THE SEVEN PORTALS
70. Remember, thou that fightest for man’s liberation,
each failure is success, and each sincere attempt wins its
reward in time. The holy germs that sprout and grow un-
seen in the disciple’s soul, their stalks wax strong at each
new trial, they bend like reeds but never break, nor can they
eer be lost. But when the hour has struck they blossom
forth.
But if thou cam’st prepared, then have no fear.
These verses explain the cumulative effect of which we
spoke. It is very hard to persist, because very often we
seem to make no progress. There is the water on the fire,
and nothing whatever appears to be happening. But with-
out warning it suddenly boils. You may get the tempera-
ture to 99° and keep it at 99° for a thousand years, and the
water will not boil. It is the last step that does the trick.
One remark in this connection may be useful: “A watched
pot never boils.” The student must practise complete de-
tachment—must reach the stage when he does not care two-
pence whether he attains or not, while at the same time he
pursues eagerly the Path of attainment. This is the ideal
attitude. Itis very well brought out in ‘Parsifal.’ Klingsor,
on having his error pointed out to him, said “Oh, that’s quite
easy,” took a knife, and removed all danger of his ever
making the same mistake again. Returning, full of honest
pride in his achievement, he found himself more ignomin-
iously rejected than before. Ultimately the sacred lance is
brought back into the Hall where is the Graal, and there, at
the right moment, not moved by desire, not seduced by
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