The Rules of the Road
From Glamour By Alice Bailey - A discussion by Ernest Suffern
Rule 6: " The Pilgrim, as he walks upon the Road, must have the open ear, the giving hand, the silent tongue, the chastened heart, the golden voice, the rapid foot, and the open eye which sees the light. He knows he not alone."
There are many, though selected, sounds that reach the ear of the disciple upon the Path. There is the voice of the master, (using this term to designate primarily that Master who is one's sponsor, but also, in certain instances and on occasion, others of the associated Brotherhood who may have occasion to speak). One must become receptive to those great inner Guides, alert to catch Their thoughts and to meet Their call. There is the voice of the Inner Ruler, - the whisperings of one's own Soul, which soon or late, will be caught by the attentive ear of the pilgrim. This great event will mark the beginning of that blending so beautifully described in The Voice Of The Silence, and in which the functioning individual, joined to the Soul, will use that inner ear to hear and heed that Voice.
There is the voice of one's brothers on the way, which now are coming and more and more will come to use the subtler telepathic speech in the free exchange of thought on their common way. The extent of the present use of this telepathic gift among those close to the Path or upon it, is much more widespread than is normally conceived.
There is the call of those in distress which is ever heard, for the open ear is ever alert to hear and heed the cry of pain. "Let thy Soul lend its ear to every cry of pain like as the lotus bares its heart to drink the morning sun. Let not the fierce sun dry one tear of pain before thyself hast wiped it from the sufferer's eye. But let each burning human tear drop on thy heart and there remain; nor even brush it off until the pain that caused it is removed".
The pilgrim becomes alert to the whole gamut of sounds which reach up to the world of Souls. In a certain sense the inner ear gains the capacity to receive and note all the different sounds which issue from all that lives. Very much changed, however, is their receipt and interpretation, according to the level and quality of the recipient. Things which may seem dissonant or painful from one level may sound a quite different note to one with a higher perception. Then that which had appeared imperfect is heard in a new setting, in its relation to a greater whole. A needed supplemental tone is observed; a deeper, richer, inclusive harmony registers.
"The giving hand" clutches at nothing for the separated self. It is the hand of service. It grasps but to convey and to bestow. In the long course of human evolution the function and symbolism of the hand changes greatly. During the slow early stages of evolving man, as the sense of separated selfhood gradually develops, more and more the outreaching hand seizes to appropriate. Thus the clutching hand becomes the symbol of the self-seeking person, the man who takes and holds for his petty gain.
It is only toward the end of the long journey through the human kingdom that, at last, dissatisfaction with the fruits of selfishness, the discovery of the emptiness and valuelessness of that which has been claimed and separately used, causes relinquishment. Then the hand, differently held and used, serves to release and distribute that which it had grasped and held.
"The silent tongue". For all aspirants the regulation and watching of speech is an imperative necessity, and there is perhaps no better gauge of one's position upon the Path than the way in which one guards and uses the gift of speech. When the aspirant has become the disciple, and when he has set himself to the task of preparing himself to serve as an initiate, he has special and new needs to master the gifts of silence. More and more as he proves his worth, his present and potential usefulness, and as he demonstrates due reticence, will reliance be placed upon him, and the facts of the realm of the inner life will seep into his consciousness. This will only happen when Those who guide evolving men find in him one who respects and protects Their confidence. He has proved himself as one who has acquired or who has is rapidly gaining, the priceless gift of due control of speech.
Many are the lessons to be learned in the process of acquiring "the chastened heart". In fact, a complete transformation of character is summed up in these few words. Ambition must have given place to consideration for others and a desire to serve. Instead of pride and self-love, by dint of bitter experience and of many painfully learned lessons, the aspirant must have offered up the sincere prayer for "a humble and contrite heart", and have begun to tread the Way in humility and selflessness. In substitution for all those lower impulses and vibrations which link to impurity, definite progress must have been made towards that region of high quality, of subtle and new beauties which only the pure in heart can see and know. All that adroitness and subtlety that links to deceit or untruthfulness must yield to the simplicity, directness and candor which faces the sun and expresses Truth. Above all, there will have been marked growth in that pervasive and transforming agency, LOVE, to correct and efface that which is critical, selfish and unloving, and to precipitate into the life the other needed virtues, of whatever sort.
