The Seven Cosmic PathsExcerpts from: A Treatise on Cosmic Fire |
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Path I |
Path II |
Path III |
Path IV |
Path V |
Path VI |
Path VII |
The passage below is an excerpt from: Alice A. Bailey. A Treatise on Cosmic Fire. (New York: Lucis Publishing Co., 1962/1925), pp. 1244-1247. Lucis Trust: Books on Line |
Compare excerpt from: The Rays and the Initiations Summaries of the Seven Cosmic Paths Seven Stanzas Larger Versions of Seven Cosmic Path Graphics |
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A Treatise on Cosmic Fire - Section Three - Division B - The Nature of the Cosmic Paths: Path IPath I - The Path of Earth Service:The nature of the spiritual force which animates the group of our peculiar planetary initiates will become apparent perhaps if the methods and purposes of their work are studied from the standpoint of subjective energy, and not so specifically of the material form. This point of view can be gleaned most easily from a consideration of the animating impulse lying behind all world groups which are particularly consecrated to the uplift of the race. This will necessarily include all political, religious, scientific and metaphysical organizations. It will be found that each and all are definitely related and have a point of at-one-ment with certain of the numerous occult bodies which are (usually unknown to the affiliated group) responsible for the vitalization of the principal units in any of these organizations doing this pioneer work. This first path is the one that keeps a man linked to the Hierarchy which is pledged to the service of our planetary scheme. It comprises those who work under the Lord of the World in the seven groups into which our Masters of the Wisdom are divided. Not so many Masters follow this Path as some of the others, and only enough are permitted to do so to carry on planetary evolution satisfactorily. More is known about this Path than about any of the others, and more will continuously be found out as members of our humanity fit themselves to contact the Brothers of the Hierarchy. Their field of employ, Their methods of work will eventually become exoteric, and as the seven groups are recognized and known, schools of development for the filling of posts in these groups will be the logical sequence. The adepts who stay upon this Path are distinguished by a dual attribute, which is their guarantee of attainment along this line of spiritual endeavor. They are animated by wise-compassion. These words should be carefully studied for they hold the clue to the nature of this first Path. The adepts who choose this Path are called esoterically the "beneficent dragons," and the energy with which they work and the stream of living force upon which they are found emanates from the constellation of the Dragon, working through the zodiacal sign Libra. This special spiritual energy produces in all those groups which come under its direct influence a profound faculty for identification. This identification does not concern the form nor the soul but only the spiritual point of positive life which in the human unit we call the "Jewel in the Lotus." It should be remembered in this connection that there is a jewel at the heart of every atom. Every jewel has seven facets which are the seven doorways to the seven Paths. The "beneficent dragons" are distinguished by their "luminosity," and it is this basic quality which lies behind the injunction given by all spiritual teachers to their pupils in the words "let your light shine forth." When the adept enters through the "luminous door" he has before him four very peculiar and esoteric IDENTIFICATIONS. This entrance takes place after he has passed the fifth Initiation and has demonstrated his fitness so to do through a long period of service in connection with our planetary evolution. These identifications eventually bring about within the jewel, which is essentially the true spiritual unit, a momentous happening, and are undergone within the monadic consciousness after the transcendence of the atmic sheath. These four identifications are connected with the fourfold lotus of the solar Logos, or with His twelve-petalled heart center. This lotus is sometimes called the "heart of the Sun," and concerns the subjective sun. It is not, however, possible to say more along this line. These four Identifications are only undergone upon this particular Path and are each preceded by three lesser identifications which make a totality of twelve Identifications, corresponding to the twelve-petalled lotus. It will be noted by the accurate student that we are now discontinuing the use of the word "initiation" which has to do specifically with consciousness and therefore with duality and are utilizing a word which connotes synthesis, though very inadequately. The energy which is manipulated in the process of these identifications is largely that pouring through the sixth Hierarchy, which has an esoteric relation to the sixth Path on to which the initiates of Path I have eventually to fight their way. The form through which the adept must work in order to demonstrate his control of the energy concerned may not here be given. It may only be stated that luminosity is gained upon the battle ground through a fight with a dragon. The following summation may be found suggestive:
Path 1. The Path of Earth Service (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 1. The Path of Earth Service (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 2. The Path of Magnetic Work (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 2. The Path of Magnetic Work (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 3. The Path of Training for Planetary Logoi (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 3. The Path of Training for Planetary Logoi (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 4. The Path to Sirius (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 4. The Path to Sirius (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 5. The Ray Path (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 5. The Ray Path (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 6. The Path the Logos Himself Is On (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 6. The Path the Logos Himself Is On (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Path 7. The Path of Absolute Sonship (The Rays and the Initiations Excerpt) Path 7. The Path of Absolute Sonship (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Excerpt) Seven Cosmic Paths Summary Page Light Weaver Home Page |