the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第15章
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within you。〃 We must look for its foundation therefore； in a spiritual
principle or mental law inherent in the constitution of all men but waiting
to be brought into fuller development by more accurate compliance with
its essential requirements； which is precisely the method by which science
has evoked powers from the laws of nature which were undreamt of in
former ages； and in like manner the recognition of our true relation to the
Universal Spirit； which is the source of all individual being； must lead to
an advance both for the race and for the individual such as we can at
present scarcely form the faintest idea of； but which we dimly apprehend
through the intuition and speak of as the New Order。 The approach of this
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New Order is everywhere making itself vaguely felt； it is； as the French
say； in the air； and the very vagueness and mystery attending it is causing a
feeling of unrest as to what form it may assume。 But to the student of
Spiritual Law this should not be the case。 He knows that the Form is
always the expression of the Spirit； and therefore； since he is in touch with
the forward movement of the Spirit； he knows that he himself will always
be harmoniously included in any form of development which the Great
Forward Movement may take。 This is the practical and personal benefit
arising from the realization of the Principle which is symbolized under the
two…fold metaphor of the Shepherd and the Stone。 and in all those new
developments which are perhaps even now within measurable distance； we
can rest on the knowledge that we are under the care of a kind Shepherd；
and under the formation of a wise Master Builder。
But the principle of the Shepherd and the Stone is not something
hitherto unheard of which is only to conne into existence in the future。 If
there were no manifestations of this principle in the past； we might
question whether there were any such principle at all； but a careful study
of the subject will show us that it has been at work all through the ages；
sometimes in modes more immediately bearing the aspect of the Shepherd；
and sometimes in modes more immediately bearing the aspect of the Stone；
though the one always implies the other； for they are the same thing seen
from different points of view。 The subject is one of immense interest； but
covering such a wide range of study that all I can do here is to point out
that such a field of investigation exists and is worth exploration； and the
exploration brings its reward with it； not only by putting us in possession
of the key to the history of the past； but by showing us that it is the key to
the history of the future also； and furthermore by making evident on a
large scale the working of the same principle of Spiritual Law by
cooperation with which we may facilitate the process of our own
individual evolution。 It thus adds a vivid interest to life； giving us
something worth looking forward to and introducing us to a personal
future which is not limited by the proverbial three…score years and ten。
Now； we have seen that the first stage in the Creative Process is
always that of Feelinga reaching…out by the Spirit in a particular
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direction； and therefore we may look for something of the same kind in the
development of the great principle which we are now considering。 And we
find this first vague movement of this great principle in the intuitions of a
particular race which appears from time immemorial to have combined the
two characteristics of nomad wandering with their flocks and herds and
the symbolization of their religious beliefs in monuments of stone。 The
monuments themselves have taken different forms in different countries
and ages； but the identity of their symbolism becomes clear under careful
investigation。 Together with this symbolism we always find the nomad
character of the builders and that they are invested with an aura of mystery
and romance such as we find nowhere else； though we always find it
surrounding these builders； even in countries so far apart as India and
Ireland。 Then； as we pass beyond the merely monumental stage； we find
threads of historical evidence connecting the different branches of this
race； increasing in their complexity and strengthening in their cumulative
force as we go on； until at last we are brought to the history of the age in
which we live； and finally most remarkable affinities of language put the
finishing touch to the mass of proofs which can be gathered along all these
different lines。 In this magic circle countries so remote from one another
as Ireland and Greece； Egypt and India； Palestine and Persia； are brought
into close contiguitya similar tradition； and even a similar nomenclature；
unite the mysterious builders of the Great Pyramid with the equally
mysterious builders of the Round Towers of Irelandand the Great
Pyramid itself； perhaps antedating the call of Abraham； re…appears as the
official seal of the United States； while tradition traces the crowning…stone
in Westminster Abbey back to the time of Solomon's temple and even
earlier。 For the most part the erewhile wanderers are now settled in their
destined homes； but the Anglo…Saxon racethe People of the Corner…
Stoneare still the pioneers among the nations； and there is something
esoteric in the old joke that when the North Pole is reached a Scotchman
will be found there。 And not least in the chain of evidence is the link
afforded by a tribe who are wanderers still； the Gipsies with their duplicate
of the Pyramid in the pack of cardsa volume which has been called 〃The
Devil's Picture Book〃 by those who know it only in its misuse and
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inversion； but which when interpreted in the light of the knowledge we are
now gaining； affords a signal instance of that divine policy by which as St。
Paul says； God employs the foolish things of this world to confute the wise；
while a truer apprehension of the Gipsies themselves indicates their
unmistakable connection with that race who through all its wanderings has
ever been the guardian of the Stone。
In these few paragraphs I have only been able to point out very briefly
the broad lines of enquiry into a subject of national importance to the
British and American peoples； and which interests us personally； not only
as members of these nations； but as affording proof on the largest scale of
the same specialization of universal laws which each of us has to effect
individually for ourself。 But whether the process be individual or national
it is always the same； and is the translation to the very highest planethat
of the All…originating Life itselfof the old maxim that 〃Nature will obey
us exactly in proportion as we first obey Nature〃； it is the old parable of
the lord who； finding his servants girt and awaiting him； then girds himself
and serves them （Luke xii。 35 to 37）。 The nation or the individual who
thus realizes the true principle of the Shepherd and the Stone； comes under
a special Divine guidance and protection； not by a favouritism
incompatible with the conception of universal Law； but by the very
operation of the Law itself。 They have come into touch with its higher
possibilities； and to recur to an analogy which I have already employed；
they learn to make their iron float by the very same law by which it sinks；
and so they become the flock of the Great Shepherd and the building of
the Great Architect； and each one； however insignificant his or her sphere
may appear； becomes a sharer in the great work； and by a logical
consequence begins to grow on new lines of development for the simple
reason that a new principle necessarily produces new modes of
manifestation。 If the reader will think over these things he will see that the
promises contained in the Bible whether national or personal； are nothing
else than statements of the universal law of Cause and Effect applied to
the inmost principles of our being； and that therefore it is not mere
rhapsody； but the figurative expression of a great truth when the Psalmist
says ‘〃The Lord is my Shepherd；〃 and 〃Thou art my God and the Rock of
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my salvation。〃
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SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS。
What does this saying of the Master's mean？ Certainly not a mere
arrogant assumption in favour of His own nationalitysuch an idea is
negatived； not only by the universality of all His other teaching； but also
by the very instruction in which these words occur； for He declared that
the Jewish temple was equally with the Samaritan of no account in the
matter。 He said that the true worship was purely spiritual and entirely
independent of places and ceremonies； while at the same time He
emphasized the Jewish expectation of a Messiah； so that in this teaching
we are met by the paradox of a universal principle combined with what at
first sight appears like a tribal tradition quite incompatible with any
recognition of the universal reign of law。 How to reconcile these apparent
opposites； therefore； seems to be the problem which He here sets before us。
Its
