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Lesson III: Spiritual Consciousness.283
edition of five hundred copies, and is now, we believe, out of print. It may
possibly be found in some of the great libraries in our principal cities, and
is well worth a careful reading. The Oriental writings are full of this subject,
and Western literature is beginning to show signs of its recognition.
In nearly all the Western writings, however, what is described are
but typical incidents of spontaneous flashes of this great consciousness.
Occultists of great degree of advancement are able to produce this state at
will, and certain most highly advanced souls in the flesh, who are not before
the public as teachers or writers, are believed to dwell in this consciousness
almost continually, their work for the world being done through others (less
highly developed), whom they inspire with fragments of their great wisdom.
In a general way, the experience may be described as an actual realization
of the Oneness of all, and of one’s connection with that One. The atom of
light helping to compose the ray, realizes for an instant its connection with
the Central Sun—the drop in the ocean realizes for a moment its relation
to the Ocean of Spirit. The Hindus have spoken of the more intense
manifestations of this breaking in upon the consciousness of the light from
the Spiritual Mind, as the “Brahmic Splendor.”
The prevailing emotion during this experience is a feeling of intense joy—
something far above any other joy that has ever been felt—a sensation of
Absolute Joy, if the term may be permitted. And the memory of this great
Joy—the reflection from its light—lingers with the soul forever after. Those
who have once experienced this thing, are ever after more cheerful, and
happy, and seem to have a hidden and secret fount of joy from which
they may drink with the soul thirsts. The intense joy fades away gradually,
but something is left behind to comfort and cheer. This feeling of Joy is so
strong that it can ever after be thought of with the keenest delight—its very
recollection will cause the blood to tingle and the heart to throb whenever
the mind reverts to the experience.
Then there is experienced an intellectual illumination, or a pouring in
of “knowing,” impossible to describe. The soul becomes conscious that it