CHAPTER 6

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Such were the great and wonderful discoveries made by the early metaphysical pioneers while in the state of "essence", long before my advent into this world.

Why has so much of this knowledge been lost to mankind, you might
wonder. This question can best be answered by relating one of Zadius'
favourite stories...

"One bright and starry night, the Devil and a companion were circling
this earthly globe admiring their handiwork and their domain, delighting
to watch the innumerable souls floundering in the Outer Darkness. Then
suddenly a bright light flashed past them, descending directly from the
Halls of Heaven to Earth. The lesser demon cringed.

"What was that?" he enquired, "It made me shiver ... "

"Ha-ha" chuckled his Satanic Majesty, "There is nothing to fear my
friend. That was a spark of truth being sent to guide the people on
Earth; but after the intelligentsia have analyzed it, and the dogmatists
have taken what is left and adapted it for public consumption, it will
be totally unrecognisable and quite harmless to us ..."

But such stories as this were not applicable to the generation of which
we now speak, where men sought humbly after some scrap of truth to lead
them ever upward.

The nine remaining metaphysicians who had conducted the Abwa
experiment, having bathed, slept, ate and refreshed themselves, gathered
in the rotunda of their temple to continue their discussions. And the
three who had survived separation from the flesh began to speak again of
what they had learned while in the state of pure essence.

At the time of death the super-mental entity becomes separated, leaving
the body in two distinct parts, on two distinct vibrational chords. One
part is pure energy, the other has the form of colour.

The pure spark of spiritual energy, now without physical identity,
wings straightaway to the abode of its Creator, thus completing one
phase of the spiritual cycle, to await reunion with its astral body, or
personality in the form of the purified aura.

Meanwhile, every thought reflection recorded on the spiritual aura
while anchored in flesh, has to be carried into after life as a burden
separating the spiritual personality from wholeness. The astral body,
which at first thinks exactly as did its physical counterpart, for it is
simply a different dimension of the same human being, or you could say
the same personality in a different dimension to that which it knew on
earth, now faces the problem of clarification. Many astral people wander
aimlessly for quite some time before realizing the necessity for
proceeding to the area of outer darkness where self realization is
acquired.

(It might be as well to pause at this point to clarify the confusion
which arises in such records as the Bridey Murphy case, in retrogression
through hypnosis, and the various fields of spiritualism and mediumship,
with which you are probably all familiar.)

Astral personalities reached in the spiritual dimension by these means
are usually those who have not yet entered the Outer Darkness.

These entities are not to be confused with advanced spiritual beings
sometimes referred to as gods, guides, angels and archangels. Greek
mythology terms powerful guides "gods", and as representatives of Deity
working among earthlings this term is not misleading.

Christianity prefers the expression "angels"; winged messengers from
supernatural spheres. In Metaphysics we say "Guides", and these beings,
of varying power and position must never be confused with the
personalities introduced in forms of hypnosis, who represent
comparatively recent departees from the flesh who have yet to gain any
knowledge of what is beyond the veil of outer darkness, separating them
from cosmic understanding. The only things these people can discuss are
personal opinions and experiences, which are in no way representatives
of spiritual advancement. If a human was poorly motivated in life, separation
from the physical frame will not change the personality, and such
communicators might add to the popular superstition that there is such a
thing as an "evil spirit".

Mediumship, (a faculty which anyone can develop) can take on so many
aspects that it would require a separate book to deal adequately with
the subject. The trance medium, having more sensational appeal for the
masses, and apparent ability to contact dear departed ones, can give
little information to those seeking spiritual progress. In such cases
the preconscious mind is bypassed and is made unaware of body actions
during the trance, but when the physical mind again takes over, the
medium is in no way morally or spiritually richer from the experience.

Non-trance mediums retain the spiritual knowledge gained, as it has
actually passed through vibrations of the preconscious to the conscious.

When the astral body finds itself projected to a new dimension, it is
quite unable to see through a haze of carnal error. There is a
realization that the personality has survived death, and this it longs
to communicate to doubting friends and relatives -- really something to
write home about. It is not until the astral fledgling tires of the
novelty of meandering in earth's atmosphere that it yearns to make
progress, and at this time passes into the sphere known as the outer
darkness.

There is no logical sequence pattern in the post partum period. The
area of greatest fault is lived out first, over and over again. Then the
next most prominent error is relived repeatedly, and so on, until the
energy expended in the reliving and remorse finally equals the energy
spent on earth in the erroneous thinking, and another stain is blotted
out of this particular aura-colour.

