Life, as you know theoretically, is one long series of presented opportunities - opportunities to make decisions. As a disciple is drawn closer into the focal point of his Master's [537] sphere of influence, the Ashram, and as experience proceeds, these decisions become increasingly drastic, constantly more frequent and more crucial it) their general trend; they lead, when made, to more eventful results. With a disciple at your stage of development, the lines of choice become clearer and better defined. The questions with which you are faced are simpler and yet more important: Is this presented activity the way my soul would have me go? Will such or such a ?decision lead to the fulfilment of my personality trends and bias? Herein lies much clarification plus increasing difficulty, because the decisions made are apt to affect many others besides yourself. Watch for the proof of the correctness of this last statement of mine. In all times of decision enumerate to yourself the number of lives apt to be affected by what you do, and remember that (as you travel the Way of the Disciple) your sphere of influence and the number of those affected by you steadily increases. With the average person who is kind, well-meaning and endowed with a normal sense of responsibility, decisions are made upon the basis of the effects which are liable to work out in the family, in the business office or within the radius of a relatively small circle of friends. In the case of a probationary disciple, decisions have oft a somewhat larger result. Where an accepted disciple is concerned, such choices affect many, for those related by united service are included with the other groups, and these can oft be unknown or include people who react to the aura of a disciple, plus his group of co-workers.

This whole question of spheres of influence is one upon which you need to ponder. It is closely related to the problem of the aura and its esoteric circumference; it concerns the "sound" of a disciple's life and the nature and quality of the radiations which emanate from the "place where he stands." It is tied to the whole theme of orientation and of spiritual location and to the magnetic effects of the at-one-ing of soul and personality. The problem of radiation and of magnetic influence is apt to be viewed from the one-sided point of view of the disciple who considers the results of his radiation and of his magnetism upon those he contacts. There is however another point of view; these qualities - inevitable [538] and inescapable - lie behind the entire theme of karma. They draw to the disciple that which can hinder him as well as aid him; his aura - which is a combination of radiations, energies and arranged forces - can repel the good or attract the bad, and vice versa; it can determine - through the contacts made and the relationships set up - the trend of the disciple's life. It is one of the main factors in the presentation of choices, and I would have you think on this.

In this life, your theme has been largely that of expediency and of expression to meet the expediency; these motives are in no sense basically wrong; they have enabled you to be soundly motivated; carefully implemented, these themes should carry you far. You have, however, definitely over-emphasized creativity; you have made it a motive for your life, but you have forgotten that the expression of the creative faculty is radiation and magnetism. These bring to its possessor the material for creation and a magnetic capacity which arranges in due form and beauty that which radiation has evoked. Creativity is a consequence of a particular state of mind and a specific state of being; it signifies a point in [540] evolution wherein the disciple is definitely radioactive. He can no more help creating in some form or another than he can help living. After all, my brother - returning to the original comments in this instruction - karma is ever the source of physical plane creation, happenings and events; it is the instrument of the soul in producing a personality.

For years, my brother, I have sought to help you. You are in my Ashram, though you are not as yet in the inner circle you belong to a group of brothers who - along with you - are struggling, earnestly for spiritual fulfilment and who have been clearly told that their karma has brought them into the ranks of accepted discipleship and who are preparing for the next step ahead of them - the taking of an initiation. Each [541] of you, in his own place, is facing this initiatory process. I might add that every member of the Hierarchy, from Christ down to the disciple who is preparing for the second initiation, is standing in the knowledge that initiation in some degree must be taken and may not be ignored or denied. Will you understand me, my brother, if I say to you: Take this consciousness into your thinking and let this idea or knowledge condition all your activities. Say to yourself each morning before you go forth to the duties of the day: A am preparing to move forward upon the Path of Initiation." Let this affirmed realization show itself forth in the quality of your daily activities.

Make your remaining years expressive of radiating love, which is not at all easy for you. Remember ever that my Ashram enfolds you, without cessation, in its radiation. Work steadily in cooperation with your group brothers. Even though the personality instructions come to an end, the group instructions will give you all the help you will need. But you must act upon these instructions and hold with steadfastness your relation to the life of the group. This is all I have to say to you, but if you measure up to these instructions, you will go far. My constant blessing rests upon you.