In today's post JJ takes up the issue of origin of things by hinting at the parable of decision. So I decided to write this post on this extremely fundamental issue of decision which is intimately tied up with Buddha's Golden mean in words of DK. In this post I will achieve a synthesis between John's and DK's words and demonstrate how John (to JJ) and DK (to Disciples) are elucidating the same concept and the core essence of the meaning of "DECISION".
From Immortal Book 2 -
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“Yes, of course. I think we all change with time.” (JJ to John)
“Then your answer is not entirely correct. It is indeed a point of truth that we are the result of our decisions, but this idea is common knowledge. We are looking deeper than that. Who and what you are today is the same as what you were twenty years ago and is the same as what I am. The answer is decision, but you do not understand it yet. Think on this throughout the next week and see if you can retrieve the answer.” (John to JJ)
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“Good. Now imagine you are very hungry and before you is an apple and a pear; you are allowed to eat one of them but you must decide which one. You like apples and pears an equal amount. Think of the apple, then the pear, then the apple - as if your power of decision were fluctuating between the two. As your power of decision fluctuates, try to feel and sense this power op- erating within yourself. As you sense this power ask yourself. How am I DECISION? What does it mean? In your silence feel this life energy fluctuate back and forth between the apple and the pear and try to register in your conscious mind the magnitude of what you feel. Ask yourself again and again How am I decision?”
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“Very good reasoning!” John smiled. “This is indeed the power that links men and gods, and it can raise a person from the animal nature to great spiritual heights. Perhaps this concept will help you realize the answer to last week’s question. Who and what you are is DECISION. Why is it you are called decision?”
Mark these words of John - "In your silence feel this life energy fluctuate back and forth" and connect them with DK - "But in between is the wretched aspirant, conscious of duality above all else and pulled hither and thither between the two"..."We are told that power is grown or developed in silence, and only he who can find a center of peace within his head.." (TWM)
Also compare these words of John "This power of decision can raise a person from the animal nature to great spiritual heights" with DKs "...the other leads him out of the body nature, and makes him eventually aware of his spiritual body, through which he can function in the kingdom of the soul."
From these choice of very similar words you can sense how John and DK are so close in explanations.
Now let us move to see how DK is explaining this concept.DK brings out this parable of decision in the Rule 7 of TWM relating to the astral plane and the two paths.
The astral plane (relating to the emotional body) is first amongst all the plane of dual forces. Here first thing the aspirant becomes aware of is duality. The objective of the first step of an aspirant is to make him aware of the pairs of opposites and of the necessity to choose between them. The apirant feels himself as "pendant 'twixt the two great forces", and, once the dualities are grasped, it dawns on him slowly and surely that the deciding factor in the struggle is his divine will, in contradistinction to his selfish will. The dual forces play their part until they are seen as two great streams of divine energy, pulling in opposite directions, and apirant becomes then aware of the two paths of Rule 7 on the astral plane. One path leads back into the dreary land of rebirth, and the other leads through the golden gate to the city of free souls. One is therefore involutionary and involves him in deepest matter; the other leads him out of the body nature, and makes him eventually aware of his spiritual body, through which he can function in the kingdom of the soul. One path, later on (when he is a true and pledged chela) is known to him as the left hand path and the other the path of right activity. On one path, he becomes proficient in black magic, which is only the developed powers of the personality, subordinated to the selfish purposes of a man whose motives are those of self interest and worldly ambition. These confine him to the three worlds and shut the door which opens on to life. On the other path, he subordinates his personality and exercises the magic of the White Brotherhood, working always in the light of the soul with the soul in all forms, and laying no emphasis upon the ambitions of the personal self. Clear discrimination of these two paths reveals what is called in some occult books that "narrow razor-edged Path" which lies between the two. This is the "noble middle Path" of the Buddha and marks the fine line of demarcation between the pairs of opposites, and between the two streams which he has learnt to recognize - one going up unto the gates of heaven, and the other passing down into the nethermost hell.