Any facet of life which has created an overburden of concentration
must be balanced. Sexual desire, wealth, power, esteem, fear, vanity,
etc., anything which furnishes material for egotistical censorship of
the preconscious, and therefore underdevelopment of the spiritual
personality, causes remorse. For these are the thought vibrations which
reflect a colour tone of lesser degree than purity, and show a clearly
defined pattern of motivation by the middle years of life ... ( W.G.B.)

The three metaphysicians told how a guide had stood by waiting for
their astral selves to gain freedom, then had whisked them off on a
cosmic tour. Part of this educational journey had included glimpses of
various people in the outer darkness, and each of the three had seen
different scenes being re-enacted, but all with corresponding details.

One told of how he had visited a man who, in life, had yearned to be a
famous explorer. This ambition had led him to discover many new lands,
sometimes only small islands, where new races, flora, and fauna, gems
and minerals were found under conditions of severe privation. The
monetary gains from this man's discoveries meant little to him, but a
deep underlying self-satisfaction came from envisioning himself as a
great man, the founder of a long line of explorers, among whom he
would always be revered as the greatest of all. He had even pictured
himself carved in stone, a perfect emblem of strength and manhood
that would gain the admiration of all who passed by. He imagined future
generations telling stories of the illustrious and noble Dimitri.

In continuing to live out his life's ambition, this man would have to
undergo an endless repetition of his egotistical dreams until he could
bear it no longer, and fully satiated, could cast aside this shadow of
earthly life and embrace the reality of the higher life which lay beyond
the shell of his own making.

Total seclusion is maintained during the living out period. The astral
personality lives in a world entirely populated with things of his own
imagination; the ships he sailed, the places he visited, the crew, would
be real only to himself. He would voyage alone, ego crying out each time
for recognition, and failing to understand why this was denied, until
the true motivation behind his earthly actions was revealed. What a
fearful fate for egotistical man ... solitude.

"How long will this period of self-recognition continue in terms of
earth years?" the metaphysician asked the guide.

"Until such time as he has passed through remorse to purity, perhaps a
few decades, perhaps a thousand years or more. It largely depends on how
deeply rooted is the egotistical drive -- each astral being is his own
master".

The second of the three had visited a weaver of cloth, a mediocre
workman, inoffensive by nature, but given over entirely to ego in that
he sought continuous emotional satisfaction in the admiration of women.
He had been a well built, handsome man and in early youth had become
firmly convinced that his appeal for the fair sex was unsurpassable.
Each new conquest spurred him only to further conquests. In reliving
these desires, he became more and more the debonair personality of his
aspirations, and was led into emotional heights surpassing anything he
had ever known in reality. But all in solitude. And having surfeited,
the appetite sickened and he pleaded for release.

The third metaphysician had encountered a woman who had apparently
passed on shortly after childbirth. She rocked the most beautiful baby
son in her arms; spent every eternal moment planning how to make a great
man of her child. She envisioned him as a noble prince, ruler of a fine
race of intelligent people, none of whom lived in the squalor that had
been her earthly lot. Daily, in her dreaming, she found some light flaw
in the previous day's planning, and schemed of new ways to glorify her
son's future. She wished him wealth, health, adulation, mental
brilliance; but never once while the third student was watching did she
stumble on the supreme gift, and desire humility and purity of thought
for her baby.

As this last episode was related, the three metaphysicians exchanged
knowing glances as a great understanding was born between them. For
several moments there was silence, until one of the listeners broke in
with, "Well, what is it? You each appear to be sharing some sort of
secret, as if you have had a sudden revelation ..."

"We have!" they chorused, each trying to explain with the others. "We
were each shown some facet pertinent to ourselves, situations which
struck some sympathetic chord, but which failed to strike us with their
significance until we heard the others relating their experiences. Then
recognising how aptly his story fitted an egotistical weakness, we each
suddenly realized the purpose behind the choices of examples".

"I sought fame in my imagination," said the first. "Secretly saw myself
as a dedicated scientist and pioneer who would eventually prove our
opponent's reasoning less than our own".
"I do daydream of female conquest," admitted the youngest and second
metaphysician to make the cosmic ascension, "Even though I never have
the courage to do anything about it, but the thought is sometimes there
..."

