Rehabilitation of Nations

If we think of various nations as entities then we can more readily see that these entities, have the same problems, the same needs, and the same potential for expressing that divinity which is found within every Son of God, now hidden, awaiting revelation. We see that like each human being, each nation must walk the fiery way, must transform and transmute the forces of the personality into the energies of the Soul, and must in the end become a clear channel through which the energies of the Spiritual Triad can pass unimpeded.

As we scrutinize the community of nations, we can see that in their present stage of development they are very far from this accomplishment. But with the small knowledge so far gained of the Path, and of the Plan, which underlies the way of attainment for all humanity we can be confident that the outcome is inevitable, and successful achievement is but a matter of time.

Meanwhile, the various problems of attitude, education, economic development, freedom and government are steps along the Path, in the solution of which the working out of the Plan may be discovered:

"When a man literally walks in the light of his soul and the clear light of the sun pours through him - revealing the Path - it reveals at the same time the Plan. Simultaneously, however, he becomes aware of the fact that the Plan is very far as yet from consummation. The dark becomes more truly apparent. The chaos and misery and failure of the world groups stand revealed; the filth and dust of the warring forces are noted, and the whole sorrow of the world bears down upon the astounded, yet illuminated, aspirant. Can he stand this pressure? Can he become indeed acquainted with grief and yet rejoice forever in the divine consciousness? Has he the ability to face what the light reveals and still go his way with serenity, sure of the ultimate triumph of good? Will he be overwhelmed by the surface evil and forget the heart of Love which beats behind all outer seeming? This situation should ever be remembered by the disciple, or he will shattered by that which he has discovered.

"But with the advent of the light, he becomes aware of a new (for him) form of energy. He learns to work in a new field of opportunity. The realm of the mind opens up before him, and he discovers that he can differentiate between the emotional nature and the mental. He discovers also that the mind can be made to assume the position of the controller, and that the sentient forces respond with obedience to mental energies. The light of reason' brings this about - Light that is always present in man but which only becomes significant and potent when seen and known, either phenomenally or intuitionally."

The world has been transformed by two forces: scientific achievements, and the rapidity of communication. It is not the conglomeration of isolated little fragments of aeons, centuries, or even years ago. It is becoming ONE WORLD. These transformations have taken place on the physical plane. We have yet to see similar transformations take place on the emotional and mental planes. We are, however, seeing the beginning of this process, imperfect as it is, focused though the United Nations.

The phrase "psychological rehabilitation', then, can mean more to us than recovery from the scars of a world war as elucidated by the Tibetan. Although much rehabilitation is still required arising from the numerous conflicts, failed states and ethnic cleansing which have sadly characterized the century and continue into this one, the battlefield have shifted to conflict zones which encompass the lives of innocent citizens as well as soldiers. Despite this, today psychological rehabilitation can also mean changed attitudes which substitute the conference table for the war zone. This marriage between force and arbitration may seem a matter of expediency. And in a way, it is. But we do not forget that it is also a matter of survival. We HAVE to learn to live together, or go down together into darkness and oblivion, from which recovery would be so slow and so painful that by comparison the long period spoken of as the Dark Ages would seem a blaze of brilliant light. We have witnessed in response to this perceived need, an unprecedented era of international meetings and a cycle of conferences around every human problem and environmental challenge.

Our approaches to these problems, and their possible solutions, will all be different. And so they should be. The contribution of the Australian student will be quite different from that of the Dutch student, the Nigerian student will look at the world differently from a Bolivian student, and the Vietnamese student will have another point of view to that of the British or American student. The group pool of thought will be enriched by each one. And these studies of each of us, should prove a broadening, enriching experience, which will enable us to expand our consciousness in understanding our fellowmen, and to become more useful citizens in the country where we work and live.

There will be no perfect solutions. Only partial ones. We must remember, too, that in studying the problems of humanity, we are conditioned by our own backgrounds, and that our first reactions may bring out a fine display of pet prejudices. To look behind the problem, to see the meaning behind the event, to attempt to determine which of pairs of opposites are coming up for resolution, to see the nature of the changes and shifts in government, in economy, in trade, in culture and the arts, to ponder upon the ray impulse expressing, upon the nature of the cycle which is either passing or beginning - all of this mental effort will cause our prejudices to fade, our understanding to grow, and our wisdom and love to expand into an inclusiveness we have not heretofore known. (Introduction)