The Hill of Discernment
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The Hill of Discernment By A. Trevor Barker "Let those who have climbed the hill and seen the vision, and in that clean, sweet air have heard the key-note of the dawning cycle — hold fast — and remember in the days that are coming — the sweetness, and the beauty, and the truth they have seen." — A. Trevor Barker, Introduction to The Mahatma Letters Lectures on theosophy by the compiler of the Mahatma and Blavatsky letters to A. P. Sinnett. Originally published 1941 by Theosophical University Press. Theosophical University Press electronic version ISBN 1-55700-148-0. For ease in searching, no diacritical marks appear in this electronic version of the text. CONTENTS In Memoriam Compilers' Preface 1. NEW YEAR AND OTHER MESSAGES The Hill of Discernment The Divine Awakening and the Birth of the Year Forgiveness and Love A Call to Action: Individual Regeneration or World Chaos Ancient Ideals in the Modern Home 2. SOLVING THE INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM Let Us Go Forward Individual Responsibility Idolatry and Leadership Our Immediate Work On Looking for Results On Fraternization Further Notes on Fraternization Rising Above Desire 3. H. P. B. Invitation to the H. P. B. Centennial Conference Unity Through H. P. B.'s Teachings H. P. B. and the Masters of Wisdom Theosophical Slackness White Lotus Day Meetings: — H. P. B. as a Symbol of the Masters' Work — The Brotherhood H. P. B. Came to Found H. P. B.: A 'Holding Center' of Spiritual Energy Was H. P. B. an Anomaly? William Quan Judge 4. STUDIES IN "THE MAHATMA LETTERS" Teachings on Life After Death Spiritualism and Psychic Phenomena On Accidents and Suicides The Psychology of Chelaship The Problem of Evil The Writing of the Mahatma Letters 5a. TECHNICAL TEACHINGS AND THEIR PRACTICAL APPLICATION Why Study Theosophy? Obstacles to Meditation The Occult Law of Correspondence and Analogy The Lost 'Word' Destiny, Liberation, Annihilation Spiritual Gifts and Their Attainment The Mystery of Pain 5b. TECHNICAL TEACHINGS AND THEIR PRACTICAL APPLICATION, Part 2 The Place of Devotion in the Life of Discipleship The Creative Power of Thought Faith Versus Wisdom "The Dual Aspect of Wisdom" The Evolution of the Soul The Real Man The Destruction of Illusion 6a. THE RATIONALE OF THE AFTER-LIFE The Living Dead The Mysteries of Death What Survives Death? More About 'What Survives Death?' 6b. THE RATIONALE OF THE AFTER-LIFE, Part 2 Psychic Phenomena Theosophy and Christian Science 7.SHORTER PIECES A Bond of Spiritual Kinship Every Lodge-Room a Temple Keys to a Cosmic Philosophy Thoughts on Devachan Awareness in the Moment and the Day A Theosophist's Attitude to Book-Learning The Inner Divine Companion Questions and Answers The Ego of a Mentally Deficient Person The Nature of 'Spirit' Communications The Relationship of Chela and Guru The Outer Teacher and the Inner Intuition Avoiding the Sectarian Spirit How to Meet Troubles Ahead ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In Memoriam True Theosophists the world over will grieve at the passing of our brother — and their brother — A. Trevor Barker, on 17th July, 1941, in Torquay, Devon, England. A deep and very simple character, he lived and worked through an unusually complex personality; and because of this few really understood him; but the few who did understand him loved him. Spirit, mind, and soul in him were dedicate to Theosophy; and from the beginning of his awakening in this life to Theosophical work until the day of his passing, Trevor Barker, as far as I know, had but one thought, one objective, one aim: the delivery of our Masters' Teaching to mankind — as is evidenced by the articles and lectures printed in the present volume. I knew him well and loved him because he was he; and I know that many, many thousands of others who perhaps never met him love him also for his work for Theosophy, and in particular perhaps for his giving to the world the most noteworthy standard Theosophical book we have, The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. I understand that Trevor had intended to issue a last edition of this greatest Theosophical work, which would have allowed him to correct a very few errors arising in faulty transcription of sometimes almost illegible manuscript, and of a few other typographical errors; but it was not to be. One of Trevor's last actions was arranging for the depositing of the MSS. of The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett in the British Museum, where these papers are now held in the Department of Select Manuscripts. Trevor's last official Theosophical act, just a short time before he passed, was making arrangements, as far as he could do so, for the safe continuance of the English Section of the Theosophical Society, of which Section be was for a number of years