"The golden voice" of the Pilgrim will come to partake of the quality of gold, both in the value of that to which it gives utterance, and also in the radiant and magnetic beauty of its expression. That speech which is hurtful or trivial, - that which fails to partake of the quality of gold, can find no outlet through such a voice. That which is useful and constructive, above all, that which manifests wisdom, must and will become its normal tone and nature.
Students can derive much light and a keen enjoyment from a study of the relation of the quality of tone and speech to the spiritual level of individuals, as well as of those subtle changes in this quality in any person's utterance which corresponds with the unfoldment of his character. This proves thus to be one of the varied ways in which the emerging beauty of the Soul finds expression, and it explains why those who are disciples, and to a still more marked degree, those who are still further along the Path, normally reveal in their voice that subtle beauty that inspires confidence and makes a strong appeal.
The golden voice and the magic of the Soul's speech may well become objects of attention for the pilgrim (for such are we) who makes his way steadily forward toward or upon the Path. Even as we approach that goal, the quality of our tones will begin to register and to evoke response from those whom we may meet. A young woman was recently advised that a group of friends, - people of kindred tastes, were taking a cottage together for the summer. It was suggested to her that she attempt to meet the one in charge to see if she might be allowed to join the group and spend her holiday with them. As a first step she telephoned the woman in charge and discussed details in a preliminary way. This done, she proposed to call upon the woman in order to learn whether she might be accepted. The reply she received was this: "We have talked together. I have heard your voice. I believe I know you. You will be welcome".
"The rapid foot" we are to have, will no more loiter upon the Way. The period of lethargy, of slowness or inertia, the time of fitful impulses now lies behind us. Rapidly and steadily are we to march ahead towards the goal. With minds resolved and hearts attuned, we press forward toward the mark of the high calling to which we are committed. Henceforward nothing must hold us back, for we are unitedly embarked upon this high adventure.
In service of our brothers, the open ear, the giving hand and the rapid foot are closely linked. Quick the response must be to the call received, and rapid our feet, as we direct our steps to the point of need. For when the cry goes forth, is heard by the attentive ear, and registers in the chastened heart, there is no other wish or desire than to go forth and to give freely and in wisdom that which is needed.
The last of these descriptive terms, "the open eye which sees the light", is a most significant phrase. A discussion of this clause alone in a paper of this length would still be far too short to deal adequately with all its implications.
We may here view this open eye as the eye of the Soul, that eye which clearly sees the light beyond, - that of the distant goal. It also discerns the light in all that is. Under the stimulus of such an opened eye, the awakened and illumined mind discovers a new capacity to see through all obscurations to the inner truth, to discover new and deeper meanings and values in all fields. The aspiring pilgrim, oriented to such a light, is able, as never before, to chart his course toward the distant star, now clearly seen, and to hold unwaveringly to that course with quickened pace.
Interesting fields, to which this phrase invites consideration, include a certain faculty and capacity, still dormant and latent in many of us, but still which more and more awaken into life among those who tread the Path, which, in an actual and not a symbolic sense, can be called the eye of the inner vision. Also new and varied vistas appear when we contemplate the light here mentioned as the Light of the Soul, to which increasingly we turn.
"He knows he travel not alone". Having duly taken stock and found his way to the Path of Discipleship, toward which he has so long aspired and striven, the disciple has developed the capacity to discover and know his companions on the Way. He observes them, - many of them, by his side and all about him. Furthermore, today, as never before in human history, he sees indications of the great numbers of his fellow aspirants who are finding their way and taking their place upon the same Road. He realizes all the peculiar and unique circumstance which, combining, have made it possible for him and his many brothers to overcome the obstacles that hitherto held them back, and by the special grace and the concerted efforts of the brotherhood of the Greater Ones, to join as brothers in the special privileges and responsibilities of this New Day.
Joined in the comradeship of this common aim, and in the recognized common life and essential quality, uniting his forces with his brothers, he goes forward, - an integral and vital spark in the flame of divine life. In this blended union he walks ahead with joy and love upon the common high road of the Soul.
Keywords: The Rules of the Road, pilgrim seeking, Glamour, Ernest Suffern, Alice Bailey, intuitive, Intuition, Articles, UK, South Africa, Cape Town
