The way to life and immortality; a text-book on the new life that shall lead man from weakness, disease, and death, to freedom from these things

Front matter

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Book . A - ^^'^T

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CHAPTER ONE "heal the sick-''

Jesus, whom Soul Scientists and the Illuminati recognize as a Master and as one of the foremost teachers of the Divine Law, gave many admonitions to those who would follow the "Way, the Truth, and the Life" ; but no admonition stands out more clearly than the command to hea'l the sick. In the Gospel of St. Luke are many references to the healing of the sick. The most direct and p(jsitive statement given as a command is found in verse nine of chapter ten.

"And heali the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."

Why should the command, "Heal the sick," be accompanied by the statement that those who are healed shall be told that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto them?

The reason for this is to be found in the fact that there is a close connection between health and the kingdom of God, a close connection between disease and the kingdom of error and sin. All illness is due to vicVlation of the laws of health — that is, to some form of sin and error. It may be unconscious sin and error, but it is none the less sin and error. The man or the woman that breaks nature's laws in respect to any one of those things which cause illness, is committing a sin, or violating a law of health. It is to be readily admitted that disease of body cind mind is more often due to ignorance than to deliberate wrong doing, ignorance regarding conditions of health, Kevertheless, the principle remains true that error in re- ^;ird to the laws of health results in illness and sufferings, that obedience to the laws of health results in ease and harmony.

The fact that there is a vital connection between health and the kingdom of heaven has been overlooked by churches and religious denominations. The church has lost its hold upon humanity largely because it has ceased to make healing of the body a prominent part of its mission. The Temple of lUuminati proposes to reestablish this important feature of religious instruction. One purpose of the Temple of Illuminati is to instruct and to train its members in respect to natural law as it pertains to physical and mental health, strength, and vigor. This it considers to be a necessary feature of the Way to Life and Immortality, Under this instruction and training, the members should not only themselves regain health and strength if lost, but should be qualified to help others in restoring conditions of health, strength, and vitality.

This doctrine, that physical health and vigor are natural manifestations of the kingdom of heaven in human experience, and that disease and suffering are manifestations of the kingdom of error and darkness, is founded upon the Sacred Scriptures. Basis for this doctrine is seen also in the ancient philosophies. It is by no means necessary to use the Bible as authority. However, men generally recognize the teachings of prophets and aposties recorded in the Bible as the foundation upon which all true doctrines rest. There are some, indeed, who consider themselves superior to the instructions of the Scriptures, and who claim no longer to need the Bible; but this very self-deluded superiority shows that they have not yet reached the first steps on the ladder of true Wisdom. All men who have reached Illumination of Soul recognize that the Bible contains the Alpha and Omega of all knowledge, and that therein is clearly indicated the Way to Life and Immortality. Therefore, the teachings of the Scriptures are accepted by the Illuminati as the basis of their histruction5 ; yet it is freely admitted that the sacred writings of other than the so-called Christian religion preserve kindred doctrinists.

Followers of the Illuminati claim that all illness, no matter what its nature, is caused directly through not living in harmony with the Law of God. The Law has two aspects, natural and divine. The Law of God, often designated as "the Law," or "the Divine LaAV," is both natural and divine, but is often spoken of as one or the other, owing to the prominence of the aspect considered. In general, natural law refers to conditions on the physical and the material plane, and pertains to the physical well-being of man; while divine law, generally considered, refers to conditions which affect the welfare of the soul, and pertains to the spiritual, mental, and divine nature of man. There is, however, no sharp distinction to be made betv.^een the two. The welfare of man's spiritual, mental, and divine nature depends upon his physical well-being as a necessary basis. The divine law rests upon the natural law as a foundation. Each is necessary to the other. In fact, it is the same law viewed from different angles.

Thus, let it be clearly understood in the beginning as basic propositions of the Illuminati ; first, the state of consciousness designated as "the kingdom of heaven" includes right living (righteousness), or correct habits of life, on the physical plane as well as on the spiritual, or divine, plane of thought; second, any consideration of the Way to Life and Immortality that ignores the physical well-being of man is not only incomplete but even irrational and illogical ; third, the command to heal the sick, in face of the vital connection between health and the kingdom of heaven, between illness and the kingdom of sin and error, makes it imperative upon the Temple of Illuminati to give instruction and training concerning the laws of health and concerning a rational basis and method of healing.

