THE DIVINE COMPANION/PART 1

 

Part I: The Divine Companion

 

I, the Spirit of Truth

Am the Friend of the forsaken and the Companion of the wise,

I restore the one, and I gladden the other, and all men I protect, though they know me not.

 

The Divine Companion

 

Truth as Awakener

1

 

REJOICE ! for the Morning has dawned :

The Truth has awakened us ;

We have opened our eyes and, the dark night of error is no more.

Long have we slept in matter and Sensation ;

Long did we struggle in the painful nightmare of evil;

But now we are awake in Spirit and Truth:

We have found the Good, and the struggle with evil is ended:

We slept, yet knew not that we slept:

We suffered, yet knew not why we suffered:

We were troubled in our dreaming, yet none could awake us, for all were dreaming like ourselves ;

Then there came a pause in our dreaming ;

Our sleep was stayed ;

Truth spoke to us, and we heard ;

And lo ! we opened our eyes, and saw.

We slumbered and saw not;

We slept and knew not;

But now we are awake and see;

Yea, we know we are awake because we have seen Holiness, and we love sin no more;

We have beheld Truth, and error has ceased to attract us.

Yea, we have seen the Truth !

Not as a dream in the night, but as a Reality with our awakened eyes ;

As a beautiful land afar have we seen it,

And we shall press forward until we reach and possess it.

How beautiful is Truth !

How glorious is the Realm of Reality !

How Ineffable is the bliss of Holiness !

We have abandoned error for truth, and illusion for Reality.

We have turned our backs on error and confusion,

And have set our faces towards the harmony of Justice and Truth.

 

2

 

To sin is to dream,

And to love sin is to love darkness.

The awakened do not prefer dreaming to intelligent action ;

They do not choose darkness rather than light.

They who love darkness are involved in the darkness;

They have not yet seen the light.

He who has seen the light does not choose to walk in darkness.

To see the Truth is to love it, and in comparison error has no beauty,

The dreamer is now in pleasure, now in pain ;

This hour in confidence, the next in fear.

He is without stability and has no abiding refuge.

When the monsters of remorse and retribution pursue him, whither can he fly ?

There is no place of safety unless he awake.

Let the dreamer struggle with his dream ;

Let him strive to realise the illusory nature of all self-seeking desire,

And lo! he will open his spiritual eyes upon the world of Light and Truth;

He will awake, and will see all things in their right relations and true proportions ;

He will be happy, sane, and peaceful seeing things as they are.

Truth is the light of universe, the day of the mind ;

In it there is no error, no anguish, and no fear.

He who has awakened into the light of day is no more burdened with the troubles of his dreams.

They are remembered as dreams only as illusions that are dispelled.

The unawakened one knows neither waking nor dreaming;

He is in confusion, he knows not himself;

Neither knows he others, and his judgment is without knowledge.

The awakened one knows both waking and dreaming;

He is established in wisdom;

Knowing himself, he knows others, and he judges with knowledge.

He is the understander, the knower of hearts,

And, walking in the light of Truth, he knows that every dreamer will at last awake.

 

3

 

Truth awakens us out of the slumber of ignorance,

Out of the deep sleep of sin.

It calls, and they who hear and awake, become wise and blessed.

Truth appears to men, and they see it not.

It calls to them, and they hear not.

It speaks to them through their actions,

It cries aloud to them in their sufferings,

It shines upon them in all their ways,

But they hear not, neither do they see,

For their ears are deaf in slumber, and their eyes are holden with sleep.

Truth is manifest in the actions of the wise,

Its light illuminates their precepts,

But the sleeper in error has no eyes for the manifest,

And the light of Truth, falling upon his

sleeping lids, calls forth no visual response.

Where there is no understanding, the repetition of precepts is vain.

Right comprehension is needed.

The sinless mind is the seeing mind.

He who has right comprehension interprets the divine precepts by the light of his own spotless deeds.

He does not repeat in error, but understands by the Spirit of Truth.

And this is the Spirit of Truth,–

To be free from sin to abide in good deeds, and to live in peace with all.

They that do evil, know not the Truth.

The Truth is in them that do good.

The deeds of Truth shine like the stars at night, dispelling darkness.

