THE EQUINOX
society: and so for the rest. Ultimately, therefore, the prob-
lem is how to destroy this perception of duality, to attain to
the apprehension of unity.
Now then let us suppose that you have come to the Mas-
ter, and that He has declared to you the Way of this attain-
ment. What hindereth you? Alas! there is yet much Free-
dom afar off.
Understand clearly this: that if you are sure of your Will,
and sure of your means, then any thoughts or actions which
are contrary to those means are contrary also to that Will.
If therefore the Master should enjoin upon you a Vow of
Holy Obedience, compliance is not a surrender of the Will,
but a fulfilment thereof.
For see, what hindereth you? Itis either from without or
from within, or both. It may be easy for the strong-minded
seeker to put his heel upon public opinion, or to tear from his
heart the objects which he loves, in a sense: but there will
always remain in himself many discordant affections, as
also the bond of habit, and these also must he conquer.
In our holiest Book it is written: “Thou hast no right but
to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay.” Write
it also in your heart and in your brain: for this is the key of
the whole matter.
Here Nature herself be your preacher: for in every phe-
nomenon of force and motion doth she proclaim aloud this
truth. Even in so small a matter as driving a nail into a
plank, hear this same sermon. Your nail must be hard,
smooth, fine-pointed, or it will not move swiftly in the direc-
tion willed. Imagine then a nail of tinder-wood with twenty
points—it is verily no longer a nail. Yet nigh all mankind
are like unto this. They wish a dozen different careers; and
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