It is the verdict of physicians that illness is most fre-

26 The Way to Life and iMMdftTAtix?

quently caused by an erroneous system of living, or by incorrect habits of life ; indeed, to give more explicit statement, illness is most frequently caused by an erroneous system of eating.

Time was, when it would have been considered absurd for a teacher, a prophet, a Messiah, to speak of dietetics in connection with Life and Immortality; but that time is past. Now, all wise men, ail truly illuminated ones, know that those things which enter the body as food and drink have much to do with the welfare of mind and soul as well as body. The thoughtful person, ithe person of keen ambition, no longer considers it absurd or irrational to associate hygienic conditions and scientific dietetics with the Way to Life and Immortality.

Food and drink are to the body what oil is to machinery. A delicate piece of machinery may be thrown out of order and rendered useless by being lubricated with a poor grade of oil. And not until it has been cleaned and reoiled and its equilibrium has been reestablished, can the machine satisfactorily serve the purpose for which it was intended. I ikewise, man's organism may be thrown into a state of disorder and inharmony by taking into his system foods or drinks not suited to his needs.

The stomach is the center of motive power for the organism. And, if the part of the organism wherein motive power originates is thrown into a state of inharmony and turmoil, the inharmony is transmitted to the brain through the medium of the sympathetic nerve, and this causes unnatural and morbid thinking. Unnatural and morbid thought conditions, in turn, cause sluggish, ambitionless movements of body. This state of affairs accounts for inefficient workmen and artisans ; and, in exaggerated form, it may even account for criminal tendencies and for feeblemindedness. Furthermore, sluggish, burdened, and depressed condition of physical functions largely explains the prevalent indifference among mankind to the Laws o|

The Way to Uife and Immortalitv, 27

Life and Immortality.

It is equally important for man to understand natural law as to understand divine law, or spiritual law. Man is well called a prototype of the universe; and, as such, he needs to understand the mechanism of his own structure and the laws of its functions, that he may abide by the dictates of universal law and order.

The church of the past has been teaching that souls only are of value, and that the soul can be made immortal, cr reach Salvation, regardless of physical conditions. Salvation of soul independent of the body is a doctrine not sanctioned by the Illuminati. Salvation by faith independent of works is not sanctioned by the Illuminati. That faith must be accompanied by works in harmony with the faith professed, that full and perfect salvation of soul is impossible without a corresponding purification of body, are definite tenets of Soul Science and the Illuminati. There is every evidence that the Master Jesus associated salvation of soul with healing of body, and that he identified full and perfect salvation with bodily immortality, and, ultimately, with victory over death.

Possibly the strongest statement that Jesus ever made concerning life and immortality is this :

"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Not only did Jesus teach that man may be healthy and happy, but that, if he is willing to live and to believe in the Christ, he may live forever.

Science is daily proving the possibility of bodily immortality. It is a scientific fact that the physical body of man remakes itself entirely, cell by cell, within a period of nine months. The only reason why the body should see corruption is because man does not live in such a manner that every cell in the body renews itself. Some of the old cells remain. This, in time, causes old age; or, it may even j:i>use illness of the physical being-, which naturally results

2S The Way to Life aistd iMMORtALiTY

in illness or weakness of the mental and the soulual beinof. Scientific research admits that there is no plausible reason why the body of man should die.

,What then should be the remedy for the decrepitude of old age and for other impaired physical conditions?

Let the motto of Soul Science and of the Illuminati be the answer to this question: "Our God is the God of life, and not of death."

Let the Law as stated by St. John be the answer to the question : "Whosoever liveth and believeth in the Christ shall not die."

To live in the Christ precedes and accompanies true belief in the Christ. Belief in the Christ is the natural outgrowth of living in Llim. Jesus nowhere taught that mere belief in the Christ will suffice. He distinctly taught that, in order to attain Christhood, man must live as Jesus lived — that is, in harmony with natural and divine law. Only through right living can man rightly believe. Many claim to have faith in God, who do not live in accordance with the Law of God; but a faith that does not exemplify the Law is, at best, nothing more than a superficial faith. It is a self-deluded belief, v/hich is swept away at the first indication of sorrow or trouble. To weep and to bewail one's fate, to wonder why man should suffer when, as he believes, he trusts in the Lord — this very attitude of mind gives evidence of lack of faith. True faith in God, and living in harmony with natural and divine law are necessary supplements and companions, each of the other.

