Entering the Kingdom/At Rest in The Kingdom and All Things Added
AT REST IN THE KINGDOM AND
ALL THINGS ADDED
My life is glad—
Nowise forgetting yet those other lives
Painful and poor, wicked and miserable,
Whereon the gods grant pity!—Sir Edwin Arnold.
The whole journey from the Kingdom of Strife to the Kingdom of Love resolves itself into a process that may be summed up in the following words: The regulation and purification of conduct. Such a process must, if assiduously pursued, necessarily lead to perfection. It will also be seen that as the man obtains mastery over certain forces within himself, he arrives at a knowledge of all the laws operating in the realm of those forces, and by watching the ceaseless working of cause and effect within himself until he understands them, he there-upon understands them in their universal adjustments in the body of humanity. Moreover, seeing that all laws governing human affairs are the direct outcome of the necessities of the human heart, and having reformed and transmuted those necessities, he has brought himself under the guidance of other laws operative in accordance with his altered condition; and having mastered and overcome the selfish forces within himself, he can no longer be subject to the laws which exist for their governance.
The process is also one of simplification of the mind, a sifting away of all but the essential gold in character. As the mind is thus simplified, the apparently unfathomable complexity of the universe assumes simpler and simpler aspects, until the whole is seen to resolve itself into, and to rest upon, a few unalterable Principles; and these Principles are ultimately seen to be contained in one, namely, Love.
The mind thus simplified, the man arrives at peace, and now really begins to live. Looking back on the personal life he has for ever abandoned, he sees it as a nightmare from which he has awakened; but looking out and down with the eyes of the spirit, he sees that others continue to live it. He sees men and women struggling, fighting, suffering, and perishing for what is abundantly given them by the bountiful hand of the Father, if they would only cease from all covetousness and take it without hurt or hindrance; and compassion fills his heart, and also gladness, for he knows that humanity will wake at last from its long and painful dream. In the early part of his journey he seemed to be leaving humanity far behind, and he sorrowed in his loneliness. Now, having reached the highest, having attained the goal, he finds himself nearer to humanity than ever before—yea, living in its very heart, sympathizing with all its sorrows, rejoicing in all its joys; having no longer any personal considerations to defend, he lives entirely in the heart of humanity. He lives no longer for himself; he lives for others: and so living, he enjoys the highest bliss, the deepest peace. For a time he searched for Compassion, Love, Bliss, Truth; but now he has verily become Compassion, Love, Bliss, Truth; and it may literally he said of him that he has ceased to be a personality, for all the personal elements have been extinguished, and there remain only qualities and principles entirely impersonal. Those qualities are now manifested in the man’s life, are henceforth the man’s character.
Having ceased from the protection of self, and living constantly in compassion, wisdom, and love, he comes under the protection of the highest Law, the Law of Love; he understands that Law, and consciously co-operates with it; with it; yea, is himself inseparately identified with the Law.
“Foregoing self, the universe grows I”;
and he whose nature is compassion, wisdom, and love cannot possibly need any protection; for those Principles themselves constitute the highest protection, being the real, the divine, the immortal in all men, and constituting the indestructible reality in the cosmic order. Neither does he whose very nature is Bliss, Joy, Peace need to seek enjoyment. As for competing with others, with whom should he compete who has lovingly identified himself with all? With whom should he struggle who has sacrificed himself for all? Whose blind, misguided, and ineffectual competition should he fear who has reached the source of all blessedness, and who receives at the hands of the Father all necessary things? Having lost his selfish personality, he has found his divine nature, Love; and Love and all the effects of Love now compose his life. He can now joyfully exclaim:
“I have made the acquaintance of the Master of Compassion;
I have put on the Garment of the Perfect Law;
I have entered the realm of the Great Reality;
Wandering is ended, for Rest is accomplished;
Pain and sorrow have ceased, for Peace is entered into;
Confusion is dissolved, for Unity is made manifest;
Error is vanquished, for Truth is revealed!”
