Together We Build With Light

To see through the eyes of a child is to see with the simplicity of truth – to see things as they are without false walls of rationalisation (or “spin”), image or appearance. That clear and uncluttered perspective brings with it a joy in the beauty of everything, and in the simplicity of things. The vastness of life is clear enough to touch when it reflects into a child’s small and unique compass and registers in the transcendent experience of awe. In her article about the power of awe, Eleni Gage writes:

When my kids were little, surprise, delight, and awe crossed their faces a dozen times a day. Any number of occurrences would leave them wideeyed with amazement—a sudden rainstorm, a squirrel running up a tree, the sunset. I recall my son’s entire pre-K class staring, slack-jawed, as their teacher released butterflies they’d grown from caterpillars into the gray New York sky.” (The full article is available HERE: https://elenigage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Awe-Real-Simple-December-2023.pdf)

And this wondrous point of view is open to us all. Astronauts have described their experience of it as “the overview effect” and given us a glimpse through the videos they have taken from outer space. (A video of their account is at: https://sydneygoodwill.org.au/overview-effect-astronauts/ )

Christ reminded us of the essential need for a child’s view when He said: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye…become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) He Himself taught with great simplicity as described in the Agni Yoga teachings:

… The Great One taught people to pray within their hearts, upon the mountain, amid inspiring summits. It is impossible to grasp the full depth of meaning of the Sermon of the Great One, because He gave instructions for the whole of life in the simplest words. The key to this greatness was in His simplicity, which not only allowed Him to more easily communicate with people, but was a beautiful way of expressing the Highest in the simplest words. One should learn to make the complicated simple, for only in simplicity is kindness reflected. Such was the work of the Great Pilgrim…” Supermundane 150

True simplicity comes when we can see the whole picture, when the confusing details of disconnected parts fall into place meaningfully and purposefully throughout time and space. Then one begins to see and become one with a great Life unfolding into expression with clear purpose and beauty. Even complicated details can be seen in simplicity when seen within the interrelated whole. The Tibetan Master explained:

Simplification proceeds rapidly as one nears the goal of the spirit. Will ever concerns itself with the essentials and not with the details of manifestation. Love concerns itself with transitional, evolutionary fundamentals, whilst intelligence concerns itself with the detail and its coherent coordination in response to the impulse and attractive force of divine love and the dynamic impulse of the spirit.” The Rays and the Initiations, page 185

To see with the eyes of a child is to see without expectations, fears or fabricated complications that can blur and darken true vision. It is to see with the eyes of the heart through which the light of the Soul, reflecting the Light of Spirit, can shine and dispel the shadows of untruth. We are reminded that:

To see with the eyes of the heart; to hear the roar of the world with the ears of the heart; to peer into the future with the understanding of the heart; to remember past accumulations through the heart—that is how the aspirant must boldly advance on the path of ascent. Creativity embraces the fiery potential and comes to be saturated with the sacred fire of the heart. Therefore, on the path of the Hierarchy, on the path of the Great Service, on the path of Communion, synthesis is the one luminous path of the heart. How can seekers radiate the rays manifested if there is no flame affirmed in their hearts? It is precisely the quality of a magnet that lies latent in the heart. The loftiest creativity is pervaded with this great law. Thus, every consummation, every unification, every cosmic union is achieved through the flame of the heart. In what way can a foundation be laid for great steps? Truly, only by way of the heart. The arcs of consciousness merge in the flame of the heart.
So let us keep in mind the wondrous attraction of the magnet of the heart, which links all manifestations. Indeed, the silver thread that connects the Teacher with the disciple is the great magnet of the heart. The unification of the Teacher and disciple affirms the essence of all aspects of evolution.” Heart 1

We might ask: from what point of identified being do we see? From where does our consciousness look out on life? Where is our home – the heart or hearth that lights, warms and brings life flooding through us and so reflects out into the world? In these times of challenge and uncertainty one can be distracted by outer events and wander from the source of meaning and purpose, searching frantically outside oneself for what is always accessible from the inner hearth of life. If we become over-absorbed in what is breaking down in the world, we can lose that balance point that holds us steady within the unfolding of Life’s purpose as the next step gradually reveals itself. In order to take that step, to create a new and better world, we are reminded that:

…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

When together we build with light, we will build an illumined and illuminating world for “Light is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Glamour: A World Problem, page 193)

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