Initiation
Initiation. De la racine latine signifiant les premiers principes de n'importe quelle science. Pénétration dans les mystères de la science du "Moi" et du "Soi" unique dans tous les "Moi". Le Sentier de l'Initiation est le stade final du Sentier de l'Évolution, parcouru par l'homme, et est divisé en cinq étapes, appelées les cinq initiations.
(source : "Initiation Humaine et Solaire" d'Alice Bailey)
INITIATION
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LESSON 57
Much bas been written by the uninitiated concerning the Initiates and the Greater Mysteries, of which the writers are entirely ignorant. Naught but spiritual blindness could excuse one of ordinary intelligence for failing to perceive the absurdity of placing any credence in such palpably contradictory statements as are handed out for the mental delectation of the curious. Notwithstanding the fact that it is claimed in one paragraph that an Initiate must be an epitome of all Truth, [141] Wisdom, Faithfulness and Power, perhaps the following paragraph will picture that Initiate as imparting to all who may desire it, regardless of their good or evil proclivities, their unbelief or intellectual development, a description of some initiatory ceremony – or an offer to lead for mere pelf, whosoever will comply with their demands, to the heights of Initiation. Until man bas evinced the possibility of keeping his body free from sins of voluptuousness, his mind free from hatred for his kind, his soul capable of faithfulness to his Higher Self, he might with just as much surety of fulfillment expect the sun to be given him for a pleasure boat. Countless half-imbeciles ponder over such trash, hand over their hardly won means of livelihood, and follow the trail made by innumerable others as foolish and reckless as themselves, utterly ignoring the still small voice that is calling to them to stop and think of the great gulf that must inevitably exist between them as they now are, and one who bas reached a height so immeasurably far above them that they could get only a faint glimmering of the possibilities of such an eminence if they were to stretch their imaginations to the breaking point ; and then to consider what probability could possibly exist that a voluptuary, a traitor, a liar, a blasphemer, would be able to guide their footsteps through the mazes of the evolutionary stages which must be passed ere that height could be reached. Ah, my children, do not deceive yourselves, or permit others to deceive you ; be honest with your own souls ; face the fact that notwithstanding your divine possibilities, you are full of weaknesses and evil desires, even if you do not outwardly yield to such desires ; that you still wear the filthy garment you have been long ages in weaving about you ; and be brave enough to acknowledge the truth to yourselves, humble enough to perceive your unworthiness, and great enough to commence the preparation of the groundwork upon which you hope to build the edifice, the upper story of which will reach the heavens.
No intelligent person will criticise unfavorably your desire, your longing to reach such heights as you may be able mentally to contemplate, for such contemplation is not only a rainbow of promise, but also an assurance of the certainty of attainment.
No group of disciples of the White Lodge was ever admitted to probation to a higher degree of the Lodge at one time. Alone Man carne into the world, alone he must leave it, whether it be by the Path of death or Initiation, and the same great power that presided over his birth must preside over his Initiation, whether such Initiation be brought about by the power and effect of the Hierophant of the degree he bas reached, or by the Chela's coming face to face with his own soul on those heights of which I have spoken. Be assured, for [142] I tell you true – you may be led to the foot of the steps of the great Initiation Stair by one empowered and fitted for such leading, but when You have reached that stair you must pass the Guardian of the Threshold alone, and if it were possible for you to pass it while yet encumbered with your weaknesses, while yet enfolded in the ragged filthy garment you clutch so greedily now, the Stair would give way under your weight, and you would be plunged to the depths of Hades [in some of the courts of which you are now existing, all unknown to your lower selves]. My heart yearns over you with love past telling. I stretch out my arms to you in beseeching while I bid you set about making that ground-work now. Make it possible for yourselves to reach Adonai's feet by passing successfully through the primary degrees.
A form or ceremony is but an expression in matter of the reality in spirit, and unless you have attained to the reality, the form will profit you nothing. If any man had power to whisper in your ear the great Creative Word, the word which would make you more than man, you could not hear and understand that Word while a trace of that which had hitherto deafened your ears and stultified your understanding remained. It is not words or forms you require so much, but thoughts embodied in deeds that will unite you to the source of all power, and make it possible for you to keep the obligations assumed in such outer ceremonies.
(source : Les Enseignements du Temple de Maître Hilarion)