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The Master Within, part II

“Whether we prefer to call the master within Christ or some other name does not matter. However we choose to refer to him, all the questions we may have about the great adventure of life are resolved in his light. From the mystic’s point of view it’s only from the master within that each of us can discover our destiny as well as our true nature and place in the scheme of things. It’s only through him that we can find our true purpose in life, over and above the various material duties and responsibilities we all have.

Such was the change to their lives it’s not surprising that each of the mystics who recorded their inner reception of the light of Christ considered themselves reborn as a new kind of man; that a miracle had happened, that they had been saved by the grace of God, and that they had been led from darkness unto light.

Christ the redeemer was a fact proven to them beyond any doubt by their own inner transformation. From that day onwards He was the sun of their being, the light and the life within, the Saviour, the Lord of Heaven and Prince of Peace enthroned in the centre of their mystic heart. He was indeed the Master Within.”

Prince Siddhattha going forth in his renunciation of the worldly life Illustration from The Life of Buddha in Pictures by the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple in Penang

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Selections from ‘The Voice of the Silence’ — part III

“The more thou dost advance, the more thy feet pitfalls will meet. The path that leadeth on, is lighted by one fire — the light of daring, burning in the heart. The more one dares, the more he shall obtain. The more he fears, the more that light shall pale — and that alone can guide. ...

The PATH is one, Disciple, yet in the end, twofold. ... At one end – bliss immediate, and at the other — bliss deferred. Both are of merit the reward: the choice is thine. ... The Open PATH leads to the changeless change — Nirvâna, the glorious state of Absoluteness, the Bliss past human thought. Thus the first Path is LIBERATION. But Path the Second is — renunciation, and therefore called the ‘Path of Woe.’ ...

Now bend thy head and listen well, O Bodhisattva — Compassion speaks and saith: ‘Can there be bliss when all that lives must suffer? Shalt thou be saved and hear the whole world cry?’ ...

Sweet are the fruits of Rest and Liberation for the sake of Self; but sweeter still the fruits of long and bitter duty. Aye, Renunciation for the sake of others, of suffering fellow men. ... The Bodhisattva who has won the battle, who holds the prize within his palm, yet says in his divine compassion: ‘For others’ sake this great reward I yield’ — accomplishes the greater Renunciation. A SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD is he. ...

Thou art enlightened — Choose thy way.”

— H.P. Blavatsky, The Voice of the Silence