and another mind in a second way, and so on.
And, accordingly, they wrap their teachings in covers
likely to attract the attention of various people,
and to cause them to investigate the contents.
But, under and back of all of these various teachings,
is the great fundamental TRUTH. It has often
been asked of us how one might distinguish the real
Brotherhoods from the spurious ones which have assumed
the name and general style of the true societies,
for the purpose of exploiting the public, and making
money from their interest in the great occult truths.
Answering this, we would say that the true Occult Brotherhoods
and Societies
never sell their knowledge.
It is given free as water to those who seek for it,
and is never sold for money. The true adept would
as soon think of selling his soul as selling Spiritual
Knowledge for gain. While money plays its proper
place in the world, and the laborer is worthy of his
hire; and while the Masters recognize the propriety
of the sale of books on Occultism (providing the price
is reasonable and not in excess of the general market
price of books) and while they also recognize the
propriety of having people pay their part of the expenses
of maintaining organizations, magazines, lecturers,
instructors,
etc., still the idea stops there—it
does not extend to the selling of the Inner Secrets
of Occultism for silver or gold. Therefore if
you are solicited to become a member of any so-called
Brotherhood or Occult Society for a consideration of
money, you will know at once that the organization
is not a true Occult Society, for it has violated
one of the cardinal principles at the start. Remember
the old occult maxim: “When the Pupil is
ready, the Master appears”—and so
it is with the Brotherhoods and Societies—if
it is necessary for your growth, development, and
attainment, to be connected with one of these organizations
then, when the time comes—when you are ready—you
will receive your call, and then will know for a certainty
that those who call are the true messengers of Truth.
QUESTION II: “Are there any exalted
human beings called Masters, or Adepts, or are the
tales regarding them mere fables, etc?”
ANSWER: Of a truth there are certain highly developed,
advanced and exalted souls in the flesh, known as
Masters and Adepts, although many of the tales told
concerning them are myths, or pure fiction originating
in the minds of some modern sensational writers.
And, moreover, these souls are members of the Great
Lodge, an organization composed of these almost super-human
beings—these great souls that have advanced
so very far on THE PATH. Before beginning to speak
of them, let us answer a question often asked by Western
people, and that is, “Why do not these people
appear to the world, and show their powers?”
Each of you may answer that question from your own
experiences. Have you ever been foolish enough
to open your soul to the crowd, and have it reveal