By the exercise of the two main weapons of the aspirant, discrimination and dispassion, he gains that quality which is called in this rule "the vital power". Just as the eye is the instrument of choice in choosing the way of travel on the physical plane and has besides a potency all its own whereby it attracts and develops its own sign language, so a vital power is felt in the aspirant. This eventually brings the third eye into activity, and so there is gained a potency and a clear vision which make right choice and quick progress upon the way a steady progression. We are told that power is grown or developed in silence, and only he who can find a center of peace within his head, where the paths of the bodily forces and the spiritual inflowing tides meet, can rightly practice true discrimination and that dispassion which bring the controlled astral and mental bodies under the guidance of the soul.
Then he can understand the significance of "the vibrating poles", and achieve that point of equilibrium which is the result of their interaction and vibration. The sensing of the dual forces and the clear discrimination of the two paths leads to the development of the vital power. This vital power demonstrates its first activity in enabling the aspirant to achieve a point of balance and so stand on that pinnacle of achievement whereon "a choice is made".
All however prepares the aspirant for right choice through right discrimination leading to right action, and made possible through practiced dispassion. In this sentence is summed up the technique of the warrior upon the battlefield of the desire plane. It should here be noted that in the steadily developing power of choice, and the loyally fought battle of the astral plane, the consciousness in the man shifts stage by stage. First, it is the battered earth-weary aspirant who has to struggle with desire, with glamor, with ambition and with his sensitive emotional body. He thinks the battle is stupendous but from the wider angle it is relatively small - yet all that he can stand. Later, it is the experienced probationary disciple who wrestles in the vale of illusion, and deals not alone with his own nature but with the forces of that veil also, recognizing its dual nature. Then, the disciple comes forth to battle and faces with courage (and often with clear vision) the forces arrayed against him. They involve not only those in his own nature and in those aspects of the astral plane to which he naturally reacts, but also involve the forces of illusion arrayed against the group of disciples to which he belongs. Let all disciples take note of this and have it in mind in these difficult and strenuous days. Such disciples are in conscious contact at times with their soul forces and for them there is no defeat nor turning back. They are the tried warriors, scarred and tired, yet knowing that triumphant victory lies ahead, for the soul is omnipotent. Accepted disciples, who battle all the above enumerated factors, plus the black forces arrayed against the Elder Brothers, can call upon the spiritual energies of their group and at rare and indicated moments upon the Master under whom they work. Thus the work and labor expands; thus the responsibility and struggle steadily increases; yet at the same time there is also a steadily growing recognition of potencies which can be contacted and utilized and which when correctly contacted insure victory at the end.
The phrase "the one who meditates" relates to the soul. Arjuna, the aspiring disciple, resigns the struggle and hands the weapons and the reins of government to Krishna, the soul, and is rewarded at last by understanding and by a vision of the divine form which veils the Son of God Who is Himself.
When this battle has been fought and won the disciple steps into the ranks of the white magicians of our planet and can wield forces, cooperate with the plan, command the elementals, and bring order out of chaos. He is no longer immersed in the world illusion but has risen above it. He can no longer be held down by the chains of his own past habits and his karma. He has gained the vital power and stands forth an Elder Brother.
Such is the path ahead of each and all who dare to tread it. Such is the opportunity offered to all students who have made their choice with dispassion and are prompted by love and the desire to serve.
Conclusion - In essence JOHN and DK are saying same things on decision yet DK is also further going on to explain that "PARABLE OF DECISION" applies hierarchically on various sections of the path. First as an aspirant (through astral or emotional body), it is that between rapid and slow progress and correct choice can be made by meditation holding the mind steady in the light to dissipate the glamors of astral plane. Then as the accepted disciple (through mental body), it is the choice between methods of service and here right choice is made through contemplation dispelling the illusions of mental plane. Further as the initiate (having mastered lower bodies and probably after 3rd initiation) it often lies between spiritual advancement and the arduous work of staying with the group and working out the plan. For the Master (5th and 6th initiation) it is the choice between the seven Paths.
GLAMORS affecting the decisions (figure from AABs glamor a world problem book)
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