Court
Decisions
So much has been said, and is still
being said, written, aired on radio and television, and argued in the
courtrooms about abortion these days that one is inclined to believe
further mention of the subject is obnoxious to most people. However, the
decision in regard to this matter by the Supreme Court of the United
States, which in effect nullifies restrictive abortion laws in the various
states, makes the student of the deeper truths of life and being more
uncomfortably aware than ever of the imperative need for added
understanding of the factors and deplorable consequences involved in this
un-Christian practice which has become so alarmingly casual and
frequent.
Formerly, in most places abortion was
legally permissible only if the welfare of the mother required it. That it
was often illegally and unscientifically performed by unqualified people
is well known, this no doubt being one of the factors in bringing about
the movement to legalize abortion in the United States. Of course, making
it "legal" in no wise lessens the moral implications, even though it may
reduce the proportion of cases where physical harm to the mother
occurs.
In its historic decision the Court held
that the State's prohibition of early abortion would be an
unconstitutional invasion of a woman's privacy, since the sole legitimate
interest of the State in this matter is to make sure that abortion, as a
"medical process," takes place under circumstances which provide
adequately for the safety of the patient. This would naturally require the
services of a licensed medical practitioner. furthermore, in the opinion
of the Court, the State can constitutionally take steps to protect the
unborn child only after the developing fetus has reached the stage of
"independent life." Avoiding the crucial question as to just when
"independent life" begins in the forming body, the Court went on to add
the following: "When those trained in the respective disciplines of
medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus,
the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not
in a position to speculate as to the answer."
Since this matter is of such vital
import to all of the human race, both now and in the future, and its
consequences so far-reachingly deplorable and contrary to spiritual
unfoldment, it would most certainly benefit every adult individual to
consider it open-mindedly in all its physical and spiritual aspects. The
Court's reference to "this point in the development of man's knowledge"
must surely refer only to the knowledge which is "accepted" by the general
public. Fortunately, there are human beings who have progressed far enough
spiritually to have acquired knowledge not yet accepted by the majority of
mankind. Among those advanced ones are the Brothers of the Rose Cross,
Adepts who work constantly for the welfare of humanity, and who have given
out the Western Wisdom Teachings in their efforts to counteract the
insidious effects of materialism and to further spiritual evolution in
general.
Laws of Rebirth and
Consequence
Prominent among the truths in this
Teaching are the twin laws of Rebirth and Consequence. The doctrine of
rebirth teaches that each Ego is an integral part of God, enfolding all
divine possibilities; that by means of repeated existences in gradually
improving bodies the latent possibilities are developed into dynamic
powers; that none are lost by this process, but that all mankind will
ultimately attain the goal of perfection and reunion with God. What we
are, what we have, all our good qualities are the result of our actions in
the past. What we lack in physical, mental, or moral excellence may yet be
ours in the future. As we sow, so shall we reap. Each life provides us
with experiences essential for our progress. If we are not allowed to
incarnate in a physical body, we do not have the experiences.
The generally accepted idea about
"killing" (except by the very materialistic mind, which accepts only form)
is that "life" is terminated, simply because the body is no longer able to
function. This is a mistake. Life is eternal, as both the Bible and occult
science teach, and the individual Spirit inhabiting a body, or beginning
to inhabit it, cannot be destroyed. However, of course, the form in which
it has to live on Earth in order to gain the experience necessary for its
progress can be, and too often is, destroyed. To do this is just as
reprehensible as it is to break any other of the spiritual laws governing
our universe. "Thou shalt not kill" is a basic law for humanity, even
though it refers only to the form, and those who defy it, by abortion or
otherwise, must at some future time pay a heavy penalty.
Holy Creative Force
Another most vital point to be
considered in connection with the practice of abortion is the sacredness
of the creative power in the human being. This is the Holy Spirit aspect
of God and man, referred to in numerous places in the Bible (Matt. 1:18,
Mark 1:8, Luke 1:15, John 14:26, Acts 2:4, etc.), the power that is used
to create not only physical bodies that is used to create not only
physical bodies but also, on a higher level, mental and emotional
accomplishments in literature, poetry, art, music, science, etc. To misuse
this holy power for gratification of the senses is the "great
transgression" spoken of in Psalm 19:13. This is the "sin" (action
contrary to spiritual law) that is not forgiven, but must be expiated
through suffering in diseased and incapacitated bodies and minds. As
Christ Jesus said explicitly: "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Matt. 12:31).