The harmonizing Principle, Righteousness, or Divine Love, being found, all things are seen as they are, and not through the illusory mediums of selfishness and opinion; the universe is One, and all its manifold operations are the manifestation of one Law. Hitherto in this work laws have been spoken of as being higher and lower, and this distinction was necessary; but now the Kingdom is reached, we see that all the forces operative in human life are the varied manifestations of the One Supreme Law of Love. It is by virtue of this Law that Humanity suffers, in order that by the intensity of its sufferings it shall at last become purified and wise, and so relinquish the source of suffering, which is selfishness.
The Law and foundation of the universe being Love, it follows that all self-seeking is opposed to that Law, and is an effort to overcome or ignore the Law; as a result, every self-seeking act and thought is followed by the exact quota of suffering required to annul its effect and so maintain the universal harmony. All suffering is, therefore, the restraint that the Law puts upon ignorance and selfishness: out of such painful restraint Wisdom at last emerges.
There being no strife and no selfishness in the Kingdom, there is therefore no suffering, no restraint; there is perfect harmony, equipoise, rest. Those who have entered it do not follow any animal inclinations, having none to follow, but live in accordance with the highest Wisdom. Their nature is Love, and they live in love toward all. They are never troubled about “making a living,” as they are Life itself, living in the very Heart of Life; and should any material or other need arise, that need is immediately supplied without any anxiety or struggle on their part. Should they be called to undertake any work, the money and friends needed to carry out that work are immediately forthcoming. Having ceased to violate their principles, all their needs are supplied through legitimate channels. Any money or help required comes through the instrumentality of good people who are either living in the Kingdom themselves, or are working for its accomplishment. Those who live in the Kingdom of Love have all their needs supplied by the Law of Love, with all freedom from unrest, just as those who live in the kingdom of self only meet their needs by much strife and suffering. Having altered the root cause in their heart they have altered all the effects in their inner and outer life. As self is the root cause of all strife and suffering, so Love is the root cause of all peace and bliss.
Those who are at rest in the Kingdom do not look for happiness to any outward possessions. They see that all such possessions are mere transient effects that come when they are required and pass away after their purpose is served. They never think of such things as money, clothing, food, and the like, except as mere accessories and effects of the true Life. They are therefore freed from all anxiety and trouble; resting in Love, they are the embodiment of happiness. Standing upon the imperishable Principles of Purity, Compassion, Wisdom, and Love, they are immortal and know they are immortal; they are one with God, the Supreme Good, and know they are one with God. Seeing the realities of things, they can find no room anywhere for condemnation. All the operations that obtain upon the earth they see as instruments of the Good Law, even those called evil. All men are essentially divine, though unaware of their divine nature, and all their acts are efforts, even though many of them are dark and impotent, to realize some higher good. All so-called evil is seen to be rooted in ignorance, even the deeds called deliberately wicked, so that condemnation ceases, and Love and Compassion become all in all.
But let it not be supposed that the children of the Kingdom live in ease and indolence, for these two sins are the first that have to be eradicated when the search for the Kingdom is entered upon; they live in a peaceful activity; in fact, they only truly live, for the life of self with its train of worries, griefs, and fears, is not real life. They do their work with scrupulous diligence, apart from thoughts of self, and employ all their means, as well as their powers and faculties, which are greatly intensified, in building up the Kingdom of Righteousness in the hearts of others and in the world around them. This is their work—first by example, then by precept. Having sold all that they have by renouncing all self-interest in their possesions, they now give to the poor by giving of their rich store of wisdom, love, and peace to the needy in spirit, the weary and broken-hearted, and follow the Christ whose name is Love. They sorrow no more, but live in perpetual gladness; for, though they see the suffering in the world, they also see the final Bliss and the Eternal Refuge of Love, to which whosoever is ready may come now, and to which all shall come at last.