Truth reveals the everlasting Good;

It turns night to day, and changes the appearance of all things,

So that sin and sorrow are not, and evil is no more.

 

4

 

We are awake, and see !

And we know we are awake because we see Good.

And we know we are of the Spirit of Good because our lusts have departed from us,

And the bondage of hatred is broken. We are wedded to purity;

We have put on the Raiment of Righteousness,

And we serve the Spirit of Love;

Therefore are we awake ;

Therefore we know that truth has roused us from the sleep of evil.

We are free and happy because we walk in the Light.

And we see all things clearly in that Light ;

And we know the way we walk and whither we go.

But when our lusts affrighted us and hatred enchained us ;

When darkness enfolded us, and the dream of evil held us,

Then were we bound and miserable ;

We saw only our fitful dreams ;

We knew not the way we walked, nor whither we went.

He that hates men as evil is in sin,

And he that is in sin is unawakened.

The awakened one is the lover of all men, and there is no hatred in him,

And this is the sign that he has awakened in the Truth–

That he loves them that hate him.

Truth ends the dream of evil ;

It dispels the illusions of hatred ;

It liberates the sleeper from darkness and dreams.

Awake, Ye that sleep in error !

Rouse yourselves, Ye that dream in sin !

The splendour of a higher life is round about you,

Even the life of Good. Open your eyes, and see.

Be alert, and listen that ye may hear the call of Truth,

Even the Voice of the Great Awakener.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truth as Consoler

1

 

THE knowledge of Truth is an abiding consolation.

When all else fails, the Truth does not fail.

When a heart is desolate, and the world affords no shelter,

Truth provides a peaceful refuge and a quiet rest.

The cares of life are many, and its path is beset with difficulties;

But Truth is greater than care, and is uperior to all difficulties.

Truth lightens our burdens ; It lights up our pathway with the radiance

of joy. Loved ones pass away, friends fail, and possessions disappear.

Where then is the voice of comfort ?

Where is the whisper of consolation ?

Truth is the Comforter of the comfortless,

and the Consoler of them that are deserted.

Truth does not pass away, nor fail, nor disappear.

Truth bestows the consolation of abiding peace.

Troubles come to all.

Even the wise cannot escape them.

But the wise have a sure and safe refuge in the Eternal Good.

They have a Comforter, even Truth,

Who removes the sting from affliction, and disperses the clouds of trouble.

Night descends upon the pure as upon the impure ;

But it holds no terrors for the pure,

For the Light of Truth shines in the darkness with assuring radiance.

Sweet is the sleep of the innocent.

And they that rest upon the bosom of Truth repose in peace.

Day lights up the way both of the wise and the foolish ;

But the foolish are enveloped with the darkness of error,

They stumble and are bruised, and have no comforter.

But the wise walk in the Light of Truth ;

And should they stumble they are lifted up ;

Lo! they are healed and comforted.

They that have the knowledge of Truth have the satisfaction of peace.

They are not immune from the vicissitudes of life ;

They are not released from the cares and responsibilities of worldly duties;

They are not unassailed by external foes;

But they are restful at heart;

Their minds abide in the Great Calm.

 

2

 

The worldly - minded have no comforter;

But if they forsake the world, and fly to Truth,

They will receive the sweet gift of Consolation

The world is the place of pleasure and pain;

The Truth is the abode of joy and peace.

They that relinguish the excitements and dissatisfactions of the world for the sake of Truth,

Will find an unfailing Companion and Friend, even the Eternal.

Distress is in the world.

Yea, grief and sorrow abound.

But the Truth is calm;

It allays grief, and soothes away all sorrow.

Hear ye the lamentations of the world !

Wilder are they than the tempest ;

Deeper than the ocean’s roar.

Truth alone can still the tempests of passion and the storms of grief.

Come ye up into the Calm.

Resort ye to the Great Silence.

Men are. swept along by the force of turbulent passions ;

But when, sorrow arrests them they cry out in anguish.

Love of worldly pleasure has brought them low, and the world can offer them no comfort.

The world distresses, but the Truth consoles.

They whom the world has destroyed and deserted,

Who are cast down by pain and sorrow,

Even they are befriended by the Truth when they turn to Truth.

None are despised by Truth;

None are turned away ;

None are left comfortless.

