The eighth Commandment, as in music, is the octave of the
first. It strikes the same note on a higher level. It is a new beginning. With
the eighth Commandment, lessons have a new character.
Let us for a moment recapitulate: The Commandments are
milestones on the aspirant's path. The seventh Commandment outshines all
others so far discussed. It is the sunshine Commandment. In it, everything we
have learned reaches a point of superlative intensity: not just enjoyment, but
thrill; not just love, but exhilaration; not just sweetness, but
vivaciousness; not just "I will," but irresistible enthusiasm. When
eyes are moist with joy, when hearts are full to overflowing, when fervor and
enthusiasm compel, that is the seventh Commandment: attainment, the requisite
on the disciple's path.
Let these qualities be the mark of the aspirant: utter
composure, peace and rest, but also instantaneous enthusiasm, fire, and
intensity in purposeful labors. The measure of our fervor is the speedometer
of our progress on the path. This marks the culmination of the seventh
Commandment within ourselves: the union of the passive and the active, the
electric and the magnetic, body and soul. Without this balance within there is
restlessness and triviality, and without this balance we cannot reach the
eighth Commandment.
The eighth Commandment was given to Moses for his people at a
time when they had no personal possessions. At that time the Israelites were
traveling; for years past and years to come no one could call a patch of land
his own. Whatever of wealth they had brought out of Egypt belonged to all
alike in a common treasury that was used and supervised by their leaders. They
had only the clothes on their backs, and there was nothing to steal. Why,
then, this terse Commandment?
This Commandment challenges faculties in man which are above
reason and thought; they belong to the world of Spirit. Christ Jesus summed up
the interpretation of all the Commandments in the words: "My kingdom is
not of this world." The Sabbath we must keep holy is not of this world.
The father and mother whom we must honor are not of this world. That which we
must not kill is not of this world. That which we must not steal is not of
this world.
In the eighth month of prenatal life, all the actual
building of the physical body is finished; the potentialities of the superman,
the potentialities of adeptship, are added in the body. There is an addition
of points in the sacral vertebrae which are related to the creative powers in
man. This is the particular field of labor of the Lords of Form, working
through Scorpio. In this new world of Scorpio — a world of challenge to the
powers of creativeness — we find ourselves acting like little children
tempted by shiny things. We rush after the brilliant flame of creative power,
only to hurt and burn ourselves. The fall of man consisted of this undue
appropriating this stealing of the sword and fire of creativeness before we
knew how to handle its powers safely.
Man is never tested in the use of powers without being
instructed in their control. The tools given us with which to handle the power
of creativeness safely are humility and morality. From little strands
of purity, unselfishness, and generosity, the wise aspirant weaves the garment
of morality, which is as a pair of asbestos gloves with which we can handle
this brilliant fire safely. The number eight is called the little holy number
and is associated with the spinal spirit fire.
The strong characteristics of Scorpio, the eighth sign, are
great determination, lofty aspiration, strong love, and heroism. If we use
these qualities, we can drive false conceptions, impurities, weaknesses, and
bad habits out of our Temple. These ignoble qualities and steal the high
purposes of the superman within us. Scorpio is the eagle of transmutation; it
is the first sign of self-mastery.
How much power the world has arrogated to itself without the
pass-key of holiness. Humanity is guilty of stealing power; the consequent
suffering is everywhere.
Usurping power has given rise to one pathetically common
human attribute, that of pride. Therefore Scorpio turns healer by virtue of
humility. Pride sports many premature attainments. Humility, on the other
hand, is the grateful acknowledgment of powers vastly higher than our own.
Humility is a most necessary virtue.
Christ Jesus said: "Render unto Caesar that which is
Caesar's." Similarly, we can say, "Give unto God what is God's."
Thou shalt not steal means: Thou shalt not arrogate, usurp, take for your own
use that which never belonged, nor ever will belong to you, that which in all
eternity belongs to God — His power, His might, His holiness, His right, His
order. If, as aspirants on the path, we sanctify God within our hearts
and attribute all power to Him, we are then blessed with a measure of power
and holiness commensurate with our humility. But if we consider ourselves
sanctified and arrogate power to ourselves in order to shine among men and
greedily rule over them, then we are thieves and robbers. Whosoever raises
himself above his fellow beings in a hard and self-centered manner
transgresses the eighth Commandment.
Power is safe only in the hands of the humble. The power of
love is safe only in the heart of the self-controlled and the morally pure.
Do not steal, for all things come to him who waits, who
watches, who prays.
— Rays from the Rose Cross Magazine, January, 1977, page 25.
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