Letters on Occult Meditation

by Alice A Bailey

  On Mental Levels:

  a—The contacting of the head centre, causing it to vibrate. The stilling of the lower mind. [63]

  b—Linking up with the Ego to a more or less degree, but always to some extent through the permanent atom.

  c—The driving out of coarse particles and the building in of finer.

  On Emotional Levels:

  a—The definite stabilisation of the emotional body through the permanent atom, and the contacting and setting in motion of the heart centre.

  b—The driving out of coarse matter and the rendering of the emotional or desire body more colourless, so that it will be a true reflector of the higher.

  c—It causes a sudden rush of feeling from the atomic levels of the emotional plane to the intuitional plane, via the atomic channel that exists between the two. It sweeps upward and clarifies the channel.

  On the Physical Planes:

  a—Here the effect is very similar, but the primary effect is on the etheric body; it stimulates the divine flow.

  b—It passes beyond the periphery of the body and creates a shell that serves as a protection. It drives away discordant factors in the near environment.

  June 22, 1920

  The Logoic Chord and Analogy.

  Now, let us proceed with the study of the use of the Sacred Word in its group application and in its employment for certain specific ends. We have very briefly studied the Word as used by the individual who begins to [64] meditate,—the effect of its use being very largely one of purification, stabilisation and centralisation. This is all that is possible until the student has reached a point where he may be allowed to sound the note in one of the subtones egoic. You will have in the egoic note just the same sequence as in the note Logoic. What had you there? You had a sevenfold chord of which the important points at our stage of development are:

  1—The basic note.

  2—The major third.

  3—The dominant or fifth.

  4—The ultimate seventh.

  A hint may here be given along the line of analogy. There is a close connection between the fifth or dominant and the fifth principle, Manas or Mind, and, for this solar system (though not for the first or third), there is an interesting response between the fifth plane of mind and the dominant, and between the sixth plane of the emotions and the major third. From some angles in this connection the emotional vehicle forms a third vehicle for consciousness—counting the dense physical and the vehicle for prana or electrical vitality as two units. More I cannot say for the whole shifts and interpenetrates, but I have indicated food for thought.

  In the egoic note,—as before said—you have a similar sequence, for it is the reflection on its own plane of the Logoic. You will therefore have the basic note of the physical, the third of the emotional, and the fifth of the causal levels. When a man has mastered the key, and has found his own subtone then he will sound the sacred Word with exactitude and thus reach the desired end; his alignment will be perfect, the bodies will be pure, the channel [65] free from obstruction, and the higher inspiration will be possible. This is the aim of all true meditation and can be reached by the right use of the Word. In the meantime, owing to the absence of a teacher and the defects of the pupil, all that is now possible is to sound the Word as well as may be, knowing that danger does not lurk where there is sincerity of purpose, and that certain results, such as protection, quieting and correction may be achieved.

  Group Use of the Word.

  In group formation the effect of the Word is intensified, provided the groups are correctly constituted, or rendered null and void and neutralised should the groups contain undesirable elements. Certain things, therefore, have to be ascertained before the Word may be used with adequacy by a group:—

  a—It is desirable that people on the same ray or on a complementary ray form a group.

  b—It is desirable that the Word be intoned on the same key, or in part harmonic. When this is done, the vibratory effect is far reaching and certain reactions will occur.

  What results, therefore, when the Word is correctly sounded by a group of people rightly intermingled?

  a—A strong current is set up that reaches the disciple or the Master responsible for the group and which enables him to put the group en rapport with the Brotherhood, permitting the channel to be cleared for the transmission of teaching.

  b—A vacuum is created that corresponds somewhat to the vacuum that should exist between the Ego and the Personality, but this time between a group and Those on the inner side. [66]

  c—If all conditions are right, it likewise results in a linking with the egoic groups of the involved personalities, a stimulation of the causal bodies involved, and a linking of all three groups—the lower, the higher and the Brotherhood—in a triangle for the transmission of force.

  d—It has a definite effect on the physical vehicles of the lower group; it intensifies the vibration of the emotional bodies, driving out countervibration and swinging all into line with the higher rhythm. This results in equilibrium; it stimulates the lower mind, yet at the same time opens the connection with the higher, which higher, entering in, stabilises the lower concrete mind.

  e—It attracts the attention of certain of the devas or angels whose work lies with the bodies of men, and enables them to do that work with greater exactitude and make contacts that later will be of use.

