Sacrifice

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Summary: A collection of statements by the Tibetan.


     "The sense of sacrifice is faintly seen in every soul that loves the Plan. Teach them that sacrifice must touch the depths of giving, and not call forth that which upon the surface lies or that which can be known. The unseen sacrifice must go with that which can be seen. Teach this." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 167)

     "Group work involves sacrifice, and oft the doing of that which might not be preferred, and which might not -- from the personality angle -- be the easier way out and the easier activity." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 290)

     "The idea of self-sacrifice. This idea has lately shifted from the individual and his sacrifice, to the group presentation. The good of the whole is now held theoretically to be of such paramount importance that the group must gladly sacrifice the individual or group of individuals. Such idealists are apt to forget that the only true sacrifice is that which is self-initiated, and that when it is an enforced sacrifice (imposed by the more powerful and superior person or group) it is apt to be, in the last analysis, the coercion of the individual and his enforced submission to a stronger will." (Education in the New Age, p. 20/1)

     "Death, as the human consciousness understands it, pain and sorrow, loss and disaster, joy and distress, are only such because man, as yet, identifies himself with the life of the form and not with the life and consciousness of the soul. . . . The moment a man identifies himself with his soul and not with his form, then he understands the meaning of the Law of Sacrifice; he is spontaneously governed by it, and he is one who will with deliberate intent choose to die. But there is no pain, no sorrow, and no real death involved." (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p. 94)

     "This urge to sacrifice, to relinquish this for that, to choose one way or line of conduct and thus sacrifice another way, to lose in order eventually to gain -- such is the underlying story of evolution. This needs psychological understanding. It is the governing principle of life itself, and runs like a golden pattern of beauty through the dark materials of which human history is constructed. When this urge to sacrifice in order to win, gain or salvage that which is deemed desirable is understood, then the whole clue to man's unfoldment will stand revealed. This tendency or urge is something different to desire, as desire is academically understood and studied today. What it really connotes is the emergence of that which is most divine in man. It is an aspect of desire, but it is the dynamic, active side and not the feeling, sensuous side. it is the predominant characteristic of Deity." (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p. 97)

     "Under the Law of Sacrifice these three rules might be interpreted thus:

i. Relinquish or sacrifice the age-old tendency to criticise and adjust another's work, and thus preserve the inner group intergrity. More plans for service have gone astray and more workers have been hindered by criticism than by any other major factor.

ii. Relinquish or sacrifice the sense of responsibility for the actions of others, and particularly of disciples. See that your own activity measures up to theirs, and in the joy of struggle and on the way of service, the differences will disappear and the general good will be achieved.

iii. Relinquish the pride of mind which sees its way and its interpretations to be correct and true, and others' false and wrong. This is the way of separation. Adhere to the way of integration which is of the soul and not of the mind.

     . . . It is essential that the disciples shall learn to sacrifice the non-essential in order that the work may go forward. Little as one may realise it, the many techniques and methods and ways, are secondary to the major world need. There are many ways and many points of view, and many experiments and many efforts -- abortive and successful, and all of them come and go. But humanity remains. All of them are in evidence of the multiplicity of minds, and of experiences, but the goal remains. Difference is ever of the personality. When this Law of Sacrifice governs the mind, it will inevitably lead all disciples to relinquish the personal in favour of the universal and of the soul, that knows no separation, no difference. Then no pride, nor a short and myopic perspective, nor love of interference (so dear to many people), nor misunderstanding of motive will hinder their co-operation with each other as disciples, nor their service to the world." (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p.108/9)