MY BROTHER AND MY FRIEND:

The lessons of true humility and reticence are not as easy to learn as might appear, particularly when the inferiority complex is as strong in you as is the case. It is so easy to confound a natural self depreciation with true spiritual humility, but you are learning fast.

One thing I seek to point out to you: humility must always accompany a spiritual self-respect which forbids a disciple to stand anywhere upon the Path, except in his rightful place. The fact is that discipleship warrants recognition. There is no false pride in knowing that one is a disciple. This I point out to you and to all disciples. Recognition of status, however, is purely a personal matter; it should be faced and accepted and then followed by silence. What is, therefore, the lesson I seek today to give to you and which I preface by the above words?

One of your great limitations is over-sensitivity. Your outer shell needs hardening; you must learn to tune out and to leave unrecognized that which might disturb your life of service. The proverb runs: "They say. What do they say? Let them say." For you this holds much truth. Disciples waste so much time in distress over the words, thoughts and deeds of other disciples and thus time is lost that could be more constructively employed. Do you not know that the minutes mount into hours, as the disciple wrestles with himself in order to regain equilibrium? Ask A. A. B. She knows the meaning of those lost hours and can help you there. Remember, also, brother of old, that all suffering along the lines of super-sensitivity indicates self-centeredness, and this in turn militates against the needed inclusiveness which will eventually make this group work successful in service. I point this out, because you have had to wrestle along these lines during the past six months; your major weakness is this sensitivity, which leads to an undue focusing upon the little self.