Responsibility

Wisdom Teachings
Right Living

The Wisdom Teachings explain that there are people who know and people who do not know. Those who know are regarded as Elder Brothers who help the younger brothers. The ignorant are seen as children. They are children in terms of their state of consciousness. They do irresponsible things and become entangled. The Elder Brothers do not judge the younger brothers. They know that the younger ones will learn through trial and error, through pain, suffering and experience. The older ones are always ready to help the younger ones. They give us information and instructions and teach us the laws of right living. It is our responsibility to follow their advice. They leave us younger ones free to gain experience, because without freedom we cannot grow.

But freedom is coupled with responsibility. We will not develop if we do not put the knowledge we receive into practice. If we use our freedom with a sense of responsibility, we will progress on the path.

Those who know bear greater responsibility. By applying our knowledge, our responsibility grows, not only in relation to ourselves, but also in relation to all those around us: our family, friends, fellow human beings, animals, plants and minerals. If we fulfil our responsibility in the right way, we are given more and more responsibility and become a role model for others. By taking responsibility for a group or a brotherhood, we grow into the position of an Elder Brother.

The more we learn about the spiritual world and experience the Light of the Soul, the more responsibility we have for others. It is our duty to fulfil our obligations to family, society and life and not to run away from our responsibilities or life in society. Withdrawal from a responsibility is not spirituality. We cannot reach the Light without having fulfilled our obligations. According to the laws of nature, it is not acceptable to live in society without doing something for it.

The more we enter into the Light, the greater our responsibility becomes, and the more responsibility we take on, the more joy comes from within. Inner joy gradually leads to bliss. Master Djwhal Khul says in this context: “I am your Elder Brother. I have entered into a greater measure of light and have thus been given more responsibility.” Pupils, i.e. aspirants, can be irresponsible, but disciples can no longer be. If we have entered a greater Light, then stricter rules apply to us. We are under greater scrutiny from the Higher Circles as well as from the darker circles. If we are aware of this, we are less likely to fall into temptations such as the abuse of power, money, sex and comfort.

The Masters of Wisdom have overcome all this. Initiates are surrounded by something called yasas. It is the Light that forms around them. Yasas comes to those who perform acts of good will and submit to the discipline of the eightfold path of Yoga. The Light uses them to perform great deeds. It is best to focus more on the Light than on the great deeds. It is the Mother Energy that brings the divine Plan to fulfilment.

It is good to embrace an ideal in our lives and work for it slowly and quietly, and always with goodwill. The work of goodwill requires patience, love and compassion. It is a great work if we can contribute to the growth and upliftment of our fellow human beings, be it on a physical, emotional or mental level. The way we deal with things reveals whether we are behaving like an Elder Brother or an irresponsible person.

We have a sacred responsibility to make life beautiful in our surroundings - not just beauty in what we wear, but in everything that surrounds us, such as a garden. Many Masters of Wisdom dedicate themselves to the work of creating a garden, nurturing and caring for it. They also look after animals and people with dedication. All life on our planet is close to their hearts. Our responsibility to make things beautiful also applies in particular to people who are less fortunate in life.

When we are spiritually aware, we are entrusted with a greater responsibility than average people to become a good example to those around us through a way of life that is consistent, peaceful and magnetic. This attracts people around us so that they too want to join the energy and transform themselves. The greater our goodwill and service, the more we appear like a point of Light that attracts the attention of the Great Ones. People who serve others beyond themselves and their families are considered for initiations by the Hierarchy.

There is a beautiful phrase in the teachings of Master Djwhal Khul: ‘From small duties well performed, greater responsibilities will grow, culminating in world service.’ A world disciple is not created in a day. When we take on bigger responsibilities, we must not drop smaller duties but integrate them with ease so that they are done automatically.

We have a responsibility to the teacher to live whatever we have received from the teacher, to experience it, live it and pass it on to others. We have a responsibility to our parents. They have given us a body. We too have the opportunity to give other souls a body and thus fulfil our responsibility. We have received much from the plant kingdom and from the animal world. We receive and must think of giving something back. We fulfil our responsibility by serving the natural kingdoms, even if in a very small way. We learn to be grateful to all the kingdom’s gifts. We are also responsible to care for our bodies and the intelligences that make our lives possible inside and out. There are so many intelligences around us. We serve them with appreciation and gratitude.

The Wisdom Teachings say that creation is fulfilled with the creation of man, as man is at the centre between the invisible and the visible beings. Angels cannot touch the earth; therefore, they cannot manifest anything on their own but only with the help of humans. They are always on the lookout for responsible people through whom they can manifest something.

Humans can give high souls a body according to their degree of knowledge, harmony and love. When we offer incarnating souls a body, our responsibility is greater than that of animals. Unlike animals, humans have a self-awareness that they can use at any time to ensure that they behave responsibly. If we act without conscience, we are behaving irresponsibly.

Those who have wisdom are always looking for someone to whom they can pass on their responsibility. Passing on responsibility is also a responsibility. We cannot pass it on to those who cannot handle it or who do not deserve it. If people are able to do what we do, we should entrust it to them with joy. If we are given responsibility, we should be happy about it.

Each one of us can become a member of the Hierarchy and thus release the present Hierarchy from its responsibilities so that they can move on to higher responsibilities. Until Master Djwhal Khul came, Master Morya and Master Koot Hoomi were not released from their responsibilities at that time. When Master DK came along, they happily offered him the work, moved on and took on higher responsibilities. This is a natural chain of succession.

We are to hold on to our responsibilities until someone suitable is found. If we have trained a good deputy, we should give him our current responsibilities and take on higher ones ourselves and move on. If we do not allow him to take action, we become an obstacle.

We should build successors in every aspect of life - in the family, at work, teaching or ruling. We also have a responsibility to continue and pass on the right values and traditions - only the good and valuable things. Every social activity for which we find suitable successors will be continued. Through successors, we liberate ourselves.

A family tree is of great importance. We are responsible for continuing it. There must be no break in it. In families where the stream deviates far from the natural law-abiding line, nature causes interruptions. In the Vedas there is a guiding principle: ‘Do not cut the thread of continuity that has led through the dynasty to you.’ This thread should always be continued, if possible in many different ways. We have been given a physical body and we thus have the opportunity to procreate and give at least one other being a body ourselves. If not, we have not fulfilled our duty. The present day decision not to marry and not to have children is a decision of ignorance. If nature doesn't allow it, then it's a different story, but have we made the effort ourselves?

Sources used: K.P. Kumar: Teachings of Master Morya 1+2. Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India (www.aquariusbookhouse.com)