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Who knows how many fleshly forms the heir of heaven occupies before he
can be brought to understand the value of that silence and solitude
whose starry plains are but the vestibule of Spiritual Worlds？ He
feels his way amid the void； makes trial of nothingness； and then at
last his eyes revert upon the Path。 Then follow other existences；all
to be lived to reach the place where Light effulgent shines。 Death is
the post…house of the journey。 A lifetime may be needed merely to gain
the virtues which annul the errors of man's preceding life。 First
comes the life of suffering； whose tortures create a thirst for love。
Next the life of love and devotion to the creature； teaching devotion
to the Creator；a life where the virtues of love； its martyrdoms； its
joys followed by sorrows； its angelic hopes； its patience； its
resignation； excite an appetite for things divine。 Then follows the
life which seeks in silence the traces of the Word； in which the soul
grows humble and charitable。 Next the life of longing； and lastly； the
life of prayer。 In that is the noonday sun； there are the flowers；
there the harvest！
〃The virtues we acquire； which develop slowly within us； are the
invisible links that bind each one of our existences to the others；
existences which the spirit alone remembers； for Matter has no memory
for spiritual things。 Thought alone holds the tradition of the bygone
life。 The endless legacy of the past to the present is the secret
source of human genius。 Some receive the gift of form； some the gift
of numbers； others the gift of harmony。 All these gifts are steps of
progress in the Path of Light。 Yes； he who possesses a single one of
them touches at that point the Infinite。 Earth has divided the Word
of which I here reveal some syllablesinto particles； she has reduced
it to dust and has scattered it through her works； her dogmas； her
poems。 If some impalpable grain shines like a diamond in a human work；
men cry： 'How grand！ how true！ how glorious！' That fragment vibrates
in their souls and wakes a presentiment of heaven： to some； a melody
that weans from earth； to others； the solitude that draws to God。 To
all； whatsoever sends us back upon ourselves； whatsoever strikes us
down and crushes us； lifts or abases us；THAT is but a syllable of
the Divine Word。
〃When a human soul draws its first furrow straight； the rest will
follow surely。 One thought borne inward； one prayer uplifted； one
suffering endured； one echo of the Word within us； and our souls are
forever changed。 All ends in God； and many are the ways to find Him by
walking straight before us。 When the happy day arrives in which you
set your feet upon the Path and begin your pilgrimage； the world will
know nothing of it； earth no longer understands you； you no longer
understand each other。 Men who attain a knowledge of these things； who
lisp a few syllables of the Word； often have not where to lay their
head； hunted like beasts they perish on the scaffold； to the joy of
assembled peoples； while Angels open to them the gates of heaven。
Therefore； your destiny is a secret between yourself and God； just as
love is a secret between two hearts。 You may be the buried treasure；
trodden under the feet of men thirsting for gold yet all…unknowing
that you are there beneath them。
〃Henceforth your existence becomes a thing of ceaseless activity； each
act has a meaning which connects you with God； just as in love your
actions and your thoughts are filled with the loved one。 But love and
its joys； love and its pleasures limited by the senses； are but the
imperfect image of the love which unites you to your celestial Spouse。
All earthly joy is mixed with anguish； with discontent。 If love ought
not to pall then death should end it while its flame is high； so that
we see no ashes。 But in God our wretchedness becomes delight； joy
lives upon itself and multiplies； and grows； and has no limit。 In the
Earthly life our fleeting love is ended by tribulation； in the
Spiritual life the tribulations of a day end in joys unending。 The
soul is ceaselessly joyful。 We feel God with us； in us； He gives a
sacred savor to all things； He shines in the soul； He imparts to us
His sweetness； He stills our interest in the world viewed for
ourselves； He quickens our interest in it viewed for His sake； and
grants us the exercise of His power upon it。 In His name we do the
works which He inspires； we act for Him； we have no self except in
Him； we love His creatures with undying love； we dry their tears and
long to bring them unto Him； as a loving woman longs to see the
inhabitants of earth obey her well…beloved。
〃The final life； the fruition of all other lives； to which the powers
of the soul have tended； and whose merits open the Sacred Portals to
perfected man； is the life of Prayer。 Who can make you comprehend the
grandeur； the majesty； the might of Prayer？ May my voice； these words
of mine； ring in your hearts and change them。 Be now； here； what you
may be after cruel trial！ There are privileged beings； Prophets；
Seers； Messengers； and Martyrs； all those who suffer for the Word and
who proclaim it； such souls spring at a bound across the human sphere
and rise at once to Prayer。 So； too； with those whose souls receive
the fire of Faith。 Be one of those brave souls！ God welcomes boldness。
He loves to be taken by violence； He will never reject those who force
their way to Him。 Know this！ desire； the torrent of your will； is so
all…powerful that a single emission of it； made with force； can obtain
all； a single cry； uttered under the pressure of Faith； suffices。 Be
one of such beings； full of force； of will； of love！ Be conquerors on
the earth！ Let the hunger and thirst of God possess you。 Fly to Him as
the hart panting for the water…brooks。 Desire shall lend you its
wings； tears； those blossoms of repentance； shall be the celestial
baptism from which your nature will issue purified。 Cast yourself on
the breast of the stream in Prayer！ Silence and meditation are the
means of following the Way。 God reveals Himself； unfailingly； to the
solitary； thoughtful seeker。
〃It is thus that the separation takes place between Matter； which so
long has wrapped its darkness round you； and Spirit； which was in you
from the beginning； the light which lighted you and now brings noon…
day to your soul。 Yes； your broken heart shall receive the light； the
light shall bathe it。 Then you will no longer feel convictions； they
will have changed to certainties。 The Poet utters； the Thinker
meditates； the Righteous acts； but he who stands upon the borders of
the Divine World prays； and his prayer is word； thought； action； in
one！ Yes； prayer includes all； contains all； it completes nature； for
it reveals to you the mind within it and its progression。 White and
shining virgin of all human virtues； ark of the covenant between earth
and heaven； tender and strong companion partaking of the lion and of
the lamb； Prayer