MY BELOVED BROTHER:

I would like to start my communication to you with a clear and definite statement: You are in process of taking some of the final tests which precede the taking of the second initiation. For that reason, I feel the need of writing to you with clarity, of bringing you some measure of comfort and of strength, and of indicating certain steps which - if you will take them - may hasten the process.

Having read this far, will you, brother of mine, continue? There is some probability that you will not. You may take the position (I say not you will) that you repudiate as false all relations to glamor. You may declare that it touches you not, which assertion itself would indicate that it does. Your deeply seated sense of spiritual superiority to your group (an attitude which is sadly affecting them) may prevent your listening to me, your friend and brother for many years - nay, lives. I would, however, ask you to read what I have to say; perchance I may throw light upon your problems and aid you to take the initiation which was your destined goal this life, but which you may yourself postpone until the next. For this postponement there is no need, if you grasp the significance of what is happening in your life at present.

You are at this time in a state of intensely irritable sensitivity to all and sundry; you are overwhelmed by acute glamor. All that is in you of a first ray quality is drawn to the surface and conditioning all your contacts. Your soul ray of outgoing love is not much seen, and there is little love shown by you to your brothers in the Ashram or to the members of your own group.

You may here ask me at this point how I know this to be so and why I emphasize to you this knowledge. You have been taught by me that the Masters concern not themselves with the personality details of a disciple's life expression; therefore, why do I concern myself with what is happening to you? Those are just questions and I will answer them.

I concern myself with your problems because you are taking the second initiation and - because of its intense difficulty - I have watched over you for the past four years with more than usual care. I know the inner turmoil, the self-recriminations and the self-rationalizing, the deep subjective discontent, the longing to be free, and the atmosphere of acute suffering in which you live. Your spiritual morale is not high because your solar plexus is wide open - responsive to every astral suggestion, disturbed by world pain as well as by your own, in a state of irritation and constant inner explosion over your brothers in the Ashram and over the members of your own group. Many of the latter are also of an emotional type, for forget not, my brother, we draw to ourselves those who respond to our major quality at any given time and - at this time - yours is emotional.

You may well ask here: If all this is so, what then shall I do? Have I failed in the tests for initiation? What do you suggest?

Most certainly you have not failed. You are at the climax or peak of the testing period. The only point to be determined is: Can you overcome in this life and free yourself from astral control, or will the tests be prolonged until next life?

These are questions which only you can answer. In order to answer them you should enter into a cycle of intense quiet and - if possible - of peaceful normality. Can you free yourself for two years, my brother, and at the end stand free? You would be well advised to do this; you should relinquish your groups and stand alone. At present you are not working along new age lines, for your work is along the old lines - of superior teachers, gathering their groups around them, of mystery where there is no mystery, because there is no mystery in esoteric teaching, and this is a lesson which you sorely need to learn, and of criticism (openly critical) of the student, which is sadly lacking in love. No new age teacher gathers a group around himself, exacting their loyalty and obedience, nor does he shut the door to other aspects of truth, as you have done. He offers the teaching, and regards himself as only a student.

So I would urge you to give up your group for two or three years (you can later resume it and with power) and study the handling of energy for yourself - free from emotion, desire for recognition, and in response to human need. I would also urge upon you a meditation, built around the words:

You would profit greatly. Seek to find me and walk with me in my Ashram, where your soul ray will be fostered into greater expression and your personality rays will retire into the background. If you have the strength to do this you will - at the close of the period of self-imposed discipline - enter into a cycle of very great usefulness. I foresaw this cycle of useful work when I first contacted you. There is still time for this emergence into wider world service. It need not be postponed until next life.

You have suffered much, my brother, and have few to whom you can go. My love and my blessing are around you always and I have held you specially close lately during these difficult postwar days. Disciples such as you react not only to their own tests and problems, but also to those of suffering humanity. You will find me near when you need me.