THE SEVEN PORTALS
This passage also appears to have reference to the early
life of the Student—hence he is specially warned against
fear. Fear is, of course, the first of the pylons through
which one passes in the Egyptian system. It is important
then to arrange one’s life in such a way that one never al-
lows one thing to interfere with another, and one never
makes trouble for oneself. The method given in “Thien
Tao” is the best to employ.
31. Fear, O Disciple, kills the will and stays all action. If
lacking in the Shila virtue—the pilgrim trips, and Karmic
pebbles bruise his feet along the rocky path.
The objection to fear is not only the obvious one. Fear
is only one of the things which interfere with concentra-
tion. The re-action against fear leads to over-boldness.
Anything which interferes with the perfect unconscious
simplicity of one’s going leads to bruises. Troubles of this
kind may be called Karmic, because it is events in the past
which give occasion for trouble.
32. Be of sure foot, O Candidate. In Kshanti’s essence
bathe thy Soul; for now thou dost approach the Portal of
that name, the gate of fortitude and patience.
We now come to the third gate. Notice that this is a
further confusion of the Portal with the Key. As previously
said, patience here implies rather self-control, a refusal to
accept even favours until one is ready for them.
33. Close not thine eyes, nor lose thy sight of Dorje (the
Svastika);Méra’s arrows ever smite the man who has not
reached Vairaga.
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