All science and philosophy support the assertion that it is impossible for a disordered mind resulting from a disordered body to have natural, simple, perfect faith and trust in the Father. It is indeed impossible for the mind to think correctly and to have clear vision when it is depressed and morbid because of physical disorder and sluggishness. On the other hand, when man lives in harmony with natural and divine law, when he observes hygienic condilions and honors the principles of right living on the material plane as well as on the mental and the divine planes, it is natural for him to have a wholesome sincere trust in God, the Father of all. The mind receives none other than cheerful, health-inspiring vibrations from the physical center of life in man; and, it is then easy to believe that there is a God. It is easy to see the beauty in the rose, the harmony in the song of the bird, and in the glorification of God in nature. All is bright, the eye sees the good, and man is become like unto the gods.

That physical health, strength, and vigor characterize him in whom "the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand," that disease and disorder characterize him in v^^hom the kingdom of sin and error is nigh at hand, are truths which both science and philosophy support. Belief and trust will take tare of themselves v/hen man lives in harmony with both natural and divine law.

The Law of God pertains to life, and has to do with all those things which form a part of daily living. And it is well for man to give careful attention to natural law as well as divine. No one should consider himself too wise, loo far advanced, too refined to acquaint himself with requirements of right living on the physical plane. This includes sleep, work, exercise, breathing, recreation, cleanliness, food, and correct thought habits. It is not uncommon for the student who has reached a certain stage of unfoldment to consider conditions wdiich pertain to physical welfare of inferior significance; and he is inclined to underestimate the importance of the so-called commonplaces of daily life. It should be remembered that the Bible is as much a text-book on hygiene, sanitation, and dietetics as it is a treatise on ethics, salvation, and immortality, and that hygiene, sanitation, and dietetics have a vital connection with salvation and immortality of body and soul. The fact that these relations are a part of the life of man shows that they are important enough to enlist his interest; and, if man desires to attain health and peace, v/isdom and immortahty, he must, sooner or later, give heed to natural law on the ph3'sical plane.

The superficial student may smile at the emphasis placed on the importance of natural law and hygienic conditions; but, if sincere, he need not look far for ample proof of their importance. The fact that obedience to natural law is necessary, and that strict observance of conditions which pertain to sleep, work, exercise, food, breathing, recreation, and cleanliness is a necessary factor of satisfactory living, is not to be overlooked by the sincere seeker after truth.

Furthermore, such items as these are emphasized in this connection because they are necessary features of any legitimate system of healing. Concerning the command, "Heal the sick," it is to be remembered that, as illness is due to violation of natural law in one or more of its aspects, so rational healing must aim at restoring the patient to a normal observance of the conditions violated. That is, if illness is due to a wrong system of eating, or to violation of the laws of sleep and relaxation, or to lack of exercise, or to indifference to internal and external cleanliness, or to an insufficient supply of pure air, or to a combination of such indiscretions, restoration to complete health and harmony of physical functions must include a system of right living in respect to these habits of life.

To live in the Christ, and to believe in Him, insures that man is on the Way to Life and Immortality. To live in the Christ, and to believe, includes obedience to natural law in its different requirements, as, obedience to the laws of health in respect to sleep, nourishment, cleanliness, work, and pure air.

As an illustration of the results of not living in harmony with natural law in its various demands, note that serious, but mysterious trouble called Neurasthenia, or ,1'Nerve Starvation. In most cases, there is apparently not a single indication of anything wrong in the physical being, there is no organic trouble, every organ and function seems to be working normally. The physical being, to all appearances, is working naturally and harmoniously.

But how is it with the mind and with the soul of the sufferer? Upon examination of the nervous system as manifest through mind and soul, is found a condition unbelievable to those who have not so suffered. To those who arc under the power of the peculiar difficulty called Neurasthenia, there is no sleep; or, if any, it is one horrible dream. There is no peace of mind ; for one morbid thought crowds out another, one morbid thought is followed by another. Though the sufferer tries to control the mind, it seems uncontrollable. The eyes cannot be closed ; for when they are closed, there appears picture after picture of such things as were never thought of. He may look at the rose, but he sees no beauty in it. He may look at the sun; but, to him, it has no brightness. He may look at the vesture of the fields and the woods. It is useless, for they have for him no charm. He may contemplate life, only to see nothing in it. The Neurasthenic cares for neither Iqve nor beauty, neither life nor death. He knows not why he exists. Speak to him of the soul, he cares not whether he has one. Speak to him of heaven, and he cares not whether there is a heaven or hades. In fact, for him life is not Hfe, but a continued death.

