Treatise on Seven Rays: Rays and Initiations v.5: Rays and Initiations Vol 5 (A treatise on the seven rays) [Paperback]

Out of the many volumes of Alice Bailey books, there are a few that truly are written at a higher level, and whose contents will endure long into the future. "Treatise on Cosmic Fire" is one of those, being exhaustively profound all through. "The Rays and the Initiations" is another, whose information is valuable in a profound way. The book offers many esoteric catechisms and allegories that are intrinsically valuable to anyone seriously into meditation and contemplation. The "14 rules for initiation" given in the early volume "Initiation Human and Solar" are reproduced at a "higher consciousness" level. Whether the casual observer needs to believe this is beside the point. The wisdom and esoteric knowledge hinted at in this book makes it stand out as a valuable tool.

The descriptions and implied definition of initiation is non-sectarian and considers the person as a soul, who passes through many incarnations in order to "stand at the portal" to participation in a permanent and elevated awareness of life. I've had complaints from readers of AAB that she was at times antisemitist, talking of Aryans and all that! I think that the intention of the author was not racist, and that the reader should seek to view it that way.

Intitiation is a testing experience, and many of the pitfalls and potential hazards are described here. It seems that true seekers of illumination risk their sanity at many points along the way. However, just reaching the "door" to this experience is triumph in itself.

There is emphasis in this book on "group awareness". This is due to the time coming when there is inner awakening of the disciple to the group of sisters and brothers. These are not literally our siblings, but the inner family with whom we share our spiritual journey in service to the planet and its living creatures.

There is also a very practical large section on building the link between lower and higher self. This link is known as the "rainbow bridge" in some books, or, as here, is called the Antahkarana. Many meditation techniques use this sort of idea to reach higher awareness.

Finally, its worth adding that AAB books can get rather heavy, especially if you try to read them as you would a novel. However, this book has a lot going for it spiritually (I think at least) and the purely interested intellectual reader may find there is lots to try put into a perspective.

A detailed explanation of the universal forces which affect everyone and everything, and which can be manipulated for good, that's what I've learned from this work of DK and Alice Bailey. Clearly enumerated and explained are the rules for disciples and initiates, a must for anyone who is serious about serving mankind. Words of power affecting these forces, called "rays" in Alice Bailey's books, are divulged to the attentive reader, who wishes to follow the path of the chela, or student of the Masters, whose fields of activity are also shared with the readers. This book is a MUST for all industrious servers of mankind.

This book might be considered Bailey's masterpiece, where her desire to merge theosophy, with Christianity is most perfectly presented. Of all her books, this is one which nobody unfamiliar with her other work, should read first. It's 800 pages of some of the most dense, enlightening, bewildering, and suggestive spiritual writing from a modern writer. Section one deals with just what group Initiation is, and tries to help the aspirant discover what the options are with our personal initiations, and how that fits with the initiation of groups, including the 14 rules which govern this. Naturally these rules apply to the individual as well. For me, the real revelation of this book, was how much the life of Jesus Christ was the perfect representation of a perfect initiate. Christ's birth displays the FIRST initiation (birth), his baptism his second initiation (beginning of service), his transfiguration is the THIRD initiation (or, the first initiation from the viewpoint of the Cosmic Christ), his fourth initiation was CRUCIFIXION, or as she puts it, RENUNCIATION. The fifth initiation is REVELATION, and the sixth initiation is DECISION. (each ray type, picks a path of service which ultimately leads us to our spiritual destiny.) And, the seventh initiation is RESURRECTION. The book attempts to show the grown of consciousness, and conscience, as the initiations transpire. The 8th and 9th initiation is explained, but vaguely, for it has little to do with humanity's spiritual evolution, at this point.

This book helped deepen my understanding of the Bible, to say the very least. Many of Jesus' more enigmatic comments, or behaviors, are clarified thru mediation on what is either in this book, or implied between the lines. For instance, many of the mysteries in THE APOCALYPSE, could be made clear with this book, since the RAY TYPES are related to the seven stars the Cosmic Christ holds in his hands, and the RAY GROUPS correspond to the SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA, which also suggest the seven torches before the Throne. Naturally, GROUP INITIATION is the spiritual growth of the true, inner hirarchy of the Churches. Like all books by Baily, she uses mirrors, and curtains to shield us from truths too arcane, while planting those mustard seeds of spiritual potential, to enable us to open our Intuition, inviting ourselves towards ever more inclusive vision. In fact, the purpose of group and personal initiation is to see THE BIG PICTURE, the immortal vision of the Divine plan of redemption for this earth.

No 800 page book can be explained here, especially this book. Nor can THE RAYS AND INITIATIONS embrue one with occult power, to STORM THE GATES OF HEAVEN, and usurp the Divine spirit. Hopefully, these pages confuse the curious searching self empowerment, while clarifying those undergoing the crisis of initiation. At those times, a few hints and insights from someone further on the path, are always welcome. If your desire is to learn more about esoteric Christianity, that could also be realized thru Baily's words. If you desire the golden path to Divine union, no book can open that door. That is a decision no human makes, but flows from the Grace of the Father, thru his firstborn. However, I think that paradoxical, enigmatic hints concernng the great union, might be implied in passages tucked away inside. Of course, if your egoic will is set on occult knowledge, you'll be sidetracked with the confusing science of ray types, and how they relate to energies coming to earth from the GREAT WHITE LOUGE in Sirius, along with difficult comments on spiritual triangularity. Most of that information has little to do with the daily path we tread as disciples. But again, Bailey wrote this so that obscurity and clarity would work hand in hand, just as the devil tempts and deceives us, to employ when WE wish, that angelic power and knowledge we already have available to us, but only when GOD wishes their use. So much of this book involves the interrelationship of the rays, and how the groups that have formed from the rays also interact. Our whole planet is undergoing the same crisis of initiation, which the individual does, when he/she passes a door of initiation. There is enough spiritual wisdom here, to last a lifetime. As you learn more thru your intuitive connection with your ray group master, and Christ, more is revealed in your reading materials. The spiritually minded remember, that only thru cooperative group work, can humanity pass the great initiation it is faced with at present. We all want the SAME THING...the return of the CHRIST, and the founding of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. When will that come? When are we ready for it? I recommend this book to anyone familiar with Bailey's work, to some extent. Knowing the New Testament, especially the Gospels and Revelations, is important as well. The communion of Saints IS group work, and baptism IS initiation, and the rays ARE the inner light. But words can mean nothing, unless their symbolism is smashed, and truth replaces outgrown conceptions. This book isn't Iconoclastic. Perhaps its greatest use, is to help us learn what symbolism we NEED, in order to grow past our limitations caused by the crystalization of our spiritual imagery. We live during a time of dynamic growth, and spiritual renewal, with a new spiritual language in co-evolution. Bailey did something VERY important here. Jesus said, "How can i teach you of Heavenly things, when you do not understand the earthly things of which I speak?" If you use this book with RIGHT INTENTION, you might learn some of this new spiritual language, a language that for some, shall elucidate the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven, that sleeps in the hearts of ALL HUMANITY, and awakens now in many. May divine LIGHT stream into the minds of all mankind, and may divine LOVE stream into the hearts of all mankind, and bring us CHRIST' return, and may the WILL OF GOD master our little wills, so that LIGHT, and LOVE, and WILL accomplish the great work of God...establishing the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. Can I get an AMEN?