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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity1086
the doctrine of Metempsychosis was believed and taught in the Inner Circle
of the Early Church.
The doctrine unquestionably formed a part of the Christian Mysteries,
and has faded into comparative obscurity with the decay of spirituality in
the Church, until now the average churchman no longer holds to it, and in
fact regards as barbarous and heathenish that part of the teachings originally
imparted and taught by the Early Fathers of the Church—the Saints and
Leaders.
The Early Christians were somewhat divided in their beliefs concerning
the details of Re-birth. One sect or body held to the idea that the soul of
man was eternal, coming from the Father. Also that there were many degrees
and kinds of souls, some of which have never incarnated in human bodies
but which are living on many planes of life unknown to us, passing from
plane to plane, world to world. This sect held that some of these souls had
chosen to experiment with life on the physical plane, and were now passing
through the various stages of the physical-plane life, with all of its pains and
sorrows, being held by the Law of Re-birth until a full experience had been
gained, when they would pass out of the circle of influence of the physical
plane, and return to their original freedom.
Another sect held to the more scientific occult form of the gradual
evolution of the soul, by repeated rebirth, on the physical plane, from Lower
to Higher, as we have set forth in our lessons on “Gnani Yoga.”
The difference in the teachings arose from the different conceptions of the
great leaders, some being influenced by the Jewish Occult Teachings which
held to the first above mentioned doctrine, while the second school held
to the doctrine taught by the Greek Mystics and the Hindu Occultists. And
each interpreted the Inner Teachings by the light of his previous affiliations.
And so, some of the early writings speak of “pre-existence,” while others
speak of repeated “rebirth.” But the underlying principle is the same, and in
a sense they were both right, as the advanced occultists know full well. The
fundamental principle of both conceptions is that the soul comes forth as