THE TWO PATHS
bookkeeper to make a statement of the countless billions of
profit to be made in some future year. It requires no great
ability to string a row of zeros after a significant figure until
the ink runs out. What is wanted is the actual balance of
the week.
The reader is most strongly urged not to permit himself,
to indulge in fantastic flights of thought, which are the poi-
son of the mind, because they represent an attempt to run
away from reality, a dispersion of energy and a corruption
of moral strength. His business is, firstly, to know himself;
secondly, to order and control himself; thirdly, to develop
himself on sound organic lines little by little. The rest is
only leather and Prunella.
There is, however, a sense in which the service of human-
ity is necessary to the completeness of the Adept. He is not
to fly away too far.
Some remarks on this course are given in the note to the
next verse.
The student is also advised to take note of the conditions
of membership of the A... A.
43. Know, O Disciple, this is the Secret PATH, selected
by the Buddhas of Perfection, who sacrificed the SELF to
weaker Selves.
This is a statement of the conditions of performing the
Alchemical operation indicated in the injunction: “Coag-
ula.” In “Solve” the Adept aspires upward. He casts off
everything that he has or is. But after reaching the supreme
triad, he aspires downward. He keeps on adding to all that
he has or is, but after another manner.
This part of our treatise is loathsomely sentimental twad-
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