We ended the last presentation by saying that if the personality pays attention to the soul, the soul will pay attention to the personality. The soul adopts a personality much like a fisherman casting a line. It does not expect every cast to be successful and is not deeply troubled if one fails. Managing a personality is just one of its activities, so it can console itself with success in other areas. In any case, a failure represents the loss of a day, and it can hope to do better on another day. Often, the personality desires more attention from the soul, and it can be sure it will receive it as soon as it deserves it once the soul deems it worthwhile.
In the Christian Church, the sacrament of Confirmation aims to strengthen the connection between the soul and the personality. During the confirmation, divine power flows from the bishop to the candidate, affecting the candidate’s spiritual and emotional aspects, as well as their mind. The effect upon the lower spiritual envelope (45:4-7) is reflected in the etheric envelope (49:1-4), that upon the unity envelope (46:1-7) is reproduced in the emotional envelope (48:1-7), and what is done to the casual envelope (47:1-3) should be similarly mirrored in the mental envelope (47:4-7). This process creates a wider channel through which a constant flow of divine power can be maintained, making it easier for the soul to act through the individual. This is the theory. What happens in practice is a function of the state of evolution of both parties in the ceremony.
The various vehicles of humanity, when seen from below, appear to be stacked on top of each other, although they are not actually separated in space. They also seem to be connected by countless fine wires or lines of energy. Any action that works against personal growth puts an unequal strain on these connections, twisting and entangling them. When a person goes seriously astray in any way, the connection between their higher and lower selves is significantly hindered. At that point, they are no longer their true self, and only the lower aspects of their character are able to fully manifest.
The Christian Church offers a way to help people more quickly regain inner harmony. One of the special powers given to a priest during ordination is the ability to help individuals resolve inner conflicts. This is the underlying truth behind “absolution,” where the person’s cooperation is first sought through “confession.” Alas, like most religious activities, the practitioners rarely know what they are doing, so they do not maximise the benefits possible.
A disruption in the connection between the soul and its vehicles can result in insanity. If we envision every physical particle in the brain as being connected to its corresponding emotional particle through small tubes, with each emotional particle similarly linked to its corresponding mental particle and each mental particle tied to its corresponding causal particle, then as long as all these tubes are perfectly aligned, clear communication between the soul and the brain will be maintained. However, if any of these sets of tubes are bent, closed, or partially knocked aside, it is evident that the communication may be wholly or partially interrupted. It should be noted that the link between the mental and causal envelopes is conditionally blocked. This is the one set of channels that need to be built out to enable full functionality of the human monad.
There are four main classes of insanity from an occult standpoint:
1. Those who are insane due to a defect in the physical brain, which can be caused by a small brain, brain injury, pressure from a growth, or softening of brain tissues.
2. Those who have a defect in the etheric brain, causing the etheric particles to not correspond with the denser physical particles.
3. Those with a defective emotional envelope, where the tubes are not aligned with either the etheric or mental particles.
4. Those with an out-of-order mental envelope.
Classes 1 and 2 are quite sane when in an intense state of sleep or after death. Class 3 individuals do not regain their sanity until they reach the heavenly world (47:4-7). Class 4 individuals do not become sane until they reach the causal envelope, making their incarnation a failure. Additionally, more than 90 per cent of those who are insane belong to classes 1 and 2.
Obsession is caused by the displacement of the soul by another entity. Only a soul with a weak hold on its body would allow obsession. While a child’s soul has a weaker hold on its body, adults are more susceptible to obsession because they are more likely to possess qualities that attract undesirable entities, making obsession easier. In short, the best way to prevent obsession is by using your willpower. If the rightful owner of the body asserts themselves confidently and uses their willpower, no obsession can take place. When obsession occurs, it is almost always because the victim has, in the first place, voluntarily yielded themself to the invading influence. Therefore, the first step is to reverse the act of submission and strongly determine to resume control over their own property.
The connection between personality and soul is incredibly significant. It is important to understand that the true essence of a person lies in their higher self, not in the physical body that often receives too much emphasis. While we may not fully comprehend the divine trinity within us, we can gain an understanding of the causal envelope, which is the closest concept of the true self that our higher mental level can perceive.
When we look at a person from a purely intellectual standpoint, we can only perceive as much as can be conveyed through their thoughts. However, when we consider their emotions, an additional barrier presents itself. On a physical level, there is yet another obstruction, making it even more challenging to perceive the true essence of the individual.
The knowledge should lead us to form a somewhat higher opinion of our fellows, since we realise that they are so much more than they seem to the physical eye. In the background, there is always the higher possibility, and often, an appeal to the better nature will arouse it from latency and bring it down into manifestation where we can see it. After studying human nature, it becomes easier for us to see beyond the physical appearance and understand the true reality underneath. What lies behind all individuals is their divine nature. Understanding this principle should enable us to adjust our attitudes and help others more effectively than we could without this knowledge.
We have previously discussed in the presentation on Contemplation that the consciousness of the soul can be accessed by maintaining a state of attentive mind without focusing on anything specific, thereby quieting the lower mind to experience the consciousness of the higher mind. Through this practice, ideas from the soul descend into the lower mind with brilliant clarity, representing the inspirations of genius. “Behold in every manifestation of genius, when combined with virtue, the undeniable presence of the celestial exile, the divine Soul whose jailor thou art, O man of matter”.
Genius is the momentary grasping of the brain by the larger consciousness of the soul, which is the true essence of a person. It is the manifestation of the larger consciousness within an organism that can respond to its vibrations. Flashes of genius are the expression of the living Spirit within a person; they are the voice of the inner God speaking through human form.
The term “conscience” encompasses two distinct phenomena. Conscience is sometimes described as the voice of the soul and, at other times, as the will within the realm of morality. When it is considered the voice of the soul, it should be acknowledged that it is not always infallible and can make incorrect decisions. This is because the soul cannot speak with certainty on unfamiliar issues and requires prior experience to make accurate judgments.
The type of conscience that arises from the will does not tell us what to do but rather urges us to follow what we already know to be best. This typically happens when the mind is trying to come up with an excuse to do otherwise. It speaks with the authority of the spiritual will, guiding our path in life.
The will, which is undeniably a quality of the soul, should not be mistaken for the desires of the personality in the lower aspects of being. Desire is the outward energy of the Thinker, influenced in direction by the attraction of external objects. Will, on the other hand, is the outward energy of the thinker, determined in direction by reasoned conclusions based on past experiences or by the direct intuition of the Thinker themself. In simpler terms, desire is influenced externally, while will is determined from within.
In the early stages of evolution, desire has complete sovereignty and hurries a person here and there. The individual is ruled by their emotions. In the middle stages of evolution, there is continual conflict between desire and will. The person struggles with their desires and the mind. In the later stages of evolution, desire fades, and will rules unopposed. The soul is in command.
In summary, we can say that the voice of the soul or higher self speaking from the lower spiritual envelope (45:4-7) is true conscience; from the unity envelope (46), it is intuitive knowledge of right and wrong and from the causal envelope (47:1-3), it is inspiration. When inspiration becomes continuous enough to be normal, it is considered genius.