It was such cases as these of which Jesus said that they had a demon, or even many devils. The mind of such is full of hallucinations. The sufferer knows that these visions, these delusions, are not real; but he is unable to put them aside.

This is but a mild picture of that condition of which millions suff'er. It is a condition toward which other millions are rapidly approaching; for it is asserted that the white race is losing its "nerve," and is gradually falling into the neurasthenic state.

What is the cause? Simple or even foolish as it may seem to many, the cause is nothing but starvation of the nerves, due to long-continued breaking of natural law in many of its aspects. In fact, the cause is largely due to a negative state — not doing things that are necessary to normal, natural life, not "living in the Christ." Chief among the causes are violation of simple hygienic conditions, as : insufficient and improper nourishment; hurry and rush in business; insufficiency of sleep, outdoor exercise, and fresh air.

It stands to reason that the rational method of treating and of healing a person that has fallen into the clutches of this dread disease must include restoration to normal compliance with the laws of nature previously violated. Of what value would it be to effect an instantaneous miraculous cure, while still permitting the patient to continue in the habits that brought on the difficulty in the first place?

This serves merely as an illustration of the principle that true healing includes instruction in regard to natural as well as divine law; that true healing must touch the life and transform daily habits of living; that true healing teaches one to live, and to believe in, the Christ — to live a life of obedience to natural as well as divine law, and to trust, with sincerity and simplicity of heart, in God, the Father of all. We must live as the Christ lived before we can have undaunted faith in God and in Immortality, before we can ourselves have true health and harmony or help others to attain the same desirable state of being.

Moreover, Soul Science and the Illuminati hold it as a fundamental doctrine, that, if man obeys natural and divine law in their various aspects, and has faith in God, the Father, death of body is not a necessity. Did not Jesus clearly say that the last enemy to be overcome is death? Think ye that Jesus spoke of things that are impossible? Nay, all of this is possible. It is a great and mighty possibility ; but, in order to realize this possibility, we must live, and believe in, the Christ. Through the Christ, all things are possible. To obey natural law in its varied conditions; to live in the Christ, and to believe in Him — this is Soul Science, this is the Way to Life and Immortality.

Chapter Two

"and he sent them to preach the kingdom of god^ and to heal the sick."

Those who followed Jesus were given two things to do : to preach the kingdom of God, or to teach the Way to the kingdom of God; and to heal the sick.

It is impossible to separate the one department of v/ork from the other. To attempt to do so, only ends in failure. The established churches have tried to do this for centuries ; and it is now admitted even by their own men that results have not been satisfactory.

Why should these two departments of work go hand in hand — "to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick"? Rather, the question would seem more pertinent and rational if it were stated thus: Why should these two departments of work, preaching the kingdom and healing the sick, not go hand in hand? Why should they ever have been separated at all?

Their separation is due to an erroneous interpretation of the kingdom of heaven, an erroneous idea of the relation existing between soul and body, an erroneous idea of salvation and redemption. Naturally, their reunion will be effected through a revival of the true interpretation of the kingdom of God and its relation to man in all departments of his life.

According to the Christie Interpretation, the kingdom of God includes the kingdom of health and right living on the physical plane; salvation of soul cannot be separated from salvation of body ; redemption of soul presupposes redemption of body; Life and Immortality, in its full and complete realization, anticipates ultimate victory over death and the grave. When the truth concerning man and his relation to God is fully comprehended, and when man lives the true life, and realizes the ideal relation with God, illness is impossible.

Again and again is it necessary for the Illuminati to be reminded of the saying of John : "Whosoever liveth, and believeth in the Christ shall never die."

Here again are two principles which must not be separated, but which must go hand in hand, living and believing. He who has no faith will not live the life of faith; while he who has faith and lives accordingly will reap the fruits of such living, and the fruits are freedom from disease and death.

The statement that, under any consideration, man shall not see death is, to the sense-bound, sense-loving mind, indeed appalling. Possibly to some, the statement may be even uninviting and gruesome. But, let it be remembered that the promise of never-ending life is only to those who live in the Christ and believe in Him. To those who do not live in the Christ, or live according to His Laws, no such promise is given. Neither are such capable of entertaining a correct conception of the principle of Immortality. Only to the sense-bound, sense-loving nature is the promise of Immortality gruesome and uninviting. To him who has tasted of the sweets of the kingdom, to him who has realized the power and the beauty of life in the Christ, the promise of Immortality is an ideal possible of attainment; but he fully comprehends that its realization comes only through living according to the Laws of the Christ and through faith in the ever-present Christ Principle.

