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Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism370
man rewarded who steps out in the sunshine of God’s love which is there
awaiting his coming, and is thus relieved of the cold resulting from a failure
to take advantage of the warmth of such love. It is not to be wondered
that throughout many Oriental writings the Sun is used as a symbol of the
Absolute. We find this symbol used in nearly all sacred writings, even in the
Bible, which, of course, is of Oriental origin.
Some of these ideas about God may seem strange to the Western student,
but if he will take the trouble to look into the matter he will find that this
idea runs along through the Christian teachings like a golden thread upon
which the beads of the teaching is strung. Christ’s teachings are full of this
truth, which, however, has been lost sight of during the centuries. The early
Christians saw these truths plainly, as may be seen by a reading of the works
of some of the early fathers of the church, but the theologians have built
much rubbish around the early teachings so that unless one looks under the
surface the central truths are not seen.
The Bhakti Yogi prays to God. In the elementary stages of Gauni Bhakti
he may word his prayers so that they seem to be asking God for favors—
this, later, is discarded. The man of crude spiritual discernment may come
to God as a beggar, asking for this thing and that (usually material benefit).
A little later on, Man sees that this is not the way to approach God, and
he asks to be given strength and courage and to be helped in spiritual
unfoldment. In this stage the man thinks that God rewards the prayer by
bestowing strength and courage and the rest, just as a king may bestow gifts
to those asking for them. But the Yogi who follows the road of Para-Bhakti
does not expect rewards of this kind, and yet he obtains the richest rewards.
He knows that prayer does not help God, nor does God delight in being
besought and praised in prayer. And yet prayer is of the greatest benefit
to Man, for, by means of it, he brings himself in tune with the Infinite, and
opens himself to the strength, courage, and wisdom that comes from the
nearness to God—the nearness to the Centre of Power and Wisdom. This is
the secret of prayer. The man who prays earnestly—from the heart—brings