a most efficient, devoted, and enthusiastic Head. Our deeply earnest sympathy goes to his faithful wife, Virginia, as good and true a Theosophist as he himself was, and to his children. His great love for his fellow-men in connexion with his Theosophical work, should operate powerfully in bringing him back again into Theosophical duty as quickly as karman permits. Dormit in pace stellisque. G. de P. International Theosophical Headquarters, Point Loma, California, U. S. A. 21st September, 1941. Compilers' Preface With the death of A. Trevor Barker on July 17th of this year, the spontaneous wish was expressed by his many friends all over the world that his lectures and writings might be gathered together for publication in some permanent form. The present work, The Hill of Discernment, is an answer to this widespread desire. It contains in large part all the available addresses given in various parts of England, mainly to Theosophical groups and lodges, to European Conventions of the Theosophical Society, and to various 'fraternization' meetings with the Phoenix Lodge and other Lodges of the Adyar T. S. in England. At the end of this volume is a Memorandum which gives as far as possible the original source of each lecture. It should be noted that Dr. Barker, save in a few instances, had no opportunity himself of editing his work, and the Compilers in all cases have felt it best, except for obvious slips and inaccuracies, to leave his words as given under the urge of his ardent and sincere conviction. To Miss Margaret Jamieson, who was for many years Dr. Barker's private secretary as well as secretary for the English Section of the T. S., special thanks are given. Without her devotion and her industry in reporting and transcription, the publication of this book would have been impossible. The Compilers are grateful to Mrs. A. Trevor Barker for the permission she has kindly granted them to use the material which this book contains. 1. New Year and Other Messages [To all students of occultism keenly alive to inner bonds of kinship with Nature, the four great seasonal turnings of the year make strong appeal. Trevor Barker's New Year messages given in this chapter are in close harmony with this and with H. P. Blavatsky's teaching of the importance particularly of the first quarter of the year, from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox, when the "astral light of the earth is young." Worthy resolutions then made are blessed with spiritual impetus and may more consistently and effectively be carried out.] The Hill of Discernment At this season of the year we begin to look forward to the vigorous new life that will come to birth within a few short weeks. Often Theosophical students experience many difficulties and find it hard to maintain their grip on the things of the spirit during the dark days of November, when the spiritual currents that flow from the Great Lodge are at their lowest ebb, this period being at the end of the six dark months of the Sun's southern journey, which is said to be under the dominion of Yama, the God of Death. The sternest battles with self often fall upon the soul at this time, and many feel themselves to be isolated, with their feet rooted in terror to the ground. The great ensnarer Doubt, causes them to wonder if they will ever hear again the beat of the wings of the Great Bird sounding anew the Aum through the cosmic spaces, calling their spirit to that new birth which those with any mystic perception almost invariably discover taking place within them round about the Sacred Festival of the Winter Solstice. Men generally recognise quite easily the rhythmic sweep of the cosmic cycles: the moon with its periodic influence on all forms of life, the rise and fall of the seasons, the ebb and flow of the tides; but it comes as a new thought to many that this cyclic Law, which is universal in Nature, has its direct application in the life of the soul and its unfolding. No state of spiritual inspiration, nor indeed of consciousness, ever remains with us permanently, and the highest vision gives place inevitably to periods when it is not always easy to see the Pathway before our feet, and these are the testing times of faith. We can climb the pathway to the mountain tops and walk there, serene perhaps in the consciousness of work well done, but the road will inevitably descend again into the valley, and well for us that it is so. One of the most valuable lessons that comes to us as we travel onward, is the equanimity and detachment that come from the recognition that there would be no peaceful valleys if there were no hills on each side of them, and we thus learn to accept both the mountain of difficulty and the valley of fulfilment, and realize that even the pleasant vale can be shadowed and dark until the sun rises over the mountain tops to chase away the terrors of the night.