Ye that are weary with pleasure-seeking;

Ye that are pain-stricken;

Ye that are lonely and desolate–

Come ye to the Truth.

The Truth is above pleasure and pain.

Be ye lifted up ;

Be ye rested ;

Be ye healed ;

Be ye befriended and comforted.

 

3

 

He who clings to his delusions, loving self and sin,

He cannot find the Truth,

Cannot receive the consolation of Truth.

All that demeans and defiles must be abandoned.

Truth is not found if the love of self is not renounced.

They who lie or deceive ;

Who hate or envy ;

Who lust or covet;

Who think only of their own pleasure;

Whose aims are for self and the glory of self in all that they do,–

From such Truth is hidden by a veil of darkness,

Even they thick veil of error;

From such the consolation of Truth is withheld because they seek for self only, and not for Truth.

They who are truthful and sincere;

Who love men and rejoice in their success ;

Who are pure and generous;

Who seek the good of others in all that they do,–

To them Truth is revealed;

Such stand face to face with Good, and receive the consolation of Truth.

The foolish seek satisfaction in sensual pleasures;

The vain are pleased with the flatteries of the world;

The one leads to misery and emptiness;

The other to disappointment and humiliation.

The wise abide in the joy of Truth;

And there are no pitfalls for the humble,

Their feet are steadfast in the way of peace.

We have cancelled our compact with the world.

Its pleasures are put away, abandoned, renounced.

We perform the necessary uses of the world, but we no longer rest upon its forms,

No more seek satisfaction in its thirsty desires.

Our hearts are set upon the good of all.

Thus have we found the abiding sweetness of religion.

We have found a quiet trust and a patient happiness.

We have resorted to the Faithful One, the everpresent Comforter,

Even the Spirit of Holiness.

We have taken shelter in His high Abode.

And no temptation shall draw us back into the tempestuous ways of the world,

For our refuge is a refuge indeed.

 

4

 

The way of self is the way of sorrow ;

But Truth refreshes the weary, and lifts up the oppressed.

There is gladness for the grief-sticken,

And healing for them that are afflicted with the sorrows of the world.

There is a place of freedom where the chains of sin are broken,

Where weeping is not, and lamentation is no more heard.

There is a Friend for the friendless,

And consolation for them that have no comforter

Come; see; and receive.

Truth meets all needs, and is ready to receive all who come.

The righteous rest there ;

They have received the fulness of joy.

Let also the unrighteous come ;

Yea, let them that are weary of sin, come ;

And they that are burdened and oppressed with the sorrows of self,

Let them enter and be glad.

There is a Home for the homeless, and a Country for the exiled ;

For the wanderer there is a happy Way, and the lost have a City of Refuge.

Whosoever will turn, let him turn and come.

Truth brings joy out of sorrow, and peace out of perturbation;

It points the selfish to the Way of Good, and sinners to the Path of Holiness.

Its spirit is the doing of righteousness.

To the earnest and faithful it brings consolation ;

Upon the obedient and skilful it bestows the crown of peace.

I take refuge in Truth :

Yea, in the spirit of Good, in the knowledge of Good, and in the doing of Good I abide,

And I am reassured and comforted.

It is to me as though malice were not, and hatred had vanished away.

Lust is confined to the nethermost darkness,

It hath no way in Truth’s transcendent Light.

Pride is broken up and dissolved.

And vanity is melted away as a mist.

I have set my face towards the Perfect Good, and my feet in the Blameless Way ;

And because of this I am consoled.

I am strengthened and comforted, having found refuge in Truth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truth as Redeemer

1

 

TRUTH is our Redeemer.

Truth purifies our hearts and bestows upon us the glorious gift of divine Love.

There is no salvation in selfishness.

Self is the vessel of sin and the receptacle of sorrow ;

But when we fly to Truth, self is ended, and Love abides for ever.

We have tried the ways of self, and we know how hard they are.

We also look upon the weary multitudes, and compassion is stirred within us :

But now we have found the Truth the pilgrimage of self is ended,

Our feet are rested, and there is no more weariness of heart.

The nature of self is error;

It cannot, therefore, comprehend Truth.

The experience of self is suffering;

It cannot, therefore, apprehend bliss.

When the vessel of self is broken, and its contents of error and suffering are scattered,

Then is Truth revealed and realised.