  f—It creates a protective shell around the group, which (though only temporary) leads to freedom from disturbance, enables the units of the group to work with greater ease and according to the law, and helps the inner Teachers to find the line of least resistance betwixt Themselves and those who seek Their instruction.

  g—It aids in the work of evolution. Infinitesimal that aid may be, yet every effort that leads to the free play of the law, that acts in any way on matter for its greater refining, that stimulates vibration and facilitates the contact between the higher and the lower is an instrument in the hand of the Logos for the hastening of His plan. [67]

  I have touched here upon certain effects incident upon the chanting of the Word in unison. Later, as the rules of occult meditation are understood and experimentally applied, these effects will be studied. As the race becomes more clairvoyant, they will also be tabulated and checked. The geometrical forms created by the individual, and by the group, in sounding forth the Word will be recorded and noted. The elimination of individuals from different groups and their assignment to other groups more suitable will be effected by judicious consideration of the work done by them. Later, as individuals develop the higher consciousness, wardens of groups must be chosen—not only for their spiritual attainments and their intellectual capacity, but for their ability to see with the inner vision, and hence assist their members and group to rightful plans and to correct development.

  Groups for Specific Purposes.

  Groups will later be formed for specific purposes, which brings me to my third point, the use of the Word for certain calculated ends.

  Let me enumerate for you some of the aims groups will have in view when they form themselves, and by the use of the sacred Word, coupled to the true occult meditation, achieve certain results. The time for this is not yet, and need arises not for detailed description, yet if things progress as desired, even you may see it somewhat worked out in your lifetime.

  l—Groups for the purpose of working on the emotional body with the object of development, of subjugation, and clarification.

  2—Groups for the purpose of mental development, of strengthening equilibrium, and the contacting of the higher mind. [68]

  3—Groups for the healing of the physical body.

  4—Groups whose purpose is to effect alignment, and to clear the channel betwixt the higher and the lower.

  5—Groups for the treatment of obsessions and mental diseases.

  6—Groups whose work it will be to study reaction to the sounding of the Word, to record and tabulate the consequent geometrical forms, to note its effect on individ
uals in the groups, and to note the extraneous entities it draws by its attractive force. These must be rather advanced groups, capable of clairvoyant investigation.

  7—Groups that definitely work at making contact with the devas, and collaborating with them under the law. During the seventh ray activity, this will be much facilitated.

  8—Groups that are definitely and scientifically working on the laws of the rays, and studying colour and sound, their individual and group effects, and their interrelation. This is necessarily a select group and only those of high spiritual attainment and those nearing Initiation will be permitted to take part. Forget not that these groups on the physical plane are but the inevitable working out into manifestation of the inner groups of aspirants, pupils, disciples and initiates.

  9—Groups that are definitely working under some one Master, and conforming to certain procedure laid down by Him. The members of these groups will therefore be chosen by the Master.

  10—Groups working specifically under one of the three great departments and seeking—under expert guidance—to influence politically and religiously [69] the world of men, and to speed the processes of evolution as directed from the department of the Lord of Civilisation. Some of these groups will work under the Church, others under Masonry, and others will work in connection with the Initiate heads of the great organizations. In considering this you need to remember that the whole world becomes ever more mental as time proceeds,—hence the ever-increased scope of this type of work.

  11—Other groups will work entirely in what might be termed preparatory work for the future colony.

  12—Problem groups, as they might be called, will be formed to deal with social, economic, political and religious problems as they arise, studying the effects of meditation, colour and sound.

  13—Still other groups will deal with child culture, with the individual training of people, with the guidance of persons on the probationary path, and with the development of the higher faculties.

  14—Later, when the great Lord, the Christ, comes with His Masters, there will be a few very esoteric groups, gathered out of all the others, where the members (through graduation and karmic right) will be trained for discipleship and for the first Initiation. There will be seven such groups or centres formed for definite occult training...Only those whose vibratory capacity is adequate will find their way there.

  I have given you enough to consider for today, and we will leave the consideration of point the fourth till tomorrow. [70]

  June 23, 1920

  You are right in thinking that conditions today are not desirable. The whole world speeds towards a crisis—a crisis reconstructive, even though it seems to the onlooker to be destructive. On all sides, the tearing down of the old forms is progressing, nor is the work as yet fully accomplished. Enough has, nevertheless, been done to permit of the erection of the scaffolding for the new building. In serenity and steady adherence to the next duty will come the simplification of that which must he done.

