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Self-Study Guide — Ancient and Modern Initiation
by Max Heindel

Part I: The Tabernacle in the Wilderness
Introduction

This study guide is intended for use with Ancient and Modern Initiation by Max Heindel. The guide contains two groups of questions for each section in Ancient and Modern Initiation. The first group of questions for a section are questions whose answer may be found somewhere in the section. The second group of questions are labeled as "thought questions." The answers to these questions are not given in the section, but rather can be answered by relating what was said in the section to one's own experience and by using one's creative imagination.

In using the study guide it is recommended that one first read an entire section from Ancient and Modern Initiation to get an overall picture of the topic being discussed. Then answer the questions below, referring back to the text as needed.

It is hoped that this study guide will help the reader clarify and make more precise the understanding of esoteric Truths, so that he or she may tread the path with a more certain step.

Section 1 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

1-1] Who designed the ancient Atlantean Mystery Temple?

1-2] Which of the following was not one of the purposes of the Atlantean Mystery Temple?

a) It was a place in which the masses of the original Semites held worship services.
b) It was a place where the original Semites could meet the Lord when they had properly qualified themselves.
c) It served as a symbol which spoke to the inner or Higher Self.

1-3] Next to each item on the left put the letter of the item on the right which indicates which rays are working or in the indicated object:

Mountains surrounded by blue haze ___	A. The rays of the Holy Spirit
Green plants ___	B. The rays of the Son
Purple blood in animals ___	C. The rays of the Father and Son
Blue and purple curtains in the Tabernacle ___	D. The rays of the Father
The golden "wedding garment" of the mystic Bride _____	E. The rays of the Father and of the Holy Spirit
	F. The rays of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Thought Questions:

1-4] How is it possible for one to build a temple inside of oneself?

1-5] Why does the mystic mason strive to build a temple within himself?

Section 2 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

2-1] Which of the following is not one of the lessons which is contained in the symbolism of the Brazen Altar?

a) Sin is man-made.
b) The animal nature in man must be consumed by a divine fire.
c) The feeling of remorse required to expiate sins need not be painful.
d) Man advances by sacrifices.

2-2] What must we do if we would build the Altar of sacrifice within ourselves, and live through the ritual of service there?

2-3] Which of the following is not important in performing the exercise of retrospection?

a) The exercise should be done each evening after one has lain down for the night.
b) The body should be completely relaxed while the exercise is being performed.
c) The scenes of the day should be reviewed in the order in which they occurred.
d) We need to feel the fire of remorse for wrongdoing burn to the very marrow of our bones.

2-4] What effect does deep and sincere sorrow for wrongdoings have on the pictures of our life which are stored in the seed atom in the heart?

2-5] In the Ancient Atlantean Mystery Temple, what did the divine Hierarchies who guided humanity do to the water in the Brazen Laver? Why?

2-6] What does the symbol of the Brazen Laver remind us what we must do?

Thought Questions:

2-7] What effect will the regular performance of the exercise of retrospection have on the daily life?

2-8] What effect will the consecration of ourselves to following the Christ within have on our daily lives?

Section 3 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

3-1] Next to each item on the left put the letter of the item on the right which gives the position in the Temple of the item on the left:

The veil through which one enters the East Room from the outside ____	A. The north side of the East Room
The Golden Candlestick ____	B. The south side of the East Room
The Altar of Incense ____	C. The east side of the East Room
The Table of Shewbread ____	D. The west side of the East Room
The veil between the East Room and the Holy of Holies ____	E. The center of the East Room

3-2] Match each item on the left with the item on the right which is most closely related:

The cosmic knowledge and planetary energies which man is given to work with ____	A. The Burning of Incense
Opportunities for service which come through the 'houses' in the horoscope ____	B. The Incense
The essence extracted from acts of service ____	C. The Seven-branched candlestick
The building of the soul body ____	D. The Shewbread

Thought Questions

3-3] What do the furnishings in the East Room remind us that we need to do in order to obtain soul growth?

3-4] How are acts of service transmuted into soul?

Section 4 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

4-1] In the Holy of Holies there was no external source of light. How, there, is the candidate to see where he is going?

4-2] How do the Altar of sacrifice and the East Room prepare the candidate to be able to see where he is going when he reaches the West Room?