Truth alone can comprehend Truth, and bliss apprehendeth bliss.

How can self know Love, seeing that its nature is its own gratification ?

How can it know peace, seeing that it cannot bestow Love ?

How can it enter into salvation, seeing that it dreads the loss of its perishable lusts and empty pleasures ?

Self is the way of darkness and the path of pain.

The redeemed have put away self, and have accepted Truth.

Self regards error as Truth, when it is pleasing;

It regards Truth as error, when it is displeasing;

Seeking pleasure and dreading pain, it does not know good and evil.

Truth knows Truth as Truth, and error as error;

It avoids evil and chooses good, without considerations of pleasure and pain.

Divine Love is the perfect flower of Truth;

For when Truth fills the heart Love blossoms out in the life.

By this flower is Truth known,

For wheresoever-impartial Love is, there is Truth.

Just deeds, pure actions, works untainted with self, minds controlled and calm,–

These are the angelic messengers of Truth ;

The possessors of these are the redeemed ;

Their habitation is peace.

 

2

 

Truth is the Saviour of the world.

There is no other Saviour.

There can be no compromise with Truth ;

It says "Give up self."

Truth is our Redeemer only when we yield up all to it.

Self cannot be saved.

It must be abandoned.

It must be left to the darkness in which it originated and to which it belongs.

The light of Salvation is only for them that press forward, and leave all selfishness behind.

And they who turn not back enter the presence of the Redeemer,

They are clothed with His Glory.

Who can see the glory of the redeemed ?

The redeemed behold it,

And them that are about to be redeemed, see it dimly:

But the eyes of the world are holden with the thought of self.

The redeemed are silent in the midst of men.

They accuse not, condemn not, revile not.

When smitten, they are not angry,

And when mocked, they make no sign.

Vet him that smote them they succour in his sorrow ;

And when they that mocked them are brought low,

They lift them up and bless them.

The utterance of Truth is deeds.

The redeemed are freed from all selfishness.

They are made perfect in Truth.

The thought of self being eliminated, there is nothing remaining in them that can give rise to selfishness.

They are calm and just, doing that which is right, and passion is purged from their actions.

He who comes to the feet of Truth,

Earnest in thought, strong in will, and contrite in heart,

Will be lifted up and saved.

He will overcome all that defiles, and all that causes sorrow.

The light of Truth will light up his mind, dispelling all darkness,

And he will stand among them to whom the Cosmic Glory is unveiled.

For, to the redeemed, the narrow confiness of self are burst and broken asunder,

And the mind is conscious of the Eternal.

The universe is known as it is;

Yea, its perfection and the splendour of its Law are revealed.

So large, so boundless, so all-embracing is the life of the redeemed in Truth.

 

3

 

Immortal Truth redeems us from mortal error.

Clinging no more to the perishable, we fly to the Imperishable,

And find the Rock of Safety.

The body grows old, it withers and decays:

Passions burn out, leaving only the ashes of regret:

Pleasures cease to satisfy and pains fill up their places;

But Truth is imperishable;

It never grows old, nor does it wither and decay;

It does not consume, and it leaves behind no sorrow and no pain.

To set the mind upon that which is perishable;

To be consumed by violent passions;

To live in unhappiness and misery,–

This it is to be unredeemed.

The redeemed having the knowledge of the Imperishable and being in possession of righteousness,

Live in happiness and joy,

For Truth is always bright and beautiful.

Yea, Truth is always peace - bestowing;

It calms the storms of strife ;

To the passion - driven it brings quiet;

Upon the dark waters of anguish it pours the oil of stillness ;

The mind that is troubled it restores, and envelops it with silence.

The redeemed are satisfied;

They are in security and peace ;

They are not overtaken by the storms of passion,

Nor attacked and laid low by fierce desires:

They abide in the Place of Safety.

What enemy shall overcome the redeemed !

Have they not slain the supreme enemy, even self!

Have they not taken his stronghold even their own hearts !

Yea, they have purified their hearts, and the impure cannot overcome the pure.

Out of the black night !

Out of the fierce war ;

Out of the confusion and the conflict have the redeemed come;

And now they dwell in the Light ;

They abide with peace, and darkness and strife are no more.

