To me, and my Beloved, the world is a garden of paradise—­rich with beauty and delight.  We live in it as a part of its loveliness—­we draw into our own organisations the warmth of the sunlight, the glory of colour, the songs of sweet birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the exquisite vibrations of the light and air.  Like two notes of a perfect chord we sound our lives on the keyboard of the Infinite—­ and we know that the music will become fuller and sweeter as the eternal seasons roll on.  If it is asked why there should have been any necessity to pass through the psychic ordeal imposed on me by Aselzion, I reply—­Look at the world in which men and women generally live, and say frankly whether its ways are such as to engender happiness!  Look at society—­look at politics—­look at commerce—­all mere schemes for self-aggrandisement!  And more than all, look at the Sham of modern religion!  Is it not too often a mere blasphemy and affront to the majesty of the Divine?  And are not many, if not all these mistakes against Nature,—­these offences against eternal Law,—­the result of Man’s own ‘influence’ working in opposition to the very decrees of God, which he disobeys even while recognising that they exist?

The chief point of Aselzion’s instruction was the test of the Brain and Soul against ’influences’—­the opposing influences of others—­ and this is truly the chief hindrance to all spiritual progress.  The coward sentiment of fear itself is born in us through the influence of timorous persons—­and it is generally the dread of what ’other people will say’ or what ‘other people will think’ that holds us back from performing many a noble action.  It should be thoroughly understood that in the eternal advancement of one’s own Soul ’other people’ and their influences are hindrances to progress.  It does not matter a jot what anybody thinks or says, provided the central altar of one’s own Spirituality is clear and clean for the steadfast burning of the dual flame of Life and Love.  All opinion, all criticism becomes absurd in such matters as these and absolutely worthless.

It does not affect me that anyone outside my sphere of thought should be incredulous of my beliefs,—­nor can it move me from my happiness to know that persons who live their lives on a lower plane consider me a fool for electing to live mine on the highest.  I take joy in the fact that even in so selfish and material an age as this, Aselzion still has his students and disciples,—­a mere handful out of the million, it is true, but still sufficient to keep the beautiful truth of the Soul’s power alive and helpful to the chosen few.  For such who have studied these truths and have mastered them sufficiently to practise them in the ordinary round of existence, Life presents an ever living happiness—­and offers daily proof that there is no such thing as Death.  Youth remains where Love is, and Beauty stays with health and vitality.  Decay and destruction are changes which are brought about by apathy of the Will and indifference to the Soul’s existence, and the same Law which gives the Soul its supreme sovereignty equally works for its release from effete and inactive substances.