4-3] What do the Tables of Law within the Ark of the Covenant symbolize?

4-4] What does the Golden Pot of Manna symbolize?

4-5] What knowledge is represented symbolically by the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden?

4-6] Which of the following do we not need to do in order to develop the spiritual powers symbolized by Aaron's Rod?

a) Shun the lust of the flesh.
b) Use the vital energies for generation.
c) Use the vital energies for regeneration.

4-7] What two ethical restrictions are there on the use of the creative force symbolized by Aaron's Rod?

Thought Questions:

4-8] If you knew for certain that you would not get caught, would you steal from another person? from a large company? from the government? Why or why not?

4-9] When vital power (creative force) has come under the control of the mind, what can be done with it?

Section 5 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

5-1] Choose the correct word or phrase from each parenthesis.

It is only when we have by (mediation, concentration, service) evolved the spiritual light within ourselves, and when we have thus gained admission to the West Room, called the Hall of (Bondage, Liberation), that we can really perceive and understand why we are in the world, and what we need to do in order to (gain economic success, gain power over others, make ourselves truly useful, become famous).

5-2] Why did eating of the Tree of Knowledge bring pain and death into the world?

5-3] What ideal does the flower symbol hold up to man?

5-4] What do the Cherubim with an open flower (on the door of Solomon's Temple) symbolically indicate?

Thought Questions:

5-5] Why do we have to look again and again into the darkened temple, the Holy of Holies, before we are really fit to stay there?

5-6] Why is purity needed to unlock the gate to God?

Section 6 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

6-1] At what phase of the lunar cycle is the amalgamation of the essence of service into the soul body most readily accomplished?

6-2] At what phase of the lunar cycle is the birth of the Invisible Helper most readily accomplished?

6-3] Next to each item on the left put the letter of the item on the right which is most closely related:

The Jehovistic Fire ____	A. The Altar of Burnt Offering
The Christ Light ____	B. The Molten Sea
The Father Fire ____	C. The Furnishings and Light in the East Room
We must live a stainless life of holiness and consecration ____	D. The Furnishings and Light in the West Room
Those who have attained Liberation can directly see spiritual truths ____
The masses learn to control their animalistic passions in order to escape painful consequence ____
Through service we make the 'living bread' which feeds the soul ____
Those who serve have their path illumined for them ____

Thought Questions:

6-4] Why does the path of holiness narrow as one procedes along it?

6-5] Give an example of something which might be permitted near the beginning of the path, but not later on.

Part II: Christian Mystic Initiation

Section 7 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

7-1] What awakens within the Rosicrucian aspirant the feeling that he is one with all that lives?

7-2] What urges the Christian Mystic onward and leads him to an understanding of things?

7-3] Next to each item on the left put the letter of the item on the right which is most closely related:

The aspirant must work constructively with the laws of nature as a servant of humanity. ____	A. Angels sang at Jesus' birth
The Christian Mystic who is preparing for Initiation will seek birth through parents who perform the generative act without passion ____	B. Jesus was a carpenter
The parents selected for (and by) the Christian Mystic are chosen for their spiritual qualities, not because if their material wealth ____	C. Jesus was born in a manger.
There is rejoicing in heaven when a soul is preparing for the Christian Mystic Initiation ____	D. The mother of Jesus was a virgin.

7-4] In the hour before midnight on December 24, what sign of the zodiac is on the eastern horizon in all northern latitude?

Thought Question:

7-5] Why is it important for the one preparing for the Christian Mystic Initiation to be born of virgin parents?

Section 8 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

8-1] In the life of Jesus Christ, what happened immediately after His Baptism?

8-2] When someone is under water and close to drowning, what frequently enters his inner vision?

8-3] When people lived in the misty atmosphere of Atlantis, which of the following was not true?

a) People could not see their physical bodies.
b) People had spiritual sight.
c) People were full of Egoism.
d) People felt themselves to be children of one great Father.

8-4] How did the clearing of the mists facilitate the development of Egoism?

8-5] When a person, through suffering, has developed a sympathy with all others who suffer, what will that person aspire to do?

8-6] What type of intense longing can lead the candidate to the Mystic Baptism?

8-7] What does the candidate perceive and feel in the Mystic Baptism?

8-8] Subsequent to the Baptism, how will the candidate view other people?

