences of definition. Before I enlarge upon this subject I would like you to organize your minds on the matter, using definitions as a guide to your thought, yet stating the problem as you see it, and seeking to see the differences existing between these four aspects of the world glamor.
- Say each day, with care and thought, a very familiar prayer, The Lord’s Prayer. It has many meanings and the trite and usual Christian significance is not for you. Ponder on this most ancient formula of truth and interpret it entirely in terms of a formula for the dissipation of illusion. Write an exegesis on it from this angle, taking it phrase by phrase and regarding it as giving us seven keys to the secret of the elimination of glamor. The formula (which is not essentially a prayer) can be divided as follows:
- Invocation to the solar Lord.
- Seven sentences, embodying seven keys for the dissipation of illusion.
- A final affirmation of divinity.
Use your intuition and apply these all to the subject of glamor and see at what knowledge you will arrive. Then write it down in the form of an interpretation or article and we may arrive at much value.
- Keep a copy of your full moon record and, at the close of six months, subject it to a careful analysis and see what is the sumtotal of gain. Divide your analysis into the following heads and express your understanding of the phenomena:
- As to any real contact.
- As to any color contact or phenomena.
- As to any other phenomena sensed, or seen or heard.
That we may all go forward into greater light and understanding, and that the light may shine upon the vertical Way of the disciple is my prayer and aspiration for you.