 

4

 

The unredeemed are in the confines of self ;

They are surrounded with darkness;

They seek for self only.

The redeemed are in the glory of the universal, the impersonal ;

They are surrounded with light ;

They seek the good of all.

Truth is the breaker of bonds;

It liberates the slave ;

It sets the captive free.

Who chooses bondage rather than liberty ?

Who prefers darkness to light ?

He who has not known liberty loves his chains;

And he who has not seen the light prefers to remain in darkness.

And when liberty is made known it is desired.

When light is perceived, there is no longer a dwelling - place in darkness.

The desires of the flesh are a tormenting fever;

The hatreds, conflicts, and covetings of the mind are a consuming fire :

But there is a healing for the fever, and a water for the quenching of the fire.

Truth is the healer of the mind ;

It is a sweet medicine to the afflicted,

And a draught of cool water to them that are troubled with thirst.

There is no unrest in Truth.

The unredeemed are in the way of sorrow ;

Pain and weariness are their companions.

Reaching after pleasures, they grasp sorrows ;

Striving eagerly for self, happiness departs from them.

But the redeemed are in the Way of Gladness;

Strength and joy are their companions ;

And not departing from Good they dwell in the House of Happiness.

From what, then, are we redeemed ?

From what are we saved, and where is our salvation ?

We are redeemed from self and passion,

From sin and sorrow,

From unholiness and unrest,

Even from these are we taken away,

We are saved from lust and hatred,

From pride and vanity,

From covetousness and envy,

Even from these are we drawn away.

We are saved by the Truth ;

By the practice of Truth,

By the knowledge of Truth,

And by the power of Truth.

Our salvation is from the Truth.

In Truth we rest.

Truth is the Redeemer of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truth as Reconciler

1

 

TRUTH is the Reconciler of Extremes.

It neutralises all opposites.

It harmonises all discords and contradictions.

It brings back to us harmony and peace.

When we were in error we saw all things as erroneous.

Yea, when we were blind to our own error we saw error in all else;

We saw good as evil, and evil as good ;

Light as darkness, and darkness as light;

But now we have plucked out the eye of error from ourselves, we see the Supreme Good.

Truth reconciles man to man;

It reconciles man to the universe ;

It bestows upon him the knowledge of the Good Law;

It reveals the hidden justice in all events.

In error is unrest, and anger, and perturbation.

Trouble and turmoil is ever with him, who sees injustice, confusion, and contradiction;

But he who sees Justice, Order, and Harmony is calm and filled with peace.

Error sees error; and Truth sees Truth.

Error, being darkness, cannot penetrate the light;

But Truth, being light, can penetrate the darkness.

Truth reconciles darkness with light.

Error is the Great Unrest ;

Truth is the Great Peace.

He who looks with the eye of error is restless as the shifting winds.

But restful as the stable mountain is he who looks with the eye of Truth.

We are reconciled to the world;

We are reconciled to humanity;

And being thus reconciled we are at rest.

Where unrest is, there is no reconciliation ;

And they who are not so reconciled have not received the Truth.

 

2

 

All things are proportionate ;

All circumstances are just;

All events are of causation.

He who has received the Light of Truth sees all things in their right relations.

All things are ruled by causation;

All things are of the nature of causation;

There is nothing which is not contained in cause and effect.

Cause and effect are one :

The Divine Law is one

Out of chaos into Cosmos have we come;

Out of confusion into harmony;

Out of bewilderment into peace perpetual.

There is good in all things.

Out of evil comes suffering;

Out of suffering comes sorrow;

And from sorrow is lowly wisdom born.

Though the night be long, the Morning comes;

And with it comes sunshine and singing.

Though the world be in its long night, the Great Day will dawn.

Lo ! we behold the splendour of its Light !

There are no more any enemies ;

All are our own, our beloved;

Both them that bless and them that curse all are friendly to us.

The inward enemy being overcome, all outward foes have vanished away.

There is no more enmity.

Men and things are in their right places.

There is no more strife;

No more fighting ;

No more warfare.

We behold the fray, but do not engage in it ;

We hear the tumult, and we make no sound.

But though quiescent, we watch;

Though silent, we are not indifferent.

Perceiving the Divine Order, we are reconciled to all things;

And being so reconciled, we are in perfect peace.

