, 1904-06-23

leVel there If the duty OF gentle help-
fitness and affection. To the man
who is below us in evolution and who
is still learning more in elementary
lessons of life than our own, there is
the duty of protection, kindness,
helpfulness, and compassion. These
are duties that may be called univer-
sal and no aspirant to the higher
spiritual life but will attempt at least
to fulfill these obligations of his at
titudes towards others. The man
NAV stand at any level in evolution
and he will still find these classes of
men around him with whom he comes
in daily contact.
This is the letter of the law and
when we have thus discharged the
obligations imposed by IL birth, our
family ties and social surroundings
and even our national karma, there
yet remains one higher duty which
shall be as "as "a lamp to our feet and
a light to our path" 1t is that who
ever enters the circle Of our life shall
leave it better from contact than
when he came within it. The ignor-
ant man should go away better in
formed; the %sorrowing one should go
away a little less sorrowful because
we have shared that sorrow with him:
the helpless should leave us strength
enco by u strength and not humiii-
ated by our pride. Tenderness, pa
tience. genileness, and h%elpfulness is
the attitude OF mind that we must
cultivate if we would follow the laws
of the higher spiritual life. Every
where let us strive to make these AS
living facts in IL daily intercourse
with others. Harshness can only
confuse, bewilder and perplex those
around us. Let us act MS though We
the world. The spiritual man can be
a source of comfort and peace. "Let
him be as "A light in the world, so
that all may walk more safely when
they come within the circle of his in
iiuence." A safe rule by which we
may Judge II spirituality is by its
effect ON the world and if we are care
full, the world will grow purer, hap.
pier and better because we are shed
ding as much spiritual help as we
can.
Mrs. Besant says: What are we
here for save to help each other7 Is
the spiritual man to hinder or to up
lift his fellowmen7 Is he to he a
Savior of mankind, or one who throws
back the evolution of his fellows,
from whom one goes away discourag-
ed Watch how your influence af-
fects others; be careful how your
words affect their lives. Your tongue
must be gentle, your words must he
loving; no Islander, gossip, or harsh
ness of speech, or suspicion of un-
kind motive must pollute the lips
that are striving to be the vehicle of
spiritual life" Perhaps the most
difficult thing for us to believe is that
the difficulty is within us and not out
side of us. We are constantly stIi
ring the witches brew, from which
so many evils arise, ourselves. The
spiritual evolution must be made
in bur own lives and in our own con-
duct. With helpfulness and without
harshness let us lift up those who
fall taking no pride in our sure foot
ing today for we may fall tomorrow.
We, too, may need the helping hand
of another, i'll order hat we may
rise.
The Bible of every country de.
clares that the Heart of the Divine
Life is Infinite Compassion. What
a wonderful thought that no people
are bereft of this knowledge! Not
only is it in the great Bibles of the
world but even among the savage
races of the world there is this same
in a great and glorious over
aching Presence, the source of pow
or and love and goodness, too tender
to awaken terror, too good to require
application" Surely, if this be
the spiritual nan must become
compassionate. The cups that we
fill with love are but tiny compared
with the Infinite ocean of compassion
in which the hearts Of the universe
are bathed, but we can share it. We
put our wants behind another's
needs. There is but one Self in all
and We are coming back to the idea
on which all spirituality must be
based-the recognition of this one
Self. The altruist lives for OTHERS
but the spiritual mar mus lead IA