yielded up, there will be no more cause for sorrow. And the lesser and the greater powers will render Thou art now upon the way of discipline and
the invincible ;
purification ;
By their aid thou wilt subdue all sin ;
All my disciples must walk that way.
Thou wilt overcome to the uttermost ;
Before thou canst enter the white light of
Thou wilt achieve the Supreme Conquest.
Knowledge,
Disciple. What are the lesser and the greater
powers ?
I now know the cause of my sorrow and suffering ;
Master. Self - control, self - reliance, and
I apprehend the sorrows of mankind,
watchfulness?
For my sufferings are the sufferings of the world ;
These are the three lesser powers.
I see that sorrow and suffering are rooted in self.
Steadfastness, Patience, and Gentleness?
That evil and woe are in the desires of self,
These are the three greater powers.
And that all the desires of self must be relin-
When thy mind is well controlled, and in thy
guished,
keeping,
Guide me, O Master ! into the way of self-sacrifice
When thou reliest upon no external help, but upon ;
Truth alone,
Teach me how to abolish self from the mind;
And when thou art ceaselessly watchful over thy
Reveal to me the truth about renunciation.
thoughts and actions?
Master. Renunciation, O disciple ! is twofold;
Then will the three lesser powers be thine,
There is renunciation in the letter ;
And with these powers thou wilt dispel the Great
There is also renunciation in the spirit.
Darkness,
The renunciation of outward things and particular
Thou wilt approach the Supreme Light ;
acts only?
Approaching the Supreme Light, thou wilt become This is the false renunciation in the letter ; steadfastly fixed in Truth.
The renunciation of inward desires and
Thou wilt become patient with an infinite patience, defilements?
And gentle with a gentleness which nothing can
This is the true renunciation in the spirit.
change or mar ;
Beware, O learner ! of the renunciation which is
Then will the three greater powers be thine ;
false ;
Then wilt thou come to the end of the path of
Perform thou the renunciation which is true.
discipline,
Disciple. Instruct me further in the renunciation
And wilt ascend unto the higher path of knowledge which is according to Truth,
;
Then I will embrace and perform it;
Walking the path of knowledge thy sorrow will
So shall I avoid the renunciation which is erroneous
cease.
and misleading.
Thy darkness will pass away for ever,
Master. Seek no gratification in the things which
And joy and light will wait upon thy footsteps.
thou doest ;
Disciple. I am reassured, O Master ! and am strong Look not for reward in the things wherein thou to proceed :
strivest ;
I am obedient to thee, and will submit to thy
Do all thy duties meekly, putting away desire?
discipline,
This is the true renunciation.
For thou hast comforted me with the word of
Do not think of gain or loss to thyself ,?
knowledge ;
Think not to obtain pleasure and avoid pain in thy
