Golden Precepts of Esotericism From the Book of Life: Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy

Transformation is the illumination through which soul perceives Divine essence. It removes error as a barrier to progress and uses pure intent to accumulate an enduring store-house of thought.
Illumination is evidence of the process through which soul perceives various aspects of the Divine. The light of understanding is given birth which manifests divine compassion and tolerance.
The soul groping in the darkness of disbelief does not see the Divine Mind due to the wall of prejudice through which divine light cannot penetrate. Sorrow and disillusionment within the soul provoke yearning that triggers the seeking instinct.
The naive mind focuses on superficial desires. Desire is the dominant attraction that activates soul. Experience based on superficial desires act like mirrors through which soul discovers illusion. These images are appealing until the resulting misfortunes reveal them to be but imitations without fulfillment.
The advanced mind has attained the power of reason. In this stage soul has the ability to analyze extensively. The Portals of Wisdom open wide allowing access to the highest levels if soul’s harmonic rhythm is spiritual desire. However, if pride creates profound resistance toward spiritual desires enlightenment is diminished since it can not penetrate the restrictions of scientific investigation.
The enlightenment of advanced mind exemplifies profound attainment. Through its innate strength soul projects its immeasurably rich thought to the mind. Utmost achievements characterize the mind that is receptive to soul’s guidance. In this way geniuses receive the impulses through which inspiring masterpieces are created. The divine light will be deflected if mind thinks being an ascetic is sufficient. The ascetic seeker’s near attainment of the divine light indicates its presence. However, the ascetic must live within the sublime’s shadow until the divine light’s need to actively share and fulfill itself in relation to others is lived. Selflessness orients the soul toward service.
Conversion means rebirth of thought and intention. At that moment the light of divine understanding enlightens the soul cleansing with its capacity to heal. This uplift gives increased strength to destroy the chains of error. The light of understanding clarifies with its radiance. The convert will face resentment and ridicule but must rise above these knowing that in time those who now scoff will apologize.
Rebirth defines the process through which soul advances. In reality it is the acceleration of the spiritual vibration needed in order to rise to a higher level of consciousness. Transitions permit thorough assessments where soul continuously reviews the sequence of past experience. Eventually the overindulgent soul will become distressed and relinquish its dominating weaknesses and approach divinity requesting to be healed.
Rebirth is a process through which the soul in the physical world experiences the same transformation as experienced by its spiritual counterpart, Spirit. Soul receives that which enhances its evolution when it is open to reception from Spirit.
Divine instinct propels soul on its journey through the Universe and nurtures growth. The speed with which it stimulates growth is determined by the demands of experience. Temptation is used to test inner strength according to need.
Spiritual understanding attracts with its mysteries. Youth is attracted to sensual experiences that are dangerous errors. There are many souls in the spirit universe wishing to establish contact with humans in the physical universe. Contact is often established through subtle influences of thought which, if it comes from evil and is acted upon, leads to an increased desire for perversion. Like added to like increases wayward desire and complicates life.
The term astral means the spiritual universe. Souls exist in both physical and spiritual universes. From the beginning all souls will eventually attain the ultimate characteristic of immortality. Between the physical and spiritual universes are levels of consciousness that are to be ascended. To realize that soul changes from spiritual to physical with unerring precision is to understand the law through which communion takes place. Thought is a permanent attribute and the basis for communion.
Consciousness reveals the stage of evolution in which a soul functions. It is the receptacle of thought. It receives mind’s contents with perfect precision. It reveals the period of growth and exact level at which mind functions. Consciousness is the store-house in which soul deposits the results of experience. When necessary its contents are comprehensively analyzed and that which is useless is eliminated. Consciousness is permanent and gives soul the power of expression.
Soul expresses desire according to the degree to which it manifests spiritual strength. It centers yearning on either the mediocre or the sublime. A weak soul will express its lack of progress through opposition and contradiction. In this way souls travel the path provided by evolution: from infancy to maturity to the profound.
Simplicity indicates a beginning level of attainment. The advanced mind is capable of profound attainments. Soul expresses its innate strength by its thoughts. The person who chats idly is like a shallow stream. The person who uses words intentionally and carefully is like the silent but swiftly flowing current. The thought-stream reveals the soul’s level of attainment.