Esoteric V10: July 1896 - Iapsop.com

189i.] S Jo:LF-S u:K lNG. 515
This experience caused me to carefully study the conditions
of this l•iglwr state, and through high aspiration and prayer.
soul dt>l\ia·e to God, the const>quence of sin would be removed.
Again. as m·arly as posRihle, I would apply the law as at first,
hut alas! that exaltt>d experience was gone forever, was irrt'­
tl'ievably lost, never again could I attain it; but, like the growing
tree whose brant·hes art~ cut off, I could and did put forth
other branchE"s, which, whE"n grown to maturity-a growth that
i.- very rapid under }>I'Oper s. This again would involve other elements of
st1 e11gth. and not pos;seRlling them, I would fall to apparently
the uhl l~ouditiou!4 made stronger, more vital, wiser,
anti, like the ta·ee, was cau,.ed to throw the rootlets more vigoron!!ly
into the soil of earthl.Y and matel'ial knowledge, that the
hranche11 might hlussum ancl bring forth f1·uitage without failure.
Thns each intliviclnal tlll'lmghout all his experiences will find
al'tive within himself the lawR of cause and effect. Two laws
stand nver again11t eauh other,-that uf remission of sioR, and
that of nn l't>IJlissiou of sill!~.
SELF-SEEKING.
"'mppetl in the gluomy mists of Self, mankintl
In sotnbel' sadneMs wins the right to die,
One only thought impre11sed on every mind,
Self. Self alone, the great and only I.
Tim~. Rtl'laggling on, a life is lived and lo11t;
A !lou I was here. is gone, and soon forgot ;
Seems but a name, a memory of the past,
A vain regret to sadden passing thought.
0 sorrow-stric~ken Earth. alas for thee !
That thus thy chililren, blindly seeking joy,
The bliss supt·eme of servic~e fail to see,
And seeking Self, lose all but Joy's alloy.
Thus Rhall we find, where e'er we turn our gaze,
The truest bliss ne'er l'omes to selfish heart;
And happy he, whose evet·y act betrays
That in his thoughts, Self claims the lesser part.
John F. Smith
o;gilized by Coogle