The Communion of the One Hearth

Throughout history human beings have been fascinated by fire; we have been both fearful of its destructive power and desirous of its nourishing warmth. Perhaps, in our ambivalent relationship with it, there is a hint as to our own nature, our essence or what ignites our will, love and progress into our potential. Our progressive journey of discovery and revelation carries us continually into newer and greater realisation, and is fuelled by our experience in the world as we gradually burn through our limitations to discover our true being and the power of the one life, of the central Flame that radiates through us.

Fire both nourishes and destroys. It burns all that is not of itself. Humanity’s fiery progress continues to burn what is not of our true Self until we realise our fiery essence and then we see that all else is as temporary illusions through which we learn this essential truth. The poet Rumi reminds us:

In each moment the fire rages, it will burn away a hundred veils. And carry you a thousand steps toward your goal.” ~ Rumi

The tiny seeds of our fiery being can be seen in the loving bond of a mother for her child as she marshals her will and courage to protect the tiny life through its early years. This may be the first “hearth” we know. In a vaster sense the nurturers of the race are Those Who have travelled the fiery path into knowing and then have turned to lift and aid those of us still making our way. We find guiding inspiration at various points along that way and often in unexpected forms – unexpected when our expectations are based only on past understanding rather than with openness to further dimensions behind the outer seeming.

Looking more deeply we might see the fire of the new world shining in the hearts of those who nurture truth and work for the common good. They serve something greater than themselves. The dedicated healthcare worker, the just and true policeman, the teacher that encourages, the courageous whistle-blower – all who sacrifice their personal comfort and safety to serve others. They are all around us, unseen or unnoticed yet part of the glowing heart-fire at the central hearth of the human kingdom and of the planet.

… Humanity needs to purify its existence, so reconstruction must begin from the hearth, from everyday life. You should not wait for whole nations to start moving; on the contrary, the life principle will undergo a worldwide reformation on a personal basis, quite apart from nationality. So you should first of all remember that it is not the narrow old boundaries that will partition the world. The foundation of psychic energy is not limiting itself to a specific nation, but will discover a completely different world pattern.” Heart 173.

While we see ourselves as outside of life we are veiled by illusion. When we penetrate that veil of separateness, we realise that we share the same sensitive nature and the same hearth and home of the One Life. Then boundaries no longer hold. As new heart-fire burns away worldly divisions, we see nations uniting, refugees welcomed into distant homes, volunteers serving wherever there is need, global cooperative movements for the betterment of all and of the planet as a whole. It is happening now. We are in the midst of a great and fiery birth and the times are unprecedented. The human heart is expanding to meet what is unfolding and thus forging a new world around a central hearth where the fire of life is tended and shared by all. And it is up to us all to play our part.

A disciple asked his Teacher, ‘Tell me, how shall I apply the Teaching in life?’ The Teacher advised him, “To begin with, become kinder. Do not consider good as a supernatural gift. Let it be the foundation of your hearth; upon it build your fire, and on such a ground the flame will not be scorching.” Thus asked the disciples, and the Teacher was amazed that after all the Teaching a question as to how to begin was necessary.

Not tales but life itself reveals these cases of incommensurateness. The disciple must feel in his heart which quality is nearer to him. ‘By whatever Paths ye come to Me, I shall meet ye.’” Aum, 584.

As hearts open in kindness to others, we realise it is the one warm and welcoming hearth being offered to all who sense its radiance. There are no divisions in that lighted home where all weary pilgrims may experience the peace, love and joy of a fire that warms and encompasses them in the eternal oneness of the universe. The coming One is already present in the hearts that live in oneness and radiate its central fire. We are reminded that:

It is the Fire of Love which He will bring; it is the message of the purificatory fire which He will sound; He will not teach anent the waters of purification, as has hitherto been the symbolic imparted truth; He will impart the fire which burns and destroys all barriers in man’s nature, all separating walls between individuals, between groups and between nations.” Discipleship in the New Age vol I, page 723

The time draws nearer as more and more old constraints break down and new hearts enter the communion of the one hearth.

… No rituals are needed where there is the flame of Communion. One should guard the hearth of Fire. Even the ancients understood the symbol of the incessancy of Fire. Life must be filled with burning. At first man thought about himself, then about others, but afterwards his actions became useful for all that exists. He does not think any more about the usefulness, but he breathes it and gives life in Boundless Space.” Fiery World II, 276.

 

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