The children of the Kingdom are known by their life. They manifest the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, self-control,” in all circumstances and vicissitudes. They are entirely free from anger, fear, suspicion, jealousy, caprice, anxiety, and grief. Living in the Righteousness of God, they manifest qualities the reverse of those obtaining in the world, which are regarded by the world as foolishness. They demand no rights; they do not defend themselves; do not retaliate; do good to those who attempt to injure them; manifest the same gentle spirit toward those who oppose and attack them as toward those who agree with them; do not pass judgment on others; condemn no man and no system; and live at peace with all.
The Kingdom of Heaven is perfect trust, perfect knowledge, perfect peace. All is music, sweetness, and tranquillity. No irritations, no bad tempers, no harsh words, no suspicions, no lusts, and no disturbing elements can enter there. Its children live in perfect sweetness, forgiving and forgiven, ministering to others with kindly thoughts, words, and deeds. That Kingdom is in the heart of every man and woman; it is their rightful heritage, their own Kingdom; theirs to enter now. But no sin can enter therein; no self-born thought or deed can pass its Golden Gates; no impure desire can defile its radiant robes. All may enter it who will, but all must pay the price, and that is the unconditional abandonment of self. “If thou wilt be perfect, sell all that thou hast;” but at these words the world turns away “sorrowful, for it is very rich;” rich in money it cannot keep; rich in fears it cannot let go; rich in selfish loves to which it greedily clings; rich in grievous partings it would fain escape; rich in seeking enjoyment; rich in pain and sorrow; rich in strife and suffering; rich in excitement and woe; rich in all things which are not riches, but poor in riches themselves—though these are not to be found outside the Kingdom; rich in all things that pertain to darkness and death; but poor in the things are Light and Life.
He, then, who would realize the Kingdom, let him pay the price and enter. If he have a great and holy faith he can do it now, and, letting fall from him like a garment the self to which he has been clinging, stand free. If he have less faith, he must rise above self more slowly, and find the Kingdom by daily effort and patient work.
The Temple of Righteousness is now built, and its four walls are the four Principles of Purity, Wisdom, Compassion, Love. Peace is its roof, its floor is Steadfastness, its entrance-door is Selfless Duty, its atmosphere is Inspiration, and its music is the Joy of the perfect. It cannot be shaken; being eternal and indestructible, there is no more need to seek protection by taking thought for the things of the morrow. The Kingdom of Heaven being established in the heart, the obtaining of the material necessities of life is no more considered, for, having found the Highest, all these things are added as effect to cause; the struggle for existence has ceased, and the spiritual, mental, and material needs are daily supplied from the universal abundance:
Long I sought thee, Spirit holy,
Master Spirit, meek and lowly;
Sought thee with a silent sorrow, brooding o’er the woes of men;
Vainly sought thy yoke of meekness
’Neath the weight of woe and weakness;
Finding not, yet in my failing, seeking o’er and o’er again.
In unrest and doubt and sadness
Dwelt I, yet I knew thy Gladness
Waited somewhere; somewhere greeted torn and sorrowing hearts like mine;
Knew that somehow I should find thee,
Leaving sin and woe behind me,
And at last thy Love should bid me enter into Rest divine.
Hatred, mockery, and reviling
Scorched my seeking soul, defiling
That which should have been thy Temple, wherein thou shouldst move and dwell;
Praying, striving, hoping, calling;
Suffering, sorrowing in my falling,
Still I sought thee, groping blindly in the gloomy depths of hell.
And I sought thee till I found thee;
And the dark Powers all around me
Fled, and left me silent, peaceful, brooding o'er thy holy themes;
From within me and without me
Fled they when I ceased to doubt thee;
And I found thee in thy Glory, mighty Master of my dreams!
Yea, I found thee, Spirit holy,
Beautiful and pure and lowly;
Found thy Joy and Peace and Gladness; found thee in thy House of Rest;
Found thy strength in Love and Meekness,
And my pain and woe and weakness
Left me, and I walked the Pathway trodden only by the blest.