And in his vision, which extended beyond the times in which he lived, and foresaw that the attainment of cosmic consciousness must involve a degree of physical hardship, he said: 

“Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

A survey of the world’s progress will readily prove the fact that those who have bent their talents and their energies toward the uplift of the race, have done so under great stress, and in the face of persistent opposition.

This opposition is an accompaniment to altruistic effort, for the very obvious reason that the race-thought of the world is still materialistic.

The thoughts that predominate are commercial.  This is due to the fact that those who are wealthy have large financial interests to maintain; business problems to solve; that take about all their time.  The poor find the maintenance of physical existence a task that absorbs the greater part of their mortal mind, and therefore, those who are devoting their time and talents to the work of regeneration (the coming of the cosmic sense), are necessarily in the minority, and the majority rules in thought, as in act.

The present metaphysical movement lays great stress upon worldly success and “attraction” of wealth, as an evidence of possession of power and truth, but the law of equation proves that we obtain that which we most desire.  A religious system which amasses great wealth in a short time does so, only because its dominant teaching inspires the desire for worldly advancement, as the prime requisite.

The same is true of an individual, as of a system.

Not that the attainment of cosmic consciousness is absolutely impossible to a rich man, because a man may inherit riches and position and power, as in the case of Prince Siddhartha, the Lord Buddha; or he may have set in motion certain currents of desire for wealth, and later in life may change that desire, when naturally, the “business” he has created will follow the law which instigated it, and increasing wealth will result.

But, let it be known, that Buddha renounced all his possessions, and there are many instances to-day of renunciation of worldly life and wealth, in order to attain to that supreme consciousness in which the illumined one possesses all that he desires, even though he have but one coat to his back.

Let it not be thought that we mean to infer that God is partial to poverty, and that the rich man will be excluded from the attainment of the kingdom, merely because of his riches; but if riches be any man’s aim, then assuredly he cannot “serve two masters” and it will not be possible for him to become illumined while in pursuit of worldly goods.

Jesus said: 

“It is easier for a camel to go through the needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

It is now thoroughly established that the “Needle’s Eye” was the name given to a certain narrow and difficult pass through which camels bearing heavy burdens, could not find room to pass, and Jesus sought to convey to his hearers the truth that persons bearing in their mental desires the load of many possessions, would hardly find room for the one supreme desire which would bring them into the kingdom (the possession of cosmic consciousness).