The Arcane School was established by Mrs. Alice A. Bailey in 1923
to help meet an obvious and growing demand for further teaching
and training in the science of the soul. The School is one of
many activities of the Lucis Trust (see Chapter 42 for more
information).
The purpose of the esoteric training given in the Arcane School
is to help the student grow spiritually toward acceptance of
discipleship responsibility and to serve the Plan of the
spiritual hierarchy by serving humanity. Esotericism is a
practical way of life. The function of the School is to assist
those at the end of the probationary path to move forward on to
the path of discipleship, and to assist those already on that
path to move on more quickly and to achieve greater effectiveness
in service.
A disciple is one who, above all else, is pledged to do three
things:
to serve humanity,
to cooperate with the Plan as he sees it and as best he
may, and
to develop the powers of the soul, to expand his
consciousness, and to follow the guidance of the higher self and
not the dictates of his threefold lower self.
Discipleship is a word in constant use among aspirants in the
world, both in the East and in the West. Discipleship could be
defined as the final stage of the path of evolution. It is the
stage in which a man knowingly pledges himself to impose the will
of the soul (which is essentially the will of God) upon the lower
nature. Upon this path he submits himself to a training process
through a systematized and applied discipline, producing a more
rapid unfoldment of the power and the life of the soul.
The training given in the Arcane School is based on three
fundamental requirements -- occult meditation, study, and service
to humanity. The Arcane School is a place for hard work. The
presentation of the teaching adapted to the rapidly emerging new
civilisation includes the training of disciples in group
formation and group meditation and study, helping to precipitate
the ideas on which the new civilisation and culture will be
founded. The work of the Arcane School all over the world is
carried forward entirely by correspondence with one of three
headquarters.
The Arcane School is non-sectarian, and respects the right of
each student to hold his own view and beliefs. It does not rely
upon an authoritarian presentation of any one line of thought or
code of ethics. The knowledge, insight wisdom, and capacity to
wield spiritual energy resulting from work and training with the
Arcane School should be expressed and applied in daily living
service in helping to materialize the Plan of God and to aid in
solving the problems of humanity.
-- compiled by the Editor from materials provided by Lucis
Trust
TESTIMONY AND TREASURE
"In every race and nation, in every climate and part of the
world, and throughout the endless reaches of time itself, back
into the limitless past, men have found the Path to God; they
have trodden it and accepted its conditions, endured its
disciplines, rested back in confidence upon its realities,
received its rewards and found their goal. Arrived there, they
have `entered into the joy of the Lord,' participated in
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, dwelt in the glory of the
divine Presence, and then returned to the ways of men, to serve.
The testimony to the existence of this Path is the priceless
treasure of all the great religions and its witnesses are those
who have transcended all forms and all theologies, and have
penetrated into the world of meaning which all symbols veil."
-- Alice A. Bailey, "The Externalization of the Hierarchy,"
p. 405
A WORLD PRAYER: THE GREAT INVOCATION
The Great Invocation is a world prayer translated into over fifty
languages and dialects. It expresses certain central truths which
all men innately and normally accept:
That there exists a basic intelligence to whom we give the
name of God.
That there is a divine evolutionary Plan in the universe
-- the motivating power of which is love.
That a great individuality, called by Christians the
Christ, the World Teacher came to Earth and embodied that love so
that we could understand that love and intelligence are effects
of the purpose, and the will, and the Plan of God. Many religions
believe in a World Teacher, knowing him under such names as the
Lord Maitreya, the Imam Mahdi, and the Messiah.
Only through humanity itself can the divine Plan work out.
THE GREAT INVOCATION
From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the center where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men --
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the center which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out.
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power
Restore the Plan on Earth.