I'Soul Science and its Christie Interpretation aims at reestablishing the vital and necessary connection between the kingdom of God and the principles of health and healing. It aims at a practical union between preaching the kingdom and healing the sick.

It cannot be too strongly impressed upon those who would represent Soul Science and the Illuminati as teachers, that they are to be Healers as well as instructors in the Divine Law. They must be teachers of the truth as interpreted by Soul Science, but they must also become Healers in the true sense of the word, which includes instruction in regard to the method of life that sets man free from disease and sufifering.

Among people generally, there is a grievous misconception concerning the healing of the Master Jesus. Many believe that he healed the sick in spite of their sinful life, and that they remained healed in spite of continuing in the old life of sin. This conception is far from the truth. In each instance, Jesus tested the faith of those who came to him for healing; and, when he found it satisfactory, he healed them, but always with the warning that they should sin no more. Well did he understand that health and harmony cannot remain in the body of him who continues in deliberate, persistent sin, especially the sin, or the error, that has been the cause of illness. To heal a man of disease while ignoring the cause, while permitting him to continue in habits that foster disease, is both irrational and unjust. Nor is there the slightest basis for such an interpretation of the cases of healing performed by Jesus and his disciples.

Doubtless, too, a part of the testing of faith was to determine whether the patient understood the law of healing and was willing to free himself from the cause of the difficulty. The faith that does not include a v/illingness to give up habits of life which cause illness is an irrational as well as an incomplete faith. The faith that expects the man Jesus to effect a cure regardless of cause, the faith that hopes to remain healed regardless of unnatural and abnormal habits of living, is not only crude and deficient, but even savors of sacrilege ; for it puts to shame every law of honor and justice. To believe that

Jesus instantaneously healed the body of man without pointing out to the sufferer the way by which he might avoid such difficulty in the future, is to make of him a mere wonder-worker and a charlatan.

The work of Soul Science and the lUuminati is to teach mankind the laws of life, to teach men how to live and how to believe, in order that they may become healthy, strong, and efficient. Its mission is an exceedingly practical one. There is the misconception that mystical teaching deals only with the unseen, and, consequently, with theories and with the impractical and the fanciful. This is a grievous mistake. The purpose of Soul Science, in its various departments of instruction, is to make itsi teachings regarding the Law that leads to Life and Immortality applicable to every-day needs. And what is more needed among mankind than health, strength, and efficiency? Where is there a more exalted and a more practical mission than that of teaching the laws of the kingdom of God together with the laws of health and healing?

This is the New Age, the Age in which man must understand that religion is not merely a system of ideas to be accepted and believed, but that it is the revelation of a mode of life, a life that must be lived daily. Being the revelation of the laws of life, it includes every department of man's nature, and is, therefore, not so much a theory regarding the hereafter as practical instructions which satisfy the daily needs of life here and now.

The end and the aim of life for man is to become like unto the gods. Being endowed with divine qualities and deific attributes and powers, he fulfils his mission in life in proportion as he develops and uses his powers in harmony with universal law and order. When man lives a life that is entirely within the law, entirely natural and normal, he will be free from illness, free from corruption, free from all undesirable things. When man becomes like unto the gods and is fully conscious of his oneness with the Infinite, sin and sickness, death and corruption, no longer form a part of his nature. These statements, to be sure, picture an ideal state; and men generally are by no means capable at the present moment of realizing this state. But to see the ideal and the possibility of its attainment, is necessary as a stimulus to urge one on even to a partial realization.

To live the life of the Christ, does not mean, as formerly held by the churches, merely the redemption of the soul. That idea is forced to give way under the light of understanding that characterizes the present age. Soul Science in its Ilium inati teachings maintains that redemption concerns the body of man as well as the soul, that salvation — literally, a making sound, safe, and whole — pertains not only to the soul but to the body also. The more perfect the soul, the more perfect will be its reflection in the body; and, under normal conditions, according to the perfection of the body, so is the perfection of the soul. However, external appearance is not always a reliable index to perfection of body. The physique may be apparently perfect, and yet there may be an internal cancer that is eating away the life of body and soul. To live the life of the Christ refers to true perfection of body and soul. The body that is normal and healthy; the soul that has become enlightened through love, wisdom, and understanding; the soul that is on the way to Illumination and Deific Consciousness ; the body that directs its forces into channels of etherealization and immortality — ■ this pictures the true meaning of living in the Christ.