  Today we deal with the effect of the Word on the various centres, on each body, and its utility in aligning the bodies with the causal vehicle. This was our fourth point. The first two are closely allied, for the sacred Word (when properly enunciated) acts on the various bodies through the medium of the centres, and their astral and mental counterparts. Some of the effects, such as the elimination of undesirable matter, and the building in of new, the protective effect of the Word and its work of stabilisation and purification, we have somewhat touched upon. We will now focus our attention largely upon the centres and the result upon them of the sounding of the Word.

  4 - The Seven Centres and the Sacred Word.

  As is our custom, let us divide our thoughts under the following heads. Tabulation has its value; it systematises knowledge, thus tending to the orderly arrangement of the mental body; it facilitates recollection through the assistance of the eye.

  l—Enumeration and discussion of the centres.

  2—Growth and development of the centres.

  3—The effect of meditation on the centres.

  4—Their interrelation in the work of alignment. [71]

  First let me say that certain information that may seem to be the natural sequence and corollary of that which I have to impart will have to be withheld. The dangers involved through the injudicious development of the centres are too great for us to venture yet to give full and detailed instructions. We seek to develop Masters of Compassion, dispensers of the love of the universe. We seek not to develop Masters of Black Arts and specialists in ruthless self-expression at the expense of the uninitiated. Certain facts have been, and can be, imparted. They will lead to the development of the intuition, and inspire the seeker after light to more earnest endeavour. Others must be withheld for they would be weapons of great danger in the hands of the unscrupulous. If then it seems to you that I have but imparted only sufficient to arouse interest, know then that that is my aim. When your interest and the interest of all aspirants is sufficiently aroused naught can then be withheld from you.

  Enumeration of the centres.

  The physical centres are, as you know:—

  l—The base of the spine.

  2—The solar plexus.

  3—The spleen.

  4—The heart.

  5—The throat.

  6—The pineal gland.

  7—The pituitary body.

  This enumeration is correct, but I seek to give you another division, based on earlier imparted facts, those anent the solar system. These seven centres may be enumerated as five if we eliminate the spleen and count the two head centres as one. The five centres thus specified [72] are applicable to our fivefold evolution in this the second solar system.

  In the first solar system the three lower centres were developed and with them the occultist has naught to do. They form the basis of the development of the lower quaternary before individualisation, but are now transcended and the divine fire must be focalised in other and higher centres.

  The Spleen.

  The spleen, the third centre, has a specific purpose. It has its correspondence in the third or activity aspect, and in the third or Activity (Adaptability) Ray, and is the basis of all the fundamental activities of the microcosm, and of the recurring adaptations of the microcosm to its environment, to its need and to the macrocosm. It controls the selective processes of the microcosm; it takes the vibratory force and energy of the macrocosm and transmutes it for the use of the microcosm. We might call it the organ of transmutation, and—as its functions are more completely understood—it will be found that it provides a magnetic link between the conscious, thinking, three-fold man and his lower vehicles, regarding those lower vehicles as the Not-Self, and as themselves animated by informing entities. It is the life force contacting those entities that is the issue and aim.

  In its emotional counterpart, it is the organ of emotional vitality, again in the same sense as providing a link; on the mental plane it serves somewhat the same purpose, only this time through this centre are the thoughtforms vitalised by means of the energising will. I will not, therefore, deal more fully with this centre beyond these general indications. Few people have the faculty of stimulating [73] it through the use of the Word, nor is it desirable that they should. It develops normally if the aspirant himself—as a totality—progresses as desired:—if his physical body receives adequate application of the life forces of the sun, if his emotional body is moved by high desire, and open to the downflow of force from the causal and intuitional levels, and if his mental life is intense, vibrant, and animated by a powerful will. Then the spleen, with its inner counterparts, will progress and be in a healthy condition.

  We will therefore thus dispose of it and give no further space to it in these letters.

  The fundamental centres.

  The three fundamental centres of vital importance from the standpoint of the average man, polarised in his emotional body and living the normal life of the man of the world, are:

>   l—The base of the spine.

  2—The solar plexus.

  3—The heart centre.

  The three major centres for the man nearing the Probationary Path and for the man who is aiming at a life of altruism, having examined the attractions of the three worlds, are:

  l—The base of the spine.

  2—The heart.

  3—The throat.

  His solar plexus is left then to normal functioning, having served its purpose as a centre for the emotional focussing. The activity of the fire becomes more centered in the throat. [74]

  The three major centres for the man on the Path itself in its twofold divisions are:—

  l—The heart.

  2—The throat.

  3—The head.