Essay 24: WORKING FOR A LIVING, SURRENDERING A LIFE

“Thou art reached by facing Thee, released from efforts.” (Esoteric Philosophy page 87:1)

In the material world, our work often defines who we are. Much pride is often derived from the earthly accomplishments of working towards goals, the satisfaction of a job well done. Here on earth our work is often the focus of effort and challenge as well as struggle and suffering at times. For many, the identification of their work is in the blood and body of their ancestors, a business or perhaps a legacy left to them or guiding them onto a particular career path. Questions like “Where do you work?” and “What do you do?” or “How do you make your living?” are nearly universal when meeting or getting acquainted with someone.

Arguably, our work, our livelihood in the world could be considered “the last fig leaf” of our multi-leveled, human identities. Since the beginning of life on earth, all creatures (but man in particular) have put forth effort and work to survive, evolve and thrive. This is especially a fact in Western cultures where work ethic has been engrained in the collective consciousness. This “fig leaf” is a primal and foundational element of our mental “clothing,” that which we have wrapped around ourselves ever since we left the Garden and took up the journey of Self-awareness through knowledge. Who among us has not described even our spiritual journeys as “the work?” We do this while Knowing in our Sacred Hearts that we are in the Presence of a Father that gives endlessly and eternally into Its Creation without condition, agenda, or restriction.

As far as this essay is concerned, it would be easy for the uninitiated to assume that it espouses a theme of laziness and entitlement where work has no place. In truth, the words written here are meant as an opportunity, an invitation, for the Initiate to examine the consciousness and wisdom from which our work comes forth. “The work” itself is but a shadow and symbol; where in consciousness we work FROM is everything.

“On earth as it is in Heaven” is but one of the directives given by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer. When our work, in whatever form, is done merely for our “living,” survival, material pride, or attachment, we partake of an “everyday evil” that places effects before cause “in heaven as it is on Earth” so to speak. Work becomes a stumbling block when it stands in the way of our surrender and acceptance of Original Mind, the Source of All. It is all too easy for our human personalities to make “golden calves” out of our work, to idolize in some way that by which we “make a living” and claiming Cause in it. When we turn away from this idea, we stand at the open door of Unmerited Favor, Real Security, Real Life. Emma speaks of this Security as that which we willingly give ourselves to, that which neither requires nor recognizes effort and allows us to put matter and matters into their proper places. “The giving up of even the noblest figures impressed upon the walls of existence is Jesus Christ giving up His words.” (Esoteric Philosophy, pg. 82:7)

Like Jesus, our “works” and our “words” are inexorably linked. Every profession, every trade, and every business genre has its own vernacular, its own “tongue.” This is even true of the “work” that we call ministry. Like any other work, our ministries have their own words, their own speech. Those words show forth as our ideas, doctrines, and even by one of our most exalted concepts: faith.

Since faith is an idea based upon hope, we have formed many “words” to put our faith to “work.” In Hebrews 11:1, St. Paul tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith, with all its words shown forth by works, is what we have until we surrender our words and walk through the door of Knowing. Knowing truly is the “security” that Emma speaks of, it is the highest form of non-attachment.

Knowing comes only by Grace, the activity of Unmerited Favor that frees us from our words and transforms our work forever. It is here that we no longer do what we think we should do Our work is given through us by and for First Cause.

Mere faith has the imprint of our own ideas upon it, a bridge between two kingdoms of consciousness. On the one side, we have the faith that is stated in James 2:14-26 that tells us, “Faith if it have not works is dead.” On the other side, in the realm of Knowing, we hear with new ears the words of Christ Jesus in John 6:27: “Do not labor for the food that perishes but the food that endures to eternal life.”

As our words dissolve into The Word by greater contact with Immortal Mind Presence, the work that is done through us becomes beyond belief, just as it was with Christ Jesus. Beyond the possibilities of our faith, we touch the hem of the garment we call Genesis Mind. Our work here sees that which is possible in the material world yield to that which would be considered impossible in the world and its affairs. In this state of surrender, wisdom, and willingness, the Life of Original Mind pours through us. Where our faith was once based upon hope, our Knowing is brought forth as Genesis. Emma sums things up in this way: “All the adhering tendency being dropped, I am unburdened sufficiently to turn about and face my Secure Self.”

When we face the Secure Self of Knowing, our “work” is transformed into the transmission of Truth. Beyond effort and perceived necessity, our Light (Wisdom) and our Heat (Passion) are brought forth in perfect balance. We may work harder and with more diligence than ever before but without effort and struggle. We may find ourselves in conditions and circumstances that we have never imagined, but with the confidence and meekness that overcomes the world. We may find that “what we do” has not changed at all but where we do it FROM in consciousness has transformed our lives, as well as the lives of those we serve, forever.

When Jesus chose the Twelve, he chose those who were accustomed to making a living, but were also open and receptive to experiencing Real Life. As it was for them, so it is for each of us as Initiates. While our work in the world is always, at some level, in the expectation of some kind of reward (even our work in prayer falls into this category at times), bringing forth from Genesis Mind is for Its own sake and that alone. While we may express unbridled gratitude for what God DOES in our work, full contact with Immortal Mind Presence simply glorifies what God IS.

Jesus knew with absolute certainty that the constant activity of “looking toward” the Home Point was that of transfiguring disciples (those who work) into Apostles, or those who surrender and accept. He spoke to each of us with crystal clarity when He proclaimed in John 14:12, “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me shall do the works that I do, and greater works than these shall he do because I am going to the Father.”