from Hints to Young Students of Occultism, by L. W. Rogers. Theosophical Book Co., Ridgewood, NJ, 1911:
from Hints to Young Students of Occultism, by L. W. Rogers.
Theosophical Book Co., Ridgewood, NJ, 1911:
"One of the things to be constantly aimed at is self-reliance.
It should be most assiduously cultivated. The sincere student
of occultism is striving to perfect himself as an instrument to
be used in quickening human evolution. He may now be serving that
sublime purpose in the very humblest way but he will not overlook
the fact that great tasks await the willing and capable worker;
that volunteers for selfless service are very, very few and the
need of them is great. Therefore he will understand that as rapidly
as he can fit himself for effective service the larger tasks will
be found at hand, awaiting him.
But only those who have evolved the necessary qualities are available
for the work and can hope to be given a part in it; and of what
use would one be who has not become self-reliant? Worlds are not
shaped with the helpless hands of infants. We must get beyond
the clinging, timorous, dependant stage that characterizes children,
before we shall be of much real service in the evolutionary work.
There is an attitude of mind that means "Well, I'm willing
enough but I don't know what to do. I'm ready to work if somebody
will furnish me a place." That is much better than indifference
but it is not the self-reliant attitude that one should strive
to reach. The desirable mental attitude is one of strong, resolute
determination to find a way to serve without anybody's help --
a desire to be useful, directed by steady, self-reliant purpose.
...A beginner in the study of Theosophy is often inclined to think
that it is only a few who can do important things and the rest
are necessarily doomed to be satisfied with looking on and applauding.
They forget that a multiplicity of agencies and methods are used
to hasten human evolution and that the apparently unimportant
things are quite as necessary as those which attract attention.
They also forget that those who are doing the great things once
stood where the beginner now stands and that the younger student
can as certainly reach an equally important and useful field of
activities in the future, if he really desires to, and now seeks
to be of service in the smaller way. If he puts his hand to the
small work now he shall grasp the great task later as certainly
as he lives and thinks. But no one may hope to be entrusted with
great responsibilities until he has proved that he is capable
of discharging small ones." p. 52
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