The Equinox (Volume III, Number I)

THE EQUINOX of Bodhisattva’s virtues five, the fivefold source of Bodhi power, and of the seven steps in Knowledge. 28. Pass on! For thou hast brought the key; thou art secure. The row of dots in the text (after verse 25) appears to im- ply complete change of subject, though on other occasions it did not doso. Ihave already explained one of the technical meanings of Dana, and undoubtedly the Path seems attrac- tive at this stage. One thinks of the joyous reception into the Company of Adepts. One goes almost as a boy goes to meet his first sweetheart. But there is here another allusion to the beginnings of Meditation, when everything seems so simple and straight- forward, and withal so easy and pleasant. There is some- thing intensely human about this. Men set out upon the most dangerous expeditions in high spirits. 29. And to the second gate the way is verdant too. But it is steep and winds up hill; yea, to its rocky top. Grey Mists will overhang its rough and stony height, and all be dark beyond. As on he goes, the song of hope soundeth more feeble in the pilgrim’s heart. The thrill of doubt is now upon him; his step less steady grows. Following the last comment a description of this Path re- fers to the beginning of ‘dryness’ in the course of Meditation. 30. Beware of this, O Candidate! Beware of fear that spreadeth, like the black and soundless wings of midnight bat, between the moonlight of thy Soul and thy great goal that loometh in the distance far away. 98