 

3

 

Wherefore should we mourn and be sorrowful?

The very ground of lamentation is dissolved;

The foundation of sorrow is cut away ;

And as for sin and evil–they were, but are not.

The sphere of controversy is broken :

About what should we contend?

The world of division is annulled :

What have we to defend?

Can Truth fail, that we should argue, that we should be anxious and concerned ?

Because Truth endures for ever, our peace can never fail.

The seed fails in its appointed place;

The flower appears, and also the fruit in its season;

Day warms, and night cools; Light is shed, and rain falls;

Snow covers, and frost binds.–

Are these things opposed ?

Are they enemies?

They work together as one.

Who, then, shall stir us up to wrath?

Who shall draw us into the lists of contention?

With them that agree with us we are at peace?

And with that oppose us we are also at peace.

Friends are not near, nor enemies far ;

Praise and blame are not asunder.

Truth draws all things together;

It resolves all opposites into one.

Yea, forces that seemed divided are now united ;

Things that seemed to contend are now in agreement;

And events that seemed adverse are now friendly.

How foolish we were in our fear !

How blind in our bigotry !

How hateful in our heart !

We were as the beasts that rage and kill,

Or as the blind beetle that dashes on to its death !

All things are in unison ;

And fear, and blindness, and hatred are no more.

Having departed from the lesser, the Greater is revealed :

Having renounced the part, the Whole is received :

Having abandoned the imperfect, what remains but the Perfect !

 

4

 

Truly all things are reconciled, and peace awaits.

The Door of Truth is open.

None hinders, but man holds back.

He holds back for a time, and in the hour of ripeness he comesforward.

Whosoever will come, let him come ! Let him enter and be glad.

All things are now.

All Light, all Law, all Truth is now.

Time and Eternity are one ;

Matter and Spirit are one;

Death and Life are one;

The blind see not,

But they that have eyes know the things which they see.

We strive not;

We stand apart and are silent.

Men hurry to and fro a little while ;

A little time they come, and a little time they go :

How eager they are I How anxious !

How fierce !

Better than all worldly gain is the spirit of peace.

Better than rule and riches is the Reconciliation of Truth.

Fires burn out, and storms subside ;

But serenity remains.

Calmness preserves and restores, and Tranquillity is a great possession.

Who condemns our aloofness?

Him our peace enfolds ;

Even him our reconciliation embraces.

Apart, we are not separate :

Aloof, we are not estranged :

Engaging with none, and joining with none, Yet we belong to all.

For the Perfect Reconciliation is not partial, but just.

He who sees all sides, sees the Whole ;

And seeing the Whole, he is satisfied;

Being satisfied, he is peace with all. Seers of the great Glory;

Hearers of the Heavenly Harmony;

Knowers of the Perfect Law–

Great is your gladness !

Wondrous is your wisdom !

Deep is your peace !

More powerful is one day of your silence than a thousand years of noise.

All parties, all sides, all religions are reconciled.

Love supports all, sustains all, nourishes ad.

The Great Reconciler is come ;

He is here, and we have found Him.

We sought Him, and He turned not away ;

And because of this, we have received the world;

And peace does not depart from us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truth as Protector

1

GOOD deeds are Truth.

Our good deeds remain with us, they save and protect us.

Evil deeds are error.

Our evil deeds follow us, they overthrow us in the hour of temptation.

The evil-doer is not protected from sorrow ;

But the good-doer is shielded from all harm.

The fool says unto his evil deed–

"Remain thou hidden, be thou unexposed,"

But his evil is already published, and his sorrow is sure.

If we are in evil, what shall protect us ?

What keep us from misery and confusion ?

Nor man nor woman, nor wealth nor power, nor heaven nor earth shall keep us from confusion.

From the results of evil there is no escape ;

No refuge and no protection.

If we are in Good, what shall overthrow us ?

What bring us to misery and confusion?

Nor man nor woman, nor poverty nor sickness, nor heaven nor earth shall bring us to confusion.

The effects of Good appear, though the cause be forgotten,

And its refuge and protection is at hand.

What can amulets and charms avail ?

What can the muttering of set prayers avail ?

What can the observance of formal rites avail ?

They cannot avail, they are empty;

They are without efficacy, and are void of protection.

Righteousness avails.

The doing of good deeds avails.

