The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE DANCERS OF MYSTICISM The Nun Gertrude, when it came to her turn to wash up the dishes, used to explain that she was very sorry, but at that particular moment she was being married, with full choral service, to the Saviour. Hundreds of mystics shut themselves up completely and for ever. Not only is their wealth-producing capacity lost to society, but so is their love and good—will, and worst of all, so is their example and precept. Christ, at the height of his career, found time to wash the feet of his disciples ; any Master who does not do this on every plane is a Black Brother. The Hindus honour no man who becomes “ Sannyasi " (nearly our “hermit”) until he has faithfully fulfilled all his duties as a man and a citizen, Celibacy is immoral, and the celibate shirks one of the greatest difficulties of the Path. Beware of all those who shirk the lower difficulties: it’s a good bet that they shirk the higher difficulties too. Of the special dangers of the path there is here no space to write; each student finds at each step temptations reflect- ing his own special weaknesses I have therefore dealt solely with the dangers inseparable from the path itself, dangers inherent in its nature. Not for one moment would I ask the weakest to turn back or turn aside from that path, but I would ask even the strongest to apply these correctives: first, the sceptical or scientific attitude, both in outlook and method; second, a healthy life, meaning by that what the athlete and the explorer mean; third, hearty human com- panionship, and devotion to life, work, and duty. Let him remember that an ounce of honest pride is better than a ton of false humility, although an ounce of true Ι57