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Simply described, illusion is the inability to see clearly thus creating a false or deceptive belief. It is a condition we all suffer from in various degrees and is essentially a blockage of the flow of energy connecting soul to man.
The soul, through the developed mind and brain of each of us becomes capable of seeing and responding to the activities of energy in time and space. Where the soul has yet to commence this process or is still unable to react clearly, due to inability to transfer energy through the mind to the brain, it is incapable of seeing clearly the life and world of man.
Illusion therefore is essentially a condition and problem for the soul. As the mind is still relatively unused in man illusion on this plane is not a greatly developed condition.
However it can be seen in our use of the activities of the energy of the mind and brain as we increasingly begin to respond to the greater cause of Life, or to put it another way, the Whole in relation to the part.
The beginning of our growth here can be seen in the developments of religion, the many forms of science and all the other related activities of our efforts to practically use the mind. Illusion in man can clearly be seen in all of these areas but generally remains undetected. This consolidation of the energy of illusion by man increases the difficulty of the soul to transfer the needed energy via the mind and brain, to begin to see clearly, and so it too suffers from blindness.
Lifetimes come and go and without efforts to overcome this condition no natural growth between soul and man occurs and the Light remains dim. Man's view is maintained on the form and the soul turns towards the Spirit.
Clearly this energy of illusion with its very obvious restriction on conscious growth needs to be comprehended, considered and eventually responded to intelligently. Although principally a problem of the soul, it requires the efforts of each of us to actively participate in working at its dispersal.
In man's use of mind and brain to begin to understand the world of time and space there have been a wide range of approaches. These can be seen in physics, mathematics, astronomy, psychology, medicine and economics etc., to religion. All such attempts to comprehend the activities of energy in time and space are extremely necessary for our evolutionary growth.
In many areas the present high level of development that has been achieved by the human kingdom has been caused by the individual efforts of men and women of great courage and strong mental focus.
What we now need to understand is that although each area of regard, for example religion and science, using such greatly differing terms and expressions that there appears no
common point of awareness, they are in fact all describing simply different views of energy and Life. In regarding all the approaches we make towards understanding the many activities of energy as being separate from each other and by attempting to protect them with language and symbols that are exclusive, we ensure and build the energy of illusion.
No matter where and how we look we can only ever regard the one life. There is no other, although this is often forgotten as we succumb to illusion and defend at all costs a particular view of Life. As we continue to regard areas of thought and applied understanding separately from each other, failing to recognise the unifying aspect of all of them and its need for development, our illusion must grow.
Fortunately, although only in small groups, there are people who are becoming aware of this obvious problem and are beginning to assist the human kingdom to its better comprehension. The understandings of religion can greatly help those of physics; the developments of astronomy can be of great use to psychology. There are many areas of possibility but their development is dependant upon on one illusion.
This illusion exceeds all others and remains the most significant for each of us to overcome.
It is difficult to understand how the human kingdom, having been given such encouragement, energy and knowledge to comprehend the nature of life still clings to the greatest illusion of all there is no life other than man. Perhaps we do it out of an unfathomable sense of humour, maybe it is laziness, lack of confidence or just fear, but as long as we regard ourselves as separate from all life, no matter how great we consider our achievements to be, they remain an illusion.
Neither the soul nor its expression in time and space which is each of us, can develop. All become trapped in a circle of blindness. Future humanity, by our efforts to regard intelligently this developing situation effecting our conscious outlook and growth, will benefit from our successful response as we begin to attempt to work with the unifying aspect of thought necessary for overcoming illusion.
In this manner the flow of energy from the soul to man via the mind and brain is improved and the Light of consciousness increases.
The majority of men and women, including those who achieve success with mental plane focusing, use in varying degrees astral plane energy for most conscious activity. The astral body for each of us is the centre of our desires and emotions and is connected to the astral plane.
This is a body of energy produced by the desires, emotions and illusions that have been the principal outlook of men and women both past and present. The thought form energy from this plane having been developed over great lengths of time effects all of us and very often it is extremely difficult to recognise. It creates what seems to be a comfortable and easy approach to a conscious response to Life.
It is a plane of illusion created by man and when this body of energy is combined
with the developing illusions of the mental plane a strong restriction or blockage is placed on the energy flowing from the soul. Recognising astral illusion and attempting to overcome it either individually or in groups is an important step for any who seek the path of improved conscious response to Life.
Some of the most obvious astral thought forms that effect us are easily recognisable and when efforts are made to dissipate them others which have not been quite so apparent become visible. These in turn can be approached in a similar manner.
