THE SOUL OF MAN, ITS ORIGIN, AND AFFECTIONS

(FROM UNTO THEE I GRANT) ROSICRUCIAN, REVISED BY SRI RAMATHERIO....

The blessings, O man! of thy external part, are health, vigour, and proportion.

The greatest of these is health. What health is to the body, even that is honesty to the Soul.

That thou hast Soul, is of all knowledge the most certain, of all truths the most plain unto thee. Be meek, be grateful for it. Seek not to send it perfectly, but commune with it.

Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence.

Search the soul by its faculties, know it by its virtues. They are more in number than the hairs of thy head; the stars of Heaven are not to be counted with them.

Doth not the sun harden the clay? doth it not also soften the wax? as it is one sun that worketh both, even so its one soul that willeth contgrarieties.

As the moon retaineth her nature, though darkness spread itself before her face, as a curtain, so the soul remaineth perfect even in the bosom of the fool.

She is immortal; she is unchangeable; she is one in all. Health calleth her forth to show her loveliness, and application anointeth her with the oil of wisdom.

She shall live after thee; think not she was born within thee. She was concreated for thy flesh, and formed with thy mind.

Justice could not give her to thee exalted by virtues, nor mercy deliver her to thee, deformed by bices. These must be THINE, and THOU must answer them with thy outer consciousness.

Suppose not death can shield thee from compensation; think not corruption can hide thee from inquiry. He who formed thee of thou knowest not what, can He not raise thee from thou knowest not what again?

Perceiveth not the cock the hour of midnight? exalteth he not his voice, to tell thee it is morning? Knoweth not the dog the footsteps of his master? and flieth, not the wounded goat unto the herb that healeth him? Yet, when these die, their soul knoweth it not; thine alone surviveth with mind and consciousness.

Envy not to these their senses, because quicker than thine own; learn that the advantage lieth not in possessing good things, but in the knowing the use of them.

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Canst thou think too greatly of thy soul? or can too much be said in its praise? IT IS THE ESSENCE OF HIM WHO GAVE IT.

Remember thou its dignity for ever; forget not how great a talent is committed to thy charge. Whatsoever may do good may also do har; beware that thou direct its course to virtue. Think not that thou canst lose her in the crowd; suppose not thou canst bury her in thy closet. Action iks her delight, and she will not be withheld from it.

Her motion is perpetual; her attempts are universal; her agility is not to be suppressed. Is it at the uttermost part of the earth she will have it; is it beyhond the region of the stars? yet will her eye discover it.

Inquiry is her delight. As one who traverseth the burning sands in search of water, so is the soul that thirsteth after knowledge.

AS A SWORD IN THE HAND OF A MADMAN, EVEN SO IS THE SOUL TO HIM WHO WANTETH DISCRETION.

The end of her search is truth; her means to discover it are reason and experience. But are not these weak, uncertain and fallacious? How then shall she attain unto it?

General opinion is no proof of truth; for the generality of men are ignorant.

Perception of thyself, the knowledge of him who created thee, the sense of the worship thou owest unto him, are not these plain before thy face?

AND BEHOLD! WHAT IS THERE MORE THAT MAN NEEDETH TO KNOW?

JAI SITARAMJIKI, JAI SHRI RADHAKRISHNJIKI, JAI VEER HANUMAN.