"My planned achievements did not include humility and personal purity,"
cried the third, "Oh! how can I have been so blind, it was only through
recognising the weaknesses of my companions that I at last came to see
that I had been taught the same lesson ... Ah Ego!"

In this way the metaphysicians came to learn one more thing about
Spirit, the tender delicate touch of a loving host, gently showing their
earthly brothers the way. They saw the Infinite Wisdom and Justice of
Spirit in action. With all their knowledge of psychology, not one had
been able to recognise a personal weakness when it was illustrated
through the exaggerated fault of another along parallel circumstances.

And the guides had shown how not one jot or tittle could be overlooked
in self-recognition, for in complete self-analysis lies the key to all
knowledge. Recognition of self leads to knowledge of fellows, tribal and
social influences, natural instincts; then finally to understanding of
Him who is Knowledge, Justice, Purity and Infinity.

This striving for personal spiritual progress must likewise develop
into a passion to promote human progress. No one class can go its way
alone, mankind is an indivisible whole in which all have one and the
same destiny to fulfil. In order to gain the understanding of higher
life and negate the power of ego to possess and captivate, the thoughts
which revolve around the separative personality must go; these will be
supplanted by divinely impersonal thought waves reiterating the truth
that all life is one, and its progression to a higher state depends on
service, to climb higher the spirit must stoop lower, gathering in its
fellows. For by such co-operation the human race is carried forward.

Once the total personality becomes subject to spiritual law, even while
in the flesh, such a person is no longer subject to the law of sin and
death. When each human being can truly pray, "Thy will be done ..." and
echo these sentiments with every fibre of his being, the glorious race
will inhabit the earth.

Paradise on Earth ... fact or fable?

Why not fact: for all must reach beyond the laws of sin, disease, pain
and death sometime, as they become subject to Divine Law, it can either
be done in spiritual or physical life; why wait?

At the time of which we are now speaking, nine men were within the law;
the six Abwa, (who were fast teaching their fellows) and the three
metaphysicians who had survived the experiment. The remaining six
metaphysicians lost no time in completing their astral education, and
after a few more months had passed, there were more than twenty people
who fully understood Divine Law.

Soon the Abwa were pressing for freedom to go forth among the people of
Khe to teach their beliefs, as pure mentation was transcended by
spiritual illumination and action became a compelling imperative.

The Metaphysicians had no choice but to grant this request, even though
a sense of proportion made them somewhat hesitant, knowing the jeopardy
in which this placed both the Abwa and themselves. For their teaching
would be beyond the grasp of the average citizens and contrary to
existing beliefs.

It was hoped, however, that the novel circumstances surrounding the
Abwas' development might be an excuse to arouse curiosity and enable
them to circulate for a sufficient length of time to command the
attention of those whose purpose it was to explore the varying aspects
of the human mind.

These hopes were amply fulfilled as it became evident that the Abwa
were possessed of magnetic powers of mental communication and speech
that held the listeners spellbound. Demonstrations of the rapid healing
powers of spirit gave factual evidence to the stories they told and many
were converted the "New Science" as it was called.

It was about two years after the start of this public educational
campaign that the nine Metaphysicians were commanded to present
themselves before the High Council and required to explain, with
demonstrations where possible, the ideas now spreading throughout the
land. Their teaching found ready acceptance as the truths they taught
became self-evident to the leaders.

The nine rejoiced as they prepared sufficient factual proofs in the
form of charts and video tapes to illustrate the details of their
experiments. Singly, and then collectively, the Council were persuaded
into personal investigation of these claims, and became initiates in the
now busy cells which had been used for the original transitions.

The success of the new science was so great that in a short time the
Council of Three elected to explore the spirit world, and entered the
Metaphysical school simultaneously.

As no one dared question the actions of the Council of Three,
conversions went forward at a rapid rate, until, at the end of the next
year, when the Council of Three emerged, steeped in the truths of
spirit, yet aware, even as the nine were aware, that their experiences
led them only to the threshold, not the ultimate of knowledge, the
formerly ostracized metaphysicians were given carte blanc in all matters
pertaining to the mind of man and its evolution.

A new phase began in the development of my people. An unfolding of
consciousness that continued for several generations, as many lifetimes
were spent in total absorption in the quest for further knowledge.

The originators of the new science, went beyond their original signal
success and spent the remainder of their lives joyously teaching
conversion through prayer, meditation and self-recognition. In each
case it was obvious that the soul had taken over and assumed control.