When one considers the intricate and
awe-inspiring process which takes place in the invisible worlds, involving
the activities of the Angels and their helpers, to bring an Ego back into
a physical body, and all of the past causes and effects that enter into
this event, he or she surely must hesitate to destroy the infant vehicle,
even if it had been in formation for only a short time. Let us recount
briefly how occult science describes this process.
Ego's Preparation for
Rebirth
After having been strengthened in the
ineffable harmony of the higher world called the Third Heaven (mentioned
by St. Paul in II Corinthians 12:2), the Ego has a desire for new
experiences in the Physical world and begins to contemplate a new birth.
This conjures up a series of pictures before the vision of the Spirit--a
panorama of the new life in store for it, containing the principal events
which begin at the cradle and end at the grave. In some cases several
panoramas may be shown, so that the advanced Ego has a choice.
Having chosen the life it will live,
the Spirit, possessing only the forces of the four seed-atoms (the nuclei
of the dense, vital, and desire bodies, and the sheath of mind), the Ego
begins its descent into the Physical World. The forces of the mind of the
last life are awakened from their latency in the seed-atom, and begin to
attract materials from the Region of concrete Thought for which it has an
affinity. The same then occurs for the desire, the etheric, and the dense
bodies. This material forms itself into a great bell- shaped figure, open
at the top, where the seed-atoms are. When the proper time comes, the
building of the new body and its placement in the proper environment is
done by the four great Beings known as the Recording Angels, or Lords of
Destiny. The vital body is built by the inhabitants of the heaven world
and the Nature Spirits in such a manned as to form a particular type of
brain. However, the returning Ego itself incorporates therein the
quintessence of its former vital bodies, and in addition to this also does
a little original work.
The vital body, having been molded by
the Lords of Destiny, will give form to the dense body, organ for organ.
This matrix or mold is then placed in the womb of the future mother. The
seed-atom for the dense body is in the triangular head of one of the
spermatozoa in the semen of the father.
When the impregnation of the ovum has
taken place, the desire body of the mother works upon it for a period of
time from eighteen to twenty-one days, the Ego remaining outside in its
desire body and mind sheath, yet always in close touch with the mother.
Upon the expiration of that time, the Ego enters the mother's body. The
bell-shaped vehicles draw themselves down over the head of the vital body
and the bell closes at the bottom. The Ego broods over its coming
instrument, asserting its individuality and resisting formation by the
mother of the nucleated blood cells. The old cells gradually disappear, so
that when the silver cord is tied at the quickening, all nuclei have
disappeared, and the Ego is absolute autocrat of its vehicle, a precious
heritage.
Transmuting the Sex
Force
Thus we see that abortion, while it
does not kill the Spirit, which is eternal, does destroy the form
essential for its use on Earth to gain necessary experience, and is
therefore a most sinful and degrading act. It matters not at what stage of
its growth the fetus is destroyed, the dire consequences are the
same.
What is the sensible solution to this
immoral practice? Simply put, it is self-control. Human beings will at
some time have to learn to master the Luciferian urge and not allow the
power of lust to direct their lives. A high ideal, yes, but upon its
achievement depends the welfare of the race.
However, it should be thoroughly
understood that the mere suppression of sexual attraction is not a virtue
in itself. The creative force must be used-- directed into higher
channels.
Instead of seeking physical
gratification when conscious of the surging impulses of the lower nature,
if the individual will focus his thoughts and imagination upon something
he or she desires to create--a poem, an invention, a picture, a musical
composition, or some material demonstration such as a poem or a new
business venture--he or she will find that a double purpose is served. The
objective demonstration will be accelerated and the process of
transmutation or regeneration within his or her body will, at the same
time, be noticeably stimulated. Physical exercise alone is also of help,
but when accompanied by creative thoughts is more effective.
Meditation upon high and inspiring
subjects has power literally to transform forces impregnating the sexual
fluids, for these fluids are really carriers of etheric force, the true
creative agent. An inspiring poem or passage from the scriptures can be
the channel for immediate direction of the thoughts and creative power
into uplifting currents. By consciously directing pure love currents from
the heart into the creative centers of the brain, sexual activity may be
transmuted into activities of mind and spirit, with a corresponding birth
upon the mental and spiritual plane.
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