The Hymn of the Robe of Glory
Single talk by MBM from series The Teachings of Pojodag
January 10, 1929
Text is the little book with this title, with comments by G.R.S.Mead, published 1908, in the series Echoes from the Gnosis, The Theosophical Publishing Society, London.
We should ask: From What to What? Origins and Sources. The whole gamut of man’s evolution, from the point of the individual self; and, secondly, in terms of collective humanity. The first (span) is incorporated in Series V (a previous series on dream progressions) and in the material of the Robe of Glory. This Hymn is a forerunner of the Prodigal Son.
The light-spark comes from his Parents. Carries a load which is heavy and yet light — the stuff for the entire pilgrimage. It is light, because at that stage it is of a nature that does not weigh down.
Why does he want to go forth? Because the “pearl of great price” is to be gotten in Egypt (the lower worlds, outer, earth, symbolized by Egypt in this syriac, part of Semitic, tradition.) That pearl will make it possible for the light-spark to become co-heir in the Cosmic Regions. In the beginning the light-spark is not in possession of its full faculties. In this state it cannot be co-heir of the Cosmic Regions — of that which is in 1he Cosmic Regions. Like animals in our world. The light-sparks had to evolve first.
Egypt in this poem represents the physical world. The past is written within the self. It is covered over in the descent but is written in the transliminal, where the records of the descent are stored. These records are to be uncovered as he, the Prince in the story, conquers the “loud-breathing serpent.”
The Pearl is not to be cast before swine. The (higher) birth shines forth as you begin to resist the swine country, the husks ….There the powers of the light-spark come into fulfillment, Self-consciousness. They represent man, conscious of himself, master of his powers, developed, so he can use them. Ready to return. This changes him from the animal state and brings him back as a human – man (manas) mind. The state before we have mind is the animal state. We become human (hu-man, earth man). Our evolution is to bring forth the animal into the human. The light-spark becomes one of the Egyptians.
Here only the real struggle can take place. When you wrestle, then is consciousness being born. As the result of that dilemma, then he eats husks with the swine, and suffers the limitations of that life, then only is the first speak of consciousness that counts. Animal consciousness does not count.
The Parents have been watching the process that, having gone long enough; having had enough rope; the seeds which have been slumbering must again be aroused. A Message is sent forth. It is in the form of an Eagle; and it becomes words. There is friction between earth and heaven, out of which is born the new consciousness.
Then the light-spark undertakes the task: to lull to sleep the hard-breathing serpent. Before you can win release you must subdue the noises that belong to earth and water. You must overcome the things that call you to earth. That is the lulling to sleep of the serpent. The friction of lulling the serpent to sleep makes the friction, the heat, light, consciousness. Consciousness is the last product of the friction between heaven and earth in each one of us.
The Robe will again fit him perfectly. As the light-spark ascends, there is a descent of the conditions which are the “robes.” You wear these robes a certain time before you actually enter the higher state, described in the poem as the place where the robes come down. And he goes to meet it, the boundary between the two lands: “I saw it all in all of me” — that is, the light-spark has so far transcended his previous conditions that he is now in a world of Light . Transformation in the self and the descent from above are the same thing. Time and place are replaced by condition.
“And saw me in all of it.” — two, yet one.
He mingles presently with the “nobles” the “House Sons of the Father.” He is not yet in the House, in the Cosmic Hierarchy.
How does it impinge on you in this life? Winning the birth is a long, difficult process. Since we are stretched out in time and space, let us see how it looks stretched out in time and space — IS-ness under the microscope of time and space:
In response to the “Letter” we are beginning a rhythm of ascent. There is no point in discussing anything before there is the receipt of a “letter.” Nothing to discuss. As the recipient of the Message responds, just so is the rhythm which follows.
All movement is rhythmic. In Series V we discussed one such rhythm (in the work with the transliminal. GB) It may take years for that consciousness to be alive and keen. You won’t know immediately what that birth is. But in proportion as you respond to that first impact of the “message”, in that proportion will your rhythm follow. For a rhythm has a beginning and an end — a tonic, a leading tone, and again the tonic. (I) the Quest motif. Your response will be in different degrees. As you respond, so is the rhythm that follows upon it.
Your Quest motif must be strong. Learn how to desire strongly and function sincerely. (2) Perseverance. Is it not in the psychic and mental, with desire and mind, that you seek the birth? Hence you seek it in the transliminal. Then only comes the first light of cognition — a new realization. Without perseverance you will never have new cognitions. You may have new facts, etc. but the process must take place in the self.
After that, your battles will begin in earnest. Not till you show there is something in you which is worthy of attention. 5,6,7, new levels and new depths. The higher you strain, the lower the pull.
Then comes the beginning of self-feeling, the sense of power. Now there is a new dragon to overcome. You will make mistakes. Egoism. Again comes the strain of drawing apart. Again comes the danger of slipping down, the easier way.
You must go through a certain amount of preliminary discipline before purgation that counts takes place — purgation of the attachments to easier things, the earth-water.
Having built solidly and proved worthy of something of the new era, then the symbols of the child are born. When the “child” is born, it leads us, as in the Christian tradition, to the next step. It leads to the mystic vision, where new realizations of the higher regions take place.
To accomplish the journey of the Robe of Glory we have many rhythms to accomplish.