A pure heart and a blameless life avail.

They are filled with joy and peace.

Truth is a happy retreat and an eternal protection.

In Truth there is no more doubt and uncertainty.

There is safety and security :

There is a straight way and a quiet rest.

 

2

 

The righteous know the protection of Truth.

Their minds are free, and they are happy-hearted.

Empty excuses and vain quibbles they harbour not.

They scheme not how to protect themselves ;

Their deeds are invincible defenders;

Their lives bear witness, and they are not ashamed.

The unrighteous are overtaken with shame and confusion.

They try to hide, but cannot ;

They have no place of concealment:

Their deeds accuse them, and they have no protection.

How happy are the righteous!

They are relieved from all anxiety.

Walking with Truth, they walk in perfect freedom.

How fearless are the righteous !

They have no dark forebodings ;

They dread no evil;

When evil threatens they are calm and unafraid.

Truth shields from the afflictions of the mind.

It fortifies against misery ;

It destroys self - delusion and sorrow.

The Light of Truth reveals error and the cause of error;

It also reveals the effects of error ;

It frees the mind from all subjection to evil.

He that is established in Truth is established in safety.

Truth cannot proceed from error, nor error from Truth.

Good cannot be the effect of evil, nor evil the effect of Good.

This is little understood.

But the righteous understand, and, understanding, they are glad ;

They rejoice in the Law of Truth.

The understanding mind is not misled by appearances:

It rejoices in Good against all appearances.

When events press, it does not think, "The Good has failed ";

When outward things fail, it does not say, "Righteousness has not supported me ";

When persecution comes, it cannot say, "Lo! Truth affords me no protection !"

Truth is in the thought, and not in the thing ;

It resides in the hearts, and not in the outward habit ;

It destroys the inward enemies, and the outward reverses have no more pover;

Their sting is gone, their evil is dispersed.

The peace of the perfect ones can never be destroyed.

 

3

 

The pure in heart are protected from within.

The perfect indeed are guarded by Good :

They are upheld by the Good Law.

By the knowledge of Truth they are lifted up:

They stand and do not fall.

Truth cannot be overtaken by error ;

It cannot be overturned by man.

Error passes away but the Truth remains.

Men fall, but the Truth remains.

Truth cannot change ;

It is eternal and indestructible.

Herein is the salvation of the wise ;

Herein is the protection of the pure ;

Herein is the joy of the perfect–

That, being one with Truth, they have come to peace eternal.

He who is one with Truth, reflects Truth.

He is steadfast, fearless, serene.

He changes not, but is always true.

When tried, he does not falter ;

When assailed, he does not fall.

Permanent in purity and peace, he is established in gentleness and strength.

Who mourns for sin ?

Who gropes for deliverance?

Who searches for the permanent ?

Let him make himself pure :

Let him come to Truth ;

Let him find peace in the practice of Good.

Things are impermanent;

They have no abiding protection.

Truth is permanent;

Its protection abides through all changes.

Ill deeds are exposed in torment and confusion;

Good deeds are established in bliss and wisdom.

Truth is a Friend that does not disappoint ;

A Protector that never fails.

The world fails ;

It fades and passes like a dream Truth stands;

It becomes more distinct and real.

They who have found Truth are satisfied.

Protected by Truth, they have found a

Protector indeed.

The patient are protected from impatience.

The pure are protected from impurity.

The humble are protected from pride.

The loving are protected from hatred.

Greed flees from the presence of the open-handed ;

Into the habitations of the peaceful strife cannot come ;

And folly walks not where tread the footsteps of the wise.

Truth is its own security ;

It protects without premeditation.

It dispenses with disguises, and shields by its own inherent reality.

Its light disposes of all darkness ;

It exposes the false and reveals the true.

Error falls before Truth ;

Its shield is shattered, its sword broken ;

Yea, it is laid low, and cannot rise.

It is helpless and has nor champion nor defender.

Truth does not fall before error.

The powerless cannot overcome the powerful.

The lesser cannot subdue the greater.

The slave does not command the master.

All things are subject to Truth.

Truth is a shield to the righteous ;

A shelter to the pure ;

A light upon the pathway of the just.

Truth is supreme ;

Truth is invincible ;

Truth is triumphant for ever and ever.