The edifice of illusion created by our emotions, fears, desires, etc., over thousands of years begins to be removed and we commence to see clearly.
To briefly indicate some astral plane illusions may show how easily each of us respond without realising to this body of energy. For ease of understanding those who have written about illusion have used the term "glamour" to describe the activity on the astral plane and maintained the word "illusion" for the mental plane. As the astral plane is more developed, having been the principal area of conscious activity by the human kingdom for many thousands of years, it is not difficult to realise that glamour is in fact a greater problem for the majority of people.
Fortunately it is not a problem that cannot be overcome. Within every problem is a gift and overcoming astral glamour is no exception.
The following is a short list of astral glamours that effect not only the human kingdom but each of us in various degrees.
These are selfish personal ambition personal magnetism destruction dictatorship and wide control fear, caused by undue sensitivity the love of being loved psychic perception instead of intuition -emotional response the mysterious and secret materiality intellect war
There are very many glamours which effect all of us even if we refuse to acknowledge their existence. The science of psychology has made many advances in comprehending these astral plane restrictions but the greatest success always resides in our individual preparedness to recognise and attempt to dissipate them through conscious control.
This is always done by the focused use of the energy of the soul via the mind and brain. It requires a particular approach and as with the use of any energy it must be followed with care and attention. Presently, due to our inability to understand the problems of illusion and glamour, there is little social education given to the control of these energies. Generally what we are usually confronted with is an increased use of them.
Our methods of communication, newspapers, radio, television, advertising etc., are when viewed clearly simply an extremely clouded approach to life based almost entirely on illusion and glamour. Intentional or not, it should be regarded with extreme concern.
The education of our youth suffers the same fate and by the time we reach maturity, with such a mass of confused energy radiating all about us any possibility of recognising what Life is and what it is not escapes our attention by seeming to be of no great importance.
This allows us to become the victims of those people who use glamour or illusion to their advantage. What is most disquieting is our preparedness to allow this to happen. The surrendering of our freedom to clear thought based on the greater Realities of life which allows energy to enter from the soul is racial suicide.
Fortunately in the midst of confusion can be found many people who, having made the effort to begin to overcome personal blindness, make every attempt to help others about them recognise the importance of such activity. These men and women work at developing the Light of the human kingdom by the overcoming of restrictions found in illusion and glamour effecting us all. There are many such people, generally to be found in areas least expected.
To assist anyone who would like to extend their knowledge in this area the book, "GLAMOUR" by Alice A Bailey will be found to be of great use. The writing develops an extremely comprehensive approach and clear presentation of methods to dissipate astral energies of glamour.
If access to this work is nor possible a personal approach can be made in the following manner.
First sit quietly on peace and develop the ability to recognise the glamour to be dissipated. This is an indication of a willingness to work with the soul.
The next step is to meditate towards the soul. The light of mind and matter need to be focused in the mental body.
The soul then breaths out the OM and this light then combines with the dual one of mind and matter. This is slowly and consciously generated, the spiritual will is invoked whilst the mind is held steady in the light.
This powerful searchlight of energy by an act of will is then turned on the glamour to be dissipated. The glamour is named and the following words are said inaudibly;
The power of the light prevents the appearance of the glamour ( naming it) The power of the light negates the quality of the glamour from affecting me. The power of the light destroys the life behind the glamour.
The OM is then sounded which produces impact, penetration and dissipation. Consciousness is then withdrawn to the mental plane and the beam of light fades.
This approach is not new to the human kingdom and is used by all Brothers of Light.
Seemingly far removed from our daily activities of what often appears to be personal survival, as we succumb to the energies of illusion and glamour, it is a practical method which without difficulty can be used to clear away confusion and allow improved conscious development to occur. This approach to working with the energies of the soul and man combined will be a normal activity of the future.
Each of us, irrespective of race, language, social position or belief, can work towards
clearing away the blinding energies and restrictions to the flow of energy from the soul that we all suffer from.
This can be done either individually or in groups.
Other approaches to working constructively with the combined energies of soul and man can always be recognised where efforts are being made to overcome the many borders that separate people, racism, economic separatism, religious dogmatism, and the large areas of thought that discourage an intelligent humanitarian regard towards all people.
Regardless of how daunting this may appear to be, or how unimportant, the future greatness of the human kingdom cannot be reached when it is held back by energies that restrict the flow of Divine Energy
In working to correct this limitation each person, a son of man, becomes a Brother of Light and eventually a Son of God.
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