Purification Practices and Protection Against Spiritual Illusions

GA 266II — 5 April 1912, Helsinki

Esoteric Lesson

Blood purification: Promotes independence of mind
Lymph purification: Clear thoughts

Digestive juice purification (chyle): Noble feelings,

Refines sensory nerve currents: Pure, honest intentions.

How we meditate is more important than what we meditate on. The further we progress, the greater the danger that impure spirits will try to take root. There is an occult remedy for this. We must imagine the Aaron's rod (with a black and white snake entwined around it) for a moment. Of course, staring at this image is not enough, but on the other hand, we should not speculate about it for too long, as this would distract us from meditation. As we progress, the premature emergence of a feeling can become a pitfall. We feel, so to speak, divided into very different entities that have worked on us in the past.

We must be very careful not to give in to these feelings too early. Once again, hostile spirits will interfere, trying to draw us completely to themselves, and instead of entering the world of the spirit, we will end up in the world of illusion. An effective occult remedy for this is the mental image of the black cross with the seven red roses. From death (the cross) springs new life.

It is better to read one book twenty-five times than five books five times. When we rise up to the hierarchies, we are moved. Selfishness is ultimately developed if it is not counterbalanced by love for all beings. When we are moved—even by the best higher beings—we lose ourselves if we do not develop courage and selflessness. Filled and permeated by the Christ principle, we can dare to leap across the abyss. Spiritual beings seize and use us to work in the world, just as we use our eyes, etc.

When we think of the moon, something in us contracts and hardens. When we look at the sun, we feel the spiritual working on us. The sun's rays are the deeds of higher spirits. They arise [through their deeds] or are the effects of their deeds.

Formation of the sixteen-petaled lotus flower (distribution over the days of the week):

1. The way in which one acquires mental images
2. Concerns decisions
3. Speech must be meaningful
4. Regulation of external actions
5. Organization of one's entire life
6. The striving of human beings
7. The striving to learn from life
8. Looking into one's inner self

We must imagine the higher self and bring it to the point where this self regards our ordinary self as an object facing us.