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Cosmic Consciousness
Cosmic Consciousness is the combination
of mystic awareness and self-controlled clairvoyance. Mystic awareness is the
neural recombining of several basic functions of the brain (which usually
remains non-conscious) into an expanded, unified consciousness and this state
can be sustained only for short periods of time. Self-controlled clairvoyance
is the Egoic capability to consciously see, at will, the Astral and Etheric
Planes of existence, while you are awake in physical incarnation. Of course,
your mind is readily able to always perceive these two upper planes of
existence when you are discarnate or when your Mind functions separately,
away from your physical body during sleep. Cosmic Consciousness is one of the
pre-requisites for initiation into a Brotherhood. * * * A
young man asked Richard to define Cosmic Consciousness and to relate it to
the Virtues. The following was Richard’s answer: Cosmic Consciousness is the
ability to perceive the planes beyond the physical plane of existence—to
realize that there is more to this Universe than just what is apparent to our
eyes and our other senses. Essentially, it is clairvoyance developed through
the gradual uplifting of the Ego through implementing the virtues—developing
more love within one’s character and diminishing hatred. There are few words
available to say what Cosmic Consciousness “is,” Richard said, so to describe
it one must almost draw a verbal picture. The person who thinks negatively or
hatefully or fearfully has very dark colors in his astral aura. The person
who thinks mostly in terms of beauty, kindliness, helpfulness and lovingness
towards others loses some of the darker colors in his aura as he develops one
virtue after another, until finally his whole aura is very bright pastels.
When an individual has removed most of the dark colors from his astral aura,
he has become more attuned with the higher planes and begins to gain mental
perception of these planes. Thus, the uplifted vibrational nature of the Ego,
which reflects in the astral aura, is more in tune with the vibrations of
astral existence. At this point, the Ego can gain a rapport between his
astral perceptions and his physical perceptions, so that it is very natural
for him to begin to perceive what goes on on the other planes of existence,
It begins at first by involuntary glimpses; ultimately, without really trying
to gain this power, it becomes a regular condition. Protection from
intrusions is also assured when one gains astral perception in this manner,
since it is the development and practice of the Virtues which leads to this
refinement or uplift of the Ego’s vibrational nature. Advancement can be
gained in only one way: through the Great Virtues—by dealing with other
people and by learning how to overcome the problems within ourselves and our
environment. Not even Christ can bestow advancement upon an Ego—and certainly
He would be the last to interfere with Universal Law in this way. God wants
us to become one with Him as a result of our own will and desire to do so. If
we were to be granted advancement because God wanted us to have it, then He
might just as well have created us as so many puppets, investing us with life
and playing games with us. God does not want us to give up our will to follow
Him. Rather, we should develop our understanding and perception to the extent
that we can clearly see that what He wills is a better way—and then
consciously strive to will that better way for ourselves. (04-1970) |
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