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ESOTERIC TENETS The important role played by service in the disciple's spiritual development has been repeatedly emphasized. Actually the degree of progress on the Path of Light will to a considerable extent be reflected by the nature and quality of the disciple's service to his fellow men, and in how far he is able to contribute towards the realization of the hierarchical Plan. This is, however, a criterion that should be used with discretion because true service is often rendered without ostentation or even without any outer demonstration. The beauty of service is that it is rewarding in all directions. There is for instance the direct benefit to those who are being served; the effect of this will depend on the stage of development of the server, how well he is qualified for the particular task, the energy and dedication with which the work is undertaken, and the love and understanding underlying the effort. In due course the server will find that his own rewards are also commensurate with the service rendered to others; he will gain valuable experience that will deepen his insight, and which must inevitably lead to further expansions of consciousness and to fresh opportunities for ever more effective service; his Inner Light will burn brighter, not only serving to light his own Way, but also irradiating the path for his younger brother whom he serves as a guide. Greater rewards are therefore gained by serving others than by being served. As far as the Hierarchy and their objective for the realization of the Plan is concerned, their difficulty is that for much of their work they are dependent on men as their instruments, and on the whole these instruments are most erratic and unreliable. As a rule disciples are aware of world need, and the desire to meet this is genuine and sincere; there also exists a real longing to lift and serve but, from the hierarchical point of view, the characters and temperaments of these men often present wellnigh insuperable difficulties. These disturbing characteristics are often latent and only make their appearance after some task has already been undertaken, which may then lead to failure, tragedy and unnecessary suffering. In this connection it can but be reiterated that the disciple should endeavour to retain his balance under all circumstances, and must guard against undue stimulation when contact is made with inner spiritual forces. He will also have to deal with men from all walks of life, with their selfish greed, their adulation and praise, and their criticism -- these will tend to obscure his mind and action if not approached with sufficient detachment. Under pressure of the work his latent personality weaknesses will tend to emerge and will encourage partially submerged inclinations such as pride, ambition and love of power. Continued mental strain may cause a state of bewilderment and clouding of the vision and of truth; in other cases the personality asserts itself to such an extent that it leads to attitudes of self-importance, separativeness and the spoiling of good work by self-glorification. Service is not something that the disciple should pursue. It is in fact a soul instinct, an unrestrainable urge of the soul that must somehow be brought to expression. It is not something that can be taught or imposed upon a person, but is an impulse that is manifested spontaneously, and only needs guiding towards a suitable objective. On the Path of the world server there will always be obstacles which will have to be surmounted but, notwithstanding all the cares and struggles, there will ever remain the joy of attainment, the satisfaction of work accomplished to best ability, and above all the knowledge, and at times the conscious awareness that the Great Master, the Christ, is looking on sympathetically and understandingly, because he too travelled this same arduous Path. Yet it is surprising how the labours of the man who is serving selflessly and one-pointedly will be relieved of impediments, and how unexpected assistance will often lighten his task and make his work more effective, but such help will only come to those who have transcended personal aspiration and, in their desire to serve, have lost sight of considerations of personal progress. For service to be really effective, it must be rendered with absolute selflessness, that is by forgetting the past with its pains and joy; by forgetting the personal self with all that it has to give or to withhold; by forgetting both the kind words, the words of encouragement, and the words of criticism of the bystanders. Therefore in service be willing to sacrifice the self, time, money and personal interests, in utter self-forgetfulness. Merely serve -- with joy, with all your heart and with all you have to give! Aart Jurriaanse, wrote a number of compilations from the books of Alice A. Bailey. Among these are: Of Life and other worlds; Prophecies; Ponder on this; Serving Humanity; The Soul; The Quality of Life; and he is also the author of Bridges which is a Commentary on these teachings. Directory of articles by Aart Jurriaanse "Those among
you who wish to serve the world have
placed before them now the
opportunity of all lives. May you
seize it, use it to the full, and
create for yourselves and your
brothers a new life... Love, Justice
and Sharing. Make these your aims, My
friends, and know the meaning “I
choose to identify with the
underprivileged. I choose to identify
with
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