Section 9 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

9-1] Mark each of the following statements true (T) or false (F).

a) During the Baptism the Christian Mystic hears in all living beings their keynote which sounds their aspirations, hopes and fears.
b) During the Baptism the Christian Mystic learns to use sound to mold matter, and thence can turn base metals into gold or stones into bread.
c) Subsequent to the Baptism the Christian Mystic will create bread out of stones, so that he will not longer need to grow grain, harvest it, thresh and grind it, and bake it into bread.
d) There is little need to partake of earthly bread for one who has access to the Fountain of Life.

Thought Questions:

9-2] Why is a mental understanding of the unity of all life, by itself, insufficient?

9-3] Why does the Christian Mystic flee from the haunts of men and seek solitude for a time after he has experienced Baptism?

9-4] Why is it wrong for the Christian Mystic to turn stones into bread to feed himself?

Section 10 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

10-1] Next to each item on the left put the letter of the item on the right which is most closely related:

If a stove were empty but were endowed with the faculty of speech, it might preach forever the gospel of warmth but not satisfy its audience. ______	A. A sermon on brotherhood by one who has not experienced the Baptism will sound hollow.
A stove filled with burning fuel cannot help heating the surrounding atmosphere. ______	B. Not all Christian Mystics reach the same height.
The heated stove attracts those who are physically cold. ______	C. People whose hearts are chilled by the cruelty of the world are drawn to the Christian Mystic.
The stove does not need words to warm those who are physically cold. ______
D. The Christian Mystic cannot help radiating the divine compassion which fills his heart.
Different stoves have different heating capacities. ______
E. The true Mystic need not preach. His every act, even his silent presence, is more powerful than a sermon.

10-2] In the alchemical process designated as the Transfiguration, in what way does the appearance of the body change?

10-3] What planet governs the Fire which is able to purify the body, eliminating grosser substances and rendering the body more permeable and responsive to spiritual impulses?

10-4] In what part of the body is this Fire mainly located?

10-5] What awakens this Fire?

10-6] Choose the correct word or phrase from each parentheses.

In the Christian Mystic the regenerative spinal Spirit Fire is concentrated principally upon the (lunar, martial, mercurial) segment of the spinal cord, which governs the (motor, sensory, sympathetic) nerves under the rulership of (Jehovah, Lords of Mercury, Lucifer Spirits). Therefore, his spiritual growth is accomplished by (faith, reason). Thereby, his body is gradually transmuted into the (red, white) Philospher's Stone, the (diamond, ruby) soul. In the occultist, the spinal Spirit Fire is concentrated mainly in the (lunar segment, mars-mercury segments) of the spinal cord, so that the occultist is endeavoring to blend desire with (faith, reason), and thus transmute the body into the (red, white) Philosopher's Stone, the (diamond, ruby) soul.

10-7] What lesson must the Christian Mystic eventually learn, in order to balance his devotional qualities?

10-8] What lesson must the occultist eventually learn in order to balance his intellectual development?

Thought Question:

10-9 Give an example of a time when you have been inspired by what someone did (rather than by what they said).

Section 11 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

11-1] In what way are people who do not have knowledge of value to one who does?

11-2] In what ways are humans indebted to animals?

11-3] In what ways are humans indebted to plants?

5-4] Give an example of a situation in which one life wave willingly serves another.

11-5] Give an example of a situation in which one life wave unwillingly serves another.

Thought Question:

11-6] Why does the aspirant try to live the harmless life?

Section 12 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

12-1] What makes the Christian Mystic become a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief?

12-2] What do these feeling of grief lead the Christian Mystic to do?

12-3] When all his friends desert him, to who does the Christian Mystic turn?

Thought question:

12-4] Why do the friends of the Christian Mystic desert him?

Section 13 (Ancient and Modern Initiation)

13-1] At what points is the interlocking grip between the physical body and the etheric body strongest?

13-2] What generates the stigmata in the Christian Mystic?

13-3] In what direction must the creative force travel at the time of the Crucifixion?

13-4] What effect does the creative force have on the pituitary body and pineal gland at the time of the Crucifixion?

13-5] What is separated from the dense body at the time of the Crucifixion?

Thought question:

13-6] Of what value is it to the Christian Mystic to personally experience the Crucifixion?

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