MY BROTHER:

I wonder if you have noticed (and when I say "you" I refer to all the disciples in this ashramic group) that nearly all of you are on the second ray egoically... The reason for this choice of second ray souls to work in this group, is because this ray is pre-eminently the teaching ray, the ray that is sometimes called that of "light-giving influence" or the "ray of the illuminator." The task of all true educators is to bring light to the minds of those they instruct, so that they may walk more securely in the way which leads to the goal for any particular incarnation. It was, therefore, obvious that the major influence, dominating the group, would be that of the second ray. The interesting thing to note, however, is that in practically all the cases it is the soul ray which has this predominating influence. There are no second ray personalities in this group. This requires, consequently, much definitely applied activity on the part of all of you in order to cause its manifested expression.

The next thing to note is that the personality rays are - with one exception - on the line of 1-3-5-7, showing thereby a tendency to preserve balance and to offset the powerfully controlling line of 2-4-6. I want this word balance to be much in your minds as you study the work of the Ashram and the group interrelation. Only the balanced person can truly meet the need of those entrusted to him to teach or can handle with wisdom the two lines of synthesized force which are brought into conjunction in every teaching process. These two lines [178] are the five lines of energy which compose the teacher's equipment and those which compose the equipment of the one who is to be taught.

In no profession is the attitude of the observer more required than in the teaching profession, and in no profession is the correct handling of one's personal forces of greater importance. This realization will produce automatically two techniques which later we can study in greater detail: the technique of controlling one's own forces so that there can be no undue or dangerous pressure, and the technique of employing pressure correctly so as to evoke response in the one being taught. This constitutes a definite science and we shall deal with it as we proceed with our study.

One of the things which I seek to do today is to give you an analysis of the rays which determine your personality equipment so that you can balance your development to the best possible advantage, and know with what forces you can work. Another point also will emerge in time and that is the nature of the adjustment you will have to make to relate yourself to your co-disciples. These adjustments will be along the lines of innate predispositions and their utilization to the best advantage in order to bring about an understanding which will lead to good and creative activity.

It is known to you that your major rays are the second and the seventh. The latter gives to you, if you can but understand it and choose to use it rightly, the power to take the light which is in you and in the pupil, and apply it to the enlightening of physical plane living, for the seventh ray is the ray controlling spirit-matter relationships.

Your mental ray is that of the fourth, the Ray of Harmony through Conflict, of beauty through order, and of unity through understanding. This, being on the line of your soul ray, will [179] tend to bring about rapid contact with the soul, via the mind, if you apply yourself with diligence to the task involved. Your whole life problem is, therefore, that of relationships, both within yourself and in your chosen field of service. This is naturally true of all, but your particular battlefield in this connection lies in the reconciling of the forces warring within your own nature and in your particular environment. It is not the Kurukshetra of the "pairs of opposites," wherein Arjuna sits in the middle and seeks to balance the warring forces. It is the battlefield of higher relations - those between the soul and the personality, and between what you are in this life and the environment in which you find your chosen field of service. Your personal release lies in the production of harmony through conflict, and your best technique is to produce this harmonizing influence within your environment as the result of your inner conflict, silently waged in the shrine of the mind.

Your astral or emotional body is on the sixth ray, so that again you have a line of force direct from the soul. In your case, this sixth ray energy shows itself predominantly as devotion to duty as realized, and to responsibility as recognized, and not so much in devotion to persons or even ideals. this has constituted a paramount balancing factor in your life.

Your problem will appear more clearly to you when I tell you that the ray of your physical body is the second.

1. The soul ray - the second Ray of Love-Wisdom.
2. The personality ray - the seventh Ray of Ceremonial Order.
3. The ray of the mind - the fourth Ray of Harmony through Conflict.
4. The ray of the astral body - the sixth Ray of Devotion and Idealism.
5. The ray of the physical body - the second Ray of Love Wisdom.

This means that your entire equipment is along the second ray line of force and, therefore, much wise balancing is required. But how can this be done? And along what line of difficulty will the problem, which this situation brings about, [180] be expected to emerge? I wonder if I can make it clear to you by pointing out that as the vehicles of the lower nature are on the same line as the soul influence, two difficulties will be present and should be recognized:

1. he influence of the ego or soul will come so easily at your particular point in evolution that the chances are that you will not recognize it; its vibration will be similar to the accustomed notes of your various bodies. You have, therefore, to train yourself in the art of differentiation so that you can recognize at will the various tones of your three bodies and can easily distinguish when there is present the tone of the soul, and react to its note or vibration. The secret of the power to distinguish the nuances of any particular line (such as your predominating line of 2-4-6) is through an increasing, planned sensitivity.
2. Where all lines of influences are related and similar, there will always be a tendency to negativity and a failure (except in moments of emergency) to assume a positive attitude - particularly towards the soul. What is needed in your case is more of the positive vibration of the first ray line of force, and to this line your seventh ray personality is the only open door. The inauguration of a regime of the power aspect of love would greatly help you. The understanding, identifying aspects of love are yours in great measure; much will come to you however if you use the will aspect of love through the medium of your seventh ray personality. I do not here refer to the will-to-love, my brother. That you have. I refer to the power-to-love and, through love intelligently and powerfully applied, to evoke right conditions in your environment. I would have you ponder on this and do the following first ray meditation...